Taittinger bidding war

Champagne Taittinger is being courted by just six bidders, as the auction process moves into the second phase this month.

Reports confirmed that Starwood Capital, the US investment firm that bought the brand last year, had received offers, the lowest of which valued the Champagne at e500m. The Taittinger family is thought to still be in the running, as is private equity firm CVC Capital Partners. The second round of bidding is expected to last one month.  db May 2006