Altech must pay up

[rpm]

Altech must pay up

HI-TECH firm Altech has been ordered to pay MTN’s and Verizon’s costs in respect of Altech’s intervention application in the MTN/Verizon merger proceedings, after Altech gave up its hard-won right to intervene on the proceedings, the Competition Tribunal said on Friday.

 

[ic]

Was Altech right to challenge the MTN-Verizon merger?

I would like to wait for dominic's opinion and answer to that question, but I do have my own opinion and answer and that is 'yes' - the more input there is from role players within a sector during a competition hearing [even if it is allegedly misguided and spurious] the more likely the correct decision will be reached by the Competition Commission to approve or deny such a merger, and so what if it took a bit longer for a decision to be reached and Altech was vilified for its obstinate opposition to the merger.

Surely the Competition Commission should just see this as part of the normal process it has to follow to make an informed recommendation to the Competition Tribunal...?

 

[dominic]

hi ic - i don't really have an opinion as to whether they were right or wrong to do so. I doubt that Altech ever held a good faith belief that they would stop the merger so they could be criticised on that score but they are entitled to challenge and must have felt they could obtain information / concessions by doing so.

imho they were probably a little cock-a-hoop after winning the self-provision thing and got carried away

btw the "concession" which they got from MTN that it would not treat MTNNS and the Verizon services more favourably tha competitors is pretty hollow considering that the ECA requires this anyway
__________
have a great 2009 yourself - d.

 

[ic]

hi ic - i don't really have an opinion as to whether they were right or wrong to do so. I doubt that Altech ever held a good faith belief that they would stop the merger so they could be criticised on that score but they are entitled to challenge and must have felt they could obtain information / concessions by doing so.

imho they were probably a little cock-a-hoop after winning the self-provision thing and got carried away

btw the "concession" which they got from MTN that it would not treat MTNNS and the Verizon services more favourably tha competitors is pretty hollow considering that the ECA requires this anyway
__________
have a great 2009 yourself - d.

Understood & agree - I just don't understand what all the fuss is about where Altech is concerned - who cares if the ruling was delayed a bit - part of the CC's due diligence IMO to facilitate the hearing of as much pertinent evidence as possible required for the CC to reach a decision...oh well storm in a tea cup.

 

[LazyLion]

Ja, this decision is going to cause other interested parties to think twice about challenging any future decisions. I thought this was part of the process? Why should they be punished for doing exactly what the tribunal was set up to do? If nobody can ask questions or be party to the proceedings, then so much for competition or full disclosure!

 

[zamicro]

btw the "concession" which they got from MTN that it would not treat MTNNS and the Verizon services more favourably tha competitors is pretty hollow considering that the ECA requires this anyway

I thought this is why Altech "won". This concession. But, since you say it is required an anyway, I am not so sure why they did it anymore...

 

[RVFmal]

I would assume that had Altech not pulled out of their intervention before they were even heard, they would not have been slapped with these costs.

By fighting so hard to be granted this intervention (and thereby delaying the process) and then pulling out at the last minute after being granted such concession seems to me to be justification for making them pay for the additional time that it took for the tribunal to rule.

 

[Pitbull]

I think it's a good thing. I have mentioned this before, They only try and block these buy-out for strategic reasons even with no grounds to do so what so ever.

It's about time these companies holding up growth should be nailed for the waste of time they are forcing on these companies wanting to expand their growth.

This is not the first time this has happened. Thy had absolutely no grounds to oppse the i-Talk deal and the same with Verizon but they just want to do it because they have a right to. Pay for making them wait and pay alot !

 

[Pitbull]

Ja, this decision is going to cause other interested parties to think twice about challenging any future decisions. I thought this was part of the process? Why should they be punished for doing exactly what the tribunal was set up to do? If nobody can ask questions or be party to the proceedings, then so much for competition or full disclosure!

See that is exactly it.

The CC is to make sure that competition is rife and healthy.

Now with the 2 buy-outs MTN did last week is good for competition. Now to oppose any such deal which clearly is aimed at promoting competition is nothing but an act of "delay tactics".

This should stop and I for one am 100% for the judgement forcing Altech to pay

 

[rumormonger]

I think it's a good thing. I have mentioned this before, They only try and block these buy-out for strategic reasons even with no grounds to do so what so ever.

It's about time these companies holding up growth should be nailed for the waste of time they are forcing on these companies wanting to expand their growth.

This is not the first time this has happened. Thy had absolutely no grounds to oppse the i-Talk deal and the same with Verizon but they just want to do it because they have a right to. Pay for making them wait and pay alot !

oh well there goes my increase

 

[Pitbull]

oh well there goes my increase

And in comes mine