The French oil services group CSO - COFLEXIP STENA OFFSHORE signed a protocol agreement in view of the acquisition of the "deep sea operations" division (turnover of USD 517 million in 1999 with 2,750 employees) from its Norwegian competitor AKER MARITIME SA for USD 513 million. COFLEXIP will buy the surcharge of USD 112 million in debt supported by this division which represents one quarter of AKER's total activities. On a pro forma basis at the end of 1999, COFLEXIP and the activities...