World: Diageo’s first-half profit down 15%

British alcoholic beverages company Diageo plc reported on January 27 that its first-half profit attributable to parent company's shareholders declined 15 percent to 1.58 billion pounds from last year's 1.87 billion pounds.

Basic earnings per share were 67.6 pence, down from 79.2 pence a year ago, the London-based maker of Johnnie Walker scotch, Guinness stout and Smirnoff vodka reported.

Adjusted earnings per share were 69.9 pence, down from 80.2 pence last year. Organic operating profit was down 3.4 percent.

Net sales dropped 5 percent to 6.87 billion pounds from prior year's 7.20 billion pounds. Organic net sales went up 1 percent, despite a significant impact from Travel Retail and on-trade restrictions. North America was up 12.3 percent, offsetting declines in other regions, except for Africa which was broadly flat.

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