Competition Act, 1998 (Act No. 89 of 1998)Competition Tribunal RulesPart 4 - Tribunal ProceduresDivision C - Merger Proceedings32. Participation by Minister in merger proceedings |
1) | Whether or not the Minister participated in merger proceedings before the Commission, the Minister may file a Notice of Minister's Intention to Participate in Form CC 5(2) within 10 days after— |
a) | The Commission refers a large merger to the Tribunal; or |
b) | A party to the merger files a request in terms of section 15(2), in respect of an intermediate merger. |
2) | Upon receiving a Minister's Notice of Intention to Participate in terms of sub-rule (1), the registrar must— |
a) | deliver a copy of the Minister's Notice of Intention to Participate to every other participant; and |
b) | deliver to the Minister a copy of all documents filed in connection with the merger, up to the day on which the Minister's Notice of Intention to Participate was filed. |
3) | The registrar must deliver to the Minister any document that is filed in connection with a merger after the Minister's Notice of Intention to Participate was filed. |
4) | The Minister may file a concise statement of the public interest grounds on which the Minister relies in respect of a particular merger, and a statement of the decision, if any that the Minister prefers, at any time between— |
a) | The date on which the Minister filed a Notice of Intention to Participate; and |
b) | 10 days after receiving advice from the Tribunal in terms of sub-rule (5), if applicable. |
5) | If, in respect of a particular merger the Minister has filed a Notice of Intention to Participate, but has not yet filed a statement in terms of sub-rule (4), the Tribunal must advise the Minister in writing at the time that it is prepared to make a decision in terms of section 15. |
6) | Upon receiving a concise statement from the Minister in terms of sub-rule (4), the Commission must serve a copy of the statement on each other participant in those proceedings, and each participant may file a written response to the statement within 5 days after it has been served on them. |