In 1879, the United African Company was formed following the merger of four European companies trading up the River Niger: Alexander Miller Brother & Company, Central African Trading Company Limited, West African Company Limited and James Pinnock. The merged company's trading activities over time would require the use of warehouses for produce, offices and exclusive residential accommodation for the mostly expatriate managers. The United African Company had a significant real estate holding in all parts of Nigeria to meet these ends. UPDC operated first as a department, then as a division of UAC of Nigeria Plc until 1997 when the business was incorporated as a public limited liability company and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Following a review of its business, UPDC is now focusing its energies on the premium real estate market of carefully selected cities of Nigeria. The company acquires, develops, sells, leases and manages choice residential and commercial real estate in Nigeria.