The Scotch whisky distiller Whyte & Mackay has been sold to the Philippines-based maker of Emperador brandy for £430m.

Bought seven years ago by India's United Spirits, the Glasgow-based distiller had to be sold for competition reasons after Diageo acquired a controlling stake in United.

The Office of Fair Trading said Diageo's Bell's whisky competes with Whyte & Mackay's own-label and branded whisky and that its acquisition of the United Spirits stake could lead to "a substantial lessening" in competition.

United Spirits acquired Whyte & Mackay, which dates back to 1844, from its former chief executive, Vivian Imerman, for £595m.

The Indian company said in a statement on Friday that the sale of Whyte & Mackay was subject to regulatory approval in India and Britain as well as by the Reserve Bank of India.