MAC believes its offer for WSiP will prevail over Muza

MAC Edukacja, the second biggest publisher of educational books, is trying to take over smaller competitors in a bid to consolidate the market. At present it has its sights set on Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne (WSiP), the market leader which is being privatized. "It has been a year since we started talks on consolidation. Unfortunately, the companies are mostly family businesses and they do not like the idea of consolidation," said Andrzej Cyranski, one of three co-owners of MAC Edukacja. The company has offered to buy an 85% stake in WSiP. "Muza estimated WSiP to be worth zl. 290 million, which means that our proposal is definitely better. Still, everything now depends on the Ministry," said Cyranski. Until the middle of December, Muza has sole negotiating rights over the purchase. It had even been alleged to be the winner before the tender was announced. Another competitor for the tender is Agora. Last year MAC's net income amounted to zl. 7.5 million and it is estimated that it will be similar this year. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) K.Z.