Also...

* Teck Corp. and its affiliate Cominco Ltd. said they planned to merge to create one of Canada’s largest diversified mining companies and the world’s biggest zinc miner. The combined market capitalization of the companies, based on their recent share prices, is more than $2 billion. The merged company, based in Vancouver, will be named Teck Cominco Ltd. Under the agreement, Cominco shareholders will receive 1.8 Class B subordinate voting shares of Teck, plus $3.91 for each Cominco common share held.

* Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the largest bottler of Coca-Cola Co. beverages, said it will acquire Herb Coca-Cola, a combination of Hondo Inc. and Herbco Enterprises Inc., for $1.4 billion in cash and debt. The Atlanta-based company doesn’t expect the acquisition of the No. 3 U.S. Coke bottler to affect 2001 earnings, though it will add to 2002 results, it said in a statement.