Gaz de France

Suez SA and state-owned Gaz de France plan to form a global energy giant that they say will be better placed to compete against players such as Russia's OAO Gazprom. The outlines of the new company, to be called GDF Suez after the deal is expected to be completed in 2008, was approved by Suez and GDF boards late Sunday after active brokering by President Nicolas Sarkozy.