Polish Oil Group Eyes German Service Stations

PKN Orlen, Poland's leading oil group, is in talks to buy 98 service stations in Germany, the group's German subsidiary announced on Tuesday. PKN Orlen was in talks with the administrators of the bankrupt Beckmann Mineraloelhandel group, owners of the Q1 petrol station brand, the company said in a statement. "Some points are still being discussed, but we hope to be able to settle them to the satisfaction of both sides," board member Michal Jonczynski said. The acquisition will boost PKN Orlen's share of the north German petrol station market to 10 percent. The Polish group also already owns a network of around 500 stations there, which it acquired from BP in 2002.