CIMENTS FRANÇAIS (ITALCEMENTI group) will be taking over Egyptian company SUEZ CEMENT, a leading player in the cement market in Egypt. It has just concluded an agreement to acquire, with a consortium of investors, 33.4% of capital. The transaction will cost 97 Egyptian pounds per share and will represent USD 360 million in all, 153 million of which will be paid for by CIMENTS FRANÇAIS, which will subsequently increase its share from 39.9% to ore than 54% in the group.