ATOFINA, chemicals business of the French oil group TOTALFINAELF is to sell most of its business in the production of chlorotoluene and derived products to the international chemicals group TESSENDERLO (1.818 bn euro consolidated turnover in 2000 with over 7,300 employees). The transaction also provides for the sale of the production site of Widnes, near Manchester (40 million euro turnover with 130 employees). The cost of the transaction has not been disclosed.