Expats

Bulgaria's Competition Watchdog Gives Green Light to Bulgartabac Privatization [Sep 27, 2011] Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition gave a go-ahead to Vienna-registered BT Invest to acquire the country's tobacco monopoly, cigarette maker Bulgartabac Holding. The news was reported Tuesday by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, citing the Commission's decision, which came on the grounds the deal must be given a green light since it would not obstruct effective and loyal ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria sells its tobacco monopoly [Sep 13, 2011] Bulgaria says it has struck a deal to sell its tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac Holding to a company controlled by VTB, Russia's second-largest bank, for euro100.1 million ($136.8 million). [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Anti-Trust Watchdog to Probe Print Media Market [Aug 11, 2011] Bulgaria's anti-trust commission will launch a probe into a possible newspaper monopoly, the first of its kind in the country. The news comes shortly after the purchase of a large number of titles by media mogul Irena Krasteva and the recent squabbles over ownership of the WAZ assets in Bulgaria ? the first ever monopolist on the local media market, dating back to the 90s - left a bitter taste ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Admits to Political Decision on Cigarette Maker Sale [Aug 07, 2011] The supervisory board of Bulgaria's privatization agency, a wholly political body, will take the final decision whether to sell the country's former tobacco monopoly to the sole Russia-linked bidder, the agency's head has said. "The Supervisory Board is a political body. It will have to seal the deal and decide whether the Executive Board and the investor have agreed on a reasonable and ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria probes LUKoil over local fuel cartel [Aug 04, 2011] The Bulgarian anti-monopoly commission has begun an investigation into LUKoil Bulgaria, the Bulgarian trading arm of Russia's largest privately-run oil company LUKoil, over suspected abuse of its dominant market position and possible participation in cartel agreements, Kommersant business daily said on Thursday. [via YahooNews] More >>

LUKoil Investigated in Bulgaria [Aug 03, 2011] SOFIA ? Bulgaria's anti-monopoly commission has begun an investigation into the local trading arm of LUKoil over suspected abuse of a dominant market position and possible cartel agreements. [via YahooNews] More >>

LUKoil Faces Investigation in Bulgaria [Aug 03, 2011] SOFIA ? Bulgaria's anti-monopoly commission has begun an investigation into the local trading arm of LUKoil over suspected abuse of a dominant market position and possible cartel agreements. [via YahooNews] More >>

Austrian Media Warn Bulgaria Against Playing Games with Russian Oil Giant [Aug 02, 2011] Austrian press reports of the Lukoil saga in Bulgaria have emphasized the superiority of the energy giant, at the same time advising the country to be careful about its energy relations. "Lukoil has shamed the Bulgarian government", Der Standard wrote, while Wirtschaftsblatt cautioned that Bulgaria was "playing with fire". "A court decision tilted the balance in favor of the Russian monopoly ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Braces for Nationwide Rally against Fuel Price Hike [Jul 31, 2011] Nationwide rallies are being organized Sunday afternoon against what some see as the artificially inflated prices of fuels. This is the sixth protest to be held in cities and towns across the country, organized by the civil association "Sila" (Strenght), uniting Bulgarians against the monopoly on fuels. 13 towns and cities are to take part by staging marches and blockades of key roads, according ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Oks Deal for Bulgarian-American Credit Bank [Jun 16, 2011] Bulgaria's anti-monopoly body said on Thursday it has given the green light to the sale of a 49.99% interest in Bulgarian-American Credit Bank. Allied Irish Banks announced a month ago that it has signed an agreement to sell its 49.... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria's Tobacco Giant in Third Sale Attempt [May 10, 2011] A notice for the privatization of Bulgaria's former state tobacco monopoly Bulgartabac Holding is due to be published in the State Gazette on 10 May. The promulgation will mark the start of the third official attempt to sell the state-owned stake in the company, which is expected to be successful thanks to the political consensus the deal now enjoys, the agency for privatization and post ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Watchdog Slaps Fine on Cable TV Firm Blizoo [Mar 02, 2011] Bulgaria's monopoly watchdog, the Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC), has imposed a fine of BGN56,288 on leading cable operator Blizoo for trying to attract new customers by offering them illegal bonuses. The watchdog, which was alerted by the rival company Net 1, said Blizoo offered its subscribers vouchers for purchases of white and brown goods, which breaches free competition. The ... [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Makes Its Way into 'World's Most Boring Game' [Jan 23, 2011] A guide to Bulgaria features in a new Monopoly-style game, which has been designed in Poland to remind people of the hardships of life under communism, but has already been slammed as the world's most boring game. The contestants in the game, called Queue, have to queue to buy ten mundane items including lavatory paper, coffee and a guide to Bulgaria. But they face lengthy queues, competition ... [via YahooNews] More >>

State-owned Firm Looses Bulgaria Finance Ministry IT Monopoly [Apr 13, 2010] Bulgaria's State-owned Information Services company will no longer have monopoly on the IT services for the Finance Ministry, according to the public tender results announced Tuesday. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Set to Privatize Tobacco Monopoly, Major Military Plant [Apr 11, 2010] Bulgaria s Privatization Agency hopes to complete the sale of state-owned cigarette monopoly Bulgartabac in 2010. [via YahooNews] More >>

Audit of Bulgaria?s Monopoly Bulgargaz Delays Gas Price Hike (Novinite.com) [Mar 26, 2010] Bulgaria?s Deputy PM and Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has issued an order for the audit of the state natural gas monopoly Bulgargaz. Djankov has ordered the Agency for State Financial Supervision to audit Bulgargaz during next week, the press office of the Council of Ministers announced. [via YahooNews] More >>

Bulgaria Monopoly Watchdog Probes Top Cable Providers (Novinite.com) [Mar 17, 2010] Bulgaria's anti-trust watchdog has launched a probe into the country's top cable providers "Eurocom" and "Cabletel" on monopoly allegations. [via YahooNews] More >>

Gazprom???s South Stream: Romania in, Bulgaria out? (Novinite.com) [Feb 19, 2010] Bucharest has given Russian gas monopoly Gazprom all the documentation relevant for building the South Stream pipeline through Romanian territory, it was announced yesterday (18 February). The move appears to give flesh to a recent Russian threat to eliminate Bulgaria from the project. [via YahooNews] More >>

Austrian Constructor Appeals Bulgaria 'Trakiya' Highway Bid (Novinite.com) [Feb 12, 2010] Austrian Road construction group 'Strabag' have complained to Bulgaria's anti-monopoly body, concerning the bidding procedure for the Trakyia Highway project, from which their own bid was excluded. [via YahooNews] More >>