- Norway: The Norwegian State has sold a 9.4% stake in the country's largest telecom operator, TELENOR. The operation, evaluated at around $1.2 billion, will reduce State participation to 53%. Shares were sold to GOLDMAN SACHS and should be placed with institutional investors in Norway and abroad. - Romania: BANK AUSTRIA CREDITANSTALT, Austrian subsidiary of the German company HVB - HYPOVEREINSBANK, is willing to take part in the privatisation of the Romania bank BCR - BANCA COMERCIALA ROMANA. Prime Minister Adrian Nastase announced that he wished to bring down the State's share to 20% as compared to the current 45%. Fifty-one percent of the BCR is currently in the hands of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).