21.   Despite official statements on Monday that the government had no knowledge of a possible counter offer, opposition to the terms of privatisation was expressed in some quarters.

22.   Falconbridge president Frank Pickard suggested, after the Diamond Fields announcement, that he was interested in making a counter offer.

23.   The French government has no knowledge of a counter offer to a bid by Daewoo to acquire Thomson Multimedia, officials at the finance ministry said on Monday.