In a week that saw Suez twice requested to clarify its intentions towards British Energy by the UK’s Takeover Panel, the company has today officially stated that discussions relating to a potential offer for BE have now ceased. This now leaves just France’s state controlled EdF and Germany’s RWE as real contenders although EdF are seen as forerunners. So with the list of interested parties narrowing, it seems that France is likely to hold the 35% stake in the company that controls Britain’s nuclear future.