Application of facts to the public interest grounds
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In terms of section 12A(3) of the Competition Act –
“When determining whether a merger can or cannot be justified on public interest grounds, the Competition Commission or the Competition Tribunal must consider the effect that the merger will have on –
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a particular industrial sector or region;
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employment;
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the ability of small businesses, or firms controlled or owned by historically disadvantaged persons, to become competitive; and
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the ability of national industries to compete in international markets."
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Each of these factors is considered below, having regard to the submissions contained in this document –
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Effect on a particular industrial sector or region
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In regard to industrial sectors, it has been demonstrated that the proposed transaction is likely to negatively affect the stability of a number of industries within the South African manufacturing sector (as a result of lower demand and the closure or down-sizing of a number of firms) as well as the retail sector (as a result of closure of a number of smaller retailers due, inter alia, to an inability to compete). In addition, the proposed transaction is likely to lead to significant de-industrialisation of these sectors.
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In regard to particular regions, the proposed transaction is likely to negatively affect levels of industrialisation in a number of non-metropolitan regions. Many of these regions rely on the manufacturing sector, particularly the clothing and textile industry, and this will affect a number of poorer communities.
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Effect on employment
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It has been demonstrated that the proposed transaction is likely to substantially increase unemployment levels, both within the retail sector (having regard to net job losses) and within manufacturing sectors which supply the retail sector. This is a significant concern in South Africa, particularly as governmental initiative have identified some of these sectors as critical for job creation.
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The increase in unemployment will, in turn, have a negative effect on a number of other issues, such as the fiscus (social grant payments) and consumer spending.
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Effect on small businesses and HDI firms
It has been demonstrated that the proposed transaction is likely to create negative effects for small businesses and HDI firms in the manufacturing sector (given, inter alia, lower demand for locally produced products) and retail sector (given, inter alia, an inability of these firms to compete with the merged entity) and less focus on black economic empowerment procurement.
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Effect on the ability of national industries to compete
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The proposed transaction will have negative effects for the ability of local producers and manufacturers in affected industrial sectors to achieve economies of scale and to export products.
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The negative effects of the proposed transaction on particular industrial sectors will also have a negative effect on South African production and productivity. The worsening of the trade deficit will therefore not only be affected by increases in imports but will be compounded by decreases in local production.
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Conclusion
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Following the input by SACTWU and others to the Competition Tribunal, the Tribunal decided to approve the merger of Walmart and Massmart with conditions.
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We disagree that the merger should have been approved. We also disagree with the conditions the Tribunal attached to the merger. Unlike the Tribunal we do not think that these conditions are sufficient to deal with the impact of the merger.
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The public interest considerations of the entry of Walmart into South Africa are significant and are, SACTWU asserts, ample cause for concern for the South African State, especially given the developmental (socio-economic) priorities facing South Africa.
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SACTWU further believes that the merger has illustrated certain shortcomings in our competition legislation, including the lack of emphasis on employment as a valid criterion when determining whether a merger should be approved or not.
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