(Business in Cameroon) – Ecobank Cameroon, the local unit of the pan-African banking group, said it served as a key financial partner in Cadyst Group’s acquisition of two Somdia Group subsidiaries: Société le Grand Moulin du Cameroun (SGMC) and Société le Grand Moulin du Phare (SGMP) in the Republic of Congo.
In a statement obtained by Business in Cameroon, the bank said it arranged tailored financing to support the transaction, which it described as an important step for strengthening the agribusiness sector in Central Africa.
“We are using Ecobank Group’s pan-African network and our expertise in structured finance to support high-impact transactions. By backing the growth of leading Cameroonian companies such as Cadyst Group, we are helping drive economic diversification and regional integration,” said Gwendoline Abunaw, Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon and head of the CEMAC cluster.
The acquisition strengthens Cadyst’s position in milling and wheat processing and aligns with Ecobank’s ambition to support the emergence of African industry leaders as outlined in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Cadyst Group completed the purchase of SGMC and SGMP on August 6, 2025, ten months after assuming operational control of the two mills. Both companies were previously owned by the French Castel Group through its subsidiary Somdia.
The deal was financed by a syndicate of banks led by Afriland First Bank, with Ecobank Cameroon among the main lenders. It required approval from the relevant authorities within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).
With these two acquisitions, Cadyst has reinforced its leading position in Cameroon, where it now accounts for roughly 40 percent of the market, while expanding its industrial presence into the Republic of Congo. The move also creates a pathway for growth into feed production, animal nutrition, poultry farming, and agro-industrial processing for both domestic and regional markets.
Cadyst now operates seven industrial sites and has become a major national and regional player, benefiting from the opportunities created by the AfCFTA.
Amina Malloum
