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For those who keep track of such things:

• The French wines and spirits group Pernod Ricard is acquiring Lillet, the small French aperitif maker.

It apparently is no big deal, according to Emmanuel Babeau, Pernod Ricard's chief financial officer. When asked by the Reuters news service about the purchase price, he said: "It's more millions than tens of millions of euros. In the context of the Pernod Ricard group, it's not very significant."

Lillet makes an aperitif that already is being distributed by Ricard. In 2006, it had sales of about $5.5 million.

• In larger potential deals, Pernod Ricard is working to purchase Vin & Sprit, the maker of Absolut vodka, which has been put up for sale by Sweden's government as part of a multi-billion-euro privatization program. And, it negotiating with Russia about acquiring full rights to the Stolichnaya vodka brand.

• Constellation Brands of Fairport, NY, is selling Almaden Vineyards and Inglenook Vineyards to the Wine Group of San Francisco for $134 million in cash. The deal includes the Paul Masson winery in Madera, CA, where Almaden and Inglenook are located.

Constellation's portfolio includes 100 brands of U.S. wine. It is moving to emphasize its premium and luxury brands. Almaden and Inglenook do not fit into those categories. In December, it acquired the wine portfolio of Fortune Brands, U.S., for $885 million. The deal includes wines such as Clos du Bois, Wild Horse, Geyser Peak and others, as well as five wineries and vineyards in California.

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