First Investment Bank JSC (FIB) granted BGN 4 million to Yorset Holdings for participation in the auction for First Private Bank JSC (FPB), stated Mr. Ivaylo Mutafchiev, one of the major shareholders in FIB.
Source: Monitor (10.01.2000)

BGN 85 million long and short term credits have been granted by First Investment Bank JSC in the period January - November, 1999. BGN 1.177 million have been granted to state-owned enterprises. Private companies have taken credits of BGN 82.647 million. At the end of November, 1999 the bank's total amount of assets was BGN 209.081 million.
Source: Pari (17.01.2000)

First Investment Bank JSC ended 1999 with a positive financial result - BGN 7.095 million after-tax profit, stated Executive Director Mr. Bojidar Grigorov.
Source: Capital (14.02.2000)

There are over 290.000 debit cards issued by Bulgarian banks - UBB JSC - 165.000, Bank DSK - 63.000, Bulbank JSC - 24.300, and First Investment Bank JSC - 12.000.
Source: Banker (15.02.2000)

Three consortiums will bid for the privatization of Biochim JSC, announced Mr. Petar Zhotev, Deputy Prime Minister. The term for submitting offers expires on March 17th, 2000. There are 9 potential candidates for the bank. Among the Bulgarian candidates are First Investment Bank JSC, Unionbank JSC, Roseximbank JSC, Neftinvestbank JSC, Bulgarian Holding Company JSC, and Orel G Holding JSC. Turkish investment bank Global Securities has also shown interest in the bank’s privatization but they want to take part in a consortium. Swedish Bank Invic and Investment Fund Logic Investment also intended to form a consortium.
Source: 24 chasa (10.03.2000)

Three banks declared their willingness to extend a credit of BGN 3.120 million to Varna Municipality. First East International Bank JSC offered a loan of BGN 2 million with maturity date December 26th, 2000. First Investment Bank JSC offered a maturity date June 30th, 2001. The third offer came from Municipal Bank JSC.
Source: Pari (16.03.2000)

The clients of Roseximbank can already pay with their debit cards in Internet and use Bulgarian system e-Pay, was reported from the financial institution. There are already 5 Bulgarian banks that service Web payments: First Investment Bank JSC, Tokuda Credit Express Bank, Hebrosbank JSC, Municipal Bank JSC, and Roseximbank JSC.
Source: InfoWeek (28.03.2000)

On March 31st, 2000 all candidates for Biochim JSC must submit their offers in bank Consolidation Company (BCC). I expect 3 offers for the bank's privatization, stated Mr. Petar Zhotev, BCC's executive Director. There are 9 candidates but the offers will be submitted by consortiums formed by them. Among the candidates are First Investment Bank JSC, Unionbank JSC, Roseximbank JSC, Neftinvestbank JSC, Bulgarian Holding Company, Orel G Holding JSC. A consortium formed by Bank Invic - Luxembourg, Milicom International Cellular, Modern Times Group, Framlington Bulgarian Fund has also shown interest in the privatization of Biochim JSC.
Source: Pari (31.03.2000)

PIB JSC granted a short term loan of BGN 2,6 million to WMZ - Sopot. The loan is secured with specific pledges and mortgages of the company's assets.
Source: Banker (17.04.2000)

Neftinvestbank JSC was selected for an exclusive buyer of Biochim, announced the Deputy Prime Minister and Executive Director of the Bank Consolidation Company Mr. Peter Zhotev. The second candidate is the insurance company Orel G Holding and the third is the consortium from the First Investment Bank and Unionbank.The negotiations will last one month when the representatives of Neftoinvestbank JSC will be invited by the Bank Consolidation Company.
Source: Pari (21.04.2000)

Neftinvestbank appealed against the decision of Sofia City Court for illegality of the present Direction of the bank, stated the Director of the Board of Directors Mrs. Petia Slavova. The decision of the Court concerned the General Meeting from 08.04.1998. According to the court the decisions, taken at the Meeting are insignificant and the former owners may come back to the bank. Neftinvestbank was selected last week for an exclusive buyer of Biochim by the Bank Consolidation Company. On 25.04.2000 is the first official meeting between BCC and Neftinvestbank. If within a month the two sides do not reach to an agreement , the other candidates will be invited - Orel-g Holding and the consortium between PIB and Union Bank. Neftinvestbank offers BGN 10 million and beside this it promised to invite a foreign investor.
Source: Sega (25.04.2000)

BNB and the Court will express an opinion on the legal statute of Neftinvestbank that was the preferred candidate - buyer of Biochim, declared Mr. Peter Zhotev who is Executive Director of the Bank Consolidation Company. If some problems emerge, the negotiations with the other 2 candidates - Orel G JSC and First Investment Bank JSC will continue. The new major owner of the company will merge with the bank or will merge it in the capital. The offers of the three candidates are acceptable.
Source: BTA (05.05.2000)

STANDARD & POOR'S increased the rating of the long-term credit and of the certificate of the deposits of First investment bank to B with stable perspective from B-. The increase of the rating reveals the better efficiency of the bank. The trade dynamics and flexibility of FIB, the adequate quality of the assets influence the positive rating of the institution, commented from the world agency.
Source: Pari (22.05.2000)

The Board of Directors of Bank Consolidation Company JSC (BCC) postponed its final decision for the privatization of the state-owned bank Biochim JSC - Sofia. BCC will insist the selected buyer, Neftinvestbank JSC, to provide additional information within two weeks about its shareholders, which control more than 3 per cent of its capital.
Source: Standart (08.06.2000)

Alexandra group in co-operation with InterCom, Hungary starts the construction of new cinema centre in Sofia. Cinema complex Arena will contain 15 cinema halls with totally 3020 places, a big trade area, public catering places and electronic games. The multiplex will spread on an area of 17 000 square metres in Ilinden municipality and is expected to be ready by the autumn of 2001. The project will cost over EUR 20 million.
Source: Capital (14.06.2000)

First Investment Bank JSC and Demirbank JSC signed an agreement for cooperation and joint actions in the presenting of Bulgarian production in Turkey, declared the Executive Director of First Investment Bank Mrs. Maia Georgieva. The Turkish companies have paid so far with delay and the point of the two banks is to be avoided this. Demirbank will take the chance on the Turkish importer. The client won't wait more than 30 days any more to receive his money because they will be paid off by Demirbank or First Investment Bank.
Source: Pari (16.06.2000)

BNB and Ministry of Finance confirmed for prime dealers of Securities the following banks Hebros, Bulbank, Post bank, Demirbank, Eurobank, United Bulgarian Bank, First Investment Bank, Neftinvestbank, Unionbank, Central Cooperative Bank and other banks, as well the non-bank financial institutions Elana, Bulbrokers, Euro-finance and DZI invest. Within September 30 prime dealers will be DSK Bank and BRIBank.
Source: Pari (03.07.2000)

The privatization of the major stake of shares of Metalchim happened without any scandals. This is the union of WMZ and of many companies from the Bulgarian armour industrial complex. The stake of shares was won by a MEBO.
Source: Maritsa (05.07.2000)

The largest Austrian credit institution Austria Bank Creditshtalt International has shown its intentions to take part in the bidding for the last Bulgarian state-owned bank Biochim JSC - Sofia. This has been done through a letter from the Austrian bank to the Board of Directors of Bank Consolidation Company JSC. The BCC Executive Director Mr. Petar Zhotev announced that there is a selected buyer for Biochim JSC and BCC is negotiating with it now. The bidding procedure was completed and Neftinvestbank was selected as exclusive buyer of the state-owned bank. The other candidates were Orel-G Holding JSC - Sofia and the consortium between First Investment Bank JSC and Unionbank JSC.
Source: Standart (17.07.2000)

First Investment Bank reported a profit of BGN 5.676 million for 1999 at its General Meeting of the Shareholders. The owners of the institution decided that the whole capital should be capitalized. The bank registered a sudden increase of its number of clients. The number of citizens, who are using the services of FIB has increased with 25 000, and that of the companies - with about 1000. The amount of the deposits of non-financial institutions, however, has dropped as a whole compared to the last year.
Source: Pari (21.07.2000)

The Board of Directors of the Bank Consolidation Company (BCC) decided on July 26 to reject the offer of Neftinvestbank JSC for the purchase of bank Biochim JSC. BCC also voted to reject the offers of the graded in second and third place candidates - Orel-G-Holding and the consortium between First Investment Bank and Unionbank, because of the unacceptable characteristics of the offered conditions. In the coming few days BCC will open a new auction for the gathering of offers for Biochim JSC, announced the Deputy Prime Minister and the Executive Director of BCC Mr. Petar Zhotev. He also added that the procedure for the increase of the capital of Biochim JSC up to BGN 20 million will start.
Source: 24 chasa (27.07.2000)

The loan given to non-financial institutions by FIB during the first six months of this year are already BGN 126.654 million, while as of December 31 last year they were BGN 77.128 million, reported Mrs. Maia Gerogieva, Executive Director. In the end of July the credits given by the bank amounted to BGN 145 million. The sum of the assets grew with BGN 45 million and for half a year it became BGN 248.065 million. The deposits of private persons grew with BGN 10 million during the first six months of the year. In July alone the deposit base grew with another BGN 10 million and reached BGN 117 million.
Source: Pari (09.08.2000)

The credit portfolio for Bulgaria of the Black Sea Bank for Trade and Development (BSBTD) is quickly growing, was announced by the Deputy President of the institution in Solun Mrs. Daniela Bobeva. The Board of Directors of BSBTD approved loans amounting to USD 50 million for this year. In the middle of September the Board of Directors of BSBTD will most probably grant USD 2.7 million to Florina Bulgaria. The Interantional Financial Corporation will grant USD 3.6 million more to the this company. Very soon a second bank-mediator for trade financing will be chosen. First Investment Bank already functions as a mediator.
Source: Pari (21.08.2000)

UBB JSC is up in the top asset list, according to the latest analysis of the Bank Supervision. According to data as of the end of June, UBB already holds the number two position by assets, and moves Bank DSK (State Saving Bank) at the number three position. UBB JSC has assets of BGN 1.11 billion, compared to 1.095 billion of Bank DSK. Bulbank is still number one by assets. It has BGN 2.333 billion, was announced from the Department, managed by Mrs. Emilia Milanova. This is more than one fourth of the assets of the whole bank system, which amounted to BGN 8.986 billion in the end of June. Bulbank, which is about to become property of an Italian company in the autumn, had the biggest profit among our trade banks - BGN 66.2 million. Bank DSK is in second place with 12.14 million, followed by UBB with 8.825 million. First Investment Bank is in the fourth position with BGN 5.436 million.
Source: Sega (21.08.2000)

Demirbank (Bulgaria) and EBRD signed a contract for commercial opportunities. The Turkish bank, registered in Bulgaria as a joint-stock company, is the third bank in our state, which signed such a contract with EBRD. The rest are Unionbank JSC and First Investment Bank. The collaboration includes confirmation of bank guarantees and letter of credits, issued by Demirbank to third legal entities and vice versa. This will increase the number of import and export deals from and to Bulgaria.
Source: BTA (25.09.2000)

The First Investment Bank has 75 (POS terminals) cash stations in the whole country. 32 of them are real and the rest are in Internet, was reported from the financial-credit institution.
Source: Pari (28.09.2000)

The Bank Consolidation Company refused to present a memorandum for the financial state of Biochim JSC, required by First Investment Bank. By the end of the week such a request will also make Neftinvestbank. Three foreign candidate-investors have so far received memoranda - Austria creditanstalt investment, Reifeisenbank-Bulgaria and Commercial bank of Greece. The Bulgarian investors will be totally isolated from the bidding for Biochim JSC. Roseximbank refused to participate in the privatization because of this reason. After the first auction for the purchase of Biochim was broken, the Directors of BCC changed the procedure in the part for receiving the information memoranda. Last month BCC sent more than 40 invitations to strategic foreign investors for participation in the privatization of Biochim JSC. The deadline for presentation of offers is not defined by the bank holding.
Source: Standart (12.10.2000)

The increase of the credit portfolio of the First Investment Bank for the 9th months is with BGN 65.806 million, was reported from the private bank. The total assets in the end of September are BGN 304.511 million compared to December 31. 1999 they were BGN 203.831 million. The profit before taxation is BGN 9.247 million.
Source: Pari (24.10.2000)

The company Fertitron that represents the interests of the American businessman Mr. Mark Rich, acquired the rights on 68 per cent of Himimport. On November 10 there will be a General Meeting of the company at which will be announced officially the change in the property. The major owners of Himimport have so far been some managers at the head with Mr. Belo Belov and the other shareholder was Consolid commerce with 20 per cent. Mr. Rich paid about USD 3 million and with these funds were paid the mortgages on the 3 buildings of the company in Sofia and was covered the deposit on the shares in the First Private Bank.
Source: 168 hours (03.11.2000)

None of the four candidate-buyers of the share of the State fund Agriculture in the Central Cooperative Bank has not presented a written request in BNB for acquisition of a share over 10 per cent of the bank. However the candidates presented a written interest. Among the candidates are: Reiffeisen central bank Austria, First Private Bank, Bulgaria, Istrocapital and an American Economic Group that has not decided yet if will take part separately or in cooperation with a bank. By the end of the month is expected the decision of the Council of Ministers for the sale of the share from the fund. There is a question who will sell the shares of the fund. There are two alternatives - through the Bank Consolidation Company or the funs itself.
Source: BTA (22.11.2000)

The Executive Director of First Investment Bank (FIB) Mrs. Maja Georgieva signed on December 7 in Munich a contract for 2-year syndicated loan of EUR 10 million. The credit is granted to FIB by a bank syndicate in which takes part the German Beirische Landes Bank, Schlezvig-Hollstein Landes Bank, Baden-Vurtenbergische Landes Bank and the Austrian Bank fur Arbeit and Wirtschaft. This is the third loan that in the frames of 2 years the Bulgarian credit institution receives from bank syndicates.
Source: Banker (12.12.2000)

The Ministry of Finance signed contracts with 14 banks that will service the budget accounts in 2001. These are Bulbank, Hebrosbank, DSK, Expressbank, Economic and Investment bank, Promotional bank, Unionbank, Bulgaria-invest, Rosseximbank, Central Cooperative Bank, First East International Bank, Raifaisenbank, First Investment Bank and Corporate Trade Bank.
Source: 24 chasa (27.12.2000)