Wilmar International Limited has announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with Tropical General Investments Group to combine their respective operating businesses in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin into a single integrated platform through a new 50:50 joint venture. The transaction will see both parties contribute a portfolio of complementary operating businesses and brands spanning upstream agriculture, oil palm plantations, edible oils, edible nuts, rice, culinary, food manufacturing, and nationwide distribution. The addressable market size across the focus categories in Nigeria and Benin exceeds US$12 billion.
Strategic Integration
The combined platform brings together well-established consumer brands, significant processing capacity, deep local operating capabilities, and extensive route-to-market infrastructure across West Africa. This creates an integrated business with meaningful scale across the agricultural value chain, from cultivation and processing through refining, manufacturing, and branded consumer distribution. At its core, the platform is built around a shared goal: to provide quality food and consumer products at affordable prices for consumers across West Africa, combining global expertise with large local manufacturing capability.
Shareholding and Conditions
The combined businesses will be held by a Singapore holding company jointly owned by Wilmar and TGI Group on an equal shareholding basis. Completion of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions precedent, including receipt of relevant merger control and regulatory clearances, and is currently expected to take place during the financial year ending 31 December 2026.
Executive Comments
Mr Kuok Khoon Hong, Chairman and CEO of Wilmar, commented: “Nigeria and the Republic of Benin are key consumer markets in Africa, supported by a population of more than 260 million and sometimes experience structural deficits in both food production and distribution. The combination of Wilmar’s integrated palm oil and specialty fats capability and its global scale in food staples and consumer goods with TGI Group’s manufacturing scale, established consumer brands and nationwide distribution platform creates a uniquely positioned business to serve African consumers and contribute to the long-term development of the region.”
Mr Santosh Pillai, Wilmar’s Africa Head, added: “This transaction represents a compelling strategic fit for Wilmar in Africa. TGI Group brings strong local execution capabilities, established consumer brands and a deep distribution network, which are highly complementary to Wilmar’s upstream and processing strengths as well as portfolio of trusted brands. Together, we are creating an integrated platform with the scale, local insight and operating depth to better serve consumers in Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and support the long-term development of the region’s food and agriculture sectors.”
Mr Cornelis G. Vink MFR, Founder and Chairman of TGI Group, said: “For more than four decades, TGI Group has built a leading position in Nigerian food manufacturing and distribution. The combination with Wilmar’s Nigerian businesses brings together two highly complementary platforms built on delivering high quality locally manufactured food products across the sub region. This partnership will leverage Wilmar’s global scale and expertise as well as TGI’s local knowledge to deliver innovative food solutions across Africa.”
Mr Farouk M Gumel, Vice Chairman of TGI Group, added: “By integrating Wilmar’s upstream and downstream palm oil capabilities, processing expertise, portfolio of trusted consumer brands with TGI Group’s manufacturing scale, local market expertise, established consumer brands and nationwide route-to-market, we are building a platform that will deepen domestic value addition, support smallholder farmers, create jobs and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s food security.”
About Wilmar International Limited
Wilmar International Limited, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Singapore, is Asia’s leading agribusiness group. It is ranked amongst the largest listed companies by market capitalization on the Singapore Exchange. The core of Wilmar’s strategy is an integrated agribusiness model that encompasses the entire value chain of the agricultural commodity business, from origination to processing, branding, merchandising and distribution of a wide range of edible food and industrial products. The Group’s business activities include oil palm cultivation, oilseed crushing, edible oils refining, flour and rice milling, sugar milling and refining, manufacturing of consumer products, ready-to-eat meals, central kitchen products, specialty fats, oleochemicals, biodiesel and fertilizers as well as food park operations. It has over 1,000 manufacturing plants and an extensive distribution network covering China, India, Indonesia and some 50 other countries and regions. Through scale, integration and logistical advantages, Wilmar extracts margins at every step of the value chain, reaping operational synergies and cost efficiencies. Supported by a multinational workforce of about 100,000 people, Wilmar embraces sustainability in its global operations, supply chain and communities.
About Tropical General Investments Group
Tropical General Investments Group is a diversified conglomerate with over four decades of operating history in Nigeria and the broader West African region. The Group operates across agriculture, food processing, FMCG manufacturing, distribution, chemicals, poultry farming, real estate, financial services, etc., serving millions of consumers through a portfolio of leading household brands. These brands are underpinned by the Group’s commitment to sustainability and the communities in which it operates. TGI Group’s operations extend beyond West Africa into other key emerging and developing markets including India, UAE, supported by large manufacturing and distribution operations and a diverse workforce of over 25,000 people.
