Competitors Inbrew and Tilaknagar eye private loans to bid for Imperial Blue acquisition
**Headline:** Inbrew Beverages and Tilaknagar Industries Compete for Imperial Blue in Largest Alcoholic Beverage Acquisition in Over a Decade
In a fiercely contested battle, Indian liquor makers Inbrew Beverages and Tilaknagar Industries are vying to acquire Pernod Ricard's Imperial Blue, India's third-largest whiskey brand by sales. The potential deal, valued between $600 million and $650 million, is expected to close within the next month, marking the largest acquisition in India's alcoholic beverage industry in over a decade.
Both companies are in an advanced stage of negotiations, and have reached out to private credit funds for backing their acquisition bids. Inbrew Beverages is being advised by Standard Chartered Bank, while Tilaknagar Industries has Avendus Capital as its banker.
The acquisition aligns with the strategic goals of both companies. For Tilaknagar, it offers an opportunity to diversify into the whiskey segment, while for Inbrew, it would solidify its market position. To finance their bids, each company is aiming to raise around $500 million through private credit markets.
The private credit funds have given commitments to both Inbrew Beverages and Tilaknagar Industries. However, only one of the companies will actually borrow from the private credit funds to seal the deal. The sources did not want to be named as they are not authorized to speak to media.
The last significant acquisition in the industry occurred in 2013, when Diageo bought United Spirits for $1.9 billion. This latest competition between Inbrew Beverages and Tilaknagar Industries for Imperial Blue is set to reshape the Indian alcoholic beverage industry.
Despite numerous attempts, The Guardian could not receive a reply from Inbrew Beverages, Tilaknagar Industries, Avendus Capital, or Standard Chartered Bank regarding the emails seeking comment.
The competition between Inbrew Beverages and Tilaknagar Industries for Pernod Ricard's Imperial Blue is not only a battle in the liquor market, but also a significant event in the finance and business sectors, as both companies seek to raise around $500 million through private credit markets to finance their bids.
The successful acquisition of Imperial Blue by either Inbrew Beverages or Tilaknagar Industries could potentially reshape the entire Indian alcoholic beverage industry, much like the last significant industry acquisition in 2013 when Diageo bought United Spirits for $1.9 billion.
