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Tilaknagar Industries in talks to acquire Imperial Blue from Pernod Ricard
The report further added that, if successful, Tilaknagar Industries will fund the deal through a combination of debt and equity. It did not mention the valuation of the proposed deal. However, according to previous reports, the deal could amount to $600-$650 million.
Tilaknagar has been a frontrunner for the acquisition since last year. It entered the whisky segment in 2012 using its flagship Mansion House brand, however, over 90 per cent of its sales still come from brandy. The deal could act as big jump for the company as Imperial Blue is the third-largest whisky brand in India.
Why is Pernod Ricard selling Imperial Blue?
Imperial Blue, a major whisky brand in India by volume, is reportedly being considered for sale as part of a broader strategic review by its parent company, Pernod Ricard. The brand, which occupies the "deluxe" segment—positioned between mass-market and premium categories—sold 22.2 million cases in 2024. This represented only a marginal increase compared to the previous year.
Imperial Blue is currently the third-largest whisky brand in India, with an 8.6 per cent share of the domestic market. It trails behind McDowell's and Royal Stag. Over the past five years, the brand has experienced a slow decline in overall sales volumes, with a 4 per cent drop recorded during that period.
Imperial Blue was originally launched in India in 1997 by Seagram, a Canadian distiller. In 2001, following the global sale of Seagram's business, Pernod Ricard acquired its India operations.
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