Merger deals bring $50m foreign investment
The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) approved a total of 69 merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions during fiscal year 2024-25, facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of approximately $50 million.
These transactions spanned diverse sectors including food, finance, logistics, aerospace, media and e-commerce, underscoring the CCP's critical role in promoting fair competition and enhancing investor confidence in Pakistan's economy, according to a statement issued on Tuesday.
Prominent FDI transactions included a joint venture between National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and DP World Logistics, facilitated by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), and the acquisition of Wemsol by Bazaar Technologies in the e-commerce sector.
In agribusiness, Italy's Euricom acquired 50% of Fatima Euricom Rice Mills. The media sector saw Berkeley Square Holding acquire a 50% stake in Ogilvy & Mather, Mindshare and Soho Square Pakistan. Additionally, Saudi firm Wakeb Data Company acquired an 80% stake in drone technology company Woot Tech.
In addition to foreign investment transactions, the CCP approved 64 domestic M&A deals across sectors such as retail, services, logistics, energy, food and manufacturing. Sector-wise, 25 transactions were made in the industrial and manufacturing category, 14 in energy and power, 13 in services, 11 in financial services, five in consumer goods and retail and one in real estate.
Major domestic transactions included Asyad Holding's acquisition of 77.42% shares in Shell Pakistan via UAE-based Wafi Energy, marking a key move in the energy sector. Alfalah Asset Management took over fund management rights from Faysal Asset Management while Sapphire Fibres and Mindbridge jointly acquired Uch Power and Uch-II Power.
Other notable domestic transactions were PPR Holding acquiring full ownership of SadaPay Technologies, Nimir Industrial Chemicals acquiring assets of Procter & Gamble Pakistan, Naubahar Bottling Company acquiring bottling assets of JK Sugar Mills and the merger of DWP Engineering Industries with Digital World Pakistan.
Additionally, during FY25, the CCP granted 38 conditional and time-bound exemptions under the Competition Act 2010. These exemptions were given across sectors like automotive, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, food & beverages, energy, logistics, telecommunications, banking & finance, tobacco, aviation and packaging.
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