STOCKS NEWS EUROPE-Solarworld up amid Exxon interest talk

Shares in Solarworld (SWVG.DE) are up 2.4 percent at 14.43 euros, having risen as high as 14.58 euros, amid vague market talk that Exxon (XOM.N) is interested in bidding for the solar equipment maker. "I can imagine that Exxon Mobile is interested in us. We are an interesting company. But we are not up for sale," says Solarworld Chief Executive Frank Asbeck. [ID:nLB645990]

Exxon declines to comment on the speculation.

Solarworld has been the subject of several takeover rumours in the past, with Siemens (SIEGn.DE) and General Electric (GE.N) named as two of the companies that might be interested in taking over the solar company.

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