Description of Activities

Description of transaction: The proposed transaction involves the acquisition by Gondwana Collection Namibia Pty Ltd of member’s interests in Abenteuer Afrika Safari Close Corporation.

Acquiring group: The primary acquiring undertaking is Gondwana Collection Namibia Pty Ltd., which is ultimately controlled by Gondwana Holdings Limited. The acquiring group is involved in providing accommodation and activities, travel advice, rental cars, and tourism shuttles throughout Namibia.

Target undertaking: The primary target undertaking is Abenteuer Afrika Safari Close Corporation, which is a destination management company specializing in the design and implementation of events, activities, tours, transportation, logistics, and program management within a specific destination. 

Relevant market: Defined the relevant upstream product market to be the market for the provision of DMC services in Namibia and the relevant downstream product market to be the provision of accommodation services in Namibia. 

Merger Determination

The Commission found the proposed transaction likely to substantially lessen or prevent competition through foreclosure and further result in GCN strengthening its market position as it is taking over the target’s business. However, no public interest concerns were found likely to arise from the implementation of the merger. Therefore, a conditional approval with foreclosure and protection of commercially sensitive information conditions was determine appropriate.

However, as stated under section 50 of the Act, this approval does not relieve parties from complying with any other mandatory statutory approvals that any of the parties to this merger must comply with under Namibian laws.