In Brief: Privatization; Nordbanken cleared; PKN issue; PKP power; Banks

The Privatization Agency (AP) is inviting bids for stakes in seven state-owned firms that include commodity market Beskidzka Gielda Towarowa S.A., glass factory KARA S.A. and constructor Transbud-Krakow S.A. the deadline for filling bids is May 28. (Puls Biznesu, page 6, Prawo i Gospodarka, page 3) ... The Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) has cleared Nordbanken to exceed 50% voting rights in Gdansk-based Bank Komunalny. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 10) ... The Treasury Ministry is likely to start receiving subscriptions for 20-30% shares in oil producer and distributor Polski Koncern Naftowy (PKN) Orlen on June 16. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 1) ... Electricity distributor Energetyka Poznanska has threatened to cut the power supply to Polish State Railways (PKP) on the Poznan-Berlin route unless it pays at least 50% of its electricity bills estimated at zl. 8 million. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 26) ... Private television station TVN has learned that Prosper Bank, Gliwicki Bank Handlowy and Bank Gospodarka Zywnosciowe have solvency ratios similar to that of Bank Staropolski prior to its bankruptcy. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 10) S.M.