Vladimir Penkov

Vladimir Penkov is Chairman and Senior Partner of Penkov, Markov & Partners – international law firm which has more than 20 years of experience in the field of Banking and Finance legal advices and consultations.

Mr. Penkov has extensive experience in negotiations, researches, drafting of legal documents and representing clients in various areas of commercial law, such as Banking and Finance, Corporate Law and Commercial Contracts, Competition, Privatization and Foreign Investments, Investment Management, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Finance, Public Procurement, Licensing and Know-How Agreements, Tax Law, Telecommunications, Media & IT, Energy Law and Renewable Energy Sources.

As a leading banking law practitioner and as part of his track-record Vladimir Penkov has led negotiations, represented and provided legal advice to: EBRD in connection with debt financing of Cellhart AD, debt financing of Balkanpharma Holding AD, Astera Holding AD and Aroma AD, Crédit Suisse AG, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, PAC Doverie, Bulstrad Life (Vienna Insurance Group), Innimmo Investments, Industrialen Holding – Doverie, HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank, International Finance Corporation, Industrial Capital Holding as well as the preparation of the business and legal scheme in connection with the extension of large credit amount to Domain Boyar AD by EBRD.

As a leader of PM&P’s team Mr.Penkov has personally showed resourcefulness and proactivity in the consulting of UBB by EBRD and Oppenheimer & Co and by National Bank of Greece, of Kardan by the acquisition of NLB Banka. He has also advised the Austrian banking consortia, led by Bank Austria, in the successful negotiation of the terms with the Minister of Finance, on the repayment of the extended credit for the modernization of Kremikovtzi.

The Chairman and Senior Partner of PM&P is specialising in the area of Banking and Financial Law and Capital markets and has participated in the legal team providing advice to Ferratum Group in terms of establishment and structuring of their business as the first company of in Bulgaria providing distant financial services, legal advice and consultation to Gumiz AD and Micro Credit regarding providing of micro credits and consumer credits; Preparation of legal analysis for Sofia municipality pursuant to the “Law of the public finances“ in relation to Contracts for financing contract concluded between the European Investment Bank and Sofia municipality for financing of “The Project of Sofia municipality for treating of waste matter” etc.

Mr. Vladimir Penkov has given legal advices in the process of reorganization of the Bulgarian subsidiaries of Kardan N.V., Kardan Financial Services B.V, TBIH Financial Services Group N.V. and TBIF Financial Services B.V. being active in insurance, additional pension insurance, voluntarily health insurance, financial services such as investment intermediary and asset management company, leasing services and consumer financing.

The Chairman and Senior Partner of PM&P advise the full spectrum of bank related transactions and have advised the establishment of one of the first asset management companies in Bulgaria while currently the PM&P team provide regular services to some of the major non-banking financial institutions in Bulgaria and their branches.

Successfully assisted one of the largest non-banking financial institutions in Europe to set foot in Bulgaria, filling the niche on online consumer loans.

Constantly expanding including legal consulting for investment companies, mutual and pension funds, asset management companies, investment mediators and ventures.

Comprehensive consulting on the structuring, financing and applicable regulatory framework in that field. Of special value for clients is the possibility for PM&P to expand at a very short notice the designated team including experts from other fields to give a helping hand in this highly specific area, should the case so require.

Mr.Penkov assisted the first foreign bank branch to register in the country after the democratic changes (Landesbank) and the structuring of the first capital investment by a foreign bank (Raiffeisen Bank) in a local bank under the conditions of a missing detailed legal framework and practical experience in this sphere.

Under the conditions of a rigidly regulated market and a strictly limited number of banking licenses, the team of PM&P leaded by the Managing Partner Vladimir Penkov has consulted, over the years, the EBRD, Oppenheimer & Co., the National Bank of Greece, Alpha bank – Bulgarian Branch, United Bulgarian Bank, Piraeus Bank and Kardan in the acquisition of three of the largest Bulgarian banks, including the merger of a bank branch into a bank (Piraeus Bank).

Mr. Penkov and the team of PM&P are acting as legal counsel to the buyer with regard to the contemplated purchase of 99.53 % of the shares owned by International Hospital Service Co, Japan in Tokuda Bank. The project refers to the acquisition of a medium-sized commercial bank and has passed through legal, financial and tax due diligence, negotiations and signing of Share Purchase Agreement, Escrow Agreement and is now in the stage of obtaining the respective regulatory approvals from the Bulgarian National Bank and the Competition Protection Commission.

The Chairman and Senior Partner of PM&P represented UBB as bond emission trustee, providing the overall defence of creditors’ rights over the bond emission, incl. legal representation in the event of bankruptcy proceedings against Bross Holding, but also overall representation in all other enforcement proceedings initiated under the Registered Pledges Act and other legal issues related to the case.

Mr.Vladimir Penkov and PM&P’s team also were a consultant of Piraeus Bank Bulgaria AD as collateral agent to the bank syndicate including also United Bulgarian Bank, Unicredit Bulbank and Alpha Bank – Bulgaria Branch.

Another client of the law firm is HYPO NOE Gruppe Bank AG, Austria. Mr.Penkov’s involvement has included among others: due diligence review of the two companies that operate the photovoltaic plants (Kompania za Energetika I Razvitie EOOD and Green Energy Park AD); preparation of preliminary legal opinions for the purpose of participation of the client as co-lender together with Société Générale Expressbank AD and PV Investments ЕAD; review and revision of the respective Club Loan Agreements and all securities agreements; review of the certificates issued by the Commercial Register, the Central Register of Special Pledges and the Property Register evidencing the granting of the securities by the borrowers, co-debtors and mortgage debtor; issuance of final legal opinions re legal compliance of the transaction.