The general public prosecutor’s workplace has been notified of serious irregularities within the latest merger between the Lotos gasoline firm and PKN Orlen, the biggest gasoline firm in Central and Jap Europe that can also be majority state-owned, representatives of the parliamentary opposition introduced throughout a press convention.
Following the European Fee’s approval, PKN Orlen and Lotos S.A merged into one firm on 1 August. As a part of the merger, it was determined that Hungarian firm MOL would take over 417 stations of the Lotos Group, whereas a 30% share within the Lotos refinery in Gdansk could be acquired by Saudi Armaco. Nonetheless, in accordance with findings of Enterprise Insider Polska’s editorial group, Brussels didn’t conform to restrictions on the divestment of the Saudi firm’s share within the refinery.
“It’s not doable to promote the Gdansk Refinery with out authorities approval. The legislation on the safety of strategic investments for the state is in drive, which successfully protects in opposition to such an motion,” mentioned State Property Minister Jacek Sasin.
However following revelations in regards to the backdoor dealings that led to the merger delivered to gentle by TVN24 journalists final week, opposition representatives pointed to the quite a few irregularities that allegedly occurred within the switch of a number of the refinery’s shares to the Arab firm.
“This settlement has not been out there to the general public, and evidently it ought to have. Above all, the Polish public prosecutor’s workplace, the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, must be on this settlement,” mentioned Agnieszka Pomarska from the opposition Civic Platform in the course of the press convention.
Additionally they famous shock that no anti-corruption measures have been taken over the method because it was concluded and regardless of materials showing within the media that implies clearly that irregularities happened.
“We’re notifying a couple of substantial suspicion that an offence in opposition to the Republic of Poland has been dedicated, consisting of the truth that individuals performing on behalf of PKN Orlen in reference to the concluded settlement on the sale of shares of the Lotos firm with the Saudi Aramco firm dedicated the sale with disregard for the rules on the management of sure investments and different procedural irregularities threatening the pursuits of the Republic of Poland,” they continued.
PKN Orlen assures that almost all of shares within the Gdansk refinery – 70% – stay of their fingers and that firm representatives can have a decisive voice within the group’s company decision-making.
(Bartosz Sieniawski | EURACTIV.pl)
