About 10 strategic and financial investors have expressed interest in the forthcoming privatisation of tobacco group Bulgartabac Holding, Economy Minister Traicho Traikov said on February 9 2011, but declined to name them.

According to unofficial information, among the potential bidders are companies from Bulgaria, South Korea and Greece.

The sell-off method - a sale on the stock exchange, an auction or a competitive procedure - has already been determined and will be announced next week, Traikov said.

The transaction is expected to be finalised by the middle of 2011.

In late 2009, he said the Government's stake in Bulgartabac would be placed for sale at a starting price of about 100 million euro.

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