非洲最高反垄断机构批准了私募股权公司Harith General Partners收购廉价航空公司FlySafair的提议。
Africa’s highest antitrust authority approved private equity firm Harith General Partners’ proposal to acquire budget carrier FlySafair.
竞争法庭于周三宣布的这项决定，促成了南非近年来最重要的航空交易之一，将这家非洲最大经济体市场领导者的控制权交给了一家寻求扩大其在交通运输行业业务的基础设施投资者。
The decision by the Competition Tribunal, announced Wednesday, seals one of the most significant aviation transactions in South Africa in years, handing control of the market leader in Africa’s biggest economy to an infrastructure investor seeking to expand its footprint across the transport sector.
该公司周四在一份声明中表示，在获得尚未取得的批准并满足剩余条件的前提下，该交易目前预计将于今年晚些时候完成。
Subject to getting outstanding approvals and satisfying remaining conditions, the transaction is currently expected to close later this year, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
*这笔交易将使这家管理着30亿美元资产的私募股权公司获得该航空公司的控制权。该公司占据了南非航空超过60%的座位运力，并解决了满足南非所有权规则的监管压力。
The deal will give the private equity firm, which manages $3 billion in assets, control of a carrier that holds more than 60% of South Africa’s airline seating capacity and addresses regulatory pressure to meet South African ownership rules.
南非国内航空服务委员会（Domestic Air Services Council）在2024年表示，该航空公司存在违规行为，因为信托基金和公司（而非个人）拥有该航空公司75%的投票权。此前，当地竞争对手Lift提出了投诉。
The Domestic Air Services Council in 2024 said that the carrier was in breach because trusts and companies — not people — own 75% of the airline’s voting rights. The ruling followed a complaint by local rival Lift.
对于Harith而言，投资者将受益于该航空公司的品牌知名度、运营规模以及覆盖南非多数最繁忙航线的网络。这家低成本航空公司已从2014年启动时的两架飞机运营规模，发展成为拥有30多架飞机、在南非航空业占据主导地位的力量。
For Harith, the investor will benefit from the airline’s brand recognition, operating scale and a network that reaches most of South Africa’s busiest routes. The low-cost carrier has grown from a two-aircraft operation launched in 2014 into the dominant force in South African aviation with more than 30 airplanes.
这笔交易将在Harith Aviation与FlySafair母公司Safair Holdings之间进行。
The deal will be done between Harith Aviation and FlySafair parent Safair Holdings.
Harith此前表示，这笔交易将占其投资组合的约15%，并将通过债务和股权进行融资。
Harith previously said the deal would make up about 15% of its portfolio and will be funded by debt and equity.
Harith还持有兰塞里亚国际机场（Lanseria International Airport）的股份，监管机构将实施相关条件以确保对竞争对手的公平对待。
Harith also owns a stake in Lanseria International Airport, and the regulator will implement conditions to ensure fair treatment of competitors.