State-owned French navy shipbuilder DCNS is being touted as a possible buyer of STX France as part of a government strategy to prevent the yard being acquired by Chinese interests.

Concern is growing in political circles in Paris that STX France could be taken over by a Chinese bidder as part of a package to acquire the whole of the ailing STX Offshore & Shipbuilding (STX O&S) group, including all its South Korean and French facilities.

Selling