DIAEGO has stolen a march over Pernod Ricard after a leading ratings agency declared that it has a stronger credit quality than its Scotch whisky rival.

Moody’s Investor Service said a combination of lower leverage and larger size and market share at the Bell’s and Johnnie Walker distiller puts it ahead of Pernod, owner of Paisley-based Chivas Brothers.

That is despite concluding that Diageo is “slightly more exposed” to the uncertainty over future trading arrangements caused by the Brexit vote. The finding is contained a new “peer comparison” report, published by Moody’s yesterday. “Diageo’s

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