the breakdown of aes 2019s gross margin for the years ended december 31 , 2000 and 1999 , based on the geographic region in which they were earned , is set forth below. .

north america
2000 $ 844 million
% (  % ) of revenue 25% ( 25 % )
1999 $ 649 million
% (  % ) of revenue 32% ( 32 % )
% (  % ) change 30% ( 30 % )
south america
$ 416 million
36% ( 36 % )
$ 232 million
28% ( 28 % )
79% ( 79 % )
caribbean*
$ 226 million
21% ( 21 % )
$ 75 million
24% ( 24 % )
201% ( 201 % )
europe/africa
$ 371 million
29% ( 29 % )
$ 124 million
29% ( 29 % )
199% ( 199 % )
asia
$ 138 million
22% ( 22 % )
$ 183 million
37% ( 37 % )
( 26% ( 26 % ) )

* includes venezuela and colombia .
selling , general and administrative expenses selling , general and administrative expenses increased $ 11 million , or 15% ( 15 % ) , to $ 82 million in 2000 from $ 71 million in 1999 .
selling , general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues remained constant at 1% ( 1 % ) in both 2000 and 1999 .
the increase is due to an increase in business development activities .
interest expense , net net interest expense increased $ 506 million , or 80% ( 80 % ) , to $ 1.1 billion in 2000 from $ 632 million in 1999 .
interest expense as a percentage of revenues remained constant at 15% ( 15 % ) in both 2000 and 1999 .
interest expense increased primarily due to the interest at new businesses , including drax , tiete , cilcorp and edc , as well as additional corporate interest costs resulting from the senior debt and convertible securities issued within the past two years .
other income , net other income increased $ 16 million , or 107% ( 107 % ) , to $ 31 million in 2000 from $ 15 million in 1999 .
other income includes foreign currency transaction gains and losses as well as other non-operating income .
the increase in other income is due primarily to a favorable legal judgment and the sale of development projects .
severance and transaction costs during the fourth quarter of 2000 , the company incurred approximately $ 79 million of transaction and contractual severance costs related to the acquisition of ipalco .
gain on sale of assets during 2000 , ipalco sold certain assets ( 2018 2018thermal assets 2019 2019 ) for approximately $ 162 million .
the transaction resulted in a gain to the company of approximately $ 31 million .
of the net proceeds , $ 88 million was used to retire debt specifically assignable to the thermal assets .
during 1999 , the company recorded a $ 29 million gain ( before extraordinary loss ) from the buyout of its long-term power sales agreement at placerita .
the company received gross proceeds of $ 110 million which were offset by transaction related costs of $ 19 million and an impairment loss of $ 62 million to reduce the carrying value of the electric generation assets to their estimated fair value after termination of the contract .
the estimated fair value was determined by an independent appraisal .
concurrent with the buyout of the power sales agreement , the company repaid the related non-recourse debt prior to its scheduled maturity and recorded an extraordinary loss of $ 11 million , net of income taxes. .

Question: what was the gross margin change in basis points for south america?
Answer: 80