A Scot writes
Sir: Your correspondent Mr Allan Massie (28 April) suggested that Guinness used the code name 'Ascot' when preparing their bid for Distillers, 'because so many of the Distillers directors lived in the Thames Valley'.
I wonder if the Guinness team used any code word; you may remember that they were invited to bid for Distillers by that company's directors — and even had their bid expenses underwritten. In those cir- cumstances confidentiality was presumably no problem.
Our company Argyll — the predatory bidder for Distillers — did use the code word Ascot from around May 1985. A code word needs to be both obscure and memorable and the hidden pun 'A Scot' was the original reason for our choice. The location of some Distillers directors' homes was a pleasing coincidence which made a code word more piquant and more easily remembered by our London advisers.
Alistair Grant
Chairman & Chief Executive, Argyll Group plc, 6 Millington Road, Hayes, Middlesex
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