Sofia-based European Hotel Enterprises and International Lodging of Bulgaria acquired a total of 15.25% of the capital of Sofia Hotel Balkan (

) in two block deals today, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) said.

Greece's EFG Eurobank Ergasias transferred a total of 32,086 shares accounting for 6.7% of the capital of Sofia Hotel Balkan. The total value of the transactions amounted to 3.274 mln leva (1.67 mln euros), or 102.04 leva (52.35 euros) per share.

The seller in the second deal was George Drandakis who transferred 40,916 shares in Sofia Hotel Balkan, accounting for 8.55 % of the capital of the company, for 2.793 mln leva (1.42 mln euros), or 68.26 leva (34.9 euros) per share.

A total of 11,177 shares in Sofia Hotel Balkan traded hands on BSE today. The stock appreciated by 23.39% to an average of 66.62 leva per share. Two deals involved the transfer of 5,000 shares each, at a price of 66.5 leva per share.