Germany's Siemens is also vying to buy parts of Alstom via an asset swap, and has seen its candidacy pushed by the French government eager to keep Alstom in European hands.

"The process is only beginning," said Immelt through a translator on France 2 television.

"There will be other opportunities to modify, to improve" the offer."

(Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Leila Abboud)

Stocks treated in this article : ALSTOM, General Electric Company, Siemens AG
Valeurs citées dans l'article : ALSTOM, General Electric Company, Siemens AG, SIEMENS