Fri, Feb 10 2012
A Dutch-registered unit of Bulgarian business conglomerate Chimimport has placed a 65 million euro corporate bond with an option to increase the size of the issue by up to 15 million euro. The proceeds will be invested in the expansion of the company through strategic acquisitions and for general business purposes, the company said in a statement.
The seven-year convertible bonds have a seven per cent interest coupon.
If Chimimport shares appreciate by more than 130 per cent over the conversion price set at 10.984 levs per share, the company has the option to buy back the bonds at its own discretion, but no sooner than August 22 2011.
The short-term goals of the company include the merger of the Lukoil Garant and CCB Sila pension insurance companies and air carriers Hemus Air and Bulgaria Air, Chimimport said back in June.
The company also plans to snag banking assets with a solid regional footprint in Russia and the Ukraine. Chimimport has so far entered the Macedonian banking market through its subsidiary Central Co-operative Bank.
Over the midium term, Chimimport plans to consolidate its real estate operations related to the building of two sports complexes and a retail center in Varna, a Borovets hotel and the Golf Shabla resort.
Over the last couple of years, the conglomerate raised cash mainly through the issue of new shares.
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In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average monthly salary increased to 727 leva, 4.9 per cent higher than in Q3, the National Statistics Institute says.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
Selectivity, not popularity, is the driving force behind Sofia's most exclusive members' only club.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.