In Brief: PKN protest; Societe Generale in BISE; ZAC investor; ZUS loans

Oil producer and distributor Polski Koncern Naftowy (PKN) Orlen has appealed a zl. 40 million fine imposed by the Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UKiOK) for monopolistic practices on the petroleum products market. (Reuters) ... Societe Generale of France is about to purchase strategic stakes in Bank Inicjatyw Spoleczno-Ekonomicznych (BISE), the daily Puls Biznesu has learned. (Puls Biznesu, page 5) ... The Privatization Agency (AP) has for the thirteenth time failed to find an investor to buy 50-80% shares in nitrogen plant Zaklad Azotowe Chorzow (ZAC). The latest bidder to abandon efforts to buy the plant is Pechney of France, which withdrew after the first visit to ZAC. (Puls Biznesu, page 5) ... The Social Insurance Company (ZUS) is believed to have borrowed zl. 125 million, in addition to last week's loan of zl. 600 million, from commercial banks in order to pay July allowances to pensioners before the deadline of Aug. 5. (Zycie, page 5) ... A rise in car insurance of between 10-15% is imminent triggered by the less than impressive financial results of most insurance companies. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 1) S.M.