London: In another setback to Vijay Mallya, the UK High Court has directed the embattled liquor tycoon to pay British beverage giant Diageo over USD 135 million in relation to a collateral arrangement.
Diageo is seeking a total of $175 million from the 63-year-old businessman and was successful in one aspect of that claim as it was awarded a “summary judgment” by Justice Robin Knowles, who dismissed Mallya’s reliance on an alleged oral promise from Diageo dating back to February 2016.
Over and above the $135 million, Mallya is liable to pay interest incurred at a commercial rate as well as 200,000 pounds towards legal costs.
“I have reached the conclusion that at this stage, it is clear the second claimant (Diageo Holdings Netherlands) is entitled to succeed,” Justice Knowles said Friday, dismissing Mallya’s defence that an oral promise over-rides any claim of such a payment.
“We are pleased to have won in a clear vindication of our position,” said Dominic Redfearn, spokesperson for Diageo.
“The court was clear in rejecting Dr Mallya’s claim that there was a deal other than the one we signed. Diageo has consistently rejected those assertions. At all times through the protracted acquisition of the United Spirits Limited (USL), Diageo acted appropriately and in accordance with all legal obligations. All arrangements with Dr Mallya have been fully disclosed and accounted for,” he said.
The remainder of the $175 million, including USD 40 million paid directly to Mallya, sought by Diageo will proceed to trial – expected at a much later date.
Earlier on Friday, the court heard Diageo’s claim that Mallya, his son Sidhartha and two companies associated with the family are liable for repayment of the funds dating back to the company’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Mallya’s USL around three years ago.
Of the total amount claimed by the London-headquartered firm, $40 million is claimed directly from Mallya as the amount paid to him as part of a disengagement agreement and the remaining amount from Sidhartha Mallya and Watson Limited, a company held in a Mallya family trust called Continental Administration Services Limited (CASL).
“We are suing Dr Mallya for repayment and damages amounting to approximately $175 million. This is money Dr Mallya and some of his affiliate companies owe Diageo. We have always been clear that we are entitled to exercise our right to recover the sum in full,” explained Redfearn, in reference to the wider case being brought by Diageo, one of the world’s largest distillers behind brands like Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff.
The three claimants in the case, Diageo Plc, Diageo Holdings Netherlands BV (DHN) and Diageo Finance Plc, are pursuing Mallya over an agreement struck in February 2016, under which he would step down as chair of United Spirits in exchange for a financial agreement.
At the heart of Friday’s case lay an ICICI Bank loan owed by Mallya’s Watson and CASL, for which Diageo stepped in as a backstop so that it could be refinanced by Standard Chartered Bank. With some USL shares caught up in India’s Debt Recovery Tribunal action at the time, it was expected that the collateral associated with the loan could be pursued at a later stage.
“Watson and CASL’s only defence is that, prior to entering into the Deed of Disengagement, DHN promised that it would not enforce its claims until certain orders granted in India are lifted. Watson and CASL relied on an oral promise,” Daniel Toledano, the barrister for Diageo, told Judge Knowles.
PTI
