In Brief: Nitrate privatization; Merloni; BIG BG; Chemiskor's stocks soar

The long-awaited privatization of Poland's nitrate-fertilizer manufacturers is likely to start soon, with advisory-company Business Management & Finance scheduled to prepare a privatization strategy by August. (Puls Biznesu, page 6) ... Italian company Merloni has begun construction of a 10,000-square-meter logistics center in Lodz to service all 22 of its European operations at a cost of $10 million. (Puls Biznesu, page 36) ... The Banking Supervisory Commission (KNB) has granted BIG BG Bank permission to merge with its retail banking arm Millenium bank. (Reuters) ... The stocks of leather-and-chemicals manufacturer Chemiskor soared almost 66% on Friday after the company announced plans to radically change its profile and venture into media and the internet. (Gazeta Wyborcza, July 22-23, page 30) T.J.