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CV manufacturer price fixing case gets dropped

5th January 2012
Page 5
Page 5, 5th January 2012 — CV manufacturer price fixing case gets dropped
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By Laura Hailstone THE OFFICE OF Fair Trading (OFT) has closed the criminal case against UK CV manufacturers over alleged price ixing, but the civil case around competition issues continues.

In September 2010, the OFT launched a criminal cartel investigation under the Enterprise Act 2002 into suspected cartel activity involving truck manufacturers.

“Following a thorough investigation, it has been determined that there is insuficient evidence for any individual to be charged with the cartel offence. That case has been closed,” says the OFT in a statement released on its website.

The personal criminal action against Ian Jones, MD of Mercedes-Benz CVs, has accordingly been closed by the OFT.

A Mercedes-Benz statement says: “Ian Jones remains on personal leave. Sam Whittaker remains overseeing the CV business in addition to his current responsibilities until [Jones] returns to work.

“The OFT’s Competition Act investigation into CV manufacturers continues.

“Mercedes-Benz is co-operating fully with the investigation,” adds the statement.

Des Evans, chief executive of MAN, tells CM: “We’re pleased that the OFT has now dropped the criminal case. We’ve always been of the opinion that there was never a case to answer in the irst place.

“If we can be accused of anything, it’s ixing the price for customers to give them the lowest possible operating costs,” adds Evans.


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