Competition or anti-trust law has significant and far reaching implications for companies conducting business in South Africa and across the world.
Regardless of size and sector, every business needs to be aware of competition law in order to meet its obligations and to protect its rights and position in the market place.
We’ve been involved in a number of high profile cases. Our talented, strategically-minded Competition Law Team is offers a full-suite of services with a thorough knowledge of competition laws in South Africa and other Sub-Saharan African jurisdictions.
Competition law expertise
- Abuse of dominance
- Cartel investigations, enforcement and leniency
- Compliance reviews, programs and training
- Market investigations
- Merger control and review
Sep 20, 2021
COMESA shows it means business
In a first for cross-border merger regulation in Africa, a fine has been issued by the COMESA Competition Commission (Commission) for the failure to notify a merger within the prescribed timelines.
In the proposed acquisition by Helios Towers Limited of the shares in Madagascar Towers S.A and Malaw
Jun 22, 2021
Burger King — The Growing Importance of Public Interest Factors on Merger Control in South Africa
The Competition Commission has prohibited a proposed transaction where Emerging Capital Partners (“ECP”), a US based private equity firm with a focus on investment holdings and interests in Africa, sought to acquire Burger King (South Africa) from Grand Parade Investments on public interest grounds
Jun 08, 2021
Small Merger Notification in Digital Markets
On 7 May 2021, the Competition Commission (“Commission”) issued Draft Guidelines on Small Merger Notification (“the Guidelines”) for public comment. The draft Guidelines reinforce the existing approach of the Commission to the notification of small mergers that may result in anti-competitive effects
Apr 01, 2021
The new face of merger filings?
On the 25th of March 2021, proposed new merger filing forms were published in the Government Gazette for public comment. These forms propose significant changes in order to bring them in line with the amendments to the Competition Act of 1998, which were introduced in 2018. While not yet effective,
Feb 24, 2021
Tabacks becomes a full Member Firm of Andersen Global
Tabacks has become a full member firm of Andersen Global, an international association of legally separate, independent member firms with a presence in 45 countries in Africa. With this move, Tabacks will be known as Andersen in South Africa from 24 February 2021.
This development sees the local fir
May 08, 2020
Tabacks and Andersen: A driving force in the South Africa legal industry
In November 2018, Andersen and Tabacks concluded a Collaboration Agreement which positioned Tabacks as the chosen partner of choice to the Andersen group in South Africa.
This collaboration allows not only Tabacks to provide best-in-class professional services to its clients, in a seamless fashion,
Apr 22, 2020
Centrum Pharmacy Settles Excessive Pricing Complaint
Consumer Protection Regulations stipulate that an increase in the price of an essential good which does not correspond with an increase in the cost of providing that good, or an above average margin increase, is grounds for excessive pricing.
On 19 March 2020, the Minister for Trade and Industry pub
Mar 06, 2020
Public Transport Market Inquiry: All should roam freely... and charge accordingly
On 19 February 2020, the Competition Commission released its reports on the provisional findings of the Land Based Public Passenger Transport Market Inquiry. Of the two reports published, we focus on the one which concerns metered taxis and e-hailing services.
And it is good news for metered taxis.
Dec 16, 2019
The Competition Act: Price Discrimination
By Ian Jacobsberg and Katherine Woodhouse
The regulations on price discrimination provide clarity defining price discrimination, establishing whether a contravention has occurred, and whether it is likely to impede effective participation by the “designated class” of consumers which the Legislature
Dec 14, 2019
The Competition Act: Dominance and its abuses
By Ian Jacobsberg and Katherine Woodhouse
The danger posed by a dominant firm is that it is able to conduct its business without any consideration of its customers or competitors, and potentially act in a way which is detrimental to competition.The Competition Act (89 of 1998) includes a number of p
Dec 13, 2019
The Competition Act: Buyer Power
Buyer power regulations are designed to protect smaller businesses from large or dominant firms which have the power to impose prices and deals which favour them.
Following the amendments to the Competition Act (89 of 1998), the Minister of Trade and Industry has published regulations, and correspon
Sep 19, 2019
Jumping the gun into the spotlight
By Anthony Crane and Andrew Attieh
Guidelines outlining how the competition authorities will calculate penalties for parties who implement notifiable transactions without approval have been published. Armed with the methodology, the publication of the Guidelines should serve as a warning that the co
Aug 20, 2019
Competition regulation and the 4th Industrial Revolution – finding some middle ground
By Katherine Woodhouse
The advent of the 4th industrial revolution poses a dilemma for a number of regulatory bodies in South Africa and abroad.Profanity to some and the embodiment of progress to others, the 4th industrial revolution is making its presence known, in regulatory spheres with the quest
May 02, 2019
The importance of public interest factors in South African merger control
By Anthony Crane
Recently introduced amendments to the Competition Act, highlight the need for companies planning to make strategic acquisitions in South Africa to consider the potential public interest effect their transaction may have in relation to transformation and market concentration objectiv
