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Wallenius Wilhelmsen faces Australian cartel charges

Norway’s Wallenius Wilhelmsen has become the third car carrying firm busted by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), accused of cartel conduct. Australia’s Federal Court will take up the case next week.

“Whilst we regret that it has come to this, we are happy to see this matter now proceeding formally. The company is cooperating with the ACCC in this investigation and will continue to work with the normal processes of the court to bring this to a conclusion,” Wallenius Wilhelmsen stated in a release to the Oslo Bors.

Earlier this month, Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) was handed a fine of A$34.5m ($23.5m) having pleaded guilty to similar charges facing Wallenius Wilhelmsen. The fine dished out to K Line was the largest ever criminal fine imposed under Australia’s Competition and Consumer Act.

Other car carrier cartel investigations have been ongoing around the world over the past five years.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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