Netia, Millennium court case may be settled this week

An end is in sight to the nine-month legal battle between Netia and Millennium Communications (MC). The case centers on a deal under which Netia, Poland's leading local telecoms operator, was to take over MC. Netia's bid for Warsaw's leading internal telecoms infrastructure supplier, agreed more than a year ago, was estimated to be worth between zl.45 million and zl. 85 million. However, the deal was cancelled by MC before it could be finalized and both sides filed cases with the courts. Netia has been seeking a ruling that the transaction should be allowed to go through, while MC, arguing that Netia's bid should be invalidated, has been demanding some zl.50 million in compensation. The case is expected to be settled at a second session of the arbitration court of the National Economic Chamber (KIG) on Friday. Both sides have refused to comment officially on their chances. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) P.J.