RE: Lola enters administration
Discussion
I am quite surprised at this.
Wind tunnel capabilities and skills are much in demand. Motorsport teams that lack them, need them. It ought to be able to pay it's way.
And then you consider the company's image, brand and global reputation, together with the rise of interest in Motorsport in developing countries around the world, and you wonder why on earth they don't have more projects going on and, therefore, better cash flow.
Questions have to be asked about the quality of management.
Would not surprise me if some clever private equity guys swoop in and take control. There is value in the company, but maybe not under it's current management team.
Wind tunnel capabilities and skills are much in demand. Motorsport teams that lack them, need them. It ought to be able to pay it's way.
And then you consider the company's image, brand and global reputation, together with the rise of interest in Motorsport in developing countries around the world, and you wonder why on earth they don't have more projects going on and, therefore, better cash flow.
Questions have to be asked about the quality of management.
Would not surprise me if some clever private equity guys swoop in and take control. There is value in the company, but maybe not under it's current management team.
sunsurfer said:
Obviously I don't know their tax situation but government agencies like Inland revenue need to think holistically. Weighing up the benefits to the exchequer of making Lola bankrupt with 172 people drawing benefits and loss of income to rural Cambridgeshire compared to leniency and time to pay taxes they may owe.
Absolutely true, and the red tape surrounding R and D tax credits is a minefield, tax breaks for bloody computer games but a real cutting edge engineering enterprise can go.One of the most iconic race car manufacturers ever, and some versions absolutely breathtaking beautiful and functional.
What else can be expected in Cameron's bankers mates beneficial years.
Any good coporate tax advisers out there? the ones who did a "Jim all fix it" job for Vodaphone and other corporate winners against HMRC.
urquattro said:
tax breaks for bloody computer games but a real cutting edge engineering enterprise can go.
Eh? What is wrong with the Computer Games industry being encoraged in the UK? It's no less cutting edge engineering (software rather than auto engineering) than racing cars.Sorry, it just annoys me that some people think that the only thing worth anything to the economy is something that involves hammers and lots of noise.
PaulMoor said:
urquattro said:
tax breaks for bloody computer games but a real cutting edge engineering enterprise can go.
Eh? What is wrong with the Computer Games industry being encoraged in the UK? It's no less cutting edge engineering (software rather than auto engineering) than racing cars.Sorry, it just annoys me that some people think that the only thing worth anything to the economy is something that involves hammers and lots of noise.
I thought I read somewhere that Tony already bought the former Toyota Cologne F1 composites facility and with the plan to bring it to the UK and put it into his newly acquired Leafield F1 facility. So Lola would not seem to be such a good fit other than the highly skilled people who work there.
Could be quite a nice little tie up. Especially if the new buyer happened to have an F1 team in need of some extra talent/resources.....
ArosaMike said:
davepoth said:
I wouldn't be surprised if Tony is on the phone...
It did cross my mind.....Could be quite a nice little tie up. Especially if the new buyer happened to have an F1 team in need of some extra talent/resources.....
egomeister said:
And it irritates me when people think that mechanical engineering is all about hammers and lots of noise.
I know it's not 
. Auto engineers do seem to like making lots of noise though. They always used to disrupt my electronics lectures with revving and hammering in the lab next door.My point was just that to many people think heavy engineering is the only thing that is usefull.
I think the biggest prob Lola have had is recently they've only been supplying cars for the LeMans series, So their customer base is small. It wasn't that long ago they were the supplier of Indy car chassis, LMP1 & 2 cars & junior open wheel race cars. Now they only do LMP1 & 2 they're not making money. If Indycar now has multiple engine suppliers again, can they not have multiple chassis suppliers? That'd make it a more interesting series. A1GP has tanked but im sure they could supply chassis for Formula Renault, BMW, Audi, GP2, GP3, F2, F3 etc
Dangermouse78 said:
I think the biggest prob Lola have had is recently they've only been supplying cars for the LeMans series, So their customer base is small. It wasn't that long ago they were the supplier of Indy car chassis, LMP1 & 2 cars & junior open wheel race cars. Now they only do LMP1 & 2 they're not making money. If Indycar now has multiple engine suppliers again, can they not have multiple chassis suppliers? That'd make it a more interesting series. A1GP has tanked but im sure they could supply chassis for Formula Renault, BMW, Audi, GP2, GP3, F2, F3 etc
Or start their own series as an entry level to Le Mans? Most manufacturers have one-make and Lola are pretty good at what they do.sunsurfer said:
Obviously I don't know their tax situation but government agencies like Inland revenue need to think holistically. Weighing up the benefits to the exchequer of making Lola bankrupt with 172 people drawing benefits and loss of income to rural Cambridgeshire compared to leniency and time to pay taxes they may owe.
Unfortunately government does not understand the difference between investment and spending. They are great at spending and this would be an investment. A wise one probably and therefore an unlikely one.
Ledaig said:
Bit late for one of my wifes work mates husband, he was laid off a few weeks ago.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff