List published today of hopeful agents for zł. 2 billion PKP bond issue

Today is the deadline for the submission of offers by agents wishing to be involved in Polish State Railways' (PKP) zł.2 billion bond issue. The commission responsible for the tender is expecting as many as 11 offers, from such companies as Westdeutsche LandesBank Polska, BNP Paribas, Merrill Lynch, and Morgan Stanley. The official list of candidates will be published today, and the winner will be announced in mid July. PKP plans to offer bonds with terms of five and seven years guaranteed by the state treasury, to both domestic and foreign investment banks, with part of the sale conducted on European markets. The funds secured through the issue, zł.1.3 billion this year and zł.700 million in 2002, will be spent mainly on paying off PKP's debts. (Puls Biznesu, p.3) M.K.