PARIS, March 4 (Reuters) - Below are leading stories from the French press and company-related news which could have an impact on the French market or individual stocks.
TECHNIP
The oil field services group and engineering consultancy said it would help build a biofuel plant in the port of Kuantan, Malaysia, with a capacity of 250,000 tons a year of biodiesel made from palm oil. No terms were given.
SOCIETE GENERALE
The French bank has offered to buy the stakes of minority shareholders in Rosbank at 194.09 roubles per share, Rosbank said on Tuesday. Russian tycoons Vladimir Potanin and Mikhail Prokhorov, who had controlled Rosbank, are currently the largest minority shareholders. Click on: [nL04879826]
VIVENDI
Univision Communications Inc. on Monday disclosed that it received $153 million for the sale of its music recording and publishing business to Universal Music Group -- a deal announced last week at an undisclosed sum. Click on:
GROUPE PARTOUCHE
The European Commission has given France until the end of this month to change a planned law that would oblige banks to block payments on behalf of online betting firms, a gaming lobby said on Monday.Click on:
M6
French commercial TV broadcaster M6 posted a 5.9 percent rise in 2007 operating profit on Monday, above expectations, helped notably by the good performance of its flagship channel and lower programming costs. Click on: [MMTP.PA-RTRS]
TOTAL
French oil giant Total could agree technology transfers with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom for the second and third development phases of the giant Arctic Shtokman gas field, its chief executive told La Tribune newspaper in an interview. Click on: [TOTF.PA-RTRS]
EADS
A landmark defence win for EADS and the changeover of administration in Washington could provoke a fresh start in patchy transatlantic defence co-operation, the European aerospace group's former chief said in a Reuters interview. Click on: [EAD.PA-RTRS]
L'OREAL OREP.A
L'Oreal will get full control of Club des Createurs de Beaute, as it agreed to buy the 50 percent stake held by 3 Suisses International for an undisclosed amount, the French cosmetics group said on Monday. Click on: [OREP.PA-RTRS]
SODEXO
Sodexo, the world's second-largest contract caterer, said on Monday it had finalized its purchase of the service vouchers and cards businesses of Brazil's VR Group for 1 billion Brazilian reals. Click on: [EXHO.PA-RTRS]
EARNINGS REPORTS DUE ON TUESDAY:
CNP Assurances 2007 earnings
Neopost 2007 sales
Nexity 2007 earnings
Sperian Protection 2007 earnings
Vallourec 2007 earnings
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