France Prepares for a Huge Government Yard Sale
The French government will begin laying the groundwork this month for the sale of shares in energy provider Engie SA, airport operator Aeroports de Paris SA and lottery company Francaise des Jeux, potentially raising as much as 15 billion euros ($18 billion). Proposed laws clearing the way for the sales will be presented to the cabinet on Monday, government officials said in a briefing late Tuesday. The proceeds would go to reducing the state’s debt and bulking up a government fund to invest in innovative technological and industrial projects.