Austrian Post eyes Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia

Post by **TrueBlueTerrier** » 30 Nov 2007, 17:36

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndu ... 0020071128

NEW YORK, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Austrian postal operator Oesterreichische Post (POST.VI: Quote, Profile, Research) wants to buy into Romania, Bulgaria and Bosnia in the coming 15 months, said the company's Chief Financial Officer Rudolf Jettmar.

"We want to set up a network in the fragmented south-eastern European market," Jettmar told journalists late on Tuesday on the margins of an investment conference in New York. "We want to fill in our blank spots in Bosnia, Bulgaria and Romania."

Jettmar said the postal operator was aiming to take over private operators working in parcel delivery or distribution of advertising.

In the first three quarters of the year, Oesterreichische Post has spent 210 million euros ($312 million) on takeovers, and the company has another 150 million euros left in its war chest, said Jettmar.

Oesterreichische Post is already present in Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. (Reporting by Eva Komarek, writing by Karin Strohecker; Editing by David Cowell)