Bartimpex expects its role in offset program will see a return to good profits

Aleksander Gudzowaty's Bartimpex has little prospect to return high profit this year, but the company hopes its fortunes improve once Polish exports to the US under the offset program kicks off. "We probably will produce a net profit this year, but this will be just a couple of millions of złoty," said Gudzowaty. According to the market mogul, the disappointing figures mainly result from Bartimpex last year's zł. 120 million investment in the purchase and modernizing of two spirits producers Wratislavia in Wrocław and Akwawit in Leszno. The investment has so far reached zł. 12 million and is likely to top zł. 30 million by the end of the year. Bartimpex expects a rebound when it starts operating as an intermediary in Polish exports to the US under the offset program. (Parkiet, p. 4) J.K.