1.   A similar plan offered by a shareholder rights group was approved by shareholders last year, but rejected by the board.

2.   At times, Hall showed little patience as the shareholder group made its proposals.

3.   A few years ago security guards hauled the leader of a shareholders group from the podium.

4.   A French shareholders group is expected to decide today how it will vote.

5.   A smaller French shareholders group, Adacte, has said it will vote against the plan.

6.   A similar proposal, brought by a shareholders rights group, was approved narrowly last year but rejected by the board.

7.   Both shareholder groups approved the merger by a wide margin.

8.   Christian Cambier, the head of one major shareholders group, said in an interview he is willing to support the plan.

9.   Court papers show that Croyden Associates, a shareholder group, sued Western saying its directors violated their fiduciary duty to investors in their response to the buyout offer.

10.   Elf was part of the core shareholder group when the government sold Renault, Suez and BNP.