Heavy chemicals sector comes up short in its search for strategic investors

Several companies active in the Polish chemicals sector may face serious difficulties finding strategic investors due to their privatization plans, which call for each of them to be sold in one package. "The structure of Solvay makes us take interest only in companies similar to ours. We would be willing to purchase three to four production segments and if we receive such an offer from the Economy Ministry we will accept it," said Leszek Chwalisz, the head of Solvay in Poland. German chemical giant BASF also claims it would be interested only in partial acquisition of Polish chemicals producers. Among those unlucky companies still awaiting privatization are Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy, Tarnow, Kedzierzyn and Zaklady Chemiczne Police. Despite this, most of the chemical companies are working hard to carry out reforms to make themselves more attractive to potential buyers. (Puls Biznesu, pp.1,14)