SWC to merge with McDowell by 2006-end

Kolkata: UB Group chairman Vijay Mallya has announced that the merger of Shaw Wallace into McDowell will be completed by 2006-end. Operational merger, however, would be completed by October.

Shaw Wallace was acquired from the Chhabria family for Rs1,400 crore earlier this year.

Herbertsons and Triumph Distillers & Vintners will also be merged into McDowell, which will then be rechristened as United Spirits. The new entity will have retail sales of Rs14,000 crore.

The combined entity's large brand portfolio will also be rationalised, Mallya told reporters after chairing the 59th AGM of Shaw Wallace. Together, the two liquor companies have 130 brands of which around 35 fetch 90 per cent of the profit.