Spirits giant Diageo has agreed to sell its 80.4% shareholding in Guinness Ghana to Castel Group for $81 million, it said on Tuesday, continuing to refine its operating model in Africa. Diageo said that it will retain ownership of the Guinness brand and other Diageo brands produced by Guinness Ghana,

Castel Group has agreed to acquire Diageo Plc’s stake in its Ghana unit and expand in the West African nation that’s just recovering from a debt crisis.

As part of the deal, the drinks giant will retain ownership of the Diageo brands that are produced by Guinness Ghana (such as Guinness, Malta, Orijin, Smirnoff Ice and Alvaro), with the rights instead licensed to Guinness Ghana under a new long-term agreement.

Drinks group Diageo is selling its subsidiary Guinness Ghana Breweries, days after denying reports that it was considering a sale of the entire Guinness brand. The London-listed company said on Monday it was selling its 80 per cent stake in the Ghana subsidiary to French wine group Castel,