In Brief: PZU; MG Rover, Daewoo-FSO; BPT Telbank; NATO

The country's largest insurer, PZU, expects higher full-year profits after achieving a 21% jump in consolidated nine-month profits, helped by top-line growth and better investment returns, PZU said yesterday. Consolidated profits for the January-September period rose to zl. 1.02 billion. Gross premium income at state-owned PZU inched up 2.9% to zl. 3.65 billion. This, together with 22% growth in investment income, to zl. 1.24 billion, helped balance out higher claims, which rose 22% to zl. 2.25 billion. (Reuters) ... British automotive concern MG Rover has obtain exclusive negotiation rights for investment in New Small Company, which is to take over car production from Daewoo-FSO. (Parkiet, p. 1) ... Five companies have filed their bids for the purchase of a 74% stake in BPT Telbank from the National Bank of Poland in a tender to be concluded by the end of the year. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 7) ... During this week's NATO summit , the organization's leaders decided to accept seven new countries. "Poland is happy and proud to welcome new countries into the alliance," said President Kwasniewski. He also declared that NATO rapid reaction forces would be supported by 200 Polish troops. In the years 2004-2005 the forces will be ready to operate all over the world. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 4) A.Z.