Botswana's Economy

Botswana's growth prospects for the medium term are favourable, with real GDP growth projected at 3.8% in 2019 and 4.1% in 2020. The outlook for the mining sector is positive due to an anticipated increase in demand for Botswana’s rough diamonds (diamonds account for three-fourths of Botswana’s total exports)

Experience

• Represented Soihl Hong Kong Holdings Limited subsidiary of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), the global oil giant. Our team is advised this client in its acquisition of 75 per cent of Chevron's downstream oil assets in South Africa and Botswana. We also advised on the establishment of a head office presence in South Africa for Sinopec, to serve as a base for its African business. Our work on this complex mandate required extensive engagement with the South African Minister of Economic Development and other regulatory authorities. The transaction followed a competitive public bidding process and was complicated by competing bidders; pre-emptive rights; and specific distribution arrangements.
• Represented Abraaj, a global investor focused on emerging markets with circa US$13.6 billion in assets under management. Our corporate/M&A team is advising this client in respect of its acquisition of Waco International, an equipment rental and industrial services business with operations in Africa, including South Africa, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Kenya, Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland; Australasia, including Australia and New Zealand; and the UK. The sellers were Ethos Private Equity, Investec Asset Management, Liberty Group, Mezzanine Partners, RMB Ventures, Standard Bank and Management. 
• Represented Metier Capital Growth Fund II (Metier), one of South Africa's largest private equity funds. Our corporate/M&A team advised this client in the acquisition, through Retailability, of Edcon’s Legit business which has 215 stores across South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
• Assisted with reviewing and standardising constitution documents for Parmalat Africa subsidiaries (Botswana, Zambia, Mauritius and Mozambique).
• Advised Retailability Proprietary Limited on the acquisition of the business conducted under the "Legit" brand out of approximately 216 physical retail stores. (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia).
• Advised on the sale by Sun International of controlling interests in its assets in various African jurisdictions to Minor Hotel Group and of associated hotel management agreements (Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana).
• Advised on the sale by Sun International of remaining interests in its assets in various African jurisdictions to Minor Hotel Group and of associated casino management agreements (Zambia, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana).
• Advised the Keller Group (a major British based ground engineering company listed on the London Stock Exchange) in its R500 million acquisition of the geotechnical contracting business owned and operated by Esorfranki Construction in South Africa, Botswana, the DRC, Ghana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles and Swaziland.  Following the closing of the sale transaction, CDH advised on and implemented a BEE share scheme for the new operating company, Franki Geotechnical.
• Advised on the FedEx Corporation acquisition of the courier service business operated by Supaswift, a courier company associated with the JSE listed Bidvest Group, across seven Southern African countries including the establishment of purchasing entities in each country (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and Swaziland).
• Acted for Total regarding the application of several HR and employee policies in South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho.
• Advised MacMillan on 'localising' their HR policies and employment contracts in Botswana and Namibia.