Polus pays to avert trial

Polus Transilvania, held by Hungarian TriGranit Development Corporation and businessman Arpad Paszkany is willing to pay up to 8 million euros to amicably settle the suit filed by the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) for the plot of land in Cluj where the company is supposed to build a shopping complex, sources close to the project said. “I cannot tell you anything until I”ve got a written paper, an understanding put in writing. Until then I cannot tell you anything because there are a number of things that need to be worked out,” Paskzany said. USAMV”s rector, Liviu Marghitas, confirmed talks were indeed being held, adding he knew nothing of the amounts of money in question. “I am negotiating with someone else, not Paszkany. We are still in talks and I can”t tell you anything,” Marghitas said. The land under litigation was seized from Count Mikes Alexandru in 1945 and became the property of the Romanian state, which let USAMV use it. The plot of land was registered in the Land Register in 1998 as belonging to the company Agroindustriala SA that sold it to Polus Transilvania. Early this summer Polus secured the approvals for the construction of a shopping complex and prepared most of the plot for development. USAMV filed for annulment of the purchase-sale contract and won, at first. Polus filed an appeal in October, with the suit pending. ZF