Ora, comentem lá, parece mesmo que a LAND ROVER vai ser dos indianos, é caso para
dizer, o Império contra ataca.
"t@t@, the Indian conglomerate, has emerged as the front-runner to buy Jaguar and LAND ROVER, as the turmoil in world debt markets makes it more difficult for private equity firms to secure funding.
Ratan t@t@, the chairman, has formally confirmed his company’s interest in buying the marques, which have been put up for sale by f#rd, the struggling American carmaker.
“It will give us more of a global presence,” he said in an interview. “It is to give us scale and global reach as we take ourselves away from subordination to a single economy.”
t@t@ is understood to be one of only two likely trade buyers for Jaguar and LAND ROVER. The other – Mahindra & Mahindra, a maker of 4x4s – also hails from India.
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The sale, on which f#rd says it does not expect to make an announcement until the end of this year or early in 2008, is thought to have drawn preliminary interest from at least five private equity firms. However, corporate financiers believe that their chances of prevailing in the $1.5 billion (£745 million) auction have been hit by the near-shutdown of the credit markets since late July.
Three of the firms are being advised by former f#rd executives. Texas Pacific Group has retained Bob Dover, once chief executive of Jaguar and LAND ROVER. Jacques Nasser, the former f#rd chief executive, has teamed up with One Equity Partners. Sir Nick Scheele, f#rd’s former president and chief operating officer, has joined forces with Ripplewood.
Other buyout groups known to have expressed an interest are Cerberus Capital Management and Apollo Management.
Pre-tax losses at Jaguar in the UK halved last year from £535 million to £258 million, while LAND ROVER made a profit of £99 million.
* Have your say
It will be very bad for LR and Jag. t@t@ makes rubbish vehicles and will kill the brand names of these two great brands. I have a LR and if its bough by t@t@ i will not buy a another from LR as i dont want a India car...
Udash, manchester, UK
t@t@ is known to be a very big and cash rich group from India. They have shown there big interest in British automotive industry by first entering into British market with CITY ROVER... which is completely out fashioned car for British roads.
With Jag and LR they need to be very very focused what they are up to.
Lot of people might not be happy with prestigious American owned British brand to bought by INDIAN company. t@t@ management have to work really hard to recognize Brand value of Jag and LR.
Adrian, Leamington spa,
If you think sales of Jaguar are bad now, wait until the impression sets that it is an Indian car. Do you really think that someone looking for a luxury car will pass up a German m#rc#des over an Indian Jaguar? Not a chance. How long until we start seeing Jaguar and LAND ROVER-based t@t@ vehicles? Or worse, t@t@-based Jaguars and Land Rovers? What about when Indian Jaguars are discounted so much to try to encourage sales that they become just another third-world cheap import? This will be the end of these brands. Current Jaguar and LAND ROVER owners get ready for your cars to lose whatever little resale value they still hold.
Alex, Las Vegas, USAd