Agora set to finalize Europlakat outdoor advertising deal

The first phase of consolidation of the outdoor advertising market is coming to a close, as the last big company to be put up for sale, Europlakat Polska, is finalizing talks with a new investor, thought to be press editor Agora, and negotiations should be completed in the next few days. Both parties, however, declined to comment on the matter. After taking over Europlakat, Agora would become a leader in outdoor advertising and be able to greatly influence the market. "If the company really takes over Eur oplakat, then it will control 37% of the market," said DM BIG BG analyst Andrzej Szymanski. He added that Agora, due to reinforcing its position, will also be in a position to penetrate the TV commercials sector. Con sequently, the company is considering taking over Polsat though it could buy smaller broadcasters for less. At the beginning of the year Europlakat's majority shareholder, Deutsche Stadte Medien, withdrew from Poland. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 3) M.M.