Uprkos tome, na hiljade radnika Bulgartabaca povelo je nekoliko protesta uskoro nakon najave tog ugovora početkom septembra, tvrdeći da je natječajem za prodaju Bulgartabaca manipulirano u korist BT Investa, koji je bio jedini preostali kandidat.
Despite this, hundreds of Bulgartabac workers staged several protests shortly after the deal was announced in early September, arguing the competition for Bulgartabac's sale was manipulated in favour of BT Invest, which was the only remaining candidate.