The capital-investment fund of the British bank ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND has taken over the French industrial firm METAUX SPECIAUX (expected 2001 turnover of FF 400 million) Europe's main alkaline metals manufacturer, held to the tune of 90% by financial investors (DUKE STREET CAPITAL, SPEF and PARCOM VENTURES), for a sum that has remained confidential but should be around FF 600 million.