PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - French defence electronics group Thales is considering selling its missile systems business and is interested in taking a stake instead in European missile maker MBDA, La Tribune reported on Tuesday.
Chief executive Luc Vigneron recommended exiting the missile business at a strategy meeting last week, the paper said.
One option would be a disposal for cash, but the CEO would prefer to sell the business in return for a stake in MBDA, the paper said. The unit has annual sales of around 700 million euros ($928 million).
MBDA is co-owned by BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica.
Thales was not available for comment.
(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and James Regan; Editing by Dan Lalor)
($1 = 0.7541 euro) Keywords: THALES/ (james.regan@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 53 84; Reuters Messaging: james.regan.reuters.com@thomsonreuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Chief executive Luc Vigneron recommended exiting the missile business at a strategy meeting last week, the paper said.
One option would be a disposal for cash, but the CEO would prefer to sell the business in return for a stake in MBDA, the paper said. The unit has annual sales of around 700 million euros ($928 million).
MBDA is co-owned by BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica.
Thales was not available for comment.
(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and James Regan; Editing by Dan Lalor)
($1 = 0.7541 euro) Keywords: THALES/ (james.regan@thomsonreuters.com; +33 1 49 49 53 84; Reuters Messaging: james.regan.reuters.com@thomsonreuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.