Alstom CEO says not planning Areva stake: Paper

French engineering group Alstom has no plans to take a stake in nuclear reactor maker Areva but is ready to take part in upgrading the nuclear sector in France its Chief Executive said on Friday.

"The subject is not on the agenda," Patrick Kron said in an interview with La Tribune. "But I continue to call for an improvement in the overall efficiency of France's nuclear industry. I am ready to take part in that and to discuss ways to make it happen," he said. In a separate story, La Tribune quoted a source close to the matter saying that Kron could be put under pressure to take a stake in Areva if a second capital increase at the nuclear reactor maker took place. Areva carried out a first capital increase in December. "Patrick Kron was able to say no (the first time) but we can't rule out real pressure being put on him if another operation is launched," the source said. Alstom on Thursday reported third-quarter results and said strong growth in emerging markets boosted order books. Asked if there would be more restructuring in Europe, Kron told La Tribune he remained cautious about how Western economies would evolve. "The orders we win in China and India do not contribute to the workload in our European or North American factories," he said. The group said in October it would cut 4,000 jobs in its power division over 18 months.