PARIS (Dow Jones)--The merger between French gas company GDF (1020848.FR) and Suez (SZE.FR) will be sped up, with a tighter calendar than previously scheduled, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro reports in its Monday edition, without naming sources.
The companies are seeking to be prepared to merge in January, the paper says.
According to the new calendar, GDF's works council will meet Monday to examine a report asking them to give their opinion by Dec. 20 and the European council will meet by Jan. 10, the paper reports.
If all goes as planned, the committee overseeing the merger will meet Jan. 18, the paper reports.
The merger is slated for the first half of 2008, company officials have said