Polish Business Survey
Auchan to open supermarkets
The French Auchan has announced that it intends to open a network of supermarkets in this country under the Atac brand.
The first shop will be opened next year. Shops will have a floor area of between 1,500sqm and 2,500sqm. They will be built by ISMS Polska, which is part of the Auchan group.
ISMS is also negotiating with Robert, in which Auchan has a 45 percent share. Robert has 12 supermarkets in Poland and two shops selling only alcohol. Both Atac and Robert could share facilities such as warehousing in order to keep costs down.
In building these supermarkets, Auchan is moving to beat its competition. It should be remember that of its French rivals, Carrefour has said that it wants to build thirty Champion supermarkets. The first ones are already open as are Leader Price stores which belong to Casino, the owner of the Geant hypermarkets.
Skanska enlarges holding
Information that road and bridge builders GPRD from Gdansk were about to leave the stock market has been confirmed. According to rumour, this was started by Exbud, and in effect the Swedish Skanska which is the owner of the Kielce based holding. It is expected that the GPRD will leave the stock market during the first quarter of 2001, around the time that Exbud will also be leaving.
According to plans for the restructuring of the Exbud group, GPRD will take care of the side of the business involved in communication infrastructure construction. Other companies, such as the Gdansk based Mostobud which is about to be 100 percent taken over by GPRD, will also be brought into the structure.
Daewoo situation unclear
It is not yet clear what the effect of the bankruptcy of Daewoo may have on the Polish economy. However both the government and, more importantly, the company themselves, say that production will be continued at Lublin.
Planning enlarged fund
Bank HandlowyŐs retirement investment fund has said that it is hoping to increase the number of people in its company plans from 2,000 to 10,000. Management of the company says that the Employment Ministry ought to get involved in the scheme to encourage to think of the retirement plans of their employees.
Animex buy bankrupt plant
Food producers Animex, controlled by the American Smithfield Foods, have announced that they are to take the near bankrupt Przylep meat plant.
PZU fight
Treasury minister Andrzej Chronowski has found himself between a rock and a hard place over the privatisation (or not) of insurance giant PZU. On one side he is under press and political pressure to regain state control over the company, on the other the Portuguese investor Eureko is threatening international repercussions if the government does not change its attitude.
Solution proposed for PZU
A war of position is underway and the prize is the control of the PZU group. Last week the de facto management of the company was the board of PZU SA with Jerzy Zdrzazk at its head. The treasury meanwhile is seeking to take the company out of the hands of the consortium made up of Eureko — BIG BG. One of the most refined proposals for the company is to put the government s stake into the hands of PKO BP which is slated for future privatisation. One of the companies who would be interested in this solution is the American Citigroup.
EBRD pulls out of HK Long
The EBRD has declared that it is no longer interested in taking a twenty percent share in Huta Katowice subsidiary HK Long.
Polfa Grodzisk decides its own price
Management of pharmaceuticals producer Polfa Grodzisk is hoping that the government will consider its privatisation request in the next few days which the treasury sent to the cabinet almost one year ago. Without waiting for a decision, the company has gone ahead and chosen a firm that will value its property.
Car dealers v. importer
An association of Seat dealers has sent to the monopolies and competition commission, the UOKiK, a charge levelled at the Iberia Motor Company (IMC), the only Seat importer, complaining at monopoly practices. The IMC has so far made no comment.