At the same time “US Pioneer Fund“ realized return on investment above 25% for the last 6 months,thus overcoming the decrease on the markets since mid-2011;

One of the Pioneer Investment funds – Emerging Europe and Mediterranean Equity realized one of the highest returns since the since the beginning of the year from collective investment schemes offered in Bulgaria – 18.26%.

The Fund’s good performance is due to its investments in Russia, Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic and Israel. Since the beginning of 2012 Turkish index ISE 100 increased with 18.56%, the Polish benchmark WSE WIG – with 9.7%, while the Czech and Russian capital markets started the year with a growth above 10%.

“The moods of the capital markets in 2012 have definitely improved“, said Yavor Achev, Pioneer Investments manager for Bulgaria. In his opinion, the main reason to be optimistic is the extremely good financial results of leading companies, as well as the progress for resolving the debt crisis in the Eurozone.

Extremely good is the performance of the US Pioneer funds. It reported a yield of 25.64% in the last six months. Thus the decrease on the markets since mid 2011 was overcome. “US Pioneer Fund“ is the third oldest mutual fund in the world, as well as one of the first to be offered in Bulgaria. Pioneer Funds are offered in Bulgaria in the branches of UniCredit Bulbank. The fund also received confirmation of its ААА rating for asset management by Standard and Poor’s - the highest asset management rating in the world.

With assets under management of BGN 190 mio as of 31 January 2012 and a market share of 27% UniCredit Bulbank and Pioneer Investment keep their leading positions on the market of collective investment schemes, publicly offered in Bulgaria.

“This year we expect renewed interest of the investors in the higher risk-generating assets as well as in investment in raw materials as a protective means in case of possible increase of the inflation“, Yavor Achev thinks.

He explained that above all the situation of resolving the problem with the Greek debt is closely monitored as well as the system risks that remain in the economy.

Due to the volatile movement on the capital markets as early as in 2010 Pioneer enabled its clients to invest in the funds of the managing company through a Pioneer savings plan. This product allows the clients to choose a monthly installment starting from EUR 20. According to the experts, it is with investing small amounts but regularly that the market volatility can be avoided.

Disclaimer: This is not a recommendation to make an investment decision. The value of the funds’ stakes and the yield from them could decrease. The profit is not guarantied and there is a risk for the investors not to receive back the full amount of their investment. The investments in the agreed funds are not guaranteed by the state guarantee fund or another type of guarantee. The future results from the activity of the contractual funds are not by any means related to the results during previous periods.

More information for media:

UniCredit Bulbank, Identity & Communications Department

Viktoria Blajeva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 993, wjlj/ebwjepwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

Ekaterina Ancheva, Phone: + 359 2 9264 963, еlbufsjob/bodifwbAvojdsfejuhspvq/ch

More information for clients: UniCredit Bulbank, Call Centre Phone: 0700 1 84 84