India's biggest beer maker, United Breweries (UBL), expects to seal its acquisition of its largest contract brewer "within a few weeks", says the company's CFO.

Lesley Jackson told Just-Drinks.com that UBL's acquisition of Karnataka Breweries and Distilleries (KBDL) would be completed once a number of legal issues had been finalised.

UBL will pay Rs 1.86 billion (US$40.1 million), including debt, for KBDL, which is its largest contract brewer, producing close to 100 million litres a year. UBL dominates India's fledgling beer industry, controlling 48% of a market growing by 6% to 7% a year. UBL's flagship brand, Kingfisher, accounts for one in all three beers sold in the country.

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