Press Release

In 2009 BNP Paribas marks its 15th anniversary in Bulgaria. The Bank has been actively supporting Bulgaria's ambition to win again a well-deserved place in the European family, to which it belongs both historically and culturally. BNP Paribas' commitment to Bulgaria is a relationship of old history of operations.

113 years ago BNP Paribas, at the time called "Banque de Paris et des Pays-Bas", served already the state of Bulgaria which was then still the principality of Bulgaria. As leader of the so called "Bulgarian Syndicate" it brought the young Bulgarian state to the international Capital Markets. The activity of the French bank is resumed in 1994 with the establishment of BNP – Dresdner Bank Bulgaria AD as a joint venture between Banque de Paris, Dresdner Bank and EBRD.

Subsequently, the Bank became 100% owned by the leading European financial group BNP Paribas and is transformed to BNP Paribas S.A. – Sofia Branch. Today BNP Paribas S.A. - Sofia Branch is a commercial and investment bank in Bulgaria. It serves large and medium-sized corporate and institutional clients, spanning the major sectors in the economy. They benefit from a full range of commercial and investment bank services as well as from customer-tailored financial solutions with strong advisory components. BNP Paribas is also present on the Bulgarian market with its life and credit insurance activities through "Cardif Bulgaria" and BNP Paribas Personal Finance, a leading consumer credit company in Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria, BNP Paribas is also developing and actively participating in a number of Corporate Social Responsibility projects which encourage the integration of the underprivileged such as Soup Kitchen, One Day out of the Orphanage, Tennis for Everybody, Scholarships for Orphans, Donations.

BNP Paribas
Date: 27.10.2009