The Belgian L & H - LERNOUT & HAUSPIE (vocal technologies, staff of 2,500 people) acquired the American company DICTAPHONE (turnover of USD 350 million in 1999 with a work force of 2,000 to 2,500 people), specialised in Dictaphones, telephone recordings and the processing of musical data. The cost of this operation reaches around BF 21 billion.