Bulgaria’s Donev Investments Holding has raised its stake in local drug maker Sopharma to 26.78 %. The main shareholder in the company buyer is Sopharma's executive director Ognqn Donev. Donev Investments Holding bought 2,982,666 shares in a deal registered at the country’s Central Depository on Wednesday. At the same time, local Financial Consulting Company has lowered its stake in Sopharma to 9.62%, selling 4,053,002 company shares. A total of 4,063,052 shares, equivalent to a stake of 3.08% in Sopharma, changed hands for BGN 8.3 million on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange on Monday.
Source: Capital (24.01.2013)

Bulgarian medical products maker Momina Krepost said on Wednesday that local investment trust Telso has raised its stake in the company to 10.01% from 9.99%. Telso bought 300 shares in Momina Krepost in a deal registered at the country’s central depository on March 5, the medical supplies producer said in a bourse filing. No financial details were disclosed. After the transaction, the investment fund holds a total of 169,329 Momina Krepost shares.
Source: investor.bg (07.03.2013)

Pharmaceutical company Medica is expanding its activity- just two weeks ago it launched a new warehouse for liquid medicaments. The management of the company plans new investments assessed to BGN 1.8 million. This year they are focused on registration of new pharmaceuticals and to a least extent on reconstruction and renovation of production and warehouses. The company has sufficient production capacity and is to focus on drafting, marketing and introduction of new products on both its core and new markets. The new warehouse, which is located on the existing site of the company in the town of Sandanski is already working and is executing orders. The investment is assessed to between BGN 1.5 and 1.7 million. Medica expects the invetment in the warehouse to pay back in two years and a half’s time. Funding of the new warehouse was made by equities. The new Medica’s acquisition will let the company provide products without analogue on the domestic market, and thus is to fill a market niche. The company's product range will be expanded with medicated shampoos and medications, specialized in the treatment of wounds and skin specific problems.
Source: Capital (03.04.2013)

Pension insurance company Doverie is put for sale. In accordance to information published in the Austrian Der Standart the majority owner of the company Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), which owns of the Bulgarian insurance company Bulstrad, has decided to sell Doverie. Negotiations are in advanced phase. Candidates are two- owner of Corporate commercial bank Tsevtan Vassilev, as well as the owner of Sopharma Ognyan Donev. The 92% share of VIG in Doverie is assessed by the Austrian company to between EUR 120 and 150 million.
Source: Standart (23.04.2013)

Bulgartabac tops K50 public companies in Bulgaria. Second is the longtime leader until recently - pharmaceutical company Sopharma. This is the seventh consecutive ranking, which is the successor of Dnevnik 100. This year, companies are grouped in one rang and are only 50. In previous editions they were divided into small and large according to capitalization and only then ranked. A positive event, which may be remembered from last year, is the privatization of the state minority stakes in CEZ and Energy pro (formerly E.ON) at the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. Generally the top places are taken mostly by familiar names that have held them in recent years - Monbat , Himimport , EuroHold Bulgaria.
Source: Capital (07.05.2013)

Sales of pharmaceutical company Sofarma in April remained at the same level as those registered last year. The reported drop in exports in the first quarter of 2013 is kept in April, too. It is made up for by increase in sales on the domestic market. The company reported 1% weaker sales abroad last month, as the fact may be explained by the shrunk exports for Russia and Poland. Effect is felt mostly because Russia is the largest market for the company. Even after the drop of 22% in the end of March, Sofarma’s products to the amount of a total of BGN 17.6 million are sold there. In Russia, the company is known mainly for its original medicines, many of which are plant-based. Still, domestic sales remain stronger. Last month Sopharma recorded a 3% increase in revenue, as compared to April 2012. For the first quarter of the tear sales in the country reached BGN 13.2 million, equal to 5% more than the same period last year. Sopharma holds 4.3% of the total Bulgarian pharmaceutical market in value, which ranks fifth in four foreign manufacturers.
Source: Capital (13.05.2013)

Venelina Gocheva buys a share of "Media Group Bulgaria" The Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC) allowed the former editor of "24 Hours" Venelina Gocheva to acquire a share of "Media Group Bulgaria". The company is the publisher of the daily newspaper that Gocheva headed, and the newspaper "Trud". The part will be purchased by "Pro News Bulgaria", from which 99% belong to Gocheva. According to the antimonopoly body acquisition by the "Media Group Bulgaria" will not be disturbed the market competition. The communication of the CPC does not indicate what percentage will be sold. According to information published on the site of the control body, the capital of the company amounts to 24,250,000 Levs and associates are Lyubomir Pavlov, who owns 43%, the head of "Sopharma" Mr. Donev, who owns 40% and " Printmediya BG "Ltd. with 17% participation. Gocheva will receive the right to acquire and part of the "BG Printmediya." The "BG Printmediya" does capital is divided between Lyubomir Pavlov, who holds 47 percent of the company and "BG Privatinvest GmbH", Austria, with a share of 53%. The communication does not indicate which is the second party in the transaction, except Gocheva. It is also not clear what the pattern of ownership of capital before and after surgery is.
Source: Other (21.05.2013)

Sopharma opens a factory with 400 jobs Pharmaceutical company Sopharma opens a new factory on the 14th of June. Construction of the new factory for pills started in the end of 2010. The investment is to the amount of BGN 75 million. 400 new jobs are to be opened, as well. Production capacity of the new facility will be 4 billion of pills per year, as the range includes over 100 drugs
Source: Dnevnik (03.06.2013)

Sopharma opened its largest plant In 2007, a time in which the main investors in Bulgaria were building hotels and residential complexes, sounded exotic to receive a first class investor certified for a project of a plant. In times of crisis, in which many companies have limited their expansion and have cut workforce, it also sounded strange to build a major new production capacity. However Sopharma acted unusual in both cases. The result is the newest plant for solid dosage forms (tablets) in Sofia. Investment is over BGN 75 million and its capacity is to produce 4 billion tablets per year. Construction of the new complex took two and half years, ironically - bureaucratic procedures for issuing construction permits took more than that. The plant is located in a complex with a gross floor area of 21,280 square meters and the laboratory and administration section is located in an area of 5000 square meters. Equipment in the plant is the latest generation and is supplied by leading European manufacturers, including Bosch, Klockner, Uhlmann, LBBohle, FETTE, ESCO, Mediseal, etc.
Source: Capital (14.06.2013)

Bulgarian drug maker Sopharma said on Thursday it bought back 11,210 of its shares for a total 35,719 levs between June 20 and 26. The repurchased equity represents a 0.008% stake in the company. The company paid 3.19 levs per share on average. Sopharma has already bought back 4.4 million own shares, representing 3.34% of its equity.
Source: profit.bg (28.06.2013)

VIG wraps up talks to sell indirect holding in Bulgaria's Doverie to United Capital PLC Vienna Insurance Group AG (VIG) said on Monday its has concluded the negotiations on the sale of its indirect holding of more than 92% in Bulgarian pension fund Doverie to United Capital PLC. The sale of the holding is subject to the approval of the competent authorities according to Bulgarian law, VIG said in a statement. Doverie is the leading Bulgarian pension fund company. As of 31 December 2012, Doverie had more than 1.25 million contributors and the assets under management amounted to almost 1.8 billion levs ($1.2 billion/920 million euro). “Doverie is a sound and economically successful company. Pension funds are not part of the core business of Vienna Insurance Group. By selling Doverie, we want to focus even more on our insurance activities in property and life insurance on the Bulgarian market. We are convinced that Doverie will continue to fulfil its role as leading pension fund in Bulgaria for the benefit of its members,” Peter Hagen, general manager and CEO of Vienna Insurance Group, said. Bulgaria is one of the ten core markets of Vienna Insurance Group. In Bulgaria the group is market leader and operates through its companies Bulstrad Non-life and Bulstrad Life.
Source: Capital (16.07.2013)

Prosecution interferes in the deal for BNB’s printing house Both prosecution and SANS (State agency for national security) attacked the deal between BNB’s printing office and the French Francois-Charles Oberthur Group for establishment of a joint venture for production of banknotes. Sofia city prosecutor’s office has initiated proceedings in the case in connection with publications in the media. A check was assigned to SANS in order to establish evidence of a potential crime of general nature. On the other hand BNB hopes that the procedure will be shorter in order eventual financial losses to be minimized. These losses are a result of halt of the order for printing of banknotes, which is expected by one of the most prominent producers worldwide in the face of Francois-Charles Oberthur Group. In the end of June the central bank announced that negotioations for establishment of a joint venture for production of banknotes in Bulgaria between BNB’s printing office and Francois-Charles Oberthur Group were terminated successfully. The Bulgarian side is expected to have a 30% stake, while the French company is to invest a money apport of over EUR 22 millionfor securing future business expansion and against whom it will acquire a 70% stake.
Source: Capital (19.08.2013)

Plans for a warehouse Old buildings prevail-such are every two out of three industrial properties in Sofia. New sites are utilized for own needs. Offers on the free rental market are extremely scarce. In some regions of the country even slight shortage of proper warehouses for rent is being observed. In the first six months of the year new contracts are concluded for 64 608 square meters. This is an increase by 235%, as compared to the same period of last year. Most active at the rental market are commercial and logistics companies. At the same time smaller distribution companies are getting out of the market. Despite the intimidating growth market is still controlled by relocation of tenants and to a lesser extent – by new demand. Presently rental market of warehouses is moved by average in terms of scale companies. Most big retailers are servicing their deliveries by their own bases. The crisis stopped investment in warehouses and logistics bases, especially those, offered for rent at the free market. This is one of the reasons why unoccupied areas are under 5% of total supply now. In Sofia and its adjoining villages industrial properties are looked for. Most sites are certified for warehouses though, which imposes the need of change of utilization. There is oversupply with old buildings at the market. The price, at which they are offered, is to the amount of BGN 1-2 per square meter.
Source: Capital (23.08.2013)

Consolidated profit of Sopharma continues its growth and by the end of the second quarter it increased by 17.4% to BGN 28.86 million, according to the consolidated statement of holding. The basis of the increase is good performance of revenues from the sale of goods, which increased to BGN 233.1 million, compared to BGN 208.8 million a year earlier. Total revenues of the pharmaceutical holding company rose to BGN 379 million from BGN 352 million last year. Sopharma’s costs also increased, but at a slower pace, rising to BGN 343.7 million from BGN 324.6 million a year ago. Profit per share amounted to BGN 24.8 cents. For the past year, the shares of the holding have risen by 36.2% as increase in the last six months was significantly higher - by 52.7%.
Source: profit.bg (02.09.2013)

Rompharm acquired a share in Sopharma The most active buyer lately-Rompharm company concluded its successive deal for millions. After it acquired two huge portfolios with agricultural land, the little-known group has made a portfolio investment in the biggest pharmaceutical company on the Stock exchange in Sofia-Sopharma. It has bought the share of Lyubomir Pavlov and already has a 13.5% share in Sopharma in a deal for BGN 36 million. The purchase sets the beginning of a new investment phase for Rompharm. The deal may be defined as a new line for Sopharma, too. The purchase of Rompharm comes at a time in which the shares of Sopharma began to recover partially their lost value last in nearly three years. Since the beginning of the year, shares of the company have risen by 38% on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange
Source: Capital (10.09.2013)

20% of Agro finance transferred via stock exchange A big transfer of 20% of Agro finance REIT was initiated via the stock exchange in Thursday. The deal is assessed at BGN 15.1 million. In a matter of a single deal 6 443 941 shares were traded at a price of BGN 2.345 for a lot. Among company’s big shareholders are E. Miroglio Finance, Radiant Technology, COOP investment, Corporate commercial bank, Nikkomers 01. Parameters of public offering for capital increase of Intersky AD were also announced. The company tries to raise BGN 3 million in order to modernize its track near Elin Pelin. These improvements are planned to make accepting flights of business jets possible. It is hoped that the upgrade will attract new investors, as well. Major shareholder in Intersky is Albena AD with a 99.99% share.
Source: Capital (04.10.2013)

Turkish Garanti Koza bought properties for BGN 23 million Turkish company Koza is about to make one of the largest property investments in Bulgaria in recent years. In the box between Alexander Malinov Boulevard and Fillip Avramov Street in Sofia’s neighborhood of Mladost 3, where at present Nova Denitsa center is located it plans to build a colossal complex with homes, commercial areas and hotel part. Due to the scale of the investment it is to be realized in several stages. The Turkish company has already acquired lots for the future construction via the company Garanti Koza Bulgaria. Deals are assessed at a joint value of about BGN 23 million. The investment of the Turkish company in Bulgaria is the first one. The whole investment will be completed at an area of over 31 acres. It consists of several lots, the largest of which is that under Nova Denitsa. It has an area of 20.4 thousand square meters. The lot includes a three-storey building of a commercial center with a built up area of 7539 square meters, as well. Properties in the three companies were all pledged in favor of UniCredit Bulbank.
Source: Capital (15.10.2013)

Elana Agrocredit attracted professional investors Professional investors inscribed the majority of shares Elana agrocredit offered to the market, via its IPO. 85 individual investors took part in the procedure as becomes evident from the list of new shares. Thus the company succeeded in raising funds to the amount of BGN 4.4 million through which it increased its capital from BGN 700 thousand to BGN 5.1 million. Listing of the stock exchange is imminent now, as well as additional attraction of borrowed capital, by which available funds to increase to over BGN 15 million. This is to make possible for the company to expand its activity on offering of financial leasing for buyers of agricultural land. Available resources of Elana up-to date are to be invested by the end of the first quarter of next year. Elana agrocredit’s CEO said that negotiations re being lead with foreign banks for borrowing. Before the IPO major shareholders in the company were as follows: Elana holding with a share of 35.57% and CEO Kamen Kolchev with less than 1% of the company. After the procedure the greatest share of the capital is owned by EF-consult, which recorded 1.4 million shares.
Source: Capital (28.10.2013)

Bulgarian drug maker Sopharma raises stake in Latvian unit Briz Bulgarian pharmaceuticals producer Sopharma said on Tuesday it has increased its stake in Riga-based subsidiary Briz to 66.14% from previous 51% in a capital hike. Briz plans to use the proceeds from its capital increase to strengthen its positions on the Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Belarusian markets by acquiring storage premises and pharmacies, Sopharma said in a filing with the Sofia stock exchange without disclosing the size of the rights issue. Briz has increased its network of pharmacies to 91 as it acquired three pharmacy chains in Belarus earlier this year. The company’s consolidated revenue since the beginning of the year has more than doubled compared to a year earlier to over 33 million euro.
Source: profit.bg (04.12.2013)

Sopharma can receive BGN 3 million in funding for the project Public company Sopharma has received official confirmation from the Ministry of Economy and Energy, that the project "Implementation of innovative products in the ampoule production of Sopharma Jsc" under the Operational Programme "Development of the Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy" 2007-2013 years have been rated 5th in the ranking of large enterprises. The project is included in the list of proposals approved for funding under the above procedure, with a maximum grant BGN 3 mln. The total cost of the project is BGN 6.063 mln without VAT. The project focuses on the acquisition and commissioning of: 1) line for automatic grading of ampoules consisting of machine for visual inspection and a module for 100% quality control and check of the tightness through high-voltage arc and 2) line of interior and exterior wash, dry sterilization (depyrogenation), filling and welding of ampoules through gassing with nitrogen. Overall duration of the project will be 18 months. Next step is signing a grant by the end of 2013.
Source: money.bg (12.12.2013)