Olympia Capital Holdings
East and Southern African investment holding company with interests in industrial products, engineering, building materials, and real estate.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Olympia Capital Holdings Limited is a Kenya-based investment holding company whose operating interests extend across Kenya, Botswana, and South Africa. The group is headquartered in Nairobi and is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange under the ticker OCH. Its Southern African subsidiary, Olympia Capital Corporation, is separately listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange. Rather than operating as a single consumer-facing product brand, Olympia Capital functions as a diversified corporate group that owns or controls businesses in industrial manufacturing, engineering services, building materials, property, and related distribution activities. The company originated from the Kenyan operations of Dunlop United Kingdom. The business began in Kenya in 1968 as a branch of the British multinational and initially manufactured vinyl floor tiles, adhesives, and sports equipment. It was formally incorporated in Kenya in 1970 and became listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in 1976. The original Dunlop-related operating activities later evolved into a holding-company structure. In 1999, Dunlop Industries Limited was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary so that the parent could focus more directly on investments while the subsidiary continued manufacturing activities. Olympia expanded beyond Kenya through its investment in Botswana. In 2001, Olympia Capital Corporation was acquired, enabling the group to obtain full ownership of Kalahari Floor Tiles in Gaborone. Kalahari Floor Tiles became a major Southern African manufacturer of vinyl floor tiles and vinyl sheeting, while also developing activities in industrial and commercial cleaning chemicals and other home-improvement products. Olympia Capital Corporation was subsequently listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2005, giving the group a second publicly traded platform. The group's Kenyan portfolio includes Mather + Platt Kenya, in which it holds a majority interest, and Avon Rubber Company Kenya, in which it holds a significant minority interest. Mather + Platt Kenya provides fire-protection systems, water pumps, and mechanical engineering contracting services, while Avon Rubber Company Kenya manufactures and sells industrial rubber products. Olympia also has property interests in Kenya through Avon Centre and Heri Limited. In Botswana, Gaborone Enterprises serves as a property-holding business with commercial and residential assets in Botswana and South Africa. Olympia's portfolio has changed over time. The group divested from Dunlop Industries after the business experienced growing losses, and some South African entities, including Plush Products and Natural Wooden Products, were reported as having closed. The group has therefore combined operating-company ownership with portfolio rationalization, using its investment-company listing to pursue diversification beyond traditional flooring and building materials. Its stated areas of interest include broader geographic expansion and investment opportunities in sectors such as food processing, although the available reference material does not establish the scale or completion of such initiatives. Olympia Capital's positioning is consequently that of a regional holding and investment company rather than a narrowly defined industrial-machinery manufacturer. Its businesses provide tangible products and services used in construction, property development, fire safety, industrial maintenance, and household or commercial improvement. The group remains associated with manufacturing heritage through its flooring, rubber, and chemicals interests, while its engineering and real-estate subsidiaries broaden its exposure to infrastructure and property markets in East and Southern Africa.
History
Olympia Capital Holdings traces its origins to the Kenyan operations of Dunlop United Kingdom. Dunlop established a branch in Kenya in 1968, at a time when the British multinational was involved in products including vinyl floor tiles, adhesives, and sports equipment. The Kenyan business was formally registered in 1970 and was listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in 1976. This early operating history gave the group a manufacturing base in flooring and related industrial products. The corporate structure began to change in 1999, when Dunlop Industries Limited was registered as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Kenyan parent. The subsidiary continued the manufacturing activities while the parent increasingly concentrated on investment and portfolio management. This transition laid the foundation for the later identity of Olympia Capital Holdings as a diversified holding company rather than a single-product manufacturer. The group's first major Southern African expansion came in 2001 through the acquisition of Olympia Capital Corporation in Botswana. Through that vehicle, the group obtained full ownership of Kalahari Floor Tiles in Gaborone. Kalahari Floor Tiles became an important manufacturing asset, producing vinyl floor tiles and vinyl sheeting for the Southern African market. Its activities also included industrial and commercial cleaning chemicals and other home-improvement goods. Olympia Capital Corporation was listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange in 2005 as a subsidiary of the Kenyan-listed holding company. Olympia subsequently broadened its Kenyan industrial portfolio. In 2006 it acquired majority control of Avon Rubber Company Kenya, a business involved in the manufacture and sale of industrial rubber. In 2008 it acquired majority control of Mather + Platt Kenya. Mather + Platt Kenya became associated with fire-protection systems, water pumps, and mechanical engineering contracting, giving Olympia exposure to infrastructure, industrial safety, and building-services work in East Africa. Property became another important part of the portfolio. In Kenya, Olympia's interests included Avon Centre and a major stake in Heri Limited, both connected with real estate. In 2014, Olympia Capital Corporation in Botswana acquired all of Gaborone Enterprises, a property company with commercial and residential assets in Botswana and South Africa. This transaction increased the group's exposure to recurring property-related activities alongside its manufacturing and engineering businesses. The portfolio was not uniformly successful. Olympia divested from its wholly owned Dunlop Industries manufacturing operation after growing losses. The Botswana subsidiary also previously owned South African entities including Plush Products in Johannesburg and Natural Wooden Products in Cape Town; the available reference material states that these businesses closed. These developments illustrate the group's use of divestment and closure to reshape its portfolio when operating performance or strategic fit was unfavorable. Olympia Capital Holdings is therefore best understood as a regional investment company with an industrial and property heritage. Its businesses have covered flooring, rubber, chemicals, fire systems, pumps, engineering contracting, fittings, and real estate. The group has sought to use its listings in Kenya and Botswana to support diversification and geographic expansion, while remaining linked to the construction and building-materials value chain. Reference material also describes an interest in exploring opportunities beyond building materials and property, including food processing, but does not provide enough detail to establish a completed transaction or a current operating division in that sector.
- 2014
Gaborone Enterprises acquired
[1]Olympia Capital Botswana acquires all of Gaborone Enterprises, adding a portfolio of commercial and residential properties.
- 2008
Mather + Platt Kenya investment
[1]Olympia acquires majority control of Mather + Platt Kenya.
- 2006
Avon Rubber Company Kenya investment
[1]Olympia acquires majority control of Avon Rubber Company Kenya.
- 2005
Botswana subsidiary becomes publicly listed
[1]Olympia Capital Corporation is listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange.
- 2001
Entry into Botswana
[1]Olympia acquires Olympia Capital Corporation in Botswana and, through it, obtains full ownership of Kalahari Floor Tiles.
- 1999
Dunlop Industries established as a subsidiary
[1]Dunlop Industries Limited is incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary so the parent can focus more on investments.
- 1976
Listing on the Nairobi Stock Exchange
[1]The company becomes listed on Kenya's Nairobi Stock Exchange, now the Nairobi Securities Exchange.
- 1970
Kenyan company formally registered
[1]The Kenyan operation is formally registered as a local company.
- 1968
Dunlop establishes a Kenyan branch
[1]The business that later became associated with Olympia Capital begins operating in Kenya as a branch of Dunlop United Kingdom, producing vinyl flooring, adhesives, and sports equipment.
Products and positioning
A diversified regional investment holding group combining industrial manufacturing, engineering contracting, building materials, distribution, and property interests across East and Southern Africa.
Flooring and building materials
Kalahari Floor Tiles
Kalahari Floor Tiles is a Botswana-based manufacturing business associated with vinyl floor tiles and vinyl sheeting. It is described in the reference material as a leading or the largest tile manufacturer in Southern Africa. The business has also been involved in industrial and commercial cleaning chemicals and other home-improvement goods, including aluminum window frames, rubber, and curtains.
Fire protection and mechanical engineering · 1972
Mather + Platt Kenya
Mather + Platt Kenya provides fire-protection systems, water pumps, and mechanical engineering contracting services. Olympia's majority investment in 2008 added an infrastructure- and building-services business to the group and strengthened its presence in East African industrial and commercial projects.
Industrial rubber
Avon Rubber Company Kenya
Avon Rubber Company Kenya manufactures and sells industrial rubber products. Olympia acquired majority control in 2006, adding a specialized materials and industrial-products operation to its Kenyan portfolio.
Real estate
Gaborone Enterprises
Gaborone Enterprises is the property arm associated with Olympia Capital Corporation in Botswana. Its assets include commercial and residential properties in Botswana and South Africa. Olympia Capital Botswana acquired full ownership in 2014.
Real estate
Avon Centre and Heri Limited interests
Olympia's Kenyan property interests include Avon Centre and a significant stake in Heri Limited. These activities complement the group's industrial businesses with exposure to commercial and other real-estate assets.
Home fittings and accessories
Natwood Africa
Tiespro (171) Trading, trading as Natwood Africa, has been associated with the supply of home, bathroom, and kitchen fittings and accessories in South Africa. The business was held through the Botswana group structure.
Brand decisions
2014
Acquire Gaborone EnterprisesM&ABackground
Olympia's Botswana platform was being used to diversify beyond manufacturing into property.
Action taken
Olympia Capital Botswana acquired 100 percent of Gaborone Enterprises.
Aftermath
The group expanded its commercial and residential property exposure in Botswana and South Africa.
2005
List the Botswana subsidiaryStrategyBackground
The Southern African operations had expanded sufficiently to support a separate public-market presence.
Action taken
Olympia Capital Corporation was listed on the Botswana Stock Exchange.
Aftermath
Olympia gained a second listed entity in addition to its Nairobi Securities Exchange listing.
2001
Acquire Olympia Capital Corporation in BotswanaM&ABackground
Olympia sought to expand its investment and operating footprint from Kenya into Southern Africa.
Action taken
The group purchased Olympia Capital Corporation and used the acquired entity to obtain Kalahari Floor Tiles.
Aftermath
The transaction gave Olympia a major Botswana manufacturing platform and a vehicle for further Southern African investments.
1999
Separate manufacturing from investment activitiesStrategyBackground
The former Dunlop Kenya structure needed to allow its operating manufacturing business to continue while the parent concentrated more on investments.
Action taken
Dunlop Industries Limited was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary to carry on the manufacturing activities.
Aftermath
The reorganization helped establish the holding-company model that later characterized Olympia Capital Holdings.
- Divest from Dunlop IndustriesStrategy
Background
The floor-tile and adhesives manufacturing business experienced growing losses.
Action taken
Olympia divested from its wholly owned Dunlop Industries operation.
Aftermath
The divestment reduced the group's exposure to an underperforming manufacturing business, although the reference material does not specify the transaction date or financial terms.
Sources1 sources
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