https://newsletter.en.creamermedia.com
Services|transport
Services|transport
services|transport

Tribunal says it confirms settlement agreement with furniture removal companies

20th March 2024

By: Sabrina Jardim

Creamer Media Online Writer

     

Font size: - +

The Competition Tribunal reports that furniture removal companies Stuttafords Van Lines and Pickfords Removals SA have admitted to involvement in a furniture removal cartel and agreed to pay an administrative penalty totalling R40-million.

This forms part of the terms of a settlement agreement which has been confirmed as an order by the tribunal following a hearing during which the tribunal heard submissions on various aspects of the settlement agreement.

The settlement agreement concludes all complaints, investigations and prosecutions relating to Stuttafords and Pickfords.

In 2010, the Competition Commission launched investigations into several furniture removal companies including Stuttafords, Pickfords and AGS Fraser International – operating subsidiaries of Laser Transport Group.

The investigations revealed that furniture removal companies had tendered collusively in the provision of furniture removal services to government departments, big corporates and private individuals.

The collusion, which is alleged to have occurred from 2007 to at least 2012, involved the exchange of cover prices and quotes. Cover pricing is a practice whereby one or more firms agree that they will submit tenders in such a way that the designated winner will submit the lowest or most favourable bid and the other/s will submit artificially high bids so as not to win the contract.

Stuttafords was charged with 649 instances of collusive tendering involving the exchange of cover quotes, Pickfords with 37 and AGS with three.

Stuttafords and Pickfords are jointly and severally liable to pay the R40-million penalty – the one paying and the other to be absolved.

They agree, among others, to refrain from engaging in cartel conduct in the future; and continue to implement and monitor a competition law compliance programme.

The commission has agreed, as part of the settlement, to withdraw the complaint referral against AGS.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

 

Showroom

Klüber Lubrication
Klüber Lubrication

Klüber Lubrication ensures that the world’s essential systems—drive units, machines, and water flow—operate efficiently, sustainably, and reliably...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Immersive Technologies
Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world's largest, proven and tested supplier of simulator training solutions to the global resources industry.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 13 December 2024
Magazine round up | 13 December 2024
13th December 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.872 0.975s - 264pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now