India. Confusion over what happens to ‘Kingfisher’ trademark persists

  • Reading time:1 min(s) read

There is still confusion over the future of ‘Kingfisher’ trademark for the United Breweries beer category, reports CNBC-TV18’s Varinder Bansal.

Yesterday, SBICAP had seized Kingfisher Airline brand as part of loan recovery. However, the UBL management has made it clear that the company has sole right to the trademark.

Vijay Mallya directly or indirectly holds 32.8 percent stake in UBL, which is valued at over Rs 6500 crore. He is also the chairman of UBL. However, most of his shares are pledged to banks and some are even offered as security to Diageo.

The shares pledged as security to Diageo are part of loan guarantees extended to F1 team Force India.

Heineken, which holds around 42 percent stake in UBL wants to know what will be strategy for the company going forward – on whether Mallya remains Chairman? Of he has to forgo his stake?