Peter Lehmann Wines has been urged to accept a A$3.85-a-share takeover offer from Swiss group Hess.

Independent directors at the Aussie winemaker made their recommendation despite a rival A$4.00-a-share conditional offer from UK-based Allied Domecq, as the Hess offer was free of conditions.

PLW chairman Richard England said: “While the Allied offer is at a 3.9% price premium to the Hess offer, it has a number of conditions attaching to it and it is not clear whether these conditions will be satisfied or waived.”