Ngami Motors Proposes to Acquire 50% Issued Shares of Dennis Service Station in Serowe

The Competition Authority has received a merger notification for the proposed acquisition by Ngami Motors (Pty) Ltd of 50% issued shares in Dennis Service Station in Serowe. 

The primary acquiring enterprise, Ngami Motors, is a company duly incorporated in accordance with the Laws of Botswana. Ngami Motors is controlled by Halfway Services Station (Pty) Ltd and Sharon Visser. Ngami Motors is a Toyota franchisee and provides the following products and services: new vehicle sales; used vehicle sales; motor parts sales; and service centre. Though the acquirer offers its products and services from Maun, some of its services can be accessed from anywhere in Botswana. 

The directors of Ngami Motors are: Rob Newton and John George Baikie (both South Africans) and have no other business interests in Botswana.

The primary target enterprise, Dennis Service Station, is a company duly incorporated in accordance with the Laws of Botswana and having operations at Serowe. It is wholly owned by Gavin Blackbeard who has no other direct or indirect business interest in the relevant market in, into and from Botswana. 

Dennis Service Station is a Toyota franchisee and provides the following Toyota products and services: sale of motor vehicles; automotive fuels and lubricants; service and repair of motor vehicles; and used vehicle sales. The target enterprise is also a Caltex dealer selling petroleum products and lubricants. 

The Directors of Dennis Service Station are Gavin Blackbeard and Justine Blackbeard (Batswana).  

According to section 57(3), of the Competition Act, “any person, including a third party not a party to the proposed merger, may voluntarily submit to the inspector or the Authority any document, affidavit, statement or other relevant information in respect of a proposed merger”. 

The Competition Authority therefore seeks any stakeholder views for or against the proposed merger which may be addressed to the Director of Mergers and Monopolies.