French spirits group Pernod Ricard, which owns Irish Distillers, has reported a forecast-beating rise in 2002 earnings, but gave no guidance for this year due to the geopolitical uncertainty.
The world's third largest spirits company, after Britain's Diageo and Allied Domecq, said its net profits for last year rose 15% to €413m compared to €358m a year earlier.
Driven by the company's Seagram purchase last year, operating profits soared to €750m from €451m, on sales up 6.1% to €4.835 billion.
'2003 has started strongly, but in the uncertain geopolitical and economic situation, we will reserve guidance on performance to the shareholders' meeting,' Chairman Patrick Ricard said in a statement.
