Champion Breweries Plc has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of the Bullet brand portfolio from Sun Mark International, marking a major milestone in its strategic drive to transform into a diversified consumer beverages platform with a pan-African footprint.
The deal, initially announced in August 2025, gives Champion Breweries ownership of Bullet brand assets, trademarks, formulations and global commercial rights through an asset carve-out structure. Under the terms of the transaction, the assets are held in a newly incorporated company in the Netherlands, in which Champion Breweries holds a majority interest while Vinar N.V., the majority shareholder of Sun Mark, retains a minority stake.
Bullet products including the popular Bullet Black ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage and Bullet Blue energy drink are currently distributed in 14 African markets. The acquisition positions Champion Breweries to scale beyond Nigeria into high-growth ready-to-drink and energy drink segments across the continent, broadening the company’s addressable market and strengthening its revenue base with a well-established and profitable portfolio that already enjoys strong brand recognition and consumer loyalty.
Champion Breweries’ transition from a regional brewing business to a multi-category consumer beverage platform with continental reach is expected to bring enhanced foreign exchange earnings, expanded distribution leverage across African markets, integrated supply-chain efficiencies and portfolio diversification into high-growth consumer categories.
The structure of the deal enables rapid integration without significant upfront manufacturing capital expenditure, while creating a pathway for future production capacity in Nigeria that could position the country as a regional export hub for Bullet products.
The acquisition was supported by the company’s recent successful capital-raising initiatives, including its Rights Issue and a ₦42 billion Public Offer, which strengthened Champion’s financial position to fund strategic expansion.
Chairman Mr. Imo-Abasi Jacob described the closing of the acquisition as a “defining moment for Champion Breweries,” highlighting the strong confidence shown by both existing shareholders and new investors in the company’s long-term strategy to build a diversified, high-growth beverage business with pan-African scale. He said the company’s focus now will be on disciplined execution, integration and delivering sustained value across markets.
Champion Breweries expressed appreciation to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Exchange Group, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Akwa Ibom State Government, financial advisers, legal advisers, capital market partners and professional consultants whose support helped ensure seamless execution of the transaction.
