Fusions et acquisitions : les exemples de GDF/Suez, Air France/KLM et Thomson/Reuters

gdf/suez is a French energy provider group specialised in transport and distribution of natural gas. Since the opening of European energy market, gdf has diversified itself on the electricity market developing offers to provide natural gas and electricity.

In February 2006, the two companies have decided to merge to face the hostile take over bid launched by the Italian Enel on suez.
Because of an 80% ownership of the French state in gdf, the merger has involved a lot of discussions between the board of directors and the French government. The discussions concerned the protectionism of the French interests in the company.
In the case, the French legal framework was the main difficulty faced by the two companies.