The Vienna Stock Exchange continues to be interested in acquiring 44% of BSE Sofia in the privatization procedures of the local bourse.

“From a global perspective both stock markets are small, but they are very dynamic players in the niches they occupy and can act as equal partners on their level. The stable character of the owners of Vienna Stock Exchange – 50% Austrian banks and 50% listed companies, guarantee the bourse will remain independent and will not be sold to a third party.”This is how Heinrich Schaler of the Vienna Stock Exchange Board of Directors views the strategic partnership.

“A lot of our partners have already established themselves on the Bulgarian market and are interested in strengthening and expanding the local market. The acquisition of a stake in BSE on the part of the VSE and the close cooperation it requires are thus a logical step forward,” he also added.

The management of the Vienna Stock Exchange believes in the principles of regional market and the cooperation of equal independent bourses. “We are talking about uniting and thus being stronger. If we do so, we can achieve a lot together and will both benefit from this union. The Vienna Stock Exchange has been acting as a consultant on international projects for years, and especially on projects in Central and Eastern Europe. We have a lot of experience and know-how in the development, design and realization of financial centers.” Schaler thinks that synergy may be achieved very fast since the BSE has recently adopted the Xetra, with which the Vienna Stock Exchange has been working since 1999.

The Vienna Stock Exchange itself became internationally influential in just a few years' time, due to its efforts and activities such as the road show to all major financial centers of the world.

There were no transactions with stocks of foreign companies on the Vienna Stock Exchange in 2001, while at the moment there is an equal numbers of local and foreign players. Foreign investment banks are responsible for 60% of the bourse's trade turnover. The biggest collective investors in ATX are the USA (30%), England (25,2%), and Germany (14%).