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[2005] ZACT 85
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ApexHi Properties Ltd and Sasol Pension Fund (89/LM/Sep05) [2005] ZACT 85 (28 November 2005)
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COMPETITION TRIBUNAL
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Case no.: 89/LM/Sep05
In the large merger between:
ApexHi Properties Ltd
and
Sasol Pension Fund
________________________________________________________________
Reasons
________________________________________________________________
Introduction
On 26 October 2005 the Competition Tribunal approved the merger between Apexhi Properties Ltd and Sasol Pension Fund. The reasons for this decision follow.
The transaction
The transaction involves the acquisition by ApexHi Properties Ltd (”ApexHi”) of the Surrey Place Property (“Surrey Place”) from Sasol Pension Fund (“Sasol”).
Surrey place is a rentable office property situated in the Ferndale Node in Gauteng.
ApexHi is a company listed on the JSE Stock Exchange and is a variable rate property loan stock company. No single firm controls ApexHi and its largest stakeholders are:
Redefine Income Fund 10%
Stanlib 7%
Marriot Property Fund 13%
Rationale of the transaction
The acquisition presents ApexHi with an opportunity to grow its assets and earnings while Sasol wants to sell the asset because it wishes to improve the risk profile of its investments made on behalf of its Pension Fund beneficiaries.
Impact on competition
The relevant market is defined as Grade A Offices in the Ferndale Node. Within this market ApexHi has approximately 2.4% market share, which will increase to 7.2% post the transaction.
The Competition Commission is of the view that no competition concerns arise from the transaction since the combined market share of the merged entity in the Ferndale Node would be low. We agree with this conclusion.
Public interest
No public interest issues arise from the merger.
____________ 28 November 2005
N Manoim Date
Concurring: D Lewis, Y Carrim
For the merging parties: Ms Varni Chetty of Edward Nathan
For the Commission: Geffrey Mudzanani