Ten candidates have bought tender documentation for the competition on consulting the Bulgartabac sale. Today, at 5:00 p.m., is the deadline for the documentation purchase. Monday, January 26 is the deadline for bid submission. Eligibility terms allow for international investment banks to bid, if they meet the requirements of the agency Thomson Financial Services. They must cite previous experience in successful privatisations of tobacco companies. The consultant will be selected around end-February, Bulgartabac Holding said. The sale strategy was voted by parliament on December 10, 2003. Economy minister and deputy premier Lydia Shouleva said then that interest to acquiring the most profitable parts of Bulgartabac has been indicated by Philip Morris, BAT and Imperial Tobacco. Among the interested consultants she identified City Bank, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Creditanstalt and Credit Swiss First Boston.