Pernod said it would keep its dividend unchanged at 2.52 euros a share, representing an effective rise of 20 percent when taking into account bonus shares issued in January. It will also propose giving shareholders in January 2008 one additional share for every one they hold. Pernod shares showed little reaction to the results. At 0820 GMT the shares were 1 percent lower at 154.22 euros, slightly underperforming the wider DJ Stoxx European food and beverage index. Pringuet reaffirmed Pernod's interest in acquiring Absolut vodka maker Vin & Sprit, which is being put up for sale by the Swedish government, and said talks were continuing with Russian authorities about acquiring full rights to Stolichnaya vodka. "For multiple reasons, be they financial or commercial, we don't aim to have both (Absolut and Stolichnaya) brands in our portfolio," Pringuet said. Rivals Diageo, Fortune Brands and privately-owned Bacardi have also expressed interest in buying Absolut, which analysts forecast could be worth $6 billion.