In Brief: Malbeth in Wolczanka; KGHM; UMTS too expensive; Centertel

Malbeth Limited of Ireland has become the latest investor in apparel maker Wolczanka following a purchase of 179,000 shares or 9.69% of the company's share capital. Malbeth would be entitled to a similar percentage [9.69%] of voting rights at shareholders' meetings. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 16) ... Labor unions have threatened to sue the board of copper mining conglomerate KGHM Polska Miedz unless it backs off from implementing its five-year restructuring plan. Unions fear the structural adjustments could cost a lot of miners their jobs. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 16) ... Cellular phone operators are warning that the proposed price for third generation mobile phones UMTS licenses, if calculated based on the number of subscribers, in Poland is higher than all other European countries except Great Britain. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 3) ... Retail chain Ahold Polska is to open two supermarkets in Gniezno and Swarzedz after Aug. 20. The investment brings to 10 the number of supermarkets in the region. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 5) ... Following the announcement by cellular network operator Era GSM that it would launch the GPRS for high-speed data transmission, its rival Centertel, operator of Idea, is today expected to announce the launch of a similar service. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 23) S.M.