REFILE-FACTBOX-Areva Transmission & Distribution unit for sale

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July 8 (Reuters) - French nuclear power group Areva SA (CEPFi.PA) plans to sell its power transmission and distribution (T&D) unit. [ID:nLU456060]

Following are some facts about the business:

T&D ACTIVITIES

- Designs and builds systems to manage power networks and the distribution of electricity from power stations - Provides substation equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers, disconnectors and instrument transformers

- Provides consulting, asset management, refurbishment and spare-part services to manage electrical installations

- French state has a 91 percent stake via various entities

KEY FIGURES

- World no. 3 after ABB (ABBN.VX) and Siemens (SIEGn.DE)

- Market value estimated by analysts between 3.5 billion and 5 billion euros, contributed 38 percent of group sales in 2008

- Sales up 17 percent to 5.065 billion euros in 2008, operating result up 41 percent to 560 million euros in 2008

- Workforce at end-2008 was 31,000

BACKGROUND

- Some analysts expect the market for T&D to be weak over the next two or three years but that the mid- and longer-term prospects are favourable.

- T&D and its competitors estimate that growing global electricity consumption will lead to strengthening of power networks, especially in countries such as India and China. (Editing by David Cowell)