Treasury insists France Telecom still interested in TPSA

The Treasury Ministry has said that it has received a statement from the France Telecom - Kulczyk Holding consortium saying that it is ready to hold negotiations on increasing its stake in TPSA, with a view eventually to building up a controlling interest in the telecoms giant. The announcement follows the consortium's decision not to exercise the option of purchasing an additional 10% stake in TPSA at the high price of zl.40 per share. In an interview with the Polish News Agency (PAP), a spokesman for France Telecom said, "We would very much like to finish the talks with the Treasury as soon as possible, with the purpose of increasing our current share package at a price close to the market price. We hope to receive the permission of the Treasury to purchase a controlling interest in 2002 or 2003." (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 17) P.W.