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DGE Diageo Plc

2,819.00
-38.00 (-1.33%)
23 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Diageo Plc LSE:DGE London Ordinary Share GB0002374006 ORD 28 101/108P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  -38.00 -1.33% 2,819.00 2,822.50 2,823.00 2,875.00 2,816.00 2,847.50 4,379,955 16:35:23
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Wine & Alcoholic Bev-whsl 23.52B 3.73B 1.6715 16.89 63.05B

Diageo PLC Interim results, six months ended 31 December 2020 (1336N)

28/01/2021 7:00am

UK Regulatory


TIDMDGE

RNS Number : 1336N

Diageo PLC

28 January 2021

 
  Interim results, six months ended 31 December 2020 
                                     28 January 2021 
 
 
Encouraging return to growth, good cash generation and increased dividend 
 

Financial highlights

 
 --   Reported net sales (GBP6.9 billion) down 4.5%, as organic growth 
       of 1.0% was more than offset by unfavourable exchange. Reported 
       operating profit (GBP2.2 billion) declined 8.3%, driven by unfavourable 
       exchange and a decline in organic operating profit. 
 --   Organic net sales up 1.0%, despite a significant impact from Travel 
       Retail and on-trade restrictions. North America was up 12.3%, offsetting 
       declines in other regions, except for Africa which was broadly flat. 
 --   North America growth was driven by resilient consumer demand, share 
       growth of total beverage alcohol, positive category mix and the 
       replenishment of stock levels by distributors and retailers 
 --   Organic operating profit down 3.4%, driven by channel and category 
       mix. Productivity benefits from everyday cost efficiencies largely 
       offset cost of goods sold inflation 
 --   Net cash from operating activities up GBP0.7 billion to GBP2.0 billion, 
       and free cash flow up GBP0.8 billion to GBP1.8 billion. This primarily 
       reflects a lower tax payment and working capital benefit driven 
       by reduced creditor balances at the end of fiscal 20, as a result 
       of reduced sales demand and cost control measures triggered in response 
       to Covid-19. Creditor balances have now recovered to more normalised 
       levels. 
 --   Basic eps of 67.6 pence decreased 14.6%. Pre-exceptional eps declined 
       12.8% to 69.9 pence, driven primarily by unfavourable exchange and 
       lower operating profit. 
 --   Interim dividend increased 2% to 27.96 pence per share. 
 --   Strong sequential performance improvement in all regions compared 
       to the second half of fiscal 20. Expecting continued impact in the 
       second half of fiscal 21 from on-trade restrictions and disruption 
       to Travel Retail. 
 

Strategic and operational highlights in F21 H1

 
 --   Supported the recovery of the hospitality sector through 'Raising 
       the Bar,' our $100 million global two-year programme, which has 
       already reached around 30,000 outlets in seven countries 
 --   Rapidly responded to increased consumer demand in the off-trade 
       channel, leading to market share gains. 
 --   Delivered broad-based growth across most categories, including tequila, 
       gin, Canadian whisky, US whiskey, liqueurs and ready to drink. 
 --   Leveraged deep understanding of consumer behaviour, innovating across 
       our brands to recruit new consumers and unlock new occasions in 
       convenience and at-home. 
 --   Increased investment in digital capabilities, including e-commerce. 
 --   Continued capex investment in capacity, consumer experiences and 
       sustainability. 
 --   Completed acquisition of Aviation American Gin and Davos Brands, 
       further premiumising our portfolio. 
 --   Leveraged our embedded culture of everyday efficiency to drive continued 
       productivity savings. 
 --   Launched 'Society 2030: Spirit of Progress', our 10-year sustainability 
       action plan, building on our strong track record in sustainability 
       and responsibility. 
 

See Explanatory Notes for explanation and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.

 
Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, said: 
 

"We delivered a strong performance in a challenging operating environment, returning to top line organic sales growth during the half. We rapidly pivoted to the channels and occasions most relevant to consumers and invested behind new opportunities. This more than offset the impact of on-trade restrictions and the decline in Travel Retail.

North America, our largest market, performed particularly strongly and ahead of our expectations. Consumer demand has been resilient and the spirits category continues to gain share of total beverage alcohol. Across other regions we delivered strong sequential improvement compared to the second half of fiscal 20. This reflects improved market share performance through excellent execution in the off-trade channel, and the partial re-opening of the on-trade channel in certain markets.

Organic operating margin improved compared to the second half of fiscal 20 driven by increased operating leverage and tight control of discretionary expenditure. The decline compared to the first half of fiscal 20 reflected an adverse channel and portfolio mix. We expect margins to improve as the on-trade and Travel Retail recover and with the continued benefit of everyday efficiency.

Our proprietary tools and data-led insights are enabling us to invest smartly in effective marketing and innovation. We continue to strengthen brand equity, premiumise our portfolio and expand our digital capabilities.

I am proud of the creativity and adaptability of our people and their exemplary commitment to supporting our customers and communities. Our $100 million global commitment to support the recovery of the hospitality sector has already reached around 30,000 outlets in seven countries. We expect ongoing volatility and disruption in the second half of the year, particularly in the on-trade channel, which will make performance more challenging. The medium and long-term growth drivers and opportunities for our business remain intact and I am confident in our strategy, the resilience of our business and Diageo's ability to emerge stronger.

Key financial information

Six months ended 31 December 2020

 
Summary financial information 
 
 
                                                                       Organic    Reported 
                                                                        growth      growth 
                                                       F21 H1  F20 H1        %           % 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  ---------- 
Volume                                            EUm   128.3   130.5        -       (2) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Net sales                                 GBP million   6,874   7,200        1       (5) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Marketing                                 GBP million   1,085   1,116        1       (3) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Operating profit before exceptional 
 items                                    GBP million   2,256   2,501      (3)      (10) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Exceptional operating items (i)           GBP million    (17)    (59) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  ---------- 
Operating profit                          GBP million   2,239   2,442                (8) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Share of associate and joint venture 
 profit after tax                         GBP million     154     176               (13) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Non-operating exceptional items 
 (i)                                      GBP million       5       - 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  ---------- 
Net finance charges                       GBP million   (200)   (154) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  ---------- 
Exceptional taxation (charge)/credit 
 (i)                                      GBP million    (42)      14 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  ---------- 
Tax rate including exceptional items                %    24.4    21.5                 13 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Tax rate before exceptional items                   %    22.4    21.6                  4 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Profit attributable to parent company's 
 shareholders                             GBP million   1,580   1,865               (15) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Basic earnings per share                        pence    67.6    79.2               (15) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Earnings per share before exceptional 
 items                                          pence    69.9    80.2               (13) 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
Interim dividend                                pence   27.96   27.41                  2 
----------------------------------------  -----------  ------  ------  -------  -------- 
 

(i) For further details on exceptional items see Summary Income Statement (c) Exceptional items and Notes, Exceptional items.

Outlook for net sales

We are not providing specific guidance due to the ongoing volatility. However, we will be lapping the second half of fiscal 20, which was significantly impacted by the onset of Covid-19 and therefore expect to see improvement over this weak comparator period across all regions. We expect to see continued momentum in North America, augmented by a lapping of inventory reductions by distributors. The pace of recovery in other regions will be more closely aligned with the gradual reopening of the on-trade and the degree to which restrictions continue to be in place. We expect Travel Retail to continue to be heavily impacted by the reduction in travellers.

Outlook for operating margin

We expect organic operating profit growth in the second half of fiscal 21 will be ahead of organic net sales growth in all regions due to the weak comparator period, except North America, where we experienced strong organic operating margin gains in the second half of fiscal 20. Organic operating margin in the second half of fiscal 21 will continue to be pressured from channel and product mix as Travel Retail will continue to be heavily impacted and restrictions on the on-trade continue. We expect to continue investing in advertising and promotion to emerge stronger from the crisis.

Outlook for working capital

We closed the first half with a negative net working capital position more like the level we typically see at fiscal year end. We expect some net working capital build in the second half as we move back to a more normalised profile reverting to pre Covid-19 levels at June 2021.

Outlook for exchange

Given the continued uncertainty caused by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we are not able to provide specific financial guidance and, therefore, the expected impact of exchange for the year ending 30 June 2021.

Outlook for tax

The tax rate before exceptional items for the six months ended 31 December 2020 was 22.4% compared with 21.6% for the six months ended 31 December 2019. We expect the tax rate before exceptional items for the year ending 30 June 2021 to be in the upper end of the 21-22% range. For further details on taxation see Summary Income Statement (e) Taxation and Notes, Taxation.

Return of capital

On 25 July 2019, the Board approved plans for a further return of capital programme of up to GBP4.5 billion to shareholders over the three-year period to 30 June 2022.

On 1 August 2019, Diageo entered into a non-discretionary agreement with a third party bank to execute the first phase of this return of capital programme to enable the company to buy back shares up to a maximum of GBP1.25 billion by 31 January 2020. This agreement was executed in full with 38.7 million shares repurchased to a value of GBP1.25 billion. All shares purchased under the share buyback programme were cancelled. On 9 April 2020, Diageo announced that it had not initiated the next phase of the three-year programme. Given our elevated leverage ratio we have paused the programme until the leverage ratio is back within target range.

At 31 December 2020, the leverage ratio, calculated as adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA, was 3.4x, in-line with the leverage ratio at 30 June 2020. Diageo anticipates leverage to be above the target range of 2.5-3.0x through the year ending 30 June 2021.

(i) See Explanatory Notes for explanation and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures.

 
Net sales (GBP million) 
 

Reported net sales declined 4.5%

Organic net sales grew 1.0%

(i

 
Net sales                      GBP million 
---------------------------  ------------- 
F20 H1                             7,200 
---------------------------  ----------- 
Exchange(i)                        (328) 
---------------------------  ----------- 
Acquisitions and disposals          (60) 
---------------------------  ----------- 
Reclassification(ii)                 (6) 
---------------------------  ----------- 
Volume                              (17) 
---------------------------  ----------- 
Price/mix                             85 
---------------------------  ----------- 
F21 H1                             6,874 
---------------------------  ----------- 
 

(i) Exchange rate movements reflect the adjustment to recalculate the reported results as if they had been generated at the prior period weighted average exchange rates.

(ii) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, GBP6 million has been reclassified from marketing to sales.

Reported net sales declined 4.5%, as growth in organic net sales was impacted by unfavourable foreign exchange and to a lesser extent by the negative impact of acquisitions and disposals.

Organic net sales grew 1.0% driven by 1.2% positive price/mix, partially offset by a 0.2% reduction in volume. Price/mix was positive in North America and Africa. Strong growth in North America was offset by declines in all other regions except for Africa, which was roughly flat. Net sales benefitted from the replenishment of stock levels by distributors and retailers in certain markets, mainly North America. This was partially offset by continued customer de-stocking in Travel Retail.

 
Operating profit (GBP million) 
 

Reported operating profit declined 8.3%

Organic operating profit declined 3.4%

 
Operating profit                   GBP million 
-------------------------------  ------------- 
F20 H1                                 2,442 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
Exceptional operating items(i)            42 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
Exchange                               (134) 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
Acquisitions and disposals              (18) 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
FVA(ii)                                  (8) 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
Organic movement                        (85) 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
F21 H1                                 2,239 
-------------------------------  ----------- 
 

(i) For further details on exceptional items see Summary Income Statement (c) Exceptional Items.

(ii) Fair value adjustments. For further details on fair value remeasurement see Summary Income Statement (d) Fair value remeasurement.

Reported operating profit was down 8.3% mainly driven by unfavourable exchange, decline in organic operating profit, the impact of acquisitions and disposals and fair value adjustments partially offset by lower exceptional operating items.

Organic operating profit declined 3.4%, with the impact of lower organic operating margin only partially offset by higher sales.

 
Operating margin (%) 
 

Reported operating margin declined 134bps

Organic operating margin declined 153bps

 
Operating margin                   ppt 
----------------------------  -------- 
F20 H1                          33.9 
----------------------------  ------ 
Exceptional operating items     0.58 
----------------------------  ------ 
Exchange                      (0.36) 
----------------------------  ------ 
Acquisitions and disposals      0.05 
----------------------------  ------ 
Other(i)                      (0.08) 
----------------------------  ------ 
Gross margin                  (1.74) 
----------------------------  ------ 
Marketing                       0.04 
----------------------------  ------ 
Other operating items           0.17 
----------------------------  ------ 
F21 H1                          32.6 
----------------------------  ------ 
 
   (i)            Fair value adjustments and reclassification. 

Reported operating margin declined 134bps mainly driven by decline in organic operating margin and unfavourable exchange partially offset by lower exceptional operating items.

Organic operating margin declined 153bps driven by unfavourable channel and category mix, with productivity benefits from everyday cost efficiencies largely offsetting cost of goods sold inflation.

 
Basic earnings per share (pence) 
 

Basic eps declined 14.6% from 79.2 pence to 67.6 pence

Eps before exceptional items declined 12.8% from 80.2 pence to 69.9 pence

(

 
Basic earnings per share          pence 
------------------------------  ------- 
F20 H1                           79.2 
------------------------------  ----- 
Exceptional items after tax     (1.3) 
------------------------------  ----- 
Exchange on operating profit    (5.7) 
------------------------------  ----- 
Acquisitions and disposals(i)   (0.8) 
------------------------------  ----- 
Organic operating profit        (3.7) 
------------------------------  ----- 
Associates and joint ventures   (1.0) 
------------------------------  ----- 
Finance charges(ii)             (1.4) 
------------------------------  ----- 
Tax(iii)                          1.8 
------------------------------  ----- 
Share buyback(i)                  0.4 
------------------------------  ----- 
Non-controlling interests         0.4 
------------------------------  ----- 
Other(iv)                       (0.3) 
------------------------------  ----- 
F21 H1                           67.6 
------------------------------  ----- 
 
   (i)      Includes finance charges net of tax. 
   (ii)     Excludes finance charges related to acquisitions, disposals and share buyback. 
   (iii)    Excludes tax related to acquisitions, disposals and share buyback. 
   (iv)    Fair value adjustments. 

Basic eps decreased 11.6 pence as unfavourable exchange, decline in organic operating profit, finance charges and exceptional items after tax more than offset the lower tax charge.

Eps before exceptional items declined 10.3 pence driven by unfavourable exchange, decline in organic operating profit, increased finance charges and a reduction in profit from associates and joint ventures. These were partially offset by tax, lower non-controlling interests and the impact of the share buyback programme in fiscal 20.

 
Free cash flow (GBP million) 
 

Generated GBP1,998 million from operating activities(i) and

GBP1,753 million free cash flow.

 
Free cash flow            GBP million 
----------------------  ------------- 
F20 H1                          966 
----------------------  ----------- 
Exchange(ii)                  (134) 
----------------------  ----------- 
Operating profit(iii)         (109) 
----------------------  ----------- 
Working capital(iv)             649 
----------------------  ----------- 
Capex                            80 
----------------------  ----------- 
Tax                             231 
----------------------  ----------- 
Interest                       (29) 
----------------------  ----------- 
Other(v)                         99 
----------------------  ----------- 
F21 H1                        1,753 
----------------------  ----------- 
 

(i) Net cash from operating activities excludes net capex and movements in loans and other investments (F21 H1 - GBP(245) million; F20 H1 - GBP(322) million).

   (ii)     Exchange on operating profit before exceptional items. 

(iii) Operating profit excludes exchange, depreciation and amortisation, post employment charges and other non-cash items.

   (iv)    Working capital movement includes maturing inventory. 

(v) Other items include post employment payments, dividends received from associates and joint ventures, and movements in loans and other investments.

Net cash from operating activities was GBP1,998 million, an increase of GBP710 million compared to the prior period. Free cash flow was GBP1,753 million, GBP787 million higher compared to the prior period. This was primarily driven by working capital benefits as a result of a large increase in creditors relative to the end of June 2020, where we saw a particularly low creditor balance as a result of reduced sales and lower discretionary spend. We also saw benefits from lapping one-off tax payments, higher dividends from joint ventures and associates, and decreased capital expenditure. This increase was partially offset by an unfavourable movement in exchange and a decline in operating profit.

 
Return on average invested capital (%)(i) 
 

ROIC decreased 175bps

 
Return on average invested capital        ppt 
-----------------------------------  -------- 
F20 H1                                 17.5 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
Exchange                             (0.84) 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
Acquisitions and disposals           (0.31) 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
Organic operating profit             (0.74) 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
Associates and joint ventures        (0.29) 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
Tax                                  (0.25) 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
Other                                  0.68 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
F21 H1                                 15.8 
-----------------------------------  ------ 
 

(i) ROIC calculation excludes exceptional operating items from operating profit.

ROIC decreased 175bps against the prior comparable period driven mainly by unfavourable exchange and decline in organic operating profit.

 
Reported growth by region 
 
 
                               Volume        Net sales          Marketing         Operating profit(i) 
                               %    EUm     %  GBP million      %  GBP million          %    GBP million 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ------------- 
North America                  6    1.6     8          199     10           39          9          106 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Europe and Turkey            (6)  (1.4)  (13)        (223)    (6)         (16)       (27)        (169) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Africa                       (8)  (1.5)  (12)        (103)   (13)         (13)       (40)         (64) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Latin America and Caribbean    4    0.5  (15)        (101)   (31)         (35)       (23)         (60) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Asia Pacific                 (3)  (1.4)   (6)         (82)    (2)          (5)       (11)         (46) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Corporate                      -      -  (59)         (16)   (50)          (1)       (15)         (12) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Diageo                       (2)  (2.2)   (5)        (326)    (3)         (31)       (10)        (245) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
 
 
Organic growth by region 
 
 
                               Volume        Net sales          Marketing         Operating profit(i) 
                               %    EUm     %  GBP million      %  GBP million          %    GBP million 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ------------- 
North America                  8    2.0    12          307     10           42         14          164 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Europe and Turkey            (5)  (1.2)  (10)        (163)    (4)         (10)       (23)        (139) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Africa                       (1)  (0.2)     -          (3)    (6)          (6)       (22)         (35) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Latin America and Caribbean    4    0.5   (1)          (9)   (15)         (15)        (5)         (12) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Asia Pacific                 (3)  (1.4)   (3)         (48)    (1)          (3)       (11)         (48) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Corporate                      -      -  (59)         (16)      -            -       (18)         (15) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
Diageo                         -  (0.3)     1           68      1            8        (3)         (85) 
---------------------------  ---  -----  ----  -----------  -----  -----------  ---------  ----------- 
 

(i) Before operating exceptional items.

 
Notes to the business and financial review 
 

Unless otherwise stated:

   --     commentary below refers to organic movements 
   --     volume is in millions of equivalent units (EUm) 
   --     net sales are sales after deducting excise duties 
   --     percentage movements are organic movements 
   --     share refers to value share 

See Explanatory Notes for explanation of the calculation and use of non-GAAP measures.

BUSINESS REVIEW

Six months ended 31 December 2020

 
North America 
 

North America delivered net sales growth of 12%, with growth across all three key markets. US Spirits net sales increased 15%, with growth across all categories, driven by resilient consumer demand, spirits continuing to take share of total beverage alcohol and positive category mix. It also reflects the replenishment of stock levels by distributors and retailers. Tequila net sales grew 80% driven by strong growth of Don Julio and Casamigos. Net sales of Crown Royal increased 4%, primarily driven by the continued strong performance of innovation. Bulleit grew net sales 17%. Scotch grew 6% driven by good performances from Johnnie Walker and Buchanan's partially offset by a decline in malts. Vodka net sales grew 6% with Cîroc delivering net sales growth of 17% and Smirnoff net sales increasing 3%. Baileys net sales increased 12% driven by a combination of pricing, new innovation and a continued focus on Baileys' positioning as a year-round, indulgent treat. Captain Morgan net sales grew 9% driven by growth in Captain Morgan Spiced and innovations. Diageo Beer Company USA net sales grew 7%, with strong growth in Smirnoff flavoured malt beverages, partially offset by a decline in Guinness which continued to be impacted by on-trade channel restrictions due to Covid-19. Net sales in Canada increased 7% with broad-based growth in spirits and ready to drink more than offsetting a decline in beer due to its on-trade exposure. North America operating margin increased 80bps. This reflects strong operating leverage and lower discretionary expenditure, partially offset by dilutive category and channel mix.

 
Key financials GBP million: 
                                  Acquisitions 
                                           and    Organic              Reported 
                   F20 H1     FX     disposals   movement  F21 H1     movement% 
-----------------  ------  -----  ------------  ---------  ------  ------------ 
Net sales           2,502  (101)           (7)        307   2,701           8 
-----------------  ------  -----  ------------  ---------  ------  ---------- 
Marketing             404    (6)             3         42     443          10 
-----------------  ------  -----  ------------  ---------  ------  ---------- 
Operating profit    1,120   (47)          (11)        164   1,226           9 
-----------------  ------  -----  ------------  ---------  ------  ---------- 
 
 
Markets:                                                   Global giants, local stars and 
                                                            reserve (i) : 
                 Organic   Reported    Organic   Reported                   Organic    Organic     Reported 
                  volume     volume  net sales  net sales                    volume  net sales    net sales 
                movement   movement   movement   movement              movement(ii)   movement     movement 
                       %          %          %          %                         %          %            % 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  ----------- 
North                                                      Crown 
 America(iii)          8          6         12          8  Royal                  3          3          - 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Smirnoff               5          3        (2) 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Johnnie 
US Spirits            10         10         15         11  Walker               (1)          5          1 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Captain 
DBC USA                4          4          7          3  Morgan                10          8          4 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
Canada                 8          8          7          4  Don Julio             52         55         54 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Ketel 
                                                           One(iv)               11          -        (5) 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
Spirits                8          7         13          9  Guinness            (18)       (16)       (19) 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
Beer(v)                3          3          5          1  Baileys                5         12          7 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
Ready to 
 drink(v)             25          4         47         26  Bulleit               13         16         12 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Cîroc 
                                                            vodka                15         16         12 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Casamigos            112        137        128 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
                                                           Tanqueray              7          6          1 
-------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ---------  --------- 
 
   (i)    Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages. 
   (ii)   Organic equals reported volume movement. 

(iii) Reported volume and net sales growth include impacts from the disposal of a portfolio of 19 brands to Sazerac in the prior period and the acquisition of Aviation Gin LLC ('Aviation Gin') and Davos Brands LLC ('Davos Brands') in the six months ended 31 December 2020.

(iv) Ketel One includes Ketel One vodka and Ketel One Botanical.

(v) Flavoured malt beverages have been reclassified from ready to drink to beer from 1 July 2020. This reflects the nature of these products and how management reviews performance. Movements reported in the table above are on a like for like basis.

 
 --   US Spirits net sales were up 15% with depletions behind shipments by approximately 3 percentage 
       points, due to the replenishment of stock levels by distributors. Tequila sales increased 
       80% with Don Julio growing 56% and Casamigos growing 139% with both gaining spirits market 
       and tequila category share. The acceleration of growth in our tequila portfolio reflects strong 
       activations in the at-home occasion and some benefit from pricing taken on Casamigos. Crown 
       Royal net sales were up 4% largely driven by continued momentum in Crown Royal Regal Apple, 
       Crown Royal Peach and Crown Royal Vanilla growing strongly. Bulleit net sales grew 17% with 
       upweighted marketing investment driving a strong performance in the off-trade channel . In 
       scotch, Johnnie Walker grew net sales 11%, with strong growth across Johnnie Walker super 
       deluxe, Johnnie Walker Red Label and Johnnie Walker Black Label. Buchanan's increased net 
       sales 23% and grew category share. Our malt portfolio declined 33% due to its greater reliance 
       on the on-trade channel. Vodka net sales grew 6%. Cîroc net sales increased 17% driven 
       by growth in Cîroc core variant as well as key flavour variants resulting from refreshed 
       activations to re-engage consumers. Smirnoff sales increased 3%. Ketel One performance was 
       flat. Captain Morgan net sales increased 9%, largely driven by growth in Captain Morgan Spiced 
       and a strong contribution from the launch of Captain Morgan Sliced Apple. Baileys net sales 
       increased 12% due to pricing taken on Baileys Original and the successful launch of limited 
       time offer Baileys Apple Pie. 
 --   Diageo Beer Company USA net sales grew 7%. Flavoured malt beverages net sales increased 26%. 
       Beer net sales, excluding flavoured malt beverages, were down 15% as Guinness performance 
       was impacted by on-trade restrictions due to Covid-19. 
 --   Net sales in Canada grew 7% with broad-based growth in spirits, particularly Baileys, and 
       continued growth of ready to drink. This more than offset the decline in beer due to its higher 
       on-trade exposure. 
 --   Marketing investment grew 10% driven by upweighted investment in at-home consumption opportunities 
       to gain quality market share growth and redeployed investment to align with the shift in consumer 
       behaviour, aided by the use of marketing analytics tools to maximise effectiveness. 
 
 
Europe and Turkey 
 
 

Europe and Turkey net sales declined 10%. The business achieved good net sales growth in Turkey, Northern Europe and Great Britain, reflecting strong momentum in off-trade channels. Ireland, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe were significantly impacted due to their high exposure to the on-trade channel. Recovery of the on-trade in the first quarter was not enough to offset the impact of severe restrictions in the second quarter. Reduced levels of international travel continued to severely impact Travel Retail Europe, which declined 72%. Beer net sales in Europe and Turkey declined 34%, driven primarily by Guinness, which was impacted by on-trade restrictions and closures particularly in Ireland and Great Britain. Scotch declined 10%. Growth of scotch in Turkey, Great Britain and Northern Europe was not enough to offset declines in Southern Europe, Travel Retail Europe and Eastern Europe. This was mainly driven by Johnnie Walker due to on-trade restrictions and closures as well as significant reduction in international tourism. Baileys and ready to drink grew 8% and 4% respectively driven by Great Britain, Northern Europe and Ireland. Gin declined 2%. Double digit growth in Gordon's in GB and Tanqueray in Northern Europe was not enough to offset declines in Southern Europe and Travel Retail Europe, where Covid-19 restrictions significantly impacted travel and tourism. Captain Morgan grew 7% driven by Great Britain and Southern Europe. Vodka declined 11% driven by Smirnoff in Southern Europe, Northern Europe, Travel Retail Europe and Eastern Europe. Total operating margin declined 539bps driven by adverse mix impact from on-trade closures and marketing investment ahead of net sales.

 
Key financials GBP million: 
                                               Acquisitions                                   Reported 
                                    F20                 and    Organic                F21     movement 
                                     H1    FX     disposals   movement  Other(iii)     H1            % 
--------------------------------  -----  ----  ------------  ---------  ----------  -----  ----------- 
Net sales                         1,666  (40)          (20)      (163)           -  1,443       (13) 
--------------------------------  -----  ----  ------------  ---------  ----------  -----  --------- 
Marketing                           268   (5)           (1)       (10)           -    252        (6) 
--------------------------------  -----  ----  ------------  ---------  ----------  -----  --------- 
Operating profit before 
 exceptional items                  615  (16)           (7)      (139)         (7)    446       (27) 
--------------------------------  -----  ----  ------------  ---------  ----------  -----  --------- 
Exceptional operating items(iv)       -                                              (17) 
--------------------------------  -----  ----  ------------  ---------  ----------  -----  ----------- 
Operating profit                    615                                               429         (30) 
--------------------------------  -----  ----  ------------  ---------  ----------  -----  ----------- 
 
 
Markets:                                                  Global giants and local stars(i) 
                                                           : 
                                                                       Organic 
                Organic   Reported    Organic   Reported                volume     Organic      Reported 
                 volume     volume  net sales  net sales              movement   net sales     net sales 
               movement   movement   movement   movement                  (ii)    movement      movement 
                      %          %          %          %                     %           %             % 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------ 
Europe and 
 Turkey(vi)                                               Guinness        (26)        (33)        (32) 
                                                          ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                          Johnnie 
                    (5)        (6)       (10)       (13)  Walker          (11)        (16)        (19) 
              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                          Baileys            6           8           8 
              ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Great 
 Britain             10         10          2          2  Smirnoff        (14)        (12)        (13) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                          Captain 
Ireland            (17)       (23)       (37)       (40)  Morgan             7           7           6 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Northern                                                  Yenì 
 Europe               -          -          7         10   Raki              -         (4)        (26) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Southern 
 Europe            (18)       (18)       (21)       (17)  Tanqueray        (9)         (8)         (7) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Eastern 
 Europe             (6)        (7)       (13)       (21)  J B             (13)        (16)        (16) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Turkey(vii)          12         12         18       (11) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
Spirits             (2)        (2)        (4)        (7) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Beer(v)            (24)       (29)       (34)       (37) 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Ready to 
 drink(v)             1          1          4          5 
------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------ 
 
   (i)   Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages. 

(ii) Organic equals reported volume movement.

(iii) The adjustment to other operating expenses is the elimination of fair value changes to contingent consideration liabilities in respect of prior year acquisitions.

(iv) For further details on exceptional operating items see Summary Income Statement (c) Exceptional items and Notes, Exceptional items.

(v) Flavoured malt beverages have been reclassified from ready to drink to beer from 1 July 2020. This reflects the nature of these products and how management reviews performance. Movements reported in the table above are on a like for like basis.

(vi) From 1 July 2020, Europe and Turkey are managed as six individual markets: Great Britain, Ireland, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Eastern Europe and Turkey, each with end-to-end accountability. This reflects how management reviews performance.

(vii)Variances between organic net sales movement and reported net sales movement are primarily a result of foreign exchange.

.

 
 --   In Great Britain , net sales increased 2%. Strong momentum in the off-trade more than offset 
       declines due to on-trade restrictions and closures. Spirits growth of 15%, driven by a strong 
       market and market share gains across all categories in the off-trade. Beer declined in the 
       on-trade. Despite this we saw beer on-trade share gains when restrictions were eased. 
 --   Ireland net sales declined 37%. Beer net sales were down 44% driven by on-trade restrictions 
       and closures particularly impacting Guinness keg. Total spirits grew 4%, driven by Baileys, 
       Gordon's and Captain Morgan. Both spirits and beer gained market share in the off-trade. 
 --   Northern Europe net sales increased 7%, reflecting strong off-trade growth primarily driven 
       by liqueurs and scotch. Baileys grew 18%, benefitting from the successful launch of the Baileys 
       Apple Pie limited time offer and Baileys Salted Caramel. Scotch sales were up 9% driven by 
       scotch malts and Johnnie Walker. Gin sales increased 12% driven by Tanqueray and Gordon's. 
       Vodka declined 24% driven by Smirnoff primarily as a result of exposure to the on-trade. 
 --   Southern Europe net sales were down 21% driven by reduced tourism and ongoing on-trade restrictions. 
       Scotch declined 20% driven by Johnnie Walker and J B. 
 --   In Eastern Europe net sales were down 13%. Scotch declined 18% driven by Johnnie Walker as 
       a result of on-trade impacts and instability in Lebanon. 
 --   In Turkey, net sales were up 18% benefitting from strong off-trade momentum, particularly 
       in scotch and raki. Growth in raki was driven by Tekirda raki. 
 --   Travel Retail Europe net sales declined 72% due to continued international travel restrictions. 
 --   Marketing investment declined 4%. A proportion of on-trade investment was redeployed into 
       off-trade, e-commerce and gifting. 
 
 
Africa 
 
 

Africa net sales were flat. Growth in Nigeria and Africa Regional Markets was not enough to offset declines in East Africa and South Africa. East Africa declined 5% driven by Kenya, which was significantly impacted by on-trade restrictions, partly offset by growth in Tanzania and Uganda. Net sales in Nigeria grew 10%, driven by double digit growth of mainstream spirits and Malta Guinness, as well as strong growth in Guinness. In South Africa, net sales declined 10%, as a result of periodic bans on alcohol sales and other severe Covid-19 related restrictions impacting sales across all categories. Africa Regional Markets grew 7% driven by double digit growth of beer in Ghana and Cameroon. Total Beer declined 1% driven by Senator Keg and Tusker due to on-trade restrictions in Kenya, partly offset by growth in Guinness, Malta Guinness and Serengeti. Spirits performance was flat. Strong performance of mainstream spirits offset declines in scotch. Operating margin declined 434bps, driven by lower fixed cost absorption, one-off charges and input cost inflation partially offset by productivity initiatives.

 
Key financials GBP million: 
                                 Acquisitions                        Reported 
                                          and    Organic             movement 
                   F20 H1    FX     disposals   movement  F21 H1            % 
-----------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  ----------- 
Net sales             848  (68)          (32)        (3)     745       (12) 
-----------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  --------- 
Marketing              97   (7)             -        (6)      84       (13) 
-----------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  --------- 
Operating profit      159  (29)             -       (35)      95       (40) 
-----------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  --------- 
 
 
Markets:                                                  Global giants and local stars(i) 
                                                           : 
              Organic   Reported     Organic    Reported                  Organic     Organic      Reported 
               volume     volume   net sales   net sales                   volume   net sales     net sales 
             movement   movement    movement    movement             movement(ii)    movement      movement 
                    %          %           %           %                        %           %             % 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ------------ 
Africa 
 (iii)            (1)        (8)           -        (12)  Guinness              8           9           4 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                          Johnnie 
                                                          Walker             (18)        (18)        (22) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
East 
 Africa           (5)        (5)         (5)        (12)  Smirnoff              2         (4)        (15) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
Africa 
 Regional 
 Markets 
 (iii)              4       (24)           7        (10) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Nigeria            10         10          10           -  Other beer: 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
South 
 Africa 
 (iii)            (7)       (12)        (10)        (28) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ------------ 
                                                          Malta                12          13           3 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
Spirits             4          4           -         (9)  Senator            (28)        (25)        (31) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
Beer (iv)         (6)        (6)         (1)         (8)  Tusker             (12)        (14)        (20) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
Ready to 
 drink 
 (iii)(iv)         14       (12)          10        (21)  Serengeti             9          11           6 
----------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
   (i)    Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages. 
   (ii)   Organic equals reported volume movement. 

(iii) Africa, Africa Regional Markets, South Africa and ready to drink reported volume movement impacted by acquisitions and disposals.

(iv) Flavoured malt beverages have been reclassified from ready to drink to beer from 1 July 2020. This reflects the nature of these products and how management reviews performance. Movements reported in the table above are on a like for like basis.

 
 --   East Africa net sales declined 5%. Kenya declined 10%, driven by severe on-trade restrictions 
       primarily impacting Senator Keg and Tusker sales. Tanzania grew 11% as it was minimally impacted 
       by limited Covid-19 related lockdowns, and benefited from the ongoing successes of Serengeti 
       Lager and Serengeti Lite. 
 --   In Africa Regional Markets, net sales grew 7%. Double digit growth in Malta Guinness and Guinness 
       in Ghana, and Guinness in Cameroon, partly offset by double digit beer declines in Ethiopia 
       due to civil unrest. 
 --   In Nigeria, net sales grew 10% due to the strong double digit growth of mainstream spirits, 
       primarily driven by Orijin which benefitted from a refreshed marketing campaign and the development 
       of a small formats strategy. 
      Beer grew 3% driven by Malta Guinness and Guinness despite the disruption in October due to 
       the civil protests. 
 --   South Africa net sales declined 10%. Economic and social challenges were further exacerbated 
       by the banning of alcohol sales across all channels for six weeks through July and August 
       and starting again 28 December 2020. Scotch net sales declined 6% driven by Johnnie Walker 
       partially offset by modest growth of Bell's and VAT69. 
 --   Marketing investment declined 6% due to on-trade savings. Overall spend was shifted to support 
       new route to consumer programmes, off-trade and e-commerce. 
 
 
Latin America and Caribbean 
 
 

Latin America and Caribbean net sales declined 1%. Declines in CCA, Travel Retail Latin America and Caribbean and Mexico were partially offset by growth in PUB, PEBAC and Colombia. In CCA, significantly reduced tourism resulted in a 21% net sales decline. Travel Retail Latin America and Caribbean net sales declined 100% due to continued international travel restrictions. Mexico net sales decreased 1% as growth in tequila and vodka was offset by declines in scotch. PUB net sales increased 21% primarily driven by double-digit growth in scotch and gin, aided by replenishment of stock levels by distributors and retailers. PEBAC net sales grew 16% supported by strong growth in scotch and liqueurs. Colombia net sales increased 7% driven by liqueurs, vodka and ready to drink. Scotch net sales across the region declined 5% as strong growth in White Horse and Black & White was more than offset by declines in Johnnie Walker, Buchanan's and Old Parr. Gin net sales grew 24% mainly due to strong momentum in Brazil. Tequila net sales grew 6% driven by growth of Don Julio in Mexico. Operating margin declined 133 bps as adverse product mix within scotch and market mix in the region more than offset reduced marketing investment and some pricing benefit.

 
Key financials GBP million: 
                                                    Acquisitions                                Reported 
                   F20                                       and    Organic             F21     movement 
                    H1    FX  Reclassifi-cation(i)     disposals   movement  Other(ii)   H1            % 
-----------------  ---  ----  --------------------  ------------  ---------  ---------  ---  ----------- 
Net sales          680  (86)                   (6)             -        (9)          -  579       (15) 
-----------------  ---  ----  --------------------  ------------  ---------  ---------  ---  --------- 
Marketing          113  (14)                   (6)             -       (15)          -   78       (31) 
-----------------  ---  ----  --------------------  ------------  ---------  ---------  ---  --------- 
Operating profit   257  (47)                     -             -       (12)        (1)  197       (23) 
-----------------  ---  ----  --------------------  ------------  ---------  ---------  ---  --------- 
 
 
Markets:                                                 Global giants and local stars 
                                                          (iii) : 
               Organic   Reported    Organic   Reported                   Organic     Organic      Reported 
                volume     volume  net sales  net sales                    volume   net sales     net sales 
              movement   movement   movement   movement              movement(iv)    movement      movement 
                     %          %          %          %                         %           %             % 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------------ 
Latin 
 America 
 and                                                     Johnnie 
 Caribbean                                               Walker               (6)        (11)        (21) 
                                                         ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
                     4          4        (1)       (15)  Buchanan's          (16)        (16)        (25) 
             ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                         Old Parr            (18)        (21)        (31) 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
PUB(vi)             12         12         21        (8)  Smirnoff            (13)         (1)        (18) 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                         Black & 
Mexico(vi)         (4)        (5)        (1)       (15)  White                 31          41          14 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
CCA               (10)       (10)       (21)       (23)  Tanqueray              5          18         (8) 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
Andean(vi)          14         15          7        (4)  Baileys               11          12           3 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ---------- 
PEBAC(vi)           13         12         16          7 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
 
Spirits              4          4        (2)       (16) 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Beer(v)            (7)        (7)         11         13 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  --------- 
Ready to 
 drink(v)            6          6          8       (10) 
-----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------------ 
 

(i) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, GBP6 million has been reclassified from marketing to sales.

(ii) The adjustment to cost of sales reflects the fair value remeasurement of biological assets in respect of growing agave plants.

   (iii)          Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages. 
   (iv)          Organic equals reported volume movement. 

(v) Flavoured malt beverages have been reclassified from ready to drink to beer from 1 July 2020. This reflects the nature of these products and how management reviews performance. Movements reported in the table above are on a like for like basis.

(vi) Variances between organic net sales movement and reported net sales movement are primarily a result of foreign exchange.

 
 --   PUB (Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil) net sales increased 21%. Scotch net sales increased 25% 
       driven by triple-digit growth in White Horse and growth in Johnnie Walker driven by Johnnie 
       Walker Red Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label and Johnnie Walker super deluxe variants. Brazil 
       delivered 33% growth. Strong consumption recovery in Brazil's domestic market, replenishment 
       of stock levels by distributors and retailers, as well as some pricing benefit, more than 
       offset net sales decline in border stores and the duty free channel. Momentum in gin continued 
       with strong double-digit growth in Tanqueray and triple-digit growth in Gordon's. 
 --   Mexico net sales declined 1% impacted by continued economic slowdown as well as on-trade 
       closures. Scotch declined 8% as double-digit growth of Black & White was offset by declines 
       in Johnnie Walker and Buchanan's. Tequila grew 10% driven by Don Julio, supported by the local 
       "Antes Que Don" campaign, limited editions and a strong activation plan, resulting in share 
       gains in the off-trade. Vodka increased 9% primarily due to Smirnoff's X1 Spicy Tamarind innovation, 
       which continued to perform strongly. 
 --   CCA (Caribbean and Central America) net sales declined 21% primarily as a result of reduced 
       levels of international tourism and on-trade restrictions, which drove declines across all 
       spirits categories. Scotch net sales decreased 24% as declines in Buchanan's, Johnnie Walker 
       and Old Parr more than offset double-digit growth in Black & White. 
 --   Andean (Colombia and Venezuela) net sales increased 7% driven by Colombia. Growth in Colombia 
       was primarily driven by strong double-digit growth of Baileys building on the brand's globally 
       proven indulgent treat communication and occasions strategy. Vodka net sales grew strong double-digit 
       due to the Smirnoff X1 Lulo innovation endorsed by a local trend-setting celebrity. Scotch 
       net sales increased 1% driven by triple-digit growth in Black & White and double-digit growth 
       in Johnnie Walker, partially offset by double-digit declines in Old Parr due to its high reliance 
       on the on-trade. 
 --   PEBAC (Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile) net sales increased 16% driven by lapping 
       social and political instability across key markets, as well as strong execution through new 
       distribution partnerships. Scotch delivered double-digit net sales growth driven by Johnnie 
       Walker, White Horse and Buchanan's. 
 --   Travel Retail Latin America and Caribbean net sales decreased 100% due to continued international 
       travel restrictions. 
 --   Marketing investment was down 15%. On-trade marketing spend was reduced, and partially redeployed 
       to the off-trade and e-commerce given at-home consumption trends. 
 
 
Asia Pacific 
 

Asia Pacific net sales decreased 3%. Strong growth in Greater China and Australia in the first half was offset by declines in Travel Retail Asia and Middle East, South East Asia and North Asia. The region was in growth excluding Travel Retail Asia and Middle East. Greater China net sales increased 15%, driven by Chinese white spirits and scotch. Australia net sales increased 23%, with growth across key categories. India net sales grew 1%. Spirits sales declined due to the continued economic slowdown and on-trade closures. This was more than offset by revenue from the United Spirits Limited owned cricket team due to the postponement of the Indian Premier League from March 2020 to October 2020. South East Asia net sales decreased 17% with declines across all key categories primarily driven by local market restrictions and the reduced levels of international travel. Travel Retail Asia and Middle East declined 81% due to the continued impact of Covid-19 on international travel. Operating margin decreased 237 bps driven by adverse market and category mix partially offset by overhead efficiencies.

 
Key financials GBP million: 
                                                    Acquisitions                        Reported 
                                                             and    Organic             movement 
                                      F20 H1    FX     disposals   movement  F21 H1            % 
------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  ----------- 
Net sales                              1,477  (33)           (1)       (48)   1,395        (6) 
------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  --------- 
Marketing                                232   (2)             -        (3)     227        (2) 
------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  --------- 
Operating profit before exceptional 
 items                                   432     2             -       (48)     386       (11) 
------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  --------- 
Exceptional operating items(i)          (59)                                      - 
------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  ----------- 
Operating profit                         373                                    386            3 
------------------------------------  ------  ----  ------------  ---------  ------  ----------- 
 
 
Markets:                                                 Global giants and local stars(ii) 
                                                          : 
              Organic   Reported    Organic    Reported                    Organic     Organic      Reported 
               volume     volume  net sales   net sales                     volume   net sales     net sales 
             movement   movement   movement    movement              movement(iii)    movement      movement 
                    %          %          %           %                          %           %             % 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
Asia                                                     Johnnie 
 Pacific          (3)        (3)        (3)         (6)   Walker              (14)        (21)        (21) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                         McDowell's            (3)         (3)        (11) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                         Shui Jing 
India(vi)         (2)        (2)          1         (7)   Fang (iv)             17          18          18 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
Greater 
 China              6          6         15          15  Guinness              (9)        (11)        (13) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                         The 
Australia          25         26         23          26  Singleton             (3)         (3)         (2) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
South East                                               Royal 
 Asia            (15)       (15)       (17)        (21)  Challenge            (11)        (11)        (17) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
North Asia          5          2        (6)         (8)  Windsor              (35)        (27)        (28) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
Travel 
 Retail 
 Asia and 
 Middle 
 East            (76)       (76)       (81)        (81) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 
Spirits           (3)        (3)        (6)         (8) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
 Beer (v)         (7)        (7)       (10)        (13) 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------- 
Ready to 
 drink 
 (v)                9          9         14          17 
----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  ----------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
 

(i) For further details on exceptional operating items see Summary Income Statement, (c) Exceptional items and Notes, Exceptional items.

(ii) Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages.

(iii) Organic equals reported volume movement.

(iv) Growth figures represent total Chinese white spirits of which Shui Jing Fang is the principal brand.

(v) Flavoured malt beverages have been reclassified from ready to drink to beer from 1 July 2020. This reflects the nature of these products and how management reviews performance. Movements reported in the table above are on a like for like basis.

(vi) Variances between organic net sales movement and reported net sales movement are primarily a result of foreign exchange.

 
 --   In India, net sales grew 1%. Spirits declined due to the continued economic slowdown and on-trade 
       closures. This was more than offset by revenue from the United Spirits Limited owned cricket 
       team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, as the start of the Indian Premier League was rescheduled 
       from March 2020 to October 2020. Net sales in the popular brands segment declined 10%. Prestige 
       and Above segment net sales decreased 2% primarily driven by declines in vodka and IMFL whisky. 
       Scotch net sales grew 1% driven by Johnnie Walker Red Label. 
 --   In Greater China, net sales increased 15% driven primarily by Chinese white spirits and scotch. 
       Chinese white spirits grew 20% partly driven by route to consumer expansion. Scotch net sales 
       increased 9% with double-digit growth in scotch malts and Johnnie Walker super deluxe. 
 --   In Australia, net sales increased 23% due to growth across all key categories driven by strong 
       off-trade momentum. Ready to drink net sales grew 30% driven primarily by Bundaberg as well 
       as strong growth in Smirnoff and Gordon's due to the Smirnoff Spiked Seltzers and Gordon's 
       Pink Gin Premix innovations. Scotch net sales increased 17% driven by Johnnie Walker super 
       deluxe. Gin net sales grew 48% due to continued momentum in Gordon's, Gordon's Premium Pink 
       Distilled Gin and Gordon's Sicilian Lemon as well as Tanqueray. Baileys net sales increased 
       29% driven by strong growth in Baileys Original and Baileys Red Velvet innovation. Rum net 
       sales delivered 20% growth driven by Bundaberg and Captain Morgan. Vodka net sales grew 23% 
       due to Smirnoff. 
 --   In South East Asia, net sales decreased 17% with declines across all key categories primarily 
       driven by local market restrictions and the reduced levels of international travel. Scotch 
       net sales were down 8% as strong double-digit growth in scotch malts was more than offset 
       by declines in Johnnie Walker. 
 --   In North Asia, net sales decreased 6%, with Japan and Korea each declining 6%. Performance 
       in Japan was primarily driven by the decline of ready to drink. In Korea the main driver of 
       decline was Windsor, partially offset by double-digit growth in Johnnie Walker. 
 --   Travel Retail Asia and Middle East net sales decreased 81% across the portfolio due to continued 
       international travel restrictions. 
 --   Marketing investment declined 1% as a proportion of on-trade investment was redeployed into 
       off-trade and e-commerce to focus on the at-home consumption occasion. 
 

CATEGORY AND BRAND REVIEW

Six months ended 31 December 2020

 
Key categories: 
                                                Organic     Organic      Reported 
                                                 volume   net sales     net sales 
                                               movement 
                                                  (iii)    movement      movement 
                                                      %           %             % 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ------------ 
Spirits(i)                                            1           3         (2) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Scotch                                           (3)         (8)        (13) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Vodka (ii)(iv)                                   (2)           -         (6) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Canadian whisky                                    1           3         (1) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Rum (ii)                                         (6)           1         (3) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Liqueurs                                           3           8           5 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) whisky           1         (1)         (8) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Tequila                                           42          61          56 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   Gin (ii)                                           6           6           2 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
   US whiskey                                         8           8           5 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Beer (v)                                            (9)        (11)        (16) 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
Ready to drink (v)                                   10          13           4 
--------------------------------------------  ---------  ----------  ---------- 
 
   (i)   Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages. 

(ii) Vodka, rum, gin including IMFL brands.

(iii) Organic equals reported volume movement except for spirits 0%, vodka (3)%, rum (7)%, liqueurs 2%, gin 7%, beer (10)% and ready to drink (1)%, which were impacted by acquisitions and disposals.

(iv) Vodka includes Ketel One Botanical.

(v) Flavoured malt beverages have been reclassified from ready to drink to beer from 1 July 2020. This reflects the nature of these products and how management reviews performance. Movements reported in the table above are on a like for like basis.

 
 --   Scotch represents 24% of Diageo's net sales and declined 8%. Growth in North America of 2% 
       was offset by declines in all other regions. Scotch performance was severely affected by the 
       impact of Covid-19 on international travel, particularly in Asia Pacific. Excluding Travel 
       Retail, scotch was broadly flat with growth in North America and Asia Pacific offset by declines 
       in all other regions. Johnnie Walker net sales were down 12%, and scotch malts down 7%, driven 
       by the impact of Covid-19 on Travel Retail sales and lapping Game of Thrones innovations. 
       Primary scotch brands grew 16% driven by the growth of White Horse and Black & White in Latin 
       America and Caribbean and Bell's in Europe and Turkey. Old Parr declined 19% driven by international 
       tourism restrictions in Caribbean and Central America and restrictions on the on-trade channel 
       in Colombia. Buchanan's net sales were down 2% with decline in Latin America and Caribbean 
       partially offset by strong growth in North America driven by its strong presence in the off-trade 
       channel. J B continued to decline with net sales down 12% driven by the impact of on-trade 
       restrictions in Southern Europe. 
 --   Vodka represents 10% of Diageo's net sales and was broadly flat with growth in North America 
       and Africa offset with decline in all other regions. Cîroc grew 11% driven mainly by 
       US Spirits on the back of refreshed activations to engage with Cîroc's consumer base. 
       Smirnoff net sales were down 3% driven by declines in Europe and Turkey and Asia Pacific partially 
       offset by growth in North America. Ketel One net sales decreased 4% with North America performance 
       flat and a decline in Europe and Turkey. 
 --   Canadian whisky represents 8% of Diageo's net sales and grew 3%. Growth of Crown Royal in 
       North America was largely driven by continued momentum on flavours with Crown Royal Regal 
       Apple, Crown Royal Vanilla and Crown Royal Peach all growing strongly. 
 --   Rum represents 6% of Diageo's net sales and grew 1% primarily driven by Captain Morgan in 
       North America and Great Britain partially offset by a decline in McDowell's No.1 in India. 
 --   Liqueurs represent 7% of Diageo's net sales and grew 8% driven by Baileys. Baileys growth 
       was broad based across regions, apart from Asia Pacific which declined 2%. Performance was 
       driven by Baileys Original, the successful launch of limited time offer Baileys Apple Pie, 
       and continued focus on Baileys' positioning as a year-round indulgent treat. 
 --   IMFL whisky represents 5% of Diageo's net sales and declined 1% driven by the economic slowdown, 
       and the impact of Covid-19 shutdowns, in India. 
 --   Tequila represents 7% of Diageo's net sales and grew 61% driven by strong performance of 
       Don Julio and Casamigos in North America. 
 --   Gin represents 5% of Diageo's net sales and grew 6% with growth across all regions except 
       Europe and Turkey. Gin growth was driven by strong double-digit growth in Africa and Latin 
       America and Caribbean. Growth in Africa was mainly driven by Gilbey's in Kenya and broad-based 
       growth of Gordon's across the region. Growth in Latin America and Caribbean was mainly driven 
       by growth of Tanqueray and Gordon's in Brazil. The decline in Europe and Turkey was mainly 
       due to the impact of on-trade closures and reduced tourism in Southern Europe and the impact 
       of Covid-19 on Travel Retail Europe. Gin net sales grew 12% in both Northern Europe and Great 
       Britain driven by Tanqueray and Gordon's, respectively. In Great Britain Gordon's performance 
       was primarily driven by the successful launch of Gordon's Sicilian Lemon. 
 --   US whiskey represents 2% of Diageo's net sales and grew 8%. Performance continued to be driven 
       by strong growth in Bulleit. 
 --   Beer represents 15% of Diageo's net sales and declined 11% with declines in all regions except 
       North America and Latin America and Caribbean. Guinness declined 18% due to the impact of 
       Covid-19 on the on-trade, particularly in Ireland and Great Britain. Smirnoff flavoured malt 
       beverages in Diageo Beer Company USA grew 26% driven by innovation launches as well as increased 
       consumption in the off-trade channel. 
 --   Ready to drink represents 4% of Diageo's net sales and grew 13% with broad-based growth across 
       all regions, particularly North America and Australia. Australia performance was driven by 
       Bundaberg, Smirnoff and Gordon's. 
 

.

 
Global giants, local stars and reserve(i) : 
                                     Organic     Organic      Reported 
                                      volume   net sales     net sales 
                                movement(ii)    movement      movement 
                                           %           %             % 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
Global giants 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
  Johnnie Walker                        (10)        (12)        (16) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Smirnoff                               (4)         (3)         (8) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Baileys                                  5          10           7 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Captain Morgan                           7           7           3 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Tanqueray                              (1)           1         (5) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Guinness                              (11)        (18)        (20) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
Local stars 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
  Crown Royal                              2           3         (1) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Yenì Raki                         (1)         (4)        (26) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Buchanan's                             (5)         (2)         (9) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  J B                                   (12)        (12)        (14) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Windsor                               (35)        (27)        (28) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Old Parr                              (17)        (19)        (27) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Bundaberg                               13           9          11 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Black & White                           19          20           3 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Ypióca                             18          12        (19) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  McDowell's                             (3)         (3)        (10) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Shui Jing Fang(iii)                     17          18          18 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
Reserve 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ------------ 
  Scotch malts                           (6)         (7)         (7) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Cîroc vodka                         8          11           7 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Ketel One(iv)                            5         (4)         (9) 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Don Julio                               19          39          35 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Bulleit                                 11          15          10 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
  Casamigos                              111         135         126 
-----------------------------  -------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
   (i)   Spirits brands excluding ready to drink and flavoured malt beverages. 

(ii) Organic equals reported volume movement.

(iii) Growth figures represent total Chinese white spirits of which Shui Jing Fang is the principal brand.

(iv) Ketel One includes Ketel One vodka and Ketel One Botanical.

 
 --   Global giants represent 39% of Diageo's net sales and declined by 7%. Johnnie Walker decline 
       was due to the impact of Covid-19 on Travel Retail, and Guinness declined due to restrictions 
       on the on-trade channel, particularly in Great Britain and Ireland. These declines were partially 
       offset by growth in Baileys in North America and Europe and Turkey and Captain Morgan in North 
       America. 
 --   Local stars represent 20% of Diageo's net sales and grew 1%, largely driven by growth in 
       Chinese white spirits in Asia Pacific, Crown Royal in North America and Black & White in Colombia 
       and Mexico. These gains were partially offset by declines in Old Parr in the Caribbean and 
       Central America and Colombia, Windsor in South Korea, J B in Southern Europe and McDowell's 
       No.1 in India. 
 --   Reserve brands represent 24% of Diageo's net sales and grew 15% largely driven by the strong 
       growth of Casamigos and Don Julio in US Spirits and Chinese white spirits partially offset 
       by declines in scotch malts mainly in US Spirits and Johnnie Walker Reserve variants mainly 
       in Travel Retail Asia and Middle East. 
 

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Six months ended 31 December 2020

 
SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENT 
 
 
                                          Acquisitions                Fair value 
                                                   and                remeasure- 
                31 December     Exchange     disposals      Organic         ment  Reclassifi-    31 December 
                       2019          (a)           (b)  movement(i)          (d)   cation(ii)           2020 
                GBP million  GBP million   GBP million  GBP million  GBP million  GBP million    GBP million 
--------------  -----------  -----------  ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------- 
Sales                10,831        (601)          (88)          300            -          (6)       10,436 
==============  ===========  ===========  ============  ===========  ===========  ===========  =========== 
Excise duties       (3,631)          273            28        (232)            -            -      (3,562) 
--------------  -----------  -----------  ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------- 
Net sales             7,200        (328)          (60)           68            -          (6)        6,874 
==============  ===========  ===========  ============  ===========  ===========  ===========  =========== 
Cost of sales       (2,702)          141            50        (149)          (1)            -      (2,661) 
--------------  -----------  -----------  ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------- 
Gross profit          4,498        (187)          (10)         (81)          (1)          (6)        4,213 
==============  ===========  ===========  ============  ===========  ===========  ===========  =========== 
Marketing           (1,116)           35           (2)          (8)            -            6      (1,085) 
==============  ===========  ===========  ============  ===========  ===========  ===========  =========== 
Other 
 operating 
 items                (881)           18           (6)            4          (7)            -        (872) 
--------------  -----------  -----------  ------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ----------- 
Operating 
 profit 
 before 
 exceptional 
 items                2,501        (134)          (18)         (85)          (8)            -        2,256 
--------------  -----------  ===========  ============  ===========  ===========  ===========  =========== 
Exceptional 
 operating 
 items (c)             (59)                                                                           (17) 
--------------  -----------                                                                    ----------- 
Operating 
 profit               2,442                                                                          2,239 
==============  ===========                                                                    =========== 
Non-operating 
 items 
 (c)                      -                                                                              5 
==============  ===========                                                                    =========== 
Net finance 
 charges              (154)                                                                          (200) 
==============  ===========                                                                    =========== 
Share of after 
 tax results 
 of 
 associates 
 and 
 joint 
 ventures               176                                                                            154 
--------------  -----------                                                                    ----------- 
Profit before 
 taxation             2,464                                                                          2,198 
==============  ===========                                                                    =========== 
Taxation (e)          (530)                                                                          (537) 
Profit for the 
 period               1,934                                                                          1,661 
--------------  -----------                                                                    ----------- 
 
   (i)   For the definition of organic movement see Explanatory notes, Organic movements. 

(ii) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, GBP6 million has been reclassified from marketing to sales.

(a) Exchange

The impact of movements in exchange rates on reported figures for net sales and operating profit are principally in respect of the translation exchange impact of the strengthening of sterling against the US dollar, the Brazilian real and the Turkish lira, partially offset by weakening of sterling against the euro.

The effect of movements in exchange rates and other movements on profit before exceptional items and taxation for the six months ended 31 December 2020 is set out in the table below.

 
                                                 Gains/(losses) 
                                                    GBP million 
---------------------------------------------  ---------------- 
  Translation impact                                       (94) 
---------------------------------------------  ---------------- 
  Transaction impact                                     (40) 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
Operating profit before exceptional items               (134) 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
  Net finance charges - translation impact                  4 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
  Net finance charges - transaction impact                  1 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
Net finance charges                                         5 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
Associates - translation impact                             3 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
Profit before exceptional items and taxation            (126) 
---------------------------------------------  -------------- 
 
 
                       Six months ended    Six months ended 
                            31 December         31 December 
                                   2020                2019 
---------------------  ----------------  ------------------ 
Exchange rates 
---------------------  ----------------  ------------------ 
  Translation GBP1 =              $1.31             $1.26 
---------------------  ----------------  ---------------- 
  Transaction GBP1 =              $1.34             $1.36 
---------------------  ----------------  ---------------- 
  Translation GBP1 =            EUR1.11           EUR1.14 
---------------------  ----------------  ---------------- 
  Transaction GBP1 =            EUR1.11           EUR1.13 
---------------------  ----------------  ---------------- 
 

(b) Acquisitions and disposals

The acquisitions and disposals movement includes the impact of the acquisition of Aviation Gin LLC ('Aviation Gin') and Davos Brands LLC ('Davos Brands') in the six months ended 31 December 2020, as well as the impact of disposals.

See Notes, Acquisition of businesses and purchase of non-controlling interests and Explanatory Notes for further details.

(c) Exceptional items

Exceptional operating items in the six months ended 31 December 2020 were GBP17 million before tax (2019 - GBP59 million).

In the six months ended 31 December 2020, based on recent developments, an additional provision of TRY 152 million (GBP15 million) was recorded as an exceptional item in respect of ongoing litigation in Turkey, bringing the provision's balance at 31 December 2020 to TRY 283 million (GBP28 million).

On 20 November 2020, the High Court of Justice of England and Wales issued a ruling that requires schemes to equalise pension benefits for men and women for the calculation of their guaranteed minimum pension liability (GMP) on historic transfers out, which has resulted in an additional liability of GBP5 million. The corresponding expense has been recognised as an exceptional operating item, consistent with the charge in relation to the initial GMP ruling in the year ended 30 June 2019.

In the six months ended 31 December 2020, an inventory provision of GBP3 million (2019 - GBPnil) has been released in respect of inventories that had earlier been expected to be returned and destroyed as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in an exceptional gain.

In the six months ended 31 December 2019, an impairment charge of GBP59 million in respect of the Old Tavern brand in India was recognised in exceptional operating items.

Non-operating items in the six months ended 31 December 2020 were GBP5 million (2019 - GBPnil).

In the six months ended 31 December 2020, ZAR 100 million (GBP5 million) of deferred consideration was paid to Diageo in respect of the sale of United National Breweries, resulting in a non-operating gain.

Non-operating items in the six months ended 31 December 2019 comprised:

-- GBP8 million step up gain as a result of the acquisition of Seedlip Limited, Anna Seed 83 Limited and certain smaller businesses;

   --    GBP7 million incremental loss on the disposal of United National Breweries; 
   --    GBP1 million loss on the disposal of an associate, Equal Parts, LLC. 

Exceptional tax charges in the six months ended 31 December 2020 were GBP42 million (2019 - GBPnil), driven by a change in the applicable corporate tax rate in the Netherlands.

See Explanatory Notes, (c) Exceptional items for the definition of exceptional items.

(d) Fair value remeasurement

The adjustment to cost of sales reflects the elimination of fair value changes for biological assets in respect of growing agave plants of a GBP3 million gain for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and a GBP4 million gain for the six months ended 31 December 2019. The adjustment to other operating expenses is the elimination of fair value changes to contingent consideration liabilities in respect of prior year acquisitions of GBP11 million loss for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and GBP4 million loss for the six months ended 31 December 2019.

(e) Taxation

The reported tax rate for the six months ended 31 December 2020 was 24.4% compared with 21.5% for the six months ended 31 December 2019.

For the six months ended 31 December 2020, income tax expense is recognised based on management's best estimate of the weighted average annual income tax rate expected for the full financial year applied to the pre-tax income of the interim period in line with the relevant accounting standard.

On 15 December 2020, legislation was substantively enacted in the Netherlands to maintain the headline corporate tax rate at 25%, reversing a previously enacted reduction in the corporate tax rate to 21.7% in 2021. As a result of the change, an exceptional tax charge of GBP42 million was recognised for the six months ended 31 December 2020 in relation to the remeasurement of deferred tax liabilities.

The reported tax charge for the six months ended 31 December 2019 included a tax credit of GBP14 million in respect of the Old Tavern brand impairment charge.

The tax rate before exceptional items for the six months ended 31 December 2020 was 22.4% compared with 21.6% for the six months ended 31 December 2019.

We expect the tax rate before exceptional items for the year ending 30 June 2021 to be in the upper end of the 21%-22% range.

(f) Dividend

The group aims to increase the dividend each year and the decision in respect of the dividend is made with reference to dividend cover as well as current performance trends including sales and profit after tax together with cash generation. Diageo targets dividend cover (the ratio of basic earnings per share before exceptional items to dividend per share) within the range of 1.8-2.2 times. For the year ended 30 June 2020 dividend cover was 1.6 times.

An interim dividend of 27.96 pence per share will be paid to holders of ordinary shares and ADRs on the register as of 26 February 2021. The ex-dividend date is 25 February 2021. This represents an increase of 2% on last year's interim dividend. The interim dividend will be paid to ordinary shareholders on 8 April 2021. Payment to US ADR holders will be made on 13 April 2021. A dividend reinvestment plan is available to holders of ordinary shares in respect of the interim dividend and the plan notice date is 12 March 2021.

(g) Share buyback

On 25 July 2019, the Board approved a return of capital programme to return up to GBP4.5 billion to shareholders over the three-year period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022, utilising the most appropriate mechanic of either share buybacks or special dividends depending on market conditions.

During the six months ended 31 December 2019, the group purchased 34.6 million ordinary shares at a cost of GBP1,129 million (including GBP6 million of transaction costs). In the second half of the year the group purchased 4.1 million ordinary shares at a cost of GBP127 million (including GBP1 million of transaction costs), taking the total number of ordinary shares purchased under the programme to 38.7 million at a cost of GBP1,256 million (including GBP7 million of transaction costs). All shares purchased under the share buyback programmes were cancelled. On 9 April 2020, the group announced that it had not initiated the next phase of the three-year programme. Given our elevated leverage ratio we have paused the programme until the leverage ratio is back within target range.

At 31 December 2020 the leverage ratio, calculated as adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA, was 3.4x, in-line with the leverage ratio at 30 June 2020. The group anticipates leverage to be above the target range of 2.5-3.0x through the year ending 30 June 2021.

See Explanatory Notes for explanation of the calculation and use of non-GAAP measures.

 
MOVEMENT IN NET BORROWINGS AND EQUITY 
 

Movement in net borrowings

 
                                                               2020           2019 
                                                        GBP million    GBP million 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ------------- 
Net borrowings at 30 June                                  (13,246)     (11,277) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Free cash flow (a)                                            1,753          966 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Acquisitions (b)                                              (364)        (106) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Sale of businesses and brands                                     5            - 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Share buyback programme                                           -      (1,155) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Proceeds from issue of share capital                              -            1 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Net sale of own shares for share schemes (c)                      9           33 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests                    (53)         (76) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Net movements in bonds (d)                                    (216)        1,289 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Purchase of shares of non-controlling interests (e)            (34)         (25) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Net movements in other borrowings (f)                         (345)          209 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Equity dividends paid                                         (992)      (1,006) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents          (237)          130 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Net decrease/(increase) in bonds and other borrowings           561      (1,503) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Exchange differences (g)                                        420          209 
Other non-cash items (h)                                      (159)        (188) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Adoption of IFRS 16                                               -        (251) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Net borrowings at 31 December                              (12,661)     (12,880) 
------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
 

(a) See Explanatory Notes, Free cash flow for the analysis of free cash flow.

(b) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, Diageo completed the acquisition of Aviation Gin and Davos Brands for a total consideration of $337 million (GBP263 million) in cash and contingent consideration of up to $275 million (GBP214 million) over a ten-year period linked to performance targets.

In the six months ended 31 December 2019, Diageo acquired the remaining share capital of Seedlip Limited and Anna Seed 83 Limited (the brand owner of Aecorn) which it did not already own, as well as a number of smaller transactions.

Acquisitions also include additional investments as part of the Distill Ventures programme, as well as deferred and contingent consideration paid in respect of previous acquisitions.

(c) Net sale of own shares comprised purchase of treasury shares for the future settlement of obligations under the employee share option schemes of GBP1 million (2019 - GBP1 million) less receipts from employees on the exercise of share options of GBP10 million (2019 - GBP34 million).

(d) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, the group issued bonds of EUR700 million (GBP636 million - net of discount and fee) and GBP395 million (including GBP5 million discount and fee) and repaid bonds of $696 million (GBP551 million) and EUR775 million (GBP696 million). In the six months ended 31 December 2019, the group issued bonds of $1,600 million (GBP1,289 million).

(e) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, East African Breweries Limited (EABL), a subsidiary of Diageo, completed the purchase of 30% of the share capital of Serengeti Breweries Limited for $55 million (GBP42 million) out of which $12 million (GBP8 million) was still payable at 31 December 2020.

In the six months ended 31 December 2019, Diageo acquired an additional 3,310,515 shares (representing 0.46% of total shares) of United Spirits Limited for INR 1,960 million (GBP23 million) and completed the purchase of 4% of the share capital of Serengeti Breweries Limited for $3 million (GBP2 million).

(f) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, the net movement in other borrowings principally arose from cash movement of foreign exchange swaps and forwards. In the six months ended 31 December 2019, movements were driven by the issue of commercial paper, partially offset by cash movements on foreign exchange swaps and forwards.

(g) The exchange arising on net borrowings of GBP420 million is primarily driven by favourable exchange movements on US dollar and euro denominated borrowings, moderately offset by an unfavourable movement on cash and cash equivalents, foreign exchange swaps and forwards.

In the six months ended 31 December 2019, exchange differences were principally driven by beneficial exchange movements on US dollar and euro denominated borrowings partially offset by an adverse movement on foreign exchange swaps and forwards.

(h) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, other non-cash items are principally in respect of fair value changes of cross currency interest rate swaps. In the six months ended 31 December 2019, other non-cash items are principally in respect of additional leases entered into during the six months ended 31 December 2019.

Movement in equity

 
                                                                2020           2019 
                                                         GBP million    GBP million 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ------------- 
Equity at 30 June                                              8,440       10,156 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Profit for the period                                          1,661        1,934 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Exchange adjustments (a)                                       (590)        (623) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Remeasurement of post employment plans net of taxation         (115)         (82) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Purchase of shares of non-controlling interests (b)             (42)         (25) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Dividends declared to non-controlling interests                 (24)         (52) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Equity dividends paid                                          (992)      (1,006) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Share buyback programme                                            -      (1,200) 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Other reserve movements                                           40          128 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
Equity at 31 December                                          8,378        9,230 
-------------------------------------------------------  -----------  ----------- 
 

(a) Exchange movement in the six months ended 31 December 2020 primarily arose from exchange losses driven by the US dollar, Indian rupee and the Turkish lira.

(b) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, East African Breweries Limited completed the purchase of 30% of the share capital of Serengeti Breweries Limited for $55 million (GBP42 million).

In the six months ended 31 December 2019, Diageo acquired an additional 3,310,515 shares of United Spirits Limited for INR 1,960 million (GBP23 million) and completed the purchase of 4% of the share capital of Serengeti Breweries Limited for $3 million (GBP2 million).

Post employment plans

The net surplus of the group's post employment benefit plans have decreased by GBP94 million from GBP362 million at 30 June 2020 to GBP268 million at 31 December 2020. The decrease in net surplus is primarily attributable to the change in discount rates in Ireland and in the United Kingdom due to the decrease in returns from AA-rated corporate bonds used to calculate the discount rates on the liabilities of the post employment plans (Ireland from 1.2% to 0.7%; UK from 1.5% to 1.4%), partially offset by an increase in the market value of assets held by the post employment schemes.

The operating profit charge before exceptional items increased by GBP18 million from GBP36 million for the six months ended 31 December 2019 to GBP54 million for the six months ended 31 December 2020. Operating profit for the six months ended 31 December 2019 includes a past service gain of GBP19 million following a communication to the deferred members of the Guinness Ireland Group Pension Scheme in respect of changing their expectation of a full pension prior to reaching the age of 65.

Total cash contributions by the group to all post employment plans in the year ending 30 June 2021 are estimated to be approximately GBP120 million.

DIAGEO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 
                                                   Six months ended    Six months ended 
                                                        31 December         31 December 
                                                               2020                2019 
                                            Notes       GBP million         GBP million 
 
Sales                                         2              10,436            10,831 
Excise duties                                               (3,562)           (3,631) 
                                                   ----------------  ---------------- 
Net sales                                     2               6,874             7,200 
Cost of sales                                               (2,661)           (2,702) 
                                                   ----------------  ---------------- 
Gross profit                                                  4,213             4,498 
Marketing                                                   (1,085)           (1,116) 
Other operating items                                         (889)             (940) 
                                                   ----------------  ---------------- 
Operating profit                              2               2,239             2,442 
Non-operating items                           3                   5                 - 
Finance income                                4                 127               163 
Finance charges                               4               (327)             (317) 
Share of after tax results of associates 
 and joint ventures                                             154               176 
                                                   ----------------  ---------------- 
Profit before taxation                                        2,198             2,464 
Taxation                                      5               (537)             (530) 
Profit for the period                                         1,661             1,934 
                                                   ================  ================ 
 
Attributable to: 
Equity shareholders of the parent company                     1,580             1,865 
Non-controlling interests                                        81                69 
                                                   ----------------  ---------------- 
                                                              1,661             1,934 
                                                   ================  ================ 
 
                                                            million             million 
Weighted average number of shares 
Shares in issue excluding own shares                          2,336             2,356 
Dilutive potential ordinary shares                                7                10 
                                                   ----------------  ---------------- 
                                                              2,343             2,366 
                                                   ================  ================ 
 
                                                              pence               pence 
Basic earnings per share                                       67.6              79.2 
 
Diluted earnings per share                                     67.4              78.8 
 
 

DIAGEO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 
                                                                                  Six months 
                                                                   Six months       ended 31 
                                                            ended 31 December       December 
                                                                         2020           2019 
                                                                  GBP million    GBP million 
Other comprehensive income 
 Items that will not be recycled subsequently to 
  the income statement 
  Net remeasurement of post employment plans 
   - group                                                              (128)        (101) 
   - associates and joint ventures                                        (1)          (1) 
  Tax on post employment plans                                             14           20 
                                                           ------------------  ----------- 
                                                                        (115)         (82) 
 Items that may be recycled subsequently to the 
  income statement 
  Exchange differences on translation of foreign 
   operations 
   - group                                                              (887)        (585) 
   - associates and joint ventures                                       (78)        (161) 
   - non-controlling interests                                          (138)        (100) 
  Net investment hedges                                                   513          223 
  Tax on exchange differences                                             (3)          (7) 
  Effective portion of changes in fair value of cash 
   flow hedges 
   - hedge of foreign currency debt of the group                        (280)         (60) 
   - transaction exposure hedging of the group                            138           63 
   - commodity price risk hedging of the group                             14            5 
   - hedges by associates and joint ventures                               13            3 
   - recycled to income statement - hedge of foreign 
    currency debt of the group                                            150           50 
   - recycled to income statement - transaction exposure 
    hedging of the group                                                 (18)           12 
   - recycled to income statement - commodity price 
    risk hedging of the group                                               5            - 
  Tax on effective portion of changes in fair value 
   of cash flow hedges                                                    (4)            5 
  Hyperinflation adjustment                                              (16)         (15) 
  Tax on hyperinflation adjustment                                          5            4 
                                                           ------------------  ----------- 
                                                                        (586)        (563) 
                                                           ------------------  ----------- 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax, for the period                    (701)        (645) 
Profit for the period                                                   1,661        1,934 
                                                           ------------------  ----------- 
Total comprehensive income for the period                                 960        1,289 
                                                           ==================  =========== 
 
Attributable to: 
Equity shareholders of the parent company                               1,017        1,320 
Non-controlling interests                                                (57)         (31) 
                                                           ------------------  ----------- 
Total comprehensive income for the period                                 960        1,289 
                                                           ==================  =========== 
 

DIAGEO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 
                                    31 December            30 June 2020                31 December 
                                           2020                                               2019 
                                GBP         GBP         GBP         GBP         GBP 
                  Notes     million     million     million     million     million    GBP million 
Non-current 
assets 
Intangible 
 assets                      10,877                  11,300                  12,035 
Property, plant 
 and equipment                4,757                   4,926                   4,834 
Biological 
 assets                          63                      51                      42 
Investments in 
 associates 
 and joint 
 ventures                     3,578                   3,557                   3,202 
Other 
 investments                     36                      41                      51 
Other 
 receivables                     41                      46                      48 
Other financial 
 assets                         410                     686                     338 
Deferred tax 
 assets                         114                     119                      71 
Post employment 
 benefit assets               1,083                   1,111                     955 
                         ----------              ----------              ---------- 
                                         20,959                  21,837                   21,576 
Current assets 
Inventories         6         5,750                   5,772                   5,459 
Trade and other 
 receivables                  3,075                   2,111                   3,587 
Assets held for 
 sale                             -                       -                      51 
Corporate tax 
 receivables        5           173                     190                      68 
Other financial 
 assets                          84                      75                      42 
Cash and cash 
 equivalents        7         2,763                   3,323                     950 
                         ----------              ----------              ---------- 
                                         11,845                  11,471                   10,157 
                                     ----------              ----------              ----------- 
Total assets                             32,804                  33,308                   31,733 
                                     ----------              ----------              ----------- 
Current 
liabilities 
Borrowings and 
 bank overdrafts    7       (1,214)                 (1,995)                 (3,381) 
Other financial 
 liabilities                  (332)                   (389)                   (474) 
Share buyback 
 liability                        -                       -                    (71) 
Trade and other 
 payables                   (4,624)                 (3,683)                 (4,474) 
Liabilities held 
 for sale                         -                       -                    (27) 
Corporate tax 
 payables           5         (364)                   (246)                   (336) 
Provisions                    (176)                   (183)                    (90) 
                         ----------              ----------              ---------- 
                                        (6,710)                 (6,496)                  (8,853) 
Non-current 
liabilities 
Borrowings          7      (14,063)                (14,790)                (10,091) 
Other financial 
 liabilities                  (376)                   (393)                   (405) 
Other payables                (267)                   (175)                   (185) 
Provisions                    (295)                   (293)                   (320) 
Deferred tax 
 liabilities                (1,900)                 (1,972)                 (1,896) 
Post employment 
 benefit 
 liabilities                  (815)                   (749)                   (753) 
                         ----------              ----------              ---------- 
                                       (17,716)                (18,372)                 (13,650) 
                                     ----------              ----------              ----------- 
Total 
 liabilities                           (24,426)                (24,868)                 (22,503) 
                                     ----------              ----------              ----------- 
Net assets                                8,378                   8,440                    9,230 
                                     ==========              ==========              =========== 
 
Equity 
Share capital                   742                     742                     743 
Share premium                 1,351                   1,351                   1,351 
Other reserves                1,835                   2,272                   1,930 
Retained 
 earnings                     2,890                   2,407                   3,499 
                         ----------              ----------              ---------- 
Equity 
 attributable to 
 equity 
 shareholders of 
 the parent 
 company                                  6,818                   6,772                    7,523 
Non-controlling 
 interests                                1,560                   1,668                    1,707 
                                     ----------              ----------              ----------- 
Total equity                              8,378                   8,440                    9,230 
                                     ==========              ==========              =========== 
 
 

DIAGEO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 
                                              Retained 
                                              earnings/(deficit) 
                                              -------------------------- 
                                                                                Equity 
                                                                          attributable 
                                                          Other              to parent 
                    Share    Share     Other      Own  retained                company  Non-controlling       Total 
                  capital  premium  reserves   shares  earnings    Total  shareholders        interests      equity 
                      GBP      GBP       GBP      GBP       GBP      GBP   GBP million              GBP         GBP 
                  million  million   million  million   million  million                        million     million 
At 30 June 2019       753    1,350     2,372  (2,026)     5,912    3,886         8,361            1,795    10,156 
Profit for the 
 period                 -        -         -        -     1,865    1,865         1,865               69     1,934 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 loss                   -        -     (452)        -      (93)     (93)         (545)            (100)     (645) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 (loss)/income          -        -     (452)        -     1,772    1,772         1,320             (31)     1,289 
Employee share 
 schemes                -        -         -       74      (35)       39            39                -        39 
Share-based 
 incentive 
 plans                  -        -         -        -        23       23            23                -        23 
Share-based 
 incentive 
 plans in 
 respect of 
 associates             -        -         -        -         1        1             1                -         1 
Shares issued           -        1         -        -         -        -             1                -         1 
Purchase of 
 non-controlling 
 interests              -        -         -        -      (15)     (15)          (15)             (10)      (25) 
Non-controlling 
 interest 
 in respect of 
 new subsidiary         -        -         -        -         -        -             -                5         5 
Change in fair 
 value 
 of put option          -        -         -        -       (1)      (1)           (1)                -       (1) 
Share buyback 
 programme           (10)        -        10        -   (1,200)  (1,200)       (1,200)                -   (1,200) 
Dividends paid          -        -         -        -   (1,006)  (1,006)       (1,006)             (52)   (1,058) 
At 31 December 
 2019                 743    1,351     1,930  (1,952)     5,451    3,499         7,523            1,707     9,230 
 
At 30 June 2020       742    1,351     2,272  (1,936)     4,343    2,407         6,772            1,668     8,440 
Profit for the 
 period                 -        -         -        -     1,580    1,580         1,580               81     1,661 
Other 
 comprehensive 
 loss                   -        -     (437)        -     (126)    (126)         (563)            (138)     (701) 
Total 
 comprehensive 
 (loss)/income          -        -     (437)        -     1,454    1,454         1,017             (57)       960 
Employee share 
 schemes                -        -         -       41      (20)       21            21                -        21 
Share-based 
 incentive 
 plans                  -        -         -        -        17       17            17                -        17 
Share-based 
 incentive 
 plans in 
 respect of 
 associates             -        -         -        -       (1)      (1)           (1)                -       (1) 
Purchase of 
 non-controlling 
 interests              -        -         -        -      (15)     (15)          (15)             (27)      (42) 
Change in fair 
 value 
 of put option          -        -         -        -       (1)      (1)           (1)                -       (1) 
Dividends 
 declared               -        -         -        -     (992)    (992)         (992)             (24)   (1,016) 
                  -------  -------  --------  -------  --------  -------  ------------  ---------------  -------- 
At 31 December 
 2020                 742    1,351     1,835  (1,895)     4,785    2,890         6,818            1,560     8,378 
                  =======  =======  ========  =======  ========  =======  ============  ===============  ======== 
 

DIAGEO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 
                                                          Six months ended            Six months ended 
                                                          31 December 2020                 31 December 
                                                                                                  2019 
                                                  GBP million  GBP million  GBP million    GBP million 
Cash flows from operating activities 
Profit for the period                                   1,661                     1,934 
Taxation                                                  537                       530 
Share of after tax results of associates 
 and joint ventures                                     (154)                     (176) 
Net finance charges                                       200                       154 
Non-operating items                                       (5)                         - 
                                                  -----------               ----------- 
Operating profit                                                     2,239                     2,442 
Increase in inventories                                 (112)                      (85) 
Increase in trade and other receivables               (1,078)                   (1,016) 
Increase in trade and other payables and 
 provisions                                             1,161                       423 
                                                  -----------               ----------- 
Net increase in working capital                                       (29)                     (678) 
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment                 219                       286 
Dividends received                                         82                         3 
Post employment payments less amounts included 
 in operating profit                                     (14)                      (60) 
Other items                                               (1)                       (5) 
                                                  -----------               ----------- 
                                                                       286                       224 
                                                               -----------               ----------- 
Cash generated from operations                                       2,496                     1,988 
Interest received                                          84                        86 
Interest paid                                           (266)                     (239) 
Taxation paid                                           (316)                     (547) 
                                                  -----------               ----------- 
                                                                     (498)                     (700) 
                                                               -----------               ----------- 
Net cash inflow from operating activities                            1,998                     1,288 
Cash flows from investing activities 
Disposal of property, plant and equipment 
 and computer software                                      8                         8 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
 and computer software                                  (250)                     (330) 
Movements in loans and other investments                  (3)                         - 
Sale of businesses and brands                               5                         - 
Acquisition of businesses                               (364)                     (106) 
                                                  -----------               ----------- 
Net cash outflow from investing activities                           (604)                     (428) 
Cash flows from financing activities 
Share buyback programme                                     -                   (1,155) 
Proceeds from issue of share capital                        -                         1 
Net sale of own shares for share schemes                    9                        33 
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests              (53)                      (76) 
Proceeds from bonds                                     1,031                     1,289 
Repayment of bonds                                    (1,247)                         - 
Purchase of shares of non-controlling interests          (34)                      (25) 
Net movements in other borrowings                       (345)                       209 
Equity dividends paid                                   (992)                   (1,006) 
                                                  -----------               ----------- 
Net cash outflow from financing activities                         (1,631)                     (730) 
                                                               -----------               ----------- 
 
Net (decrease)/increase in net cash and cash 
 equivalents                                                         (237)                       130 
Exchange differences                                                 (236)                      (32) 
Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning 
 of the period                                                       3,153                       721 
                                                               -----------               ----------- 
Net cash and cash equivalents at end of the 
 period                                                              2,680                       819 
                                                               ===========               =========== 
 
Net cash and cash equivalents consist of: 
Cash and cash equivalents                                            2,763                       950 
Bank overdrafts                                                       (83)                     (131) 
                                                               -----------               ----------- 
                                                                     2,680                       819 
                                                               ===========               =========== 
 

NOTES

1. Basis of preparation

These unaudited condensed set of financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and as adopted by the European Union (EU). International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the EU differs in certain respects from IFRS as issued by the IASB. The differences have no impact on the group's condensed consolidated financial statements for the periods presented.

The annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB and as adopted by the EU. As required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, the condensed set of financial statements have been prepared applying the accounting policies and presentation that were applied in the preparation of the company's published consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2020 except for changes on the adoption of new accounting standards and amendments explained below. IFRS is subject to ongoing review and endorsement by the EU or possible amendment by interpretative guidance and the issuance of new standards by the IASB. In preparing these condensed interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management when applying the group's accounting policies and the significant areas where estimates were required were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2020, with the exception of changes in estimates disclosed in note 12 - Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings.

The potential financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been modelled in our cash flow projections and stress tested by including several severe but plausible downside scenarios which are linked to our principal risks. In our downside Covid-19 scenario, we have considered the key impacts of the pandemic for each region including the potential restrictions on the sale of our products in both on-trade and off-trade channels. We have then considered the expected duration of those restrictions, as well as a forecast for the length of time to recovery (a return to 2019 volumes), based on industry projections. As a result of these factors, in our severe but plausible scenarios, we do not anticipate that the on-trade business recovers to volumes experienced in the year ending 30 June 2019 within the next 18-month period. Even with these negative sensitivities for each region taken into account, the group's cash position is still considered to remain strong, as we have protected our liquidity by launching and pricing EUR700 million of fixed rate Euro and GBP400 million of fixed rate Sterling denominated bonds under Diageo's European Debt Issuance Programme. Mitigating actions, should they be required, are all within management's control and could include reduced advertising and promotion spend, dividend cash payments, non-essential overheads and non-committed capital expenditure in the next 12 months. Having considered the outcome of these assessments, it is deemed appropriate to prepare the condensed consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis.

Weighted average exchange rates used in the translation of income statements were US dollar - GBP1 = $1.31 (2019 - GBP1 = $1.26) and euro - GBP1 = EUR1.11 (2019 - GBP1 = EUR1.14). Exchange rates used to translate assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date were US dollar - GBP1 = $1.36 (31 December 2019 - GBP1 = $1.32; 30 June 2020 - GBP1 = $1.23) and euro - GBP1 = EUR1.11 (31 December 2019 - GBP1 = EUR1.18; 30 June 2020 - GBP1 = EUR1.09). The group uses foreign exchange transaction hedges to mitigate the effect of exchange rate movements.

New accounting standards and interpretations

The following amendments to the accounting standards, issued by the IASB or International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) and endorsed by the EU, have been adopted by the group from 1 July 2020 with no impact on the group's consolidated results, financial position or disclosures:

   --     Amendments to References to the Conceptual Framework in IFRS 
   --     Amendments to IFRS 3 - Definition of a Business 
   --     Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 - Definition of Material 
   --     Amendments to IFRS 16 - Covid-19 - Related Rent Concessions 

The following amendment issued by the IASB and endorsed by the EU, has been adopted by the group:

Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7 - Interest rate benchmark reform (phase 1). The amendment provides temporary relief from applying specific hedge accounting requirements to hedging relationships directly affected by interbank offered rate (IBOR) reform. The reliefs have the effect that IBOR reform should not generally cause hedge accounting to terminate.

The following standard and amendment, issued by the IASB has not been endorsed by the EU and has not been adopted by the group:

IFRS 17 - Insurance contracts (effective in the year ending 30 June 2023) is ultimately intended to replace IFRS 4. Based on a preliminary assessment the group believes that the adoption of IFRS 17 will not have a significant impact on its consolidated results or financial position.

Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7 - Interest rate benchmark reform (phase 2). The amendment to IFRS 9 provides relief from applying specific hedge accounting and financial instrument derecognition requirements directly affected by interbank offered rate (IBOR) reform. By applying the practical expedient, Diageo will not be required to discontinue its hedging relationships as a result of changes in reference rates due to the IBOR reform. The amendment to IFRS 7 will require additional disclosure explaining the nature and extent of risk related to the reform and the progress of the transition.

There are a number of other amendments and clarifications to IFRS, effective in future years, which are not expected to significantly impact the group's consolidated results or financial position.

The comparative figures for the financial year ended 30 June 2020 are not the company's statutory accounts for that financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the company's auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor (i) was unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

2. Segmental information

The segmental information presented is consistent with management reporting provided to the Executive Committee (the chief operating decision maker).

The Executive Committee considers the business principally from a geographical perspective based on the location of third party sales and the business analysis is presented by geographical segment. In addition to these geographical selling segments, a further segment reviewed by the Executive Committee is the Supply Chain and Procurement (SC&P) segment, which manufactures products for other group companies and includes the production sites in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Guatemala and Mexico, as well as comprises the global procurement management functions.

Continuing operations also include the Corporate function. Corporate revenues and costs are in respect of central costs, including finance, marketing, corporate relations, human resources and legal, as well as certain information systems, facilities and employee costs that are not allocable to the geographical segments or to the SC&P. They also include rents receivable and payable in respect of properties not used by the group in the manufacture, sale or distribution of premium drinks.

Diageo uses shared services operations to deliver transaction processing activities for markets and operational entities. These centers are located in Hungary, Colombia, the Philippines and India. The captive business service centers in Budapest and Bangalore also perform certain central finance activities, including elements of financial planning and reporting, treasury and HR services. The costs of shared services operations are recharged to the regions.

As part of the annual planning process a budget exchange rate is set each year equal to the prior year's weighted average rate. This rate is used for management reporting purposes and, in order to ensure a consistent basis on which performance is measured through the year, the prior period results are restated to the budget rate as well. Segmental information for net sales and operating profit before exceptionals are reported on a consistent basis with our management reporting. The adjustments required to retranslate the segmental information to actual exchange rates and to reconcile it to the group's reported results are shown in the tables below. The comparative segmental information, prior to retranslation, has not been restated at the current year's budgeted exchange rates but is presented at the budgeted rates for the respective year.

In addition, for management reporting purposes Diageo presents separately the result of acquisitions and disposals completed in the current and prior year from the results of the geographical segments. The impact of acquisitions and disposals on net sales and operating profit is disclosed under the appropriate geographical segments in the tables below at budgeted exchange rates.

(a) Segmental information for the consolidated income statement

 
                                               Latin                    Eliminate 
                          Europe             America                       inter-      Total  Corporate 
Six months        North      and                 and     Asia             segment  operating        and 
ended           America   Turkey   Africa  Caribbean  Pacific     SC&P      sales   segments      other      Total 
31 December         GBP      GBP      GBP        GBP      GBP      GBP        GBP        GBP        GBP        GBP 
2020            million  million  million    million  million  million    million    million    million    million 
Sales             3,022    2,727    1,064        775    2,837      785      (785)     10,425         11   10,436 
                =======  =======  =======  =========  =======  =======  =========  =========  =========  ======= 
Net sales 
At budgeted 
 exchange 
 rates(i)         2,790    1,442      790        641    1,418      824      (786)      7,119         11    7,130 
Acquisitions 
 and disposals        7        -        5          -        -        -          -         12          -       12 
SC&P 
 allocation           5       21        2          6        4     (38)          -          -          -        - 
Retranslation 
 to actual 
 exchange 
 rates            (101)     (20)     (52)       (68)     (27)      (1)          1      (268)          -    (268) 
                -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Net sales         2,701    1,443      745        579    1,395      785      (785)      6,863         11    6,874 
                =======  =======  =======  =========  =======  =======  =========  =========  =========  ======= 
Operating 
profit/(loss) 
At budgeted 
 exchange 
 rates(i)         1,325      461      124        246      391     (23)          -      2,524       (98)    2,426 
Acquisitions 
 and disposals      (9)        -        -          -        -        -          -        (9)          -      (9) 
SC&P 
 allocation        (13)        -        -       (10)        -       23          -          -          -        - 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of contingent 
 consideration      (4)      (7)        -          -        -        -          -       (11)          -     (11) 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of biological 
 assets               -        -        -          3        -        -          -          3          -        3 
Retranslation 
 to actual 
 exchange 
 rates             (73)      (8)     (29)       (42)      (5)        -          -      (157)          4    (153) 
                -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Operating 
 profit/(loss) 
 before 
 exceptional 
 items            1,226      446       95        197      386        -          -      2,350       (94)    2,256 
Exceptional 
 items                -     (17)        -          -        -        -          -       (17)          -     (17) 
                -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Operating 
 profit/(loss)    1,226      429       95        197      386        -          -      2,333       (94)    2,239 
                =======  =======  =======  =========  =======  =======  =========  =========  ========= 
Non-operating 
 items                                                                                                         5 
Net finance 
 charges                                                                                                   (200) 
Share of after 
 tax 
 results of 
 associates 
 and joint 
 ventures                                                                                                    154 
                                                                                                         ------- 
Profit before 
 taxation                                                                                                  2,198 
                                                                                                         ======= 
 
 
                                               Latin                    Eliminate 
                          Europe             America                       inter-      Total  Corporate 
Six months        North      and                 and     Asia             segment  operating        and 
ended           America   Turkey   Africa  Caribbean  Pacific     SC&P      sales   segments      other      Total 
31 December         GBP      GBP      GBP        GBP      GBP      GBP        GBP        GBP        GBP        GBP 
2019            million  million  million    million  million  million    million    million    million    million 
Sales             2,830    2,971    1,212        893    2,898      811      (811)     10,804         27   10,831 
                =======  =======  =======  =========  =======  =======  =========  =========  =========  ======= 
Net sales 
At budgeted 
 exchange 
 rates(i)         2,395    1,617      825        679    1,455      874      (811)      7,034         27    7,061 
Acquisitions 
 and disposals       25        5       17          -        1        -          -         48          -       48 
SC&P 
 allocation           8       37        3          8        7     (63)          -          -          -        - 
Retranslation 
 to actual 
 exchange 
 rates               74        7        3        (7)       14        -          -         91          -       91 
                -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Net sales         2,502    1,666      848        680    1,477      811      (811)      7,173         27    7,200 
                =======  =======  =======  =========  =======  =======  =========  =========  =========  ======= 
Operating 
profit/(loss) 
At budgeted 
 exchange 
 rates(i)         1,098      573      164        250      424       73          -      2,582       (84)    2,498 
Acquisitions 
 and disposals        1      (2)        -          -        -        -          -        (1)          -      (1) 
SC&P 
 allocation          11       37        3         12       10     (73)          -          -          -        - 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of contingent 
 consideration      (4)        -        -          -        -        -          -        (4)          -      (4) 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of biological 
 assets               -        -        -          4        -        -          -          4          -        4 
Retranslation 
 to actual 
 exchange 
 rates               14        7      (8)        (9)      (2)        -          -          2          2        4 
                -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Operating 
 profit/(loss) 
 before 
 exceptional 
 items            1,120      615      159        257      432        -          -      2,583       (82)    2,501 
Exceptional 
 items                -        -        -          -     (59)        -          -       (59)          -     (59) 
                -------  -------  -------  ---------  -------  -------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
Operating 
 profit/(loss)    1,120      615      159        257      373        -          -      2,524       (82)    2,442 
                =======  =======  =======  =========  =======  =======  =========  =========  ========= 
Non-operating 
items                                                                                                          - 
Net finance 
 charges                                                                                                   (154) 
Share of after 
 tax 
 results of 
 associates 
 and joint 
 ventures                                                                                                    176 
                                                                                                         ------- 
Profit before 
 taxation                                                                                                  2,464 
                                                                                                         ======= 
 

(i) These items represent the IFRS 8 performance measures for the geographical and SC&P segments.

(1) The net sales figures for SC&P reported to the Executive Committee primarily comprise inter-segmental sales and these are eliminated in a separate column in the above segmental analysis. Apart from sales by the SC&P segment to the other operating segments, inter-segmental sales are not material.

(2) The group's net finance charges are managed centrally and are not attributable to individual operating segments.

(3) Approximately 43% of calendar year net sales occurred in the last four months of 2020.

(b) Category and geographical analysis

 
           Category analysis                            Geographic analysis 
                               Ready                                                  Rest 
                                 to                       Great   United               of 
Six        Spirits     Beer    drink    Other    Total  Britain   States    India    World      Total 
months         GBP      GBP      GBP      GBP      GBP      GBP      GBP      GBP      GBP        GBP 
ended      million  million  million  million  million  million  million  million  million    million 
31 
December 
2020 
Sales(i)     8,648    1,310      363      115   10,436    1,044    2,817    1,650    4,925     10,436 
Six 
months 
ended 
31 
December 
2019 
Sales(i)     8,739    1,585      356      151   10,831      989    2,644    1,698    5,500   10,831 
 
 
   (i)    The geographical analysis of sales is based on the location of third party customers. 

3. Exceptional items

Exceptional items are those that in management's judgement need to be disclosed separately. See Explanatory Notes, (c) Exceptional items for the definition of exceptional items and the criteria used to determine whether an exceptional item is accounted for as operating or non-operating.

 
                                                 Six months ended    Six months ended 
                                                      31 December         31 December 
                                                             2020                2019 
                                                      GBP million         GBP million 
 
Exceptional operating items 
Ongoing litigation in Turkey                                 (15)                 - 
Guaranteed minimum pension equalisation                       (5)                 - 
Reversal of provision for obsolete inventories                  3                 - 
Impairment of Old Tavern brand                                  -              (59) 
                                                             (17)              (59) 
Non-operating items 
Step acquisitions                                               -                 8 
Sale of businesses and brands 
  United National Breweries                                     5               (7) 
  Loss on disposal of associate                                 -               (1) 
                                                                5                 - 
 
Exceptional items before taxation                            (12)              (59) 
 
Items included in taxation 
Tax on exceptional operating items                              -                14 
Exceptional taxation                                         (42)                 - 
                                                 ----------------  ---------------- 
                                                             (42)                14 
 
Total exceptional items                                      (54)              (45) 
                                                 ================  ================ 
 
Attributable to: 
Equity shareholders of the parent company                    (54)              (25) 
Non-controlling interests                                       -              (20) 
                                                 ----------------  ---------------- 
Total exceptional items                                      (54)              (45) 
                                                 ================  ================ 
 

Operating exceptional items are charged to other operating expenses.

See Summary Income Statement, (c) Exceptional Items for detailed explanation on exceptional items.

4. Finance income and charges

 
                                                    Six months ended    Six months ended 
                                                         31 December         31 December 
                                                                2020                2019 
                                                         GBP million         GBP million 
 
Interest income                                                   58               122 
Fair value gain on financial instruments                          56                24 
                                                    ----------------  ---------------- 
Total interest income                                            114               146 
Interest charge on bank loans, bonds and 
 overdrafts                                                    (203)             (182) 
Interest charge on leases                                        (7)               (7) 
Fair value loss on financial instruments                        (55)              (23) 
Interest charge on all other borrowings                         (35)              (82) 
                                                    ----------------  ---------------- 
Total interest charges                                         (300)             (294) 
                                                    ----------------  ---------------- 
Net interest charges                                           (186)             (148) 
                                                    ================  ================ 
 
Net finance income in respect of post employment 
 plans in surplus                                                  9                13 
Hyperinflation adjustment in respect of Venezuela 
 (a)                                                               2                 3 
Change in financial liability (Level 3)                            2                 - 
Other finance income                                               -                 1 
                                                    ----------------  ---------------- 
Total other finance income                                        13                17 
Hyperinflation adjustment and foreign exchange 
 revaluation of monetary items in respect 
 of Lebanon (a)                                                  (8)                 - 
Net finance charge in respect of post employment 
 plans in deficit                                                (7)               (9) 
Unwinding of discounts                                           (8)               (7) 
Interest charge in respect of direct and 
 indirect tax                                                    (2)               (5) 
Change in financial liability (Level 3)                            -               (1) 
Other finance charges                                            (2)               (1) 
                                                    ----------------  ---------------- 
Total other finance charges                                     (27)              (23) 
                                                    ----------------  ---------------- 
Net other finance charges                                       (14)               (6) 
                                                    ================  ================ 
 
 

(a) Hyperinflation adjustment

Venezuela is a hyperinflationary economy where the government maintains a regime of strict currency controls with multiple foreign currency rate systems. Access to US dollars on these exchange systems is very limited. The foreign currency denominated transactions and balances of the group's Venezuelan operations are translated into the local functional currency (Venezuelan bolivar) at the rate they are expected to be settled, applying the most appropriate official exchange rate (DICOM). For consolidation purposes, the group converts its Venezuelan operations using management's estimate of the exchange rate considering forecast inflation and the most appropriate official exchange rate. The exchange rate used to translate the results of the group's Venezuelan operations was VES/GBP 64,166,658 for the six months ended 31 December 2020 (2019 - VES/GBP 2,525,956). Movement in the price index for the six months ended 31 December 2020 was 479% (2019 - 502%). The inflation rate used by the group is provided by an independent valuer, because no reliable, official published rate is available that is representative of the situation in Venezuela.

The following table presents the contribution of the group's Venezuelan operations to the consolidated income statement, cash flow statement and net assets for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 and with the amounts that would have resulted if the official DICOM exchange rate had been applied:

 
      Six months ended 31 December           Six months ended 31 December 
                   2020                                   2019 
        At estimated  At DICOM exchange         At estimated        At DICOM 
       exchange rate               rate        exchange rate   exchange rate 
  64,166,658 VES/GBP  1,504,240 VES/GBP    2,525,956 VES/GBP  61,213 VES/GBP 
         GBP million        GBP million          GBP million     GBP million 
 
 
Net sales                     -      4   -        4 
Operating profit              -     11   -       11 
Other finance income 
 - hyperinflation 
 adjustment                   2    100   3      132 
Net cash inflow 
 from operating activities    -      9   -        7 
Net assets                   39  1,656  48  2,000 
 
 

Lebanon became a hyperinflationary economy during the six months ended 31 December 2020. Hyperinflationary accounting has been applied for the group's Lebanese operations from 1 July 2020, with hyperinflation gain and foreign exchange losses associated with monetary items being reported in finance charges. The impact of applying hyperinflationary accounting was immaterial.

5. Taxation

For the six months ended 31 December 2020, the GBP537 million taxation charge (2019 - GBP530 million) comprises a UK tax charge of GBP89 million (2019 - GBP133 million) and a foreign tax charge of GBP448 million (2019 - GBP397 million).

For the six months ended 31 December 2020, income tax expense is recognised based on management's best estimate of the weighted average annual income tax rate expected for the full financial year applied to the pre-tax income of the interim period in line with the relevant accounting standard.

The group has a number of ongoing tax audits worldwide for which provisions are recognised in line with the relevant accounting standard taking into account best estimates and management's judgements concerning the ultimate outcome of the tax audit. For the six months ended 31 December 2020 the ongoing audits that are provided for individually are not expected to result in a material tax liability. The current tax asset of GBP173 million (30 June 2020 - GBP190 million) and tax liability of GBP364 million (30 June 2020 - GBP246 million) includes GBP154 million (30 June 2020 - GBP189 million) of provisions for tax uncertainties.

The tax rate before exceptional items for the six months ended 31 December 2020 was 22.4% compared with 21.6% for the six months ended 31 December 2019.

6. Inventories

 
                                      31 December      30 June    31 December 
                                             2020         2020           2019 
                                      GBP million  GBP million    GBP million 
 
Raw materials and consumables                 332          363          322 
Work in progress                               53           48           59 
Maturing inventories                        4,562        4,562        4,358 
Finished goods and goods for resale           803          799          720 
                                      -----------  -----------  ----------- 
                                            5,750        5,772        5,459 
                                      ===========  ===========  =========== 
 

7. Net borrowings

 
                                                     31 December      30 June    31 December 
                                                            2020         2020           2019 
                                                     GBP million  GBP million    GBP million 
 
Borrowings due within one year and bank overdrafts       (1,214)      (1,995)      (3,381) 
Borrowings due after one year                           (14,063)     (14,790)     (10,091) 
Fair value of foreign currency forwards and 
 swaps                                                       117          497           39 
Fair value of interest rate hedging instruments              146          189           89 
Lease liabilities                                          (410)        (470)        (486) 
                                                     -----------  -----------  ----------- 
                                                        (15,424)     (16,569)     (13,830) 
Cash and cash equivalents                                  2,763        3,323          950 
                                                     -----------  -----------  ----------- 
                                                        (12,661)     (13,246)     (12,880) 
                                                     ===========  ===========  =========== 
 

8. Reconciliation of movement in net borrowings

 
                                                       Six months ended    Six months ended 
                                                            31 December         31 December 
                                                                   2020                2019 
                                                            GBP million         GBP million 
 
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents 
 before exchange                                                  (237)               130 
Net decrease/(increase) in bonds and other 
 borrowings(i)                                                      561           (1,503) 
                                                       ----------------  ---------------- 
Net decrease/(increase) in net borrowings 
 from cash flows                                                    324           (1,373) 
Exchange differences on net borrowings                              420               209 
Other non-cash items(ii)                                          (159)             (188) 
Adoption of IFRS 16                                                   -             (251) 
Net borrowings at beginning of the period                      (13,246)          (11,277) 
                                                       ----------------  ---------------- 
Net borrowings at end of the period                            (12,661)          (12,880) 
                                                       ================  ================ 
 

(i) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, net decrease in bonds and other borrowings excludes GBPnil cash outflow in respect of derivatives designated in forward point hedges (2019 - GBP5 million).

(ii) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, other non-cash items are principally in respect of fair value changes of cross currency interest rate swaps. In the six months ended 31 December 2019, other non-cash items are principally in respect of leases of GBP169 million entered into in the period.

In the six months ended 31 December 2020, the group issued bonds of EUR700 million (GBP636 million) and GBP395 million (including GBP5 million discount and fee) and repaid bonds of $696 million (GBP551 million) and EUR775 million (GBP696 million). In the six months ended 31 December 2019, the group issued bonds of $1,600 million (GBP1,289 million).

All bonds and commercial papers issued by Diageo plc's 100% owned subsidiaries are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Diageo plc.

9. Financial instruments

Fair value measurements of financial instruments are presented through the use of a three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritises the valuation techniques used in fair value calculations.

The group maintains policies and procedures to value instruments using the most relevant data available. If multiple inputs that fall into different levels of the hierarchy are used in the valuation of an instrument, the instrument is categorised on the basis of the most subjective input.

Foreign currency forwards and swaps, cross currency swaps and interest rate swaps are valued using discounted cash flow techniques. These techniques incorporate inputs at levels 1 and 2, such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates. These market inputs are used in the discounted cash flow calculation incorporating the instrument's term, notional amount and discount rate, and taking credit risk into account. As significant inputs to the valuation are observable in active markets, these instruments are categorised as level 2 in the hierarchy.

Other financial liabilities include a put option, which does not have an expiry date, held by Industrias Licoreras de Guatemala (ILG) to sell the remaining 50% equity stake in Rum Creations & Products Inc, the owner of the Zacapa rum brand, to Diageo. The liability is fair valued and as at 31 December 2020 an amount of GBP148 million (30 June 2020 - GBP167 million) is recognised as a liability with changes in the fair value of the put option included in retained earnings. As the valuation of this option uses assumptions not observable in the market, it is categorised as level 3 in the hierarchy. As at 31 December 2020 because it is unknown when or if ILG will exercise the option the liability is measured as if the exercise date is on the last day of the current financial year considering forecast future performance. The option is sensitive to reasonably possible changes in assumptions. If the option were to be exercised as at 30 June 2022, the fair value of the liability would decrease by approximately GBP12 million.

Included in other financial liabilities, the contingent consideration on acquisition of businesses represents the present value of payments up to GBP380 million linked to certain performance targets which are expected to be paid over the next 10 years.

There were no significant changes in the measurement and valuation techniques, or significant transfers between the levels of the financial assets and liabilities in the six months ended 31 December 2020.

The group's financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are categorised as follows:

 
                                             31 December      30 June    31 December 
                                                    2020         2020           2019 
                                             GBP million  GBP million    GBP million 
Derivative assets                                    489          758            379 
Derivative liabilities                             (150)        (145)        (228) 
                                             -----------  -----------  ----------- 
Valuation techniques based on observable 
 market input (Level 2)                              339          613          151 
                                             ===========  ===========  =========== 
Financial assets - other                             122          116           96 
Financial liabilities - other                      (481)        (416)        (386) 
                                             -----------  -----------  ----------- 
Valuation techniques based on unobservable 
 market input (Level 3)                            (359)        (300)        (290) 
                                             ===========  ===========  =========== 
 

In the six months ended 31 December 2020, the increase in financial assets - other of GBP6 million is principally due to additions. In the six months ended 31 December 2019, the increase in financial assets - other of GBP10 million was mainly due to additions.

The movements in level 3 instruments, measured on a recurring basis, are as follows:

 
                                                           Contingent                           Contingent 
                                                        consideration                        consideration 
                                                           recognised                           recognised 
                                  Zacapa financial     on acquisition  Zacapa financial     on acquisition 
                                         liability   of businesses(i)         liability      of businesses 
                                        Six months         Six months        Six months         Six months 
                                             ended              ended             ended              ended 
                                       31 December        31 December       31 December        31 December 
                                              2020               2020              2019               2019 
                                       GBP million        GBP million       GBP million        GBP million 
At the beginning of the 
 period                                      (167)              (249)             (174)            (227) 
Net gains/(losses) included 
 in the income statement                         2               (17)               (1)              (9) 
Net gains included in 
 exchange in other comprehensive 
 income                                         15                 27                 6                8 
Net gains/(losses) included 
 in retained earnings                            1                  -               (1)                - 
Additions                                        -              (181)                 -             (42) 
Settlement of liabilities                        1                 87                 5               49 
                                  ----------------  -----------------  ----------------  --------------- 
At the end of the period                     (148)              (333)             (165)            (221) 
                                  ================  =================  ================  =============== 
 
 

(i) Included in the balance at 31 December 2020 is GBP80 million in respect of the acquisition of Casamigos (31 December 2019 - GBP150 million), and GBP172 million in respect of the acquisition of Aviation Gin.

There were no transfers between levels during the first half of the year ending 30 June 2021 and the year ended 30 June 2020.

The carrying amount of the group's financial assets and liabilities are generally the same as their fair value apart from borrowings. At 31 December 2020 the fair value of gross borrowings (excluding lease liabilities and the fair value of derivative instruments) was GBP16,751 million and the carrying value was GBP15,277 million (30 June 2020 - GBP18,175 million and GBP16,785 million, respectively).

10. Dividends and other reserves

 
                                                 Six months ended    Six months ended 
                                                      31 December         31 December 
                                                             2020                2019 
                                                      GBP million         GBP million 
Amounts recognised as distributions to equity 
 shareholders 
Final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2020 
 of 
 42.47 pence per share (2019 - 42.47 pence)                   992             1,006 
                                                 ================  ================ 
 
 

An interim dividend of 27.96 pence per share (2019 - 27.41 pence) was approved by the Board of Directors on 27 January 2021. As the approval was after the balance sheet date, it has not been included as a liability.

Other reserves of GBP1,835 million at 31 December 2020 (2019 - GBP1,930 million) include a capital redemption reserve of GBP3,201 million (2019 - GBP3,200 million), a hedging reserve of GBP111 million surplus (2019 - GBP41 million surplus) and an exchange reserve of GBP1,477 million deficit (2019 - GBP1,311 million deficit). GBP30 million surplus (2019 - GBP2 million surplus) out of the hedging reserve represents the cost of hedging arising as a result of imperfections of foreign exchange markets in the form of foreign currency basis spreads.

11. Acquisition of businesses and purchase of non-controlling interests

(i) Acquisition of businesses

On 30 September 2020, Diageo completed the acquisition of Aviation Gin and Davos Brands to support Diageo's participation in the super premium gin segment in the United States, for a total consideration of $337 million (GBP263 million) upfront in cash and contingent consideration of up to $275 million (GBP214 million) payable over a ten-year period linked to performance targets.

Provisional fair value of assets and liabilities acquired and cash consideration paid in respect of acquisition of businesses in the six months ended 31 December 2020 were as follows:

 
                                                           GBP million 
 
Brands                                                           206 
Property, plant and equipment                                     11 
Inventories                                                        7 
Borrowings                                                       (6) 
Cash                                                               2 
                                                         ----------- 
Fair value of assets and liabilities                             220 
Goodwill arising on acquisition                                  224 
Consideration payable                                              444 
                                                         ------------- 
Satisfied by: 
  Cash consideration paid                                      (263) 
  Contingent consideration payable                             (181) 
                                                         ----------- 
                                                               (444) 
                                                         ----------- 
 
Cash consideration paid for subsidiaries                       (263) 
Cash consideration paid for Casamigos                           (87) 
Cash consideration paid in respect of other prior year 
 acquisitions                                                    (1) 
Cash consideration paid for investments in associates            (2) 
Capital injection in associates                                 (13) 
Cash acquired                                                      2 
                                                         ----------- 
Net cash outflow on acquisition of business                    (364) 
Purchase of shares of non-controlling interests                 (34) 
                                                         ----------- 
Total net cash outflow                                         (398) 
                                                         =========== 
 

It is expected that the goodwill and brand will be deductible for tax purposes. The goodwill arising on the acquisition of Aviation Gin and Davos Brands represents expected revenue and cost synergies and acquired workforce. Aviation Gin and Davos Brands contributed $9 million (GBP7 million) to net sales and $12 million (GBP9 million) loss to the period, out of which $9 million (GBP7 million) is related to acquisition transaction cost in the six months ended 31 December 2020.

(ii) Purchase of shares of non-controlling interests

On 21 October 2020 and on 6 November 2020, EABL completed the acquisition of 13.3% and 16.7%, respectively of shares in Serengeti Breweries Limited for a total consideration of $55 million (GBP42 million) in cash and GBP16 million in the form of shareholder loans outstanding to EABL and Diageo Holdings Netherlands B.V. at the date of completion, increasing Diageo's effective economic interest from 40.2% to 47.0%. At 31 December 2020, $12 million (GBP8 million) of the consideration was payable. Both transactions are recognised within retained earnings.

12. Contingent liabilities and legal proceedings

(a) Guarantees and related matters

As of 31 December 2020, the group has no material unprovided guarantees or indemnities in respect of liabilities of third parties.

(b) Acquisition of USL shares from UBHL, winding-up petitions against UBHL and other proceedings in relation to the USL transaction

On 4 July 2013, Diageo completed its acquisition, under a share purchase agreement with United Breweries (Holdings) Limited (UBHL) and various other sellers (the SPA), of 21,767,749 shares (14.98%) in United Spirits Limited (USL) for a total consideration of INR 31.3 billion (GBP314 million), including 10,141,437 shares (6.98%) from UBHL. The SPA was signed on 9 November 2012 and was part of the transaction announced by Diageo in relation to USL on that day (the Original USL Transaction). Following a series of further transactions, as of 31 December 2020, Diageo has a 55.94% investment in USL (excluding 2.38% owned by the USL Benefit Trust).

Prior to the acquisition from UBHL on 4 July 2013, the High Court of Karnataka (High Court) had granted leave to UBHL under sections 536 and 537 of the Indian Companies Act 1956 (the Leave Order) to enable the sale by UBHL to Diageo to take place (the UBHL Share Sale) notwithstanding the continued existence of five winding-up petitions that were pending against UBHL on 9 November 2012, being the date of the SPA. Additional winding-up petitions have been brought against UBHL since 9 November 2012, and the Leave Order did not extend to them. At the time of the completion of the UBHL Share Sale, the Leave Order remained subject to review on appeal. However, as stated by Diageo at the time of closing on 4 July 2013, it was considered unlikely that any appeal process in respect of the Leave Order would definitively conclude on a timely basis and, accordingly, Diageo waived the conditionality under the SPA relating to the absence of insolvency proceedings in relation to UBHL and acquired the 10,141,437 USL shares from UBHL at that time.

Following closing of the UBHL Share Sale, appeals were filed by various petitioners in respect of the Leave Order. On 20 December 2013, the division bench of the High Court set aside the Leave Order (the December 2013 Order). Following the December 2013 Order, Diageo filed special leave petitions (SLPs) in the Supreme Court of India against the December 2013 Order.

On 10 February 2014, the Supreme Court of India issued an order giving notice in respect of the SLPs and ordering that the status quo be maintained with regard to the UBHL Share Sale pending a hearing on the matter in the Supreme Court. Following a number of adjournments, the next date for a substantive hearing of the SLPs (in respect of which leave has since been granted and which have been converted to civil appeals) is yet to be fixed.

In separate proceedings, the High Court passed a winding-up order against UBHL on 7 February 2017. On 4 March 2017, UBHL appealed against this order before a division bench of the High Court. On 6 March 2020, the division bench of the High Court confirmed the winding up order dated 7 February 2017, and dismissed the appeal filed by UBHL. On 30 June 2020, UBHL filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court of India against the order of the division bench of the High Court. On 26 October 2020, the Supreme Court of India dismissed the petition filed by UBHL.

Diageo continues to believe that the acquisition price of INR 1,440 per share paid to UBHL for the USL shares is fair and reasonable as regards UBHL, UBHL's shareholders and UBHL's secured and unsecured creditors. However, adverse results for Diageo in the proceedings referred to above could, absent leave or relief in other proceedings, ultimately result in Diageo losing title to the 6.98% stake acquired from UBHL (now represented by 50,707,185 USL shares following a share split). Diageo believes, including by reason of its rights under USL's articles of association to nominate USL's CEO and CFO and the right to appoint, through USL, a majority of the directors on the boards of USL's subsidiaries as well as its ability as promoter to nominate for appointment up to two-thirds of USL's directors for so long as the chairperson of USL is an independent director, that it would remain in control of USL and be able to consolidate USL as a subsidiary regardless of the outcome of this litigation.

There can be no certainty as to the outcome of the existing or any further related legal proceedings or the timeframe within which they would be concluded.

Diageo also has the benefit of certain contractual undertakings and commitments from the relevant sellers in relation to potential challenges to its unencumbered title to the USL shares acquired on 4 July 2013, including relating to the winding-up petitions described above and/or certain losses and costs that may be incurred in the event of third party actions relating to the acquisition of the USL shares.

(c) Continuing matters relating to the resignation of Dr Vijay Mallya from USL and USL internal inquiries

On 25 February 2016, Diageo and USL each announced that they had entered into arrangements with Dr Mallya under which he had agreed to resign from his position as a director and as chairman of USL and from his positions in USL's subsidiaries. As specified by Diageo in its announcement at that time, these arrangements ended its prior agreement with Dr Mallya regarding his position at USL, therefore bringing to an end the uncertainty relating to the governance of USL, and put in place a five-year global non-compete (excluding the United Kingdom), non-interference, non-solicitation and standstill arrangement with Dr Mallya. As part of those arrangements, USL, Diageo and Dr Mallya agreed a mutual release in relation to matters arising out of an inquiry into certain matters referred to in USL's financial statements and the qualified auditor's report for the year ended 31 March 2014 (the Initial Inquiry) which had revealed, among other things, certain diversions of USL funds. Dr Mallya also agreed not to pursue any claims against Diageo, USL and their affiliates (including under the prior agreement with Diageo). In evaluating entering into such arrangements, Diageo considered the impact of the arrangements on USL and all of USL's shareholders, and came to the view that the arrangements were in the best interests of USL and its shareholders.

Diageo's agreement with Dr Mallya (the February 2016 Agreement) provided for a payment of $75 million (GBP55 million) to Dr Mallya over a five-year period in consideration for the five-year global non-compete, non-interference, non-solicitation and standstill commitments referred to above, his resignation from USL and the termination of his USL-related appointment and governance rights, the relinquishing of rights and benefits attached to his position at USL, and his agreement not to pursue claims against Diageo and USL. The February 2016 Agreement also provided for the release of Dr Mallya's personal obligations to indemnify (i) Diageo Holdings Netherlands B.V. (DHN) in respect of its earlier liability ($141 million (GBP104 million)) under a backstop guarantee of certain borrowings of Watson Limited (Watson) (a company affiliated with Dr Mallya), and (ii) Diageo Finance plc in respect of its earlier liability (GBP30 million) under a guarantee of certain borrowings of United Breweries Overseas Limited, a subsidiary of UBHL. $40 million (GBP29 million) of the $75 million (GBP55 million) amount was paid on signing of the February 2016 Agreement with the balance being payable in equal instalments of $7 million (GBP5 million) a year over five years, subject to and conditional on Dr Mallya's compliance with certain terms of the agreement.

While the first four instalments of $7 million (GBP5 million) each would have become due on 25 February 2017, 25 February 2018, 25 February 2019 and 25 February 2020, respectively, owing to various reasons (including breaches committed by Dr Mallya and certain persons connected with him of several provisions of the February 2016 Agreement and agreements of the same date between Dr Mallya and USL), Diageo believes that it was not liable to pay such amounts and did not do so. Diageo further believes that it is very unlikely to become liable to pay the fifth instalment to Dr Mallya. By notice to Dr Mallya and certain persons connected with him on 24 February 2017, 3 November 2017, 23 February 2018, 22 August 2018, 22 February 2019 and 24 February 2020, Diageo and other group companies have demanded from Dr Mallya the repayment of $40 million (GBP29 million) which was paid by Diageo on 25 February 2016, and also sought compensation from him for various losses incurred by the relevant members of the Diageo group on account of the breaches committed by him and certain persons connected with him. On 16 November 2017, Diageo and other relevant members of the Diageo group commenced claims in the High Court of Justice in England and Wales (the English High Court) against Dr Mallya in relation to certain of the matters specified in those notices. At the same time DHN also commenced claims in the English High Court against Dr Mallya, his son Sidhartha Mallya, Watson (a company affiliated with Dr Mallya) and Continental Administration Services Limited (CASL) (a company affiliated with Dr Mallya and understood to hold assets on trust for him and certain persons affiliated with him) for in excess of $142 million (GBP104 million) (plus interest) in relation to Watson's liability to DHN in respect of its borrowings referred to above and the breach of associated security documents. These additional claims are described in paragraph (d) below.

Dr Mallya, Sidhartha Mallya and the relevant affiliated companies filed a defence to such claims and the additional claims on 12 March 2018, and Dr Mallya also filed a counterclaim for payment of the two $7 million (GBP5 million) instalment payments that had then been withheld by Diageo as described above. Diageo and the other relevant members of its group filed a reply to that defence and a defence to the counterclaim on 5 September 2018.

Diageo continues to prosecute its claims and to defend the counterclaim. As part of this, on 18 December 2018, Diageo and the other relevant members of its group filed an application for strike out and/or summary judgement in respect of certain aspects of the defence filed by Dr Mallya and the other defendants, including their defence in relation to Watson and CASL's liability to repay DHN. That application was made by DHN on the basis that the defence filed by Dr Mallya and his co-defendants in relation to those matters had no real prospect of success.

As described in paragraph (d) below, this application was successful in relation to the predominant part of Watson and CASL's liability to repay DHN and, since that application, Watson and CASL's defence in relation to the remaining part of this liability has also been struck out. Accordingly, Diageo and DHN have sought asset disclosure and are considering further enforcement steps against Watson and CASL, both in the United Kingdom and in other jurisdictions where they are present or hold assets.

The remaining elements of the claims originally commenced on 16 November 2017 by Diageo and the relevant members of its group are now proceeding to trial and following a case management conference on 6 December 2019, that trial is scheduled to take place from 11 October 2021 through 21 October 2021.

As previously announced by USL, the Initial Inquiry identified certain additional parties and matters indicating the possible existence of other improper transactions. These transactions could not be fully analysed during the Initial Inquiry and, accordingly, USL, as previously announced, mandated that its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer conduct a further inquiry into the transactions involving the additional parties and the additional matters to determine whether they also suffered from improprieties (the Additional Inquiry). USL announced the results of the Additional Inquiry in a notice to the Indian Stock Exchange dated 9 July 2016. The mutual release in relation to the Initial Inquiry agreed by Diageo and USL with Dr Mallya announced on 25 February 2016 does not extend to matters arising out of the Additional Inquiry.

As stated in USL's previous announcement, the Additional Inquiry revealed further instances of actual or potential fund diversions from USL and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries to, in most cases, Indian and overseas entities in which Dr Mallya appears to have a material direct or indirect interest, as well as other potentially improper transactions involving USL and its Indian and overseas subsidiaries.

In connection with the matters identified by the Additional Inquiry, USL has, pursuant to a detailed review of each case of such fund diversion and after obtaining expert legal advice, where appropriate, filed civil suits for recovery of funds from certain parties, including Dr Mallya, before the relevant courts in India.

The amounts identified in the Additional Inquiry have been previously provided for or expensed in the financial statements of USL or its subsidiaries for prior periods. Further, at this stage, it is not possible for the management of USL to estimate the financial impact on USL, if any, arising out of potential non-compliance with applicable laws in relation to such fund diversions.

(d) Other continuing matters relating to Dr Mallya and affiliates

DHN issued a conditional backstop guarantee on 2 August 2013 to Standard Chartered Bank (Standard Chartered) pursuant to a guarantee commitment agreement (the Guarantee Agreement). The guarantee was in respect of the liabilities of Watson, a company affiliated with Dr Mallya, under a $135 million (GBP99 million) facility from Standard Chartered (the Facility Agreement). The Guarantee Agreement was entered into as part of the arrangements put in place and announced at the closing of the USL transaction on 4 July 2013.

DHN's provision of the Guarantee Agreement enabled the refinancing of certain existing borrowings of Watson from a third party bank and facilitated the release by that bank of rights over certain USL shares that were to be acquired by Diageo as part of the USL transaction. The facility matured and entered into default in May 2015. In aggregate DHN paid Standard Chartered $141 million (GBP104 million) under this guarantee, i.e. including payments of default interest and various fees and expenses.

Watson remains liable for all amounts paid by DHN under the guarantee. Under the guarantee documentation with Standard Chartered, DHN is entitled to the benefit of the underlying security package for the loan, including: (a) certain shares in United Breweries Limited (UBL) held solely by Dr Mallya and certain other shares in UBL held by Dr Mallya jointly with his son Sidhartha Mallya, and (b) the shareholding in Watson.

Aspects of the security package are the subject of various proceedings in India in which third parties are alleging and asserting prior rights to certain assets comprised in the security package or otherwise seeking to restrain enforcement against certain assets by Standard Chartered and/or DHN. These proceedings are ongoing and DHN will continue to vigorously pursue these matters as part of its efforts for enforcement of the underlying security and recovery of outstanding amounts. Diageo believes that the existence of any prior rights or dispute in relation to the security would be in breach of representations and warranties given by Dr Mallya and others to Standard Chartered at the time the security was granted and further believes that certain actions taken by Dr Mallya in relation to the proceedings described above also breached his obligations to Standard Chartered. In addition to these third party proceedings, Dr Mallya is also subject to proceedings in India under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act in which the relevant Indian authority, the Directorate of Enforcement, is seeking confiscation of the UBL shares which were provided as security for Watson's liabilities. DHN is participating in these proceedings in order to protect its security interest in respect of the UBL shares.

Under the terms of the guarantee and as a matter of law, there are arrangements to pass on to DHN the benefit of the security package upon payment by DHN under the guarantee of all amounts owed to Standard Chartered. Payment under the guarantee has now occurred as described above. To the extent possible in the context of the proceedings described above, DHN continues to work towards enforcement of the security package, including, when appropriate, in conjunction with Standard Chartered. DHN's ability to assume or enforce security over some elements of the security package is also subject to regulatory consent. It is not at this stage possible to determine whether such consent would be forthcoming.

In addition to the Indian proceedings just described, certain of the assets comprised in the security package may also be affected by a worldwide freezing order of the English High Court granted on 24 November 2017 and continued on 8 December 2017 and 8 May 2018 in respect of the assets of Dr Mallya.

The agreement with Dr Mallya referenced in paragraph (c) above does not impact the security package. Watson remains liable for all amounts paid pursuant to the guarantee and DHN has the benefit of a counter-indemnity from Watson in respect of payments in connection with the guarantee, as well as a claim against CASL as a co-surety with DHN of Watson's obligations. The various security providers, including Dr Mallya and Watson, acknowledged in the February 2016 Agreement referred to in paragraph (c) above that DHN is entitled to the benefit of the security package underlying the Standard Chartered facility and have also undertaken to take all necessary actions in that regard. Further, Diageo believes that the existence of any prior rights or disputes in relation to the security package would be in breach of certain confirmations given to Diageo and DHN pursuant to that agreement by Dr Mallya, Watson and certain connected persons.

On 16 November 2017, DHN commenced various claims in the English High Court for, in aggregate, in excess of $142 million (GBP104 million) (plus interest) in relation to these matters, including the following: (i) a claim against Watson for $141 million (GBP104 million) (plus interest) under Watson's counter-indemnity to DHN in respect of payments made by DHN to Standard Chartered under the guarantee referred to above; (ii) a claim against Dr Mallya and Sidhartha Mallya under various agreements creating or relating to the security package referred to above for (a) the costs incurred to date in the various Indian proceedings referred to above (plus interest), and (b) damages of $141 million (GBP104 million), being DHN's loss as a result of those Indian proceedings which currently prevent enforcement of the security over shares in UBL (plus interest); and (iii) a claim against CASL, as a co-surety with DHN of Watson's obligations under the Facility Agreement, for 50% of the difference between the amount claimed under (i) above and the amount (if any) that DHN is in fact able to recover from Watson, Dr Mallya and/or Sidhartha Mallya.

As noted in paragraph (c), Dr Mallya, Sidhartha Mallya and the relevant affiliated companies filed a defence to these claims on 12 March 2018. Diageo and the other relevant members of its group filed a reply to that defence on 5 September 2018.

DHN and Diageo continue to prosecute these claims. As part of that, on 18 December 2018, Diageo and the other relevant members of its group filed an application for strike out and/or summary judgment in respect of certain aspects of the defence filed by Dr Mallya, Sidhartha Mallya and the relevant affiliated companies, including in respect of Watson and CASL's liability to repay DHN.

This summary judgement and strike out application was heard by the English High Court on 24 May 2019. The court decided in favour of DHN that (i) Watson is liable to pay, and has no defence against paying, $135 million (GBP99 million) plus interest of $11 million (GBP8 million) to DHN, and (ii) CASL is liable, as co-surety, to pay, and has no defence against paying, 50% of any such amount unpaid by Watson, i.e. up to $67.5 million (GBP50 million) plus interest of $5.5 million (GBP4 million) to DHN. Watson and CASL were ordered to pay such sums, as well as certain amounts in respect of DHN and Diageo's costs, to DHN by 21 June 2019. Such amounts were not paid on that date by either Watson or CASL.

On 15 October 2020, as a result of applications made by DHN to recover certain outstanding costs owed by Watson and CASL (being approximately GBP260,000 plus interest, which remained unpaid), Dr Mallya and Sidhartha Mallya were ordered to pay those amounts by 27 November 2020. As Dr Mallya and Sidhartha Mallya, in default of the Court order, failed to make the required payments to DHN: (i) Watson and CASL's defence to DHN's remaining claim for payment of approximately $6 million (GBP4 million)(plus interest) has been struck out, with further judgment in DHN's favour being entered which will be pursued along with the original judgment as set out above, and (ii) DHN is pursuing enforcement against Dr Mallya and Sidhartha Mallya for the judgment debt of approximately GBP260,000 plus interest.

(e) Other matters in relation to USL

Following USL's earlier updates concerning the Initial Inquiry as well as in relation to the arrangements with Dr Mallya that were the subject of the 25 February 2016 announcement, USL and Diageo have received various notices from Indian regulatory authorities, including the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Enforcement Directorate and Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Diageo and USL are co-operating fully with the authorities in relation to these matters. Diageo and USL have also received notices from SEBI requesting information in relation to, and explanation of the reasons for, the arrangements with Dr Mallya that were the subject of the 25 February 2016 announcement as well as, in the case of USL, in relation to the Initial Inquiry and the Additional Inquiry, and, in the case of Diageo, whether such arrangements with Dr Mallya or the Watson backstop guarantee arrangements referred to in paragraphs (c) and (d) above were part of agreements previously made with Dr Mallya at the time of the Original USL Transaction announced on 9 November 2012 and the open offer made as part of the Original USL Transaction. Diageo and USL have complied with such information requests and Diageo has confirmed that, consistent with prior disclosures, the Watson backstop guarantee arrangements and the matters described in the 25 February 2016 announcement were not the subject of any earlier agreement with Dr Mallya. In respect of the Watson backstop guarantee arrangements, SEBI issued a further notice to Diageo on 16 June 2016 that if there is any net liability incurred by Diageo (after any recovery under relevant security or other arrangements, which matters remain pending) on account of the Watson backstop guarantee, such liability, if any, would be considered to be part of the price paid for the acquisition of USL shares under the SPA which formed part of the Original USL Transaction and that, in that case, additional equivalent payments would be required to be made to those shareholders (representing 0.04% of the shares in USL) who tendered in the open offer made as part of the Original USL Transaction. Diageo is clear that the Watson backstop guarantee arrangements were not part of the price paid or agreed to be paid for any USL shares under the Original USL Transaction and therefore believes the decision in the SEBI notice to be misconceived and wrong in law and appealed against it before the Securities Appellate Tribunal, Mumbai (SAT). On 1 November 2017, SAT issued an order in respect of Diageo's appeal in which, amongst other things, it observed that the relevant officer at SEBI had neither considered Diageo's earlier reply nor provided Diageo with an opportunity to be heard, and accordingly directed SEBI to pass a fresh order after giving Diageo an opportunity to be heard. Following SAT's order, Diageo made its further submissions in the matter, including at a personal hearing before a Deputy General Manager of SEBI. On 26 June 2019, SEBI issued an order reiterating the directions contained in its previous notice dated 16 June 2016. As with the previous notice, Diageo believes SEBI's latest order to be misconceived and wrong in law and has filed an appeal before SAT against the order. This appeal is currently pending. Diageo is unable to assess if the notices or enquiries referred to above will result in enforcement action or, if this were to transpire, to quantify meaningfully the possible range of loss, if any, to which any such action might give rise to if determined against Diageo or USL.

In relation to the matters described in the 25 February 2016 announcement, Diageo had also responded to a show cause notice dated 12 May 2017 from SEBI arising out of the previous correspondence in this regard and made its further submissions in the matter, including at a personal hearing before a Whole Time Member of SEBI. On 6 September 2018, SEBI issued an order holding that Diageo had acquired sole control of USL following its earlier open offers, and that no fresh open offer was triggered by Diageo.

(f) USL's dispute with IDBI Bank Limited

Prior to the acquisition by Diageo of a controlling interest in USL, USL had prepaid a term loan of INR 6,280 million (GBP63 million) taken through IDBI Bank Limited (IDBI), an Indian bank, which was secured on certain fixed assets and brands of USL, as well as by a pledge of certain shares in USL held by the USL Benefit Trust (of which USL is the sole beneficiary). The maturity date of the loan was 31 March 2015. IDBI disputed the prepayment, following which USL filed a writ petition in November 2013 before the High Court of Karnataka (the High Court) challenging the bank's actions.

Following the original maturity date of the loan, USL received notices from IDBI seeking to recall the loan, demanding a further sum of INR 459 million (GBP5 million) on account of the outstanding principal, accrued interest and other amounts, and also threatening to enforce the security in the event that USL did not make these further payments. Pursuant to an application filed by USL before the High Court in the writ proceedings, the High Court directed that, subject to USL depositing such further amount with the bank (which amount was duly deposited by USL), the bank should hold the amount in a suspense account and not deal with any of the secured assets including the shares until disposal of the original writ petition filed by USL before the High Court.

On 27 June 2019, a single judge bench of the High Court issued an order dismissing the writ petition filed by USL, amongst other things, on the basis that the matter involved an issue of breach of contract by USL and was therefore not maintainable in exercise of the court's writ jurisdiction. USL has since filed an appeal against this order before a division bench of the High Court, which on 30 July 2019 has issued an interim order directing the bank to not deal with any of the secured assets until the next date of hearing. On 13 January 2020, the division bench of the High Court admitted the writ appeal and extended the interim stay. This appeal is currently pending. Based on the assessment of USL's management supported by external legal opinions, USL continues to believe that it has a strong case on the merits and therefore continues to believe that the aforesaid amount of INR 459 million (GBP5 million) remains recoverable from IDBI.

(g) 2019 Moët Hennessy dividend

As disclosed in Diageo's annual report for the year ended 30 June 2020, no dividend was received in respect of Diageo's 34% investment in Moët Hennessy SAS and Moët Hennessy International SAS (together MH) for the financial year of MH ended 31 December 2019. This investment is governed by a Partners' Agreement with certain members of the LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton group (LVMH) which holds 66% of MH, which includes the dividend policy and minimum annual dividend requirements for MH. Diageo believes that non-payment by MH of the dividend in respect of its 2019 financial year constitutes a breach by LVMH of the Partners' Agreement and that the minimum aggregate dividend that should have been received by Diageo in respect of that period was EUR181 million (GBP163 million). Accordingly, in July 2020 Diageo commenced arbitration proceedings against LVMH under the Partners' Agreement in respect of this dispute.

Subsequently, MH convened shareholder meetings on 23 October 2020 to consider resolutions to approve payment of special dividends equal to approximately half of the amount that Diageo believes was due in respect of MH's 2019 financial year. These resolutions were passed and, on 28 October 2020, Diageo received a payment of EUR91 million (GBP82 million) from MH. MH has since convened further shareholder meetings, held on 25 January 2021, to consider resolutions to approve payment of further special dividends equal to approximately the balance of the amount that Diageo believes was due in respect of MH's 2019 financial year. These resolutions were passed and Diageo expects to receive a further payment of EUR90 million (GBP81 million) from MH on, or shortly after, 29 January 2021. Subject to receipt of this further payment, Diageo has confirmed to LVMH that it intends to withdraw the ongoing arbitration proceedings to bring this dispute to an end.

(h) Tax

The international tax environment has seen increased scrutiny and rapid change over recent years bringing with it greater uncertainty for multinationals. Against this backdrop, Diageo has been monitoring developments and continues to engage transparently with the tax authorities in the countries where Diageo operates to ensure that the group manages its arrangements on a sustainable basis.

In April 2019, the European Commission issued its decision in a state aid investigation into the Group Financing Exemption in the UK controlled foreign company (CFC) rules. The European Commission found that part of the Group Financing Exemption constitutes state aid. The Group Financing Exemption was introduced in legislation by the UK government in 2013. In common with other UK-based international companies whose arrangements are in line with current UK CFC legislation, Diageo may be affected by the ultimate outcome of this investigation. The UK government and other UK-based international companies, including Diageo, have appealed to the General Court of the European Union against the decision.

In December 2020, the UK government also introduced legislation to commence collection proceedings. Diageo currently expects to receive an assessment from HMRC in the coming weeks setting forth HMRC's calculation of potential liability if the European Commission decision is upheld. Diageo calculates its maximum potential liability to be approximately GBP277 million and believes that the HMRC assessment will reflect this maximum amount. Diageo will have 30 days from receipt of the HMRC assessment to make the required payment. While Diageo expects to appeal against such an assessment, an appeal will not defer the payment of the tax assessed. If the decision of the European Commission is upheld, Diageo's ultimate tax liability will depend on the outcome of the appeal against the HMRC assessment. Diageo has not recorded any provision in respect of this issue because it currently believes that the appeal to the General Court of the European Union against the decision of the European Commission will be successful.

The group operates in a large number of markets with complex tax and legislative regimes that are open to subjective interpretation. As assessing an accurate value of contingent liabilities in these markets requires a high level of judgement, contingent liabilities are disclosed on the basis of the current known possible exposure from tax assessment values.

Diageo has reviewed its disclosures in relation to Brazil and India, where Diageo has a large number of ongoing tax cases. While these cases are not individually significant, the current assessment of the aggregate possible exposures is up to approximately GBP273 million for Brazil and up to approximately GBP134 million for India. The group believes that the likelihood that the tax authorities will ultimately prevail is lower than probable but higher than remote. Due to the fiscal environment in Brazil and in India the possibility of further tax assessments related to the same matters cannot be ruled out. Based on its current assessment, Diageo believes that no provision is required in respect of these issues.

Payments were made under protest in India in respect of the periods 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2017 in relation to tax assessments where the risk is considered to be remote or possible. These payments have to be made in order to challenge the assessments and as such have been recognised as a receivable on the consolidated balance sheet. The total amount of protest payments recognised as a receivable as at 31 December 2020 is GBP115 million (corporate tax payments of GBP105 million and indirect tax payments of GBP10 million).

In the United States a lawsuit was filed on 15 April 2019 by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) against the United States Department of the Treasury (U.S. Treasury) and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on behalf of its affected industry members, including Diageo, to invalidate regulations published in February 2019 and to ensure that substitution drawback is permitted in accordance with 19 U.S.C.-- 1313(j)(2) as amended by the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015, which was enacted on 24 February 2016 (TFTEA). Substitution drawback permits the refund, including of excise taxes, paid on imported merchandise when sufficiently similar substitute merchandise is exported. The United States Congress passed the TFTEA to, among other things, clarify and broaden the standard for what constitutes substitute merchandise. This change should entitle Diageo to obtain substitution drawback in respect of certain eligible product categories. Despite this change in the law, the U.S. Treasury and CBP issued final regulations in 2019 declaring that substitution drawback is not available for imports when substituted with an export on which no tax was paid. The Court of International Trade issued a judgement in favour of NAM on 18 February 2020, denying the request by the U.S. Treasury and CBP for a stay of payment on 15 May 2020, and on 26 May 2020, ordered the immediate processing of claims. Eligible outstanding claims of Diageo Americas Supply, Inc. are estimated at GBP62 million ($84 million). Total payments of GBP27 million ($35 million) have been received as of 31 December 2020 in respect of this matter, with approximately GBP26 million ($33 million) of this amount received prior to the close of the year ended 30 June 2020. However, the U.S. Treasury and CBP has filed an appeal with the U.S. Federal Court of Appeals, which is now fully briefed. Although Diageo believes that the NAM is more likely than not to ultimately prevail, if they were to fail, the CBP could be permitted to recover these payments.

(i) Other

The group has extensive international operations and is a defendant in a number of legal, customs and tax proceedings incidental to these operations, the outcome of which cannot at present be foreseen. In particular, the group is currently a defendant in various customs proceedings that challenge the declared customs value of products imported by certain Diageo companies. Diageo continues to defend its position vigorously in these proceedings.

Save as disclosed above, neither Diageo, nor any member of the Diageo group, is or has been engaged in, nor (so far as Diageo is aware) is there pending or threatened by or against it, any legal or arbitration proceedings which may have a significant effect on the financial position of the Diageo group.

13. Related party transactions

The group's significant related parties are its associates, joint ventures, key management personnel and pension plans. There have been no transactions with these related parties during the six months ended 31 December 2020 on terms other than those that prevail in arm's length transactions.

In April 2020, the Directors became aware that certain purchases by Diageo of its own shares and certain transactions related to Diageo's employee share schemes between 10 May 2019 and 9 August 2019, amounting to approximately GBP320 million ('the affected transactions'), were undertaken contrary to the applicable provisions of the Companies Act 2006 as they were undertaken following utilisation in full of Diageo plc's distributable reserves as set out in its balance sheet as at 30 June 2018. At the Annual General Meeting on 28 September 2020, a resolution was passed to appropriate an equivalent amount of distributable profits of the company to the payments made in respect of the affected transactions and implement arrangements to put all potentially affected parties, so far as possible, in the position in which they were intended to be had the affected transactions been undertaken in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act 2006. This resolution and the arrangements that it has implemented constituted a related party transaction under IAS 24 and under the Listing Rules, as the Directors have benefited from the waiver of any claims that the company had or may have had against them as a result of the affected transactions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SHAREHOLDERS

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Comparisons are to the six months ended 31 December 2019 (2019) unless otherwise stated. Unless otherwise stated, percentage movements given throughout this announcement for volume, sales, net sales, marketing spend, operating profit and operating margin are organic movements after retranslating current period reported numbers at prior period exchange rates and after adjusting for the effect of operating exceptional items and acquisitions and disposals.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainty. 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 beyond Diageo's control. Please refer to Explanatory Notes for 'Cautionary statement concerning forward-looking statements' for more details.

This announcement includes names of Diageo's products which constitute trademarks or trade names which Diageo owns or which others own and license to Diageo for use.

Definitions and reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures

Diageo's strategic planning process is based on certain non-GAAP measures, including organic movements. These non-GAAP measures are chosen for planning and reporting, and some of them are used for incentive purposes. The group's management believes these measures provide valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in understanding the group's performance. These non-GAAP measures should be viewed as complementary to, and not replacements for, the comparable GAAP measures and reported movements therein.

It is not possible to reconcile the forecast tax rate before exceptional items to the most comparable GAAP measure as it is not possible to predict, without unreasonable effort, with reasonable certainty, the future impact of changes in exchange rates, acquisitions and disposals and potential exceptional items.

Volume

Volume is a performance indicator that is measured on an equivalent units basis to nine-litre cases of spirits. An equivalent unit represents one nine-litre case of spirits, which is approximately 272 servings. A serving comprises 33ml of spirits, 165ml of wine, or 330ml of ready to drink or beer. Therefore, to convert volume of products other than spirits to equivalent units, the following guide has been used: beer in hectolitres, divide by 0.9; wine in nine-litre cases, divide by five; ready to drink in nine-litre cases, divide by 10; and certain pre-mixed products that are classified as ready to drink in nine-litre cases, divide by ten.

Organic movements

Organic information is presented using pounds sterling amounts on a constant currency basis excluding the impact of exceptional items, certain fair value remeasurement and acquisitions and disposals. Organic measures enable users to focus on the performance of the business which is common to both years and which represents those measures that local managers are most directly able to influence.

Calculation of organic movements

The organic movement percentage is the amount in the row titled 'Organic movement' in the tables below, expressed as a percentage of the absolute amount in the associated relevant row titled '2019 adjusted'. Organic operating margin is calculated by dividing operating profit before exceptional items by net sales after excluding the impact of exchange rate movements, certain fair value remeasurement and acquisitions and disposals.

(a) Exchange rates

'Exchange' in the organic movement calculation reflects the adjustment to recalculate the reported results as if they had been generated at the prior period weighted average exchange rates.

Exchange impacts in respect of the external hedging of intergroup sales by the markets in a currency other than their functional currency and the intergroup recharging of services are also translated at prior period weighted average exchange rates and are allocated to the geographical segment to which they relate. Residual exchange impacts are reported as part of the Corporate segment.

(b) Acquisitions and disposals

For acquisitions in the current period, the post acquisition results are excluded from the organic movement calculations. For acquisitions in the prior period, post acquisition results are included in full in the prior period but are included in the organic movement calculation from the anniversary of the acquisition date in the current period. The acquisition row also eliminates the impact of transaction costs that have been charged to operating profit in the current or prior period in respect of acquisitions that, in management's judgement, are expected to be completed.

Where a business, brand, brand distribution right or agency agreement was disposed of, or terminated, in the reporting period, the group, in the organic movement calculations, excludes the results for that business from the current and prior period. In the calculation of operating profit, the overheads included in disposals are only those directly attributable to the businesses disposed of, and do not result from subjective judgements of management.

(c) Exceptional items

Exceptional items are those that in management's judgement need to be disclosed separately. Such items are included within the income statement caption to which they relate, and are excluded from the organic movement calculations. It is believed that separate disclosure of exceptional items and the classification between operating and non-operating further helps investors to understand the performance of the group.

Exceptional operating items are those that are considered to be material and unusual or non-recurring in nature and are part of the operating activities of the group such as impairment of intangible assets and fixed assets, indirect tax settlements, property disposals and changes in post employment plans.

Gains and losses on the sale of businesses, brands or distribution rights, step up gains and losses that arise when an investment becomes an associate or an associate becomes a subsidiary and other material, unusual non-recurring items, that are not in respect of the production, marketing and distribution of premium drinks, are disclosed as non-operating exceptional items below operating profit in the consolidated income statement.

Exceptional current and deferred tax items, comprising material unusual non-recurring items that impact taxation. Examples include direct tax provisions and settlements in respect of prior years and the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities following tax rate changes.

(d) Fair value remeasurement

Fair value remeasurement in the organic movement calculation reflects an adjustment to eliminate the impact of fair value changes in biological assets and fair value changes relating to contingent consideration liabilities and equity options that arose on acquisitions recognised in the income statement.

Organic movement calculations for the six months ended 31 December 2020 were as follows:

 
                                                      Latin 
                             Europe                 America 
                    North       and                     and      Asia 
                  America    Turkey    Africa     Caribbean   Pacific  Corporate       Total 
                  million   million   million       million   million    million     million 
Volume 
(equivalent 
units) 
2019 reported        26.1      25.4      17.9          12.3      48.8          -     130.5 
Disposals(iv)       (0.5)     (0.2)     (1.4)             -         -          -     (2.1) 
                 --------  --------  --------  ------------  --------  ---------  -------- 
2019 adjusted        25.6      25.2      16.5          12.3      48.8          -     128.4 
Organic 
 movement             2.0     (1.2)     (0.2)           0.5     (1.4)          -     (0.3) 
Acquisitions 
 and 
 disposals(iv)        0.1         -       0.1             -         -          -       0.2 
                 --------  --------  --------  ------------  --------  ---------  -------- 
2020 reported        27.7      24.0      16.4          12.8      47.4          -     128.3 
                 ========  ========  ========  ============  ========  =========  ======== 
Organic 
 movement 
 %                      8       (5)       (1)             4       (3)          -         - 
                 ========  ========  ========  ============  ========  =========  ======== 
 
 
 
                                                          Latin 
                                    Europe              America 
                           North       and                  and      Asia 
                         America    Turkey    Africa  Caribbean   Pacific  Corporate       Total 
                             GBP       GBP       GBP        GBP       GBP        GBP         GBP 
                         million   million   million    million   million    million     million 
Sales 
2019 reported              2,830     2,971     1,212        893     2,898         27    10,831 
Exchange                       -      (45)      (26)       (30)      (34)          -     (135) 
Reclassification(iii)          -         -         -        (6)         -          -       (6) 
Disposals(iv)               (20)      (34)      (49)          -       (1)          -     (104) 
                         -------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
2019 adjusted              2,810     2,892     1,137        857     2,863         27    10,586 
Organic movement             320      (63)       (9)          5        63       (16)       300 
Acquisitions and 
 disposals(iv)                 8         -         8          -         -          -        16 
Exchange                   (116)     (102)      (72)       (87)      (89)          -     (466) 
                         -------  --------  --------  ---------  --------  ---------  -------- 
2020 reported              3,022     2,727     1,064        775     2,837         11    10,436 
                         =======  ========  ========  =========  ========  =========  ======== 
Organic movement 
 %                            11       (2)       (1)          1         2       (59)         3 
                         =======  ========  ========  =========  ========  =========  ======== 
 
 
 
                                         Europe                    Latin 
                              North         and                  America        Asia 
                            America      Turkey      Africa          and     Pacific  Corporate       Total 
                                GBP         GBP         GBP    Caribbean         GBP        GBP         GBP 
                            million     million     million  GBP million     million    million     million 
Net sales 
2019 reported            2,502       1,666         848         680        1,477              27  7,200 
Exchange(i)                  -        (20)        (16)        (18)          (6)               -   (60) 
Reclassification(iii)        -           -           -         (6)            -               -    (6) 
Disposals(iv)             (14)        (20)        (37)           -          (1)               -   (72) 
                         -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ----  -----  ---  ---------  -----  --- 
2019 adjusted            2,488       1,626         795         656        1,470              27  7,062 
Organic movement           307       (163)         (3)         (9)         (48)            (16)     68 
Acquisitions and 
 disposals(iv)               7           -           5           -            -               -     12 
Exchange(i)              (101)        (20)        (52)        (68)         (27)               -  (268) 
                         -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ----  -----  ---  ---------  -----  --- 
2020 reported            2,701       1,443         745         579        1,395              11  6,874 
                         =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ====  =====  ===  =========  =====  === 
Organic movement 
 %                          12        (10)           -         (1)          (3)            (59)      1 
                         =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ====  =====  ===  =========  =====  === 
 
Marketing 
2019 reported              404         268          97         113          232               2  1,116 
Exchange                    11         (5)         (4)         (4)            -               -    (2) 
Reclassification(iii)        -           -           -         (6)            -               -    (6) 
Disposals(iv)                -         (1)           -           -            -               -    (1) 
                         -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ----  -----  ---  ---------  -----  --- 
2019 adjusted              415         262          93         103          232               2  1,107 
Organic movement            42        (10)         (6)        (15)          (3)               -      8 
Acquisitions and 
 disposals(iv)               3           -           -           -            -               -      3 
Exchange                  (17)           -         (3)        (10)          (2)             (1)   (33) 
                         -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ----  -----  ---  ---------  -----  --- 
2020 reported              443         252          84          78          227               1  1,085 
                         =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ====  =====  ===  =========  =====  === 
Organic movement 
 %                          10         (4)         (6)        (15)          (1)               -      1 
                         =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ====  =====  ===  =========  =====  === 
 
Operating profit 
 before exceptional 
 items 
2019 reported            1,120         615         159         257          432            (82)  2,501 
Exchange(ii)                26         (8)           -         (5)            7             (1)     19 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of contingent 
 considerations 
 and equity option           4           -           -           -            -               -      4 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of biological assets        -           -           -         (4)            -               -    (4) 
Acquisitions and 
 Disposals(iv)             (2)         (7)           -           -            -               -    (9) 
                         -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ---  -----  ----  -----  ---  ---------  -----  --- 
2019 adjusted            1,148         600         159         248          439            (83)  2,511 
Organic movement           164       (139)        (35)        (12)         (48)            (15)   (85) 
Acquisitions and 
 disposals(iv)             (9)           -           -           -            -               -    (9) 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of contingent 
 considerations 
 and equity option         (4)         (7)           -           -            -               -   (11) 
Fair value 
 remeasurement 
 of biological assets        -           -           -           3            -               -      3 
Exchange(ii)              (73)         (8)        (29)        (42)          (5)               4  (153) 
                         -----  ---  -----  ---         ---         ----         ---             -----  --- 
2020 reported            1,226         446          95         197          386            (94)  2,256 
                         =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ====  =====  ===  =========  =====  === 
Organic movement 
 %                          14        (23)        (22)         (5)         (11)            (18)    (3) 
                         =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ===  =====  ====  =====  ===  =========  =====  === 
Organic operating 
 margin % 
2020                      46.9%       31.5%       15.7%       36.5%        27.5%            n/a   34.0% 
2019                      46.1%       36.9%       20.0%       37.8%        29.9%            n/a   35.6% 
Margin movement (bps)       80       (539)       (434)       (133)        (237)             n/a  (153) 
 

(1) For the reconciliation of sales to net sales see Summary Income Statement.

(2) Percentages and margin movement are calculated on rounded figures.

Notes: Information in respect of the organic movement calculations

(i) The impact of movements in exchange rates on reported figures for net sales is principally in respect of the translation exchange impact of the strengthening of sterling against the US dollar, the Brazilian real and the Turkish lira, partially offset by weakening of sterling against the euro.

(ii) The impact of movements in exchange rates on reported figures for operating profit is principally in respect of the translation exchange impact of the strengthening of sterling against the US dollar, the Brazilian real and the Turkish lira, partially offset by weakening of sterling against the euro.

(iii) For the six month period ended 31 December 2020, trade investment of GBP6 million has been reclassified from marketing to sales.

(iv) In the six months ended 31 December 2020, the acquisitions and disposals that affected volume, sales, net sales, marketing and operating profit were as follows:

 
                                                                                          Operating 
                                       Volume        Sales    Net sales    Marketing         profit 
                                   equ. units  GBP million  GBP million  GBP million    GBP million 
                                      million 
Six months ended 31 December 
 2019 
Disposals 
  UNB                                   (1.1)         (21)         (21)            -            - 
  Budweiser distribution license 
   termination                          (0.2)         (32)         (18)          (1)          (7) 
  Supply contracts in respect 
   of the 19 brands sold to 
   Sazerac                              (0.6)         (24)         (17)            -          (2) 
  South African ready to drink          (0.2)         (27)         (16)            -            - 
 
                                        (2.1)        (104)         (72)          (1)          (9) 
 
Six months ended 31 December 
 2020 
Acquisitions 
  Aviation Gin and Davos Brands           0.1            8            7          (3)          (9) 
 
                                          0.1            8            7          (3)          (9) 
 
Disposals 
  South African ready to drink            0.1            8            5            -            - 
                                          0.1            8            5            -            - 
 
Acquisitions and disposals                0.2           16           12          (3)          (9) 
 

Earnings per share before exceptional items

Earnings per share before exceptional items is calculated by dividing profit attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company before exceptional items by the weighted average number of shares in issue.

Earnings per share before exceptional items for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 are set out in the table below.

 
                                                                   2020           2019 
                                                            GBP million    GBP million 
 
Profit attributable to equity shareholders of 
 the parent company                                               1,580        1,865 
Exceptional operating and non-operating items                        12           59 
Exceptional taxation charges/(benefits)                              42            - 
Tax in respect of exceptional operating and non-operating 
 items                                                                -         (14) 
Exceptional items attributable to non-controlling 
 interests                                                            -         (20) 
 
                                                                  1,634        1,890 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares                               million        million 
Shares in issue excluding own shares                              2,336        2,356 
Dilutive potential ordinary shares                                    7           10 
 
                                                                  2,343        2,366 
 
 
                                                                  pence          pence 
Basic earnings per share before exceptional items                  69.9         80.2 
 
 
Diluted earnings per share before exceptional 
 items                                                             69.7         79.9 
 
 

Free cash flow

Free cash flow comprises the net cash flow from operating activities aggregated with the net cash received/paid for working capital loans receivable, cash paid or received for investments and the net cash cost paid for property, plant and equipment and computer software that are included in net cash flow from investing activities.

The remaining components of net cash flow from investing activities that do not form part of free cash flow, as defined by the group's management, are in respect of the acquisition and sale of businesses and non-working capital loans to and from associates.

The group's management regards the purchase and disposal of property, plant and equipment and computer software as ultimately non-discretionary since ongoing investment in plant, machinery and technology is required to support the day-to-day operations, whereas acquisition and sale of businesses are discretionary.

Where appropriate, separate explanations are given for the impacts of acquisition and sale of businesses, dividends paid and the purchase of own shares, each of which arises from decisions that are independent from the running of the ongoing underlying business.

Free cash flow reconciliations for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 are set out in the table below:

 
                                                                2020           2019 
                                                         GBP million    GBP million 
 
Net cash inflow from operating activities                      1,998        1,288 
Disposal of property, plant and equipment and computer 
 software                                                          8            8 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment and computer 
 software                                                      (250)        (330) 
Movements in loans and other investments                         (3)            - 
 
Free cash flow                                                 1,753          966 
 
 

Return on average total invested capital

Return on average total invested capital is used by management to assess the return obtained from the group's asset base and is calculated to aid evaluation of the performance of the business.

The profit used in assessing the return on average total invested capital reflects operating profit before exceptional items attributable to the equity shareholders of the parent company plus share of after tax results of associates and joint ventures after applying the tax rate before exceptional items for the period. Average total invested capital is calculated using the average derived from the consolidated balance sheets at the beginning and end of the period. Average capital employed comprises average net assets attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company for the period, excluding post employment benefit net assets/liabilities (net of deferred tax) and average net borrowings. This average capital employed is then aggregated with the average restructuring and integration costs net of tax, and goodwill written off to reserves at 1 July 2004, the date of transition to IFRS, to obtain the average total invested capital.

Calculations for the return on average total invested capital for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 are set out in the table below.

 
                                                                  2020           2019 
                                                           GBP million    GBP million 
 
Operating profit                                             2,239          2,442 
Exceptional operating items                                     17             59 
Profit before exceptional operating items attributable 
 to non-controlling interests                                 (81)           (89) 
Share of after tax results of associates and joint 
 ventures                                                      154            176 
Tax at the tax rate before exceptional items of 22.4% 
 (2019 - 21.6%)                                              (540)          (559) 
 
                                                             1,789          2,029 
 
 
Average net assets (excluding net post employment 
 assets/liabilities)                                         8,162          9,520 
Average non-controlling interests                          (1,614)        (1,751) 
Average net borrowings                                      12,953         12,204 
Average integration and restructuring costs (net of 
 tax)                                                        1,639          1,639 
Goodwill at 1 July 2004                                      1,562          1,562 
 
Average total invested capital                              22,702         23,174 
 
 
Return on average total invested capital                      15.8%          17.5% 
 
 

Adjusted net borrowings to earnings before exceptional operating items, interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment (adjusted EBITDA)

Diageo manages its capital structure with the aim of achieving capital efficiency, provide flexibility to invest through the economic cycle and give efficient access to debt markets at attractive cost levels. The group regularly assesses its debt and equity capital levels to enhance its capital structure by reviewing the ratio of adjusted net borrowings to adjusted EBITDA.

Calculations for the ratio of adjusted net borrowings to adjusted EBITDA at 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2019 are set out in the table below.

 
                                                                 2020           2019 
                                                          GBP million    GBP million 
 
Borrowings due within one year                                  1,214        3,381 
Borrowings due after one year                                  14,063       10,091 
Fair value of foreign currency derivatives and interest 
 rate hedging instruments                                       (263)        (128) 
Lease liabilities                                                 410          486 
Less: Cash and cash equivalents                               (2,763)        (950) 
 
Net borrowings                                                 12,661       12,880 
Post employment benefit liabilities before tax                    815          753 
 
Adjusted net borrowings                                        13,476       13,633 
 
 
 
Operating profit                                                1,934        4,054 
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment (excluding 
 exceptional items)                                               486          416 
Share of after tax results of associates and joint 
 ventures                                                         260          309 
Exceptional impairment                                          1,286           59 
Non-operating items                                              (18)          (2) 
 
EBITDA                                                          3,948        4,836 
Exceptional operating items (excluding impairment)                 29           53 
Non-operating items                                                18            2 
 
Adjusted EBITDA                                                 3,995        4,891 
 
 
 
Adjusted net borrowings to adjusted EBITDA                        3.4          2.8 
 

(1) EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are calculated based on last 12 months.

Tax rate before exceptional items

Tax rate before exceptional items is calculated by dividing the total tax charge on continuing operations before tax charges and credits in respect of exceptional items, by profit before taxation adjusted to exclude the impact of exceptional operating and non-operating items, expressed as a percentage. The measure is used by management to assess the rate of tax applied to the group's continuing operations before tax on exceptional items.

The tax rates from operations before exceptional and after exceptional items for the six months ended 31 December 2020 and six months ended 31 December 2019 are set out in the table below:

 
                                                            2020           2019 
                                                     GBP million    GBP million 
 
Tax before exceptional items (a)                        495            544 
Tax in respect of exceptional items                       -           (14) 
Exceptional tax charge                                   42              - 
                                                             ---            --- 
Taxation on profit (b)                                  537            530 
                                                             ===            === 
 
Profit before taxation and exceptional items (c)      2,210          2,523 
Non-operating items                                       5              - 
Exceptional operating items                            (17)           (59) 
Profit before taxation (d)                            2,198          2,464 
 
Tax rate before exceptional items (a/c)                22.4%          21.6% 
Tax rate after exceptional items (b/d)                 24.4%          21.5% 
 

Other definitions

Volume share is a brand's retail volume expressed as a percentage of the retail volume of all brands in its segment. Value share is a brand's retail sales value expressed as a percentage of the retail sales value of all brands in its segment. Unless otherwise stated, share refers to value share.

Price/mix is the number of percentage points by which the organic movement in net sales differs to the organic movement in volume. The difference arises because of changes in the composition of sales between higher and lower priced variants/markets or as price changes are implemented.

Shipments comprise the volume of products made to Diageo's immediate (first tier) customers. Depletions are the estimated volume of the onward sales made by Diageo's immediate customers. Both shipments and depletions are measured on an equivalent units basis.

References to emerging markets include Russia, Eastern Europe, Turkey, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, and Asia Pacific (excluding Australia, Korea and Japan).

References to reserve brands include, but are not limited to, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Johnnie Walker Green Label, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years, John Walker & Sons Collection and other Johnnie Walker super premium brands; Roe & Co; The Singleton, Cardhu, Talisker, Lagavulin and other malt brands; Buchanan's Special Reserve, Buchanan's Red Seal; Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit Rye; Tanqueray No. TEN, Tanqueray ready to drink, Tanqueray Malacca Gin; Cîroc, Ketel One vodka, Ketel One Botanical; Don Julio, Casamigos, Zacapa, Bundaberg SDlx, Shui Jing Fang, Jinzu gin, Haig Club whisky, Orphan Barrel whiskey and DeLeón Tequila; Villa Ascenti, Copper Dog whisky, Belsazar, Pierde Almas.

References to global giants include the following brand families: Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness. Local stars spirits include Buchanan's, Bundaberg, Crown Royal, J B, McDowell's, Old Parr, Yenì Raki, Black & White, Shui Jing Fang, Windsor and Ypióca. Global giants and local stars exclude ready to drink and beer except Guinness. References to Shui Jing Fang represent total Chinese white spirits of which Shui Jing Fang is the predominant brand.

References to ready to drink also include ready to serve products, such as pre-mix cans in some markets.

References to beer include cider, flavoured malt beverages and some non-alcoholic products such as Malta Guinness.

The results of Hop House 13 Lager are included in the Guinness figures.

References to the disposal of a portfolio of 19 brands comprise the following brands that were primarily sold in the United States: Seagram's VO, Seagram's 83, Seagram's Five Star, Popov, Myers's, Parrot Bay, Yukon Jack, Romana Sambuca, Scoresby, Goldschlager, Relska, Stirrings, The Club, Booth's, Black Haus, Peligroso, Grind, Piehole and John Begg.

References to the group include Diageo plc and its consolidated subsidiaries.

RISK FACTORS

Diageo's products are sold in over 180 countries worldwide, which subjects Diageo to risks and uncertainties in multiple jurisdictions across developed and developing markets. The group's aim is to manage risk and control its business and financial activities cost-effectively and in a manner that enables it to: exploit profitable business opportunities in a disciplined way; avoid or reduce risks that can cause loss, reputational damage or business failure; manage and mitigate historic risks and exposures of the group; support operational effectiveness; and enhance resilience to external events. To achieve this, an ongoing process has been established for identifying, evaluating and managing risks faced by the group. A detailed description of the key risks and uncertainties facing the group are described in the 'Strategic report' section of Diageo's Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2020 and under 'Risk Factors' in Diageo's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 30 June 2020.

These key risks and uncertainties include: unfavourable economic, political, social or other developments and risks in the countries in which Diageo operates, including in connection with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the potential impact of any global, regional or local trade disputes (including but not limited to any such dispute between the United States and the European Union and/or the United Kingdom) and the wider economic repercussions of the United Kingdom's recent departure from the European Union; changes in consumer preferences and tastes and the adverse impacts of economic downturns, among other factors, which could adversely affect consumer demand; changes in the domestic and international tax environment resulting in unexpected tax exposures; the impact of climate change, or legal, regulatory or market measures intended to address climate change, including on the cost and supply of water; changes in the cost of production; litigation or similar proceedings specifically directed at the beverage alcohol industry, as well as other litigation or proceedings more generally; other legal and regulatory developments impacting the production, distribution and marketing of Diageo's products and its business more generally; the consequences of any failure to comply with anti-corruption, sanctions or similar laws and regulations; any failure of internal controls, including those affecting compliance with accounting and/or disclosure requirements; any failure by Diageo to maintain its brand image and corporate reputation; the impact of any contamination, counterfeiting or other events on support for and sales of Diageo's brands; competitive pressures, which could reduce Diageo's market share and margins; any disruption to production facilities, business service centres or information systems (including as a result of cyber-attacks and pandemics); failures to derive the expected benefits from Diageo's business strategies, acquisitions and/or any cost-saving and restructuring programmes; increased costs for, or shortages of, talent; fluctuations in exchange and/or interest rates; movements in the value of Diageo's pension funds; any failure to maintain or renegotiate distribution, supply, manufacturing and licence agreements on favourable terms; any inability by Diageo to protect its intellectual property rights; and difficulty in effecting service of US process and enforcing US legal process against Diageo and its directors.

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, including trends in results of operations, margins, growth rates, overall market trends, the impact of changes in interest or exchange rates, the availability or cost of financing to Diageo, anticipated cost savings or synergies, expected investments, the completion of any strategic transactions or restructuring programmes, anticipated tax rates, changes in the international tax environment, expected cash payments, outcomes of litigation or regulatory enquiries, anticipated changes in the value of assets and liabilities related to pension schemes and general economic conditions. 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 Diageo's control.

Factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 
 --   economic, political, social or other developments in countries and markets in which Diageo 
       operates (including as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the recent departure 
       of the United Kingdom from the European Union), which may contribute to a reduction in demand 
       for Diageo's products, adverse impacts on Diageo's customer, supplier and/or financial counterparties, 
       or the imposition of import, investment or currency restrictions (including the potential 
       impact of any global, regional or local trade disputes, including but not limited to any such 
       dispute between the United States and the European Union and/or the United Kingdom) or any 
       tariffs, duties or other restrictions or barriers imposed on the import or export of goods 
       between territories; 
 --   the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, or other epidemics or pandemics, on Diageo's business, 
       financial condition, cash flows and results of operation; 
 --   changes in consumer preferences and tastes, including as a result of changes in demographics, 
       evolving social trends (including any shifts in consumer tastes towards small-batch craft 
       alcohol, lower or no alcohol, or other alternative products), changes in travel, holiday or 
       leisure activity patterns, weather conditions, health concerns, pandemics and/or a downturn 
       in economic conditions; 
 --   changes in the domestic and international tax environment, including as a result of the OECD 
       Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Initiative and EU anti-tax abuse measures, leading to uncertainty 
       around the application of existing and new tax laws and unexpected tax exposures; 
 --   the effects of climate change, or legal, regulatory or market measures intended to address 
       climate change, on Diageo's business or operations, including on the cost and supply of water; 
 --   changes in the cost of production, including as a result of increases in the cost of commodities, 
       labour and/or energy or as a result of inflation; 
 --   any litigation or other similar proceedings (including with tax, customs, competition, environmental, 
       anti-corruption or other regulatory authorities), including litigation directed at the beverage 
       alcohol industry generally or at Diageo in particular; 
 --   legal and regulatory developments, including changes in regulations relating to production, 
       distribution, importation, marketing, advertising, sales, pricing, labelling, packaging, product 
       liability, antitrust, labour, compliance and control systems, environmental issues and/or 
       data privacy; 
 --   the consequences of any failure by Diageo or its associates to comply with anti-corruption, 
       sanctions, trade restrictions or similar laws and regulations, or any failure of Diageo's 
       related internal policies and procedures to comply with applicable law or regulation; 
 --   the consequences of any failure of internal controls, including those affecting compliance 
       with existing or new accounting and/or disclosure requirements; 
 --   Diageo's ability to maintain its brand image and corporate reputation or to adapt to a changing 
       media environment; 
 --   contamination, counterfeiting or other circumstances which could harm the level of customer 
       support for Diageo's brands and adversely impact its sales; 
 --   increased competitive product and pricing pressures, including as a result of actions by increasingly 
       consolidated competitors or increased competition from regional and local companies, that 
       could negatively impact Diageo's market share, distribution network, costs and/or pricing; 
 --   any disruption to production facilities, business service centres or information systems, 
       including as a result of cyber-attacks; 
 --   Diageo's ability to derive the expected benefits from its business strategies, including in 
       relation to expansion in emerging markets, acquisitions and/or disposals, cost savings and 
       productivity initiatives or inventory forecasting; 
 --   increased costs for, or shortages of, talent, as well as labour strikes or disputes; 
 --   fluctuations in exchange rates and/or interest rates, which may impact the value of transactions 
       and assets denominated in other currencies, increase Diageo's cost of financing or otherwise 
       adversely affect Diageo's financial results; 
 --   movements in the value of the assets and liabilities related to Diageo's pension plans; 
 --   Diageo's ability to renew supply, distribution, manufacturing or licence agreements (or related 
       rights) and licences on favourable terms, or at all, when they expire; 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 cautionary factors, by the 'Risk Factors' section immediately preceding those and by the 'Risk Factors' included in Diageo's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 30 June 2020 filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Diageo speak only as of the date they are made. 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 make in any documents which it publishes and/or files with the SEC. All readers, wherever located, should take note of these disclosures.

This document includes names of Diageo's products, which constitute trademarks or trade names which Diageo owns, or which others own and license to Diageo for use. All rights reserved. (c) Diageo plc 2021.

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.

This document may include information about Diageo's target debt rating. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organisation. Each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.

Past performance cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance.

Statement of directors' responsibilities

Each of the directors of Diageo plc confirms, to the best of his or her knowledge, that:

 
 --   the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim 
       Financial Reporting as issued by the IASB and endorsed and adopted by the EU and give a true 
       and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit and loss of the group; 
 --   the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by: 
 

(a) DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements; and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and

(b) DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the group during that period; and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

The directors of Diageo plc are as follows: Javier Ferrán (Chairman), Ivan Menezes (Chief Executive), Kathryn Mikells (Chief Financial Officer), Susan Kilsby (Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee), Alan Stewart (Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee) and Non-Executive Directors: Melissa Bethell, Valérie Chapoulaud-Floquet, Sir John Manzoni, Nicola Mendelsohn and Ireena Vittal.

Webcast, presentation slides and transcript

At 07.15 (UK time) on Thursday 28 January 2021, Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive and Kathryn Mikells, Chief Financial Officer will present Diageo's interim results as a webcast. This will be available to view at www.diageo.com. The presentation slides and script will also be available to download at this time.

Live Q&A conference call and replay

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive and Kathryn Mikells, Chief Financial Officer will be hosting a Q&A conference call on Thursday 28 January at 09:30 (UK time). If you would like to listen to the call or ask a question, please use the dial in details below.

 
From the UK:                +44 (0)330 336 9105 
From the UK (free call):    0800 358 6377 
From the USA:               +1 323 794 2093 
From the USA (free call):   866 548 4713 
 

The conference call is for analysts and investors only. To join the call please use the password already sent to you or email suzanne.austin@diageo.com.

To hear a replay of the call, please use the telephone numbers below:

 
From the UK:                +44 (0)20 7660 0134 
From the UK (free call):    0808 101 1153 
From the USA:               +1 719 457 0820 
From the USA (free call):   888 203 1112 
 
 
Investor enquiries to:   Lavanya Chandrashekar   +1 973 979 4551 
 Lucinda Baker                                   +44 (0) 7974 375 550 
 Belinda Brown                                   +44 (0) 7590 810246 
                                                 investor.relations@diageo.com 
 
Media enquiries to:      Jessica Rouleau         +44 (0) 7925 642 561 
 Dominic Redfearn                                +44 (0) 7971 977 759 
 Francesca Olivieri                              +44 (0) 7523 930 130 
                                                 press@diageo.com 
 

Diageo plc LEI: 213800ZVIELEA55JMJ32

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