GE Signals Flexibility in Talks With France About Alstom

General Electric Co. said it’s flexible on the terms of its $17 billion bid for Alstom SA’s energy business, signaling a willingness to make more concessions in negotiations with the French government.

GE “feels good about the direction” of the talks, Vice Chairman John Rice said in an interview in Rio de Janeiro today, one day after Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt promised President Francois Hollande the company will create 1,000 jobs in France. “We are still discussing different aspects of our proposal, the French government is working on how it sees the nature of the deal and we are prepared to be flexible.”