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EXPERIENCE
Special
Expertise Area
In 1992 the company completed pilot privatisation
projects for several companies as a partner of a leading international
consulting company. These pilot projects, financed by the US Agency for
International Development, were one of the first successful attempts of
Bulgarian authorities in the field of privatisation and attracting foreign
investors.
During these years HIRON was engaged in evaluations
for privatisation of more than 70 companies some of which were
among the biggest Bulgarian state enterprises in chemistry (CHIMCO - Vratza),
"ready to wear" clothes (Brilliant - Plovdiv), shoe (Flavia - Plovdiv),
socks and stockings (FAZAN - Rousse), transport, construction and machine
building sectors (ZHTI-Rousse), and military industry (VMZ, Sopot). The
company also participated in privatisation of commercial properties from
the municipal privatisation programme in Kardjali, Plovdiv and Sofia as
an appraiser of more than 100 entities, some of which financed by USAID
projects.
Numerous equity, properties, real estates and
machinery evaluations were done by HIRON's appraisers in the
last five years for the different needs of the clients as for sale, re-sale,
joint venture establishment, guarantees for debt restructuring, mortgages
etc. The largest appraisal of fixed assets was done for Varna Shipyard
(the biggest shipyard in Bulgaria) on security of the debt restructuring
of over 10 mill. USD due to the State Fund for Development and Reconstruction
and 8 mill. USD due to the banks. Other assets evaluation was performed
for the need of the properties sale of CHIMCO (the biggest urea producer
in Bulgaria) and also evaluation of the Balkanbank receivables for the
needs of factoring.
In 1996/1997 HIRON took part in the Governmental Isolation Programme supported
by the World Bank. Our participation was managed by DFC and was aimed
on the preparation of financial recovery programmes
addressed to four state owned companies, on behalf of the Ministry of
Finance.
In1997/1999 the company took part in a consortium together with DFC Group,
Appeldore International and Comerzbank for the realisation of PHARE/SARA
project "Privatisation Advisers and Transaction
Agents" for the sale of three Bulgarian shipyards in Rousse,
Varna and Bourgas.
In 1997 the company participated in the PHARE project "Restructuring
of District Heating Companies", taking part in the preparation
of Financial Restructuring plans for four companies.
In 1998/1999 HIRON MC participated in the PHARE project, headed by DFC,
"Organisational Development of Energy Sector Institutions
and Companies", aimed at providing assistance for the institutional
and financial restructuring of the "Bobov dol" Thermal Power Plant and
coal mines, for their future privatisation.
HIRON advised foreign
companies in the preparation of their privatisation bids, like
Asea Brown Bover, IKEA, Bioveta - Czech Republic, Mergel - Switzerland
etc.
Management Consultancy
HIRON was engaged in preparation of several business
plans for private and state companies. We carried out feasibility
studies and developed business plans for private companies to be presented
before investment funds, banks and other financial institutions.
In 1993 our specialized team was contracted for preparing a marketing
system for the largest Bulgarian candy and chocolate producer.
With the support of experts and designers the company team analysed the
weaknesses of the packaging used by this producer and prepared action
plan for improvements.
In 1994 HIRON MC started a project for establishment of a market oriented
development strategy of a pool of four
food-processing companies owned by Bulgarian Central Co-operative Union.
The project was terminated on the first stage with the feasibility study
presented to the client.
At the end of 1996 HIRON's consultants executed successfully two years
contract with the biggest Bulgarian producer of plastic goods for development
of a formal strategic planning and marketing information
system. The HIRON's team was participating in the client's
management structure as a "Strategic planning department" and have been
working together with the management for system implementing.
In 1997 as a part of preparation for privatisation HIRON MC team was engaged
in preparing a financial recovery plan
for a big machine building factory in Montana. As a result of our system
approach an action plan for restructuring
was developed and implemented for the client under this project.
In the period 2000 by now the HIRON team had the oportunity to engage itself with consultancy services for more then 100 different SMEs, some own clients and a certain part attackted under the developed by the company support projects, finances by several grant institutions, mainly PHARE programme.
In 2006 the company took part and consulted a number of small companies from the tourism branch in town of Vratsa under a project of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Vratsa.
Business Support Services
In 1998, on behalf of the British Council, the company carried out a survey
of the needs for training and qualification in the Insurance
Industry.
In 1998 as a part of the technical assistance provided to the DHCs sector,
under the PHARE project HIRON MC prepared four investment
projects for the District Heating Companies in Varna, Pravets,
Vratza and Veliko Tarnovo.
The company actively participates in the realisation of a Bulgarian-German
project (IBD project) for industry promotion,
managed by the German consulting company GOPA Consulting, undertaking
analysis of Bulgarian state and private companies. Under this project
our consultants visited and analysed successfully 11
industrial companies.
In 1998 as a part of a preparation for privatisation of a scientific institute
in Sofia HIRON MC elaborated his own conception for the support of a start-up
phase of innovative and technology based SME's in Sofia. The project for
technology park and business incubator
was prepared, venture capital funds and international programmes were
engaged in it.
The plans for development of business center were brought to its successful end in 2000, when HIRON and partners stated the Business Center and Incubator ISKAR activities. By the moment the business incubator had served to more then 30 small or starting businesses and is active participator in the HIRON's projects, as well as in own developments.
Since 2001 the company stated a project for creation of virtual environment for training and support small and medium enterprises and stating entrepreneurs, called European Virtual Incubator (EVI). The development activities were financed under the "Leonardo da Vinci" Programme. The development process was finished successfully in the early 2004 and HIRON is available for all its clients via the EVI portal.
In the 2004 HIRON team finishes one more project for training of entrepreneurs and small companies from the Iskar region, which was finances under PHARE Programme. As result in the project were trained more the 60 entrepreneurs and 20 enterprises received specific consultancy services.
In 2006 the company took part in the project “Planning of the tourism development in Vratsa region”, where it was responsible for the identification and development of capacity analysis of the local authorities and socio-economic partners for planning of the tourism development in the region in the new EU dimensions, and also the elaboration of analysis results report; Developement of methodology for complete study and evaluation of the toursim resourses in the Vratsa region and development of cluster model for the tourism in town of Vratsa, assessment of the new strategic challengies.
Management Development
As a participant in the programme PHARE /TEMPUS
for the period 1994 - 1996, HIRON co-ordinated a project for the creation
of four inter-university centres for education of young entrepreneurs.
During execution of this project HIRON's consultants had short term training
visits in Barcelona, Belfast, Brussels and Gent to study the methods
and instruments of the entrepreneurship training process in
order to implement them in the created centres.
The company co-ordinates two projects for management development on behalf
of the British Council for the period 1995-1997. Under these projects
our consultants together with lecturers from Ulster Business School organised
several short-term seminars and provided
training for financial and management
consultants, engaged in SME's development.
HIRON's consultants took part in the realisation of an UNDP/ILO programme
in 1996 for regional business centre creation
in Razlog, providing training for the staff and the centre clients - local
entrepreneurs.
In 1998 HIRON provided staff training
and consulting support for the BICC
centre in the town of Sandanski on behalf of the TRANSFORMA Programme
of the German Government.
In 1999 a consultant from our staff was included in providing short
term seminars for local managers on behalf of two business
centres (in Vidin and Blagoevgrad) under the UNIDO project with the support
of IESC/FLAG consultants.
Our company consultants participated actively in the seminars and training
sessions organised by Bulgarian Association of Management Consulting
Organisations (BAMCO).
Three of the HIRON's consultants participated successfully in the organised
by BAMCO courses for the Certified Management
Consultant nomination procedure provided by the Institute of
Management Consultants - London.
In the development process of the virtual business incubator, the HIRON team had the opportunity to concentrate on development of unique methodology for training of entrepreneurs and consultants in virtual environment, which is now fully used in the European Virtual Incubator.
In the moment HIRON is working under a project for development and testing of knowledge management system for small and medium entreprises. The project provides model for initial assessment of the knowledges in SMEs, knowledge management toolkit and individual knowledge profile.
Together with its partner organization Strategies Ltd, HIRON MC prepared and presented a project proposal for development of methodology and training in Social Auditing, which is now evaluated under the EC Leonardo da Vinci Programme. The project foresees participation of 5 organizations from four European countries – Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia and Sweden.