Brief
South Africa's Competition Commission moves to revoke Premier‑RFG merger approval
The Commission alleges Premier failed to disclose plans to close a key fruit‑canning facility in Tulbagh during the merger review.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Competition Commission has filed an application with the Competition Tribunal to revoke its conditional approval of Premier Group Limited’s acquisition of RFG Holdings Limited, citing alleged non‑disclosure of material information.
What happened
Premier announced in late July 2026 that it intended to close Fruit Processing Western Cape, a fruit‑canning plant in Tulbagh, about four months after the Tribunal had granted conditional approval of the merger. The facility is one of only two such operations in South Africa, supporting roughly 200 growers and employing over 400 workers.
What the reports add
Bizcommunity reports that the Commission says Premier and RFG told regulators they did not plan to close, integrate or consolidate any production sites during the review. However, after a complaint about potential retrenchments, the Commission concluded the parties had discussed the Tulbagh closure before the Tribunal’s approval but failed to disclose it, despite specific enquiries.
What was said
The Commission’s filing alleges the non‑disclosure prevented proper assessment of competition and public‑interest impacts, including loss of a major customer for farmers and a decline in fruit exports.
How it came about
The revocation request follows the Commission’s investigation of the complaint and extends beyond employment‑related conditions, focusing on the alleged omission of material information relevant to the merger assessment.
Key facts
- The Competition Commission has applied to the Competition Tribunal to revoke its conditional approval of Premier Group’s acquisition of RFG Holdings. (bizcommunity.com)
- Premier announced plans in July 2026 to close the Fruit Processing Western Cape cannery in Tulbagh. (bizcommunity.com)
- The Tulbagh facility supports about 200 fruit growers and employs more than 400 workers. (bizcommunity.com)
- The Commission alleges Premier and RFG failed to disclose the planned closure during the merger review. (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “CompComm seeks historic revocation of Premier–RFG merger approval”
