Diageo Polska and Gudzowaty to fight over distillers?

However, acquiring an interested company was not easy due to the fact that both firms have the right to the same brand of vodka, and at present Polmos Bielsko-Biała is trying to purchase the rights to the brand from the other company. "Bielsko-Biała owns 65% of the rights for the vodka, while Józefów owns 35%. We want to become the sole owner," said Józef Kapela, the president of Polmos Bielsko-Biała. Józefów may find it easier to sell the brand, as one of the interested investors is Diageo, owner of the Smirnoff brand, which is also produced in the Józefów dis tillery. "We are interested in purchasing this company, or continuing the current partner cooperation," said Maciej Bednarczyk, a member of Diageo Polska's management board. According to sources, Aleksander Gudzowaty is also interested in purchasing the Polmos in Bielsko-Biała, with an eye to developing his alcohol sector assets rather than to incorporate the plant with his biofuel company. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 7)M.M.