The American-German groups SAUER INC and DANFOSS FLUID POWER AS (Danish group DANFOSS) have signed a merger agreement that will give rise to a world leader in the field of hydraulic components for site machines and vehicles with an estimated turnover of DM 1.55 bn on the basis of last year's results. A transaction which, as the project stood in September (see EI of 17 September '99), is estimated at DM 347 million.