"We not only want to supply equipment, but also provide our clients with solutions," Lorenc said.
Optimus says that the outsourcing of assembly, the closing down of the plant, and the laying-off of about half of the company's 200 staff is necessary to acheive profitability. The company is trying to regain the market position it lost over the last few years, due to what the company's president calls: "the unlawful activities of the treasury services" - a reference to the infamous Kluska case. Roman Kluska, the founder and the former president of Optimus, was accused of tax evasion for exporting computers to Slovakia and importing them tax free, while the VAT tax on computers produced in Poland at the time was 22 percent. Kluska was eventually cleared of all charges. However, he is currently suing the State Treasury for compensation worth zł.1.4 million.
Lorenc declared that the company intends to take part in tenders for contracts in the public sector and for large private companies. Although he underlined that it's too early to talk about which industries the company wants to provide solutions for, Lorenc underlined that the energy as well as telecom sectors shouldn't be excluded. Last year Optimus won a contract to supply computer equipment to schools, which was organized by the Ministry of Education.
The restructuring program will take until the end of the first quarter of this year. "We expect the first financial effects to be visible in June," Lorenc said.
Michał Pakulniewicz
Optimus SA, the first company from the IT sector to debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, has announced its restructuring strategy, which will change the company's business model. The Nowy Sšcz firm, which is moving to Warsaw, is to close its computer assembly plant and focus on providing IT solutions.
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