Quattroruote je napisal/-a:Cessione Opel
TORNA IN GIOCO RIPPLEWOOD
Pubblicata il 13/07/2009

Sempre più complicata la vicenda della cessione di Opel a Magna International. Come se non bastassero i dubbi del Governo di Berlino e la circostanza che la stessa società austro-canadese avrebbe annullato la prevista riunione del board di domani per dare il via libera definitivo all'operazione, ora spunta nuovamente RHJ, la sussidiaria belga del fondo americano Ripplewood.

La società ha infatti spiegato di essere in trattative avanzate con Berlino e con GM per vincere la "battaglia" Opel. La proposta prevederebbe garanzie statali inferiori a quelle chieste da Magna (si parla di 3,8 miliardi di euro) e meno tagli alla forza lavoro. RHJ punterebbe al 51-55% di Opel.

Sul piatto rimangono anche l'offerta (migliorata) dei cinesi di Baic - non vista di buon occhio dai politici tedeschi - e quella mai modificata di Fiat.

esem je napisal/-a:Opel in Magna se še nista dogovorila. Spet se vmešavajo oz postajajo zanimivi (?) prejšnji akterji.

Geely: si avvicina l'acquisto di Volvo grazie a Goldman Sachs
pubblicato: giovedì 24 settembre 2009 da Fabio Sciarra in: Volvo Anticipazioni Cina

L’acquisizione di Volvo da parte di Geely si è avvicinata ieri in maniera significativa: secondo la notizia battuta da Reuters, Goldman Sachs sta per investire 334 milioni di dollari in Geely Automobile Holdings, preparando di fatto il terreno per l’operazione che porterà i cinesi in Svezia.

Gli analisti sono concordi nel pronosticare che “Geely sfrutterà il capitale Goldman per acquisire da un costruttore occidentale almeno un brand, con tutto il suo know-how tecnologico”. In altri termini, quella di Geely nei confronti di Volvo, sembra una mossa molto avveduta e ben pianificata. L’annuncio della messa in vendita di Volvo da parte di Ford risale a dicembre 2008 -quasi un anno fa, dunque-, e nel corso di questi lunghi mesi si sono accumulate numerose ipotesi, tra cui appunto quella cinese.

Secondo quest’ultima, l’offerta per comprare la casa scandinava ammonterebbe a circa 2 miliardi di dollari. Dopo l’ingresso di BAIC nel capitale di Koenigsegg ed il piano (non ancora perfezionato) che porterà Tengzhong a controllare Hummer, un altro costruttore cinese si appresta ad entrare sulla grande scena dell’automotive occidentale.

PRESS RELEASE

General Motors and Tengzhong Sign Definitive Agreement For Sale of HUMMER

DETROIT and SICHUAN, Oct. 9, 2009 - General Motors (GM) and Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd (Tengzhong), today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement that will allow Tengzhong to acquire GM's premium all-terrain HUMMER brand.

Under the terms of the definitive agreement, the buyer will acquire the ownership of the HUMMER brand, trademark and tradenames, as well as specific IP license rights necessary for the manufacture of HUMMER vehicles. The buyer will also assume the existing dealer agreements relating to HUMMER's dealership network.

Tengzhong intends to purchase HUMMER through an investment entity, in which it will hold an 80 percent stake. Mr. Suolang Duoji, a private entrepreneur with holdings that include the Hong Kong-listed thenardite producer Lumena, will hold the remaining 20 percent stake. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and/or review by government agencies in the U.S. and China. The completion of the definitive agreement enables the companies to continue and further the overall regulatory review process.

"HUMMER is a strong global niche brand and this agreement signifies another important milestone in writing the next chapter for both GM and HUMMER," said Fritz Henderson, GM President and CEO. "For HUMMER, the combination of its knowledgeable leadership team, vehicle design expertise and the capital financing of Tengzhong portend a successful future."

Under the agreement, HUMMER would contract vehicle manufacturing, key components and business services from GM during a defined transitional time period. For example, GM's Shreveport assembly plant would continue to contract assemble the H3 and H3T and AM General's Mishawaka assembly plant will continue to assemble the H2. Both facilities will produce the specified vehicles until June 2011, with an optional one year extension until June 2012. The deal is expected to secure more than 3,000 jobs in the U.S. related to the sale and manufacturing of HUMMER vehicles.

HUMMER will continue to be managed by members of its existing leadership team including James Taylor, who will remain in his current role as HUMMER's chief executive officer. Prior to joining HUMMER, Taylor was General Manager of Cadillac where he oversaw a reinvigoration of the brand, leading key innovations in design and technology as well as the development of new models.

"We are fortunate to have a partner who understands and recognizes the importance of continuing investment in HUMMER's heritage as a U.S.-based and branded company with a view toward capitalizing on global opportunities," said Taylor. "Backed by a privately owned and well-capitalized company, we are going to be able to focus on providing customers with more efficient models that deliver HUMMER's promise of authentic, purpose-built design and engineering."

Once the transaction is complete, HUMMER will become the first automaker to offer an alternative fuel powertrain in every model, with the addition of E85 FlexFuel capability in the 2010 H3 and H3T. HUMMER is also in the process of obtaining emissions certification for a diesel H3 that will be introduced in markets outside of North America. The brand's future product development will focus on improving efficiency and performance in current HUMMER models with alternative fuel powertrains, more efficient gas engines, 6-speed transmissions and diesel engines.

"This transaction marks an exciting step for both Tengzhong and HUMMER, as we invest in a business that has significant opportunity in the U.S. and around the globe," said Yang Yi, chief executive officer of Tengzhong. "We are excited about some of the initiatives already underway at HUMMER that we believe our investment will be able to accelerate, particularly related to the creation of the next generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles to meet not only future regulations but also customer expectations."

Credit Suisse is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Shearman & Sterling is acting as international legal counsel to Tengzhong on this transaction. Citi is acting as financial advisor to GM.

For more information on the agreement go towww.transactioninfo.com/tengzhong.

Joie de vivre! je napisal/-a:Meni je poteza všeč, navsezadnje je Opel v lasti GM-a že 80 let. Upajmo, da se bo vse skupaj čimbolje izšlo, predvsem za delavce.