The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) has cleared Atlas Axillia, a subsidiary of Sri Lanka’s Hemas Holdings, to acquire a 75% stake in Twiga Stationers and Printers Limited.
Twiga Stationers and Printers Limited is a leading East African manufacturer and distributor of stationery, hygiene, and packaging products. It is mostly known for its Kasuku and Crownbird brand of stationery.
Hemas Holdings told investors in September last year that it had entered into an agreement to acquire a majority stake consumer company in Kenya with the deal expected to close within six months once all regulatory approvals have been secured. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
“Completion of the transaction is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, including from the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, as well as satisfaction of other customary conditions precedent,” the company said in a stock exchange filing
Hemas Holdings, a Sri-Lankan company that focuses on consumer products, healthcare and mobility, has entered into an agreement to acquire a majority interest in a consumer products company in Kenya. The company deals with home and personal care, baby care and sanitary products.
Twiga Stationers, which operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Ethiopia, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Eritrea and Madagascar, dominates the Kenyan stationery market controlling 49.4 per cent of the market, according to data released by CAK in December 2024.
This is second acquisition deal happening in the stationery industry in Kenya within a space of one year, after Kenafric acquired the business and assets of Economic Industries to create Kenya’s second largest stationery manufacturer with a market share of 22.6 per cent.
Kartasi Industries is the third top player in the stationery products industry in Kenya controlling 18.2% market share.
| Company | Market Share(%) |
|---|---|
| Twiga Stationers and Printers Ltd | 49.4 |
| Kenafric | 22.6 |
| Kartasi Industries | 18.2 |
| Guaca Stationers Limited | 4.73 |
| Others | 5.08 |
Note: Market share as of December 2024
Source: CAKCompiled by: Pesa Wall
According to past data released by CAK in 2022, Twiga Stationers led the stationery industry with 38.8 per cent market share, Kenafric in second place with 20.9 per cent with Kartasi Industries in third with 9.7 per cent.
Other than stationery, Twiga Stationers and Printers Limited is involved in the production of hygiene products manufacturing consumer tissues under Peacock, Panda and Envoy brands.
Other deals approved by CAK:
- Egyptian firm, GMED Holdings B.V, was cleared by CAK to acquire the sole control of Philips East Africa, allowing it to enter the medtech distribution market in East Africa. GMED Holdings B.V raised Sh1.95 billion($15M) from International Finance Corporation(IFC) with part of the funds earmarked for the acquisition.
- KCB Group’s acquisition of majority stake in Riverbank Solutions was also cleared by the competition watchdog on condition that KCB Group shall ensure that all third-party transactional, customer, or merchant data collected or processed through Riverbank’s infrastructure, networks, or platforms remain ring-fenced and are not shared, accessed, or utilized by KCB Group for purposes other than those strictly necessary for the operation of Riverbank.
- A joint venture between Yusen Logistics Global Management and AGL Kenya Limited was approved by CAK. The two entities entered into the agreement late December last year, with the venture expected to offer freight forwarding, multimodal transport, contract logistics, and customs brokerage services.
- CAK approved the acquisition of Endmor Steel Millers assets by Ironera Steel Limited, acqusition of 100% of issued share capital of CCI Consulting DMCC by Stockholm Parent LLC, acquisition of 100% of issued share capital of Afrika Invest B.V by Mecheng B.V, acquisition of Prism Holdings by Keza Capital Partners LLP, acquisition of 100% of Transglobal Cargo Centre by Celebi Cargo Gmbh and sale of shares in Kangani Investments by PSC Investments, John Francis Gilrdi and Andrew Thomas Roberts to Limited Holdings Limited.
