Polish companies shortlisted to take over Polmos Białystok

The list includes Polmos Lublin, Sobieski Dystrybucja, Bols and CEDC. This means the Ministry chose strong local players without well-developed foreign distribution networks (except for Bols) and rejected global giants such as French Pernod Ricard and Russian SPI. However, the shortlisted firms can help strengthen the position of Polmos Białystok, which currently holds 20% of the market. The figure will increase to 30% if winner of the tender becomes Polmos Lublin and to almost 50% if CEDC. However, before the final decision is made, the Treasury must decide on the size of the stake offered to the investor, as it also intends to sell some shares to financial investor and float 20-40% of the equity on the bourse. In related news, Polmos Lublin debuted on the Warsaw Stock Exchange on Thursday with a 10% increase in comparison to its share issue price. The company declared it will place a final offer for Polmos Białystok in cooperation with a foreign partner. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 4) M.M.