KGHM, PKN Orlen to sell Polkomtel stakes to Vodafone?

Stanisław Speczik, president of KGHM and president of the supervisory board of Polkomtel, owner of leading domestic mobile telecom Plus GSM, has announced that KGHM is to send offers for the acquisition of its stake in the operator to a number of companies, and that one of them will certainly be Britain's Vodafone. The latter currently holds 20% of Plus GSM and might be interested in acquiring a further 61% stake currently held by KGHM, PKN Orlen and National Grid (PSE). The British telecom operator has a clear strategy of either taking control of, or withdrawing from, such companies as Polkomtel. "Vodafone is only one candidate for the stake, as the investment bank will send out the offer to a number of firms," stressed Speczik. Among other potential investors may be Swisscom, one of the Asian telecom operators or, finally, cash-rich investment funds. KGHM and PKN Orlen expect to receive euro 450 million - euro 600 million and euro 500 million - euro 600 million respectively for their stakes in Polkomtel. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 5) M.M.