- Finland: The Government of Finland has sold to institutional investors 22 million shares in SONERA at the price of EUR 92 a share, for a total of EUR 2 billion. This operation reduces the state's share in SONERA to 54.5%, a share of which it intends to divest itself later. See EI of 2 September 1999. - Romania: The Government of Romania intends to sell to the private sector some 200 companies a month to complete the privatistion programme foreseen for this year. Companies to be sold include TAROM airline, PETROM (oil), BANCA AGRICOLA SA and BANCA COMERCIALA ROMANA SA and others in the steel, tourism and tobacco sectors. The public electricity company CONEL will be split in two, with both ventures being sold. In all, the government hopes to raise USD 1.2 billion this year from the sales, as against 800 million last year.