Poland: Brewery Brok-Strzelec, which controls two beer production plants with a total capacity of almost 1,000 hectoliters of beer annually, has failed to meet its financial prognosis for 2004, Warsaw Business Journal communicated on March 14. However, because it has not annulled its forecast it could be fined. At the moment the company lacks capital and can only operate at 25% of its maximum output. Three international brewers are said to be interested in acquiring the company's production facilities.

Denmark's Bryggerigruppen, the producer of Faxe beer, Britain's Cobra Beer as well as Scottish & Newcastle, owner of the Foster brand, have spotted Brok-Strzelec as a potential acquisition. However, the potential investors are only looking to purchase the company's production facilities, and not the company itself, Warsaw Business Journal said on March 10. The publicly listed brewery recorded a net loss of z�.8.3 million on revenues of z�.112.4 million. The initial prognosis predicted a net profit of z�.2.2 million. The fine for not withdrawing from the forecasts might cost the company z�.500,000.