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Diageo

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Diageo was keen yesterday to make a big noise about its latest M&A play. At up to US$1bn, we shouldn’t be too surprised. But, that didn’t stop several analysts expressing surprise at what the group has bought for its billion.

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On 9 May, Diageo is hosting its latest Capital Markets Day for analysts and investors, in London. Ahead of the group's presentations, Anthony Bucalo, global beverages analyst at HSBC, has prepared a list of questions for the senior executive team, for what he describes as a "crucial" day for Diageo.

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Having focused (virtually) on Brazil in his last piece, this month our correspondent Ian Shackleton travels to Asia. Here, the former analyst shares a few thoughts on how the region might take on the West when it comes to beverages.

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The saga of Absolut's travails in the US continues, with the mooted recovery in the Pernod Ricard-owned vodka brand's fortunes proving more elusive than the company had hoped. Are Millennials to blame? Richard Woodard reports.

Last month, the CEO of Pernod Ricard, Alex Ricard, was in London to discuss the group's half-year results. just-drinks sat down with Ricard following the press conference to look at both the numbers for the first six months of fiscal-2017 and Ricard's tenure so far, since assuming the leadership in early-2015. In the first part of our exclusive two-part interview, Alex considers Pernod's positions in India and China and shares his thoughts on pricing and the role it plays in a company's approach to premiumisation.

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Sanford Bernstein analyst Trevor Stirling is no stranger to the drinks industry. Having spent the late ‘90s as strategic planning director for Guinness Ireland, he then took on the role of packaged trade director at the company. He followed that by starting his own private-client wine merchant. In 2004, Stirling became an analyst at Bernstein, where he covers the major European brewing and spirits companies. Here, he talks to just-drinks about the role of an analyst, and how he sees the future of the drinks industry shaping up.

Diageo has lined up the purchase of the Casamigos super-premium Tequila brand, at a price of up to US$1bn.

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Heaven Hill Distilleries has lost its legal fight with Diageo in Canada over similarities between the packaging of its Admiral Nelson's spice rum brand and Diageo's Captain Morgan.

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Diageo's Reserve unit has appointed Lauren Mote to the newly-created global cocktailian role. 

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Diageo has partnered Ketel One Vodka with a month-long food festival in London. 

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Leading Scotch producer Diageo could be beverage's biggest winner after today’s shock UK election result, as the outcome boosts hopes for a softer Brexit, an analyst has said.

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United Spirits has posted a slight lift in sales from fiscal-2017, despite a dip in volumes due to some exceptional challenges in India during the period.

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Diageo has rolled out customisable bottle designs for its Ciroc vodka brand as it looks to take advantage of the trend towards personalised products. 

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Diageo's South Korean unit has confirmed that its blended Scotch whisky brand Bell's has started rolling out to the country.

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Diageo's Mexican unit has announced expansion plans for its Tequila business, as well as a new logistics facility in the country.

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India's beer market has suffered hugely in the three months to the end of March, according to United Breweries, which posted its full-year results yesterday.

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Diageo has opened a new Guinness concept store at Dublin international airport in partnership with duty free retailer Aer Rianta International (ARI).

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This week, Diageo held its annual Capital Markets Day. Here's a round-up of the big announcements and headlines the Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff owner made at the London event.

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The head of Diageo-controlled United Spirits has warned of yet another regulatory threat to the drinks industry in India, as the country looks to introduce the nation-wide Goods & Services Tax in the coming months.

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The UK's decision to leave the European Union could help speed up the Scotch whisky category's presence in the burgeoning Indian spirits market, according to the head of Diageo.

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A software supplier that recently won US$68m from Diageo is also seeking at least US$600m from Anheuser-Busch InBev for similar alleged licensing breaches, the brewer has confirmed.

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Diageo is challenging a near-US$140m demand from the UK tax authority relating to the alleged transferral of intellectual property away from the country.

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Diageo has returned the focus of its global marketing for Johnnie Walker to the 'Keep Walking' slogan and has retired the brand's 'Joy Will Take You Further' message, less than two years after launching it.

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The head of Diageo's North America business unit has announced an increased A&P spend in the US in the coming months, against a softening backdrop for spirits in the country.

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Diageo has confirmed it is not looking to expand the flavour extensions of its Crown Royal Canadian whisky brand beyond the existing pair in North America.

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Diageo has lined up the second release within its Crown Royal Noble Collection. Crown Royal Wine Barrel Finished follows last April's Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend.

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Diageo has lined up a global campaign for its Captain Morgan rum brand, featuring former Manchester United and England football captain Rio Ferdinand. 

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Diageo has lined up a documentary series to highlight the trend for cocktail culture across the world. 

Paul Walsh just can't stay away from the drinks industry.

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just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.