It was reported that in 2008 Diageo paid US$900 million to acquire half of Ketel One. The deal also included the formation of an exclusive marketing and distribution joint venture with the Nolet Group, the Dutch founders of Ketel One. Speaking ahead of an investor presentation 5th December, Diageo's global brand director, Peter Fairbrother, said: "If they (Nolet) did decide they wanted to sell, we'd be interested in looking at it." The Nolet family has been making vodka for generations before the 2008 deal with Diageo. Ketel One's popularity in the US caught the eye of the spirits giant. In November, Diageo paid £1.2BN for a majority stake in Vijay Mallya's United Spirits, based in India, and the company is also in long-running talks to buy tequila maker Jose Cuervo. Diageo reported in Novemberamazing successfor Bushmills Irish Whiskey in Bulgaria.
