Regulator pounces on Patrick and P&O, starts price fixing probe

Australia's antitrust regulator has started legal proceedings against a number of former Patrick Corp and P&O companies, now owned by Toll Holdings, Asciano and DP World's Australian unit.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission alleged in a statement that in 2001, Patrick and P&O formed an accord to share their motor vehicle wharf facilities and to jointly acquire other facilities, and later extended the cooperation between the companies.

This was alleged to have occurred before Toll acquired Patrick.

It also alleged that this agreement lessened competition in a number of markets in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, and fixed the prices of Patrick and P&O for stevedoring services.

The regulator has started proceedings against Australian Amalgamated Terminals, or AAT, for its involvement in the alleged price fixing scheme.

The first Federal Court hearing is scheduled for September 20.