Requests for participation in the tender should be sent by Sep 24, the privatisation agency will certify candidates by Oct 19 and will accept preliminary offers by Nov 8. The changes are triggered by the big number of candidates for the sea shipper and forthcoming national holidays this week. As recalled, 23 companies have purchased tender documents for the 70% stake offered by the state. Thirteen firms in the list could be defined as potential direct bidders or strategic investors as they are operating in the shipping business. However, one of the bidders withdrew from the procedure complaining of too short deadlines. The net asset value of the state shipper suggests that the sale should bring at least EUR 350mn to the government accounts. The net profit of Navibulgare grew by 83.3% y/y to BGN 22.2mn (EUR 11.3) in H1. The net sales of the fleet increased by 3.1% y/y to BGN 215.3mn while expenditures dropped by 4.1% on an annual basis to BGN 200.5mn in the first six months of the year.