How GE’s Alstom Talks Almost Killed $17 Billion Deal

Arnaud Montebourg, France’s industry minister, had a lot on his mind while he mingled at a state dinner at the White House.

It was the evening of Feb. 11, and a delegation of politicians and businesspeople was gathered to honor French President Francois Hollande -- an event reserved for the U.S.’s most important partners. Over caviar and quail eggs, conversation veered from building links between Silicon Valley and France’s tech industry to trade talks, and, more juicily, Hollande’s public split with Valerie Trierweiler, his longtime partner.