Transimpex wins Kalotina-Balkantourist tender

Tina Milton

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The company has confirmed it has bought the business, extending its presence at the busy crossing into Serbia

Transimpex has won the tender for Kalotina-Balkantourist offering a price of Lev2.52m ($1.70m). The acquisition will grow Transimpex's duty-free portfolio to 16 sites, plus its inflight supply deal with Bulgaria Air.

Transimpex director duty-free and domestic market Vlad Gitsoaika confirmed Transimpex had won the 90sq m (968sq ft) store. He told RavenFox.com: "It was an open tender so we offered the highest amount and won. We will become the owner of the company in one month's time." Gitsoaika said it was too early to discuss plans for the shop's development.

Four other companies took part in the procedure. Duty Free EOOD, ZIT AD and Agrosoft dropped out of the auction at Lev900,000 ($608,108), while Elkabel Ad and Transimpex continued the bidding until Lev2.5m ($1.69m).

There are six shops at the Kalotina border-crossing point with Serbia, two of which were already controlled by Transimpex and one d by Kalotina-Balkantourist.