Business
Diageo sells majority stake in Guinness Ghana to Castel Group for $81 Million
Group CEO Gregory Clerc expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating: “This purchase underscores Castel’s entrepreneurial spirit and represents a significant step forward in our growth ambitions across the African continent.”
Diageo has announced the sale of its majority stake in Guinness Ghana Breweries to the Castel Group for $81 million.
The transaction will see the UK-based beverage giant part with its 80.4% shareholding in the Ghanaian unit while retaining ownership of its Guinness brand and other key labels produced by Guinness Ghana.
These will continue to be licensed to the brewery under the new ownership. This move aligns with Diageo’s ongoing strategy to adopt a “flexible and asset-light” beer operating model, which is designed to adapt to local market conditions and enhance operational efficiency and profitability.
“Guinness Ghana has consistently delivered strong performance, driven by an exceptional team,” said Dayalan Nayager, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Diageo Africa.
“Through this transaction, we anticipate the Guinness brand continuing to flourish and achieving sustained growth under Castel’s leadership.”
The sale follows a series of divestments by Diageo in its African beer business, including its stakes in Guinness Nigeria in 2024 and Guinness Cameroon in 2022, both of which were also acquired by Castel.
In January 2022, Diageo sold its Meta Abo Brewery in Ethiopia to the Castel Group as part of its broader portfolio reshaping in Africa.
Marketing Edge, reported that Group CEO Gregory Clerc expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating: “This purchase underscores Castel’s entrepreneurial spirit and represents a significant step forward in our growth ambitions across the African continent.”
The announcement comes amid recent media speculation about Diageo’s potential divestment of its Guinness business and its 34% stake in LVMH’s beverage alcohol division, Moët Hennessy.
However, Diageo has firmly denied such rumors.
“We want to address the recent speculation regarding the Guinness brand and our stake in Moët Hennessy,” Diageo said in a statement issued on January 26.
“We can confirm that we have no intention of selling either. We look forward to providing further updates during our interim results announcement on February 4 and at our Guinness investor and analyst day on May 19-20.”
This latest sale marks a continuation of Diageo’s strategic focus on streamlining its operations while ensuring the Guinness brand remains a cornerstone of its African business portfolio.
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Business
WEF could appoint Lagarde as its next chair, sources say
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
•European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde
The World Economic Forum could appoint Christine Lagarde as its next chair as soon as next month, four people close to the organisation told Reuters, meaning she would step down early as European Central Bank chief and trigger a wider reshuffle at the top of the ECB.Lagarde’s ECB term is scheduled to end in October 2027.
Leaving early would give European Union leaders a chance to pick a new ECB President before France’s spring presidential election, which opinion polls suggest the far-right could win, and could pave the way for a deal involving two other senior ECB roles.
The WEF’s Board of Trustees, which includes Lagarde herself, was due to meet on November 2 and could elect her as its next chair, said the people close to the organisation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
No final decision has been taken yet, they said.
A spokesperson for the WEF said the forum could not confirm when the next full Board of Trustees meeting would take place, but that the aim was to hold one before the end of the year.
Business
Germany plans tax on sugary drinks
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
The German cabinet has approved draft legislation to tax sugary drinks in Europe’s biggest economy.
If passed by the German Bundestag, the tax will take effect on 1 July 2027.
The coalition aims to raise revenue for the federal budget while encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content and offer healthier products.
The levy is intended to ease pressure on the healthcare system, which faces costs of more than €2 billion every year linked to the high consumption of sugary drinks, which contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.
According to the federal government, Berlin is using the tax to implement “what associations from the fields of health, science, child protection, and consumer protection have long been demanding.”
The tax is expected to generate additional revenue for the federal government of €690 million in 2027 and €925 million in 2028.
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