DT appears to re-enter the ring to buy PTC

According to Parkiet sources, Deutsche Telekom (DT), which owns a 49% stake in the PTC mobile phone operator, has upped its bid by EUR100 million to buy the remaining 51% of PTC shares. DT offered EUR1 billion for the shares to the other PTC shareholders, Vivendi and Elektrim, in August 2003 and then increased its offer by EUR100 million. "Now EUR1.2 billion is on the table," said the Parkiet source. It is rumored that Elektrim wants to increase the figure by another EUR100 million. Moreover, it seems that DT is to buy PTC without its new project, Heyah, which will be transformed into a separate company and will stay in Elektrim's capital group. Both DT's press office and Elektrim refused to comment on the rumors. (Parkiet, p. 1) E.B.