[Ferro-Alloys.com]  Exxaro Resources Acquiring Manganese Decisions by The Competition Commission

ManganExx (Pty) Ltd (“ManganExx”), ultimately controlled by Exxaro Resources Limited (“Exxaro”) / Ntsimbintle Mining (Pty) Ltd (“Ntsimbintle”), Ntsimbintle Marketing and Trading Private Ltd (“Ntsimbintle Marketing”) and Mokala Manganese (Pty) Ltd (“Mokala”) (collectively, the “Target Firms”)

The Commission has recommended that the Tribunal approves the proposed transaction whereby ManganExx intends to acquire the Target Firms, with conditions.

The primary acquiring firm is ManganExx, a newly incorporated wholly owned subsidiary that is controlled by Exxaro. Exxaro is a public company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and is not controlled by any single shareholder.

Exxaro’s core operation is thermal, semi-soft coking and metallurgical coal mining. Exxaro also has interests in the mining of ferrous (iron) ore and zinc. Exxaro also has investments in renewable energy (wind and solar power).

The primary target firms are Ntsimbintle Mining, Ntsimbintle Marketing, and Mokala.

Ntsimbintle Mining is focused on the production and export of manganese ore. Ntsimbintle Marketing is the marketing firm for manganese ore products. Mokala focuses on the exploration, extraction, sale, and shipping of manganese ore from the Mokala Mine, which is situated at the Gloria Farm in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality in the Northern Cape.

To address competition concerns, the merged entity has agreed to information exchange conditions.

The proposed transaction does not raise significant public interest concerns.

• [Editor:tianyawei]