Whyte & Mackay profits soar 24pc The 168-year-old company has been owned by Indian drinks tycoon Vijay Mallya's United Spirits since 2007. However, analysts have raised the possibility it may have to be sold for competition reasons after Diageo, the FTSE drinks giant and the largest distiller in Scotland, struck a deal to buy a majority stake in United Spirits. Whyte & Mackay, whose brands include Dalmore and Isle of Jura, posted a near 36pc increase in turnover to £229.8m for the 12 months to March 31, while pre-tax profit rose to £15.4m from £12.4m . The Glasgow-based group, which fetched almost £600m when it was bought by United Spirits, reported exceptional charges of £3.4m predominantly related to setting up a subsidiary to market and distribute its brands in the US. Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, has said he does not believe the drink giant's plans to take a 53.4pc majority stake in United Spirits will automatically trigger a sale of Whyte & Mackay. Mr Walsh said in November that the presence Whyte & Mackay has in emerging markets is "very disproportionate" to its market share in developed markets such as the UK. UK competition authorities will not consider the consequences of the deal between Diageo and United Spirits until the complex transaction closes next year. Scotch whisky is enjoying a boom in emerging economies as well as developed markets such as the US. The renaissance has encouraged distillers, including Diageo and Pernod Ricard, to invest more in their Scotch businesses.