Caltex regrets being found to have contravened the Commerce Act in last year's car wash case and today's imposition of a
penalty ordered by the Court.
The penalty relates to the cessation of a free car wash promotion at certain Auckland locations back in 1996. It was not
connected to the setting of the price of petrol at the pump.
It was generally acknowledged that the companies were losing money by giving away large numbers of free car washes and
it was inevitable that the promotion would end. Caltex is pleased the court accepted that the removal of the promotion
increased efficiency in the use of resources.
Caltex provided evidence to the court that it has compliance programmes in place to ensure staff awareness of the
Commerce Act. These include staff training, information booklets and testing of staff knowledge of the Act.
Caltex has been a good corporate citizen for 80 years and has never before been implicated in any Commerce Act matter
before the courts.
ends
Issued by 141 Palace Plus for Caltex New Zealand Limited