The Competition Authority said it has received a merger notification for the proposed acquisition of 50% of the shares in Ba Isago University (Pty) Ltd by Wenge (Pty) Ltd, which is in the process of changing its name to Embury Botswana (Pty) Ltd.
According to the authority, the acquiring enterprise, Embury Botswana, is a newly incorporated Botswana company, established for the purpose of this transaction. Embury Botswana is indirectly controlled by a South African entity; PSG Group Ltd. PSG Group has a presence in the Botswana market, through its indirect shareholding in CA Sales and Distribution (Pty) Ltd.
In South Africa, PSG Group indirectly controls Embury Institute for Teacher Education (Pty) Ltd, a fully accredited private higher education institute focusing on teacher education in South Africa. The target enterprise, Ba Isago, is a company incorporated under the Laws of the Republic of Botswana.
It is owned by Mothati Bagwasi Gabasiane and Diba Valencia Mogegeh, all of whom are Batswana. Ba Isago is an accredited private university located and operating in Gaborone, with campuses in Francistown and Maun as well as a satellite campus in Serowe.
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.