Four Romanian companies join EBRD’s mid-cap companies equity research programme

The two-year research programme will be conducted by WOOD & Company, an investment bank specialising in emerging markets. The programme is fully aligned with the objectives of the European Commission’s Action Plan on Building a Capital Markets Union, which specifically mentions improving access to finance, including risk capital, notably for mid-cap companies as one of the five priority areas.

The following companies are participants in the programme:

• Bulgaria: Gradus AD, Monbat, Sirma Group Holding JSC, Sopharma AD.
• Croatia: AD PLASTIK d.d., Arena Hospitality Group d.d., Ilirija Resort, Zagreb Stock Exchange.
• North Macedonia: Alkaloid AD Skopje, Komercijalna banka AD, NLB Banka AD.
• Romania: Bittnet, Conpet, Patria Bank, Teraplast.
• Serbia: Fintel Energija ad.
• Slovenia: Pozavarovalnica Sava RE.

Four reports were published at the launch of the programme today, with the remainder to follow in the months ahead. At least five reports per company will be produced during the project period.

Manyu Moravenov, Chief Executive Officer, Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE): “We see enormous potential for the Bulgarian SMEs and we are glad that four companies will be part of this very important programme. It is a great opportunity to get more visibility, attract investors and develop European business horizons for the selected ambitious SMEs.”

Ivana Gazic, President of the Management Board, Zagreb Stock Exchange (ZSE): “This programme represents a logical next step in the development of the SEE Link area of operations. The lack of information about companies is often the main obstacle to making investment decisions and discovering the region’s potential. Zagreb Stock Exchange welcomes this initiative and we are pleased that Croatian stocks will be part of the programme.”

Hannes Takacs, Acting Co-Head, Local Currency and Capital Markets Development, EBRD: “We are very proud to make an important contribution to putting the financing of vital SMEs on broader foundations based on this project. It proves that knowledge is indeed power. SMEs are crucial for the well-being of Europe’s economy and in the current coronavirus pandemic it is more important than ever to secure their funding.”

Adrian Tanase, Chief Executive Officer, Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB): “The EBRD and WOOD & Company are two of BVB’s institutional partners in promoting Romanian companies abroad. There is an obvious gap in the research and promotion of smaller companies across the investment community. Supporting these companies in their growth and facilitating their access to investors is a major objective for us.”