NZ court to take on Kuehne and Nagel

NEW Zealand’s anti-monopoly commission has defeated Kuehne + Nagel’s appeal against cargo price-fixing cartel charges being tried against it.

The Switzerland-based logistics provider had argued that the commission did not have jurisdiction over it as K+N was a holding company with no involvement in freight-forwarding operations or management.

The New Zealand Commerce Commission has now been given clearance by the High Court in Auckland to proceed with action against the company.

K+N is the last remaining defendant in the case against six freight-forwarding companies accused of colluding on surcharges.

“It is important that the commission is able to pursue parties in New Zealand courts for anti-competitive conduct that we allege they have implemented through their regional and local networks,” Kate Morrison, general manager of competition at the commission, said.

The commission has collected NZ$8.85 million (US$6.8 million) in penalties from BAX Global, EGL, Geologistics International (Bermuda), Schenker and Panalpina World Transport Holdings, which pleaded guilty to breaches of the Commerce Act.

K+N still has the option of appealing the judgment as the matter will proceed to trial.

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