MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate , through a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India, has informally conveyed to Heineken NV, part-owner of United Breweries , that it plans to allow banks to auction attached shares of the Indian beer maker soon after it gets a court’s approval, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.Lenders and investors are eager to get on with the process and the shares, if sold at the earliest, promise good returns, one person said.“Heineken has shown interest in buying the shares at a premium and we will let them claim it once the court approvals are in,” the person said.The investigating agency has attached 41.3 million UB equity shares held by eight promoter firms, equivalent to a 15.63% stake. Heineken owns about 44% of UB, which was once headed by Vijay Mallya . The businessman, who has been charged with money laundering and is fighting extradition from the UK, holds about 8%. A little over 23% of the shares held by the UB promoter and promoter group are pledged.ED officials told ET that banks will be given the green signal to sell both pledged and unpledged shares once it gets approval from the special court in Mumbai hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The next hearing is scheduled on March 13.“All Mallya’s assets are the property of the government and post-ED approvals, banks will be able to sell the shares and recover their money,” said an official familiar with the development.Heineken declined comment.“It is just a matter of time. With the additional shares, Heineken will have all the heft it needs on the United Breweries board… the next move is a Heineken-nominated chairman,” said an official close to the board. “In the past, banks had expressed reservation towards United Breweries Holding Ltd. and Mallya’s proposals for settlement… but now there is a view to sell the shares even before the extradition process begins.”A consortium of 15 banks led by SBI applied to the special PMLA court in January for the restoration and sale of UB’s assets. The ED gave its consent to the banks’ proposal on February 5 with a few riders. The final order from the PMLA court is now awaited.“Heineken has already kept its war chest ready to purchase the maximum shares available with both lenders and the ED,” another person close to the Dutch brewing company said.The ED expects the sale of shares to surpass Rs 9,500 crore, the amount Mallya owes the local lenders.“The sale of shares alone would help us recover both the principal and interest and even make a considerable profit… we are hoping to make around Rs 13,500 crore from the sale of all the assets, including shares and immovable property,” the first person said.UB shares gained 0.3% to Rs 1,393.35 at the close on the BSE on Wednesday, giving the company a market capitalisation of Rs 36,840.89 crore.Upon approval from the PMLA court, the banks will start the share sale in accordance with the method prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India and may hire SBI Capital to conduct the auction.Mallya left India for London in March 2016 soon after lenders to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines declared him a wilful defaulter. UK home secretary Sajid Javid approved Mallya’s extradition to India on February 3. Mallya has 14 days to appeal.