The third annual “Equity investment in Bulgaria and Southeast Europe” conference took place on May 27, 2008 at Sheraton hotel in Sofia organized by “Capital” newspaper. The main accents of the forum were: the role of risk investment for financing the companies, legal issues upon attracting a financial investor, perspectives and difficulties for equity investment in Bulgaria, hot investment sectors.   

According to the reports presented, equity investment in Southeast Europe has reached 15 milliards Euro in the year 2007. The tendencies for the Bulgarian market note uprising development of financing by equity investment. The funds interested in investing in Bulgaria or considering the region perspective, are being increased from 10 to 25 during the last two years. Easy provision of financing for good business projects is imposing as tendency.   

The interest in the region is reasoned by its growth and access to markets of neighboring countries like Serbia and Macedonia for instance which are not part of the EU. Market is no longer local, thus the objective of the funds is to make the companies they possess equity in, regional champions.  

The sectors preferred by the equity investment funds are rather varied – food and tobacco industries, high technologies, telecommunications, real estate, finance, services. Common for all of them is the opportunity for good profit. 

“Winslow Developments” is a partner in the event within its corporative program for supporting Bulgarian business development.