COMPETITION TRIBUNAL
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Case Number: 16/LM/Feb00
In the large merger between
Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd
and
Randfontein Estates Limited
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Reasons for Competition Tribunal’s Decision
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Approval
1. The Competition Tribunal issued a Merger Clearance Certificate on 15
March 2000 approving without conditions the merger between Harmony
Gold Mining Company Limited and Randfontein Estates Limited. The
reasons for our decision to approve the merger are set out below.
The Merger Transaction
2. The primary acquiring firm is Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited.
3. The target firm is Randfontein Estates Limited.
Evaluating the Merger
4. Both firms are primarily involved in the production and sale of gold bullion
bars. The acquiring firm is the third biggest producer of gold bullion in
South Africa, and the target firm is the fourth largest producer. In addition
to the above the acquiring firm also refines other valueadded products
such as gold granules and gold bars.
The relevant product/service market
5. The relevant product/services market is the sale of gold bullion bars.
The relevant geographic market
6. The production and sale of gold bullion bars is an international market.
Impact on competition
7. Although both firms are in the same product market, this does not give the
merging parties market power, as the relevant geographic market is very
wide. Moreover, the supply of gold bullion bars on the international market
occurs at two levels; the sale of new production by producers and the sale
of reserves by financial institutions. The acquiring firm and the target firm
produce and sell new gold, while international central banks, the World
Bank and the IMF have vast amounts of gold in reserve and sell on the
international market as well. It is inconceivable that a single producer of
gold can influence prices in the market. According to the report of the
Commission the parties to this merger have a combined share of 2,44%
on the international market for the new production and sale of gold. The
sheer size of the market means that South African gold producers are
essentially price takers.
8. The Tribunal therefore agrees with the Commission that this merger raises
no competition concerns.
Public interest considerations
9. In terms of the information given to the Tribunal by the acquiring firm and
the Commission there are no substantial public interest concerns resulting
from this merger.
10. It is envisaged by the acquiring firm that some employees of the target
firm will lose their jobs pursuant to the merger. The acquiring firm intends
to cut down on the costs of production at the target firm and the job losses
will be a consequence of this process. It is estimated that about 60 (sixty)
senior employees will lose their jobs. According to the information put
before the Tribunal the staff to be retrenched are skilled professionals who
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do not require retraining. They are employees who should be able to find
other jobs. The Commission received no objections to this merger from
the trade unions representing employees of the merging parties. The only
representation received from a trade union was to the effect that it was
satisfied that the acquiring firm has acted in an open and transparent
manner. Based on the above information the Tribunal agrees with the
Commission’s finding that there are no public interest concerns raised by
this merger that warrant its prohibition.
14 April 2000
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N.M. Manoim Date
Concurring: D.H. Lewis and P.E. Maponya
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