In Brief: Kolporter and Ruch; PKP restructuring; TPSA lower profits

Press distributor Kolporter S.A. is interested in participating in the privatization of Poland's largest press distributor, Ruch S.A. According to Kolporter spokesperson Maciej Topolski, several large financial institutions have expressed interest in financing the takeover of Ruch by Kolporter. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 27) ... The Infrastructure Ministry (IM) is concerned that the restructuring of Polish State Railways (PKP) into a group comprised of smaller companies has led to a zl.90 million debt in VAT payments owed to the State Treasury. According to the Undersecretary of State at IM, Mieczyslaw Muszynski, the restructuring should be continued but with more realistic economic expectations. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) ... According to Tomasz Bardzilowski, an analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston, TPSA's net profit may decrease by as much as 15% next year due to a recent ruling by the Telecoms Regulatory Office (URT) which slashed the fees TPSA can charge mobile phone operators. (Parkiet, Dec. 1-3, p. 1) M.T.K.