PKN Orlen looks at regional takeovers and markets

"Last year we were tidying up things on the home market. In the coming two years we will focus on foreign projects, especially related to consolidation in Central and Eastern Europe," said company president Zbigniew Wróbel. PKN Orlen will keep on working to merge with Hungarian oil concern MOL. "We have shortlisted three advisory companies and in the next few days they will present their detailed offers to us," said Wróbel. The company also plans further purchases in the region, "We are still interested in the Rumanian national oil company Petrom," assured Orlen's president. On January 12, the firm will place its own offer for the purchase of Czech Unipetrol. However, Orlen has still declined to reveal details of its 2003 financial results, but "They will be the best result in the history of the company," promised Wróbel. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) M.M.