Abstract

In May 2007, United Spirits acquired Scottish company Whyte & Mackay, becoming the second largest liquor company in the world. This caselet discusses the details of the acquisition, and the benefits expected to accrue to both the companies. United Spirits acquired a strong global distribution network through the acquisition, and Whyte & Mackay gained access to emerging markets, where the demand for Scotch whisky was high. However, proposed changes in the duty structure on imported spirits in India had the potential upset the companies calculations.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

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Keywords

United Breweries Group, United Spirits, Whyte & Mackay, Vijay Mallya, Vivian Imerman, Scotch whisky, premium liquor, merger, acquisition, Diageo, Pernod-Ricard, countervailing duty