Dassault has confirmed that it is to purchase a 20 per cent share of Embraer, the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. The negotiations between Dassault and Embraer, as reported in European Business Air News last month, were finalised and revealed on October 25. \rDassault is part of a group of French companies, which includes Aerospatiale Matra and Snecma Thomson-csf, that are buying the minority stake. The control of Embraer will not be affected by the acquisition of the shares, but will remain exclusively with the Embraer controlling shareholders. Bozano Simonsen, the Brazilian investment banking group, has committed itself to maintaining its controlling interest in Embraer until at least 2007, Dassault reports. \r"The decision of the French companies to invest in Embraer was based on the confidence of its growing role in the aerospace markets worldwide and not tied to any specific programme or project," commented a spokesman for Dassault. "The French companies will make all efforts in operating closely with Embraer regarding complementary activities and new technologies, products and markets."