Pernod Ricard deal may solve Treasury Ministry’s Polmos privatization woe

The Treasury Ministry is close to solving a long-standing problem obstructing privatization of the Polmos spirits producers. France’s Pernod Ricard group, in exchange for taking over Polmos Poznan, will probably relinquish its rights to sell other Polish brands abroad to the Polmoses that produce them. This would allow the Treasury to sell, for example Polmos Bialystok, makers of popular Zubrowka, at a very good price. However, other companies are also attempting to take over Polmos Poznan, namely Eckes i V & S, Bols, Undenberg-Adamba. The Treasury is considering the possibility of a deal between two potential investors in Polmos Zyrardow who are fighting for rights for the prestigious Belvedere vodka brand, Phillips Millennium and Belvedere. The Polmoses stand to benefit from acceleration of the privatization process, since their financial health is declining drastically; last year they recorded a 10% drop in sales from the previous year due to higher excise taxes and capital shortages. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 1,2,) M.T.