Merger Alert: Outcome of mergers decided by the Tribunal - 22 April 2025
The following Merger Alert is for information purposes only and is not binding on the Competition Tribunal or any member of the Tribunal
| Type of matter | Parties involved | Tribunal Decision |
| Large merger | Bidfood (Pty) Ltd and the business conducted by Fridge Foods Group (Pty) Ltd | Approved without conditions |
| Large merger | Sasol Pension Fund and Westlake View
| Approved without conditions
|
Bidfood (Pty) Ltd and the business conducted by Fridge Foods Group (Pty) Ltd
The Competition Tribunal (“Tribunal”) has unconditionally approved two indivisible transactions: Firstly, the proposed merger in which Bidfood (Pty) Ltd (“Bidfood”) will acquire the business operations of Fridge Foods Group (Pty) Ltd (“Fridge Foods”) as a going concern. Secondly, Bid Corporation Limited (“Bidcorp”), the ultimate controller of Bidfood, will acquire control of the industrial properties currently used by Fridge Foods to conduct its business. These properties are located in the Eastern and Western Cape. Post-merger, both the business and properties of Fridge Foods will be ultimately owned by Bidcorp.
Bidfood is wholly owned by Bidcorp Food Africa (Pty) Ltd, which is itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Bidcorp. Bidcorp is an international company active in food services, fresh produce supply, logistics and catering equipment. Through Bidfood, it offers a wide range of food products, non-food items and catering equipment. Bidfood’s customers include coffee shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs, hotels, resorts and casinos, airlines, schools and universities, hospitals, and prisons, among others. It also operates a grocery retail store.
The primary target of the merger is Fridge Foods’ business, which operates in the food distribution and food retail sectors. Its product offerings mirror those of Bidfood, encompassing food items, non-food items and catering equipment. Fridge Foods also operates grocery retail stores.
Sasol Pension Fund and Westlake View
The Tribunal has unconditionally approved the proposed merger in which Sasol Pension Fund (“the Sasol Fund”) intends to acquire shares in an immoveable property known as Westlake View from West Property Fund (Pty) Ltd.
The Sasol Fund is registered as a Type B Umbrella Fund in terms of the Pension Funds Act No. 24 of 1956, as amended, and is one of several retirement provision options for employees of the Sasol Group (and its affiliates) within South Africa. The Sasol Fund’s assets are invested in a variety of asset classes, including property.
West Property Fund is an investment property holding company forming part of the West Property
Group, which has property interests in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The target property is a light industrial property situated in Modderfontein, in Johannesburg.
Issued by:
Gillian de Gouveia, Communications Manager
On behalf of the Competition Tribunal of South Africa
Cell: +27 (0) 82 410 1195
E-Mail: GillianD@comptrib.co.za
Twitter: @comptrib
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