- France: On 1 September this year, the French government launched privatisation of FRANCE TELECOM with the sale of 9.6% to 12.1% of the share capital to reduce the State's share from between 41% and 43.5%. The State is expected to withdraw between EUR 4.5 and 5.8 billion depending on the price obtained. The operation is carried out in the form of a share investment by institutional investors. In total, 236 to 299 million shares will be put up for sale for a price fixed between 18.95 and 19.25 euros per share. --Denmark: DEUTSCHE POST has put in a bid to acquire 25% of the share capital of its Danish rival, POST DANEMARK (turnover EUR 1.42 billion in 2003 with 22,000 employed), which is in the process of privatisation.