- France: according to provisional data published by the French Ministry of Finance, French direct investment flows abroad amounted to a record 83 bn euro in 1999, up 127% on 1998. These operations cover both the purchasing of shares and takeovers and remain concentrated on EU countries (53% in total). Germany alone took in 35% of the French flows, especially due to the merger between RHONE-POLENC and HOECHST, followed by the United States (29%), the United Kingdom (6.3%) and Japan (6.2%) (due mainly to RENAULT's takeover of NISSAN). At the same time, foreign investors placed France in the leading group of areas for investment inflows. With over 25 bn euro, it comes in fourth position, behind the United States (176 bn euro), the United Kingdom (57 bn) and the Netherlands (28.5 bn euro). Almost 76% of operations in France are from companies within the euro zone (Netherlands, Spain and Germany in the lead). Outside Europe, the United States remains the main source of inward foreign investments.