Description of Activities

Description: The Commission resolved to approve without conditions the acquisition by SQM Australia Pty Ltd of the entire issued shares in Grace Simba Investments (Pty) Ltd.

The acquiring group: The acquiring group is present in the sustainable development of health, food, technology, and clean energies. The group’s five main business lines are specialty plant nutrition, iodine and derivatives, lithium and derivatives, potassium, and solar salts.

The primary target undertaking: The target undertaking is the holder of the Lithium Ridge Mining License, Mining License No. 133 (ML 133). GSI was established to progress exploration for lithium within the area of ML133. 

Relevant market: The Secretariat, looking at the activities of the merging parties, defined the broader product market as the market for the exploration and mining of lithium.

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 and did not raise any public interest concerns.

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.