Monopoly fears stall educational publisher's IPO

Opposition parties fear that the change in ownership of the state controlled company will lead to an increase in prices of school text books. During Friday's debate they argued that the selected strategic investor, the Advent/CAIB consortium, could resell its shares to Agora, which would result in a concentration of control in the sector. Sejm deputies are due debate the matter again on October 5. In the meantime the Treasury Ministry is planning to begin promoting the possible public offering. "We want to make it before October 30 because that is when the issue prospectus validity runs out," said deputy Treasury Minister Dariusz Witkowski. (Parkiet, p. 1) A.K.