PARIS, Oct 29: The chairman of EDF said on Saturday he hoped at least four million individuals would buy shares in the French state power giant, after the government announced its partial privatisation this week.

The conservative government, which has said it will keep at least 85 per cent of EDF, on Friday unveiled a higher-than-expected price range of 29.5 to 34.1 euros a share.

EDF Chairman Pierre Gadonneix said it was a bit early to say whether there were many buyers.

“I have a first indication for shareholding among workers. Our hotline has received more than 10,000 calls,” he told Journal du Dimanche newspaper in an interview.

“This means that interest by the company’s workers and pensioners is above expectations... As to what concerns the wider public, I hope for popular success. We are aiming for at least four million individual shareholders.”—Reuters