COMPETITION TRIBUNAL 
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

							     Case No: 77/LM/Aug05

In the large merger between: 

Unitrans Motors (Pty) Ltd 

and				

Weiss Motors (Pty) Ltd

Reasons for Decision
________________________________________________________________

APPROVAL

On 21 October 2005 the Competition Tribunal issued a Merger Clearance Certificate approving the merger between Unitrans Motors (Pty) Ltd and Weiss Motors (Pty) Ltd in terms of section 16(2)(a). The reasons for the approval of the merger appear below.

The Parties

1.	The acquiring firm is Unitrans Motors (Pty) Ltd (“Unitrans”). It is controlled by Unitrans Motor Enterprises (Pty) Ltd, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unitrans Limited. Steinhoff Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the listed entity, Steinhoff International Holdings Ltd, has a 60% stake in Unitrans Limited. Unitrans operates a motor dealership in Kings Park, Durban.

2.	The primary target firm is Weiss Motors (Pty) Ltd (“Weiss”). It owns two motor dealerships in Durban and Amanzimtoti. Weiss’ sole shareholder is Mr A Hartley.

The Merger Transaction

3.	Unitrans is acquiring sole ownership of the Weiss dealerships in Durban and Amanzimtoti. This transaction involves the sale of the dealerships as going concerns.

Rationale for the Transaction 

4.	Unitrans wants to consolidate its existing dealership with Weiss’ operations. Weiss’ owner is emigrating and selling his dealership business. 

5.	The parties contend that the greater Durban area is becoming over-traded , with the result that it is becoming difficult for motor dealerships to remain viable on the numbers of vehicles they are servicing.  They allege that their daily dealership costs, as well as workshop and “tooling up” costs, are very high and add to their burdens. While the parties are not contending that the target firm is a failing firm, they state that economies of scale and cost savings will be achieved by the combination of dealerships. 

The relevant product and geographic markets

6.	Both parties are involved in various aspects of motor vehicle retailing. Unitrans sells new and pre-owned motor vehicles, parts and accessories and provides after-sales services as well as associated services such as transport, logistics, distribution and warehousing. Weiss Motors also sells new and pre-owned vehicles, parts and accessories and provides after-sales service. The Commission identified the overlap between them as extending to the sale of new Volkswagen motor vehicles as well as various brands of pre-owned motor vehicles.

7.	Based on this overlap, the identified relevant markets are firstly, the sale of Volkswagen's new small, medium and luxury cars and light commercial vehicles, and secondly, the sale of pre-owned passenger vehicles of all brands. 

8.	We have previously defined the passenger vehicle market as comprising different segments or sub-markets. The Commission did not analyse the market for parts and servicing, and we find it unnecessary to consider whether this is a separate relevant market. As we mention below, there seem to be other Volkswagen dealers in Durban and nearby areas from which Volkswagen parts are readily accessible.

9.	For present purposes we accept that the second relevant market, that for the sale of pre-owned vehicles, includes after-sales servicing. 
10.	t is not disputed that in the  market for the sale of pre-owned passenger vehicles, competition is lively. A market share quantification for that market has not been provided and we are satisfied that it would not have been necessary for the purposes of the Tribunal's adjudication of this merger.

11.	We have previously held that the market for pre-owned motor vehicles is characterised by low entry barriers, as evidenced by the many sources of supply of pre-owned vehicles. We do not need to analyse this market any further.

12.	As far as the first market is concerned, the Commission has applied the approach which we have adopted in previous cases and has identified the combined market shares of the merging parties (based on new Volkswagen sales) in the overlapping sub-markets or segments of both the broader geographic market, namely the greater Durban area, and also  and more narrowly,  Durban itself:

Table 1: Market Shares in Durban (new Volkswagen vehicles)

Firm	Small 	Medium 	Luxury	Light Commercial 	
Unitrans	4.6%	2.8%	0.2%	0.1%	
Weiss	4.3%	2.4%	0.5%	0.06%	
Combined post-merger	8.9%	5.2%	0.7%	0.16%	
	Source: Merging parties’ data derived from Naamsa Figures

Table 2: Market Shares in Greater-Durban (new Volkswagen vehicles)

Firm	Small 	Medium 	Luxury	Light Commercial 	
Unitrans	3.4%	2.0%	0.2%	0.08%	
Weiss	4.7%	2.4%	0.4%	0.1%	
Combined post-merger	8.1%	4.4%	0.6%	0.18%	
Source: Merging parties’ data derived from Naamsa Figures

13.	It is clear that in each sub-market, the merger will bring about minimal market share accretion. 	

14.	Furthermore, the parties listed at least five rival Volkswagen dealerships competing in both Durban and the greater Durban region.

Conclusion

We conclude that there is no effect on competition. The merger will not lead to a substantial lessening or prevention of competition in any market.  

No vertical issues arise which call for discussion, and similarly there are no public interest concerns. The merging parties have given an assurance that the merger will not affect employment.

The Tribunal therefore approves the transaction unconditionally.

__________
								31 October 2005
L. Reyburn					  		Date
	
Concurring: M. Mokoena,  T. Orleyn

For the merging parties:  	N. Browne, Cliffe Dekker Attorneys
For the Commission: 	O. Strydom, Mergers and Acquisitions