French Firms Negotiating Several Arms Deals In Libya - Report

23rd Jul 2010 07:41

PARIS (Dow Jones)--French companies Dassault Aviation (AM.FR), Thales SA (HO.FR) and MBDA have been negotiating several aeronautic defense contracts in Libya for the past two weeks, including the possible sale of 14 Rafale jets, the French business daily La Tribune reports in its Friday edition, without citing sources. The French delegation being is led by French President Nicolas Sarkozy's military Chief of Staff Benoit Puga, the paper also reports. European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co NV (EAD.FR) and BAE Systems PLC (BA.LN) each own 37.5% of MBDA and Italy's Finmeccanica SpA (FNC.MI) owns the remaining 25%. Dassault Aviation, Thales and MBDA were not immediately available for comment. Newspaper Web site: http://www.latribune.fr -By Paris Bureau, Dow Jones Newswires; 33-1-4017 1740 (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 23, 2010 02:41 ET (06:41 GMT)