The Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (AMO) has officially cleared the acquisition of Business Lease Slovakia and Business Lease (Czech Republic) by the Belgian financial leader KBC Group NV. The decision, issued on January 20, 2026, grants KBC exclusive control over the two entities.
The AMO’s investigation focused on the overlaps in operational leasing and used vehicle sales. The findings indicate that while KBC will become a top-three player in the Slovakian operational leasing market, a competitive gap remains between the new entity and the two market leaders.
In the used vehicle sector, the Office noted that the market remains highly fragmented with numerous independent dealers and online platforms, ensuring continued competition.
The regulatory review also addressed “vertical” competition—specifically whether KBC’s non-life insurance arm could unfairly restrict competitors’ access to the leasing market. The AMO concluded that the presence of other vertically integrated competitors prevents any such market distortion.
The decision entered into force on January 21, 2026, allowing KBC to move forward with integrating Business Lease into its Central European operations.