Johnson Electric Holdings, the world's second-largest micro-motors manufacturer, has lodged a US$750 million bid for the motors division of General Electric (GE), according to a New York based Web site.
The blue-chip industrial giant was the only strategic buyer GE invited into the second round of the motors division auction, the Web site - The Daily Deal - yesterday quoted sources as saying.
GE accepted first-round non-binding bids for GE Motors at the end of last month as part of the US giant's planned asset disposals, the financial media Web site said.
Other bidders included Boston-based Bain Capital.
The report said: 'Johnson Electric is now considered the auction's favourite,'
Johnson Electric's public relations consultant, Golin/Harris International, neither confirmed nor denied the report yesterday, and said it did not comment on market rumours.
Lehman Brothers Holdings, which is supervising the sale of the unit, will likely choose the winner next month, the report said.