In Brief: Kompania Piwowarska; PKN Orlen; 4Media 2002 losses

In 2002, brewer Kompania Piwowarska (KP) sold 8.35 million hectoliters of beer which is 10.5% more than it sold in 2001. This means that KP now has a 32% share of the beer market. (Rzeczpospolita, Jan. 11-12, p. B2)...PKN Orlen is withdrawing its law suit against TVP, in which the concern accused TVP of giving untrue information concerning the sponsorship of Marian Krzaklewski's presidential campaign. (Rzeczpospolita, Jan. 11-12, p. A1)...4Media announced that due to the liquidation of DWWS and the necessity of creating huge reserves, it will close 2002 with very high losses. There are no plan to re-start publishing Zycie or Prawo i Gospodarka. After the third quarter of 2002 consolidated revenues stood at zl. 34.6 million with a net loss of zl. 18.1 million. 4Media liabilities and reserves after the second quarter reached zl. 93.3 million. (Puls Biznesu, p. 8)...In related news, the future of Ilustrowany Kurier Polski in Bydgoszcz is now uncertain. Its journalists failed to prepare Friday's issue as Kurier's publisher, Polska Prasa Lokalna owned by 4Media, is behind with several months salaries. (Gazeta Wyborcza, Jan. 11-12, p. 26) A.Z./M.M.