Shares in Allied Domecq jumped on reports that Warren Buffett , through his Berkshire Hathaway investment vehicle, is spending some of its cash pile buying a stake of over 3% in the British firm, the world's second-largest wine and spirits group, which also owns the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins food chains.
Mr Bowman seems prepared to help finance a future acquisition by selling Allied's Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin' Donuts restaurants, which produce 13% of group profits and generate plenty of cash.