French and Benelux stocks - Factors to watch on April 21

PARIS, April 21 (Reuters) - Below are leading stories from
French and Benelux newspapers and company-related news which
could have an impact on the region's markets or individual
stocks.

UNIBAIL-RODAMCO
Unibail-Rodamco said it issued ORNANE bonds worth around 500
million euros, and that the volume could rise to 575 million
euros.
[UNBP.PA]

FAURECIA
Faurecia posted a 38 percent drop in first-quarter sales to
2 billion euros and confirmed its forecast for 2009 sales to
drop 20 percent in Europe and 30 percent in North America.
[nLL520067]

SANOFI-AVENTIS
Sanofi-Aventis said it would invest $90 million to expand a
manufacturing plant in China and produce its Lantus insulin for
the treatment of diabetes in the country. [nPEK40472]

MERCIALYS
Mercialys said rental revenue rose 11 percent to 31.3
million euros in the first quarter. The group added that rental
management indicators were satisfactory in a difficult economic
environment and that it was debt-free as of March 31. [MERY.PA]

GUYENNE ET GASCOGNE
Guyenne et Gascogne posted a 2 percent drop in first-quarter
revenue to 127 million euros, hurt by a strong decrease in
petrol prices. [GUYG.PA]

AUDIKA
Audika said first-quarter revenue fell 5.3 percent to 22.1
million euros, a like-for-like drop of 11 percent. The group
confirmed its 2009 priorities to maintain a high level of
profitability and continue to expand its networks in France and
Italy. [DIKA.PA]

TRANSGENE
Transgene said cash and cash equivalents totalled 81.1
million euros on March 31, compared with 86.7 million at the end
of December. The company said it expected cash burn this year to
total 20 million euros. [TRNG.PA]

SOITEC
Soitec posted a 45 percent drop in fiscal fourth-quarter
sales to 35.9 million euros and said its full-year operating
margin performance was better than forecast. [SOIT.PA]

SWORD GROUP
Sword Group posted a 4.4 percent rise in first-quarter sales
and a 5.6 percent increase in quarterly current operating profit
to 8.69 million euros. The group also reiterated its 2009
profitability goal. [SWOR.PA]

FLEURY MICHON
Fleury Michon said first-quarter sales rose 2 percent to
123.4 million euros. [FLMI.PA]

USG PEOPLE
Dutch staffing firm USG People reported an 80 percent drop
in core profit, hurt by dwindling demand for staffing services
as companies pare costs in a worsening economic climate.
[nLL689541]

CSM
Dutch food group CSM reported a 38 percent decline in
first-quarter operating profit and said it expected the tough
trading environment to continue in the short-term.
[nLL705454]

VOPAK
Dutch oil and chemicals storage company Vopak said
first-quarter EBIT excluding exceptional items was 85.6 million
euros, in line with the average of forecasts in a Reuters poll.
It reiterated its 2009 core profit forecast. [VOPA.AS]

EURONAV
Belgian shipping company Euronav reports first-quarter
earnings. [EUAV.BR]

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