RELEASE: NOTIFICATION OF THE ACQUISITION OF SIERRA LEONE BREWERY LIMITED (SLBL) BY AFRICAN BOTTLING GROUP LIMITED (ABG)

Published On - October 10, 2025

Registry ERCA Ongoing Investigations

NOTIFICATION TO THE ECOWAS REGIONAL COMPETITION AUTHORITY OF THE ACQUISITION OF SIERRA LEONE BREWERY LIMITED (SLBL) BY AFRICAN BOTTLING GROUP LIMITED (ABG)

Subject of the Notification

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) has received a notification regarding the proposed acquisition by African Bottling Group Limited (ABG) (the Acquirer) of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) (the Target).

This transaction is subject to prior approval by ERCA under Article 2(1)(a) of C/REG.23/12/21 on merger and acquisition procedures in the ECOWAS region, as well as the PC/REX.1/01/24 Implementing Regulation on notification thresholds. Since the transaction involves multiple Member States, a community-level notification was required.

The transaction concerns ABG’s acquisition of a majority stake and exclusive control of SLBL, including all its activities in the production and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Sierra Leone, without granting any special rights to minority shareholders.

Parties to the Transaction

  • African Bottling Group Limited (ABG) (the Acquirer) is a subsidiary of the ABG Group, a leading player in the beverages and food products sector in Africa, domiciled in the British Virgin Islands (Vistra Corporate Services Centre, Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110).
  • Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) (the Target) is a company based in Sierra Leone, privately owned, engaged in the production and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages within the country.

Nature and Scope of the Transaction

Upon completion, ABG will exercise exclusive control over SLBL and intends to strengthen SLBL’s local production and distribution capacity. ABG, present in multiple ECOWAS countries, already has an established industrial and commercial network and intends to leverage this experience to further develop SLBL.

SLBL will continue its operations in the production and distribution of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while benefiting from the technical, commercial, and industrial support of a multinational group.

Expected Outcomes of the Transaction

For ABG, the transaction represents a strategic step to strengthen its presence in West Africa and expand its market share across the ECOWAS region. It will consolidate ABG’s product portfolio and extend distribution in Sierra Leone.

For SLBL, integration into a multinational group will provide new opportunities in terms of access to resources, expertise, and broader distribution networks. The company will be able to enhance its production capacity and product quality while continuing to contribute to the local economy.

According to the parties, the transaction is not expected to have any significant adverse effect on competition. On the contrary, it is expected to encourage investment, job creation, product innovation, and improved availability of beverages for consumers.

Third-Party Rights

In accordance with Article 44 (2) (a) (iv) of ERCA Manual of Investigation and Notification Procedures, interested third parties may submit their comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this press release.

Comments should be accompanied by supporting documents and submitted confidentially to:

ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA)
Bertil Harding, Bijilo, The Gambia
P.O Box 4470

Or sent by email to: registry@erca-arcc.org and info@erca-arcc.org