Table of Contents
Key Points
- French billionaire Pierre Castel’s group acquires 80.4% of Guinness Ghana from Diageo for $81 million, valuing the company at $100.75 million.
- Guinness Ghana will keep producing Diageo's brands under long-term licensing and royalty agreements despite Castel taking control.
- The deal marks Castel’s entry into Ghana, reinforcing its stronghold across Africa’s beverage market with over 100 factories continentwide.
Castel Group, the beverage company founded by French billionaire Pierre Castel, has finalized the purchase of an 80.4 percent stake in Guinness Ghana Breweries Plc from British multinational Diageo Plc for $81 million. The deal expands Castel’s footprint in Africa, where it already has a strong presence across North, West, and Central Africa.
Castel takes control of Guinness Ghana
With this acquisition, Guinness Ghana is now valued at $100.75 million. Although Castel now holds the majority stake, Diageo will keep ownership of the Guinness brand, along with other products it developed in Ghana. Under new long-term licensing and royalty agreements, Guinness Ghana will continue brewing and distributing those brands locally. It will also keep handling Diageo’s international premium spirits in Ghana.
The deal strengthens Castel’s position in Ghana, where it will oversee production and marketing while continuing to work with Diageo on broader growth initiatives. Castel, which already operates in more than 20 African markets, sees this move as a natural extension of its long-running collaboration with Diageo. For Diageo, the agreement fits into a wider effort to streamline its operations in West Africa and focus on sustainable growth in the region.
From Bordeaux to Africa: Castel’s broad reach
Founded in 1949, Castel Group began as a family-run business under Pierre Castel, whose net worth was estimated at $9.9 billion in 2015. Over the decades, the company has become the largest French wine producer, managing more than 1,400 hectares of vineyards across Bordeaux, Provence, the Loire Valley, and Languedoc. In addition to wine, Castel is the leading table wine supplier in France and a major player in Africa’s beer and soft drink markets.
In Africa, Castel holds a strong footprint through its Castel Afrique subsidiary, which operates in 21 countries. The group runs over 100 factories and employs more than 40,000 people on the continent. It is estimated to hold more than 25 percent of profits from the African beer market.
Leadership legacy grows beyond Castel family
The Guinness Ghana acquisition also signals a shift in leadership within Castel’s traditionally family-led business. Gregory Clerc, the company’s CEO since 2023 and the first person outside the Castel family to lead the group, described the deal as a defining moment.
Speaking when the transaction was announced in January, Clerc said, “This acquisition reflects the entrepreneurial mindset that drives Castel. It’s a big step in our growth journey and shows our willingness to go where people might not expect us. With Ghana now our 22nd country in Africa, we’re reaffirming our belief in the continent’s future.”
