Description of Activities

Description: The Commission resolved to approve with employment conditions the acquisition by Murrelets Investments (Pty) Ltd (“Murrelets”) of 100% of the shares in Novaship Namibia (Pty) Ltd (“Novaship”) from NovaNam (Pty) Ltd (“NovaNam”).

Acquiring group: The primary acquiring undertaking is Murrelets, incorporated in terms of the laws of the Republic of Namibia. The acquiring group is involved in a wide range of activities, including providing management and administrative functions to fishing companies, functioning as holding entities with investment interests in the fishing sector, and holding shares in companies that provide various other services, etc. 

Target undertaking: The primary target undertaking is Novaship, incorporated in terms of the laws of the Republic of Namibia. It is engaged in ship agency services at Walvis Bay, clearing and forwarding services at Walvis Bay, and safety and chandling services at Walvis Bay and Lüderitz.

Relevant market: Defined as the market for maritime services in logistics and shipping (i.e., ship agency services, marine safety equipment servicing, ship chandling, laundry services/freight forwarding/stevedoring) in Namibia.

Merger Determination

The Commission found the proposed transaction unlikely to result in the prevention or substantial lessening of competition or result in any undertaking to acquire or strengthen a dominant position in the market. However, the proposed merger did raise public interest concerns, especially employment concerns. Thus, the Commission approved the merger with employment conditions.

Furthermore, as per section 50 of the Act, these approvals do not relieve parties from complying with any other mandatory statutory approvals that any of the parties to the merger must comply with under Namibian laws. 

Merger Determination No.1 of 2026__