連合した Domecq in new Far East 取引，協定

By BEN LAURANCE FOR MAILONLINE
Updated: 00:00 BST, 17 December 2000

?

Drinks group 連合した Domecq, which last week pulled out of the auction for the Seagram ワインs and spirits 商売／仕事, is 始める，決める to clinch a 引き継ぎ／買収 取引，協定 in Australasia that will 強化する its position in South-east Asia.

連合した's 撤退 from the £5.5bn auction leaves the way （疑いを）晴らす for a likely victory by partners Diageo of Britain and Pernod Ricard of フラン. But 連合した 主張するs it is unworr ied. The company has won a 議論の的になる 取引，協定 to 扱う Captain Morgan rum, one of the prize 資産s from the Seagram 大臣の地位 - though the 計画（する） will 直面する a 合法的な challenge.

It has also 調印するd an 協定 to 分配する ロシアの vodka Stolichnaya in America. Walking away from the Seagram 取引，協定 means 連合した is 否定するd the 増加するd strength around the 太平洋の 縁 that a 引き継ぎ／買収 could have brought. In particular, it would have given 連合した a powerful presence there with 栄冠を与える 王室の Canadian whiskey.

But now 連合した 長，指導者 (n)役員／(a)執行力のある Philip Bowman has a ワイン-and-spirits company in his sights that could 支える 連合した's position in the 地域.

Its 身元 is under 包むs, but he hopes to 安全な・保証する a 取引，協定 within the next four to six weeks. 連合した's planned 引き継ぎ／買収 will 示す the company's second move in the 地域 in little more than a year. In 1999, the group bought Jinro of Korea. Koreans drink more spirits per 長，率いる than any other nation, with the exception of the ロシアのs.

Bowman also looks likely to put 連合した's one remaining 非，不，無-drinks 商売／仕事 up for sale. Over the past １０年間, the company has 削除するd its 範囲 of 商売／仕事s, 最高潮に達するing in last year's £2.75bn sale of the group's pubs 広い地所. But it still owns the Baskin-Robbins ice-cream chain, Togo's 挟む 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s and Dunkin' Donuts.

Until now, Bowman has 主張するd that these 小売 商売／仕事s should be 保持するd and their 利益（をあげる） 業績／成果 改善するd to make them more saleable. But company insiders say Bowman has 譲歩するd that the food 操作／手術 is 近づくing the point at which it should be put up for sale. In the year to August, 貿易（する）ing 利益（をあげる）s for the food 商売／仕事s rose 14% to £64m.