Mumbai, Sept 29 :     Godrej & Boyce and GE Appliances have decided to part ways, ending their six-and-half-year-old joint venture, Godrej-GE Appliances. Both the companies have started preliminary discussions that will enable the multinational to divest its equity in the joint venture to Jamshyd Godrej. A tersely-worded press statement issued by the company said, ?This is the consequence of GE Appliances? global brand strategy that focuses on markets where the GE consumer brand franchise for appliances is strong.? While GE Appliances has a 30 per cent stake in the Rs 813-crore company, the rest is held by Godrej & Boyce, which is the holding company for the Godrej group. The joint venture was primarily into manufacturing and the marketing of consumer durables (under both the GE and Godrej brand names) that included refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners and cooking systems. It also used to offer after-sales services. Company officials were unwilling to comment on whether Godrej & Boyce would scout for another partner after GE?s exit. ?Both the partners have only started preliminary discussions. At this stage, it is difficult to say whether Godrej & Boyce will look for another partner,? they said. Scott Bayman, president & CEO of GE India, said the decision to part ways is a consequence of the company?s global brand strategy. ?This does not, in any manner, diminish GE?s commitment to India,? he added. Jamshyd Godrej, the managing director of Godrej & Boyce, said the company would continue to access both technology and products from around the world. The joint venture operates through three units?in Vikhroli, Mohali (in Chandigarh) and Shirwal (near Pune). While the Vikhroli and Mohali units are primarily for refrigerators, Shirwal is mainly involved in the manufacture of washing machines.