In brief: Reemsta cigarette sales; publisher WSiP; NOM to lower charges

Reemsta Polska, the second biggest domestic cigarette producer, has announced that it will cut 240 staff from its total workforce of 1,000. The reason given for the redundancies is the sharp fall in sales last year. According to Reemsta, its sales were hit by higher taxes and increased smuggling of cigarettes into Poland. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) ... The State Treasury has completed negotiations on the privatization of school text book publisher WSiP. Its 85% stake will be taken over by the consortium of Polskie Towarzystwo Edukacyjne and publisher Nasza Ksiegarnia. The consortium will pay around zl.350 million for the shares. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) ... Independent long distance telecom operator NOM will next month lower its charges for long-distance calls. The move is a response to an announcement by TPSA on cutting its own long-distance call rates. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) M.T.