Whirlpool, Zelmer line up bids as Brandt receiver prepares to sell off Polar

US company Whirlpool is rumored to be interested in household goods producer Polar. The receiver for French-Italian company Brandt, owner of Polar, will stop accepting offers for a near 95% stake in the company on Friday. Representatives of Whirlpool, which has already invested millions of zloty in Polar shares, visited the Wroclaw-based company just one week ago. However, Whirlpool remains tight-lipped about its investment plans. The receiver's decision on a purchaser for the Polar stake is expected in April. Should no offers be received, or should the offers be considered unsatisfactory, then State-owned household goods company Zelmer could emerge as a possible contender in a Polar takeover. Even though Zelmer itself faces difficulties, chief executive Andrzej Libold has said the company can still handle the restructuring of Polar. "If the Treasury permits it, Zelmer could take part in the privatization of Polar. We could buy the most important, production part of the company's assets. I'm in a position to form a consortium to conclude a deal," he said. (Puls Biznesu, p. 7) M.T.