South Africa’s Only iStore Franchisee, ZA Online Acquires Stake In Apple, Adobe And Mac Reseller DigiCape

The Competition Commission in South Africa has written to the Competition Tribunal, recommending the proposed acquisition of additional shareholding in Shock Proof by ZA Online, the country’s only iStore franchisee.

Shock Proof, prides itself as the owner of Digicape, a major Apple reseller who sells varieties of Apple products, which included Macs, iPhones, iPads, and official accessories and cellular contracts. Digicape, located in Cape Town, South Africa is also the authorized reseller of Adobe software and the Mac, while it’s an authorized Training Partner in the South African country.

ZA Online owns Core Computer Business which is the only authorised distributor for Apple products in South Africa. It has represented the Apple brand in the country since 1995.

With the use of Core Computer Business’ subsidiary Core Peripherals, ZA Online also supplies Apple products and technology solutions to medium and large business-to-business (B2B) customers.

The Competition Commission, a statutory body constituted in terms of the Competition Act, No 89 of 1998 by the Government of South Africa empowered to investigate, control and evaluate restrictive business practices, abuse of dominant positions and mergers in order to achieve equity and efficiency in the South African economy in a statement said:

“The Commission found that the proposed transaction is unlikely to result in a substantial prevention or lessening of competition in any relevant markets. The Commission further found that the proposed transaction does not raise any substantial public interest concerns.”

With details of the additional stake not provided by the regulator, the approval for the acquisition was given without any hidden conditions.