In Brief: EuRoPol Gaz; Ciech acquires Chemia Polska; Altkom; BSE

The Energy Regulation Office has agreed that EuRoPol Gaz, the company exploi ting the Polish part of Yamal gas pipeline collected higher payments for gas . This could lead to various arguments in Polish-Russian talks concerning th e gas. (Rzeczpospolita, August 17-18, p. B1) ... Ciech is going to take over another chemicals sector company, Chemia Polska, in November. This will incr ease Ciech's value from zl. 600 million to zl. 900 million before its debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) that is planned for 2004. (Rzeczpospolita , August 19, p. B1) ... The biggest national IT training company, Altkom, is in a major crisis. The company has to cancel its hopes for a flotation on th e WSE as its takings fell by over 60%. A rescue plan is needed to save the c ompany. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) ... The Economy Ministry has launched a program to grant financial help for companies looking to secure foreign brand certif icates and registering their trademarks. The ministry has a budget of zl. 1 million for this purpose. (Puls Biznesu, p. 11) ... Veterinary officials rep orted on Saturday the second suspected case of BSE, having found prions in a 13 year-old cow from a village near Lublin. All cows from the farm were slau ghtered and later incinerated as a precautionary measure (Gazeta Wyborcza, p . 25) A.D.