The Explorers Club and Diageo, Owner of Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club Collection, Announce Global Sponsorship and Licensing Agreement

--Litigation settled between The Explorers Club and Diageo, owner of the Johnnie Walker brand--

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Sep 19, 2014, 01:47 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Explorers Club and Diageo today announced a global sponsorship and licensing agreement and the settlement of all outstanding litigation between the two organizations.

Under the agreement, Johnnie Walker has become a corporate sponsor of The Explorers Club, the historic world center for exploration headquartered in New York City. The Explorers Club and Johnnie Walker will also work together to promote exploration and discovery, the core of The Explorers Club's mission. The rich legacy of The Explorers Club will serve to inspire the Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club Collection going forward. Terms of the Agreement were not released.

In announcing the Agreement, Guy Escolme, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker, stressed that "this collaboration with The Explorers Club brings the history and importance of exploration to life and allows us to share our joint passion for exploration and discovery. The Explorers Club is leading the way in world exploration, and we are privileged to be able to join them in this extraordinary effort."

Alan Nichols, President of The Explorers Club, added: "We salute Johnnie Walker for joining with us in furthering the quest for knowledge through exploration and discovery, which holds the key to all human progress. With this new and exciting relationship, The Explorers Club will be able to enhance its grant programs, further develop its highly successful lecture series and educational events, and expand its role as the World Center for Exploration."

About The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club was founded in New York City 1904 by a group of the world's leading explorers of the time. It is a multidisciplinary, not for profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences. The Club's members have been responsible for an illustrious series of famous firsts: First to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, and first to the surface of the moon. With 3,000 members worldwide, the organization is headquartered at 46 East 70th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021. For more information about The Explorers Club, its history, and its mission, visit www.explorers.org

About Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club Collection and Diageo

The Johnnie Walker Explorers' Club Collection comprises a series of Blended Scotch Whiskies created exclusively for travelers and sold only in travel retail outlets including airports, cruise lines and airlines.

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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SOURCE Diageo