UPDATE 2-Czech Pegas owner aims to sell $156 mln stake

...equity fund 
Pamplona wants to sell a 43.4 percent stake in Czech artificial 
textile maker Pegas , Pegas said on Wednesday in a 
report which knocked its share price 3 percent lower. 
    Pamplona Capital Partners is the main shareholder in Pegas 
Nonwovens and its stake is worth about $156 million at Tuesday's 
closing price. It took Pegas public in December last year and 
agreed not to sell its stake before June 18. 
    By market share, Pegas is Europe's number-two fabrics 
supplier to makers of hygiene products such as nappies. 
    Polish floor coverings and textiles manufacturer Lentex 
 has set its sights on acquiring the company, which is 
the smallest Czech blue-chip stock with market capitalisation of 
$361 million. 
    Krzysztof Moska, the largest shareholder of Lentex with a 15 
percent stake, reiterated Lentex's interest in Pegas on 
Wednesday. 
    "They have not contacted me yet. But if they will contact 
me, then we will sit down and talk. I am interested, but not at 
all costs," he told Reuters. 
    Pegas said Pamplona picked ING as an adviser for the sale. 
    The news of Pamplona's intended exit from the company caused 
a 3 percent drop in Pegas shares, which Erste Bank on Wednesday 
downgraded to 'hold' from 'accumulate'. 
    The stock traded at 800 crowns, underperforming a 0.4 
percent gain in the Prague bourse blue-chip PX index . It 
has retreated from a record 848 crowns on June 27. 
    Shares in Lentex fell 1.3 percent to 79 zlotys, also 
underperforming a 0.5 percent rise in the WIG 20 index . 
  
 
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  Keywords: PEGAS SALE/