NOTIFICATION OF THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF UNIWAX BY COMPAGNIE IVOIRIENNE DE COTON (COIC)

Published On - April 22, 2026

Registry ERCA Ongoing Investigations

Purpose of the notification of the proposed acquisition

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ARCC) has received a notification relating to a concentration operation concerning the acquisition of sole control over Uniwax by Compagnie Ivoirienne de Coton (COIC) within the Community market.

The notification of this transaction to the ARCC, for prior authorisation, is in accordance with the provisions of Regulation C/REG.23/12/21 governing mergers and acquisitions within the ECOWAS region, as well as the implementing rules relating to notification thresholds.

Parties involved

The acquirer: Compagnie Ivoirienne de Coton (COIC) is a public limited company incorporated under Ivorian law and active in the cotton ginning sector and the marketing of cotton fibres. It operates upstream in the cotton-textile value chain, notably in the processing of seed cotton and the supply of agricultural inputs to producers.

COIC is part of a diversified group which is active across several sectors, including agro-industry, construction and public works, energy, financial services and mining.

The target company: Uniwax is an industrial company incorporated under Ivorian law, specialising in the production and marketing of African textiles, in particular printed wax fabrics.

It operates primarily in Côte d’Ivoire and also exports to several ECOWAS countries, including Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo.

Transaction concerned

The transaction concerns the acquisition by COIC of a majority shareholding in the share capital of Uniwax, granting the acquirer sole control over the target company.

This transaction constitutes a concentration within the meaning of Community competition rules, as it results in a lasting change of control.

Expected outcomes of the transaction

According to the parties, the transaction forms part of a broader effort to restructure and strengthen the cotton-textile value chain in Côte d’Ivoire and the wider sub-region. It aims to promote value chain integration, enhance local processing of raw materials, and support the development of a competitive industrial base within the ECOWAS region.

The parties consider that the transaction is expected to result in:

  • the strengthening of the target company’s financial and operational capacities;
  • the modernisation of production equipment and processes;
  • improvements in the quality and availability of textile products;
  • the development of industrial synergies within the cotton-textile value chain;
  • the preservation and strengthening of a local industrial player in the face of increasing international competition;
  • the consolidation of the local and regional industrial ecosystem.

Third Party Rights

In accordance with Article 44(2)(a)(iv) of the ERCA’s Investigation and Notification Manual of Procedures, interested third parties are invited to submit their comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Submissions must be supported by relevant documentation and sent in confidence to the following address:

ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA)

Bertil Harding, Bijilo, The Gambia

P.O. Box 4470

Or sent electronically to: registry@erca-arcc.org and info@erca-arcc.org