COMPETITION TRIBUNAL 
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
						
Case no: 20/LM/Mar06
In The Large Merger Between: 

Swiss Reinsurance Company					                     Acquiring Firm

And

GE Insurance Solutions Corporation and its subsidiaries	                           Target Firm

Reasons for Decision

Approval

1.	On 11 May 2006 the Competition Tribunal issued a Merger Clearance Certificate approving the transaction between Swiss Reinsurance Company and GE Insurance Solutions Corporation and its subsidiaries. The reasons for this decision follow. 

The Transaction

2.	In terms of the proposed transaction, Swiss Reinsurance Company (“Swiss Re”) intends to acquire, either directly or via one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the shares of GE Insurance Solutions Corporation (“GE Insurance”). 

3.	According to the parties, the transaction will inter alia enable Swiss Re to enhance its overall insurance and reinsurance portfolios, thereby allowing achievement of greater diversification, including, geographic diversification and strong direct distribution presence.

Competition analysis

4.	Both parties are globally active in the supply of reinsurance and of direct insurance. However, in South Africa, the parties’ activities overlap only in respect of reinsurance. 

5.	Reinsurance involves both life reinsurance and non-life reinsurance. Since GE Insurance is not active in life reinsurance in South Africa, the only issue for consideration is the overlap arising from the merging parties’ involvement in non-life reinsurance. While the parties opted for a narrow product market definition i.e. the market for the writing of non-life reinsurance policies, the Commission instead analysed both the broad market for reinsurance and the narrow sub markets for life reinsurance and non-life reinsurance.

6.	The Commission and the parties agree that the relevant geographic market is global, due to the fact that customers can source reinsurance within international markets and are not confined to national borders.  The market share data provided by the Commission is tabulated below:

Firm	Reinsurance market	Life reinsurance	Non-life reinsurance	
	Global	RSA	Global	RSA	Global	RSA	
Swiss Re	8.1%	35%	10.6%	35.35%	7.1%	37.7%	
GE Insurance	1.7%	< 1%	1.8%	-	1.7%	< 1%	
Post merger	9.8%	36%	12.4%	35.35%	8.8%	38%	

7.	From the table above, it is clear that the accretion in market share is relatively insignificant due to GE Insurance’s small presence both globally and in the South African market. The Commission’s investigation revealed that customers for reinsurance are generally direct insurers or brokers of reinsurance and are well-resourced, knowledgeable and sophisticated purchasers. Both the Commission and the parties agree that switching from one reinsurance supplier to another is relatively easy.
 
8.	We do not make a definitive finding on the relevant market, as we are of the view that regardless of how the market is defined, the merger does not raise any significant competition concerns.

Conclusion

9.	There are no public interest issues, which arise and we accordingly approve the transaction without conditions.

								                                     May 2006
N Manoim						 	                                   Date			
Concurring: U Bhoola and Y Carrim

For the merging parties: K de Kock and A Norton (Webber Wentzel Bowens)
For the Commission: L Lamola and S Nunkoo (Mergers and Acquisitions)