The Swiss distributor MAUS (consolidated turnover of more than EUR 3.29 billion in 1999 with 20,000 employees) and the French CARREFOUR (turnover of EUR 77 billion in 1999) have signed a partnership agreement foreseeing the creation the of a joint venture. The French group will hold a 44% stake in this new company and could increase it in the future 50%. The value of the operation was not disclosed.