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| Siemens to make Alstom offer if given access to books | Siemens to make Alstom offer if given access to books |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| German firm Siemens says it will make an offer for France's Alstom if it can see the company's books. | German firm Siemens says it will make an offer for France's Alstom if it can see the company's books. |
| The engineering firm wants access to Alstom's "data room" and "permission to interview the management" for four weeks as a prerequisite for an offer. | The engineering firm wants access to Alstom's "data room" and "permission to interview the management" for four weeks as a prerequisite for an offer. |
| On Monday, Siemens officials met French President Francois Hollande to discuss a possible deal. | On Monday, Siemens officials met French President Francois Hollande to discuss a possible deal. |
| The news follows reports that General Electric (GE) wants to buy Alstom, which makes TGV high-speed trains. | The news follows reports that General Electric (GE) wants to buy Alstom, which makes TGV high-speed trains. |
| On Sunday, French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Siemens wanted to offer Alstom half its trainmaking business and some cash. | On Sunday, French newspaper Le Figaro reported that Siemens wanted to offer Alstom half its trainmaking business and some cash. |
| In return, Siemens wants Alstom's energy industry turbines business, according to the report. | In return, Siemens wants Alstom's energy industry turbines business, according to the report. |
| Mr Hollande and senior French ministers met General Electric and Siemens on Monday in separate meetings. | |
| The politicians wanted "to make sure that French companies... do not become prey," France's economy minister Arnaud Montebourg said. | |
| Nevertheless, France is "open to alliances that help to equip [it] for globalisation", he said. | |
| Alstom has about 93,000 employees in 100 countries around the world, and employs about 18,000 people in France. | |
| The engineering giant had to be bailed out by the French government in 2004, and has suffered heavy debts and a fall in orders over the past decade. |