In Brief: Rafineria Gdanska; bankers meet with NBP head; EdF; PKP
Final bids for up to 75% of Rafineria Gdanska (RG) shares are due today,
with the players most likely to take part in the oil refinerys
privatization being Hungarian fuel giant MOL and a consortium consisting of
English Rotch, U.S.-based MW Kellog and several Western banks. At the same
time, analysts speculate that the Treasury Ministry may attempt to annul the
tender in a bid to change the existing oil sector privatization process and
restructuring program. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) ... Leszek Balcerowicz,
president of the National Bank of Poland, recently met with Polands leading
bank representatives to discuss, among other issues, bolstering security
standards for banks and savings and debt levels. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 9)
... French energy group Electricite de France (EdF) has increased its stake
in domestic power and heat producer Kogeneracja to 36.2%. EdF plans to
become a majority stakeholder in Kogeneracja and says this transaction will
soon be followed by the purchase of 25% of shares in German energy player
EnBW, which holds a 16% stake in Kogeneracja. (Reuters) ... EU-sponsored
funds this year will grant Polish State Railways (PKP) about euro 130
million to overhaul its infrastructure and implement changes bringing it in
line with EU standards. PKP says the majority of the money will go toward
modernization of its lines, including further development of its express
Intercity and Eurocity connections. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) M. S.-C.
