Blueprint
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
19 September 2019
Commission File Number: 001-10691
DIAGEO plc
(Translation
of registrant’s name into English)
Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London NW10 7HQ
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F X
Form
40-F
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule
101(b)(1):
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule
101(b)(7):
19 September 2019
Diageo issues trading commentary ahead of AGM 2019
Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, commented:
"Fiscal 20 has started well as we continue to build on the momentum
and consistent progress we are making in the execution of our
strategy. Our focus remains on delivering quality sustainable
growth. This is supported by a culture of everyday efficiency that
enables us to invest smartly in marketing and growth initiatives
while expanding margins.
Based on the current environment, we continue to expect fiscal 20
organic net sales growth to be toward the mid-point of the 4% to 6%
range and organic operating profit growing roughly one percentage
point ahead of organic net sales. This is consistent with what we
are targeting over the medium-term. Due to a strong prior year
comparable, for the first half we expect organic operating profit
growth to be in-line with or slightly behind organic net sales
growth. However, we would not be immune from significant changes to
global trade policy and continue to monitor this
closely."
ENDS
Enquiries
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Media Relations:
Jessica
Rouleau
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+44
(0)7925 642561
press@diageo.com
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Investor Relations:
Andrew
Ryan
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+44
(0)20 8978 6504
investor.relations@diageo.com
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About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding
collection of brands across spirits and beer categories.
These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B,
Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One
vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and
Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than
180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both
the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange
(DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our
brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com.
Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource,
www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share
best practice.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This document contains 'forward-looking' statements. These
statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate
only to historical or current facts. In particular,
forward-looking statements include all statements that express
forecasts, expectations, plans, outlook, objectives and projections
with respect to future matters, and can be statements made about
Diageo's strategy, trends in results of operations, margins, growth
rates and growth rate objectives; estimates of Diageo's cash flows,
effective interest and/or tax rates, cost savings, results of
hedging instruments, cash contributions to post-employment plans,
exchange rate impacts, dividend policies and other shareholder
return objectives, executive compensation levels and outcomes of
litigation, as well as the impact of new accounting policies on
Diageo's consolidated results and financial position. By
their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that will occur in the future.
There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and
developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by these forward-looking statements, including factors that are
outside of Diageo's control. These factors include, but are
not limited to, economic, political, social or other developments
(including the potential impact of any global, regional or local
trade wars or any tariffs, duties or other restrictions or barriers
imposed on the import or export of goods between territories); the
negotiating process surrounding, as well as the eventual terms of,
the UK's exit from the European Union; changes in consumer
preferences and tastes; litigation and similar proceedings; changes
in domestic and international tax environment; the impact of
climate change or legal, regulatory or market measures intended to
address climate change; changes in the cost of production; legal
and regulatory developments, as well as any failure to comply with
existing laws and regulations; contamination, counterfeiting or
other circumstances that harm the level of customer support for
Diageo's brands and/or damage Diageo's image and reputation;
increased competitive and pricing pressures; any disruption to
production facilities, business services centres or information
systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks; Diageo's ability
to execute and derive the expected benefits from its strategies;
increased costs for talent and/or labour strikes or disputes;
fluctuations in exchange and/or interest rates; movements in the
value of assets and liabilities related to Diageo's pension plans;
Diageo's ability to renew existing agreements; and/or any failure
by Diageo to protect its intellectual property rights.
All oral and written forward-looking statements made on or after
the date of this document and attributable to Diageo are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the above factors and by the 'Risk
factors' included in Diageo's annual report for the year ended 30
June 2019. Any forward-looking statements made by or on
behalf of Diageo speak only as of the date they are made.
Other than in accordance with its legal and regulatory obligations,
Diageo does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to
reflect any changes in Diageo's expectations with regard thereto or
any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
such statement is based. The reader should, however, consult
any additional disclosures that Diageo may made in any documents
which it publishes and/or files with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). All readers, wherever located, should take
note of these disclosures.
All rights are reserved in relation to any reference in this
document to names of Diageo's products which constitute trademarks
or trade names which Diageo owns, or which others own and license
to Diageo for use. © Diageo plc 2019.
The information in this document does not constitute an offer to
sell or an invitation to buy shares in Diageo plc or an invitation
or inducement to engage in any other investment activities.
Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future
performance.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Diageo plc
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(Registrant)
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Date:
19 September
2019
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By:___/s/James
Edmunds
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James
Edmunds
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Deputy Company
Secretary
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