Axel Springer to buy stake in Polsat rumor denied by TV firm's head honcho

The Axel Springer publishing house is reportedly negotiating with Zygmunt Solorz-Żak, the owner of Polsat, with regard to purchasing a 33% stake in his TV company. Should this happen, the German firm, which owns the Fakt tabloid, would be able to raise the capital of the TV station while overtaking Agora as the market leader. However, Solorz-Żak rejects the claims, saying that the company is at present considering either obtaining a strategic investor or floating its shares on the bourse. Polsat started the search for an investor over two years ago, but suspended its attempts following amendments to the Radio and Television Act. When Solorz-Żak took over a 33% stake in Polsat in 2000, it was suggested that he might in future sell his shares on to a foreign investor. (Puls Biznesu p.1) M.G.