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Allied Domecq PLC was an international company, headquartered in Bristol, UK that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses.
History
Allied Domecq was previously known as Allied Lyons which was a result of a merger between Allied Breweries and the food and catering group J. Lyons and Co. In the mid 1980s, Allied Lyons PLC entered into a purchase agreement with Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts Ltd., the Canadian based distillers of Canadian Club and other brands. The agreement was contested by Olympia and York who had bought up the vast majority of Hiram Walker stock. Their highly-publicized legal battle for control ended in 1987 with Olympia and York becoming Allied Lyons' largest shareholder.
The name change to Allied Domecq happened when the Lyons division was demerged.
In early 2005, a takeover bid for the company was launched by French-based rival Pernod Ricard SA. Pernod Ricard successfully completed acquisition on 26 July 2005 and sold off the overlapping spirits brands to U.S.-based competitor Fortune Brands and British giant Diageo. On 12 December 2005, Pernod Ricard announced that it had agreed to sell the restaurant businesses (Dunkin' Brands) to a consortium of 3 US private equity firms (Thomas H. Lee Partners, the Carlyle Group and Bain Capital LLP) for States dollar|$" target="_blank" >*2.43 billion. It is expected that the sale will be completed early in 2006, subject to regulatory approval.
Portfolio at time of takeover
Allied Domecq's spirits division operated a combination of nine core global brands, plus a selection of local market leaders. Their product portfolio included:
- Beefeater gin
- Ballantine's whisky
- Teachers Highland Cream whisky
- Laphroaig, a malt whisky from Islay
- Courvoisier cognac
- Canadian Club whisky
- Kahlúa coffee liqueur
- Malibu, a coconut-flavoured rum-based spirit
- Maker's Mark, a Kentucky bourbon whiskey
- Montana Wines, a large New Zealand wine producer.
- Mumm champagne
- Perrier Jouet champagne
- Sauza Tequila
- Stolichnaya vodka
- Tia Maria liqueur
- Cockburn's port
- Harveys Bristol Cream sherry
The Dunkin' Brands restaurants comprised:
- Dunkin' Donuts
- Baskin-Robbins ice cream shops
- Togo's sandwich shops
Brands being acquired by Fortune Brands:
- Sauza tequila
- Courvoisier cognac
- Canadian Club whisky
- Clos du Bois and other Sonoma and Napa wine brands
- Laphroaig malt whisky
- Teacher’s Scotch whisky
- Cockburn port
- Harveys sherries
- Larios gin
- DYC whisky
- Fundador Spanish brandy
- Centenario Spanish brandy
- Kuemmerling German bitters.
Fortune Brands’ agreement with Pernod Ricard also includes the purchase of the Maker’s Mark bourbon brand, which remains subject to regulatory clearance in the United States. While the U.S. Federal Trade Commission conducts its review, Maker’s Mark will be owned and managed by Pernod Ricard and Pernod Ricard will receive the earnings on the brand. Fortune Brands will be compensated with interest payments pending transfer of the brand.
External links
Breweries and beverage companies of the United Kingdom | Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange | Defunct companies of the United Kingdom | Multinational companies | Dunkin' Brands
"Allied Domecq"