Vereinigte Bergbahnen Bulgaria , 95% owned by Austria 's Vereinigte Bergbahnen, has acquired 80% of a local company holding 5 rope lines and adjacent ski runs in Votosha Mountain . Vereinigte Bergbahnen Bulgaria has acquired the rope lines servicing two of the main ski runs in Vitosha three year ago. It has installed snow-making machines and lightning for night skiing. The new deal will give the company control over all major ski facilities in the complex located just 15 kilometres from the downtown of Sofia . The remaining 5% stake in Vereinigte Bergbahnen Bulgaria is owned by the local physical person Veselin Vodenicharov, who is also appointed as executive director. Vodenicharov vows that the company will quickly rehabilitate the newly acquired outdated facilities and will offer a single access card for all ski runs in Votosha this winter at a daily price of BGN 30 (EUR 15.3). The price will be thus nearly two times lower in relation to the other top ski resorts in the country. By far, the mixed ownership of the ski complex has been considered a major reason for the lack of large-scale investments and its weakening market position against the fast growing winter resorts in Bansko, Borovets, Pamporovo, and Chepelare. The parent company Vereinigte Bergbahnen operates 7 ski regions in Austria and plans to expand in Russia . The company is owned by the head of the Austrian ski federation, Peter Schroeksnadel. Vereinigte Bergbahnen Bulgaria is also interested in taking over the snow clearing service for the main road in Vitosha linking the capital city with the ski centre.