Nafta Polska denies favoring Austrian group in bid for stake in PKN

Poland's state agency responsible for privatization of the oil sector, Nafta Polska (NP), yesterday denied a media report that it granted exclusive negotiation rights in the purchase of a 17.6% stake of fuels concern PKN Orlen to Austrian oil and gas group OMV. Earlier, a local daily had reported that NP picked OMV over Hungarian MOL which was also bidding for the stake. "Negotiations are being conducted with both candidates and management has not set a final date for the end of the negotiations", said NP's press spokesman Krzysztof Mering. According to unofficial sources, the decision on the sale of PKN Orlen will not be taken before September 19, and NP wants to become acquainted with the contents of a deal between two of OMV's shareholders: the Austrian governmental agency, which holds a 35% stake in OMV, and IPIC, which holds 20% of the voting rights at the shareholders' meetings. "Unfortunately, the deal is confidential" adds the source. (Puls Biznesu, p.10; Reuters) A.Z.