1.   The ISE at the time of writing is attempting to implement changes in the way in which shares are floated.

2.   Amazon.com, for instance, floats shares in a rising market, and the money it raises covers huge annual losses.

3.   And last year, Reuters floated shares in its software subsidiary, Tibco.

4.   As part of its grooming to float shares France Telecom is actively seeking to reduce debt.

5.   British Telecom is attempting to float shares and sell assets at a time when other telecommunications companies are finding it difficult to do the same.

6.   But KPN, the Dutch company, has already been forced to delay plans to float shares of its mobile telephone unit.

7.   Companies seeking to float shares without a Nasdaq listing will pay higher fees to underwriters.

8.   In November, the firm plans to float its shares.

9.   Sanmao, a candidate for floating B shares, can charge higher tariffs on passenger and freight traffic than the national level.

10.   The company needs to sell or float shares in CIT Group, its finance division, or risk a capital crunch that could strangle it within a few months.