No communication to shareholders on the first quarter of 2023. Whirlpool has moved the important appointment 26 31 from January to, according to internal sources because other press meetings are scheduled for the 26th and that of the multinational of the White wine would not have the necessary relevance. But since it would be the first time that the date has been moved, one would think that the news – and not just the trend of the quarter – are so sensational as to require a move to have a greater relevance and a wider echo print.
The latest on the sale of the EMEA branch: Midea vs Beko
It is useless to ask the "confidential" sources for some indiscretion on the sale of the EMEA subsidiary. Nothing transpires except the comments of some competitors. First of all, there are always two contenders, the Chinese Midea and the Turkish Beko. The first because it has a distinctly industrial profile and has an urgent need to find valuable brands for its products. Moreover, a few years ago it acquired the license to use the Italian trademark Ocean, legendary brand of the Nocivelli brothers, who became a giant in the golden years of the Italian household appliance industry, with the nameand Brandt Électroménagers (later failed badly).
Midea boasts world records in the sector of air conditioning and for some time it has attempted non-brilliant debuts in the builtin (it is investing heavily in the USA). Against the Midea solution, which made the most substantial offer and has also relaunched, there is stiff opposition from governmental and non-governmental circles American, translated into Biden's recent provisions that provide for 369 billion dollars between concessions and tax credits for the green transition as long as it is made in the USA and in any case in an anti-China function.
Beko is part with Arçelik of the Turkish holding company Koç family, is expanding worldwide, bought German and Japanese brands illustrious but bankrupt or lapsed and has a good manufacturing practice. And has invested huge resources in the eco-friendly conversion of its products, winning numerous international awards. And it is well present throughout Europe, after having also recently acquired the large one Whirlpool ex Indesit factory in Russia and that, also ex-Indesit, in Turkey and with its large market shares. But it is anchored, in the imagination of retail and the public, to entry level range.
The hypothesis of keeping Whirlpool Emea arises
The third solution – if neither of the two wins or if the mysterious third competitor does not come back – would be that, officially confirmed by CEO Marc Bitzer, of keep Whirlpool Emea. Hypothesis feared because the Bitzer's cleaver would fall on the European establishments and on employees to put back on track those accounts that are decidedly bad and which have only recently had an unexpected improvement.
On 3 February meeting between the trade unions: "Occupational and industrial maintenance"
In the meantime, sales of the entire sector in the European market they continue to fall, price lists rise, logistics from China are going badly and the costs of the war are putting the whole of Europe in a serious crisis.
The meeting scheduled for 11 January between the Italian trade unions and the company has produced a result of a character exclusively linked to corporate welfare since the company has declared its willingness to disburse a total of 300 euros for each Whirlpool employee. The amount should be disbursed as flexible benefits (without contribution and tax deductions).
For February 3 the secretaries of Fim, Fiom and Uilm they convened the national coordination to discuss what the multinational will have communicated. "As already supported in the meeting of 11 January - reads a recent press release from the three secretariats - on that occasion too we will reiterate that occupational and industrial maintenance in Italy, whatever the repercussions of the American board's decision, it is the priority for us to face the comparison on the choice of the multinational. In this regard, we will ask to address the terms of the communication also on the table of the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy (formerly Mise). All coordination has repeatedly expressed that it is unacceptable that Whirlpool Management did not discuss the strategic choices and presence in Europe and in Italy with the trade union delegation. The Ministry's intervention is important to confirm the strategic role played by the five factories and management and commercial offices for our country and that it is therefore necessary to guarantee occupational and industrial continuity”.
