A total of 20.584 mln shares, accounting for 18.84% of the capital of fuel distributor Petrol, were transferred on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange (BSE) today.

Prior to the transaction Naftex Oil & Shipping Corporation was the owner of the stake, which was acquired by Naftex Petrol in the end of 2005. The value of today's transaction amounts to 87.07 mln leva (44,5 mln euros).

Petrol plans to sign a contract with Lukoil Bulgaria for the sale of part of its filling stations, it emerged yesterday.

The planned deal is pending approval by Bulgaria's Commission for Protection of Competition (CPC).

Petrol operated a total of 519 gas filling stations in 2007.

A week ago Lukoil Bulgaria notified the CPC on its intentions to acquire a real estate property, which is actually the Iliantsi fuel products storage base. A similar move would represent concentration of economic activity.

Petrol's eleven facilities at the Iliantsi base have the capacity to store 50,000 m3 of diesel fuels and 30,000 m3 of gasoline.

The bids/asks on the position of Petrol stand at 4.25/4.43 leva per share at present.