* Global Finance: UniCredit Group has the best investment banking

* Acquisitions Monthly: UniCredit is financial consultant of the year

* UniCredit Bulbank has the leading position on the BSE with 18% of its turnover during the first four months of the year

The financial magazine Global Finance announced UniCredit Group as “Best Investment Bank” for CEE. The award will be presented in the June 2007 edition. As publisher Joseph D. Giarraputo says, “We’re not just picking the biggest, we’re choosing the best”.

In Bulgaria UniCredit Group is represented by UniCredit Bulbank which was established from the merger of Bulbank, HVB Bank Biochim and Hebros Bank on 27th of April 2007. The united bank has a leading position on the Bulgarian capital market. According to data from the Bulgarian Stock Exchange the bank has managed 18% of the stock exchange turnover during the first four months of 2007.

Acquisitions Monthly, the international M&A and buyouts magazine comments: “With its widespread network in Central and Eastern Europe, UniCredit is a unique institution with unparalleled commitment to the region. (…) No other investment bank has a comparable profile in the region.” Thus Acquisitions Monthly refers to the choice of UniCredit as Financial consultant of the year, beating the global players in European investment banking.

UniCredit Group is one of the biggest European banking groups with presence in 20 mayor countries. The Group serves 35 million clients in over 7200 branches and offices.