EABL seeks CJ Koome's intervention over lawsuits challenging Asahi takeover deal

East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has written to Chief Justice Martha Koome over a growing number of court cases challenging the proposed sale of the brewer to Japan's Asahi Group, saying the multiple lawsuits risk delaying the transaction and creating uncertainty for investors.

In a letter copied to the Judicial Service Commission, EABL argues that several cases raising similar issues have been filed in different courts despite earlier attempts to stop the deal from being dismissed.

The brewer says the parallel proceedings could result in conflicting court orders and has urged the judiciary to address what it describes as a growing concern over repeated litigation surrounding the transaction.

The sale, announced by Diageo last year, would see the British drinks giant sell its controlling stake in EABL to Asahi Group in a deal valued at about Ksh.340 billion, making it one of the largest corporate transactions in the region.

The transaction has faced a series of legal challenges from different petitioners, with some cases dismissed while others remain before the courts.

EABL maintains that it is not seeking to interfere with the judicial process but wants safeguards against what it terms duplicative cases that continue to cast uncertainty over the future ownership of East Africa's largest brewer.