Diageo exits East African Breweries in $2.3 billion sale to Japan’s Asahi
- Diageo is selling its 65% stake in East African Breweries Limited to Asahi Group Holdings for $2.3 billion.
- The deal values EABL at approximately $4.8 billion and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.
- Asahi's acquisition marks its first major entry into the African market, aiming for long-term expansion.
The sale of Diageo's stake in EABL to Asahi represents a strategic pivot in the beverage industry, highlighting the growing trend of Western companies divesting from capital-heavy operations in favor of brand management. This move could reshape market dynamics in Africa, as Asian companies increasingly invest in the continent's consumer sectors. It raises questions about the future of local production and the balance of power in the beverage market.
