Siemens readies formal offer for French rival Alstom

Siemens is readying a formal offer for Alstom under which it would transfer its rail activities and less than €7 billion in cash to its French rival in exchange for its power assets, according to sources familiar with the German firm.

The sources say the offer put a slightly higher value on Alstom's energy activities than a rival bid from US giant General Electric. However, the cash component is expected to be only a little more than half of what GE is offering.

“Valuations for all the different elements have been done, but depending on which dials you turn you will arrive at different numbers for the cash element of the Siemens offer,” one of the sources said.

Another source confirmed the cash part of the offer would fall under €7 billion.

This reflects the fact that Siemens would be transferring its trains business to Alstom, allowing the French government to trumpet the creation of a new European rail champion. It also follows a decision by Siemens to exclude some Alstom energy activities – nuclear, wind energy and transmission and distribution (T&D) – from its bid, two sources said.Alstom is already in talks with GE over a €12.35 billion all-cash offer for its power arm, which has been extended until June 23rd. Under strong political pressure, it has opened its books to Siemens so the German firm can propose its own deal if it wants to.

Excluding Alstom’s nuclear and wind businesses from its bid could allow the the French group to sell them directly to state-controlled energy firm Areva. But it could also create problems as one source close to the French camp said it would be difficult to separate the nuclear side of the turbine business from non-nuclear activities.

As for the T&D business, valued at €1.5 billion to €2 billion, sources said Siemens was worried that acquiring Alstom’s assets in this area would create formidable regulatory hurdles given the dominant position Siemens already enjoys in the sector.

Therefore, the German firm has decided to also exclude T&D -- a business that makes technology for transporting electricity from power plants to consumers -- from its offer.

Siemens would be offering its rail activities and would propose creating a joint venture with Alstom in rail signalling.

One source said Siemens was keen to retain a controlling stake in any signalling venture, potentially another source of conflict as Alstom is also seen eager to have a majority share. How the signalling stakes are divided up would affect the cash component of the Siemens bid, the source added.

Sources said the offer also reflected a deduction of up to €800 million to cover potential compliance risks that Alstom’s power unit faces in the United States, United Kingdom and Brazil.

While Siemens could present the formal offer for Alstom’s power arm as early as Wednesday of this week, one of the sources said the German group may decide to take some extra time after GE extended its bid until June 23 at the request of the French government. – (Reuters)