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Ovidiu Neacsu

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  • Exxon’s $ 1.23Bn dive in the Black Sea looks promising

    By Ovidiu Neacsu - October 30, 2012 | Tickers: CVX, XOM, RDS-A

    Exxon (NYSE: XOM) has recently announced that it is planning several open tenders for the drilling for natural gas in the Black Sea bed and subsequent operations at the beginning of November, as part of a larger operation that it has started together with Petrom (BVB: SNP), Romania’s largest energy company (and largest overall, in revenue, assets and profit).

    Petrom, which used to be the National Petroleum Company of more »

  • The Hunger Games Report #2: Monsanto and DuPont Planted the First Seeds Long Ago

    By Ovidiu Neacsu - September 21, 2012 | Tickers: DD, MON, SYT

    I know that when one thinks of ex-communist countries in Eastern Europe, there is no expectation of a capitalist background or of private initiative any older than 1990, and before that, there is just a blank record of communal ownership of the means of production, underdevelopment and scarcity. But history didn’t start with WWII, and one should take into account the booming business environment of the late 1800’s more »

  • The Hunger Games Report #1: Cargill, Toepfer and Bunge Step Up their Play

    By Ovidiu Neacsu - August 31, 2012 | Tickers: ADM, BG, GLEN

     

    Financial reports for 2011 have shown, as expected, an exceptional year for cereal traders in Romania, and have consolidated the podium with three of the top global companies.

    It is well known by now that if you look up the words “cereal trade” in an encyclopedia, the first explanation it will return will be “Cargill Inc.” No wonder, then, that America’s largest private company has had its eyes on more »

  • MetLife Completes Takeover of Aviva’s Operations in Eastern Europe

    By Ovidiu Neacsu - August 13, 2012 | Tickers: AIG, AV, MET

    At the beginning of this month, MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) finished the takeover of Aviva plc's (NYSE: AV) branches in Eastern Europe (Aviva Life Czech Republic, Aviva Life Hungary and Aviva Life Romania) in a transaction estimated by market analysts at $90 million.

    The deal also includes Aviva Private Pensions Romania, though the purchase is pending authorization from the National Committee for the Supervision of Private Pensions. The Romanian more »

  • Burger King exits Romania, Leaves Room for Newcomer Subway

    By Ovidiu Neacsu - July 13, 2012 | Tickers: BKW, MCD, YUM

    The Burger King ) franchisee for Romania, Atlantic Restaurant System, opened its first restaurant in April 2008, 13 years after the brand’s traditional rival, McDonald’s ) entered the market. The company opened 7 restaurants during the first year, for an investment of 500,000 EUR (800,000 USD in 2008) per store, and targeted an estimate of 50 locations in a 5-year horizon. Plans didn’t work out, though, as more »

  • Ford’s 'International Engine of the Year 2012' Enters Production in Romania

    By Ovidiu Neacsu - June 28, 2012 | Tickers: DLPH, F, JCI, MGA, TXT

    Ford's (NYSE: F) Romania plant has started the production of its award winning EcoBoost 1.0L – 125Hp petrol engine simultaneously in Craiova, Romania, and Cologne, Germany. The company announced an estimate of 30,000 engines to be delivered from the factory in south-east Romania during the second half of 2012, followed by an increase to approximately 150,000 units in 2013. According to Ford Romania's President, Jan Gijsen more »