Poland sees Kedzierzyn IPO in April-May

Poland intends to move ahead with its plans for the initial public offer of shares in chemical group Kedzierzyn, a management board member at the state privatisation vehicle told Reuters on Monday.

"Kedzierzyn had splendid results last year, it would be a shame not to use the opportunity to go through with the offer," Wieslaw Skwarko of Nafta Polska agency, which oversees the oil and chemicals sectors, said in an interview.

"A window of opportunity will come in April-May," he said, noting that audited results for the company will be ready by that time.

Kedzierzyn said earlier it aims for about 500 million zlotys ($142 million) from issuing about 30 percent of equity in new shares.

Skwarko said the agency was also determined to move ahead with further privatisations of listed companies Tarnow ATTP.WA and Ciech CECH.WA, but not at all costs.

"We are not going to disregard the market situation ... if the situation is really bad, absolutely hopeless, then we will abandon privatisation plans," he said.

Poland wants to sell strategic stakes in Tarnow, Ciech, and unlisted Kedzierzyn to a single investor who would integrate them and finance further development.

The last IPO in the chemical sector -- Tarnow's debut in April 2008 -- was rescued when state-controlled companies PGNiG PGNI.WA and Ciech CECH.WA bought 16.5 percent of the shares.

Since then, market sentiment has worsened as investors' flight from emerging markets continued. Warsaw's main WIG20 .WIG20 index has this year fallen by more than 14 percent, after shedding nearly half of its value in 2008. ($1=3.516 Zloty)
Source:ByPatryk Wasilewski, Pawel Bernat,Hans Peters,reuters.com

Orlen may delay Polkomtel, Anwil exits-report

Poland's leading refiner PKN Orlen PKNA.WA may delay the sale of its stake in mobile operator Polkomtel and petrochemicals arm Anwil due to weak market condtions, its chief executive was quoted as saying on Monday.

State news agency PAP quoted Jacek Krawiec as saying in Orlen's internal bi-weekly magazine it would be hard to get a satisfactory price for these assets this year.

"Due to the current situation Polkomtel and Anwil sales are in question," Krawiec said. "As we have often said, the exits will happen only if we receive attractive prices, and that could be difficult this year."

Orlen recently raised its stake in Poland's No. 2 cellphone operator Polkomtel to nearly 25 percent from 19.6 percent, but reiterated that it was determined to ultimately exit the investment.

Other shareholders of Polkomtel include copper miner KGHM KGHM.WA, unlisted energy producer PGE, and British mobile giant Vodafone (VOD.L).

Analysts say Vodafone, which also increased its Polkomtel stake, would be a natural buyer in case any of the Polish shareholders were to exit.

Orlen has an 85 percent stake at chemical maker Anwil.

The company's shares were flat in late afternoon trade, while Warsaw's WIG20 index .WIG20 rose 1.9 percent.
Source: By Patryk Wasilewski,Rupert Winchester
/uk.reuters.com