Constellation Brands Inc., which quietly became the world's largest winemaker two years ago, took another step Friday in challenging a $13.7 billion bid by France's Pernod Ricard SA for Allied Domecq PLC, the world's No. 2 distiller

Food & Drink Weekly, May 23, 2005

Constellation Brands Inc., which quietly became the world's largest winemaker two years ago, took another step Friday in challenging a $13.7 billion bid by France's Pernod Ricard SA for Allied Domecq PLC, the world's No. 2 distiller. Constellation, the only beer, wine and spirits company based in the United States, is teaming up with three partners to try to buy Allied, the British liquor company behind Beefeater gin and Stolichnaya vodka.

The consortium led by Constellation "has made a preliminary approach to Allied Domecq but there's no certainty that this preliminary approach will lead to an offer," the company said in a statement. It declined to reveal the value of its planned offer but analysts said they expected it would top $14 billion.