PKN Orlen to buy BP stations in Germany?

Parkiet, citing German newspaper Handelsblatt, has published an article declaring that oil company PKN Orlen is preparing to purchase either 430 BP gas stations in northern Germany, or 340 BP points of sale in southern Germany. The price of the rumored deal remains unknown, but the sums involved are likely to reach hundreds of million zloty. The capital would be raised through a loan. Parkiet also believes that Orlen wants to buy petrol stations in the Czech Republic and Hungary. In related news, PKN Orlen in the race for the European market is about to register a new joint venture named Poliolefiny with Dutch Basell, a global petrochemical sector player. The total cost of the project will be euro 750 million and its expected internal rate of return may reach as high as 18%. According to the terms of the deal, neither of the companies can sell their stake in the new enterprise for seven years after signing the contract. (Parkiet, p. 1; Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 5) J.K.