- Ireland: the Irish government has begun the privatisation of the Irish national airline AER LINGUS (turnover €883 in 2005) which will be floated on the Dublin and London stock exchanges at the end of September. The float price will be set in mid-September. According to the financial press, the airline, in which the State holds an 85.1% shareholding, with the other 14.9% held by its employees, has been valued at over one billion euro. The transaction, open to national and international institutional investors and to individuals is expected to involve less than 60% of the capital with the government wishing to retain a blocking minority stake of between 25.1% and 30%.