FACTBOX-Key facts on bids for Areva T&D unit

PARIS, Nov 9 (Reuters) - State-owned nuclear group Areva (CEPFi.PA) is reviewing bids this week for its electricity transmission and distribution business, which analysts have valued at 3 to 5 billion euros.

Binding offers are due Nov. 9, and Areva could announce the winner as early as Nov. 16. [ID:nL9177274]

Following is a list of bidders and facts surrounding the business.

ALSTOM-SCHNEIDER

* French partners Alstom (ALSO.PA) and Schneider Electric (SCHN.PA) plan to split the T&D unit, with Alstom running the transmission and Schneider the distribution. French unions have objected to this strategy, citing possible job cuts.

* Alstom owned the T&D unit, which now belongs to Areva, until 2003 when it was forced to sell it to alleviate debt problems. At the time, current French President Nicolas Sarkozy was finance minister and orchestrated the operation. Alstom sold the unit to Areva in 2003 for 920 million euros.

* The French government has often favored the creation of so-called national champions in industry, so could be attracted by the all-French bid of Alstom and Schneider.

* Alstom has a market capitalisation of roughly 14 billion euros. Schneider has a market capitalisation of 19.2 billion euros.