The Italian electrical appliance group MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI has acquired all the shares held by the British leader in white goods (washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators), HOTPOINT, of which it already held 50%. To do this, it has signed an agreement with the American conglomerate GENERAL ELECTRIC to acquire 50% of the GDA joint venture, which owns HOTPOINT. The amount of the transaction is EUR 278 million.