In Brief: Mocate; BOS; Fabryka Wagon;Huta Czestochowa; Grupa Kety

One of the leading hot drinks producers, Mocate, has purchased another firm, Consumer, which was reported to be in dramatic financial condition despite holding 18% of the tea market. The price for the transaction has not been disclosed. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4) ... Bank Ochrony Srodowiska (BOS) has signed a euro 10 million loan agreement with Kreditanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau. By doing so, BOS has extended its offer for small and medium firms by a new credit line in Euro. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 4) ... Fabryka Wagon S.A. from Ostrow Wielkopolski has laid off 120 employees under its restructuring program. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 4) ... The Power Grid (PSE) has cut off the power supply to Huta Czestochowa steel mill due to its liabilities of zl. 100 million. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B4) ... European Integration Minister Danuta Huebner presented an improving picture of Poland 's economy on Monday, forecasting growth of almost 2% this year. Her forecasts are more optimistic than those of Finance Minister Grzegorz Kolodko, who sees 2002 GDP up 1.4% versus last year's rate of 1%. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 32) ... Leading aluminum group Grupa Kety raised its 2002 net profit target by nearly 11% to zl. 47 million and wants to pay out zl. 20 million as a dividend. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 4) A.Z.