NEWS

In September 2012, the U.S. Department of Justice started investigations into the car carrying industry and ocean transport to and from the United States. Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) has been one of several shipping companies included in the investigation conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The investigation revealed instances of conduct contrary to company policy and in breach of US antitrust laws. Accordingly, WWL has decided to reach a settlement with the US Department of Justice, covering activities from February 2000 to September 2012.

Through this settlement, the company agrees to pay USD 98.9 million in fines and to provide continued support to the DOJ investigation. The settlement also closes the DOJ investigation into WWL’s sister company EUKOR.

“It is with great regret that I conclude that our policies were not always followed as they should have been,” says Håkan Larsson, Chairman of the Board of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and member of the EUKOR board.

“We have supported this investigation throughout, and whilst it is a sad day, I am pleased to have reached this settlement with the DOJ. We will continue our work to meet the highest ethical standards. It is what we owe our customers as well as ourselves.”

Background

WWL works continually to meet the highest ethical standards. Over the past years, the company has:

• Ÿfurther strengthened its competition compliance process and procedures, appointing a Global Compliance Officer to oversee and manage regulatory compliance issues, as well as Compliance Managers for its respective divisions and in all main markets
• supplemented and enhanced the Competition Compliance Manuals for several jurisdictions, including China, Japan, South Africa and Korea;
• reinforced training on the Competition & Anti-Trust Policy that outlines the company’s requirements for compliant industry communication and documentation;
• introduced an Ethics Alert Line to encourage reporting of any non-compliant behaviour

WWL continues to monitor the development of anti-trust regulations on a global basis and to make sure that all such regulations are fully observed.