The withdrawal of German publisher Burda GmbH as 26% direct shareholder has forced on-line service and Internet access provider Europe Online SA to apply for court protection from its creditors while it tries to find new investors. Protection has been granted by the Luxembourg Court of Commerce and Europe Online board member Candace Johnson told Reuter it had a number of firm offers on the table and expected to reach deals within weeks. Talks could involve one new shareholder taking a major ity stake, and CompuServe Inc has confirmed it is one of the companies in talks. The court commissioned two experts to prepare a detailed report on its finances by December 1. Europe Online’s other shareholders include Meigher Communications Inc, an d AT&T Corp, UK pursuer of high-tech disasters Pearson Plc, and Luxembourg’s Societe National de Credit et d’Investissement SA and Banque et Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat. The company has said it expects to be profitable in four years’ time. Europe Onl ine, which now has about 25,000 subscribers, started charging for its services in March after a free preview period; it currently has national services in Germany, the UK and Luxembourg and an international service in English; it plans to start serv ices this year in France, Swede n and the Netherlands.
