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COMPETITION TRIBUNAL OF SOUTH AFRICA

Case No: LM1590ct15

In the matter between:

Arrowhead Properties Limited                                                                           Acquiring Firm

And

Redefine Properties Limited in respect of

the property letting enterprise known as Cleary Park                                       Target Firm

Panel                                       : Yasmin Carrim (Presiding Member)

                                                     : Mondo Mazwai (Tribunal Member)

                                                     : Fiona Tregenna (Tribunal Member)

Heard on                                 : 18 November 2015

Order Issued on                      : 18 November 2015

Reasons Issued on                 : 25 November 2015

Reasons for Decision

Approval

[1] On 18 November 2015, the Competition Tribunal ("Tribunal") unconditionally approved the merger between Arrowhead Properties  Limited ("Arrowhead") and Redefine Properties Limited ("Redefine") in respect of the property letting enterprise known as Cleary Park.

[2] The reasons for approving the proposed transaction follow.

Parties to transaction and their Activities

Primary acquiring firm

[3] The primary acquiring firm  is  Arrowhead,  a  public  company  incorporated  in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Arrowhead is listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange Limited ("JSE") and accordingly is not controlled by any firm. Arrowhead controls lndluplace Properties Limited and Vividend Income Fund Limited which in turn control a number of firms.

[4] Arrowhead  holds  a  diverse  portfolio  of  properties  comprising  rentable  retail, residential, office and industrial space located across South Africa. Relevant to the proposed transaction is the fact that the acquiring group owns a number of rentable retail properties in the province of the Eastern Cape.[1] Moreover, it owns one comparative centre in Mitchell's Plain in the Western Cape.

Primary target firm

[5] The primary target firm is Redefine in respect of the property letting enterprise known as Cleary Park. Redefine is a public firm incorporated in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Redefine is listed on the JSE and is not controlled by any firm. Cleary Park does not control any firm.

[6] Redefine is a property loan stock company. It holds a diverse property portfolio which comprises office, retail and industrial space throughout South Africa. Cleary Park is a minor regional shopping centre located in Bethelsdorp, Port Elizabeth.

Proposed transaction and rationale:

[7] In terms of the proposed transaction, Arrowhead will  acquire  Cleary  Park  from Redefine. Post-transaction, Arrowhead will own the target enterprise.

[8] Arrowhead submits that it is focused on acquiring a portfolio of retail centres and has identified Cleary Park as a suitable investment. According to Redefine, its current strategy is to invest in assets of a certain quality in specific areas. Cleary Park no longer forms part of this strategy thus Redefine has taken the decision to exit this non-core asset in order to refocus its portfolio on its core asset portfolio.

Impact on Competition:

[9] The Competition Commission ("Commission") identified the relevant market to be the market for the provision of rentable retail space in comparative regional shopping centres ("comparative centres'').[2] In this regard, it is important to note that the acquiring group owns a number of retail properties but only one comparative centre which is located in the Western Cape. Conversely, the target enterprise is a comparative centre located in Port Elizabeth.

[10]  The Commission considered the property portfolios of the merging parties and found that there is an overlap in the  market for the provision of rentable retail  space in relation to comparative centres. However, as the acquiring group does not own any comparative  centres  in the  Eastern  Cape  which  is where  the  target  enterprise  is

located, there is no geographic overlap. Further, the Commission found that the closest retail property of the acquiring group is a stand-alone retail unit  located 23.2km.

[11] The Commission accordingly concluded that the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially prevent or lessen competition in the market for the provision of rentable retail space in comparative centres.

Public interest:

[12] The Commission concluded that there are no public interest concerns likely to arise from the proposed transaction.

Conclusion:

[13] In light of the above, we agree with the Commission's analysis and conclude that the proposed transaction is unlikely to substantially prevent or lessen competition in the relevant market. In addition, no public interest issues arise from the proposed transaction.

25 November 2015

DATE

____________________

Yasmin Carrim

 

Mondo Mazwai and Fiona Tregenna concurring

Tribunal Researcher:              Ammara Cachalia

For the merging parties:         Vani Chetty, Baker McKenzie

For the Commission:              Thato Mkhize

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