Bidding

Greece will this week ask for improved financial bids from shortlisted investors seeking to buy a majority stake in its second-largest port, two officials said on Tuesday.

The government was licking its wounds Monday after Yiannis Kalogritsas, one of four winning bidders in a recent auction of nationwide television licenses - and under increasing public scrutiny over his suitability as a candidate - withdrew from contention after his company was unable to pay the first installment of the license fee on time.

More than seven out of 10 (74.2 percent) Greeks said the government did not handle well the nationwide broadcast license auction last month, according to a poll conducted by MRB on behalf of STAR TV, which was one of the unsuccessful bidders.

The Bulgarian businessman Spas Rusev has reportedly acquired the leading Bulgarian telecommunications company Vivacom after a bidding, which lasted for nearly sixteen hours.

According to media reports, he won the auction by offering EUR 330 M, Darik radio reports.

The other bidder was the Greek businessman Panos Germanos, who is owner of the Olympia Group.

New round of auction sale of government vehicles

BELGRADE -- The Property Directorate of the Republic of Serbia will organize another round of sale of state-owned passenger vehicles on April 9.

The government decided to put the cars up for auction "with an eye to austerity measures," said Tanjug.

BELGRADE - The Property Directorate of the Republic of Serbia will organize the second round of sale of state-owned passenger vehicles, which the government decided to put up for auction with an eye to austerity measures.

BELGRADE - Vehicles owned by various government bodies and agencies are currently on sale through public bidding at Palata Srbija in Belgrade.

According to head of the property affairs of the Property Directorate Ljiljana Matovic, the sale on Thursday involves 40 vehicles out of the total of 510 that were put up for auction through government decisions from March 14 and 17.