Sabanci-Dupont merger to produce Manchester U. uniforms

       DuPontSa, set up with 50% partnership between Sabanci Holding and
       DuPont, has become the leading producer of polyester thread with its 20%
       share in the European market.
       The company, which produces raw material for the textile industries in
       Africa, Europe and the Middle East, targets $1 billion turnover for the year
       2000.
       The partnership joins Pontypool and Wilton in England, Ventrop in Germany,
       with the factories of the Sabanci Group in England, Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir,
       and Silivri. The merger, declared to be worth $960 million, is chaired by
       Omer Sabanci.
       The merger, realised as of the beginning of this year, begins to yield its
       fruits with the contract to produce material for the uniforms for the soccer
       team Manchester United. The special material does not trap sweat the way
       cotton fabrics do, and the famous team agreed to try it out for the next two
       seasons.