132 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

The original composition of the company consisted of the following
 wine and alcohol distillers (the number of shares taken in each
instance is also given) :

N. EF. KotSones....co ceesenceencnnei
 &amp; Lyberopoulos.....
Batistas, Esaias &amp; Samaras...
zachou Bros. .........
&amp;. Philopoulos &amp; CO..c-eveceeenee-.
D. Poures........- [RN
Andrea Kabas...cc...caea
John E. Phinopoules...-E.
 Charllos &amp; Co....-Barbareseu
 Bros. ........ce--..
Wine and Agriculture Company .

Total. ...

Nama.

Number
of shares.

| Value
‘drachmas).

289, 000
289,000
289,000
289,000
289,000
289,000
237,000
240, 000
275, 000
289,000
225,000
30,000 | 3,000,000

An appraisement of the various plants of the contributing members
was made, and on the basis of this appraisement subscriptions of
stock were made.
Within the past 18 months one of the members of the original
syndicate has sold his shares to the others of this group and withdrawn
 therefrom. He is now in competition with his former
associates.
The object of the company is stated to be the manufacture of wines
and spirits and any other products obtained from grapes and raisins,
the buying and selling of raw material entering into the business of
the combination, and, finally, any other activities related in any way
to the business of the company.
Because of the lack of statistics available, it is not possible to state
what proportion of the wine made is controlled by this organization,
though the percentage must be very high.
Active fields for the sale of the products of the various distilleries
are found in the Levant, France, the United States, etc. Definite
data relative to the actual sales made in these countries is not available,
 as the association guards its activities with some care.
A fact of extreme interest in connection with the company is that
it has brought about the shutting down of a large number of distilleries
 owned by its members.
The home market is well covered by the various theretofore existing
 sales offices and agents of the members of the combination. In
the foreign trade the method of sale is somewhat different, the field being
 supplied, as in the past, almost entirely through commission houses.
No information is obtainable as to the selling policy pursued by
the company or concerning its terms of sale.
The company bears no special relation to the Greek or any other
Government, nor does it benefit by any special legislation. Its membership
 is composed of prominent business men who are in close
relations with the various banking circles.
So far as can be ascertained, the company has taken no marked
steps looking to the advancement of prices, its profits being obtained
it 1s thought, in the economies effected through the closing down of
certain plants, in the purchase of materials, etc.
Shares in the company, though not listed on local exchanges, can be
bought in small quantities, but the majority interest is firmly held
by the original incorporators.