Case Law[2025] ZAWCHC 192South Africa
Leleu N.O and Another v Numacon (Pty) Limited and Others (19065/2024) [2025] ZAWCHC 192 (5 May 2025)
High Court of South Africa (Western Cape Division)
5 May 2025
Headnotes
the two additional discounts to be applicable, falls to be ignored and treated as pro non scriptio for purposes of establishing fair value of the Trust’s shareholding.
Judgment
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## Leleu N.O and Another v Numacon (Pty) Limited and Others (19065/2024) [2025] ZAWCHC 192 (5 May 2025)
Leleu N.O and Another v Numacon (Pty) Limited and Others (19065/2024) [2025] ZAWCHC 192 (5 May 2025)
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#
FLYNOTES:
COMPANY
– Shares –
Valuation
–
Application of discounts – Unilateral variation of
settlement agreement – Neither agreed upon nor legally
justified in context of a compulsory buyout – Application of
additional discounts was irrational – Valuation
was
reviewable – Exercised unreasonably and irregularly –
Led to an inequitable result – Acceptance of
payment did not
signify compromise – Valuation set aside to extent it
applied unauthorized discounts –
Companies Act 28 of 2008
,
s
163.
# THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA
THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH
AFRICA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF
SOUTH AFRICA
(WESTERN CAPE
DIVISION, CAPE TOWN)
Case No.: 19065/2024
Before the Hon Madam
Justice Slingers
Hearing:
27 February
2025
Judgment Delivered:
05
May 2025
In the matter between:
HERWIG
TILLO CORNELIUS LELEU N.O.
First
Applicant
MARLEEN
AUGUSTA MARIE LELEU N.O
[in
their capacities as co-trustees of
the
HTC Leleu Family Trust T2711/03]
Second
Applicant
and
NUMACON
(PTY) LIMITED
First
Respondent
MICHAEL
IOANNOU
Second
Respondent
ADAM
BHAYAT N.O
Third
Respondent
RASHIDA
BHAYAT N.O
Fourth
Respondent
RUCHSANA
BHAYAT N.O
Fifth
Respondent
GADIJA
BHAYAT N.O
Sixth
Respondent
HYMAN
BRUK N.O
[in
their capacities as trustees for the time being of
Bhayat
Mohammed Family Trust]
Seventh
Respondent
VREES
INVESTMENTS (PTY) LTD
Eight
Respondent
XENOPHON
DEMETRIADES N.O
Ninth
Respondent
JOAN
DEMETRIADES N.O
Tenth
Respondent
ALEXANDRA
MARIKA DEMETRIADES N.O
Eleventh
Respondent
KIMON
ANDREAS DEMETRIADES N.O
[in
their capacities as trustees for the time being of
Foveros
Family Trust]
Twelfth
Respondent
HELEN
CONSTANTINIDES N.O
Thirteenth
Respondent
CHRISTODOULAKIS
CONSTANTINIDES N.O
[in
their capacities as trustees for the time being of
Dempar
Family Trust]
Fourteenth
Respondent
DEMETRIOS
CONSTANTINIDES N.O
Fifteenth
Respondent
MARIA
CONSTANTINIDES N.O
[in
their capacities as trustees for the time being of
Dimaria
Trust]
Sixteenth
Respondent
LUKAS
CORNELIUS SERFONTEIN (SNR) N.O
Seventeenth
Respondent
LUKAS
CORNELIUS SERFONTEIN (JNR) N.O
Eighteenth
Respondent
PHILIPPUS
CAREL PRINSLOO N.O
[in
their capacities as trustees for the time being of
Serfontein
Family Trust]
Nineteenth
Respondent
GORDON
MANN N.O
Twentieth
Respondent
SONJA
MANN N.O
Twenty
First Respondent
ENTEGRA
TRUST (PTY) LTD
[in
their capacities as trustees for the time being of
The
@Work Trust]
Twenty
Second Respondent
BERNARD
KATZ
Twenty
Third Respondent
This judgment is handed
down electronically by circulation to the parties’ legal
representatives’ email addresses.
The date of hand-down
is deemed to be 05 May 2025.
JUDGMENT
SLINGERS J
Introduction
[1]
In this opposed application the applicants seek
the following substantive relief:
‘
1.
An order declaring that the 23
rd
Respondent,
as per his valuation report annexure HL6, did not determine the two
further discounts, namely a portfolio valuation
discount and a
marketability discount, to be applied to the fair value of the
shareholding in Numacon.
[1]
2.
Alternatively
:
2.1
An order declaring that on a proper interpretation of the settlement
agreement, annexure
HL4, alternatively as a tacit term thereof, the
only discount(s) which fell to be applied to the fair value of the
Trust’s
shareholding was a minority discount;
2.2
In the result the Twenty Third Respondents valuation, to the extent
that it held the two
additional discounts to be applicable, falls to
be ignored and treated as pro non scriptio for purposes of
establishing fair value
of the Trust’s shareholding.
3.
Further Alternatively, and should this Honourable Court hold that
Twenty third
Respondent did find the portfolio valuation discount and
the marketability discount to be so applicable, that, to that extent,
his valuation be reviewed and set aside, because:
3.1
He exceeded his powers / mandate / jurisdiction in doing so;
3.2
The valuation, to the extent that it determined that the 2
“additional” discounts
were applicable, was not the
exercise of the judgment of a reasonable man, but rather, was
exercised unreasonably, irregularly
or wrongly so as to lead to a
patently inequitable result.
4.
An order that the Second to Twenty Second Respondents
[2]
,
jointly and severally and in proportion to their shareholding in
Numacon, make payment to the Trust of the amount of R11, 136,
219
together with mora interest thereon as from date of the valuation
report by Laroki Corporate Finance (Pty) Ltd being 18 April
2023.
The Settlement
Agreement
[2]
As is evident from the relief sought, central to
this application is the valuation report prepared by the twenty-third
respondent,
who was appointed as a valuer
(‘the
valuer’)
in terms of a settlement
agreement concluded between the applicants and the first to twenty
second respondents. In terms of
the settlement agreement the
valuer was appointed to determine:
‘
The
fair value of the shareholding calculated pro-rata the total issued
share capital of the Company, with and without any discount
for the
shares representing a minority holding and without any discount on
account of any contractual restrictions that might have
been agreed
between the parties, or provided in the Company’s Articles of
Association on the disposal of the shares, other
than as between
existing shareholders
(“the
minority discount”) ...’
[3]
[3]
The settlement agreement further provided that the
fair value of the shares would be determined with regard to the
financial condition
of the Company as at 30 June 2020 and as at 30
June 2022. The settlement agreement clothed the valuer with
full discretion
to determine his own processes. In terms of the
settlement agreement, the residual dispute would be referred to the
parties’
agreed arbitrator after the valuer made his
determination.
[4]
The settlement agreement defined the residual
dispute in the following terms:
‘
means
whether the purchase price for the Respondents’ shareholding in
the Company is subject to a minority discount.’
[5]
The settlement agreement was concluded to put an
end to the litigation instituted by the applicants seeking the
compulsory buyout
of its 10.02 percent interest in the first
respondent in terms of
section 163
of the
Companies Act, Act
71 of
2008.
[6]
In terms of clause 3.2 of the settlement
agreement, the respondents agreed to buy out the applicants’
shareholding in the
first respondent for fair value, subject to the
determination of the residual dispute. While the settlement
agreement defined
the term
residual
dispute
, it did not define the term
fair value
.
[7]
The following clauses of the settlement agreement
are noteworthy:
(i)
clause 3.3.1 which provided that the fair value of
the shares would be determined with regard to the financial condition
of the
Company as at 30 June 2020 and as at 30 June 2022;
(ii)
clause 3.3.2 which provided that each party would
have the right to make representations to the valuer within 15 days
of his appointment.
Thereafter, the other party would have the
right to reply to those representations within 10 business days of
receipt thereof;
(iii)
clause 3.3.3 which provided that the valuer would
be entitled to request any further information and/or documentation
from either
party;
(iv)
clause 6.1 which provided that the settlement
agreement constituted the whole agreement between the parties
relating to the matters
dealt therein; and
(v)
clause 6.2 which provided that any variation,
deletion or addition not in writing and signed by the parties would
be of no force
or effect.
[8]
Thus, while the settlement agreement allowed the
parties to make representations to the valuer, these representations
could not
to vary or amend the terms or substance of the settlement
agreement.
[9]
In
correspondence dated 31 August 2022 the valuer confirmed acceptance
of his brief. He recorded that he understood the settlement
agreement to require four valuations, which were the fair value as at
12 October 2020 with and without a minority discount and
the fair
value as at 30 June 2022 with and without a minority discount.
[4]
[10]
On 18
April 2023 the valuer handed down his valuation report. The
valuer states that his mandate was that the valuation be
based on
‘
fair
value, subject to the determination of the Residual Dispute’
and
that ‘
other
than the minority discount which was the subject of the residual
dispute’
his
mandate was silent on other potential discounts and that it was not
apparent whether other potential discounts were applicable
or not.
[5]
The valuer elected not to invoke the provisions of clause 3.3.3 to
obtain clarity on the applicability of the two further discounts.
It
is not disputed that the respondents proposed the applicability of
the two further discounts to the valuer.
[6]
[11]
In the valuation report it is recorded that the
applicants distinguished between fair market value and fair value.
The applicants
contended that fair market value was the price at
which an asset would change hands between a willing buyer and a
willing seller
and that discounts would apply for lack of control and
lack of marketability. Fair value would not include discounts
for
lack of marketability and lack of control.
[12]
The valuer specifically states that:
‘
15.
It is possible that fair value may have a specific legal meaning
which differs from its valuation
and accounting meaning particularly
in matters of shareholder disputes. Whether this is the case in
South Africa is beyond
my expertise and some brief informal
discussions with senior lawyers did not reveal a coherent view.
16.
The Settlement Agreement provides the power to “appoint an
expert to assist”.
However, the applicability of a
minority discount is subject to arbitration and in my view the matter
of whether any other discounts
are applicable should therefore also
be left for the Arbitrator to decide.
17.
For the reasons provided above I will proceed on the basis that
discounts (over and above
the Minority discount) must be taken into
account. I will leave it to the Arbitrator to determine whether
there are legal
considerations which override the fair value
determination based on taking discounts into account.’
[13]
In dealing with a marketability discount, the
valuer states that:
‘
Marketability
Discount
30.
Numacon and Leleu dispute whether a Marketability discount should be
applicable:
30.1
Numacon correctly states that the marketability of a private company
such as Numacon is far less than a listed
entity.
30.2
Leleu correctly states that the Settlement Agreement does not refer
to a Marketability discount.
31.
Regarding the applicability of a Marketability discount I reiterate
the following points:
31.1
From a purely economic standpoint as a valuer of a company, clearly a
discount for marketability would be
applicable. Lack of
marketability detracts from the value of a shareholding.
31.2
The question of whether a Marketability discount is applicable or not
to this valuation is a legal matter
which as previously mentioned I
will leave to the Arbitrator to decide.’
[14]
It is evident from the valuation report that the
portfolio valuation discount would apply to shares which are traded
on the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange
(‘JSE’)
.
This differs from the situation where shares are being sold in
terms of a compulsory buyout of a shares in a private, unlisted
company.
[15]
Under the heading of Summary of Results and
Conclusion, the valuer states that:
‘
40.
There may be legal reasons whether in the framing of the mandate or
the definition of fair value
which would result in the Portfolio
Valuation discount and/or the Marketability discount not being
applicable. I will leave
that decision to the Arbitrator.’
[16]
Notwithstanding the valuer explicitly stating that
it should be left to the arbitrator to decide whether any other
discounts (other
than a minority discount) were applicable, he
proceeded to apply both a marketability and a portfolio valuation
discount.
However, in doing so, he goes on to state that ‘
...so
to the extent that the Arbitrator rules that either or both should
not apply then the table below would need to be recast.’
Arbitration
[17]
After the valuation report was made available, the
residual dispute was referred to the parties’ appointed
arbitrator for
a decision. In arriving at his award, the
arbitrator declined to interfere with the introduction of the two
further discounts.
The arbitrator reasoned that the arbitration
tribunal, unlike the High Court, had no inherent jurisdiction and
therefore, he had
no jurisdiction to determine whether the valuer
exceeded his mandate. The arbitrator further found that the
question in respect
of whether the valuer exceeded his mandate is a
matter of review for the courts.
[18]
Thereafter, the arbitration award was appealed to
an arbitration appeal tribunal consisting of three retired judges.
It handed
down its award on 4 June 2024. In paragraph 55
of the award, the appeal panel stated that:
‘
...As
we read the settlement agreement, the valuation was final and binding
and if it needed interpretation, or was thought to have
been produced
outside the mandate given to the valuer, that was a matter for a
court. It was not for the arbitrator to construe
it, because it
was not within his mandate to do so or to make any finding as to the
applicable valuation. Likewise, it is
not open to us to
construe I and we have merely set out the contrary construction to
illustrate that the interpretation of the
valuation is contested on
proper grounds.’
[19]
The arbitration appeal tribunal held that the
question whether the valuer was correct in applying the two further
discounts was
not for it to decide. Similarly, it was not for
the arbitration appeal tribunal to determine whether any findings
made by
the valuer in respect of applicability of the further two
discounts should be ignored. The arbitration appeal tribunal
also
held that it was not open to it to interpret the settlement
agreement.
Discussion
[20]
The applicants seek to set aside the application
of the two further discounts on the ground that a proper construction
of the valuation
report evidences that the valuer did no more than
postulate the potential applicability thereof and deferred the issue
as to the
applicability to the arbitrator. Alternatively, if it
is found that the valuer applied the two discounts, then the
applicants
contend that he exceeded his mandate and the valuation
should be reviewed and set aside.
[21]
This follows from the valuer’s mandate to
only establish the fair value of the applicants’ shareholding
and to establish
what the extent of a minority discount should be,
should the arbitrator find it applicable.
[22]
The applicants argued that within the context of
the compulsory buyout of the applicants’ shareholding in the
first respondent
in terms of
section 163
of the
Companies Act,
discounts
for lack of control and lack of marketability would not
apply. This was not a case of willing buyer willing seller
which
called for the application of the fair market value. On
the contrary, the situation called for the application of a fair
value which did not include discounts.
[23]
The applicants argued that the settlement
agreement provided only for the potential application of the minority
discount and not
of the other two discounts. This is clear from
the provisions of clause 1.2.6 of the settlement agreement which
defined the
term
residual dispute
.
Thus, this was the only disputed issue between the parties which
remained to be determined.
[24]
Furthermore, at no stage did the respondents raise
the potential application of the further two discounts prior to the
referral
to the valuer per calculation of the fair value.
[25]
It is the respondents’ case that the two
further discounts were applicable and that an allowance by way of a
deduction from
the fair value of the shares should be made.
Furthermore, they argue that the valuer did not exceed his powers or
commit
a gross irregularity which would render his valuation
susceptible to review.
[26]
The respondents argued that the relief sought by
the applicants is unsustainable as the valuation has been implemented
and the sale
of the Trust’s shares to the respondents have been
completed. The respondents argued that the two further
discounts
were to be applied and that the applicants waived their
right to review the valuation.
[27]
The argument that the applicants abandoned its
right to review the valuation is based on the following:
(i)
on 9 May the applicants informed the
respondents that counsel would be briefed to advise on an application
to set aside the
valuation based on procedural irregularity and/or
material mistake;
(ii)
on 28 June 2023, correspondence was sent to the
arbitrator that the applicants instructed its legal representative to
review the
valuation; and
(iii)
on 7 August 2023, the respondent’s legal
representatives were informed that the applicants’ legal
representative have
received instructions not to proceed with the
review application.
[28]
Therefore, by proceeding with the arbitration
process, the applicants abandoned its right to review the valuation.
Upon finality
of the arbitration process, the application proceeded
with the sale of its shares which resulted in the transfer of
ownership and
a completed sale. This rendered any review of the
valuation moot.
[29]
Put differently; by proceeding with the
arbitration, the applicants accepted the risk of arguing the
valuation and expressly abandoned
the right to review.
[30]
The applicants argued that the correspondence of 7
August 2023 should be understood as conveying the sentiment that the
applicants
did not intend to proceed with the review
at
that stage
. And that at no stage
was it their intention to permanently abandon or waive its right to
review the valuation report.
[31]
In
Coppermoon
Trading 23 (Pty) Ltd v Government, Eastern Cape Province and
Another
[7]
the
court dealt comprehensively with election and waiver. In
dealing with the requirements of waiver, that court held that
it is
the intentional and unequivocal renunciation or relinquishment of a
known right whereas election postulates a choice between
two
inconsistent rights, each of which has different legal consequences.
[32]
Christie
states that the doctrine of election is not a mechanical rule of law
but that it is a combination of waiver and estoppel.
The
respondent/defendant as the party invoking the doctrine of election
bears the onus to show that on the facts, that the
applicants/plaintiff
waived its right to this remedy, failing such
proof that the applicants/plaintiff is estopped from claiming it.
[8]
[33]
The
doctrine of election finds application only where the
applicants/plaintiff is faced with inconsistent remedies which are
mutually
exclusive and not where the applicants/plaintiff has
alternative remedies available to it where the pursuit of one remedy
cannot
exclude the other.
[9]
[34]
As the
respondents allege that the applicants waived its right to review,
they bear the onus to not only plead such waiver but also
to
establish the facts on which it is based.
[10]
[35]
There
is a presumption against election which is a form of waiver.
[11]
The respondents have the onus to show that the applicants, with full
knowledge of its rights decided to abandon it.
[12]
Furthermore, the conduct from which waiver is inferred must be
unequivocal and inconsistent with any other hypothesis.
[13]
[36]
In
Road
Accident Fund v Mothupi
[14]
the
Supreme Court of appeal held that waiver is first and foremost a
matter of intention with the starting point being the will
of the
party alleged to have waived its right / remedy / privilege / power /
interest or benefit and that an objective test is
applied to
determine whether there was an intention to waive.
[37]
Therefore, whether there was intention to waive is
adjudged by outward manifestations which are adjudged from the
perspective of
a reasonable person in the shoes of the party
concerned. Any mental reservations that are not communicated
have no legal
consequences.
[38]
The respondents argued that as the buyout of the
applicants’ shares could only take place after the arbitral
determination
of the residual dispute which itself could only take
place after the valuation, the referral to arbitration meant that the
applicants
could no longer review the valuation.
[39]
On the facts of the application, it cannot be said
that the applicants intentionally and unequivocally renounced or
relinquished
their right to challenge the valuation. On the
contrary, they consistently expressed their dissatisfaction
therewith.
[40]
The respondents aver that the applicants
unreasonably delayed in bringing a review of the application and that
by proceeding with
the arbitration the applicants effectively
abandoned its right to review the valuation.
[41]
At both stages of the arbitration, the correctness
of the applicability of the two additional discounts and the
interpretation of
the settlement agreement arose. At both the
initial arbitration and at the appeal arbitration stages the
arbitrators engaged
with these questions with the initial arbitrator
finding that upon an interpretation of the valuation that the valuer
did not determine
the applicability of the further two discounts.
However, the arbitration appeal tribunal found that the arbitrator,
like
itself, lacked jurisdiction to interpret the settlement
agreement or to determine the correctness of the applicability of the
two
additional discounts. This finding of the arbitration
appeal tribunal rendered the review process necessary. Had the
initial
arbitrator and/or arbitration appeal tribunal determined
differently in respect of their jurisdiction to interpret the
settlement
agreement and/or to determine the correctness of the
applicability of the additional two discounts, it could have rendered
any
review application unnecessary.
[42]
Therefore, on a consideration of the facts of the
matter and the applicable legal principles, the argument that the
applicants waived
its right to review cannot be sustained.
The Sale of the Shares
[43]
On 10 June 2024, the applicants were informed that
the respondents intended to transfer R19 797,723 into their
attorneys’
trust account. This amount of R19 797,
723 would be paid over into a bank account nominated by the
applicants against
delivery of the original share transfer forms
singed in blank by the applicants’ trustees and delivery of the
original share
certificates representing the 2,247 shares held by the
applicants.
[44]
The applicants received the payment of R19 797,
723 and duly delivered the original share transfer forms and original
share
certificates. The respondents argue that the acceptance
of this payment constituted a waiver of the applicants’ rights
to challenge the valuation and constituted a compromise.
[45]
Neither the proposal for payment of R19 797,
723 nor the receipt thereof was accompanied by any communication
which reflected
this payment to be in full and final settlement.
[46]
As the
respondents allege that the applicants’ acceptance of the
payment of R19 797, 723 resulted in a compromise, it
must be
ascertained whether the proposal to pay the amount of R19 797,
723 objectively construed not only intended to create
binding legal
obligations on the applicants but also whether it appeared that way
to the applicants.
[15]
[47]
Payment
to a creditor, depending on the circumstances, could either result in
a compromise or a payment towards an admitted liability.
In
such circumstances, it has been held that debtors who express
themselves inadequately in their intentions to achieve a compromise
run the risk of having their words interpreted against them.
[16]
[48]
It is
trite that compromise is the agreed settlement of disputed
obligations. The onus rests on the party alleging that a
compromise has been affected. To discharge this onus, it must
be shown that there was a clear and unambiguous waiver of existing
or
claimed rights.
[17]
[49]
On the facts of the matter, it cannot be shown
that the payment of R19 797, 723 was made to the applicants as a
compromise
or that the applicants accepted this payment as acceptance
of an envisaged compromise.
[50]
Certainly, the payment of R19 797, 723 and
the acceptance thereof was consistent with the receipt of payment
towards the minimum
amount owed to the applicants. Therefore,
the payment and acceptance of R19 797, 723 did not evidence a
clear and unambiguous
waiver of the applicants’ rights.
Did the valuer exceed
his mandate
[51]
In the valuation report, the valuer unequivocally
states that he was uncertain whether the additional two discounts
were applicable.
In paragraph 31.2 of the valuation report the
valuer explicitly states that the applicability of a marketability
discount was a
legal issue. He also recognized that the
applicability thereof fell outside his area of expertise.
Similarly, the valuer
recognized that the application of the
portfolio valuation discount was a legal issue outside his area of
expertise.
[52]
The settlement agreement was reached as a
mechanism to put an end to the parties’ litigation. Thus,
it can be accepted
that it was produced after the parties engaged one
another on the contents thereof and after grabbling with the
mechanisms of implementation
and enforcement.
[53]
The introduction of the further two discounts, in
my view, amounted to a variation and/or amendment of the substance of
the settlement
agreement which was prohibited by clause
[54]
It is incomprehensible that the parties would
agree that the application of a minority discount would fall to an
arbitrator to determine
but would leave the possible application of
the two further discounts to the valuer, especially when it is
acknowledged by the
valuer that the application of these two further
discounts are legal issues which fell outside his area of expertise.
[55]
The valuer was mandated to perform calculations to
arrive at a value. He was not mandated to decide the
applicability of discounts
when performing those calculations, which
were legal issues beyond the scope of the valuer’s expertise.
[56]
When
the principles of interpretation are applied to the definition of
residual
dispute
as
it appears in the settlement agreement, it leads to the conclusion
that the only dispute between the parties that required resolution
was whether a minority discount had to be applied when determining
the fair value of the applicants’ shareholding.
[18]
6.1 and 6.2 of the applicability of the two other discounts raises
substantive legal issues which contradicts the definition of
“residual dispute’ agreed to by the parties.
[57]
Thus, the valuer wrongfully exceeded his mandate
when he went beyond his expertise to apply the two further
discounts. It
may be that the respondents proposed the
application of the two further discounts but the application thereof
amounted to a variation
and/or amendment of the terms of the
settlement agreement. This was contrary to clauses 6.1 and 6.2
of the settlement agreement.
[58]
It is clear from paragraphs 30 and 31 of the
valuation report that the valuer applied the marketability discount
as it would apply
within a purely economic standpoint and not within
the context of a compulsory buyout. The valuer also applied the
portfolio
valuation discount in circumstances where it was not
applicable as the buyout pertained to a private unlisted company.
[59]
It is undisputed that the calculation of the fair
value of the applicants’ shareholding occurred outside the
context of a
willing buyer and willing seller. As correctly
held by the appeal arbitration tribunal, the notion of fairness
indicated
that an element of achieving an equitable balance between
the parties is involved. The appeal arbitration tribunal went
on
to hold that:
‘
When
a superior bargaining position is exploited in order to secure a
fortuitous profit at the expense of a co shareholder with
whom the
other shareholders have had a lengthy, profitable and generally
co-operative business relationship over a number of years,
the
unfairness is in our view manifest.’
[60]
When the valuation of the shares was calculated
incorrectly as if the sale thereof was to take place between a
willing buyer and
a willing seller and after the application of the
further discounts which had no application, it cannot but fail to
reach an equitable
balance between the parties. Rather, it
would result in a skewed balance which would be manifestly unfair to
the seller in
the compulsory buyout.
[61]
As the
valuer was appointed to calculate the value of the applicant’s
shareholding, he was expected to exercise the judgment
of a
reasonable person.
[19]
As
set out in the settlement agreement and as have been held by our
courts, the decision of the valuer is generally final and binding
on
the parties. However, where the valuer exercises his/her
judgment in an unreasonable manner, irregularly or wrongly in
such a
manner as to cause an inequitable outcome, then the affected party is
not bound thereby and the determination can be rectified
on equitable
grounds.
[20]
In
Perdikis
v Jamieson
[21]
the
SCA held that:
‘
It was held
in Bekker v RSA Factors
1983
(4) SA 568
(T) that a valuation can be rectified on
equitable grounds where the valuer does not exercise the judgment of
a reasonable man,
that is, his judgment is exercised unreasonably,
irregularly or wrongly so as to lead to a patently inequitable
result.
'This is also the
position in respect of the referee's report — it can only be
impugned on these narrow grounds.’
[62]
The valuer applied the two further discounts in
circumstances where he was uncertain of their applicability; when the
application
was beyond his area of expertise; to circumstances in
which they would not be generally applicable without explaining why
he applied
them to the particular circumstances of the parties; and
left it to the arbitrator to make a final determination in respect of
their applicability. In the circumstances, it cannot be said
that the valuer exercised his judgment reasonably. On the
contrary, he acted wrongly which resulted in a patently inequitable
result.
[63]
Therefore, it is this court’s finding that
the valuation report stand to be reviewed and set aside as the valuer
exceeded
his mandate when he applied the further discounts, and he
did not exercise the judgment of a reasonable valuer as he exercised
his judgment wrongly and irregularly.
[64]
Therefore, I make the following orders:
(1)
the First to Twenty Second Respondents, jointly
and severally and in proportion to their shareholding in Numacon
(Pty) Ltd, make
payment to the Trust of the amount of R11,136,219
together with
mora
interest
thereon as from date of the valuation report by Laroki Corporate
Finance (Pty) Ltd, being 18 April 2023.
(2)
the costs of the application shall be borne by the
First to Twenty Second Respondents, jointly and severally, the one
paying to
absolve the other, which costs shall include the costs of
two counsel where so employed.
(3)
the costs shall be on scale C.
SLINGERS, J
[1]
In
this judgment the portfolio valuation discount and the marketability
discount will be referred to as the ‘
two
further discounts’.
[2]
The
first to twenty second respondent will be referred to as ‘
the
respondents’
in
this judgment.
[3]
The
company was defined as the first respondent in clause 1.2.4 of the
settlement agreement.
[4]
See
paragraph 3.3 3 of the valuer’s letter of engagement as to why
he used the date of 12 October 2022.
[5]
Paragraphs
9 and 14 of the valuation report
[6]
Paragraph
14 of the founding affidavit read with paragraph 74.1 of the
answering affidavit.
[7]
2020
(3) SA 391 (ECB)
[8]
R H
Christie
The
Law of Contract
7
th
ed at
639
[9]
Total
South Africa (Pty) Ltd v Bekker NO
1992
(1) SA 617 (A)
[10]
R H
Christie
The
Law of Contract
7
th
ed at
639
[11]
Ibid,
at 510
[12]
Moyce
v Estate Taylor
1948
(3) SA 822 (A)
[13]
Road
Accident Fund v Mothupi
2000
(4) SA 38 (SCA)
[14]
2000
(4) SA 38 (SCA)
[15]
BE
BOP A LULA Manufacturing and Printing CC v Kingtex Marketing (Pty)
Ltd
2008
(3) SA 327 (SCA)
[16]
Absa
Bank Ltd v Van De Vyver No
2002
(4) SA 397 (SCA)
[17]
Christi,
pg 528
[18]
Natal
Joint Municipal Pension Fund v Endumeni
2012
(4) SA 593
(SCA). The context within which the settlement
agreement was reached is set out in paragraphs 51 and 52.
[19]
Bekker
v RSA Factors
1983
(4) SA 568(T)
;
Vodacom
(Pty) Ltd v Makate and Another
2024
(3) SA 347 (SCA)
[20]
Vodacom
(Pty) Ltd v Makate and Another
2024
(3) SA 347 (SCA)
[21]
2002
(6) SA 356
(W)
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