The French government today launched the flotation of Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l'Est de la France, the toll road operator, and sold its remaining stake in Bull, the computer manufacturer.

HSBC-CCF, adviser to the French government, is global co-ordinator and joint bookrunner with BNP Paribas and UBS on the institutional tranche of the deal. BNP Paribas and HSBC-CCF are also joint bookrunners of the retail tranche.