In arranging a marriage between Gaz de France and Suez, the French government has pre-empted a bid from Enel.

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The difference in the latest case, a merger of Gaz de France and Suez, is the perception of indecent haste.

ECONOMIST: France

Even without Enel, Dierckx likes Suez for its exceptional operating performance and the promise in its proposed merger with Gaz de France.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Italy has accused France of protectionism over a controversial deal to merge Gaz de France and Suez, which was a takeover target for Italian firm Enel.

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Since the deal means going back on a promise not to privatise Gaz de France, the unions see it as a ploy to sell the utility by stealth: a strike has been called next week.

ECONOMIST: France

More recently he said he would back a shotgun merger between the French firms Suez and the state-controlled Gaz de France in order to ward off a bid for Suez by the Italian utility Enel.

FORBES: Magazine Article

More recently he said he would back a shotgun merger between the French firms Suez (nyse: SZE - news - people ) and the state-controlled Gaz de France (other-otc: GZFCF - news - people ) in order to ward off a bid for Suez by the Italian utility Enel (nyse: EN - news - people ).

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