East African Breweries PLC (EABL) has announced that the High Court has allowed regulatory approval processes for a contested transaction to continue, despite an application filed by Bia Tosha Distributors Limited.
High Court Allows Regulatory Processes to Proceed
In its ruling delivered on Wednesday, the Court directed that all regulatory approvals and preliminary statutory steps for the transaction should move forward as planned. The Judge underscored the significance of the transaction, declining to halt or paralyse the regulatory process.
Temporary Preservation Order Issued Until January 20, 2026
The Court, however, issued a temporary preservation order restraining only the final steps of the sale. This interim measure will remain in force for 11 days, expiring on January 20, 2026.
EABL emphasised that, given the global scale of the transaction, which typically requires several months of regulatory engagement, the interim order does not affect the overall transaction timeline.
The matter has now been referred to the Presiding Judge for reallocation and is scheduled to be mentioned on January 20, 2026, when further directions will be issued.
EABL Welcomes Court’s Decision
In a statement, EABL welcomed the ruling, noting that it allows the regulatory phases to continue without disruption. The company reiterated that the substantive case before the court relates to a long‑standing commercial dispute over local distribution routes and has no factual or legal connection to the shareholding of its parent company, Diageo.
