As at the moment, 99.18 per cent of the state-owned assets subject to privatization have been privatized, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said in Parliament Friday, answering a question from MP of the Order, Lawfulness and Justice Party Yane Yanev.

Borissov said a privatization plan for 2010 is to be approved, as well as an analysis of the companies whose privatization is banned as they are of special interest.

On the basis of the effective legislation, subject to privatization at the moment are about 20 majority stakes and about 120 minority packages of shares and participating interests owned by the state. Government forecasts estimate that total proceeds from privatization could reach 1,000 million leva, provided that the most lucrative entity for privatization, the Bulgartabac Holding, is sold.

The Prime Minister said that the holding is to be sold out whole, instead of in separate parts.

In mid-December 2009 the Privatization Agency launched the procedure for the open competition for the selection of a consultant in Bulgartabac's privatization. The competition closed on February 1 with four tenders. A ruling on the selection is to be made within the legally set deadline, Borissov said.

Source: BTA