Briefly: French group eyes 5% stake in Resona

France's largest financial group, Credit Agricole SA, may increase its stake in Resona Holdings Inc. from its current 1 percent by investing up to 100 billion yen, sources said.

The expected purchase of common Resona Holdings shares would raise the company's stake to around 5 percent, making the French financial group the next-largest shareholder after the Japanese government, which controls slightly less than 50 percent of the shares.

Credit Agricole and Resona Holdings have yet to settle the details. The sources added that the French company could also buy shares directly from the Japanese government.(IHT/Asahi: May 5,2008)