In Brief; UOKiK and sugar; Hellena VAT investigation; Elektrim profitable

The Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) yesterday decided to launch anti-monopoly proceedings against four sugar holdings, accusing them of price fixing. The four companies together account for 70% of the domestic sugar market. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) ... The tax office is to carry out an investigation of Hellena SA, after it was found to have adopted a preferential 7% VAT rate for its soft drinks, despite the fact that the basic rate for all other soft drinks producers is 22%. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) ... Following its huge losses in 2000, in the second quarter of this year Elektrim achieved a profit of over zl.11 million. The turnaround is due in part to the strengthening of the zloty. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 12) K.K.