SIEMENS has no interest in becoming a white knight for German robot maker Kuka, the target of a US$5.06 billion takeover bid by Chinese home appliance maker Midea, Siemens’ chief executive said.

    “If we had been interested, we would have acted on it some time ago,” Joe Kaeser said Sunday.

    Midea’s bid has fanned a furious debate over Chinese takeovers in Europe, with politicians such as German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel calling for tougher restrictions. It has also prompted Berlin to consider whether Kuka’s technology is crucial for the digitalization of German industry, an economic priority.

    Kaeser, speaking to the German broadcaster NTV on the sidelines of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s trade visit to Beijing, said he believed Gabriel, who is also vice chancellor, was relaxed about Kuka’s situation.

    “I don’t believe that Gabriel has a concern,” Kaeser said. “As economy minister, he’s looking out for his country... in that sense, it’s quite natural that he should look at alternatives.”

    Gabriel said earlier this month there was an effort under way to develop an alternative offer for Kuka. Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung daily reported that Gabriel had spoken to German car manufacturers and Siemens about mounting a possible counter-bid for Kuka. But sources close to the government and Siemens said the idea had met with little enthusiasm.

    Norbert Roettgen, who heads the German parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said legal and economic action was needed to prevent the loss of key technologies and know-how. (SD-Agencies)