Areva, Dexia, Neopost, Unibail, Vinci: French Stocks Preview

By Fabio Benedetti-Valentini

Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose stocks may have unusual changes in Paris. Symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are from the last close.

France's CAC 40 Index lost 209.9, or 5 percent, to 3,953.48, its steepest decline since Jan. 21 and its lowest close since May 2005. The measure has fallen 12 percent in September. The SBF 120 Index slipped 4.9 percent.

Altamir Amboise (LTA FP): The financial holding company raised 20.7 million euros ($29.8 million) selling equity warrants. A total 3.5 million new shares will trade from Oct. 1, the company said. The shares declined 75 cents, or 13 percent, to 5.20 euros.

Areva SA (CEI FP): The transmission and distribution unit of the world's largest nuclear reactor maker signed a strategic alliance with GE Consumer & Industrial India to provide electrical systems for power, mining, metals and minerals companies. The company's investment certificates fell 14.71 euros, or 2.6 percent, to 554.79.

Catering International & Services SA (CTRG FP): The remote catering company said first-half net income rose 22 percent to 4.08 million euros and forecast ``strong business growth'' for the full year. The shares dropped 1.10 euros, or 1.5 percent, to 70.90.

Dexia SA (DX FP): The world's biggest lender to local governments will get a 6.4 billion-euro state-backed rescue after worsening financial markets drove the shares to a record decline. The shares declined 2.87 euros, or 29 percent, to 7.20.

Electricite de France SA (EDF FP): The electricity producer's wholesale trading unit agreed to buy Eagle Energy Partners I LP from Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. to expand its operations in North America. The shares fell 1.51 euros, or 2.9 percent, to 50.61 euros.

Neopost SA (NEO FP): Europe's biggest maker of mailroom equipment reports first-half earnings after the market close in Paris. Net income likely fell 11 percent to 71 million euros on a weaker dollar and declining U.S. demand, according to the average of five analyst estimates. The shares lost 4.86 euros, or 7 percent, to 65.05.

Schneider Electric SA (SU FP): The world's biggest maker of circuit breakers completed its $500 million Canadian-dollar purchase of Vancouver-based Xantrex Technology Inc. The shares declined 4.59 euros, or 7.4 percent, to 57.71.

SQLI SA (SQI FP): The Web design and computer-services company reported a 45 percent drop in first-half net income to 2.11 million euros. SQLI forecast full-year sales of more than 160 million euros and ``adjusted'' its operating profit target to 10 million euros. The shares lost 3 cents, or 2 percent, to 1.45 euros.

Unibail-Rodamco SA (UL FP): Europe's largest real-estate company will pay shareholders an interim dividend of 1.75 euros a share on Oct. 15. The shares dropped 8.93 euros, or 6.1 percent, to 138.54.

Vinci SA (DG FP): The world's biggest builder and Portugal's Mota-Engil SGPS SA agreed to buy Macquarie Infrastructure Group's 30.6 percent stake in Lusoponte SA, the operator of two toll bridges crossing the Tagus River in Lisbon for a total 112 million euros. The shares dropped 1.85 euros, or 5.5 percent, to 31.94.

To contact the reporter on this story: Fabio Benedetti-Valentini in Paris at fbenedettiva@bloomberg.net.