OBI to invest zl.1.3 billion in network of supply centers

The German company OBI plans to spend DM 660 million in Poland over the next five years to open 33 new construction-materials hypermarkets. In 2001 OBI will begin looking for Polish partners interested in franchising. The company has already opened 17 outlets in Poland. According t to management member Adam Dziurdz, investments will be covered from the German parent and through leasing. "We will look for domestic companies interested in capital investment in our franchising. We know it will be hard to find Polish companies able to pay DM 20 million for a hypermarket. We are preparing different models of co-financing or co-ownership." OBI is interested in companies that both invest money and also take active part in management. The German company has a network of 450 such facilities in Europe. The company's turnover reached DM 7.6 billion in 1999 and it plans to increase it by 20% on average per year. (Puls Biznesu, page 1, 3)