Brussels, 31/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is getting ready to authorities the rescue plan for Alstom and will give its decision in early May, according to a source close to the dossier. It will thus follow the conclusions of the report by consultants Bearingpoint. "The Alstom case is 'limited', and disinvestments will be reduced", said the source. If given, authorisation will allow the French State to convert the bonds included in the financial package and retain some 16% of the group, thus stabilising the share ownership, which is currently 100% in the hands of hedge funds. The French group will, however, have to undertake certain commitments, including disinvestment in two key sectors (energy and transport), especially in the field of turbines and trains. On 15 October 2003, the Commission announced that it was extending the Alstom inquiry, opened last September, on the plan communicated to it by the French authorities, because additional elements had been added to the dossier. At the same time, the Commission stated that it felt the plan was acceptable in its form, but that it would still not take position on the substance, until it completed its in-depth inquiry of at least six months (see EUROPE of 16 October, p.12). Having published the content of this plan in the Official Journal of 8 November 2003 for third parties to be able to voice their opinions, the Commission received comments from the French authorities on 15 March, and a copy of the Bearingpoint report about ten days ago.