Netia gears up for mergers and takeovers

According to Puls Biznesu, independent telecom operator Netia, which is close to solving all its debts, will actively look for merger and takeover opportunities as well as focus on corporate clients and consolidate its assets. These are the major principles which will be included in the company's strategy, recently accepted by the supervisory board, and to be published by the end of May. "We do not see the possibility of organic growth of more than 10% per annum, which is not very attractive for investors," said Netia president Wojciech Mądalski. The president also announced that the company had no long-term liabilities apart from license ones, which should be transformed into investments at the end of June. "We also should finish our internal assets consolidation by the latest during the first quarter of 2004," announced Mądalski. (Puls Biznesu, pp. 1, 3) M.M.