Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), owned 50% by
Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA, has received a draft cease and
desist order and a draft surcharge order from the
Japanese Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) indicating that
WWL as one of several companies in the industry has
participated in non-competitive behaviour in
automotive transportation. The draft surcharge is
estimated to USD 33 million and primarily related to
the Japan-Europe trade.
The draft cease and desist order and draft surcharge
order are provided to the companies concerned for
their review and comment, in advance of a final
ruling by the JFTC. WWL takes the matter very
seriously and will now carefully review the draft
decisions in order to respond to the JFTC's
preliminary findings.
The investigation into the car carrier trade
practices between Japan and other regions of the
world, which started in September 2012, has involved
a number of car carrying operators. EUKOR Car
Carriers, owned 40% by Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA, was
initially included in the investigation, but has not
been named in the draft orders from the JFTC.
WWL has done its best to respond to the fair trade
authority's requests during the past 17 months, and
expects to receive the final cease and desist order
and final surcharge order from the JFTC in the second
quarter.