Alleged number plate cartel accused of price fixing
An alleged cartel of companies that manufacture licence plates for vehicles sold across SA is being prosecuted for price fixing and exploiting small businesses and drivers.
‘They are alleged to have entered into an agreement and/or engaged in a concerted practice to fix prices and trading conditions for the supply of number plate blanks to, among others, embossers,’ the Competition Commission said.
The three accused companies – Uniplate, New Number Plate Requisites (NNPR) and Unique Number Plate – manufacture number plate blanks, unfinished and unprinted vehicle registration plates that eventually become vehicle licence plates.
MyBroadband reports that an investigation into the alleged cartel found that from at least June 2023, the companies colluded to fix prices of number plate blanks.
Uniplate is considered the largest manufacturer and distributor of number plate blanks and embossing machines in SA.
It allegedly agreed on the amounts and dates for price increases and co-ordinated when each would issue price-increase letters.
The three companies are now being referred to prosecutors in the Competition Tribunal.
If successfully convicted of contravening section 4(1)(b)(i) of the Competition Act, they will be liable to pay an administrative penalty of up to 10% of their respective turnover.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
