Punch Taverns hopes to buy another 300 pubs this year to add to its existing portfolio of 4,302 houses.
The company has started a programme of rolling revaluations of its properties.
It is also encouraging its publicans to sign a new lease that will increase their rent but will also increase the discount on their beer.
Of the 357 leases renewed in the last financial year, about 200 converted to the Punch Growth Lease.
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has asked Punch Taverns to supply it with details of complaints from its publicans after the Federation of Small Businesses called for an inquiry into the leased and tenanted sector. The company admitted it could have done a better job at helping struggling licensees.
However, Giles Thorley, chairman, said it was unlikely the OFT would seek to alter the beer tie.
Financial Times 06/11/02 page 25, page 27
The Times 06/11/02 page 26 (Tempus), page 27
The Daily Telegraph 06/11/02 page 33, page 35 (Questor)
The Independent 06/11/02 page 21
The Guardian 06/11/02 page 21
