Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised the administrators and senior secured lenders of Bulsatcom UH Holdco Limited on the sale of Bulsatcom to Viva Corporate Bulgaria. Kambourov & Partners and, reportedly, Squire Patton Boggs advised Viva Corporate Bulgaria.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised the Oman Investment Authority on the sale of a real estate portfolio to the Smart Property Fund.

Velchev & Co has helped Premier Energy obtain a natural gas trading license in the Republic of Bulgaria.

After Decree No 318 of 7 October 2022 adopting the Ordinance on the conditions and procedure for issuing, extending and revoking a certificate for a high-tech and/or innovative project (the "Ordinance") was promulgated in issue 82 of the State Gazette of 14 October 2022, Bulgaria joins the almost half of EU countries that issue "start-up visas".

Going through hard times, Bulgaria’s newly elected political parties are still unable to form a government, yet the market is showing positive developments in some sectors, according to Boyanov & Co. Managing Partner Borislav Boyanov.

Schoenherr has advised Oiltanking on the sale of a 91.1% stake in a liquid storage terminal at the Black Sea in Devnya, Varna, to Astra-Finance. 

Hristov & Partners, working with Dentons, has advised the EBRD on its investment in the USD 25 million Series A financing round for US-based Alcatraz AI. CMS reportedly advised Alcatraz AI.

Former Spasov & Bratanov Attorney-at-Law Irina Stanimirova has joined Komarevski, Dimitrov and Partners as an Associated Counsel and Head of the firm's Real Estate & Construction practice.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised the Invenio Partners Fund II SCSP on its EUR 3 million investment in SAT Health.

Gugushev & Partners has advised Blackpeak Capital on its acquisition of a stake in Telelink Bulgaria. Karanovic & Partners’ North Macedonian office, SZA Schilling Zutt & Anschuetz, and Addleshaw Goddard reportedly advised Blackpeak Capital as well.

Djingov Gouginski Kyutchukov & Velichkov has advised Utah-headquartered MarketStar on the acquisition of Out2Bound. Tzvetkova & Partners and Gospodinov & Genchev advised Out2Bound.

Gugushev & Partners has advised the owners of 60K on its sale to US-based ResultsCX.

An in-depth look at Alexandra Doytchinova of Schoenherr covering her career path, education, and top projects as a lawyer as well as a few insights about her as a manager at work and as a person outside the office.

ESG initiatives are rapidly becoming the status quo in the business world. Most corporations have some kind of sustainability measures in place in at least one of the three pillars – environmental, social, or governance. The majority of businesses in Bulgaria currently implement ESG projects voluntarily, indicating that stakeholders are not legally required to, for instance, incorporate climate mitigation and social responsibility initiatives into their organizations. But ESG trends aren’t going unnoticed by the regulators and ESG is gradually transforming into a compliance matter. However, beyond compliance, ESG lays the foundation for a competitive corporate strategy, positive climate action, and the discovery of new business opportunities.

Bulgaria is making significant efforts to boost the share of renewables in its energy mix and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. The new REPowerEU Plan provides for a massive scaling-up and speeding-up of renewable energy in power generation, industry, buildings, etc.

The year 2021 effectively brought back the Bulgarian capital market into the spotlight of public interest. Seven IPOs were listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE), raising a total of EUR 12 million, which is the highest number of offerings in 15 years, going back to the period before the 2008 financial crisis. There is only one reason for this development: the rise of the SME Growth Market – beam – where all said IPOs have taken place.

On October 26, 2021, the General Assembly of the Supreme Court of Cassation issued Interpretative Judgment No. 5/2019, clarifying what procedure employers must follow with respect to employee layoffs on the grounds of “closure of part of the enterprise,” which at present is frequently utilized in the context of companies’ mergers and acquisitions.

In Bulgaria, one ordinary and two extraordinary parliamentary elections were held in the span of eight months in 2021, and the country is now preparing for yet another extraordinary election on October 2, 2022. Which outstanding legislative packages are critical – considering the absence of regular parliamentary activities – and what are their implications for the country?