Bulgaria’s Privatisation Agency on Tuesday announced public tender in one stage for the sale of 79.83% of Bulgartabac Holding. Potential bidders will be able to buy tender documents during a 30-day period following the official announcement in the State Gazette, which according to the head of the government's Privatisation Agency, Emil Karanikolov, will be 10 May. According to Karanikolov, so far three strategic investors, as well as three or four financial investors, have shown serious interest in the sale. Among other criteria, an eligible strategic investor must have total revenue from the sale of processed tobacco and tobacco products of at least €1bn in the last three fiscal years for which audited financial statements are prepared, while a financial investor must manage financial stakes and/or own shares in other companies of a total value of at least €1bn as per the same period, as well as of the date of submission of documents. A top criteria, under which the offers of the financial investors will be assessed, will be the price. Other criteria include offers for buying out certain volumes of Bulgarian tobacco for five years and investments programme for the coming two years.