Public Hearing on Bluehearts and Warbler Holdings Proposed Acquisition

Pursuant to section 58(1) of the Competition Act (Cap 46:09), the Competition Authority invites members of the public to a hearing in relation to the proposed transaction which involves the acquisition of the entire issued shareholding of Warbler Holdings (Pty) Ltd in IT4Africa (Pty) Ltd; Goldtech (Pty) Ltd; Healthwest Africa (Pty) Ltd; and Solid Logistics (Pty) Ltd, together with all assets related to the business operations of the aforementioned entities by Bluehearts (Pty) Ltd.

Bluehearts, the acquiring enterprise, is a company incorporated in accordance with the Laws of the Republic of Botswana, and is solely owned by Mr. Ramachandran Ottapathu.

Warbler Holdings is incorporated in accordance with the Laws of the Republic of Botswana, and is a holding company for IT4Africa (Pty) Ltd, Goldtech (Pty) Ltd, Healthwest Africa (Pty) Ltd and Solid Logistics (Pty) Ltd, the target enterprises.  The four subsidiaries are incorporated in accordance with the Laws of the Republic of Botswana and are primarily operational in Gaborone. The Director of Warbler Holdings is Mr. Meempat R. Narayan.

IT4Africa is a wholesaler and supplies the following products to air-corn dealers, value added providers, resellers and retailers in Gaborone and other parts of the country(Botswana): Computers; Cell phones; Tablets and accessories; Anti-virus and Security software products; Mobile Phones; Air-cons; Printers; Projectors; Scanners  and Accessories. The following are brands that IT4Africa trades in: Acer Computers; eScan; Hisense; Epson; Lexmark; and Samsung.

Goldtech Holdings is a wholesaler and supplies the following products to retail stores, value added providers and resellers in Gaborone and other parts of the country (Botswana): Home and Kitchen appliances; Personal Grooming Products; and Consumer Electronics under the brand name of Samsung; Kenwood; Wahl and Sinotec.

Healthwest Africa sells home appliances & consumer electronics; and personal grooming and kitchen appliances under the brand name of Hisense and Philips. Healthwest sells its products primarily in Gaborone. Solid Logistics provides logistics, warehousing and freight services currently to its associated companies being: IT4Africa; Goldtech and Healthwest Africa.

The hearing will be held with each of the parties to the transaction and other interested parties, pursuant to section 58(3)(a) of the Competition Act. The hearing is intended to allow the parties to the transaction to make verbal representations to the Authority with respect to the transaction as well as allow their competitors and the general public to express their views on the acquisition.

Furthermore, other interested parties not party to the proposed transaction will be afforded an opportunity to voluntarily submit to the Authority any document, affidavit, statement or other relevant information in respect of the proposed acquisition.

Though not mandatory, it would be preferable for those attending to submit copies of what they intend to present to the Authority no later than 8^th July, 2016.  

The hearing will be held at the Competition Authority offices on the 11^th July, 2016, at Plot 28, Matsitama Road, Main Mall, old BEDIA Building, at 14:30hrs.

Any questions on the hearing may be directed to:-

Director, Mergers and Monopolies, Competition Authority, P/Bag 00101,
Plot 28, Matsitama Road, Gaborone, Tel: 3934278 Fax: 3121013
Email: magdeline.gabaraane@competitionauthority.co.bw