Diageo Holdings Netherlands B.V. has completed the sale of its entire 80.4% shareholding in Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC (GGBL) to Castel Group, effective July 3, 2025. The transaction involved the sale of 247,291,361 ordinary shares and was executed as a Free of Payment (FoP) transaction in Ghana.
The sale was made for $81 million, strengthening Castel's footprint in Africa's beverage market. Diageo retains ownership of the Guinness brand and other key Diageo products, which will continue to be brewed, produced, and distributed by Guinness Ghana under long-term licensing and royalty agreements.
Guinness Ghana will maintain its listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange, with no immediate changes to its operations or workforce. Castel Group plans to leverage its extensive distribution network to enhance Guinness Ghana's operations and build on its strong foundation.
"Guinness Ghana is performing strongly, powered by a fantastic team of people. Through this transaction, I look forward to the Guinness brand continuing to thrive and delivering further growth," said Dayalan Nayager, President of Diageo Africa and Chief Commercial Officer.
"This acquisition exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Castel and marks a new milestone in our growth ambition. It reflects our ability to go where we are least expected, exploring new horizons on a continent full of opportunities," emphasized Gregory Clerc, Castel Group CEO.
The transaction underscores Diageo's strategy to adopt a flexible, asset-light beer operating model, enabling it to focus on brand building and innovation while partnering with local experts like Castel to drive growth in key markets.
Comments