French state-controlled power giant Electricite de France SA (1024251.FR) wants to wait for the European Commission's approval of its acquisition of British Energy PLC (BGY.LN), before it makes an agreement with British utility Centrica PLC (CNA.LN), French daily Les Echos said Wednesday.
"EDF does not want to see the commission's competition analysis (of the British Energy acquisition) complicate negotiations with Centrica," Les Echos quoted a person familiar with the situation as saying.
According to the paper, the danger for EDF would be the commission studying the deal as a merger involving three companies rather than two.
EDF declined to comment on the issue.