A marriage of convenience?

Treasury Minister Jacek Socha has given his backing to the scheme, believing that participation in the privatization process would provide the American bourse with an opening on the European market. "In order to play an important role in the region, we have to merge the privatization with acquiring a strategic investor," Socha told representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw. The NYSE's press office refused to comment on the statements made by the Minister. However, in order to take part in the privatization of the Polish stock exchange, its American counterpart would have to change its ownership structure and cease being a non-profit organization. NYSE would have to face Euronext and OMX in the race for the WSE. (Poland A.M.)