In Brief: EBRD to invest in BGZ; Hortex; Unemployment up 10,000

The European Bank For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is willing to invest in a stake in Bank Gospodarki Zywnosciowej (BGZ) before listing its shares on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. According to BGZ Deputy President Romuald Klosinski, EBRD is likely to acquire the shares currently owned by regional and co-operative banks. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) ... BGZ hopes that in the first half of 2003 it will sell shares of juice producer Hortex. Hortex's majority shareholder is Bank of America which currently has at its disposal a 92% stake in the juice producer. (Puls Biznesu, p. 11) ... Labor Minister Jerzy Hausner announced that the number of people registered unemployed increased by 10,000 in October. (Puls Biznesu, p. 11) A.Z.