Green light for Whyte & Mackay

THE competition watchdog yesterday rubber-stamped Diageo’s sale of the Whyte & Mackay business to Emperador.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had approved the Philippines-based buyer under the agreement aimed at dealing with concerns arising from Diageo’s shareholding in Indian-based United Spirits.

The Office of Fair Trading, the CMA’s predecessor, had identified competition issues due to Diageo’s Bell’s brand being brought into the same ownership as blended products owned by W&M which is a subsidiary of United Spirits. Diageo offered to divest the W&M business apart from two malt distilleries, Dalmore and Tamnavulin.