North Coast bourse debut to raise cash for expansion

NC is going to develop its scope of activity and establish its own network of shops, which will involve building warehouses. It has already launched the construction of one in Pruszków, Kraków will follow in May 2006, so will Gdansk and Wroclaw by the end of this year. Poznan is being considered. The investments will be financed by the capital gained through a public offer of 15 million shares (zl.3.35 each, worth altogether about zl.21 million) and introducing the company to the WSE. In 2005, NC posted a net profit of zl.8.2 million and a turnover of zl.73 million. Plans for 2006 promise zl.10.8 million of profit and zl.93 million of sales, while in 2008 the company aims to achieve zl.145 million in sales. In Q1 2006, turnover rose by 15%. The company plans to achieve its goals by diversifying its customer portfolio, broadening the selection of goods it offers as well as establishing a network of so called "corner shops" in hypermarkets. (Puls Biznesu, p.15, Parkiet, p.5) J.L.