They, along with rival beverage companies, could make a counterbid or force Pernod to raise its offer.
Players include liquor giants like Pernod Ricard and Jose Cuervo, plus small entrepreneurs like Hagar.
Mr Porta, 50, will report to Pernod Ricard deputy chief executive Alexandre Ricard from July.
Plymouth, owned today by Pernod Ricard, arguably has the richest history of any gin, period.
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Pernod Ricard reported a 4% decline in western European sales, with a 9% fall in Spain.
The European Commission is bringing the case on behalf of Pernod Ricard, a French company.
That would be a big shot glass to swallow for either Diageo or Pernod-Ricard.
Pernod says Fortune will take on Allied's Courvoisier cognac, since it already owns Martell.
ECONOMIST: Does it make sense for Pernod Ricard to buy Allied Domecq?
The other big growth company is Pernod Ricard, which bought much of the Canadian-based Seagrams in 2000.
Chairman and chief executive Christian Porta will move to Paris after being appointed head of Pernod Ricard Europe.
Booming Scotch whisky sales have helped French drinks giant Pernod Ricard record its strongest growth for four years.
No value is being placed on the proposed investment, ahead of a market update by Pernod Ricard next week.
BBC: Chivas Brothers reveal plans for new Speyside distillery
Mr Lacassagne, who is also a former head of Orlando Wyndham, has led Pernod Ricard Europe since July 2008.
Diageo now gets a jump over Pernod Ricard which so far had a stronger market position in India.
Pernod said overall company sales rose by 8% in the last financial year.
However, regulators may still have some grounds for concern, for instance over Pernod's ownership of both Beefeater and Seagram gin.
Some of those belonging to Pernod and Allied may now be sold as the combined firm concentrates on the global blockbusters.
Scotch whisky sales in the second half of last year were "challenging" in South Korea, according to Pernod Ricard's half-year report.
In Pernod Ricard's champagne sales, Perrier-Jouet sold well in the Americas, Asia and France, but western Europe led decline for Mumm.
Pernod Ricard claims it was not theirs to sell, because they failed to re-register it when it lapsed in the 1970s.
The head of Chivas Brothers is to take up a new role at owners Pernod Ricard after seven years in the job.
Pernod Ricard has announced that the nephew of recently deceased chief executive Patrick Ricard will take the company's helm from January 2015.
In the past year, for example, Pernod Ricard struck a big deal to buy Britain's Allied Domecq, and France Telecom bought Spain's Amena.
Earlier this month, Pernod Ricard - the second largest distiller of Scotch whisky - reported flat global sales for the second half of 2012.
And it will boost Pernod's presence in America, the world's biggest market for spirits, as well as adding significant businesses in Latin America and Asia.
The French multinational Pernod Ricard helped create Dragon Seal in 1987, for example, and Seagram's and Remy Martin have also been involved in joint ventures.
Pernod and Diageo enjoy similarly handsome returns from their worldwide brands.
Overall, Pernod recorded annual sales of more than 8.2 billion euros.
Last month, Pernod also said sales in China during Lunar New Year, which began in mid-February this year, were flat, with whiskey sales falling in particular.
The French-owned firm, part of Pernod Ricard, wants to build on the site of the Imperial distillery near Carron, which has not been used for 14 years.
BBC: Chivas Brothers reveal plans for new Speyside distillery
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