Investors fight over Europlakat shares from DSM

Ströer Polska intends to take over Europlakat Polska, following the decision of Europlakat's majority shareholder, Deutsche Stadte Medien (DSM), to withd raw from the Eastern European market and sell its 51% stake in the company. Ströer Out-Of-Home Media, the owner of several companies operating under the name Ströer Polska, is interested in the acquisition of the shares. "We do n ot yet know when the negotiations will come to an end," Ströer Group preside nt and a former head of Europlakat Janusz Malinowski said. If the German own er of the Ströer Group reaches an agreement with DSM, the Polish out-door ad vertising market will see a merger between Europlakat Polska and Ströer Pols ka. The problem is though, that JC Decaux, Ströer's competitor, indirectly o wns Europlakat shares. "Ströer is not the only company interested in buying Europlakat shares from DSM," said Europlakat Polska president Marek Kuzaka. According to unofficial information, several investors are competing for the shares. Another out-door advertising company, Outdoor Group, has recently de cided to stay on the Polish market and is seeking a partner, "It will not be Ströer," Outdoor Group president Lech Kaczon announced. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) K.S.