Date Target Vendor Investor Size Comment
February 14 Concentration of customer services and production in Bulgaria Sofia customer service centre Belgian semiconductor maker Melexis EUR 22 m The construction of the new plant of 10,000 sq m is to be finished by June. It will hire more than twice the company's current workforce in Bulgaria of 180 employees.
February 10 Bond issue to finance reconstruction and expansion Bulgaria's United Milk Company (UMC) N/A (private placements) EUR 5 m The company, co-owned by local former privatisation fund Doverie Capital and Greek-based private equity and venture capital management firm Global Finance, is one of the largest Bulgarian exporters of cheese to Asia, USA and Russia.
February 10 Greenfield investments in SMEs Bulgaria EBRD EUR 500 m The EBRD has been the largest single investor in Bulgaria since the early 1990s, having committed more than EUR 1.3 bn in around 93 projects.
February 9 Land purchase Varna Municipality International property developer Orchid Developments EUR 12.7 m The facility would span on 60,000 square metres and preliminary estimates have set the total development cost at approximately EUR 65 m.
February 9 Take over Bulgarian brick plant Uspeh AD Austrian brick maker Wienerberger N/A The total investment amounts to EUR 25 m, including the acquisition price and the future upgrades.
February 8 Investment in brands Bulgarian Brewery Zagorka Zagorka EUR 7.7 m Zagorka's earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) rose 15% last year to EUR 4.75 m, backed by the launch of new container sizes and new beer brands. The Bulgarian brewer invested BNG 13.67 m last year in new bottling equipment and expansion of storage facilities.
February 8 Loan for civic projects Rousse Municipality EBRD EUR 8 m The upgrade will be funded through a EUR 35 m loan extended by the EBRD for the modernisation of urban transport systems.
Deals, contracts, tenders and outsourcing for a total value of more than BGN 2 mln. and projects of strategic interest to Bulgaria
With the contribution of SeeNews (published by AII Data Processing Ltd) and Rivas
GOVERNMENT AND EU | REAL ESTATE AND FINANCE | EU TOPICS
Date Subject Institution Comment
February 14 British steel trader Stemcor eyes state-owned interest in Kremikovtzi Economy Ministry The state controls 25.29% stake in the Sofia-based metallurgical plant, the majority owner is Global Steel Holdings Ltd.
February 13 Italy's Enel in talks to buy Entergy out of Maritsa Iztok project Media Energiyna Kompaniya Maritsa Iztok 3,the company in charge of the rehabilitation of thermal power plant Maritsa Iztok 3, is co-owned by Dutch-registered Maritsa Iztok Power Holdings with 73% and Bulgaria's national power grid operator NETC. Enel holds 60% of Maritsa Iztok 3 Power Holdings, the remainder is controlled by Entergy.
February 10 The European Investment Bank (EIB) plans to raise investments in EU acceding Romania, Bulgaria EIB The EIB invested some EUR 2.4 bn in southeastern European region, including Turkey, in 2005.
February 8 Strabag seeks further EUR 15 m for building Sofia airport terminal Bulgaria's Transport Ministry The new terminal, planned to meet EU requirements for servicing passengers and implementing required border controls, is designed to handle 2.5 m passengers a year and has a peak-hour rate of 2,000 passengers.
News and events important for investors related to the Bulgarian legislation, government and EU policy, financial and real estate sectors.
With the contribution of SeeNews (published by AII Data Processing Ltd) and Rivas

First project in Bulgaria for a wind-energy generation park

- Investor: Ecosource Energy, Bulgaria
- Project: construction of a wind-energy generation park
- Volume: BGN 156 m (EUR 80 m)
- Site: Balkan mountain, near Murgash peak on an area of 240 ha and will include 44 last-generation wind turbines
- Jobs: 150

20 of the wind turbines, produced by the German leading company Enercon, will be installed during the first stage of the project, which will be completed at the end of 2006. The rest 24 turbines will be installed in the following two years. All generators will be 65 m high and with 71 m diameter of the runners. Preliminary estimations show that during the first stage the wind-power generation park will generate about 180 000 MWh electricity power annually, with a minimal annual exploitation of 3000 hours.
The facilities comply completely with the requirements of the EU regarding the environment safety and are completely noiseless. The capacity of each generator will be 2.3 MW, with a total capacity of the park of 100 MW.

The investment project received a First Class Investment Certificate issued by InvestBulgaria Agency (IBA) in accordance with the Investment Promotion Act.
Showcase of important issues, deals, and events.
With the contribution of Rivas
February 15, 2006