The Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA) signed an agreement with the investment intermediary Aval In to promote the opportunities of the Bulgarian Stock Exchange as a place for alternative financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), their registration, promotion of the products and their services, as well as increasing the credibility of small businesses on the international market. Aval In is the first company approved by the Bulgarian Stock Exchange as a Bulgarian Enterprise Accelerator Market (BEAM) Advisor for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The SME growth market (BEAM) is primarily targeted at small and medium-sized companies that are registered as joint-stock companies in the country or abroad. Any company that wants to raise capital on the BEAM market needs to enter into a contract with an advisor approved by the BSE, such as Aval In, for at least two years. The market is attractive for ambitious and innovative companies with an existing business looking for additional funding to develop their business, increase publicity of the products and services offered, and expand their shareholding base.

For the past five years, the European Investment Bank has provided EUR 1.5 billion for the Bulgarian economy. Last year alone, the bank provided EUR 103 million in loans for various projects and the European Investment Fund supported eight projects worth a total of EUR 114 million. The largest investment in 2018 is a loan of EUR 14 million to Agria Group Holding for a new port facility in Varna, a EUR 22 million loan to the Sofia Municipality, which funds the construction of line 3 of the second phase of the Sofia metro and EUR 67 million for the construction and commissioning of a new combined heat power plant for the district heating network in Sofia, managed by Toplofikacia Sofia EAD. This was made clear at a special press conference given by the bank's representation in Bulgaria. "In 2018, we performed strongly in Bulgaria, especially with the expansion of our advisory services and we continue to support the economy in the new year with two important transactions." The EIB Group's financing accounted for close to 0.4% of Bulgaria's GDP in the past a year that is above the EU average," said EIB Vice President Vazil Hudak.

Fish Express invested BGN 2.2 million in an enterprise for processing, production and trade in sea fish and fish delicacies near Plovdiv. With the new power built last year, the company wants to increase its production capacity, which is currently 500 tons processed fish per year. Since its foundation in 2014, Fish Express has been developing quite dynamically. Revenues from the core business are BGN 22,000 then, and grow by about a million a year to reach over BGN 5 million in 2018. Initially in 2014, Fish Express began working in Plovdiv. In 2015, the company’s management bought a plot of about 4 km from Plovdiv, invested BGN 2.2 million, and in 2019 the new production power was put into operation. For most of the investment, the management applied for and benefited from the project 'Building a fish processing enterprise' from the Maritime and Fisheries Program, amounting to BGN 1,829 million. Of these, BGN 686,000 was financed by the European Union of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Another BGN 228.6 thousand is national co-financing. The investment reveals 12 new jobs, and today the total number of employees is 18.

A new line for distilling essential oil of lavender will start this summer in one of the biggest distilleries in Bulgaria - Esseterre Bulgaria in Dobrich. Esseterre Bulgaria is a local partner of the DoTERRA Healing Hands Foundation. The company starts producing in 2015, processing only lavender. Within a few years, production has expanded and new jobs are being created, while at the same time the company collaborates with local business and farmers. Esseterre Bulgaria has invested BGN 4.2 mln in the almost completed second distillery, which will become operational in the 2019 season and will provide 100 new jobs. So far is the total value of the company’s investments amounts to BGN12 million .

Bulgaria's competition regulator said that local construction company Patperfect-T is seeking anti-trust approval to acquire local peer Patstroy. The deal is expected to affect the local road construction and building materials production segments. Patperfect-T is a wholly-owned unit of local Patengineeringstroy-T, which in turn is fully owned by Sofia-based IG Holding. IG Holding is 50/50 owned by local private investors. Patperfect-T booked revenue of BGN 17 million in 2017 and closed the year with a net profit of BGN 261,000. Patstroy generated some BGN 193,000 in revenue in 2017, and ended the year with a net loss of BGN 67,000.

Bulgaria's Darik Radio has increased its capital by BGN 300,000 to BGN 5.8 million via a new share issue. All 300,000 newly-issued shares were subscribed for by private investor Radosvet Radev, who was also a shareholder before the capital increase. The company's shareholders approved the decision for the capital increase at a meeting on April 1. Darik Radio generated revenue of BGN 5 million in 2017 and posted a net profit of BGN 246,000.

The manufacturer of car upholstery ALS Bulgaria enters into insolvency proceedings. The claim was brought by the company itself at the insistence of the Canadian owner due to poor financial results. At the beginning of the year, the company closed its three plants in the country. In its application to the court, ALS Bulgaria states that it owes BGN 27 million to suppliers, banks and its main BMW client, while at the same time lacking fast liquid assets to satisfy its creditors and payments are delayed more than 30 days. Since mid-January, the company has been unable to meet its obligations under contracts.

The net profit of the producer of batteries and accumulators Monbat has increased by 56% to BGN 9.9 million last year, the company's unconsolidated statement shows. As of December 31, 2018, revenues from the company's operations amounted to BGN 360.9 million, which is 2% more than a year earlier. Operating expenses increased by 1% to BGN 350.7 million. Last year, Monbat recorded sales in more than 64 countries, including important markets such as France, Spain, Germany, Romania and Italy. The company owns 97.8% of the capital of the third largest producer from the battery business in Bulgaria, the company Start AD. "In 2018, Monbat's main market is France with EUR 20.7 million in sales revenue, which represents 15.91% of the total export of the company on an individual basis," the company's activity report states. It is also clear from the activity report that the 2019-2023 period will consist of a new stage and approach for the company into targeted markets through a hybrid growth strategy (production and distribution) and the creation of prerequisites for specialization in 3 categories: derived products from recycling activity carried out by the subsidiaries of the company, utilization of new technologies for battery production and increasing the number of product and technological solutions in the field of energy management.

Jaguar Land Rover shuts its UK plants for five days over Brexit, adding to other shutdowns to leave at least half the country’s car production off-line in what could be a pivotal week for Britain’s divorce from the EU. The move by Britain’s biggest carmaker, to prepare for any disruption resulting from Brexit, was taken a few months ago at a time when the departure date - since extended to April 12 - was March 29. Automotive firms face a number of possible risks under a disorderly Brexit, including delays to the supply of ports and finished models, new customs bureaucracy, the need to recertify models and an up to 10 percent tariff on finished vehicles. Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts to obtain a longer extension have also ruined contingency plans for some of them. Shutdowns are generally organised far in advance so employee holidays can be scheduled and suppliers can adjust volumes, making them hard to move. With Britain’s political leaders still deadlocked over Brexit and some EU states questioning a further departure delay, culture minister Jeremy Wright said May would continue talks with the opposition Labour Party to try to find a compromise solution.

Pinterest Inc. is seeking to raise as much as $1.28 billion in an U.S. initial public offering that could value the company below the amount it reached in its last private valuation. The maker of online inspiration boards is offering 75 million shares for $15 to $17 apiece, according to a filing Monday. Based on the total number of Class A and Class B shares outstanding after the offering, if it priced at the top of the range, that would give Pinterest a market valuation of about $9 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Its fully diluted value could be higher. In its last private funding round in 2017, the company raised $150 million for a total valuation of about $12.3 billion. Pinterest will start its IPO roadshow in New York Monday and travel to cities including Boston, San Francisco and Chicago to market the shares, according to a term sheet reviewed by Bloomberg. It aims to price the stock after the market closes on April 17. San Francisco-based Pinterest accelerated its offering to capitalize on the hot U.S. market for IPOs, which expects to see a flurry of U.S. tech companies go public this year.

The parent company of Gree Electric Appliances Inc. is considering selling almost all of its stake in the Zhuhai-based Chinese appliance giant in a deal that could be worth up to 43 billion yuan ($6.4 billion). A 15 percent stake will be sold at a price no less than the average stock price of the last 30 trading days, Gree Electric said in a statement to the Shenzhen stock exchange on Monday. The company did not identify the buyer of the stake. Parent Gree Group held 18.22 percent of Gree Electric as of the end of September, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. At its present valuation of 284 billion yuan, a 15 percent stake in Gree Electric would be worth 42.6 billion yuan. The transaction will lead to a change of ownership in the refrigerators and air conditioners maker and Gree Group is still studying the proposal, said the statement. As Gree Group is controlled by the local government, the deal will require approval from the state assets regulator, it said. Gree Electric is one of China’s biggest appliance makers.