Shoprite-Metcash merger approved

Shoprite chief executive officer Whitey Basson. Photo: Simphiwe Mbokazi.

Shoprite chief executive officer Whitey Basson. Photo: Simphiwe Mbokazi.

Published Aug 1, 2011

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The Competition Tribunal on Monday approved a merger between retailers Shoprite and Metcash, on condition that jobs would be found for employees facing retrenchment.

The Competition Commission had recommended the merger should go ahead, on condition that Metcash find alternative work for employees who stood to be retrenched during the restructuring.

Employees who had applied for voluntary retrenchment should also be given the option of alternate jobs, unless Metcash accepted their applications.

The commission had said merger was unlikely to significantly lessen competition in the relevant markets.

The tribunal accepted the commission's finding and on Monday decided the merger could go ahead with the employment-related condition.

Shoprite announced in March it would buy the franchise unit of Metcash Trading, which operates the supermarket chain Seven Eleven and Friendly Seven Eleven. - Sapa

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