PRIVATIZATION - The privatization of state-run power company ČEZ will be slowed by the results of the June 2–3 elections, which resulted in political deadlock, according to analysts. Many in government would like to use money from the sale of ČEZ, which is worth hundreds of billions of crowns, to finance pension reform, but reform is now unlikely in the near future.

BONUS - Martin Roman, CEO of ČEZ, would have made 282 million Kč if he decided to sell 750,000 shares of the company's stock he received as part of a bonus program June 5, ČEZ spokesman Ladislav Křiž said the same day.

SCREENS - IPS Alpha of Japan officially announced May 31 that it will build a factory in Žatec, north Bohemia, for production of LCD screens. Czech daily Hospodářské noviny said the investment will make the country a "superpower" in television and television screen production because Changhong of China is building a similar plant and LG.Philips Displays and Panasonic are already here.

AIRCRAFT - Jiří Havel, deputy prime minister for the economy, said June 1 that the eventual winner of a tender for jet maker Aero Vodochody will have to maintain aircraft production at the company. The Cabinet suspended the tender earlier this year on concerns that many original bidders were reportedly only interested in the company for its airstrip and planned to discontinue production.

CARS - Carmakers and their subcontractors saw sales increase 25.6 percent to a record 484 billion Kč ($22 billion) in 2005 compared to 2004, Vratislav Kulhánek, president of the Automotive Industry Association, said June 2. Car production rose 34.6 percent to a record-high 603,849 units, and sales increased 24.9 percent.

EURO - The Czech National Bank is concerned that growing government spending could prevent the country from meeting the Maastricht criteria for euro adoption, according to the minutes of a May 25 policy meeting made public June 2. The Finance Ministry expects the budget deficit to reach 3.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. According to the Maastricht criteria, state deficits in countries wishing to adopt the euro cannot exceed 3.0 percent of GDP.