Merloni and Whirlpool show interest in Polar as Brandt prepares to exit

Italian appliance firm Merloni and U.S-based household appliance company Whirlpool have placed bids for a stake in leading Polish white goods m anufacturer Polar. The board of Wroclaw-based Polar received the information officially from Polar's strategic investor, ailing French firm Brandt. Polar has been searching for a new investor ever since Brandt filed for bank ruptcy. Brandt is currently owned by the Israeli firm Elco Holding and holds a 95% stake in Polar. (Prawo i Gospodarka, March 9-10, pp. 1, 3; Reuters) M.T.K.