BAT the sole candidate for Bulgartabac plants

SOFIA (AFP) - British American Tobacco (BAT) is the only candidate to takeover the production sites of Bulgartabac as part of the privatisation in chunks of the Bulgarian tobacco firm.
Deputy economy minister Radoslav Bozadjiev said Tuesday that the privatisation procedure would go ahead even though one bid had been received before the expiration of the tender period on Friday.
BAT bid for a factory in Sofia and the southern city of Plovdiv out of a total of four on sale.
The Socialist opposition accused the government last week of not doing a enough to restructure the factories to be sold off in lots, as the parlement voted at the end of 2003.
An out-right sale of Bulgartabac, and its 22 total plants, failed in 2003.
The second stab at privatising the company was launched in July with a tender process for four of the best performing plants, representing 13 of its brands.

11/02/2004 - 16:26 GMT - AFP