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"I can assure our staff that we want to remain
engaged in the rail business in the long term - in whatever
constellation," CEO Joe Kaeser said in remarks posted on the
group's website.
"We would have to see what the possible balance of majority
ownership would look like in the short and long term."
Alstom has been in talks with General Electric over a 12.35
billion euro ($16.9 billion) bid for its power arm.
Under pressure from the French government, however, Alstom has
also opened its books to Siemens, which has dangled its rail
business in front of the French company as part of a possible
asset swap.
Siemens has asked Alstom for more information ahead of any offer
for the power business.
Sources familiar with the Franco-German talks said on Sunday
that Siemens was discussing handing over all of its rail
business to Alstom and setting up a joint-venture in rail
signaling.
But according to media reports, Siemens was at some point
offering Alstom half of its train-making business plus cash in
exchange for its French rival's power turbines division.
GE Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said on Wednesday that GE was
still going to "work constructively" with the French government
on its bid and that he expected the deal to close.
In the Siemens CEO's remarks posted on the website, Kaeser also
sent a message of defiance to rival bidder GE, saying the German
company's ongoing strategy overhaul would not keep it from
holding its own when assets are for sale.
"It would be quite a mistake if any competitor thought we'd be
preoccupied with ourselves at the moment, and that we wouldn't
be ready to act at any time and any place."
Siemens earlier this month unveiled a long-awaited restructuring
in a drive to catch up with more profitable competitors.
(Reporting by Ludwig Burger; Editing by Stephen Brown/Mark
Heinrich)
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