Displaying items by tag: Probe

Pakistan: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) conducted a search and inspection of the Karachi offices of the All Pakistan Manufacturers Association (APCMA) on Thursday 19 November 2020. The search was carried out as part of an enquiry launched in May 2020 to investigate possible anti-competitive activities by cement producers. Two different CCP teams entered and searched the offices of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of APCMA and impounded relevant records.

The enquiry began based on the information gathered through various media reports and concerns expressed regarding a concurrent increase in cement prices across Pakistan, particularly during April 2020. The APCMA stands accused of orchestrating a price rise among producers.

The CCP previously searched and inspected the APCMA’s main offices in Lahore. That search allegedly led to the discovery of WhatsApp messages and emails that led investigators to believe there were grounds for further investigation.

Australia: Barro Group, the family-owned supplier of premixed concrete, quarry machinery and associated products, has attracted the scrutiny of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over its 43% stake in Adelaide Brighton due to the possible overlap in the two companies’ roles as suppliers of cement, concrete and aggregates. The Advertiser reported that Adelaide Brighton chairman Raymond Barro defended the pairing, saying the companies had ‘complementary footprints’ with ‘limited crossover of products and locations in which for Adelaide Brighton and Barrow Group to compete.’