WHATMAN, the Kent-based global health technology provider, could become embroiled in a bidding war after confirming that it has received a number of approaches.

The company, founded in Maidstone more than 260 years ago, is a major employer in the County Town with an international reputation for providing high quality separations technology - hi-tech filters and membranes - to the life sciences industry. It also provides DNA technology to the police.

According to the Financial Times, four American business are interested - General Electric, Danaher, Parker Hannifin, which owns a life sciences unit, and Millipore, a bioscience company.

The newspaper claimed that Whatman had appointed Goldman Sachs to run the sale which could value the business at more than £300million.

Whatman bosses issued a statement confirming that it had received a number of preliminary approaches to acquire the company.

They said: "The Board is in discussions with third parties in relation to a possible offer for the entire share capital of Whatman. However, there is no certainty that any offer will be made. An update will be made in due course when appropriate."

Shares rose 44p on the news to 250p.

Meanwhile, Whatman, which made its reputation by making the finest "laid" papers in the world at Turkey Mill, and now operates from Springfield Mill, reported estimated sales of £116 million last year, about the same as in the previous year.

Its order book on December 31 was about £16million, 44 per cent higher than at the same time in 2006.

It aded that a restructuring was "on track" and the conditions for a share buy-back programme has been fully met.

Kieran Murphy, chief executive, said: "The implementation of our strategic review and the upgrades to our sales and marketing delivered real improvements resulting in much stronger trading in the second half of the year.

"Whilst manufacturing and supply chain issues continue to be a source of considerable management focus, the much higher order book position at the close of the year gives us good reason for cautious optimism as we enter 2008."