INDIA: UB now looking for S Africa winery? - report

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 25 August 2006

A unit of India's UB group is poised to buy a South African wine company, according to local reports.

Indian paper Business Standard said today that United Spirits is in advanced talks with a wine company, but was unable to name which one. The move follows UB's purchase of French wine producer Bouvet-Ladubay from Taittinger for what was thought to be US$20m last month.

"We are rolling out an aggressive strategy to grow our wine business," the paper cited Vijay Rekhi, the president of United Spirits, as saying. "After the recent acquisition in France, we are in negotiations with a wine firm in South Africa and are debating on the valuation. We will have clarity on the deal in the near future."

The Indian drinks group already has two wine brands available domestically - Golconda and Bosca - which sell for around INR200 (US$4.29) per 750ml bottle. The paper said that the group is considering introducing three premium wine brands from Bouvet Ladubay into India, which would cost over INR1,000.

United Spirits is the name of the group's newly-merged spirits operations. The six units that make up United Spirits include McDowell & Co., Herbertsons and Shaw Wallace Distilleries, the latter of which UB acquired a majority stake in last year.

Sectors: Spirits, Wine