US sues to block GE appliance business sale to Electrolux

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. government is seeking to stop Electrolux from buying General Electric's appliance division, saying the combined company would dominate sales of kitchen appliances to customers like home builders, property managers, hotels, and governments.

The agency says Electrolux would eliminate a major competitor if it buys the GE division, and Electrolux and Whirlpool would be the only major companies selling appliances to many customers.

The Justice Department said the deal would be bad news for buyers of major cooking appliances, but it is most concerned about "contract channel" sales, where suppliers sell to homebuilders, to the builders and managers of apartment buildings and condominiums, hotels and motels; and to governments.