Andersen Polska in merger talks with Ernst & Young

The Polish branch of international accounting firm Andersen is likely to merge with competitor Ernst & Young. So far it had been rumored that Andersen Polska was talking with another member of the Big Five accounting firms, KPMG. However, according to unofficial information cited in Gazeta Wyborcza, the company is currently running advanced talks with Ernst & Young. An official decision will probably be announced this week. Press spokespersons for the two firms declined to comment on the reports of a merger. Branches of Andersen in various other countries have announced mergers with Big Five companies including Deloitte & Touche, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Andersen's revenues in Poland in 2001 reached nearly $70 million and were 20% higher than the year before. Andersen's clients include PKO BP, TPSA, Pekao SA, PKP, PKN Orlen, PSE, PZU SA, Elektrim and Warta. (Gazeta Wyborcza, April 6-7, p. 25) A.Z.