Hoop hopes its merger with Kofola will bring a juicy union

"Our capabilities will now be much wider," said Hoop president Dariusz Wojdyga. Following the merger with Kofola, the stock-listed company will have a turnover of zl.1.2 billion with an EBITDA of zl.130 million. The deal marks a defeat for Danish Unibrew in its attempt to take over the Polish drinks producer. A majority shareholder in the newly established Kofola-Hoop will be Luxembourg-registered KSM. Hoop intends to become a leading player on the CEE market. "We still lack a strong brand of mineral water, which could be sold throughout the region. We also do not hold a strong position in the juices segment," said Marek Jutkiewicz, one of the shareholders in the company. The firm is said to be in advanced takeover talks with unnamed companies. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) M.M.