(Adds comment by Komercni Banka, Deutsche Boerse)
By Jan Korselt
PRAGUE, Aug 6 (Reuters) - The Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) is
looking for a partner and may be sold within several months,
shareholders said on Wednesday.
Chief Jan Klenor of investment bank Patria Finance, the
PSE's biggest shareholder, said it was willing to sell its
holding and that a majority stake should be on offer.
"A majority of the bourse shareholders are thinking the same
way as Patria," Patria chief Jan Klenor told Reuters. "We will
be limited by (selling at least) 50 percent and maximum 100
percent."
Trading on the Prague bourse -- itself not listed -- has
picked up in recent years on the improved regulatory environment
and the country's economic convergence with western Europe.
However, it has lured very few new listings, as many
start-ups rely on bank finance, venture capital and strategic
partners. Its main SPAD trading segment lists 14 stocks.
Patria holds a 24.85 percent stake, according to the
bourse's 2007 annual report.
Komercni Banka <>, a unit of Societe Generale
<SOGN.PA>, said it would also consider selling its stake which
according to the annual report stood at 11.51 percent.
"We are ready to consider selling along with our partners if
there is a good offer," Chief Executive Laurent Goutard told a
news conference.
He added that as an exchange member, Komercni would look for
a partner that would secure the bourse's further development
rather than just seek the highest bid.
The bourse's biggest stock is power firm CEZ <>,
central Europe's largest company with a market capitalisation of
over $48 billion.
Last year, shares worth 1,013 billion crowns ($65.51
billion) and bonds worth 509 billion changed hands on the
exchange, and the PSE made a net profit of 176 million crowns.
A PSE spokesman said the exchange would release a statement
related to the information of a possible sale at 1400 GMT.
LOOKING AROUND REGION, AND BEYOND
A co-owner of a small shareholder, who refused to be named,
said Vienna and Warsaw exchanges may be interested, as well as
Deutsche Boerse <DB1Gn.DE> or OMX Nordic Exchange <NDAQ.O>.
"Definitely talks are going on, I think the sale may take
place this year, or at least move into some final stage," the
source said, adding that a coalition of potential sellers was
being formed.
Vienna bourse said it may bid.
"We are always interested in principle in strategic stakes
in central and eastern European stock market operators, if we
are welcome as a partner -- and this is also true for the Prague
bourse," said Wiener Boerse spokeswoman Beatrix Exinger.
The Vienna exchange already has a controlling interest of
the Budapest bourse.
In the past, the Warsaw Stock Exchange had shown interest in
the PSE but its chief Ludwig Sobolewski declined to comment on
the current sale. Deutsche Boerse also said it had no immediate
comment.
(Additional reporting by Jana Mlcochova in Prague, Boris
Groendahl in Vienna, Pawel Bernat in Warsaw, writing by Jan
Lopatka; editing by Tony Austin/Elaine Hardcastle)
