Latest news with #CompetitionCommission
Zawya
23-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa's logistics sector set for transformation under new regulations
The final regulations for a block exemption for ports, rail and key feeder road corridors has been issued by South Africa's Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, in consultation with the Competition Commission. The regulations, which came into effect on 8 May 2025, provide a possible path for competitors, customers and suppliers involved in the rail, ports and road sector to collaborate to alleviate the challenges the sector is experiencing, without contravening the Competition Act 89 of 1998, as amended. Objective of the regulations The regulations aim to facilitate cooperation among market participants to address systemic inefficiencies and infrastructure challenges in South Africa's transport and logistics sectors. Specifically, the regulations aim to: - reduce costs, improve services, and minimise losses caused by operational inefficiencies and infrastructure capacity shortages; - prevent, mitigate and resolve bottlenecks and operational breakdowns in port and rail infrastructure; - contribute to measures aimed at resolving the challenges in the sector; and - ensure security of supply of goods transported through South Africa's ports, rails and key feeder road corridors. Scope of the exemption The regulations exempt specific categories of agreements and practices from the application of section 4 and 5(1) of the Competition Act, including the per se prohibitions on: - fixing purchase price or trading conditions (excluding the fixing of a selling price) (Section 4(1)(b)(i)) - dividing markets by allocating customers, suppliers, territories or specific types of goods or services (Section 4(1)(b)(ii)) Categories of exempted conduct The exemption enables coordination on ports and rail as well as key road corridors that feed this infrastructure. Ports - joint planning on port capacity and re-routing of cargo between ports - traffic flow coordination into ports, including sharing operational data (eg, stack levels, weather disruptions) - night operations coordination to ease peak-hour congestion - joint repair, maintenance and development of port infrastructure and facilities - collaboration on technical studies and assessments to enhance sector efficiency - joint investment or funding initiatives for infrastructure upgrades - shared use of independent consultants or technical experts Users of a particular congested terminal in a port may, for example, exchange information on the volumes and delivery methods for cargo they export through that terminal. They might then agree to stagger their deliveries and shipments on a coordinated basis, in coordination with the terminal operator, to relieve congestion at peak times and create greater efficiencies in cargo exports from that terminal. Rail - joint management and upgrading of rail logistics infrastructure - coordination on freight volumes to support dedicated rail services - shared locomotive capacity - reinstatement of services to strategic logistics nodes - integrated rail-port planning to streamline cargo flow - sector-focused collaborative studies - joint infrastructure funding or investment - shared procurement of independent advisory services By way of example, a particular rail corridor may not be utilised to its full design capacity because of ongoing maintenance challenges, or a shortage of rolling stock, or both. In this case, some or all of the exporters who use that rail corridor to export dry bulk commodities, for example, can jointly agree to fund and procure any maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and/ or rolling stock required to ensure the line performs to design capacity. This ensures that they each achieve their maximum export volumes. They might then agree with the network manager and rail transport provider that the funding is repaid over an agreed period of time by way of discounted tariffs from the rail transport provider. Key feeder road corridors that interface with ports and rail (limited to roads that are key feeder corridors) - joint maintenance and development of infrastructure - sector-wide technical studies to improve efficiency - shared investment in corridor upgrades - procurement and sharing of technical experts or consultants The relevant trucking industry bodies, for example, could agree jointly to commission and fund a technical study to reduce surface wear and congestion on a feeder road to a port. Exclusions The regulations specifically exclude the following conduct: - any discussions/ agreements on fixing the selling price of goods/ services - collusive tendering - any agreement that forecloses third-party access to rail infrastructure (such as new entrants, small- and medium-sized enterprises and historically disadvantaged persons) - any agreement or practice that conflicts with sector-specific legislation or policy - resale price maintenance - any merger transaction Application and approval process Firms seeking to rely on the exemption must submit a written request to the Commission for confirmation that the proposed conduct falls within the scope of the regulations. The Commission, after consultation with the relevant sector regulator and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, may: - approve the exemption (with or without safeguards) - decline the request if it falls outside the scope of the regulations The Commission is required to issue a decision within 30 business days, extendable by an additional 30 business days. If no decision is issued within the prescribed period, the agreement or practice is deemed approved. The Commission retains discretion to determine the duration of each exemption. Duration of the regulations The regulations will remain in force for an initial period of 15 years, with the option of a further 15-year extension, although this does not necessarily mean that agreements contemplated under the regulations will be permitted to endure between firms for 15 years. Upon withdrawal of the regulations, firms will be afforded a reasonable period to wind down any ongoing arrangements. Providers of port and rail services as well as customers purchasing these services or other firms in the sector who wish to utilise the exemption, need to ensure that their proposed conduct falls within the scope of the regulations and is approved by the Commission prior to engaging in these collaborations in order to avoid any risk of prosecution by the Commission. The exemption nevertheless creates a significant opportunity to rapidly improve and enhance efficiencies in the freight logistics sector. The various genres of exempt collaboration and cooperation present numerous opportunities for industry participants to be creative in their support of the logistics network for their greater good and that of the country as a whole. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
O 2025: More AI in Gmail, Gemini, Search and Android XR
Google's AI models were updated to be better at making images, taking actions, and writing code. The Google I/O conference took place in Mountain View, California on Tuesday. Picture: X/@sundarpichai It was all about Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Google's annual I/O developer conference. During the conference in Mountain View, California, on Tuesday, Google announced a series of updates that put more AI into Gemini, Search, Gmail, Chrome and Android XR. The search giant's AI models were updated to improve their ability to make images, take actions, and write code. AI Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company's search engine would feature an AI mode, boasting that 'decades of research' were reaching fruition with the new technology. Gemini, which Google wants to turn into a universal AI assistant, is now testing out a new 'agent mode' that allows users to delegate complex tasks to the model, including apartment hunting and even replying to friends' messages. 'This is why we're working to extend our best multimodal foundation model, Gemini 2.5 Pro, to become a 'world model' that can make plans and imagine new experiences by understanding and simulating aspects of the world, just as the brain does,' Google said. WATCH: I/O '25 in under 10 minutes ALSO READ: Google takes issue with Competition Commission market inquiry report Smart glasses Some of the other big announcements made by Google include Android XR smart glasses. While the Android XR will be available to headsets for a VR-like experience, Google's also rolling out its new platform to smart glasses. A working prototype was shown off with demos of how Gemini is deeply integrated into the platform. Google also announced partners it's working with to make these Android XR smart glasses. 'It's the first Android platform built in the Gemini era, and it powers an ecosystem of headsets, glasses and everything in between,' Shahram Izadi, VP and GM, XR said in a blog post. 'With Gemini on these devices, you can have an assistant that's right there with you, sharing your vantage point, ready to help whenever you start the conversation'. AI Mode In a major update, Google said consumers across the United States now can switch Google Search into 'AI Mode,' one of the features, which is shopping, further confining people to their couches as they search for the latest fad. 'The Shopping Graph now has more than 50 billion product listings, from global retailers to local mom and pop shops, each with details like reviews, prices, colour options and availability,' Google said. AI Ultra plan Google also announced an 'AI Ultra Plan,' which for $249.99 (R4 470) monthly provides, for now US users only with higher limits on AI and early access to experimental tools like Project Mariner, an internet browser extension that can automate keystrokes and mouse clicks, and Deep Think, a version of its top-shelf Gemini model that is more capable of reasoning through complicated tasks. The AI Ultra Plan has access to Gemini, Google's Veo 3 video generator, the company's new Flow video editing app, Whisk and NotebookLM AI Ultra subscribers also get access to Google's Gemini chatbot in Chrome; some 'agentic' tools powered by the company's Project Mariner tech; YouTube Premium; and 30TB of storage across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. Gemini Google also announced that Gemini Live's camera and screen-sharing capabilities will roll out this week to all users on iOS and Android. The feature, powered by Project Astra, lets people have near-real time verbal conversations with Gemini, while also streaming video from their smartphone's camera or screen to the AI model. Play Store Google's Play Store is also being spruced up for Android developers with new tools to handle subscriptions and topic pages so users can dive into specific interests and audio samples to give people a sneak peek into app content, and a new smooth checkout experience to make selling add-ons easier. ALSO READ: Acer announces new wearable gadgets at Computex 2025
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Competition Commission greenlights Multichoice and Canal+ deal
Canal+ already owns 45% of Multichoice's shares, and with this deal, it intends to buy the remaining shares for R125 per share, valuing the group at R55 billion. The Competition Commission has recommended that the Competition Tribunal approve the acquisition of Multichoice by French Media giant Canal+, subject to conditions relating to public interest considerations. Canal+ already owns 45% of Multichoice's shares, and with this deal, it intends to buy the remaining shares for R125 per share, valuing the group at R55 billion. ALSO READ: Canal+ takeover: MultiChoice faces uncertain future amid strategy discrepancies Multichoice and Canal+ deal conditions 'The conditions include a package of guaranteed public interest commitments proposed by the parties,' said Multichoice. 'The package supports the participation of firms controlled by Historically Disadvantaged Persons (HDPs) and Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) in the audio-visual industry in South Africa. 'This package will maintain funding for local South African general entertainment and sport content, providing local content creators with a strong foundation for future success.' Next step for Multichoice and Canal+ deal Now the ball is in the Tribunal's court to make a decision on the transaction. 'The approval of the Tribunal and the fulfilment of the remaining conditions are required for the Proposed Transaction to become unconditional.' Calvo Mawela, CEO of MultiChoice Group, said: 'The recommendation from the Competition Commission is a key step forward towards the completion of the transaction and a recognition of the strong package of public interest commitments provided by the parties.' Maxime Saada, CEO of Canal+, said: 'This represents a significant step forward in our ambition to establish a global media and entertainment company with Africa at its core. We are committed to investing in local content and supporting South Africa's creative and sports ecosystems.' ALSO READ: MultiChoice profit nosedives with huge decline in subscribers Commission and Tribunal The Competition Commission is an independent adjudicative body established to regulate competition between firms in the market. The Competition Tribunal is an independent adjudicative body that adjudicates on matters referred to it by the Competition Commission. The Commission is the investigating and prosecuting agency in the competition regime, while the Tribunal is the court. Weak performance Dstv, operated by Multichoice, has seen its subscribers decline from more than 23 million to 19.3 million in less than two years. The group announced earlier this year that the challenging consumer environment has resulted in a decline in subscribers and limited revenue growth. 'The group was navigating unprecedented external adversities, including macro-economic headwinds, as well as disrupted power supply and severe currency depreciation in some of its key markets in the Rest of Africa.' DStv price increases DStv has announced price adjustments across its packages, effective 1 April 2025: Premium: From R929 to R979 (+R50) Compact Plus: From R619 to R659 (+R40) Compact: From R469 to R479 (+R10) Family: From R329 to R339 (+R10) Access: From R139 to R150 (+R11) EasyView: From R29 to R30 (+R1) Access Fees: From R120 to R125 (+R5) Add Movies: From R79 to R49 (-R30) DStv Stream: No adjustment Showmax PL: From R69 to R99 (+R30) Showmax Entertainment mobile: From R45 to R50 (+R5) NOW READ: WATCH: DStv's 'R100' advert deemed misleading by regulatory board
TimesLIVE
21-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Competition watchdog greenlights Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice, with conditions
The Competition Commission on Wednesday recommended the Competition Tribunal approve France's Canal+ offer to buy shares it does not own in pay TV broadcaster MultiChoice, with conditions. Canal+, part of French media group Vivendi, last year made a firm offer of R125 in cash per MultiChoice share, or about R35bn, which valued the company at about R55bn.
Reuters
21-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
South Africa's competition watchdog greenlights Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice with conditions
JOHANNESBURG, May 21 (Reuters) - South Africa's Competition Commission on Wednesday recommended that the Competition Tribunal approve France's Canal+ offer to buy shares it does not own in pay TV broadcaster MultiChoice (MCGJ.J), opens new tab with conditions. Canal+, part of French media group Vivendi ( opens new tab, last year made a firm offer of 125 rand in cash per MultiChoice share, or about 35 billion rand ($1.96 billion), which valued the company at about 55 billion rand. ($1 = 17.8759 rand)
