In Brief: Elektrim shareholders meeting; WSSE; BWE and BP; Animex

A group of shareholders related to BRE Bank failed to change the supervisory board of Elektrim as all of their proposals were rejected by Vivendi and Chemia Polska. BRE Bank representatives sought to win six seats on the new supervisory board with three going to Vivendi. The meeting ended, as predicted, without any decisions taken as even an agenda could not be agreed upon. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Jan. 18-19, p. 28) ... The President of the Walbrzych Special Economic Zone (WSSE), Miroslaw Greber, said Japanese automotive companies are interested in investing in his zone during 2003. Toyota is the largest of 10 interested concerns. (Rzeczpospolita, Jan. 18-19, p. B2) ... According to unofficial information in Rzeczpospolita, Bank Wspolpracy Europejskiej (BWE) is likely to merge with Bank Przemyslowy (BP). After the merger, the assets of the new bank would amount to zl. 1.5 billion. BISE and Dominet Bank are said to be interested in BP as well. (Rzeczpospolita, Jan. 18-19, p. B5) ... Animex, one of the biggest meat processing plans is to grant loans totalling zl. 105 million to its breeders in 2003. The loans will carry interest rates of between 1.5% to 4%. Animex also intends to expand the export of pork. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4) K.Z./A.Z.