Court allows French acquisition of sugar companies

The Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) exempted on Monday the French company Saint Louis Sucre (SLS) from the requirement to apply for the consent of Internal and Administration Ministry for the acquisition of shares in sugar plants belonging to Slaska Spolka Cukrowa (SSC). The court decision enables the French company to buy 16 sugar plants of SSC that were recently assigned to the newly created holding Polish Sugar (PC). If the Treasury Ministry concludes the sale to SLS, Polish Sugar will own only 28 sugar plants. PC may lose a further 5 sugar plants, as a foreign investor has initiated court action demanding further shares. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 5), M.T.