The price of Yambol BT, a unit of Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac, has been slashed in half to BGN 700,000 after no one expressed interest in the company's purchase, Bulgartabac has said.

The deadline for bidders expired on 16 March, and now new bids will be accepted until mid-May, the company added. On the table is a 99.74 per-cent interest in Yambol BT. Meanwhile, Bulgartabac has decided to lower significantly the starting price for another unit, tobacco processor Dupnitsa BT. The initial price of BGN 204,000 has been lowered to BGN 10,000. Bulgartabac also expects offers for 99.66 per cent of Smolian BT, priced at BGN 1.5 million, until 11 May. 16 May is the deadline for bids for 90.56 per cent of the shares of Kardjali BT, with the starting price set at BGN 2.5 million. The company wants to raise at least BGN 2.25 million for a 78.27 per-cent stake in Gotse Delchev BT to be sold on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange on 15 May. For the time being, Gotse Delchev BT is the only listed subsidiary on the company's privatisation list. (cen)