Drinks giant Pernod Ricard was given a clear run at Allied Domecq today when a rival pulled out of the takeover race.

GUINNESS owner Diageo has swooped to buy Irish whiskey maker Bushmills for €295 million.

BRITAIN’S Takeover Panel yesterday set a June 29 deadline for a consortium headed by Constellation Brands to make a rival offer for spirits group Allied Domecq which has already agreed to be taken over by France’s Pernod Ricard.

A US-based consortium was today given an ultimatum to bid for drinks giant Allied Domecq within the month or walk away.

A rival to Pernod Ricard has moved closer to launching a counter-bid for drinks group Allied Domecq, it emerged today.

THE world’s largest wine company, Constellation Brands, said yesterday it was considering a possible counter bid for Allied Domecq , which agreed to be taken over by Pernod Ricard last week.

A bid battle for Allied Domecq was brewing today after the world’s biggest winemaker confirmed it was considering a rival offer.

The world’s largest winemaker is in talks that could see it gatecrash the £7.4bn (€10.8bn) takeover of drinks group Allied Domecq, it was reported today.

A warplane veered off the US aircraft carrier Constellation’s flight deck and into the Persian Gulf after landing today.

US warplanes launching from the Gulf are pounding Republican Guard positions south of Baghdad to soften up the defensive line around the Iraqi capital in preparation for a US-led assault by ground troops, senior Navy officers said.

A third US aircraft carrier is now within striking distance of Iraq, joining the Constellation and the Harry S Truman, and a fourth will head there soon, the pentagon said today

The world’s largest wine company is being created through the $1.4bn (€1.3bn) takeover of Australian firm BRL Hardy by US group Constellation Brands, it was announced today.