The Competition Commission of South Africa said on Thursday that two companies involved in the manufacturing and supply of key chemical input materials used to make detergents, cosmetics and toiletries, have agreed to pay fines after admitting to price fixing and dividing markets. Investchem and Akulu Marchon are manufacturers and suppliers of a range of surfactant products widely used in the detergent, cosmetics and toiletry industries.
Surfactants, or surface active agents, are one of many different compounds that may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents and dispersants.
The Commission said Investchem had agreed to pay a penalty of ZAR23.4 million (US$1.77 million) while Akulu will pay ZAR13.9 million (US$1.05 million) in terms of the settlement agreement each concluded with the Commission.
In December 2014, the Commission conducted a search and seizure operation at the premises of both companies as part of an investigation into cartel activities.
The Commission said between 2003 and 2013, Investchem and Akulu Marchon – which are competitors – agreed to fix prices for surfactants and also divided the market by agreeing not pursue each others’ customers.
The Commission said these agreements contravened section 4 of the Competition Act.
“Both Investchem and Akulu have agreed to future conduct that ensures this cartel conduct does not recur and that their respective customers are treated fairly without discrimination,” the Commission said.
Full Content: Business Report
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Prime Therapeutics Found in Violation of Antitrust Laws, Arbitrator Rules
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
Honda and Nissan Face Challenges in China Amid Potential Merger
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
Trump Criticizes EU’s Tech Crackdown, Calls It ‘A Form of Taxation’
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
Meta Faces Fresh Allegations of EU Law Breaches in Subscription Service Rollout
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
European Commission Investigates Crypto Rules for Cross-Border Stablecoins
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – International Criminal Enforcement
Jan 23, 2025 by
CPI
The Antitrust Division’s Recent Work to Combat International Cartels
Jan 23, 2025 by
Emma Burnham & Benjamin Christenson
Information Sharing: The New Frontier of U.S. Antitrust Enforcement
Jan 23, 2025 by
Brian P. Quinn, Casey Kovarik & Michael Tubach
The Key Role of Guidelines on Exchanges of Information Among Competitors and the Divergent Transatlantic Paths
Jan 23, 2025 by
Rosa Abrantes-Metz & Albert Metz
Leniency, Whistleblowers, and Compliance
Jan 23, 2025 by
Richard Powers, Tara O’Malley & Cory Gordon