BUSINESS

Four regional companies of PreussenElektra will combine to form one utility in the spring of 1999. The four companies involved are: Hastra AG of Hannover, EVM AG of Magdeburg, Landesgasversorgung Niedersachsen AG of Sarstedt, and Uberland-Zentrale Helmstedt AG of Helmstedt.

PreussenElektra will hold a majority interest.

Confirmation from the Federal Cartel Office is still pending.