Micro-motor manufacturer Johnson Electric Holdings is considering a possible acquisition of the motor and actuator unit of French car-parts maker Valeo. Yesterday, it was reportedly in talks with Valeo over the acquisition. Johnson had been looking for takeover targets and Valeo has been restructuring its business by divesting assets. Johnson senior officials were out of Hong Kong yesterday. A company official said it was 'always examining acquisition opportunities that can enhance [the] motor business'. Valeo would not comment yesterday and denied it was in talks with Johnson Controls of the United States, the world's second-largest maker of car interiors. Valeo is today expected to release a plan to restructure its businesses along with its first-quarter results. Its motor and actuator unit - one of the world's biggest suppliers of engine-cooling fan and motor systems - reported sales of 683 million euros (about HK$4.76 billion) in 1999 compared with Johnson's HK$5.27 billion turnover in 1999-2000. Earlier, Johnson management had told analysts the company would not rush into any merger or acquisition since it had been busy consolidating Johnson Electric Automotive, formerly Electric Motor Systems, bought for US$310 million in 1999. It also said targets included home-appliance businesses.