On 29 September 2005 the Competition Tribunal issued a Merger Clearance Certificate approving the merger between Pangbourne Property
(Pty) Ltd and the Rental Enterprise conducted by Paramount Property (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 Pangbourne Property (Pty) Ltd. (“Pangbourne”), a company listed under the financial real estate
sector of the JSE. It is not controlled by any firm but itself controls a number of subsidiaries, none of which are relevant for
the purpose of this analysis. It also has a 48% interest in iFour Properties Limited. iFour is described as an “associate company” of Pangbourne, and is an investment company also listed on the JSE and also
owning properties.
2.
The primary target firm is the rental enterprise (“Enterprise”), which is conducted by Paramount Property Fund Limited, also listed on the JSE as
a property loan firm. The property portfolio being acquired is registered in the name of Paramount and comprises some 15 industrial
and commercial properties listed in the agreement of sale, as well as the business enterprise of letting the property including all
fixtures and fittings.
The Merger Transaction
3.
Pangbourne is acquiring 15 properties currently registered in the name of Paramount together with the business enterprise comprising
letting of the property and all fixtures and fittings.
Rationale for the Transaction
4.
Paramount is disposing of its smaller properties spread over a wide geographic area. Pangbourne seeks to acquire these properties
to aid its strategy of achieving consistent growth in returns for its group unit-holders.
The relevant product and geographic markets
5.
Pangbourne invests in a range of properties in order to achieve returns on behalf of its investors and manage risk.
6.
Paramount has a property portfolio comprising various types of rentable space including retail space, office space, industrial space,
parking space and other rentable space throughout the country.
7.
The product overlap between the activities of Paramount and Pangbourne is in respect of grade A office space and light industrial
space in the geographic areas or nodes of Sandton, Kempton Park and Midrand.
Effect on Competition
7.
The combined post-merger market shares in each geographic node are low, being as follows:
Kempton Park (industrial)
6.2%
Midrand (industrial)
9.5%
Sandton (office grade A)
0.24%
Conclusion
We conclude that the merger will not lead to a substantial lessening or prevention of competition.
The Tribunal therefore approves the transaction unconditionally. There are no public interest concerns which would alter this conclusion.
__________
17 October 2005
N. Manoim
Date
Concurring: Y. Carrim, D. Lewis
For the merging parties:
Edward Nathan Corporate Law Advisors
For the Commission:
O. Strydom, Mergers and Acquisitions
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