Booking.com backs down over pricing feud

Booking.com, the largest online travel agent in SA, has agreed to scrap rules over pricing as part of a settlement with the Competition Commission.

Dutch solar panel supplier agrees to R14m settlement

SA’s top anti-trust body has reached a settlement agreement of just over R14m with Dutch group Victron Energy over allegations it forced local distributors to make sure its products were not sold below a minimum price, reports Fin24.

Outcry over Cell C licence transfer

Icasa has said a request by Blue Label Telecoms for the transfer of control of Cell C's licences, including its spectrum, is a mandatory step and standard procedure, reports Fin24.

Bank cartel case thrown out

The Competition Appeal Court (CAC) has thrown out the case against all but five of the 28 banks that were accused of colluding to fix the rand in the New York foreign exchange market more than a decade ago.

Rain, MTN to intervene in Vodacom, Vumatel hearings

The Competition Tribunal has accepted MTN and data provider Rain’s requests to intervene in the hearings on whether to approve the merger between Vodacom and fibre providers Vumatel and Dark Fibre Africa.

Bank fined R42.7m for dollar-rand manipulation

British multi-national bank Standard Chartered has admitted to its role in manipulating the dollar-rand exchange rate and has agreed to pay an administrative penalty of R42.7m, ending roughly eight years of litigation with SA’s competition authorities.

Forex-rigging case now before Appeal Court

The Competition Commission’s ageing foreign exchange case is back in court yet again, with the banks charging that the commission must show that all 28 of them were part of the alleged ‘single overarching conspiracy’ to manipulate the rand before the case can go ahead.

ConCourt to address SA Coke firm's merger

SA’s competition tsar will next month tell the Constitutional Court that the SA arm of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) conjured up a plan to get rid of workers after a 2016 merger, contravening one of the key conditions set by authorities in approving the deal.

Green light for R3bn sale of shopping malls

The Competition Commission has unconditionally approved the sale of five shopping malls, carrying a total transaction value of R3.9bn.

Appeal upholds Tsutsumani’s R3.5m penalty

The Competition Appeal Court has upheld the Competition Commission’s decision to impose a R3.5m penalty on local business Tsutsumani Business Enterprises for marking-up the price of surgical masks by 87% in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit SA.

eMedia lodges new case against MultiChoice

eMedia has lodged a new case against MultiChoice at the Competition Commission in its ongoing fight over the Rugby World Cup television rights.

Unilever agrees to R400m settlement

SA's top anti-trust adjudicating body yesterday confirmed a nearly R400m settlement agreement between Unilever and competition authorities over the alleged market division of margarine.

Nu Africa’s abuse complaint against Distell dismissed

The Competition Tribunal has dismissed an abuse of dominance complaint brought by Nu Africa Duty Free Shops against Distell, reports HeraldLIVE.

Watchdog to probe J&J over TB drug price

The Competition Commission has launched an investigation into whether pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) overcharged SA for lifesaving tuberculosis (TB) drug bedaquiline, reports Fin24.

Spar to stop exclusive lease agreements

Spar has finally joined its fellow grocery retailers Shoprite and Pick n Pay in agreeing to phase out its controversial exclusive lease agreements, reports Fin24.

Commission cracks down on online platforms

SA's competition watchdog has demanded that Google, Uber Eats, Takealot and Apple take a range of steps to encourage competition from smaller companies.

Unilever slapped with R16m penalty in margarine case

The Competition Commission said yesterday it had reached a settlement with Unilever over alleged market division of margarine, with the global consumer goods giant agreeing to, among other things, a R16m administrative penalty and to provide interest-free loans to qualifying black businesses.

Firms and JVs cleared of tender collusion

The Competition Tribunal has dismissed a case of collusive tendering through price fixing involving a 2015 Eskom tender worth R240m against four firms and three joint ventures (JVs).

Sasol interdicted from increasing gas prices

The Competition Tribunal has interdicted Sasol from increasing its gas prices for the next six months, unless it gets a nod from the energy regulator, pending the conclusion of a probe into excessive pricing, reports Fin24.

Commission approves Clicks and Sorbet deal

The Competition Commission of SA (CCSA) has recommended the Competition Tribunal to approve Clicks Investments’ acquisition of Sorbet Holdings from Old Mutual Private Equity.