Foreigners don't want any more Polish vodka this year

Despite expectations, it is almost certain that no spirit producer will have been privatized by the end of the year, as foreign investors have possibly been discouraged by the problems of the weakest Polmos distillers. The Treasury Ministry is therefore considering major changes in the restructuring plan for the spirits sector. The first evidence of that might be the case of Polmos Krakow, whose ownership is about to be transferred to the Industry Development Agency (ARP), rather than a foreign investor. This is likely to be the first step in dissolving the company. The same fate awaits other weak-performing vodka producers. Even the biggest companies with well known brand names are not very attractive to investors. Polmos Poznan is a good example. Despite their previous statements, such giants as Allied Domecq, Bacardi-Martini and UDV refused to take part in privatization negotiations regarding the Poznan distillery. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p.1,3) M.K.