- France: The French Ministry for the Economy and Finances finally accepted the offer by CCF - CREDIT COMMERCIAL DE FRANCE for the take-over of the HERVET bank (net profits of FF 87.8 million in 1999 with an equity of FF 1.4 billion, 84 branches and a workforce of 1,388 people). The offer, which is set at USD 48 per share, values the establishment at FF 3.471 billion, an amount well above the initial estimates, which where for around FF 1.5 to 2 billion. See EI of 6 January. - Romania: Nest week, the Romanian government will launch a "major privatisation campaign", which will concern, firstly, sixteen companies chosen in common agreement with the World Bank, announced the Prime Minister Adrian Nastase. Notably concerned are the Constantza ship yard, the carriage constructor ROMWAG and the locomotive manufacturer ELECTROPUTERE as well as an optical instruments factory.