Heineken’s joint takeover of Scottish & Newcastle could put the Dutch group in a position to try to take over the British brewer’s fast-growing Indian partner, United Breweries, which is controlled by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya.

Heineken will gain S&N’s 37.5 per cent stake in United, which, under Indian company law, could trigger an open offer for a further 20 per cent stake in the $1.7bn (£858m) Indian group.