Axa Private Equity failed to bid for Areva SA's (CEI.FR) transmission and distribution unit by Friday's deadline, a company representative told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

The French state-controlled nuclear company declined to comment on bidders for the T&D unit. Earlier Monday, French newspapers reported that only U.S.-based General Electric Co. (GE), Japan's Toshiba Corp. (6502.TO) and French consortium of Alstom SA (ALO.FR) and Schneider Electric SA (SU.FR) had made non-binding bids for the unit.

Areva June 30 announced plans to raise capital and to put the T&D unit up for sale in order to finance its growth in nuclear and renewable power.

It is unclear when second round bids are due but the company has said it will say at the end of September whether it intends to go ahead with the sale or not.

Axa Private Equity declined to comment on reports that funding difficulties prevented it putting in a bid by the deadline but it is understood to still be interested in the T&D unit and may yet put in an offer.

-By Marietta Cauchi, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 207 842 9241; marietta.cauchi@dowjones.com