MOSCOW:  SPI Group, the owner of the Stolichnaya vodka brand outside Russia, has hired Lehman Brothers to look at options for a sale worth around $3 billion (€1.94bn; £1.53bn).

Possible buyers for the brand include Fortune Brands in the US, Bacardi of Puerto Rico and Italy's Gruppo Campari, although all parties are staying firmly tight-lipped.

Pernod Ricard currently has distribution rights to Stoli outside Russia. However, this deal ends with the French giant's imminent acquisition of Sweden's Vin & Spirit and its Absolut vodka.

Data sourced from Brand Republic (UK); additional content by WARC staff