SABMiller: Competition Tribunal clears SA unit

SAB, the local subsidiary of SABMiller, has welcomed yesterday’s Competition Tribunal, ruling which found the brewer did not engage in anti-competitive behaviour. The Competition Commission brought the case against SAB and 13 SAB-appointed distributors in 2007. The decision comes nearly 10 years since the complaint was lodged with the commission, seven years since the commission referred the case to the tribunal after the parties filed several procedural disputes, and after a lengthy pause when SAB attempted to get the case quashed. SAB chairman Norman Adami said the company had always been confident that none of its practices were in breach of the law and that it had not engaged in any anti-competitive behaviour. “SAB has structured its business to serve retailers and consumers and strongly believes that all businesses have the right to distribute their products in the manner that best serves their needs,” he said. SABMiller gained 0.91 percent to close at R511.01 yesterday. – Wiseman Khuzwayo