This just in from Fabrice Bidault, md of Oddbins, Eudes Morgan, md of Nicolas UK, both subsidiaries of the Bordeaux family firm Castel which owns Nicolas in France and many a French wine production centre:
Following the article in the Sunday Telegraph on Sunday 9 Dec 2007 regarding the proposed merger between the Thresher Group and Oddbins, we can confirm that this report is without any basis of fact.
As the largest wine company in Europe, many companies speak to the Castel Group with ideas and concepts for the UK marketplace.
The owners of Threshers – Vision Capital – requested and held a meeting with the Castel Group under this basis. We can categorically state that the Castel Group is not proposing to acquire Threshers, sell Oddbins nor is involved in any merger talks between Threshers and Oddbins.