Agreement with Agros paves the way for the privatization of distilleries

Food and beverage group Agros, a subsidiary of French company Pernod Ricard, has finally signed an agreement with the state treasury that paves the way for the privatization of the Polmos, Poland's distilleries. Agros has agreed to return to their domestic manufacturers the export rights for 20 Polish vodka brands. In exchange, Agros has been given the all-clear to buy Poland's second largest distillery, Polmos Poznan, maker of the leading Wyborowa vodka brand. Pernod Ricard is currently negotiating with the state treasury for the purchase of an 80% stake in Polmos Poznan. The agreement means that the Polmos, which previously had the right to distribute their brands only on the domestic market, will now be free to sell them overseas. The long-standing dispute over the marketing rights discouraged many international investors from taking part in the privatization of the Polmos. (Parkiet, p. 2, Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 3) M. S.-C.