Beer producer Żywiec to merge with rival Leżajsk

The Żywiec brewery has decided to merge with rival beer producer Leżajsk. Żywiec, which already holds 90% of the company, said it would give the shares it is going to purchase to its minority shareholders. The news sent shockwaves through the financial market with Żywiec's share turnover soaring to zł. 6.5 million. It is possible that some of the turmoil on the bourse should be accredited to the brewer itself. In related news, the Ministry of Agriculture announced it would once again look into the appeal of the Habsburg family, once the brewery's owners, who do not agree with the Śląsk voivod's decision that the brewery was nationalized in accordance with regulations. Their opinion was upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court in 2002. (Parkiet, p. 1; Rzeczpospolita, p. C2) J.K.