Dividing the dividends

"[We expect] some zł.2.4 billion in budget income [from] dividends and revenues from privatizations carried out by the Treasury indirectly, [such as] when state-owned firms sell shares they own," Mikosz said, mentioning Nafta Polska as an example.

"The dividend policy will be aggressive, which is a consequence of the budget presented by Marcinkiewicz's government," Mikosz added. "It will be some zł.700 million more than what has been achieved in 2005."

To date, budgeted dividend income for 2005 stands at zł.500 million, but this is expected to grow by some zł.2 billion. Nafta Polska is expected to sell four large-scale chemical synthesis firms within weeks. Earlier, the Treasury Ministry vaguely estimated revenues from the sale at hundreds of millions of złoty. (Reuters)