The manufacture of zinc in the Lead-zinc complex in Kurzhali (OZK) will be increased with 25 per cent, was reported from the company. The reason is the higher demand and the jump of the non-ferrous metals’ prices on the world markets. This year is expected to be extracted 27 000 tons. There will also be a growth in the lead extraction. By 2005 OZK has to modernize completely its production capacities in accordance with the euro standards. According to a scheme, the reconstruction will finish in September, this year.
Source: Standard 

Sinergon holding purchased 36.60 per cent from the capital of Sinergon textile, show the results from the tender offering. The price per share was BGN 1.05 and the authorized investment broker on the offering – Aval In. Now Sinergon holding holds 90.02 per cent from the capital of the textile factory.
Source: Pari

In 2003 NPP Kozloduy has produced 17 278 411 mWh electricity, which is 3.95 per cent more than initially planned, the plant’s press center announced. The planned annual production output was 16 621 338 mWh, and this amount was accomplished on December 21 2003.
Source: BTA 

Albena JSC will build in the spring a small airport near the international youth centre Primorsko, announced the Executive Director of the company Mr. Krassimir Stanev. The track will service tourists, who want to visit some sightseeing in Bulgaria and to fly to the near Balkan countries. Albena JSC is interested in Adriatic seaside of Montenegro. Mr. Stanev admitted that Albena will invest BGN 18 000 000 for summer 2004.
Source: Black sea

The air company Bulgaria Air will buy another 4 airplanes on leasing this spring. This was announced by the company’s press attache Ms. Maria Arsova. The negotiations with foreign air companies for the hiring of airplanes are already in advanced stage. Currently, Bulgaria Air is operating four leasing machines Boing 737 of the German air carrier Lufthansa. The air company is due to be privatized, but in the end of last year the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Mr. Nikolay Vasilev referred back for finishing the company’s privatization strategy.
Source: Monitor 

The French company 2 LM, owner of Rila Style, dismissed from her post the Director of the renowned fashion house Ms. Hilda Savcheva. The scandal flared up after the Director’s son – Mr. Marin Kozhuharov, who also occupied a high post in the company, left together with a group of other highly qualified specialists. The group will probably create their own brand. The new manager of Rila Style is Mr. Alexander Takev.
Source: Standard 

USA
Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. said Monday its 2004 profit should rise by 9 percent to 10 percent from a year earlier, but high marketing and research expenses will keep results below Wall Street estimates.   Indianapolis-based Lilly estimated it would earn USD 2.80 to USD 2.85 per share in 2004, excluding one-time items, up from an estimated USD 2.58 per share in 2003. Analysts on average expected the company to earn USD 2.92 per share in 2004, according to Reuters. Shares of Lilly fell to USD 70.50 in electronic trading before the market opened, down from a Friday closing price of USD 71.24 on the New York Stock Exchange.   The company expects sales to increase by a percentage in the low double digits, boosted by new drugs for osteoporosis, impotence and attention deficit disorder. But marketing and administrative expenses will rise in the low-double digits, and research and development costs will rise in the mid-teens.   Analysts have said it will take significant investments in sales representatives and other marketing to get Lilly's new drugs off the ground. Because of the expense of launching new drugs and slower growth in sales of older drugs, Lilly's earnings are expected to rise just 3 percent for 2003.
Source: CNNfn