French state wants balanced shareholding in Renault/Fiat deal

PARIS (Reuters) - The French state will seek guarantees for a balance between France and Italy in the future shareholders' pact sealed under a proposed merger between carmakers Renault and Fiat Chrysler, a government spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"The French state, which is Renault's shareholder, will have certain demands such as not closing French industrial plants but also about a balance in the shareholders' pact that will eventually be inked," said spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye.

(Reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey, Elizabeth Pineau; Writing by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)