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
FOR October 13, 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 Acceptance of Hess Offer
13 October 2003
Allied Domecq PLC to accept revised Hess offer for
Peter Lehmann Wines Limited
Allied Domecq PLC (Allied Domecq) today announced that it proposed to accept the
revised offer by Hess Group Australia Pty Ltd (Hess) for Peter Lehmann Wines
Limited (PLW).
On 9 October 2003, Hess announced that it proposed to match the Allied Domecq
offer by increasing its unconditional offer for PLW to $4.00 per share. The
Independent Directors of PLW subsequently announced that they intend to
recommend that shareholders accept the Hess offer for all of their shares,
subject to no better offer emerging.
Commenting on developments, Allied Domecq Chief Executive Philip Bowman said:
"While we remain firm believers in the potential of PLW under the control of
Allied Domecq, we have an obligation to generate value for our own shareholders.
Despite the significant cost and revenue synergies that we believe would accrue
to PLW as part of the Allied Domecq group, we do not believe that it would be in
the interests of our shareholders to increase our offer further."
"Accordingly, we have informed the board of PLW that we propose to accept the
Hess offer for our entire stake. In order to minimise ongoing uncertainty for
PLW, we would encourage other shareholders to do the same."
"PLW produce some exceptional wines; I wish the company and its employees every
success going forward."
Allied Domecq will also apply to the Australian Securities and Investments
Commission for consent to withdraw its offer.
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 Chancery 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.
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.
13 October, 2003
ALLIED DOMECQ PLC
By: /s/ Charles Brown
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Name: Charles Brown
Title: Director of Secretariat & Deputy
Company Secretary