In Brief: Energy tax approved; Datacom & Pro Futuro; KBC & Warta

The Sejm voted on Friday to introduce excise duty on electric energy. The decision is expected to generate an additional zl.2.3 billion in budget revenue. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 18) ... Warsaw based Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) provider DataCom has obtained a 16% stake in Internet service provider Pro Futuro. Due to its numerous investment plans, the debut by Pro Futuro on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), planned for the first half of this year, will now be delayed. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) ... Belgian fi nancial group KBC has announced plans to increase its stake in insurance company Towarzystwo Ubezpieczen i Reasekuracji Warta, from the current 40% to as much as 75%. "We are planning to do it, but of course we have to choose the right moment," said KBC president Remi Vermeiren. (Puls Biznesu, p. 9) A.K.