COMPETITION TRIBUNAL
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Case no.: 30/LM/Apr04
In the large merger between:
Kagiso Financial Services
and
Infrastructure Finance Corporation
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Reasons
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On 28 April 2004 the Tribunal unconditionally approved a merger involving Kagiso
Financial Service and Infrastructure Finance Corporation Limited (“IFC”).
The transaction
The primary acquiring firm is Kagiso Financial Services Limited (“Kagiso”). Kagiso is
controlled by Kagiso Trust Investments (Pty) Ltd, which is jointly owned by Kagiso
Trust, Liberty Group, Nedcor Corporate Bank and an employee trust.
The primary target firm is IFC whose shareholders are:
• Chanson Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd
• CDC Group Plc
• Deutsche Investitions – und Entwicklungsgesellschaft Gmbh (“DEG”)
• Dexia Credit Locale (“Dexia”)
• FirstRand Bank Limited
• Old Mutual Life Assurance Copany Limited
• IFC Share Investment Trust
• Momentum Group Limited 9”Momentum”)
• Societe De Promotion et de Participation Pour La Cooperation Economique SA
(“Proparco”)
Kagiso will acquire a 43.96% interest in IFC from the following shareholders:
CDC Group Plc 17.68%
DEG 8.84%
Old Mutual 13.04%
Proparco 4.42%
Following the transaction, the shareholders of IFC will be as follows:
Kagiso 43.96%
FirstRand 17.68%
Momentum 26.98%
Dexia 4.42%
Employee share trust 4.95%
Chanson 2.0 %
Proparco 0.01%
Rationale for the transaction
The fundamental purpose and intention of the proposed transaction is to strengthen the
black economic empowerment profile of the target company, ensuring that INC far
exceed the minimum requirements as set out in the Financial Services Charter.
Effect on competition
Kagiso offers a range of services to its national, provincial and local government clients,
parastatals and corporate clients in relation to project finance advisory services which
includes financial advice related to the delivery of complete tenders; advising sponsors or
bidders on these processes and conducting feasibility studies and options analysis while
assisting with arranging and structuring finance solicitation frameworks for funding
projects. Kagiso competes with RMB, Investec, Standard Corporate & Merchant Bank.
IFC provides funding or infrastructure financing to the public sector specifically focusing
on funding of municipalities. It also focuses on movable asset financing to the public
sector. IFC competes in the private sector with banks suckh as ABSA, Nedbank and First
Rand and in the public sector with institutions such as the Development Band of South
Africa.
The parties offer different services to their clients and also focus on different sectors
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within the public sector as explained above. According to the parties there is no
connection between the projects on which Kagiso has historically advised and those INC
is currently involved. There is thus no overlap in the relevant product markets of the
merging parties.
However, the vertical relationship between the merging parties, post the merger, does
raise potential competitive concerns in that Kagiso may act as an advisor to a transaction
that IFC may fund and in doing so prevent IFC’s competitors from funding any such
projects. The parties informed the Tribunal that National Treasury rules do not allow a
single entity to act as an advisor and funder to publicprivate partnerships simultaneously
meaning that Kagiso or IFC will either fund or advise, but will not do both in the same
project.
In light of the above we find that the transaction would not substantially prevent or lessen
competition in the relevant markets.
Public interest
The transaction does not raise any significant public interest concerns.
____________ 1 June 2004
D Lewis Date
Concurring: N Manoim, U Bhoola
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