East African Breweries PLC (EABL) posted a net profit of KES 12.198bn ($94.30mn) for the year ended June 30, 2025, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.

The Nairobi-listed subsidiary of British multinational Diageo also recorded a 49% rise in net revenue to KES 128.8bn ($995.77mn), with sales volumes growing by 2% across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Profit before tax reached KES 19.312bn ($149.30mn), while income tax expense stood at KES 7.114bn ($55.0mn). Cash and cash equivalents rose to KES 12.7bn ($98.19mn), and total borrowings declined by KES 8.3bn ($64.17mn).

The company declared a final dividend of KES 5.50 ($0.043) per share, raising the total dividend payout for the year to KES 8.00 ($0.06), a 14.3% increase from KES 7.00 ($0.05) in 2024, subject to shareholder approval.

The results come amid regulatory uncertainty, with Kenya’s National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) proposing sweeping changes to alcohol laws. These include raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 and curbs on advertising, online sales, home delivery, and celebrity endorsements.

EABL, East Africa’s largest alcoholic beverage company, is 65% owned by Diageo. Kenya alone contributes nearly 45% of its regional revenues, based on its 2024 investor update.

The company has expressed concern that the proposed regulations could impact formal alcohol sales in a market already grappling with the spread of illicit brews, which a 2023 NACADA report estimated to account for over 50% of consumption in low-income areas.

“All our markets recorded growth, fortifying our business position across the region,” Group CEO Jane Karuku said.

Group Chairman Martin Oduor added that the company had delivered “topline growth and double-digit profit expansion.”

During the year, Kenya experienced declining interest rates and a strengthening shilling, while Uganda’s macroeconomic environment remained stable. In contrast, Tanzania faced currency pressure.

As bne IntelliNews reported, Diageo Plc recently engaged Bank of America Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to conduct a strategic review of EABL, potentially leading to a partial or full sale of its beer business, estimated to be worth around $2bn. EABL shares rose by up to 6% on July 28.