Elektrim rumored to be eying majority Optimus stake

The Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) is buzzing with speculation that telecommunications and energy conglomerate Elektrim S.A. will acquire a majority stake in Poland's largest computer manufacturer Optimus S.A. BRE Bank and Zbigniew Jakubas, who together own a 66% stake in Optimus, have been said to be looking for a major foreign information technology (IT) company as an investor. However, rumor now has it that Elektrim could acquire the stake even this week. Elektrim would neither confirm nor deny this information. "We are talking to all major players on the market. However, right now there are no specific, binding agreements," said Elektrim vice-president Marek Walczykowski. Aside from manufacturing computers Optimus also owns onet.pl, Poland's most popular web portal. Elektrim shares soared a maximum of 10% on the WSE yesterday, despite 6 million new shares debuting on the market, significantly increasing the supply, which until last week amounted to 75 million outstanding shares. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 26) T.J.