Fortune Brands can now acquire proposed Allied Domecq spirits and wine brands
Receives European anti-trust clearance for the proposed spirits & wine acquisition.
13/06/05 Fortune Brands, Inc. has announced that it has received clearance from the European Commission for its proposed acquisition of several Allied Domecq spirits and wine brands, related production facilities and key distribution operations.
As announced on April 21st, Fortune Brands plans to purchase from Pernod Ricard several of the premium spirits and wine brands included in Pernod Ricard's proposed acquisition of Allied Domecq. The transaction would more than double Fortune Brands' spirits & wine sales, significantly expand its presence internationally, and place it among the top four spirits companies in the world. The favorable decision by the European Commission is a step towards completing the proposed transaction.
The brands Fortune Brands plans to acquire include the global growth brands Sauza tequila, Maker's Mark bourbon, Courvoisier cognac and Canadian Club whisky, as well as Clos du Bois wines and leading national spirits brands in the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany markets. In addition to the Allied Domecq brands, the transaction also includes Larios gin, currently owned by Pernod Ricard.
The Pernod Ricard acquisition of Allied Domecq remains subject to Allied Domecq and Pernod Ricard shareholder approvals, the approval of English courts, necessary regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. Fortune Brands and Pernod Ricard are working with the Federal Trade Commission to secure regulatory approval in the United States.
