India, Nov. 12 -- Private-equity firm Advent International is reportedly interested in buying a 31 per cent stake in Whirlpool of India, and take over the company. If a deal is clicked, it may mark a pivotal shift in the large-appliances segment. The billion-dollar purchase may trigger an open offer to the existing shareholders, and make Advent a majority owner. Whirlpool of India will undergo a strategic reset, as the global parent moves away from operational control to focus on licensing arrangement, brand management, and technology agreement.

The new majority owner, if it achieves this objective, will bring higher capital, hopefully sharper focus on India-specific products, closer alignment with local consumers, and faster-paced innov...