French utility Gaz de France (1020848.FR), which plans to merge with peer Suez (SZE.FR), said Thursday that its calendar for concluding the tie-up in the first half of 2008 remains in place, and said it is hoping for a definitive opinion on the merger from workers' representatives May 15.
A spokeswoman for GdF told Dow Jones Newswires that the company held a meeting with its French works council Wednesday and that two new meeting dates with workers' delegates have now been set: an information meeting April 25 and another meeting, May 15, at which the company hopes to get a definitive view from the body on the merger.
GdF's French works council, composed of union delegates, hasn't yet filed its view on the merger. French rules require the works council to have expressed an opinion, be it negative or positive, before a tie-up can come to fruition.
Workers' representatives at GdF have sought to delay the merger, which entails the privatization of the company, and have asked for more information and extra time to analyze it.
Suez workers, and GdF's European works council, have already given views.