Mallya mulls merger of his sports interests

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is contemplating merging all his sports interests into a single identity and go for listing.

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is contemplating merging all his sports interests into a single identity and go for listing.

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Talking to PTI from Monza where Force India, the formula one team he co-owns, is competing in the Italian Grand Prix, Mallya said he was planning to merge his motorsport, soccer and cricket interests.

"I'm planning to merge my business interest into a single entity. But this is very much in the planning stage, nothing has been finalised," said Mallya, who is both chairman and team principal of the Silverstone-headquartered Force India Formula One team.

"I have shares in Kolkata football clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. My (cricket) team Royal Challengers Bangalore finished runners-up in the second Indian Premier League in South Africa and there is Force India also. I thought why not merge them and go for listing," Mallya said.

If it materialises, this would be something new in the country, "but then I have always done innovative things, isn't it?" he said.