The UB Group company news 
UK: Whyte & Mackay mulls distillery expansion
2 February 2012
United Spirits is considering expanding two of the Scotch whisky distilleries owned by its Whyte & Mackay subsidiary.
INDIA: Weak Q3 hampers United Spirits nine-month performance
23 January 2012
United Spirits has seen weak third-quarter trading take the shine off a rise in sales and profits for the first nine months of its fiscal year.
INDIA: United Spirits gets bond issue green light
20 January 2012
Shareholders of United Spirits have approved the group's plan raise US$225m through a bond issue, with the distiller strongly denying that funds will be used to prop up UB Group's Kingfisher Airlines.
just the Round-Up - The week in drinks
20 January 2012
The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:
INDIA: United Spirits bond issue raises concern
19 January 2012
A Mumbai-based investor advisory firm has told United Spirits shareholders to tread carefully when they are asked to approve the distiller's plan to raise US$225m through a debt sale.
Comment - Spirits - What Will (Not) Happen in 2012
17 January 2012
This week is prediction week on just-drinks. On Thursday, Chris Losh will give us his annual, tongue-in-cheek forecasts for the coming year. Today, however, Ian Buxton, consider what might happen in brown spirits in 2012.
INDIA: Speculation mounts over UB Group finance plan for beer, spirits
16 January 2012
UB Group's financial difficulties have lead to reports that it is again mulling a stock listing for Whyte & Mackay, as the pressure grows for greater outside investment in the firm's spirits and beer businesses.
just the Round-Up - The week in drinks
13 January 2012
The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:
INDIA: UB Group travails to force United Spirits hand?
11 January 2012
United Spirits may be forced to consider teaming with a multinational drinks partner to fend off the financial pitfalls facing its parent company, The UB Group.
Comment - United Spirits Distils Vision for Whyte & Mackay
6 January 2012
United Spirits didn't buy Whyte & Mackay for the group's bulk Scotch whisky business, as is now being demonstrated.
Review of the Year 2011 - Spirits
22 December 2011
Part three of our final management briefing of the year looks back at how 2011 has treated the spirits industry.
INDIA: United Spirits announces debt funding
22 December 2011
United Spirits has said that it will use foreign currency convertible bonds to raise cash to pay down high interest-bearing debt.
just the Ten - Top News Stories of 2011
21 December 2011
With the end of the year looming, just-drinks is running a series of 'Top Tens of the Year' in the run-up to Christmas.
INDIA: Bisleri to open bottled water stores - report
24 November 2011
Bisleri International is to open a chain of retail outlets across India for its bottled water products, in a bid to push back rival brands, according to a report.
INDIA: United Spirits cheers strong H1
8 November 2011
United Spirits has reported strong double-digit rises in sales and profits for the first half of its fiscal year, lifted by both organic growth and the acquisition of Balaji Distilleries.
INDIA: The UB Group targets canned beer
25 October 2011
The UB Group is looking to double its volumes of canned beer in India in the next two to three years.
The Wehring Interview - Diageo Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine - Part I
18 October 2011
This month, just-drinks returns to its two-part extended format for The Wehring Interview. Earlier this month, I enjoyed an hour in the company of Diageo's Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine. I say enjoyed; I wasn't at my best to start.
UK/US: Whyte & Mackay calls time on Shaw-Ross International US import tie-up
4 October 2011
Whyte & Mackay has brought its US import operations in-house.
just The Round-Up - The week in drinks
23 September 2011
The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:
INDIA: Diageo calls time on Radico Khaitan JV
21 September 2011
Diageo has confirmed to just-drinks that it intends to “wind down” its joint venture in India with Radico Khaitan.
Comment - TFWA 2011: What I Did in Cannes
20 September 2011
So, that's us done for another year. Here I sit, in Nice airport, awaiting my return flight to London. Having arrived on Sunday lunchtime, two days at TFWA World Exhibition is about as much as I can cope with, before I begin to believe that, like George Clooney, I am forever 'Up in the Air'.
TFWA: UB Group open to Diageo, Pernod Ricard tie-up for Beam Inc
19 September 2011
The head of India's UB Group has suggested that the company would be “very interested” in teaming up with another drinks firm to make a move for Beam Inc at some point in the future.
INDIA: United Breweries gains beer share but Q1 profits dip
10 August 2011
United Breweries has said that its share of the Indian beer market surpassed 50% in the first quarter of its fiscal year, but higher costs damaged group profits.
INDIA: UB Group embroiled in McDowell's cricket ad row
19 July 2011
The UB Group has been hit with a legal notice over a television advert for its McDowell's No 1 Platinum whisky brand, parodying an ad for Pernod Ricard’s Royal Stag brand.
INDIA: Diageo confident of driving India sales
14 July 2011
Diageo has maintained that it expects big things from India going forward, despite not having secured a distribution partner in the country.
INDIA: United Spirits takes control of Sovereign Distilleries
4 July 2011
United Spirits has acquired a further 20% stake in Sovereign Distilleries, taking its shareholding in the spirits group above 50%.
The Wehring Interview – Heineken – Part II
26 May 2011
In part one of my interview with Heineken's CEO, Jean-François van Boxmeer, which ran earlier this week, we took a close look at the brewer's purchase of FEMSA Cerveza last year. We also started a world tour of beer markets, discussing Europe, Russia, Brazil and Mexico.
INDIA: United Breweries bullish on strong FY
28 April 2011
United Breweries has claimed a new record share of the Indian beer market after strong rises in full-year sales and profits.
INDIA: United Spirits confirms MD exit
20 April 2011
United Spirits has confirmed that its managing director, Vijay Rekhi, has stood down.
INDIA: Diageo not drawn on Mohan Meakin meeting claims
12 April 2011
Diageo has declined to comment on reports out of India that it is in talks with Mohan Meakin over mutually beneficial opportunities in the country.
Related research
UB Group in Spirits
Euromonitor International's Ub Group Company Profile offers detailed strategic analysis of the company’s business, examining its performance in the spirits market. The report provides a strategic evaluation of the company, examines company shares by region and sector, offers a brand assessment and it addresses challenges from the competition and future prospects. Use it to understand opportunities and threats facing the business and the factors driving success.
India Beer Market Insights 2010
Canadean’s 2010 India Beer Market Insights report provides a comprehensive view of the industry structure, latest industry developments and trends within this market. Comprising of textual analysis and data tables, the report includes comprehensive analysis of the market including legislation and taxation information and a detailed overview of current and emerging trends. The report looks at the structure of the beer industry, with profiles of the leading players. Comprehensive market segmentation data (by price segment; by alcoholic strength; by local segmentation; and by beer type) is backed up by market valuation and pricing data, including selected consumer beer prices. A detailed analysis of all major domestic and imported brands is provided, including a review of new product activity in 2009. Distribution channels (on- vs off-premise) are analysed and packaging trends including beer consumption by pack material, type, size, and refillable vs non-refillable are also included.
India Beer Market Insights 2011
Detailed market research report on the India beer industry
