WHATMAN, the long-established filtration and DNA technology company, has no plans to quit its Kent base following a takeover, according to its boss.

The 260-year old business, based at Springfield Mill, Maidstone, is the subject of an agreed £363 million bid by GE Healthcare, the UK-based subsidiary of American company General Electric.

The takeover, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, sparked fears of job losses among the 200-strong workforce and even possible closure of Whatman’s Maidstone operation.

But Kieran Murphy, chief executive officer, said there would be no immediate changes in Maidstone as a result of the takeover.

Production at Maidstone was not duplicated at any other GE site and he insisted it was "very much business as usual."

"We respect the skills, we respect the workers and we want to capitalise on this skillbase we have here," he said.

But he admitted that some administration jobs might eventually have to go if they overlapped with those at GE. "It’s possible there will be some, but this will be much further down the track."

Mr Murphy also forecast more investment. "It is highly likely there will be investment in Maidstone and we will be considering those options as soon as the deal is complete and GE gets a chance to reveal the plans that have been put in place."

He added: "I’m staying on to lead the Whatman business myself and I think in the medium term the changes to Whatman will be minimal."

The deal, recommended by Whatman bosses, offers shareholders 270p per share. It is backed by Whatman directors and Hermes Focus Asset Management, its largest stakeholder with a 15 per cent stake.

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