Siemens, GE, others line up for Dresser-Rand

General Electric is lined up with Germany's Siemens and other companies in pursuit of oil equipment maker Dresser-Rand Industries, with any deal likely to be worth more than $6 billion.

Sources close to the matter confirmed to AFP Friday that GE has had preliminary discussions with the Houston, Texas company, though they would not say whether GE intends to make a formal offer.

Earlier media reports in Europe said Germany's Siemens was set to launch a multi-billion-dollar bid for Dresser-Rand, even as Siemen's Swiss rival Sulzer had its eyes on the company as well.

Also potentially involved in any dealmaking is the Russian group Renova, which has 5 percent of Dresser-Rand, according to reports.

The interest, which comes as Dresser-Rand enjoys a business surge on the back of US shale oil and gas drilling, pushed its shares up 9.4 percent to $79.91 Friday, taking its market value to $6.1 billion.

A report in German weekly Manager Magazin said Siemens was prepared to pay more than $80 a share.

Siemens, GE and Dresser-Rand all declined to comment.