A PYMNTS Company

South Africa’s Competition Appeal Court Rules Against Coca-Cola

By  |  June 26, 2022

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa broke conditions related to two mergers in South Africa, the country’s competition court has ruled.

South Africa’s Competition Appeal Court said Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) breached conditions linked to transactions in 2016 and 2017.

Six years ago, competition officials in South Africa approved a deal between SABMiller, The Coca-Cola Co. and Gutsche Family Investment that created Africa’s largest bottler.

Both deals included deals to protect workers. In a judgment handed down on 17 June, the Competition Appeal Court ruled CCBA violated those conditions with its local subsidiary retrenched 368 employees in 2019.

The court’s ruling went against a decision by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal last September. The Tribunal set aside a notice from The Competition Commission South Africa, which had pressed the case CCBA had breached the conditions.

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.