DEO vs PUK Comparison

Formed in 1997 through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness, Diageo is the largest distiller globally by sales. Diageo acquired some of the Seagram assets in 2001, which gave it brands such as Captain Morgan rum and Crown Royal Canadian whisky. Since then, mergers and acquisitions have mostly been bolt-on in nature, plugging gaps in the company's product and geographic portfolio.

Originally established in 1848 as the Prudential Mutual Assurance, Investment, and Loan Association, Prudential has changed a lot since. Set up to sell life insurance and loans to the middle class, the company subsequently diversified into Europe and then North America with the purchase of Jackson National Life around 1985. During its time as owner of Jackson, Prudential focused on building a simple chassis-style product portfolio that allowed customers to choose from a variety of add-ons. The company also became renowned for its focus on building the internal capabilities required to support its strong product offerings, including compelling technology and a large well-trained wholesale salesforce.