Optimus says non-core assets sell-off in the cards

Management of Poland's largest computer maker Optimus revealed its new business strategy on Thursday, which includes selling off its non-core assets in a bid to boost sagging pofitability and make it less vulnerable to growing foreign competition. Optimus's newly appointed president, Jacek Krawczyk, said, "we want to sell our real-estate subsidiary and other assets not linked with our core activities, restructure the company, tidy up its distribution network and finance." He also revealed that the company is currently negotiating with at least two firms about possible future cooperation to consolidate the domestic PC market. By the end of November the company, whose controlling stake is to be acquired by media group ITI Holdings, will be divided into two companies -- an Internet firm and a computer producing company. The Optimus group posted losses in 1999 reaching zl.11.7 million on sales of zl.742 million. (Prawo i Gospodarka, pp.1,10; Reuters) A.D.