News Parkiet

Telecommunications

Deutsche Telekom to raise its bid for PTC

Elektrim power and telecoms group has reportedly negotiated an extra 100 million euros for its stake in a holding company that owns 51 percent of Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), which runs Poland?s largest mobile phone network. Elektrim-Telekomunikacja, a joint venture between Vivendi and Elektrim could receive as much as 1.2 billion euros selling its stake in PTC to the German firm, which now owns the remaining 49 percent. Sources also said Elektrim Telekomunikacja could retain control over Heyah, PTC?s hugely successful prepaid mobile phone service launched earlier this year.

Petrochemicals

ConocoPhillips move into Russia

may change Polish market

Possible alliance between ConocoPhillips and Russia?s Lukoil may have serious impact on Poland by pushing out Yukos group as the main oil supplier, industry sources said yesterday. PKN Orlen refinery, which has 70 percent of the country?s refining capacity buys most of its oil from Yukos through Swiss-based Petroval trading group.

Equity market

CDM Pekao sees stronger earnings

Leading Polish brokerage house, Pekao subsidiary Centralny Dom Maklerski Pekao SA (CDM Pekao) is expecting 50 million zloty in profits this year, thanks partly to the revival of the IPO market. CDM Pekao, which handled three IPOs so far this year, including the 100-million dollar stock sale of GTC property developer, says the good times are here to stay. ?Blue-chip WIG20 index will be higher than it is now?, predicts CDM?s research head Sobiesław Pająk, CFA. He advises investors to buy more stocks during the expected market correction in the summer months.

Telecommunications

Montpelier AM to remain Netia?s

shareholder for now

Montpelier Asset Management, a money management firm run by Nicholas de Cournoyer plans to stay on as a key shareholder of Netia SA, a fixed-line phone company at least until 2008. Montpelier, which took a 5.9 percent stake in Netia after a debt for equity swap at the turn of 2002 and 2003, ruled out other investments in Central Europe because it says most local companies are overvalued.