Stroer likely to capture Grupa Outdoor and to rival AMS

German outdoor advertising company Stroer Out of Home Media intends to purchase one of its largest competitors, Grupa Outdoor. Negotiations with Outdoor Ankundigund Gesellschaft (OAG) of Austria, who owns the company have been in progress for several months. Other interested parties include Agora, Clear Channel Communications and several investment funds. The takeover of Grupa Outdoor would strengthen Stroer's position in lucrative locations. "We intend to dominate the market in the eight largest cities", announced Stroer president Janusz Malinowski. It is unknown how much the deal is worth. Several weeks ago Malinowski said that by the end of 2002 his company will spend zl. 20 million to zl. 40 million on various purchases. The planned transaction will fundamentally change the balance of power on the outdoor advertising market. Poznan-based AMS, the current outdoor advertising leader, will have to compete with a company with a comparable potential. At the same time analysts claim that the transaction between Stroer and OAG will accelerate the take over of AMS by Agora. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) A.Z.