[WesternCulture]

I'm Swedish and ever since I was a little boy in the 1970s, I've seen Electrolux grow bigger and bigger through devouring other companies with a healthy appetite. Under the leadership of legendary Swedish industrialist Hans Werthén alone Electrolux acquired over 200 companies. It's fair to say that Werthén (who took over as CEO in 1967 and left Electrolux as Chairman in 1991) was one of the most competent European managers of his time even though he never became especially famous. On the other hand, things like fame and prestige didn't matter to him. In his own words:

“If things go well you don't need prestige and if they don't you can't afford it.”

Electrolux has continued on its ‘shopping spree’ and today the company owns brands like Frigidaire, AEG, Husqvarna, White-Westinghouse, Volta, Eureka, Zanussi among several others.

Electrolux is a profitable and well run company and I hope this deal proves successful for GE appliances, its employees as well as Electrolux as a whole.

I'm optimistic.

When Americans and Swedes do business together things usually go well..

[bigbob]

I agree. Electrolux wants to be in the appliance business, GE clearly would rather invest elsewhere. So it should be good all-round.

[Mad Dawgg]

I used to be an Electrolux salesman in the 80s. We still have the sweeper I bought then and it still works great. I’ll keep using it till it blows up.