Again wholly family-owned

Austria’s market leader Baumax has bought back the 12.45 per cent of shares in the company previously held by Spar with effect from 31 December 2007. The two sides have agreed to maintain silence on the subject of the selling price. The result is that the company is again 100 per cent owned by the Essl family, which is planning a comprehensive expansion of its business operations in central and southern Europe over the next few years.