After several weeks of negotiations, the Anglo-Dutch group UNILEVER signed an agreement with a view to acquisition of the American group BESTFOODS for a total of $24.3 billion, that is, $73 per share. It will also take on $3.3 billion in debts. We recall that UNILEVER had, on 6 April, launched a first bid for acquisition of American BESTFOODS for the sum of $18.4 billion ($66 per share) but that the latter had refused this proposal. The operation will give rise to a predominant group in the...