LE FIGARO. – Are you satisfied with the performance of Pernod-Ricard during the exercise?
Pierre PRINGUET. – Congratulations to the teams of Pernod Ricard. The group has an excellent performance, with both a strong acceleration of growth of our business and our operating profits. For the first time ever, our net income exceeds one billion euros. These figures show the relevance of our premiumisation strategy and innovation. Our high-end bottles account for 71% of our sales, against 69% last year. Our new products (Wild Tea Absolut, Malibu cocktails …) our limited series and our innovations in advertising and packaging met with success.With a new bottle of Ricard sales increased 5% in France, a market of aniseed stable.
You get ready for a worsening economic environment?
No, I fear neither slowing growth in emerging countries or return to recession in mature markets. The world faces a problem of public debt, with a unique in Greece, the country most fragile. But the political dimension is at least as important as the economic dimension. Everyone was betting on an acceleration of growth in mature markets: the targets are scaled down, but countries will experience low growth in 2011 (1.5 to 2%). And there is no reason for the dynamic growth of emerging countries is slowing. For 2012, the objectives are still serene. IMF sees faster U.S. next year. You can always play to be afraid.But the psychodrama of the summer on the state of the banking system has nothing to do with the situation of 2008 and the general crisis of debt at the time. It is a political problem, but not macro-financial.
There will be no effect on the growth of your business during the current year?
We expect continued moderate growth in mature markets for the fiscal year beginning in July (1.5% last year) and continued strong growth in emerging countries (17% last year) . These will drive our growth: built on solid economic fundamentals, these markets are naturally attracted to our premium brands.
The tension in the markets makes it more difficult to manage your debt?
For our bank debt, we have no due before July 2013.We have an active management of our debt, with two bond issues last year to EUR 1 billion and $ 1 billion respectively. Interest rates remain particularly low, we will seize every opportunity to issue bonds. We will continue our debt reduction, with the aim of achieving 30 June in a net debt / EBITDA of close to 4.
You will be able to resume your acquisition policy …
Does not expect to purchase several billion on 1 July. In the meantime, we will conduct no strategic acquisitions. However, we can make tactical acquisitions, such as tequila Avion in July. It is both a start-up and a brand ultrapremium, sold between 40 and 60 euros a bottle, which allows us to expand our portfolio in the United States.This is the type of operation we will focus in the immediate future. Acquisitions of Brazilian cachaça or baijiu Chinese are possible options. In our business, this is not the type of product that counts, but the brand. Pernod Ricard could also create one from scratch. This is one of the objectives of our internal team called BIG (Breakthrough Innovation Group), whose current head of our German subsidiary, Alain Dufossé, just take the lead.
This summer, Patrick Ricard, non-executive chairman of Pernod Ricard, said at that point the group should aim for first place in the spirits market. What is your strategy to achieve this?
This is the purpose of our project Agility. The goal is not size for size, but the growth momentum. Our sales have grown faster than our competitor's last year. We must repeat that performance this year.We take the market, we are the most innovative, we are well placed to achieve this.
Alexandre Ricard was promoted a few weeks ago. It is well positioned to succeed you …
Two things are certain. One is Alexandre Ricard has an excellent track. That's why I named Executive Vice President in charge of distribution networks. The second is that I leave my post January 31, 2015, when I turn 65, according to the statutes of Pernod Ricard.