Italian Post Office on the cards

Analysts have warned the governments intention to plough ahead with a Euro60 billion privatisation plan, which could include Poste Italiane, may face practical problems as global growth slows and political opponents voice their criticism. In a document the Italian government said it hoped to raise up to Euro60 billion via IPOs and the sale of existing stakes in companies it controls by the end of 2006, including Euro20-25 billion by the end of 2003.
But with stock markets highly jittery and some members of the government fundamentally opposed to selling off the states assets, it could be a rocky road analysts have warned.