<article>The chief executive of German industrial robot maker<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Kuka"> Kuka </a>said on Friday he welcomed an impending 4.5 billion- euro ($5 bln) takeover bid from Chinese home appliance maker <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Midea">Midea</a>.</article>

The chief executive of German industrial robot maker<a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Kuka"> Kuka </a>said on Friday he welcomed an impending 4.5 billion- euro ($5 bln) takeover bid from Chinese home appliance maker <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Midea">Midea</a>.
&#8220;We have set ourselves a goal of reaching a billion euros in sales by 2020. A partner who supports this strategy and provides us with better market access could be a considerable growth driver for Kuka,&#8221; Till Reuter told shareholders.
Asked at Kuka&#8216;s annual meeting whether another prospective buyer might emerge with an alternative offer, Reuter said: &#8220;We have not actively looked for a partner until now, so the question of a white knight does not arise.&#8221;
Kuka is the latest and biggest German industrial technology group to be targeted by Chinese buyers as the world&#8217;s second-largest economy makes the transition from a low-cost factory location into a high-tech industrial hub.
China is the world&#8217;s biggest market for industrial robots and robot sales in China rose 16 percent last year, driving global sales up 8 percent.
Government sources have said Berlin will examine how critical Kuka&#8216;s technology is for the digitisation of industry &#8211; one of the main economic drives of the present government.
However, Chancellor Angela Merkel is loath to meddle in takeovers, and Berlin has indicated the government will not intervene to stop the transfer of Kuka and its technology to Chinese ownership.
German industrial giant <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Siemens">Siemens</a> considered a counterbid for Kuka but quickly dismissed the idea as too expensive, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Kuka&#8216;s management and supervisory boards have not yet made official recommendations to shareholders about the Midea bid. Midea made an offer on May 18 but has not yet launched its bid.
Engineering firm <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Voith">Voith</a> and billionaire Friedhelm Loh, Kuka&#8216;s two biggest shareholders, have not indicated whether they will accept the offer.
Voith&#8217;s Chief Executive Hubert Lienhard was at the shareholder meeting but did not speak, while Loh asked to be excused due to a conflicting appointment. Both are members of Kuka&#8216;s supervisory board.
<h3 class="headline" dir="auto" title="Germany monitoring Chinese takeovers to ensure no loss of technology-source" data-text="Germany monitoring Chinese takeovers to ensure no loss of technology-source" data-reactid=".1.0.1.0.1.2.$tag=2reuters=1com,0000=2newsml_B4N161005=2398014495.1.0.0.0.1">Germany monitoring Chinese takeovers to ensure no loss of technology</h3>
Germany is closely monitoring Chinese investment in the country and will consider each takeover on a case-by-case basis to ensure it does not lose key technology, a government source said on Friday.
&#8220;We support investment in Germany but we must make sure that there is no outflow of technology,&#8221; the source told Reuters.
&#8220;The activities of Chinese investors have increased. We are intensively watching these developments.&#8221;
A growing number of Chinese companies are seeking to acquire key German industrial technology.
Last week, home appliance maker Midea Group made a $5-billion bid for German robot maker Kuka, while on Monday China&#8217;s <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Fujian+Grand+Chip+Investment+Fund+LP">Fujian Grand Chip Investment Fund LP</a> agreed to buy <a style="color: #000080;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/?s=Aixtron">Aixtron</a> for 670 million euros ($747.05 million).
ChemChina has also set its sights on SGL Carbon, according to a report from Manager Magazin.
Also Read:
<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/chinese-group-to-buy-german-semiconductor-equipment-firm-aixtron-for-752m-41761/">Chinese Group to buy German semiconductor equipment firm Aixtron for $752m</a>
<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/china-develops-an-appetite-for-german-technology-firms-41892/">China develops an appetite for German technology firms</a>
Reuters

German industrial robot maker Kuka CEO said  he welcomed an impending 4.5 billion- euro ($5 bln) takeover bid from Chinese home appliance maker Midea.

German robot maker Kuka CEO welcomes $5b Chinese takeover bid

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief

German robot maker Kuka CEO welcomes $5b Chinese takeover bid

Start your deal-making journey now!

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief