Case No: 2024NOV0069MER - Mergers & Acquisitions | Namibian Competition Commission

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Case No: 2024NOV0069MER

Acquiring Undertaking: Pep Stores (Namibia) Proprietary Limited Date Received: Friday, 22 Nov 2024
Target Undertaking: Audacity Clothing (Namibia) Proprietary Limited t/a “Big Daddy Clothing” Determination: Friday, 09 May 2025
Type of Merger: Horizontal Analyst: -

Description of Activities

Description of transaction: The Commission resolved to approve with conditions the acquisition by Pep Stores (Namibia) Proprietary Limited of the business operated by Audacity Clothing t/a Big Daddy Clothing.

Acquiring group: The primary acquiring undertaking is Pep Stores (Namibia) Proprietary Limited (“Pep Namibia”) Pep Namibia is ultimately controlled by Pepkor Holdings Limited, and it does not control any undertaking. The acquiring group commenced operations over 100 years ago, with a retail footprint of approximately 5900 stores operating across 9 African countries and in Brazil and employs around 50 000 employees. The acquiring group business operations can be classified into: Clothing, footwear and homeware; furniture, appliances and electronics; Fintech; and Strategic services. 

Target undertaking: The primary target undertaking is the business known as “Big Daddy Clothing”, its is owned by Audacity Clothing (Namibia) Proprietary Limited. The Big Daddy Clothing business is a family-owned, cash-based national retailer operating 24 stores in Namibia, focused on fashion apparel at low prices with an adult-focused product offering with a limited range of kids and baby clothing.

Relevant market: Defined as the market for the retail of apparel in Namibia.

Merger Determination

The Commission’s decision is based on the grounds that the proposed merger was found to strengthen a dominant position and have the ability to facilitate coordination, as envisaged by section 47(2) of the Competition Act, 2003. Therefore, in order to maintain competitive dynamics, protect public interest, and encourage growth of the sectors affected by the implementation of the proposed transaction, the acquiring group and target undertaking shall adhere to the following conditions: supplier relations and SME support, non-bundling commitment, and no merger-specific retrenchments for a period of three years. 

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. 


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