Polmos distillers reject Treasury plan for Agros control of international sales

The Polmos spirits producers say they cannot accept the conditions of the agreement which the Treasury Ministry has proposed to Agros and its investor French Pernod Ricard (PR), thus prolonging the ongoing battle over control of Polish alcohol brands. Under the proposed deal, Agros and Pernod Ricard would relinquish their brands to the Polish firms, but in return retain the right to worldwide distribution of the spirits for the next 25 years. "Pernod Ricard's proposals guarantee nothing," said the head of one Polmos. Polish alcohol producers are afraid PR might decide not to expand sales abroad, thus ruining the industry in Poland. Moreover, the exact date of the hand-over of the brands is very imprecise. Some speak of it being as much as five years in the future, too far off according to the Polmoses. None of the Polish companies would comment on the latest events, since the Treasury Ministry has put an information embargo on the whole conflict. (Puls Biznesu, pp.1,7) J.K.