Bulgaria's Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) licensed Astra Investment (undergoing establishment) as an investment intermediary. The company will have to verify within the next 14 days that its callable capital has been fully paid up, the FSC said.

The investment intermediary will be entitled to perform investment operations under the Public Offering of Securities Act but will not be able to trade in securities for its own account. The capital of the company should be no less than 250,000 leva at any given time in order for the company to be able to operate under its new license.

The FSC also issued a license to Astra Asset Management, which is also being established, to operate as an asset management company. The company has to verify in 14 days that its callable capital has been fully paid up.

Major shareholders in the company include Odessos Holding with a 20-percent stake, Top Pro (21%) and Fintek (21%).