PO and analysts reject PiS' idea of merging Poczta Polska and bank PKO BP

The news has been confirmed by Jerzy Polaczek, PiS's candidate for Infrastructure Minister in the future government. The party believes that thanks to the merger, Poczta Polska would be able to collect the zl.5 billion necessary for its restructuring. PKO BP, in turn, would gain access to 8,300 post offices outlets. "We cannot comment on PiS' proposition, but PKO BP is our natural partner in financial services and our cooperation will obviously become more and more closer," said Marcin Anaszewicz, Poczta Polska's spokesman. The idea of merging the two companies is not likely to be supported by the Civic Platform (PO). According to Rafa³ Antczak, PO's economic adviser, the operation has no economic justification whatsoever. "These firms have the largest retail outlets network in the country, so they should compete with each other," said Antczak. Also market analysts see practically no advantages of the possible merger. (Rzeczpospolita, Oct. 8-9, pp. A1, B1) A.F.