State gets ball rolling for privatization of Polish Press Agency

The Treasury Ministry is set to announce a tender for adviser to the sale of the Polish Press Agency (PAP) in the next few days, Puls Biznesu has learned. As the tender should be closed by the end of February or beginning of March, this means potential investors may be invited to make bids for a 49% stake in the press agency as early as March or April. Robert Bogdanski, president of PAP, stressed that the agency's new partner must be able to quickly develop the company, and, in particular, give it much needed marketing and high-tech know-how. Bogdanski added that it would be ideal to gain an investor active in PAP's line of business. He also announced that one of PAP's current projects is the creation of an Internet company. Talks with some potential partners have already been held, he said, but no concrete agreements have been concluded so far. Bogdanski added that the creation of such company would have a positive impact on the value of the PAP. (Puls Biznesu, p.6)