BAC Macedonia

Ljupco Bebic

BAC Bulgaria

Vladimir Karolev

BAC Greece

Christos Kissas

Joseph Samaan

Ljupco Bebic

Areas of Expertise

Specific Experience in Macedonia

· Advisory on restructuring and privatization of Macedonian tobacco industry, privatization of cement industry, market research for attracting potential foreign investors in brewing sector, pharmaceuticals, confectioneries, food industry;
· Managing the restructuring of 25 largest loss-making companies on behalf of Macedonian Privatization Agency, a project financed by WB;
· Business development, sales and finance management responsibilities in cement producer with majority foreign participation

Employment history (companies and positions)

· Balkan Advisory Company, Skopje (2002 – on) - owner and managing director
· Cement Company USJE, Skopje (1998 - 2002) – Executive Member of The Board of Directors
· Barents Group of KPMG Consulting, Skopje (1996 - 1998) - Associate, Senior Consultant
· Treuhand Osteuropa Gmbh, Berlin (1995 - 1996) - Project Manager
· Ministry of Development, Government of Republic of Macedonia (1993 - 1994) - Skopje– Consultant

Education
· Selected Member of PhD in Economics, University of Economics, Zagreb, (1992-1993)
· MBA, Robert Kennedy College & University of Wales

Other: Visiting assistant professor in Econometrics and Statistics, University of Economics, Skopje

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Vladimir Karolev

Areas of Expertise

• Privatization advisory: Provided advisory services on all types of privatizations in Bulgaria, Ukraine and FYR Macedonia - cash privatization (trade sales), voucher privatization, and municipal privatization;
• Mergers & acquisitions: Managed M&A projects (both sell- and buy-side) in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Kazahstan, Serbia and FYR Macedonia;
• Project management: Managed on several occassions international team of experts working on project finance and sell-side divestiture projects on behalf of the Government of Bulgaria;
• Business development: Originated M&A/privatization consulting and project finance contracts covering CEE and former CIS countires;
• Negotiations: Negotiated with various Government bodies on behalf of strategic investors as well as with foreign investors on behalf of Governments (Bulgaria, FYR Macedonia and Kyrgistan) on privatization and project finance deals; and
• Private equity participations: Managed private equity deals from origination and structuring through due diligence, negotiations, closing, post-investment monitoring and exit;

• Balkan Advisory Company, Sofia (2000 – on) - co-owner and managing director
• Bulgarian Stock Exchange (December 2001 –on) - Member of The Board of Directors
• City University (Washington, US), European Programs (2001 - on) - MBA Instructor
• ECM-Bulgarian Post Privatization Fund (1998-2000) - senior fund manager
• Europa Capital Management a.s., Sofia (1998-2000) - country director
• Barents Group of KPMG Consulting, USA and Central & Eastern Europe (1993-1997) - associate, senior consultant, manager
• Faculty of Business, University of Alberta, Canada (1992-1993) - sessional lecturer in marketing
• University of National and World Economy, Sofia (1988-1991) - visiting assistant professor of international economic relations
• Rudmetal, Sofia (1986-1987) - metals trader

• MBA, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (1991-1993)
• PhD (ABD) in Industrial Economics, University of Chemical Technology, Sofia (1989-1991)
• MSc in Economics, University of National and World Economy, Sofia (1981-1986)

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Business experience

1998 – 01.03.2001 Schroder Salomon Smith Barney, London, VP Emerging markets

Responsibilities:
- client type: prop desk, private banks; commercial banks, investment funds/ insurance companies

- client location: London, Eastern Europe and South Africa, Asia.

01.1996 – 03.1998 JP Morgan, London, EMEA Fixed Income and Derivatives Strategist/ Sales

Responsibilities as strategist :
- devised fixed income, local markets and external and local markets derivatives strategies (including Brandy options strategies as well as local markets forwards/ NDFs strategies)

Responsibilities as salesman:
- client type: commercial bank
- client location: Eastern Europe, London, Russia

Spring/Summer 1995 Merrill Lynch, New York, West-European Equities Marketing (Intern)

Summer 1994 Chemical Bank - Intern, Emerging Markets (worked on opening Poland and Mexico Local Markets; Poland and Bulgaria 1994 Brady deals)

01. – 07. 1993 Prudential Securities, Vienna, Virginia, USA, Private Client Sales/ Marketing Analyst

Responsibilities:
- made analysis of high-tech and bio-tech stocks as well as Latin America Equities (Mexico, Argentina, Brazil)
- prepared numerous client presentations

Education

1995 – Spring, 1996 Harvard University, Master of Public Administration Program, Courses at Harvard Business School, Harvard Law and Kennedy School of Government

1993-1995 MBA Stern School of Business, New York University, MBA in Finance and Marketing

1998-1991 BA International Economics, University of Maine, USA

Languages:
Bulgarian (fluent)
Russian (fluent)
Polish (intermediate)
Serbo-Croatian and Slovak (understands 40-80%)
Spanish and Italian (beginner)

Professional qualifications

SFA representative (General + Commodities/ Derivatives)

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Areas of Expertise
Ms. Jevtić has over eight yeas of work experience in management consulting and financial advisory services in Serbia and Montenegro, managing and coordinating large number of projects for both local and foreign companies and financial institutions. Ms. Jevtić gained in-depth knowledge and understanding of various industries including banking, insurance, public sector, and manufacturing.

Key areas of expertise include:

• Privatization advisory: Provided sell-side and buy-side advisory services on privatization of local companies and banks in Serbia and Montenegro;
• Management consulting: Participated and coordinated management consulting assignments involving reorganization, human resources function development, business procedures development, risk management and strategy development;
• Due diligence: Conducted and managed a large number of due diligence assignments of Serbian companies and banks
• Banking sector expertise : Ms. Jevitć has particularly developed expertise in the area of banking sector of Serbia and Montenegro since she was involved in a large number of transaction advisory and management consulting projects for domestic and foreign banks.

• Balkan Advisory Company – Serbia ltd. d.o.o., Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (2004 – on) – Director
• Deloitte & Touche Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (1996-2004) – Consultant/Sernior Consultant/Manager
• Economics Institute, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro (1996-2002), - Consultant/Sernior Consultant/Manager

• M.A. Candidate, University of Belgrade, School of Economics, Serbia and Montenegro,
• B.A., University of Maryland, USA (1991-1994) , International Business and Management major. Graduated with “Summa cum laude”.

• Published several articles in Serbian professional magazines, participated in economics conferences and forums.
• In 2003 Ms. Jevtić translated fourth edition of the prominent MacMillan Dictionary of Modern Economics to Serbian (published by Dereta publishing company, Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro)
• Excellent English language reading, speaking and writing skills, good knowledge of French and Italian as well as languages of former Yugoslav republics.

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Christos Kissas

Mr. Kissas is a well known international banker with a strong background in financial economics and investment theory and practice. He started his career in France as the market economist of “Banque Française du Commerce Exterieur”, a subsidiary of the French Central Bank. Subsequently, he moved to Athens, Greece, where he was appointed General Manager of “Bank of Crete”, which he completely revamped in view of its privatization. Between 1995 and 2000, he was the head of the International Division of Commercial Bank of Greece, and he established six subsidiary banks in six east-european countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia, in cooperation with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Mr. Kissas was educated in Paris, France, and holds a Doctorate Degree in Finance from the University of Paris-Dauphine. He is the author of a book, “The international gold market”, and several articles in many international magazines. He was also speaker in various international conferences in Paris, Athens, Luxembourg, and Uzbekistan. He speaks English, French, Greek, and basic Russian.

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Joseph Samaan

Mr. Samaan is the Founder and Chairman of Tanweer Group, a diversified media group of companies comprising: Tanweer Enlightenment (the major distributor of television programming in the Mediterranean region), Tanweer Studios (production and post-production studios), Planetland Properties S.A. (real estate), Bulgarian Technologies O.O.D. (owner of the Sofia Film Co.), and Tanweer Production Company (TV productions). Within a period of 12 years, “Tanweer” has become the major supplier of films and TV Programming to 15 Mediterranean countries, representing the biggest producing companies in this industry, such as: Columbia-Tristar, NBC, BBC Worldwide, Granada, WIN, Fremantle, Carlton, CBC of Canada, ABC of Australia, MICO of Japan, etc. A last addition to the Group is a significant participation acquired in the long-awaited first women’s TV channel for the Middle East, expected to start broadcasting early 2002.

Mr. Samaan started his activities, in 1980 as the commercial attaché of the Belgian Embassy in Kuwait. In 1985, he created his own company, “Tanweer Publishing and Advertising Company”, and in 1990 transferred his headquarters in Athens, Greece.

Mr. Samaan was educated in Beirut, Lebanon, and holds Degrees in Sociology and Business Administration from the French “Université de Lyon”, and the University of Lebanon. He speaks French, English, Arabic, and Greek.

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