The Franco-Italian group EBS-ERIDANIA BEGHIN-SAY carried out two acquisitions in the animal nutrition sector for a total amount of between ITL 160 and 200 billion. On the one hand it concerns, the American company AKEY (annual turnover of USD 100 million) and, on the other hand, the Dutch company MERVO PRODUCTS, which has a turnover of around EUR 30 million. PROVIMI, subsidiary of EBS specialised in the animal nutrition sector, until now has an annual turnover of EUR 941 million representing around 10% of the global figure. Furthermore, EBS concluded an agreement of principal with MCCORMICK (turnover USD 2 billion in 1999) concerning the sale to the world leader in spices of its subsidiary DUCROS, largest European in the sector, for a total of ITL 820 billion. See EI of 29 February 2000.