The state-owned shareholdings in three joint stock companies, to the total value of 258.2 million lei, were sold at outcry auctions staged by the Public Property Agency on April 4, IPN reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy, the 85.45% holding in the central universal store SA “UNIC” was sold for over 252 million lei, the 100% holding in SA “Aeroport Catering” – for more than 5 million lei, while the 99.385% holding in SA “Amelioratorul” – for over 982,000 lei.

Under the national legislation, the buyers of state-owned shareholdings must also pay a private tax of 1% of the transaction’s value into the state budget. Thus, a sum of 260.8 million lei is to be transferred to the state budget.

The outcry auction was held within a round to privatize state-owned public property staged by the Public Property Agency on April 4-8. State-owned holdings of over 1.05 billion lei in 24 joint stock companies are to be sold during the given round by outcry auctions on the Stock Exchange of Moldova.

Outcry auctions will also take place on April 5, 6, 7 and 8.