A spokeswoman for SITA UK told letsrecycle.com today the deal should not “directly affect” employees of the waste company in Britain.
Suez, which owns SITA along with major interests in the water, electricity and gas sectors, has approved an offer of merging with French state-owned gas company Gaz De France (GDF).
Suez shareholders are being offered a special dividend payout equivalent to one euro per share as part of the merger, totalling 1.25 million euros.
Following the merger, a review of the company and its subsidiaries is expected, but commenting on the potential impact of the merger on SITA's activities in the UK, a spokeswoman for the company said little was yet known.
However, the spokeswoman insisted: “The status of employees of Suez and GDF is not affected by this move.”
Merger
The merger with GDF was approved by the Suez board of directors on Saturday following several months of discussions between the two companies.
Suez chief executive Gerard Mestrallet is now to conclude talks with GDF concerning the merger, which analysts believe could form the world's second largest power-and-gas company with a turnover of about 43 billion. GDF is currently one of the largest gas companies in France and the fourth largest utilities company in Europe to be floated publicly on the markets.
The European Commission has said the merger of GDF and Suez does not breach EU rules, although Jacques Barrot, the EU's deputy chairman and transport commissioner, is reported as saying the merger respects “the letter but not the spirit” of EU competition rules.
Analysts have suggested the merger represents the French fending off a bid from Italian utility company Enel. The Italian government could still represent a thorn in the side for the GDF-Suez merger, with minister Claudio Scajola stating he would ask the Commission to look into the events surrounding the merger.
The spokeswoman for SITA UK said: “We are pleased to be part of a group that is progressing and continues to grow within the world market.”
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