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NOTIFICATION TO THE ECOWAS REGIONAL COMPETITION AUTHORITY OF THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF THE SOCIÉTÉ DES GRANDS MOULINS DU TOGO, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SOMDIA GROUP, BY THE AVOS GROUP
- Purpose of the Notification
The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) has received a notification of a proposed concentration from the AVOS Group regarding its intention to acquire the Société des Grands Moulins du Togo (SGMT), a subsidiary of the French agri-industrial group SOMDIA.
This transaction is subject to prior approval by the ERCA in accordance with Article 2(1)(a) of Regulation C/REG.23/12/21 on merger and acquisition procedures within the ECOWAS region, as well as Implementing Regulation PC/REX.1/01/24 concerning notification thresholds.
As the transaction involves more than one ECOWAS Member State, a regional notification is required.
The purpose of the transaction is to grant the AVOS Group exclusive control over SGMT.
Parties to the Transaction
1 The AVOS Group (Acquirer)
The AVOS Group is a private limited company (SAS) under Ivorian law, registered under number CI-ABJ-2018-B-32351, with its head office in Abidjan, Cocody.
AVOS is a major regional player in the agro-industrial sector, operating in:
- Animal production (SIPRA, SOBUPRA, SABB)
- Flour milling (LMCI)
- Fast food services (SARES – Tweat brand)
2 Société des Grands Moulins du Togo (SGMT)
SGMT (the target), a subsidiary of the French SOMDIA Group (the seller) since 2014, is a leading agri-food company in Togo, specialising in the processing of wheat into flour and by-products.
SGMT plays a key role in ensuring food security in Togo and is located in the industrial zone of the Port of Lomé, on Rue des Grands Moulins.
Nature and Scope of the Transaction
The notified transaction concerns the acquisition by AVOS of a 68.75% majority stake in SGMT, held by the SOMDIA Group. SGMT is engaged in the production and marketing of wheat flour in Togo.
As a result of the transaction:
- Majority control of SGMT will be transferred to AVOS;
- SGMT will become a new subsidiary of the AVOS Group;
- SOMDIA will fully withdraw from SGMT’s shareholding and governance.
This marks SOMDIA’s complete exit from the flour milling sector in Togo.
Expected Outcomes and Strategic Rationale
According to the notifying party, this acquisition is a strategic milestone for the AVOS Group’s regional growth ambitions. It allows AVOS to enter a new market without overlapping its current operations, by taking over a strategic asset previously held by an international operator.
The transaction supports the following strategic objectives:
- Strengthen regional food sovereignty, especially in Côte d’Ivoire and Togo;
- Ensure operational continuity at SGMT and safeguard existing jobs;
- Modernise production facilities and increase output capacity;
- Create operational, logistical and industrial synergies across AVOS subsidiaries;
- Promote local brands while securing a stable flour supply;
- Support the sustainable development of the West African agri-food sector.
This transaction aligns with AVOS Group’s long-term vision of becoming a leading regional agro-industrial player, in line with its mission: “To contribute to better nourishing Africa.”
Third Party Rights
In accordance with Article 44(2)(a)(iv) of the ERCA’s Investigation and Notification Manual of Procedures, interested third parties are invited to submit their comments within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice.
Submissions must be supported by relevant documentation and sent in confidence to the following address:
ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA)
Bertil Harding, Bijilo, The Gambia
P.O. Box 4470
Or sent electronically to: registry@erca-arcc.org and info@erca-arcc.org
ERCA