Third time lucky in attempt to privatize publisher WSiP?

Publically listed Muza will spend at least zl. 290 million on purchasing a stake in educational books publisher Wydawnictwa Szkolne i Pedagogiczne (WSiP). "The upper level of the price depends on the course of negotiations," said a person close to the privatization process. The remaining consortia have offered similar prices. Despite the fact that the previous attempts to privatize the publisher were unsuccessful, the State Treasury is now acting in a more determined manner, "This time privatization will be successful," said Deputy Treasury Minister Malgorzata Ostrowska. Apart from Gazeta Wyborcza publisher Agora, the remaining companies participating in the tender are supported by financial investors. Muza has received guarantees for the deal from two banks. There are rumors that Agora intends to boost its offer by joining forces with the PWN scientific publisher and WSiP employees associated with Pracownicy Wydawnictwa. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.Z.