
Finance
Electro-Alfa plans IPO on BVB
Electro-Alfa International, a Romanian electrical equipment manufacturer, has announced plans for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB).

Romania's Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare has signed a second €500 million financing contract with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Sibiu-Pitești highway project.
Romania's Ministry of Finance will conduct its first public offering of Fidelis government bonds for 2026 between January 16 and 23 on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. This marks the 32nd offering since the Fidelis program resumed in July 2020.
Romania's Ministry of Finance has allocated over RON 3.8 billion (€760 million) to support public investments and clear arrears in key sectors including development, transport and agriculture.
Banks in Central Eastern South-Eastern Europe report improving trends, with credit demand remaining robust, particularly from companies, while banks anticipate improvement in credit supply following a period of contraction.
Erste Group has completed its acquisition of a 49% controlling stake in Santander Bank Polska and a 50% stake in Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych from Banco Santander for approximately €7 billion.
TechAngels, the local angel investor community, has submitted a position paper to authorities regarding the amendment of Emergency Ordinance no. 46/2022.
Romania's government ordinance passted at the end of last year signals to companies that fiscal pressure could ease and the series of tax increases might end in 2026.
Romania's foreign exchange reserves decreased to €64.8 billion at the end of December 2025, down from €65.4 billion in November but up from €62.1 billion a year earlier, the National Bank of Romania announced.
Freedom24, the European broker connecting retail investors to international exchanges, expanded its Romanian client base by 9% to over 4,300 investors in 2025.
Romania's consolidated general budget recorded a deficit of RON 121.77 billion (€23.90 billion), equivalent to 6.40% of GDP, in the first eleven months of 2025, down 0.74 percentage points from 7.15% in the same period of 2024.
Romania's Ministry of Finance attracted almost RON 1.5 billion (€293 million) through its 11th Fidelis government bond offering of 2025, which began trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
Romanian energy construction group Grup EM began trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange's AeRO market, raising €5 million through its IPO.
Ebury, the global fintech specialising in international payments and FX risk management, has appointed Cosmin Bucur as its new Country Manager for Romania.
Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia have recorded an 18% increase in banking assets between 2021 and 2024.
State-owned lender CEC Bank has obtained a €25 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to finance public sector projects that contribute to sustainable economic development, particularly in regions most affected by climate transition.
As winter holidays approach, Romanians experience both the joy of gift preparation and the pressure of festive spending.
Romania leads the European Union in both VAT and corporate tax collection failures, losing approximately one-third of potential revenue from each tax, according to a European Commission analysis published this week.
The Investment Committee designated by the Romanian Government for the Recovery Equity Fund has approved financing for five new investment funds in Q4 2025, announced the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE).
Romanians are preparing for a holiday season with higher budgets compared to last year. According to a study by Raiffeisen Bank in partnership with Appinio, 65% of respondents expect higher Christmas spending in 2025, while approximately one in four Romanians (26%) estimate similar costs to 2024.
The three-month ROBOR index, used to calculate the cost of consumer loans in lei with variable interest rates, fell to 6.21% per annum on Wednesday.
Cris-tim Family Holding has signed a one-year agreement with BRK Financial Group for market maker services to enhance the liquidity of its shares on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is participating in a €43 million loan by Raiffeisen Bank Romania to Altex Romania, the country's leading electro-IT retailer.
Cris-Tim Family Holding debuted today on the Bucharest Stock Exchange's (BVB) under ticker CFH, becoming the first food industry company listed on Romania's main market. The company completed an IPO worth €89.3 million in late October.
Romanian mobility solutions provider Autonom Services has signed a €300 million credit facilities agreement.

Electro-Alfa International, a Romanian electrical equipment manufacturer, has announced plans for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB).
Global life sciences M&A activity increased by 81% in 2025 to $240 billion, driven by Big Pharma's large-scale deals, despite fewer overall transactions. The surge reflects companies prioritising innovations ready for launch as they face widening growth gaps.
Romania's Ministry of Finance will conduct its first public offering of Fidelis government bonds for 2026 between January 16 and 23 on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. This marks the 32nd offering since the Fidelis program resumed in July 2020.
Romania's final electricity consumption fell by 0.7% in the first 11 months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
Romania has the second-lowest consumer prices in the European Union, with costs 36% below the EU average in 2024, according to new Eurostat data released in December 2025.