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Allied Domecq, the spirits group, has accepted a £7.4bn takeover bid from Pernod Ricard, with some of Allied's brands being acquired by Fortune Brands of the US. 21-Apr-2005 Allied Domecq, the spirits group valued at about £8.8bn, has received a takeover approach from Pernod Ricard and Fortune Brands. 06-Apr-2005 Allied Domecq is investing £3.5m at its Scapa and Glendronach whisky distilleries, in order to benefit from rising demand for single malts. 29-Mar-2004 Allied Domecq has launched a £59m takeover bid for Peter Lehmann Wines, the Australian winemaker. 23-Sep-2003 Allied Domecq is planning to spend £22m revamping its Scottish facilities over the next 18 months, including a new bottling line at its Dumbarton plant and the rebuilding of its Glenburgie distillery near Forres. 06-May-2003 Allied Domecq has bought the Malibu rum brand from Diageo for £560m, and has also acquired Mumm Cuvee Napa, the US sparkling wine company, for £27m. 28-Feb-2002 Allied Domecq and Miller Brewing are to invest £17m each in a new joint venture to launch vodka-and-tequila-flavoured drinks in the US. 21-Jan-2002 Allied Domecq is to set up a new division for its wine assets in January, and the business may be spun off as a separate company later. 31-Oct-2001 Allied Domecq is to acquire Bodegas y Bebidas, the Spanish wine producer, for £174m. 10-Sep-2001 Allied Domecq is to acquire Kuemmerling, the German distiller that produces spirits and bitters, for £128m. 05-Sep-2001 Allied Domecq is to acquire Montana, the New Zealand winemaker, for £300m, as Lion Nathan of Australia has withdrawn from the takeover battle. 27-Aug-2001 Allied Domecq is to buy two Argentine wine producers - Bodegas y Vinedos Graffigna and Vinedos y Bodegas Sainte Sylvie - for about £30m. 05-Jul-2001 Allied Domecq has acquired the Buena Vista Winery in California for £61m, and is now planning to renew its interest in the Montana winery in New Zealand. 02-Jul-2001 Allied Domecq has announced a £282m takeover bid for Montana Group, the New Zealand winemaker, as part of a strategy to develop its premium wine and spirits brands. 08-Feb-2001 Allied Domecq is to acquire two leading champagne houses - Perrier Jouet and GH Mumm - for £348m, and has also confirmed that it will not bid for Seagram's wine and spirits business. 14-Dec-2000 Allied Domecq has bought the US distribution rights for Stolichnaya, the leading vodka brand, for up to £50m. 17-Nov-2000 Allied Domecq is planning to spend an additional £5m on product development this year, in an attempt to compete with rival products in the ready-to-drink market. 01-Nov-2000 Allied Domecq is to close its Glencadam whisky distillery in Brechin, Angus, in September, due to overcapacity. 17-May-2000 Allied Domecq is looking to acquire new vodka and white rum brands and also aims to expand its business in developing markets such as Asia. 05-May-2000 Allied Domecq is to sell its John Bull international pub franchise business to Charles Wells, the Bedford family brewer, for under £10m. 03-Feb-2000 Allied Domecq is investing £100m in South Korea by acquiring a 70% stake in a spirits distribution joint venture with Jinro. 18-Sep-1999 Allied Domecq is to close its Portland Place headquarters in London with the loss of 100 jobs, while 20 staff will transfer to the spirits and wine division in Bristol. 18-Aug-1999 Punch Taverns has agreed to acquire Allied Domecq's 3,500 pubs and 50% share of the First Quench off-licence business for £2.75bn. 21-Jul-1999 Whitbread has announced a £2.36bn agreed offer for Allied Domecq's pubs and off-licence business, and the deal will be presented to Allied shareholders on July 2. 26-May-1999 Whitbread is preparing a £2.3bn bid for Allied Domecq's pubs and off-licences. 22-May-1999 Whitbread is in discussions to acquire 3,600 pubs from Allied Domecq for about £2.3bn, and Whitbread may have to sell its brewing division in order to win regulatory approval for the deal. 03-May-1999 Allied Domecq has sold 28 Tetley pubs in Yorkshire to Commer Inns, which takes Commer's estate to 75 pubs. 06-Apr-1999 Allied Domecq is selling its 50% stake in the Panrico bakery business in Spain to its partner for £80m. 26-Mar-1999 Allied Domecq is considering plans for a demerger that would result in a separate listing for its leisure and retailing division, enabling the spirits business to link up with another group. 02-Mar-1999 Allied Domecq has closed four Dunkin Donuts outlets in the Midlands and a factory in Leamington Spa with the loss of 60 jobs, as part of a strategy to focus on franchised outlets. 18-Feb-1999 Allied Domecq has sold Cantrell & Cochrane, the Irish drinks distribution business, to BC Partners for £519m, and the proceeds will be used to reduce debt. 09-Jan-1999 Allied Domecq has ended talks with Seagram of Canada about an alliance of their wine and spirits operations, and Seagram has also ruled out forming links with other global companies. 17-Dec-1998 Allied Domecq says it is still looking to form alliances and mergers with other major drinks companies. 28-Oct-1998 Allied Domecq has won approval to build a £3m hotel at Blackpool Airport, creating 70 jobs. 16-Oct-1998 Allied Domecq is to combine its US spirits operations - Domecq Importers and Hiram Walker - into a single business called Allied Domecq Spirits USA in order to make annual savings of £5m. 11-Sep-1998 Allied Domecq is set to acquire Bismarck, the German schnapps producer, for up to £15m. 27-Aug-1998 Allied Domecq and Whitbread have agreed terms for the merger of their drinks retailing chains, which will improve their ability to compete with the major supermarkets by reducing central costs and improving purchasing power. 13-Aug-1998 Whitbread and Allied Domecq are in discussions to merge their off-licence chains - Thresher and Victoria Wine - into a 50:50 joint venture in response to the growing power of supermarkets. 03-Aug-1998 Allied Domecq is acquiring the remaining 49.6% stake in Cantrell & Cochrane, the Irish drinks distributor, from Diageo for undisclosed terms, and may now float the business. 03-Jul-1998 Allied Domecq has said it is still looking at the possibility of joining forces with other companies in preparation for the anticipated consolidation in the drinks industry. 01-May-1998 Diageo has commissioned an independent valuation of its half share of Cantrell & Cochrane, the Irish drinks distributor, that could result in its sale to its partner Allied Domecq. 18-Apr-1998 Allied Domecq has been in tentative discussions with Seagram about a possible merger of their spirit businesses, in response to the recent merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan. 19-Jan-1998 Allied Domecq is planning to set up a joint venture with Havistra of Finland to introduce its scotch whisky and other drinks into Poland. 30-Dec-1997 Allied Domecq is considering all its options following the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan, and may opt for a demerger or an alliance with another spirits company. 12-Nov-1997 Watson & Philip has signed a franchise agreement with Allied Domecq's Dunkin Donuts operation that will result in the opening of cafe areas in its Alldays stores in the south of England. 23-Oct-1997 Five alcopop alcoholic soft drinks are being withdrawn from sale, including products from Allied Domecq and Sainsbury's, following criticism from the Portman Group industry watchdog about their effect on under-age drinking. 28-Aug-1997 Allied Domecq is opening its first Victoria Wine drinks superstore in New Barnet, Herts, to be called Martha's Vineyard. 19-Aug-1997 Allied Domecq Retailing has acquired the Togo's chain of 200 sandwich stores in California, which has net assets of about £5m. 22-Jul-1997 Allied Domecq is planning a £150m investment in its pub estate, including 50 new Big Steak pubs alongside Wacky Warehouses and 50 Firkin pubs, creating over 2,000 jobs. 10-Jul-1997 Alehouse Company has bought 103 pubs from Allied Domecq Retailing for £11.2m. 21-Jun-1997 Allied Domecq is to set up a £3.5m whisky bottling plant in Rajasthan, India, in a joint venture with Clan Morgan. 18-Jun-1997 Glenmorangie has acquired the Ardberg, Islay distillery, from Allied Domecq for £7m. 28-Feb-1997 Morland, the brewer, has acquired 16 pubs from Whitbread for £3.4m and 24 American-style bar diners from Allied Domecq for £32m. 24-Jan-1997 Bass is acquiring Allied Domecq's 50% stake in Carlsberg-Tetley for £200m, and Carlsberg is putting its 50% stake, as well as £20m, into Bass Brewers in exchange for a 20% stake in the enlarged subsidiary. 26-Aug-1996 Bass has confirmed that it is in discussions with Allied Domecq and Carlsberg to buy their Carlsberg-Tetley brewing operation. 30-Jul-1996 Allied Domecq is undergoing a restructuring programme following a fall in profits, which will result in the closure of its Warrington brewery in October. 15-May-1996 Allied Domecq has lost the rights to distribute Lanson Champagne around the world, and is suing Marne et Champagne, the owner of 75% of Lanson, for compensation. 01-May-1996 Allied Domecq plans to open 200 theme pubs this year in a £150m investment that will create 7,500 jobs. 12-Mar-1996 Allied Domecq is to sell Chacalli de Decker, the duty-free operation based in Antwerp, to Seabourne World Express. 02-Feb-1996
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