Interfax: Poland news report of 03.04.2009

Weekly news:

FINANCIAL & ECONOMIC NEWS

NEWS

Poles receive PLN 631 mln in parking/speed fines in 2008, up PLN 80 mln y/y – report

Fitch sees Polish GDP growth at 0% in 2009, 1.5% in 2010, well above other CEE countries

World Bank cuts GDP growth forecast for Poland, growth seen at 0.5% in 2009

MONETARY POLICY

Poland’s entry into ERM2 requires stable currency, may take place in H1 or later – Polish PM

PRESS: Polish zloty may decline to EURPLN 5 – experts

COMPANY NEWS

TRANSPORTATION

Polish flag air carrier LOT’s privatization to take eight months after receiver gives green light

METALS

Polish copper miner KGHM’s annual consolidated net profit down 29% to PLN 2.8 bln in 2008

Polish copper producer KGHM Polska Miedz evacuates employees from Congo unit

CHEMICALS

Polish chemical ZCh Police to post net profit in 2009 only if PLN significantly stronger – analyst

PRESS: Polish oil PKN Orlen unlikely to sell chemical unit Anwil in 2009

PHARMACEUTICALS & HEALTHCARE

Polish tycoon Krauze to help get extra financing for insulin maker Bioton

Polish-listed pharmaceuticals company Nepentes signs distribution contract with Russian Akrikhin

MEDIA

Polish media Agora’s flagship daily suffers 11.4% y/y single-copy sales decline in February

Polish broadcaster TVN’s flagship channel suffers audience decline in Q1

Polish broadcaster TVN boosts stake in loss-making digital satellite platform to 51%

REAL ESTATE

Polish developer Gant Development leads market in terms of resi Q1 ’09 sales with 164 units

PRESS: Poland may come PLN 12 bln short for road construction projects

Polish-listed construction companies ABM Solid, Resbud to merge

Polish firm Prokom to sell PLN 30 mln property to developer Polnord in land-for-shares deal

Polish-listed Israeli developer Plaza Centers posts EUR 68 mln 2008 net, down twofold y/y

ENERGY NEWS

OIL & PETROCHEMICALS

Polish oil Grupa Lotos to get rest of upstream Petrobaltic by mid-year from Treasury

Top Polish refiner PKN Orlen expected to cut prices Saturday, No. 2 Grupa Lotos may up prices

Russia wants better access to Polish ports for exports of Russian oil products – Polish PM

Polish fuel firm PKN Orlen’s managerial reshuffle unlikely to undermine stability – analyst

PRESS: Polish top fuel firm PKN Orlen replaces 50% of managers

GAS

Poland sees no threat to energy security after distribution of employee shares in PGNiG

Polish gas monopolist PGNiG hopes Skanled pipeline project will progress on schedule

Polish gas monopolist PGNiG to increase debt if regulated gas prices plunge 15-20% – analyst

Polish gas distributor CP Energia signs deal with Russia’s Gazprom Export on LNG gas supplies

Putin ready to accept deal on extra short-term gas supplies from Gazprom to Poland – Tusk

PRESS: Polish gas pipeline system operator Gaz-System to invest PLN 10 bln in diversification

Polish gas monopolist PGNiG to face problems with regulated gas prices – analyst

COAL

Polish coal miner Bogdanka’s IPO should take place in May/June

PRESS: Unions at Europe’s largest coal miner KW cancel strike after getting raises

Europe’s largest coal producer Kompania Weglowa gets two offers for Silesia coal mine

HEAT, POWER & SEWAGE

PRESS: German RWE’s Polish unit is interested in privatization of Polish power groups

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

LANDLINE/MOBILE TELECOMS

PRESS: Kuwait Investment Authority interested in acquisition of Polish digital telecoms operator

France Telecom’s Polish TP proposes alternative to functional split, sees up to PLN 300 mln costs

BANKING & FINANCE NEWS

CAPITAL MARKETS

PRESS: Polish Treasury launches Warsaw Stock Exchange privatization process

Nb: This news report features only the headline of each news.

Agency Interfax