Millenium Alcobev Targets Mohan Meakins Whisky Brand

The acquisition talks is part of the company's plan to foray into all segments of liquor -- after the initial move into the beer segment -- and is the first of 'several' brand acquisitions lined up.

Confirming the development, Millenium Alcobev's vice chairman and managing director Ravi Jain said: "We have kicked off discussions with Mohan Meakins for the possible acquisition of its Black Night whisky brand."

He added that the company was also looking at a few other acquisitions, but declined to divulge details. "We would be looking at liquor brands which have strong regional presence. We could also target brands that have not turned out to be success stories," he said.

Millenium Alcobev plans to have a national presence in all the four liquor segments -- whisky, rum, vodka and gin. Along with the brands in the UB fold, the company will be able to pose an even stiffer competition to Shaw Wallace, which has strong presence in the whisky segment.

The manufacturing of beer and the to-be-acquired liquor brands will carried out at the four units of Mohan Meakins, with which the company has a production sharing arrangement, and also at the Blossom Industries unit at Daman, with which it has a similar tie-up.

The arrangement with Blossom will enable Millenium Alcobev roll out its flagship brand, Zingaro. The company has slotted a advertising budget of 10 crore this year for Zingaro.

Jain added that Millennium Alcobev was planning to pick up a major equity stake in Blossom shortly. He, however, refused to share details.