Over the past 25 years, Mr Martin Naughton and Mr Lochlann Quinn have assembled a stable of electrical brand names for Glen Dimplex which includes the likes of Dimplex and Morphy Richards, Belling and most recently Goblin.

Most of the expansion that has made Glen Dimplex one of the State's biggest and most successful private companies has either come through a series of small and medium friendly acquisitions or by buying out lossmaking companies with established brand names.

Occasionally, the duo from Dunleer has flirted with a hostile bid - but its experience with the unsuccessful approach for Moulinex a few years ago led many to believe that Glen Dimplex would not get involved again in any approach that smacked of being hostile.

But after spending close to £2 million building up a 3.5 per cent stake in the British electrical group, Kenwood, all the indications are that Mr Naughton and Mr Quinn are shaping up for a bid for a group whose eponymous brands are leaders in their sector. Why else pay the guts of £2 million for a foothold shareholding?

Glen Dimplex's decision to make its presence felt in Kenwood has undoubtedly been triggered by the interest expressed by other electrical manufacturers, notably Pifco whose business would fit like a glove with the Kenwood stable of brands.