Mumbai, Sept 11 - Japanese spirits maker Suntory is keen on buying a 10-15 percent stake in India's United Spirits, the Economic Times newspaper said on Thursday, citing an unidentified company official.
United Spirits, the world's third-largest spirits maker with brands such as Whyte & Mackay and McDowell's, is already in talks with Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Bacardi for a stake sale, the newspaper said.
At current market prices the 15 percent stake in United Spirits would be worth $430 million, it said.
"There are several interested players who know it is a one-time chance to get their distribution act right in India. And I will look at unlocking maximum shareholder value," Chairman Vijay Mallya was quoted as saying in the paper.
A spokesman for the UB group, which owns United Spirits, could not be immediately reached for comment.