- France: according to the French daily, Les Echos, the French Government could soon announce the placing up for sale of a first slice of the capital in the French engine manufacturer SNECMA (5.7 bn euro turnover in 2000) still held to the tune of 97.3% by the State. According to the daily, the government has opted for a "snap operation", i.e. floating "20% of the capital on the stock market for the public, institutions and employees". - Norway: the Norwegian Government has announced that it would finally sell 17.5% of the Norwegian oil company to the public at 8.65 euro a share. This price is at the bottom of the range decided on by the Minister for Oil and Energy end-May (from 8.60 to 9.60 euro) and values the group at NOK 151 bn, or 18.9 bn euro. Once STATOIL has been floated to the stock market, the State could sell additional shares in the framework of a crossed share swap with strategic partners, without, however, falling below 66%. See EI of 16 May 2001.