Altech Netstar Triumphs at Competition Appeal Court

17 February 2011

Altech Netstar Triumphs at Competition Appeal Court:

The Competition Appeal Court of South Africa has upheld an appeal by Altech Netstar against the Competition Tribunal’s finding that it had committed a prohibited practice.
The Competition Appeal Court set aside the Competition Tribunal’s finding and the finding was dismissed with costs. The appeal was lodged in response to the Tribunal’s findings, published on 19 April 2010, that Altech Netstar, along with three other respondents, was guilty of anti-competitive behaviour.
The alleged practice related to the period between 1999 and 2003 when Altech Netstar accepted the Vehicle Security Association’s (VESA) invitation to become a member of a VESA sub-committee which suggested minimum standards for vehicle tracking systems by insurance companies.
Says Craig Venter, Altech CEO, “We have been vindicated. Judge Wallis AJA clearly outlined in his judgement that we did not contravene the Competition Act or engage in any behaviour to lessen competition in the vehicle tracking industry.“
“The Appeal Court judgement was critical of the Competition Tribunal in that the Tribunal had made a finding of anti-competitive behaviour and then sought to formulate reasons for that finding when none existed,” he added.
“Businesses are publicly tarnished when the Competition Commission finds them guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, so victories such as this should be broadcast to a much wider audience to undo the negative and erroneous perception created and to restore public confidence,” said Venter.
Harry Louw, Managing Director at Altech Netstar, says the decision to uphold Altech’s appeal was welcome and not unexpected.
“It has always been our view that we were not operating in transgression of the law. This decision clears our good name and allows us to move forward and focus on growing our business, without being side tracked by issues that should not have occurred in the first place,” he said.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors:
About Allied Technologies Limited
Allied Technologies Limited (Altech), with a turnover in excess of R9 billion, is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and operates in the Telecommunications, Multi-media and Information Technology (TMT) industries. It employs over 5000 employees in South Africa and abroad.
Altech is involved in the design, development and convergence of telecommunications, multi-media systems and IT solutions. There is a strong focus on the convergence of these technologies and Altech is now also entrenched in the arena of secure technology solutions.
Altech has ongoing access to the latest technologies worldwide, while the group’s own research and development programme actively encourages and promotes internal technology.

For further information please contact:
Craig Venter
Chief Executive Officer: Altech
Tel: +27 11 715 9004
Cell: +27 83 236 8000
E-mail: cventer@altech.co.za

and/or

Shenanda Janse van Rensburg
Group Executive: Marketing, PR & Communications - Altech Head Office
Tel: +27 11 715 9031
Mobile: +27 84 777 1977
Email: sjvrensburg@altech.co.za

and/or

Shona Minards: PR & Communications Manager – Altech Netstar
Tel: +27 11 207 5000
Mobile: +27 11 83 627 5102
Email: shonam@netstar.altech.co.za