Danone's 123 million new shares are of great interest

France-based Danone had sold 123.2 million new shares for 24.73 euros each, now 5.5 billion bookings have been counted at the auction in Paris.

The company had raised 3.05 billion euros in its first capital increase in 22 years, as the French food group aims to cut debt and buy smaller rivals hurt by the financial crisis.