French firm finalises Medswana takeover
Mbongeni Mguni | Monday July 20, 2026 06:00
CFAO Healthcare is a pan-African pharmaceutical giant with a footprint covering 26 African countries and six French Overseas Territories. The group manufactures licensed medicines in Morocco and Algeria and also assembles and distributes generic medicine kits and medical consumables for Africa.
The finalisation of the deal comes after the Competition and Consumer Authority approved the takeover a month ago.
'This acquisition is fully in line with our strategy to develop an integrated pharmaceutical distribution platform across the continent,” said Jean-Marc Leccia, CFAO Healthcare CEO in a statement shared with BusinessWeek.
“In markets where access to medicines depends heavily on the quality of supply chains, our role is to provide high standards, continuity of service and sustainable solutions for the benefit of healthcare professionals and patients.'
Following the transaction, the company will operate as Medswana Laborex and will join CFAO Healthcare's pan-African network, thereby benefiting from the group's expertise in quality, regulatory compliance and logistical organisation, officials said.
Laborex is part of CFAO’s logistical import logistics chain from the storage site to the pharmacy, which delivers to more than 11,000 pharmacies daily across Africa and the French Overseas Territories.
Officials said drawing on the expertise of Medswana's teams, CFAO Healthcare aims to support the development of the Botswana market whilst strengthening the regional integration of its platform in Southern Africa.
While the current CEO, Piet le Grange, retired upon completion of the transaction, CFAO Healthcare will ensure a seamless leadership transition through the appointment of Mark Fallows, who is currently Head of Operations, as Chief Executive Officer.
“Medswana has proudly served the people of Botswana for decades by providing access to high-quality medicines,” Fallows said. “We have chosen CFAO Healthcare as our partner and shareholder because of our shared vision, strong ethical values, and commitment to improving healthcare outcomes. “Together, we will be better positioned to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the people of Botswana and further enhance access to high-quality pharmaceutical products.'
CFAO launched operations in South Africa in 2024 and the takeover in Botswana is seen as part of a strategic expansion in the region.
Officials said the acquisition illustrates the group’s strategy of building a “regional pharmaceutical distribution network capable of meeting the growing needs of African healthcare systems whilst ensuring the highest standards of quality and traceability”.
'Botswana is a strategic market for our regional development. “With Medswana, we are partnering with a recognised leader and experienced teams. “Our ambition is to sustainably support the development of Botswana's pharmaceutical sector while strengthening regional synergies to benefit healthcare systems,' said Philippe Franiatte, CEO of CFAO Healthcare's Southern Region.
CFAO Healthcare is a subsidiary of the Toyota Tsusho Corporation, whilst Medswana has operated in Botswana since 1994 with over 3,800 product references and plus-200 suppliers.