ALLIED DOMECQ, the spirits company that makes Beefeater gin and
Kahlua liqueuer, is ready to pursue its battle to acquire Montana
Group, New Zealand's biggest winemaker.
Allied has filed a restrictive transfer notice with the New
Zealand Stock Exchange, allowing it to make a renewed offer of
NZ$893m (pounds 254.86m) to NZ$996m for Montana.
Allied is challenging the right of Lion Nathan, the Australian
brewer, to lay claim to Montana. Lion appeared to have won control of
the New Zealand-based group in February by raising its stake in the
company to 51 per cent.
But Allied refused to accept defeat, accusing Lion of breaching
Stock Exchange rules by buying Montana shares without observing a ...