A PHILIPPINES-based conglomerate owned by billionaire Andrew Tan has emerged as a candidate in the race to buy Whyte & Mackay.

Alliance Global Group, which owns the Emperador Distillers rum business, confirmed through a stock market filing it is in ongoing discussions, but no deal has yet been struck for the Scotch whisky-maker.

Diageo is offloading Whyte & Mackay to quell competition concerns following its purchase of a stake in Vijay Mallya's United Spirits.