Coffin-maker puts Nambob on death row
In a bizarre twist of fate, Nambob Funeral Solutions, a company entrusted with laying the dead to rest, has found itself in a chokehold after a local coffin-maker dragged it to court demanding outstanding payments of N$3.4 million for coffins it provided.
Nambob is the country’s biggest funeral undertaker, having spent decades enjoying a massive chunk of the market share.
It is not clear why Nambob abandoned its financial responsibilities towards its coffin supplier.
According to court documents, the funeral home settled outside the court, agreeing to pay the outstanding money over four instalments.
The two parties also agreed that each would pay for its own legal costs.
The coffin-maker confirmed that Nambob is keeping to the arrangement and has already made the first instalment, which was due on 1 March.
10% discount
Court documents show that Immanuel Coffins and Caskets entered into an agreement with Nambob that would give priority to the casket manufacturer to provide coffins.
This agreement was for three years, from August 2021 until August 2024, and Nambob was guaranteed a 10% discount if it bought coffins and funeral products for N$1.2 million per month.
For the period between July 2022 to October 2022, Immanuel Coffins and Caskets provided coffins and products worth N$3.8 million to Nambob.
However, the coffin-maker claims it only received a paltry sum of N$473 133 in September 2022, leaving a gaping hole in its coffers and an outstanding balance of N$3.4 million.
Private equity firm EOS Capital took ownership of the Avbob Funeral Society in 2019 and subsequently changed its name to Nambob through its N$460 million Allegrow Fund, which is bankrolled by pension funds and long-term insurers.
The deal was concluded when central bank governor Johannes! Gawaxab still held the laurels at the firm.
Among the goals of the investment was an initiative to roll out various operational improvement initiatives, as it moved to position the business as the leading brand in the Namibian funeral space, EOS Capital said at the time.
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Nambob is the country’s biggest funeral undertaker, having spent decades enjoying a massive chunk of the market share.
It is not clear why Nambob abandoned its financial responsibilities towards its coffin supplier.
According to court documents, the funeral home settled outside the court, agreeing to pay the outstanding money over four instalments.
The two parties also agreed that each would pay for its own legal costs.
The coffin-maker confirmed that Nambob is keeping to the arrangement and has already made the first instalment, which was due on 1 March.
10% discount
Court documents show that Immanuel Coffins and Caskets entered into an agreement with Nambob that would give priority to the casket manufacturer to provide coffins.
This agreement was for three years, from August 2021 until August 2024, and Nambob was guaranteed a 10% discount if it bought coffins and funeral products for N$1.2 million per month.
For the period between July 2022 to October 2022, Immanuel Coffins and Caskets provided coffins and products worth N$3.8 million to Nambob.
However, the coffin-maker claims it only received a paltry sum of N$473 133 in September 2022, leaving a gaping hole in its coffers and an outstanding balance of N$3.4 million.
Private equity firm EOS Capital took ownership of the Avbob Funeral Society in 2019 and subsequently changed its name to Nambob through its N$460 million Allegrow Fund, which is bankrolled by pension funds and long-term insurers.
The deal was concluded when central bank governor Johannes! Gawaxab still held the laurels at the firm.
Among the goals of the investment was an initiative to roll out various operational improvement initiatives, as it moved to position the business as the leading brand in the Namibian funeral space, EOS Capital said at the time.
[email protected]
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