- Spain: the public tender for the 53.9% stake that the Spanish State still has in the airline company IBERIA began on Monday 19 March at an indicative price of between 1.71 and 2.14 euro, valuing the company at between 1.56 and 1.95 bn euro, Sepi announced (Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales). Of the 442.9 million shares placed up for sale, Sepi is reserving 50% for individuals, 25% for international investors, 20% for Spanish investors and 5% for the staff, which represents 48.5% of the capital. The remainder, corresponding to 49.2 million shares, will be reserved for the banks responsible for the operation, BSCH and MERRIL LYNCH. The company's floatation on the stock market is scheduled for 3 April. The company had a pre-tax profit of 222.3 million euro in 2000. - Greece: the Greek Government will choose "by end-April" the means to sell up to an additional 10% of shares in the telecommunications operator OTE, in which the State currently has a 51% stake, the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Christos Verelis, announced. The State's share will thus fall to 41%.