News Parkiet

Equity markets

Sołowow interested in Opoczno

Polish investor Michał Sołowow, the owner of several building materials and real estate companies, says he is making periodic inquiries about Enterprise Investors-owned stake in Opoczno, Poland?s no. 1 ceramic tile maker. Sołowow says two of his own businesses, Cersanit ceramic tile manufacturer and hardwood flooring maker Barlinek are planning new investments in Ukraine soon. He is ready to sell his minority stake in the publicly traded artificial rubber factory Firma Chemiczna Dwory.

Futures market

Próchnik trading on futures market

Apparel maker Próchnik SA made almost 110 000 zloty last month ($34 400) trading in index futures contracts. Lodz-based company which recently emerged from near-bankruptcy, bought nearly 500 December WIG20 contracts as part of a controversial liquidity management scheme.

Banking

UniCredito, HVB merger not at risk,

analysts say

UniCredito Italiano has accumulated just 3.7 percent stake in Germany?s HVB group just days before the deadline for Europe?s biggest banking merger this year. However, analysts say they expect big shareholders, such as Munich Re, which owns 18 percent of HVB, to tender their shares at the very last moment.

Media

Agora to launch another newspaper

Shares of media group Agora SA fell 1.3 percent to close at 68.1 zloty yesterday on news that the publisher is about to launch its second daily newspaper later this year. Agora said start-up costs of the newspaper, positioned as a ?mid-market newspaper?, rather than a tabloid, would impact its fourth-quarter earnings, although it refused to provide specific guidance.

Transportation

Private equity firm makes a bid for Pekaes

Private equity investor AKJ Management Logistyka made a bid for Pekaes, Poland?s second largest trucking company yesterday. AKJ offered to pay 9.2 zloty a share, a 10 percent premium over its six-month average of 8.35 zloty for 50 percent less one share of Pekaes.