Rainbow Primary School and Rainbow School Proposed Sale

Pursuant to section 49(1) of the Competition Act of 2018, the Competition and Consumer Authority (“the Authority”) has received a merger notification for the proposed sale by Rainbow Primary School (Pty) Ltd and Rainbow School (Pty) Ltd (together, “Rainbow Schools”) of their respective private school businesses (“the Rainbow Business”) to A-OP (Pty) Ltd (“A-OP”).

The acquirer, A-OP is a company incorporated in accordance with the Laws of Botswana. A-OP does not control any other entities and the company was formed to be operational in the offering of private school services in Botswana, starting with the acquisition of the Rainbow Business. The acquirer is wholly owned by A-Hold Proprietary Limited (“A-Hold”), a company also incorporated in accordance with the Laws of Botswana. A-Hold is wholly owned by Aleyo Growth Fund I GP (“Aleyo Growth Fund”), a fund that is capitalised and predominantly represents the investments of Botswana-based pension funds and institutional investors. 

The Directors of A-OP are: Bafana K. Molomo and Refilwe Sebego-Walebowa (both Batswana).   

The target enterprises, Rainbow Primary School (Pty) Ltd and Rainbow School (Pty) Ltd, are private companies incorporated in accordance with the Laws of Botswana. The Rainbow Schools are owned and controlled by Mr. Houshang Mazidi and Mrs. Jaleh Mazidi. In addition to owning and controlling the Rainbow Schools, both Mr. and Mrs. Mazidi own and control the following businesses which are operational in the country: Alberta Construction & Engineering (Pty) Ltd - which is involved in the construction business; Magic Flooring Company (Pty) Ltd – which owns and rents out an investment property; Best Stars (Pty) Ltd - which owns and rents out an investment property; and Wild View Resort (Pty) Ltd – which owns a hotel in Kasane. Rainbow Primary School (Pty) Ltd provides private pre-primary and primary education while Rainbow School (Pty) Ltd provides private secondary education to learners in Gaborone.

The Directors of the Rainbow Schools are also Mr. Houshang Mazidi and Mrs. Jaleh Mazidi (both Batswana).

According to section 50(3), of the Competition Act of 2018, “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 and Consumer Authority therefore seeks any stakeholder views for or against the proposed merger, which may be sent to the Director, Mergers and Monopolies.