Competition Tribunal approves amended Consent Agreement
TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2013 /CNW/ - The Competition Tribunal has approved the amended Interac Consent Agreement, which was filed with the Competition Tribunal on July 12, 2013. The amendments help address governance, structural and funding constraints that impact the organization's ability to compete effectively and meet market demands in today's highly competitive payments marketplace. The amended Consent Agreement will remain in place until June 2018, subject to a successful restructuring of the organization.
"We are extremely pleased that the amended Consent Agreement has been approved by the Competition Tribunal," stated Mark O'Connell, President and CEO, Interac Association/Interac Inc./Acxsys Corporation. "This green light lets us start the process to transform our organization into a single corporation, Interac Corp., that can offer a single integrated portfolio of payment products under the direction of an independent board, and with the ability to better fund innovation."
Since 1996, Interac Association has operated under a Consent Agreement which prescribes in detail how it is structured, how it is governed and by whom, how it sets and collects fees, and the voting levels required for decisions. The Agreement can only be amended or terminated through the Competition Tribunal.
Interac® is a low-cost, world-class debit system with payment products in the bricks-and-mortar and virtual spaces, and serves Canadians well. In 2012, consumers carried out over 4 billion Interac transactions. The Canadian payments marketplace, however, is undergoing significant shifts and increased competition with large multi-national competitors unencumbered by the business operating constraints faced by the domestic provider, Interac Association.
"This is a critical step to help us continue to offer the best payment products available and the value-add of remaining a low-cost payment option for Canadian merchants and consumers," emphasized Mr. O'Connell. "On behalf of the Interac Group, we would like to acknowledge the hard work and spirit of co-operation demonstrated by the current Commissioner and his staff. They have demonstrated a clear understanding of and sensitivity to the evolving needs of our business."
About Interac Association, Interac Inc. and Acxsys Corporation
A recognized world leader in debit card services, Interac Association is responsible for the development and operations of the Interac network, a national payment network that allows Canadians to access their money through Interac Cash at 60,000 Automated Banking Machines and Interac Debit at 766,000 point-of-sale terminals across Canada. Interac Flash, a secure contactless enhancement of Interac Debit allows Canadians to pay for items instantly with their Interac chip debit card at a reader that supports Interac Flash.
Interac Association was founded in 1984 and is comprised of a diverse membership that includes banks, trust companies, credit unions, caisses populaires, merchants, and technology and payment related companies. Interac Inc. is the legal entity through which the affairs of Interac Association are carried out.
Other related services offered by Acxsys Corporation, whose shareholders are the architects of the Interac network, include: Interac Online, for secure online payments made directly from a bank account; Interac e-Transfer™, for the transfer of money from one person's bank account to another person's bank account using an email address or mobile phone number*; and international services, which provide Canadian cardholders with point-of-sale access at nearly 2 million U.S. retailers, and PULSE, Discover, Diners Club International and UnionPay cardholders access to ABMs in Canada.
Interac, the Interac logo, Interac Flash and Interac e-Transfer are trade-marks of Interac Inc. Used under license.
*The Interac e-Transfer service, for secure person-to-person payments, is currently available to customers of over 200 banks and credit unions including BMO Bank of Montreal, CIBC, President's Choice Financial, National Bank, RBC Royal Bank, Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust among others. Central 1, through participating credit unions, offers the option of using mobile phone numbers, in addition to email, to notify Interac e-Transfer recipients. Money never travels by email or text message. More information about the Interac e- Transfer service and a complete list of participating banks and credit unions can be found at www.interac.ca.
SOURCE: Interac Association
Caroline Hubberstey
Interac Association/Acxsys Corporation
416.869.8320
After hours: 416.869.2017
[email protected]
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