N SEVEN BOOSTS GUINNESS NIGERIA STAKE WITH 550,092-SHARE PURCHASE

N Seven Nigeria Limited, a major shareholder in Guinness Nigeria Plc, has increased its investment in the brewing company after acquiring 550,092 ordinary shares through transactions conducted on the Nigerian Exchange Limited.

The purchase was executed through several open-market transactions, with the shares changing hands at different prices ranging from N356.40 to N384.80 per share. When the various transactions were aggregated, the volume-weighted average price stood at N367.40 per share.

Details contained in the regulatory disclosure showed that the acquisition involved a number of different transaction sizes. The largest single purchase accounted for 498,973 shares bought at N384.80 each, while another significant transaction involved 30,000 shares purchased at N375 per share.

Other purchases were carried out in smaller quantities at different prices, including N356.60, N357, N362.80, N365.90 and N374 per share. One of the smallest recorded transactions involved just five shares purchased at N359 per unit.

The latest acquisition further strengthens N Seven's position in Guinness Nigeria as the company continues to operate under the ownership structure established following Diageo Plc's sale of its controlling interest in the Nigerian brewer.

In 2024, Diageo agreed to transfer its 58.02 per cent controlling stake in Guinness Nigeria to Tolaram Group, a Singapore-based conglomerate. The transaction allowed Tolaram to assume control of the Nigerian business, while Guinness continued to operate under long-term licensing and royalty arrangements associated with the Guinness brand.

N Seven Nigeria is associated with the wider Tolaram corporate structure and has been involved in increasing its equity position in Guinness Nigeria. The latest purchase therefore represents another significant share acquisition by a major shareholder of the listed company.

The transaction also comes at a time when Guinness Nigeria is navigating an increasingly challenging operating environment marked by foreign exchange movements, higher production expenses and rising costs of raw materials.

Despite these pressures, the brewer has reported improvements in its financial performance. Guinness Nigeria's 2026 results showed stronger profitability, with profit after tax rising by 48 per cent year-on-year to N10.39bn, while revenue increased by four per cent to N122.77bn. The company also approved an interim dividend of N2 per share, valued at approximately N4.38bn.

The improved performance has been linked to measures aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, reducing finance costs, expanding distribution and responding more closely to changes in consumer demand.

Guinness Nigeria's management has also highlighted opportunities for growth in areas including ready-to-drink beverages, mainstream spirits, beer and malt products, while adjusting product offerings and packaging to reflect changing consumer purchasing patterns.

The latest share purchase was disclosed to the market in line with the Nigerian Exchange's requirements governing transactions involving corporate insiders and significant shareholders. The notification was signed by Guinness Nigeria's Company Secretary, Abimbola Ajibola-Jimoh.

Such disclosures are required to promote transparency in the capital market and enable investors to track significant dealings involving directors, major shareholders and other persons with relevant interests in listed companies.

The acquisition also signals continued activity around Guinness Nigeria's shareholding structure following the change in ownership of the company. As N Seven expands its holding, investors will continue to monitor whether further purchases are made and how the changing ownership structure influences the brewer's long-term strategy.

For Guinness Nigeria, the latest transaction comes against the backdrop of efforts to consolidate its recovery and protect its position within Nigeria's highly competitive beverage market.

The company is expected to remain focused on improving efficiency, managing operating costs and expanding its product portfolio as it responds to changing consumer spending patterns and broader economic pressures.

N Seven's acquisition of the additional 550,092 shares therefore adds another significant development to Guinness Nigeria's post-Diageo ownership era and reflects continued confidence from a major shareholder in the company's long-term prospects.