Mallya: We are not sellers, Heineken are not buyers

UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya has ruled out promoters selling stake in United Breweries to Heineken, the joint venture partner in the beer company.

Mallya, while interacting with reporters after the annual general meeting (AGM) of UBL, ruled out any plans to sell his stake in the company to Heineken. “We are not sellers and Heineken are not buyers. That ends that debate,” he added.

Mallya also said that the beverage alcohol industry must be included in the GST list.

“We are a very large industry, very large employer, but more importantly, one of the most significant contributors to States’ revenue. There is no reason to exclude the beverage alcohol industry from GST,” he pointed out.

“In fact, it would be highly prejudicial to the beverage alcohol industry if we were excluded from GST and that would have a very large financial impact on the industry as a whole,” he added.

Kerala prohibition Speaking on Kerala’s decision to move towards prohibition, Mallya said: “Kerala is a large alcohol consuming State. However, each State has a right to impose whatever policy it so chooses, particularly on the alcoholic beverage industry. We have seen other states in India impose total prohibition.”