News Parkiet

Banking

PKO BP to give away bonus shares to long-term investors

Treasury Ministry said it would give away as many as 3.5 million shares of state-controlled lender PKO BP to the nearly 104 thousand investors who held on to the stock of Poland?s biggest bank since the IPO last November. Shareholders entitled to bonus shares were subject to a voluntary, year-long lock-up period. Collectively, they own some 7 percent of the bank?s outstanding equity, creating an overhang of some 70 million shares worth over 2 billion zloty ($600 million).

Control equipment

Apator may split shares, plans small acquisition in Germany

Automatic control and metering equipment maker Apator S.A. says it may consider a stock split after its shares broke above 160 zloty for the first time ever. Toruń-based firm said it is planning to buy a small, unnamed German company selling prepaid systems. Apator made three major acquisitions this year, boosting its earnings to more than 40 million zloty this year.

Equity markets

Inside politicians' portfolios

Recent financial statements show that at least several key members of Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz's cabinet invest in stocks and mutual funds, raising public hopes for a more favorable treatment of stock market investors. The biggest investor, Defense Minister Radek Sikorski, owns a portfolio of US stocks, including stakes in biotech companies and aircraft manufacturers. Other major stock investors include Education Minister Michał Seweryński, who owns shares of Polish Telecoms and bank PKO BP and Treasury Minister Andrzej Mikosz, who owns a mix of corporate bonds issued by BZ WBK Leasing, a leasing firm and subscription warrants issued by Netia, a local phone company.