FACTBOX: Key details on Gaz de France, Suez

(Reuters) - French utilities Suez and Gaz de France moved closer to clinching a 90-billion-euro ($123 billion) merger on Sunday after agreeing terms that involve floating off shares in Suez's Environment business, a source close to the talks said.

Analysts had previously said that to get the merger of equals that was envisioned at the outset Suez, the bigger of the two in terms of market capitalization, must first sell some businesses and distribute the receipts to its shareholders through a special dividend.

Another issue under close scrutiny is what share the state should take in the capital of any merged firm.

Here are some details about the two companies:

SUEZ

- Its history goes back to the 1822 foundation of Societe Generale des Pays-Bas by William of Orange and the 1858 creation in Paris by Ferdinand de Lesseps of the Universal Company for the Maritime Channel of Suez.

- Suez Energy includes Electrabel, Distrigaz, Fluxys, SUEZ Energy International, Elyo, Fabricom and Tractebel Engineering. Energy activities account for 75 percent of group revenues.

- Suez Environment, whose origins are in Lyonnaise des Eaux, supplies water, sanitation and waste services to industrial and individual customers around the world with the Ondeo, SITA and Degremont brand names.

- Suez employs 140,000 people and says it is Europe's biggest supplier of energy services, the fifth biggest power producer and sixth biggest gas operator.