News report of 27.03.2008

* BOSNIA *

Bosnia’s Air Traffic Authority To Call Tender for Procurement of Equipment Mar 27, 2008, 13:47 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 27 (SeeNew) - Bosnia’s Directorate of Civil Aviation (BHDCA) will call in April a tender for the supply of services and equipment which is financed by a 12 million euro ($19 million) loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the bank said on Thursday. link

Austria’s Alpine Mayreder Joins Strabag in 3.0 Bln Euro Road Project in Bosnia Mar 27, 2008, 18:36 CET | Story | SeeNews BANJA LUKA (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 27 (SeeNews) - The government of Bosnia’s Serb Republic said on Thursday Austria’s Alpine Mayreder Bau has joined Strabag in a 3.0 billion euro ($4.74 billion) project to build over 400 kilometres of roads in this part of Bosnia. link

Bosnia Schedule of Events - March 27 – Nov 2 Mar 27, 2008, 10:16 CET | Story | SeeNews SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bosnia and Herzegovina through November 2. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* BULGARIA *

BSE - Daily Bulletin, Selected Announcements - Mar 26, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 08:50 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Bulgartabac-holding AD-Sofia, BSE code - BTH, filed the following information with X3 News:Bulgartabac-holding AD was registered with the Commercial Register to the Registry Agency on 24.03.2008 under BULSTAT i.e. Unified Identification Code - 831636680.Please, refer to the entire text of the notification on link link

Turkish Glassmaker Sisecam To Invest $415 Mln in Bulgaria Mar 27, 2008, 10:44 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Trakya Cam, a unit of Turkish glassmaker Sisecam, will invest $415 million (263 million euro) in Bulgaria, aiming to capitalise on the fast development of the Balkan region, Trakya Cam said on Thursday. link

Bulgarian Telco Group BTC Plans To Invest 110 Mln Euro in 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 12:33 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) – Bulgarian telecommunications group BTC plans to invest some 110 million euro ($173.9 million) in expanding its mobile network and improving Internet services, BTC executive officer Bernard Moscheni said on Thursday. link

INTERVIEW - Romanian Software Developer SIVECO Sees ’08 Turnover Rising by 20% Mar 27, 2008, 13:07 CET | Interview | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian software developer and integrator SIVECO Romania sees this year’s turnover rising by 20% from $70 million (44.4 million euro) in 2007 and aims to become a regional software solutions integrator, a company official said. link

Bulgaria’s Sopharma To Invest 8.0 Mln Euro in Serbian Plant Mar 27, 2008, 14:39 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Blue-chip Bulgarian drug maker Sopharma on Thursday said it will invest some 8.0 million euro ($12.6 million) in building a tablets plant in Serbia’s capital Belgrade by 2009. link

Bulgarian Unit of Hellenic Petroleum Plans To Buy Outlets of Bulgarian Fuel Retailer Mar 27, 2008, 15:04 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Petrol stations operator Eko Bulgaria, part of Greece’s Hellenic Petroleum Group, said on Thursday it plans to buy seven petrol stations and a storage facility from Bulgarian fuel retailer Tempo Petrol for an undisclosed sum. link

Bulgarian ICT Market to Grow By Annual Average 13.4% to 2012 - Researcher IDC Mar 27, 2008, 15:37 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - The Bulgarian information and communication technology (ICT) market will grow by an annual average rate of 13.4% to 2012, international information technology researcher IDC said on Thursday. link

British Low-cost Carrier easyJet Adds Three Sofia-London Flights Mar 27, 2008, 16:26 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - British low-cost carrier easyJet on Thursday said it will increase its flights between Bulgaria’s capital Sofia and London to 10 per weeks starting in the end of May as demand by customers in both countries has increased. link

Bulgarian C-Bank Warns Lenders to Hold their Horses Mar 27, 2008, 17:18 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd The slackened lending standards in the fight for market shares and overestimating households’ solvency are the major risks Bulgarian banks will be facing in 2008, the central bank said in its latest review. link

Bulgarian Speedy Net Takes Over Two Internet Providers Mar 27, 2008, 17:21 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Bulgarian Advance Equity Holding has acquired the networks of Sofia-based Internet services providers Relef Net and Ava Computer Products through its subsidiary Speedy Net, Dnevnik daily reported on March 27, 2008. link

BulgarianCBA Asset Management Opens Hypermarket in Veliko Tarnovo Mar 27, 2008, 17:22 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Bulgarian CBA Asset Management unveiled its first hypermarket in the northern town of Veliko Tarnovo on March 27, 2008. link

Bulgarian Masterbuild Plans Holiday Complexes Mar 27, 2008, 17:26 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Bulgarian company Masterbuild plans to build holiday complexes on the country’s southern Black Sea coast. link

Bulgaria’s Borola Plans 6.7 Mln Euro Investments in Health Products/Services, Wine Business Mar 27, 2008, 17:46 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) – Bulgaria’s Borola, which is active in healthcare, wine and tourism, plans to invest some 6.7 million euro ($10.6 million) in various projects by the end of 2010 to secure growth, a company official said on Thursday. link

UPDATE 1 - Turkish Glassmaker Sisecam To Invest $415 Mln in Bulgaria Mar 27, 2008, 18:05 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds turnover projections) link

Bulgarian Business Sentiment Index Continues to Rise in March Mar 27, 2008, 17:05 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria’s business mood remained positive in March, as the business sentiment index rose slightly on more optimistic assessments by managers in the construction, trade and services sectors, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) said on Thursday. link

Elana - Bulgaria Daily Report - Mar 26, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 09:52 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Market Highlights link

FFBH - Bulgaria Morning Update - Mar 27, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 10:54 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews MARKET WRAP-UP link

Bulgarian Stocks Mostly Fall Tracking Global Losses Mar 27, 2008, 17:17 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian stocks mostly fell on Thursday tracking losses on international markets overnight, brokers said. link

Bulgaria Schedule of Events - March 27 - Nov 25 Mar 27, 2008, 09:07 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Bulgaria through November 25. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* CROATIA *

Austria’s Erste Bank To Sell Insurance Operations to Vienna Insurance Group for 1.4 Bln Euro Mar 27, 2008, 09:42 CET | Story | SeeNews VIENNA (Austria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Austria’s Erste Bank said on Thursday it has signed an agreement to sell its insurance subsidiaries in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania to Vienna Insurance Group for 1.4 billion euro ($2.2 billion). link

CROATIA’S INGRA 2007 UNCONSOLIDATED UNAUDITED NET PROFIT UP 82% TO 71 MLN KUNA (9.8 MLN EURO) Mar 27, 2008, 10:19 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Croatian Engineering Company INGRA 2007 Uncons Unaudited Net Profit Up 82% to 71 Mln Kuna (9.8 Mln Euro) Mar 27, 2008, 10:39 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) – Croatian blue-chip civil engineering company INGRA reported on Thursday a non-consolidated unaudited net profit of 71 million kuna ($15 million/9.8 million euro) for last year, up from 39 million kuna a year earlier. link

UPDATE 1 - Croatian Engineering Company INGRA 2007 Uncons Unaudited Net Profit Up 82% – Table Mar 27, 2008, 11:00 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds table) link

CROATIA’S ATLANTSKA PLOVIDBA 2007 CONS UNAUDITED NET PROFIT UP 151% TO 239.1 MLN KUNA (32.9 MLN EURO) Mar 27, 2008, 11:31 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Croatia’s Atlantska Plovidba 2007 Cons Unaudited Net Profit Up 151% to 239.1 Mln Kuna (32.9 Mln Euro) Mar 27, 2008, 12:10 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) – Croatian blue-chip shipping company Atlantska Plodivba reported on Thursday a consolidated unaudited net profit of 239.1 million kuna ($51.9 million/32.9 million euro) for 2007, up from 95.3 million kuna a year earlier. link

Raiffeisen’s Croatian Unit 2007 Group After-Tax Profit Rises 1.8% Mar 27, 2008, 12:18 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Croatian commercial bank Raiffeisenbank Austria Zagreb (RBA), part of Austrian Raiffeisen banking group, said on Thursday its consolidated group after-tax profit last year rose to 509 million kuna ($110.5 million/ 70.1 million euro), up by 1.8% year-on year. link

UPDATE 1 – Croatia’s Atlantska Plovidba 2007 Cons Unaudited Net Profit Up 151% - Table Mar 27, 2008, 12:31 CET | Story | SeeNews (adds table, updates share price) link

INTERVIEW - Croatia’s Pula Airport Sees 2008 Net Profit Up 10% Mar 27, 2008, 16:18 CET | Interview | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) – The Croatian airport of Pula expects its net profit to rise by some 10% this year from over half a million euro ($788,000) projected for 2007, the airport’s director, Bruno Rogovic, said. link

Erste Securities - Research - Ingra - FY2007 Results - Mar 27, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 16:52 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Ingra – Sales surged 101% to HRK 675.3mn link

Erste Securities - Research - Atlantska Plovidba - FY2007 Results - Mar 27, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 17:02 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Croatian shipping company Atlantska plovidba published full year results recording strong bottom line growth of 150.9% y/y to HRK 239.1mn. Company also reported 20.0% y/y sales increase to HRK 1,333.9mn which came due to strong fright rates increase in first nine months of 2007. 4Q sales came somewhat shorter than expected as company’s sales fell from HRK 344.5mn to HRK 339.6 due to decline in rates on global markets. Net margin almost doubled from 8.6% to 17.9% and is still somewhat below industry levels mainly as result of euro appreciating against dollar (company pays its workforce in euros while it receives freight rates in dollars) and rather diversified portfolio (around 25% of sales is generated form airline company and tourism sector. link

Croatian Atlantic Grupa Buys Two More Pharmacy Chains Mar 27, 2008, 17:04 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) – Atlantic Grupa, a Croatian distributor of consumer goods and manufacturer of healthcare products, said on Thursday it has taken over a further two privately-owned pharmacy chains, Ljekarne Kuna and Ljekarne Melissa, for an undisclosed sum. link

Austrian Erste Bank Sells Czech PCS to VIG Mar 27, 2008, 17:15 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Austrian Erste Bank has sold Czech insurer Pojistovna Ceske Sporitelny (PCS) along with its other insurance operations in central and eastern Europe (CEE) to Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), Erste Bank spokeswoman Hana Cygonkova was quoted as saying on March 26, 2008 by the local daily Financni Noviny. link

FIMA - Weekly Report - Mar 17 - 24, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 10:11 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews NEWS FIMA Stock Monitor - Daily - Mar 26, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 10:13 CET | Broker's Report | SeeNews Daily comment: [link->http://seenews.com/news/latestnews/fimastockmonitor-daily-mar26_2008-083016" class="spip_out">link

Erste Securities - Croatian Equity Daily - Mar 27, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 10:14 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Highlights: link

Croatia Schedule of Events – March 27 – May 17 Mar 27, 2008, 09:18 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Croatia through May 17. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Croatian PM Says He Believes Croatia Will Get Invitation To Join NATO Next Week Mar 27, 2008, 17:48 CET | Story | SeeNews ZAGREB (Croatia), March 27 (SeeNews) – Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said on Thursday he believes that Croatia will get an invitation to join NATO at next week’s summit of the alliance in Bucharest and will formally become a member in early 2009. link

* MACEDONIA *

Macedonia’s Stopanska Banka Bitola To Pay Flat 2007 Dividend Mar 27, 2008, 14:22 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Macedonian commercial bank Stopanska Banka Bitola, which seeks a strategic investor, said on Thursday it will pay a dividend of 510 denars ($13.09/8.32 euro) per share for 2007, equal to what it paid for the previous year. link

MACEDONIA’S FEB INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT RISES 6.9% M/M, UP 6.9% Y/Y – STATS OFFICE Mar 27, 2008, 15:01 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Macedonia’s February Industrial Output Rises 6.9% M/M – Table Mar 27, 2008, 15:10 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Macedonia’s February industrial output increased by 6.9% month-on-month, the country’s Statistics Office said on Thursday. link

Macedonia Sells Just 300,000 Denars (4,850 Euro) of Two-Year T-notes, Avg Yield 6.75% Mar 27, 2008, 17:35 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Macedonia on Thursday sold just 300,000 denars ($7,700/4,850 euro) of two-year Treasury notes, well below its target of 200 million denars, at an average yield of 6.75%, central bank (NBRM) data showed. link

Macedonia’s FX Reserves Rise 7.6% Y/Y to 1.524 Bln Euro at End-2007 - Table Mar 27, 2008, 17:51 CET | Story | SeeNews SKOPJE (Macedonia), March 27 (SeeNews) - The gross foreign exchange reserves held by Macedonia’s central bank, NBRM, rose by 7.6% year-on-year to 1.524 billion euro ($2.4 billion) at the end of December, the central bank, NBRM, said on Thursday. link

* MOLDOVA *

Moldovan Winery Nis-Struguras Cuts Loss 10 Times in 2007 - Table Mar 27, 2008, 11:37 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) - Moldovan winery Nis-Struguras, owned by Russian wine company DK-Intertrade, pared its loss 10 times to 819,000 lei ($77,500/49,000 euro) last year, it said on Thursday. link

Moldovan Spirits, Wine Maker Aroma Swings to Loss in 2007 - Table Mar 27, 2008, 12:23 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) – Moldovan state-owned alcoholic drinks and wine producer Aroma turned to a 1.2 million lei ($114,000/72,000 euro) loss last year from a 6.9 million lei net profit in 2006, the company said on Thursday. link

Moldova’s Viorica Cosmetics Net Profit Rises 20% in 2007 – Table Mar 27, 2008, 13:44 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) – The net profit of the Moldova’s biggest cosmetics producer Viorica Cosmetics rose by 20% last year to 1.6 million lei ($152,000/96,300 euro), the company said on Thursday. Following are figures from the company’s 2007 financial statement filed with the Moldovan Securities Commission: link

Moldova’s Free Economic Zones’ Net Sales Rise 24% in 2007 Mar 27, 2008, 15:53 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) - The net sales of Moldova’s free economic zones grew by 24% to 1.16 billion lei ($110 million/70 million euro) last year, the Economy and Trade Ministry said on Thursday. link

Moldova Feb Average Salary Rises 31% Y/Y to 2,240 Lei (134 Euro) - Table Mar 27, 2008, 10:46 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) - The average monthly salary in Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest nations, rose by an annual 31% in February to 2,240 lei ($212/134 euro), the country’s statistics bureau said on Thursday. link

Moldova’s Transdniestria Jan-Feb Industrial Output Rises 32.1% Mar 27, 2008, 14:24 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) - The industrial output of Moldova’s breakaway region of Transdniestria rose by an annual 32.1% through February, Transdniestria’s Economy Ministry said on Thursday. link

Moldova’s Transdniestria Region Jan-Feb Trade Gap at $82.7 Mln - Table Mar 27, 2008, 14:46 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) - The trade deficit of Moldova’s rebel region of Transdniestria reached $82.7 million (52.4 million euro) in January to February this year, figures from Transdniestria’s economy ministry showed on Thursday. link

Moldova Schedule of Events - March 27 - May 25 Mar 27, 2008, 10:24 CET | Story | SeeNews CHISINAU (Moldova), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in, or related to Moldova through May 25. New or amended entries are marked (*) link

* MONTENEGRO *

Montenegro’s Feb Tourist Numbers Rise 53.0% Y/Y - Table Mar 27, 2008, 13:23 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), March 27 (SeeNews) - Tourists in Montenegro numbered 24,108 in February, up 53.0% from a year earlier, the country’s statistics office reported on Thursday. link

Monstat - Monthly Statistical Review - Jan 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 14:00 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews INTRODUCTIONStatistical Office of Montenegropublishes statistical data for Montenegro in the MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW. These are the official statistical data as a result of official statistical services.Statistical data in MONTHLY STATISTICAL REVIEW are systemized in two parts.The first GENERAL PART contains the data with monthly periodicity at the national level, and they are shown in series within standard tables. Monthly series include the period of 13 months from the current and previous year. Below respect tables, short explanations are given, where is required.The second SPECIFIC PART contains data of statistical surveys that cannot be published in monthly series.Monthly data for the current year are usually preliminary, so smaller errors are possible that are corrected gradually in the later numbers, and designated with small star in the number of the REVIEW where the correction has been made.The publication contents is adapted to the international needs and obligat ions in the sense of application of the Classification of activities (NACE, REV1), in use from January 2001. link

Montenegro Schedule of Events - March 27 - May 15 Mar 27, 2008, 10:47 CET | Story | SeeNews PODGORICA (Montenegro), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in, or related to, Montenegro through May 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* ROMANIA *

Romania’s February Residential Building Permits Rise 29.3% Y/Y Mar 27, 2008, 09:04 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romania issued 4,096 building permits for residential projects in February, up 29.3% from a year earlier, the country’s statistics board, INS, said on Thursday. link

Austria’s Erste Bank To Sell Insurance Operations to Vienna Insurance Group for 1.4 Bln Euro Mar 27, 2008, 09:42 CET | Story | SeeNews VIENNA (Austria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Austria’s Erste Bank said on Thursday it has signed an agreement to sell its insurance subsidiaries in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania to Vienna Insurance Group for 1.4 billion euro ($2.2 billion). link

INTERVIEW - Romanian Software Developer SIVECO Sees ’08 Turnover Rising by 20% Mar 27, 2008, 13:07 CET | Interview | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian software developer and integrator SIVECO Romania sees this year’s turnover rising by 20% from $70 million (44.4 million euro) in 2007 and aims to become a regional software solutions integrator, a company official said. link

Romanian Port Operator Socep Sees 2008 Pre-tax Profit Up 7.3% Mar 27, 2008, 14:00 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian Black Sea port operator Socep on Thursday projected a pre-tax profit of 4.1 million lei ($1.7 million/1.1 million euro) for 2008, up from the 3.8 million lei in pretax profit it reported for last year. link

Romanian Steel Pipe Maker Zimtub Plans To Skip Dividend Again Mar 27, 2008, 14:13 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian welded steel pipe manufacturer Zimtub said on Thursday it plans to pay no dividend for 2007 and to reinvest its profit. link

Austrian Erste Bank Sells Czech PCS to VIG Mar 27, 2008, 17:15 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Austrian Erste Bank has sold Czech insurer Pojistovna Ceske Sporitelny (PCS) along with its other insurance operations in central and eastern Europe (CEE) to Vienna Insurance Group (VIG), Erste Bank spokeswoman Hana Cygonkova was quoted as saying on March 26, 2008 by the local daily Financni Noviny. link

Holcim Romania 2007 Gross Profit Up 24 Pct Y/Y to Record 68.87 Mln Euro Mar 27, 2008, 17:24 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd The Romanian unit of Swiss cement producer Holcim said its gross profit rose by 24 pct on the year to a record 256 mln Romanian lei ($108.8 mln/68.87 mln euro) in 2007, on higher sales volume. link

Romanian Alro Plans To Pay 117.83 Mln Euro Dividend for 2007 Mar 27, 2008, 17:27 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Romanian aluminium smelter Alro plans to use its entire 2007 net profit of 438 mln Romanian lei ($186.16 mln/117.83 mln euro) to pay dividend for 2007, board of directors’ vice president Marian Nastase said on March 27, 2008. link

Raiffeisen Bank Romania 2007 Assets Up 19 Pct Y/Y Mar 27, 2008, 17:31 CET | Story | AII Data Processing Ltd Raiffeisen Bank Romania, a subsidiary of Austria’s Raiffeisen Zentralbank (RZB), said its assets rose by 19 pct on the year to 5.6 bln euro ($8.85 bln) in 2007. link

Romanian Bakery Firm Titan Plans Return to Dividend for 2007 Mar 27, 2008, 18:08 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian bakery company Titan on Thursday said it plans to pay a gross dividend of 0.0125 lei ($0.0053 / 0.0034 euro) for 2007 after paying no dividend in the last five years. link

Romanian Drug Maker Biofarm Plans 11.7 Mln Lei (3.2 Mln Euro) Capital Hike via Bonus Issue Mar 27, 2008, 18:30 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian drug maker Biofarm on Thursday said it plans to raise its share capital by 11.73 million lei ($4.98 million/3.16 million euro) to 109.49 million lei via a bonus share issue. link

ROMANIA GOVT TO ISSUE 3.0 BLN LEI (807 MLN EURO) DEBT IN Q2’08 - FIN MIN Mar 27, 2008, 10:29 CET | Alert | SeeNews link

Romania To Issue 3.0 Bln Lei (807 Mln Euro) Debt in Q2’08 - Fin Min Mar 27, 2008, 10:56 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romania’s Finance Ministry plans to issue three billion lei ($1.3 billion/807 million euro) worth of government securities in the second quarter of 2008 to finance and re-finance public debt, it said on Thursday. link

Romania’s Feb M3 Money Supply Up Nominal 1.6% M/M - Table Mar 27, 2008, 10:58 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romania’s M3, the broadest gauge of the country’s money supply, rose in February by a nominal 1.6% month-on-month to 149.76 billion lei ($63.56 billion/40.29 billion euro), the country’s central bank, BNR, said on Thursday. link

Romanian INS - International Trade Statistical Bulletin - Dec 2007 Mar 27, 2008, 15:43 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Romanian National Institute of Statistics (INS) has released its monthly International Trade Statistical Bulletin for December 2007. link

Romanian INS - Industry Statistical Bulletin - Jan 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 15:44 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Romanian National Institute of Statistics (INS) has released its monthly Industry Statistical Bulletin for January 2008. link

Romanian INS - Prices Statistical Bulletin - Jan 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 15:49 CET | State Agencies Reports | SeeNews Romanian National Institute of Statistics (INS) has released its monthly Prices Statistical Bulletin for January 2008. link

Raiffeisen Capital & Investment - Investment Daily Romania - Mar 27, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 09:53 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Trader’s CommentOn a liquidity exceeding the average of the previous days (EUR 12.5 mn), the local stock market declined on Wednesday, BET losing at closing 0.8% and BET-FI falling 2.43%. Even if the evolution was negative for most of the day, SIFs depreciation was surprising, as the losses ranged between 1.2% (SIF2) and 3.1% (SIF1), surpassing the decline in BET, while during the day the losses were even larger. The trading volume with the SIFs stood at EUR 6.3 mn, almost half the total trading volume. The sell pressure was noticeable and new buy orders comparable in size with the sell orders stopped a harsher fall.The only blue chips which succeeded to close positive for the day were SNP, which rose 2% and TGN, that went up 1%.In the newsPetrom to start making contributions to Social FundPetrom and Romgaz signed with the Government of Romania (GOR) a protocol that regulates their participation to the Social Fund. The GOR set up the Social Fund in view of granting social aid s to the population with low income who use gas for heating. The value of the Social Fund for this year is RON 172 mn, out of which RON 80 mn represents Petroms contribution. The two companies provide funds to the Social Fund through sponsorship. Their contributions will not be deducted from the due profit tax, but they will be considered deductible expenses for the purposes of calculating the profit tax. The payment of the amount will be made in equal monthly installments. Based on our projections, the contribution to Social Fund shall have amarginal impact only on companys operating profit, which is estimated at RON 3.8 bn in 2008. SIFs bought indirectly their own sharesThe SIFs have acquired indirectly, namely through some companies they control, own shares worth at least EUR 7 mn, according to an article in the local media. The article mentions SIF Transilvania (SIF3) and SIF Oltenia (SIF5) that through companies like Biofarm (BIO), Turism Felix (TUFE), Orsova Shipyard (SNO) have bought in the last year shares in SIF5 and SIF3. The com ies are not required to make public their shareholdings so it is difficult to estimate their ownership in the SIFs. According to SIFs representatives, the local legislation suspends the voting rights for these ownerships.We consider the action negative, both considering SIF3 and SIF5 strategy and also for the companies that, we believe increased their risk profile. These companies are engaged in non-core activities that could result in significant financial losses and also derive resources from their core activities.SIF Transilvania - transactions on the capital marketIn a release to the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), SIF Transilvania (SIF3) acquired about 1.9 mn shares in Romradiatoare Brasov at RON 2.5 per share. The transaction amounted to RON 4.7 mn (EUR 1.3 mn). SIF 3 increased its stake in Romradiatoare to 70.7%. In addition, SIF3 announced that it subscribed shares worth RON 11.2 mn (EUR 3 mn) in the share capital increase underwent by construction company COMCM (CMCM ). link

Ieba Trust - Romanian Market Daily - Mar 26, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 10:55 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews NBR has raised the monetary policy rate to 9.5% link

Strong Gains in Erste, BRD Lift Romanian Bourse Indices Mar 27, 2008, 15:46 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Romanian bourse indices regained ground on Thursday, pushed up by strong gains in Austria’s Erste Bank and blue-chip BRD bank, brokers said. link

Romania Schedule of Events - March 27 - May 15 Mar 27, 2008, 09:09 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Romania through May 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

Romanian Leu Ends Steady vs Euro Mar 27, 2008, 17:54 CET | Story | SeeNews BUCHAREST (Romania), March 27 (SeeNews) - The Romanian leu ended fairly steady at 3.7120/7160 per euro on Thursday, versus 3.7165/7205 on Wednesday, in relatively high trading volumes, dealers said. link

* SERBIA *

Bulgaria’s Sopharma To Invest 8.0 Mln Euro in Serbian Plant Mar 27, 2008, 14:39 CET | Story | SeeNews SOFIA (Bulgaria), March 27 (SeeNews) - Blue-chip Bulgarian drug maker Sopharma on Thursday said it will invest some 8.0 million euro ($12.6 million) in building a tablets plant in Serbia’s capital Belgrade by 2009. link

Serbia’s Energoprojekt Signs 72 Mln Deals for Construction Works in Kazakhstan, Russia Mar 27, 2008, 15:44 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 27 (SeeNews) – Serbia’s Energoprojekt Holding said on Thursday it has signed two deals worth a combined 72 million euro ($114million) for construction works in Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. link

Serbia’s Pirot Free Zone Eyes 145 Mln Euro Investments by 2010, 15-20% Rise in 2008 Turnover Mar 27, 2008, 18:23 CET | Story | SeeNews PIROT (Serbia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Serbia’s Pirot free economic zone plans to attract a further 145 million euro ($229 million) in investment to develop its industrial zone by 2010 and aims to raise its turnover by 15-20% this year, company officials said on Thursday. link

Vojvodjanska Banka - Daily Vobnews - Mar 27, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 10:47 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Vojvodjanska banka released its Daily Vobnews Report for March 27, 2008 containing the following charts and tables: link

Sinteza Investment Group - Daily Market WrapUp - Mar 26, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 11:40 CET | Broker’s Report | SeeNews Sinteza Investment Group has released its Daily Market WrapUp for March 26, 2008, containg an overview of the Serbian Financial Market. link

Belgrade Stock Exchange - Daily Report - Mar 26, 2008 Mar 27, 2008, 15:52 CET | Specialists Reports | SeeNews Belgrade Stock Exchange has published its daily report on trading volumes and prices for March 26, 2008 link

Serbia Schedule of Events - March 27 - May 11 Mar 27, 2008, 10:19 CET | Story | SeeNews BELGRADE (Serbia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Serbia through May 11. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

* SLOVENIA *

Slovenia’s Abanka Vipa Raises 2007 Prelim Group Net Profit by One-Third Mar 27, 2008, 10:51 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Slovenia’s Abanka Vipa has raised its 2007 group net profit to a preliminary 36.81 million euro ($58 million) from 27. 616 million euro a year earlier, it said on Thursday. link

Slovenian Stocks Plunge, Seen Falling Further Mar 26, 2008, 19:06 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 26 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stocks extended losses on Wednesday and the downward market trend is likely to continue, brokers said. link

Slovenian Stock Indices Fall Further but Market Seen Calming Down Mar 27, 2008, 18:35 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Slovenian stock indices fell for a seventh day running on Thursday but brokers said they expect the market to calm down in the next few days. link

Slovenia Schedule of Events - March 27 - May 15 Mar 27, 2008, 10:20 CET | Story | SeeNews LJUBLJANA (Slovenia), March 27 (SeeNews) - Following is a schedule of corporate, economic and political events taking place in or related to Slovenia through May 15. New or amended entries are marked (*). link

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