Airbus parent offered 1.8 bn euros for stake in Thales: source

PARIS: European aerospace group EADS offered to buy a 20.8 per cent stake in French electronics firm Thales from telecoms maker Alcatel-Lucent for 1.81 billion euros (1.46 billion dollars) earlier this month, a source close to the matter said on Monday.

"On October 3, EADS submitted an offer of 44 euros per share to Alcatel-Lucent," the source said, adding that no response has so far been forthcoming.

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space company said it "had not made any binding offer to Alcatel-Lucent" and declined any further comment.

Alcatel-Lucent neither confirmed nor denied that it received an EADS offer but said it would "examine all possible strategic options in the best interests of shareholders."

On October 13, French plane maker Dassault Aviation said it would be interested in the Alcatel-Lucent stake in Thales if it should come up for sale.

Dassault said on Monday it had no comment to make concering a possible EADS bid for the holding.

Meanwhile, the Nouvel Observateur magazine said that Dassault was looking at a deal worth some 1.2 billion euros.

According to the weekly's website, EADS boss Louis Gallois had complained to Dassault - in which it holds a 46 percent stake - about making its interest in Thales public without convening a board meeting.

On Monday, Thales shares were down nearly 5.5 per cent, roughly in line with a much weaker broader market.