In Brief: Lukas and Żagiel; PZM; Goodbye golden share?; PKP backs down

The two biggest national credit intermediaries, Lukas and Żagiel, have reported a significant increase in revenues in the first half of 2003 with the former having signed 788,900 credit contracts worth zł. 1.17 billion, or 8% up on 2002, and Żagiel zł. 762.8 million contracts, which is 36% more than in the same period of last year. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) ... Polska Żegluga Morska (PZM) has asked the New Szczecin and Gdynia Shipyards to quote them a price to build four to six bulk cargo ships, but sources say, the most likely contractor will come from China. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) ... The EU is pressing Poland to abandon the law which gives the Treasury Ministry the right to a so-called "golden share", as such a provision does not exist in the EU and will have to be eventually removed from Polish statue books. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) ... PKP will close the most loss-making regional connections but fewer than originally planned. The company's labor unions have reached an agreement with the government and rail authorities. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B3) J.K.