Allied-Lyons will buy Hiram Walker’s liquor unit.

Allied-Lyons PLC, a major British food and beverage producer, will pay $2.6 billion (Canadian), or about $1.9 billion, for the subsidiary of Hiram Walker Resources. Hiram Walker said it has had “a long and productive working relationship” with Allied-Lyons, the British agent for a number of Hiram Walker brands including Canadian Club rye and Ballantine’s Scotch. Also, Allied-Lyons has a 29% interest in Fingas Investment, which is offering to purchase slightly less than half of Hiram Walker’s voting shares. Hiram Walker owns 49% of Fingas. The offer was made to defeat a move by Gulf Canada to take over Hiram Walker.