Swedish group TETRA LAVAL has made a recommended bid on 90.25% of the capital of French SIDEL, the world's largest bottling company specialised in the making of machinery for plastic bottles. The offer provides for payment of 50 euros per share, so that the company is worth EUR 1.7 billion. SIDEL recorded a turnover of EUR 1.03 billion in 2000 and employs 4,000 in 24 countries. The TETRA LAVAL turnover reached EUR 8.9 billion with just under 24,000 employed.