French and Benelux stocks-Factors to watch on Jan 17

PARIS Jan 17 (Reuters) - Below are company-related news and leading stories from French and Benelux media which could have an impact on the region's markets or individual stocks.

RENAULT (RENA.PA)

French state prosecutors launched an inquiry into industrial espionage at Renault on Friday after the carmaker filed a legal complaint alleging information was passed to a foreign power. [ID:nLDE70D27X]

The carmaker has sent letters of dismissal to three executives previously suspended on suspicion of industrial espionage, one of the executives' lawyers said on Saturday.

AXA (AXAF.PA)

An independent expert has concluded the $13 billion bid for AXA-Asia Pacific AXA.AX by its parent AXA SA and local rival AMP (AMP.AX) was fair and reasonable, AXA Asia said, as the long-drawn deal draws to a close. [ID:nL3E7CG0B7]

LAGARDERE (LAGA.PA)

The new owners of France's leading daily newspaper, Le Monde, said they were in talks with the media group to buy its 34 percent stake in the paper's Internet unit. [ID:nLDE70D1XC]

EDF (EDF.PA), VEOLIA (VIE.PA)

The electricity giant has agreed to buy half of a 51 percent stake held by Veolia Environnement in Societe d'Energie et d'Eau du Gabon (SEEG) for around 15 million euros, La Tribune reported. [EDF.PA]

VASTNED VWNN.AS, NSI (NSTEc.AS)

The company considers the terms of an offer by Dutch real estate peer Nieuwe Steen Investments (NSTEc.AS) to be too low, a spokesman for the company said on Friday. [ID:nWEA1593]

BANKS

ECB board member Christian Noyer called on Friday for governments to withdraw aid to the banking sector as soon as possible and said liquidity ratios under the Basel III rules should be reconsidered. [ID:nLDE69I16V] [ID:nLDE70D271]

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