SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
September 25 2003
ALLIED DOMECQ PLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
ALLIED DOMECQ PLC
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bedminster Down
Bristol BS13 8AR
England
(Address of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the
information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes No x
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If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to
the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- _____
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Peter Lehmann Wines Limited
Allied Domecq PLC Bid for Peter Lehmann Wines Limited
Increased Base Offer of $4.00 per share
Allied Domecq PLC (Allied Domecq), through its wholly owned subsidiary Allied
Domecq Wines Australia Pty Ltd, announced today that it proposes to increase its
base offer price for Peter Lehmann Wines Limited (PLW) to A$4.00 per share. The
offer remains conditional on (among other things) Allied Domecq acquiring
relevant interests in at least 51% of PLW's issued share capital. However,
subject to satisfaction of those conditions, shareholders will receive $4.00 per
PLW share, regardless of whether Bidder acquires 90% or more of the PLW Shares
and therefore regardless of whether Mr Peter Lehmann accepts the offer (or sells
to another person who accepts).
In addition, PLW shareholders will be entitled to retain the fully franked final
PLW dividend of 5.5 cents per share if they were the registered holder of PLW
shares on the record date of 23 September 2003.
Allied Domecq also announced that it had received Foreign Investment Review
Board clearance for its offer.
Commenting on the increased offer, Allied Domecq Chief Executive Philip Bowman
said:
"Allied Domecq's new offer represents a clear statement of our belief in the
quality of the Peter Lehmann wines, and our determination to grow PLW's brand
presence both in the Australian market and internationally. We remain committed
to maintaining the principles of quality and local autonomy and identity, which
have built the Peter Lehmann Wines brands into the successes that they are
today.
"Our new offer gives all PLW shareholders the opportunity to realise full value
for all their shares. We are convinced that it is far more desirable for PLW
shareholders to achieve an attractive price for all of their shares - a price
that recognises and values the successes of the company - than to accept
partially the Hess offer and be locked in as minority holders in a company
controlled by a privately-owned group."
Variation documents, including a Second Supplementary Bidder's Statement, will
be lodged shortly, with formal Notices of Variation expected to be dispatched to
PLW shareholders by 29 September 2003.
Further information
Summary information on Allied Domecq can be obtained from its website,
www.allieddomecq.com. Original high-resolution photographs are available to the
media free of charge at www.newscast.co.uk +44 207 608 1000.
Allied Domecq PLC (UK) Savage & Horrigan Australia
Media
Stephen Whitehead Jane Mussared
Director of Corporate Affairs Allied Domecq Spokesperson (Australia)
+44 (0) 20 7009 3927/+44 (0)7880 783 532 Tel: 0404 852 813
Anthony Cardew Jennifer Horrigan
Cardew & Co. Savage & Horrigan
+44 (0) 20 7930 0777 Tel: 02 9268 1501/ 0414 539 441
Allied Domecq Investor Relations
Peter Durman
+44 (0) 7771 974 817
PLW Shareholder Inquiries
Inquiries from Peter Lehmann Wines Limited shareholders will not be taken
on the above numbers. All such inquiries should be directed to the Peter Lehmann
Wines Offer Information Line on (Australia) 1300 766 699 or (outside Australia)
+61 2 9240 7458. For legal reasons calls to these numbers will be recorded.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
25 September 2003
ALLIED DOMECQ PLC
By: /s/ Charles Brown
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Name: Charles Brown
Title: Director of Secretariat & Deputy
Company Secretary