Greece’s privatisation agency on Tuesday defended the procedure employed for a 2014 tender to lease and operate 14 regional airports around Greece, following media reports claiming the agency’s adviser had under-valued the facilities.

In a press release, the agency said the tender was held in “transparent and consistent conditions … (amid) a series of independent evaluation mechanisms, and in accordance with the highest international standards and principles of transparency.”

The agency’s leadership reminded that the winning bid totaled 1.23 billion euros on top of an annual lease price of 22.9 million euros.