RE: Why Morgan sold itself to the Italians

[300bhp/ton]

Interesting article. Certainly wish Morgan luck. Lovely looking cars.

[robm3]

cardigankid said:

Or, more accurately, the family shareholding had fragmented to the point where they couldn't agree on any course but selling out. It doesn't have to happen, but it does, a lot.

In the midsts of buying an EU company like this right now!
Great win/win for everyone.

Good luck to Morgan with it.

My estimate is the company has a 30-35m valuation by the way.

[MikeT66]

simonjrwinter said:

The beginning of the end for Morgan?
These big investors are not known for their sympathy with brands, merely profits. While you or I might put our last penny into something we are passionate about, these big investors ONLY care about the bottom line. I worked in business media for 25 up until I retired and it’s an oft repeated formula. If something isn’t making money ( or not enough) it’s canned.
I REALLY REALLY hope I’m wrong, but greed and the lure of money may be the kiss of death for MMC

I fear you may be right - but most certainly hope not. Working in the motor trade, I can see it is tough at the moment and will get tougher. The drive for Morgan to turn a bigger and bigger profit year on year will be tempting for the new majority shareholders - and there is always a cost to that.

[sgtBerbatov]

simonjrwinter said:

The beginning of the end for Morgan?
These big investors are not known for their sympathy with brands, merely profits. While you or I might put our last penny into something we are passionate about, these big investors ONLY care about the bottom line. I worked in business media for 25 up until I retired and it’s an oft repeated formula. If something isn’t making money ( or not enough) it’s canned.
I REALLY REALLY hope I’m wrong, but greed and the lure of money may be the kiss of death for MMC

If the news was that they sold shares to anyone BUT venture vultures, then yeah it'd be good news. But these people, like you said, are only in for the profits. Spend the least amount of money to get the most out of the company in order to sell it on to anyone willing to buy it for a profit. That's all these guys are interested in.

[reglard]

I suppose if you are a family that has to go to work every day go through all the hassle at some point you will sell the business on and generations will live off the interest.

[thecustomer]

Enricogto said:

How so if they are doubling production in Worchestershire?

The Plus Six takes half the time to build that the old aero chassis cars did... and Morgan also bought the fields next to the factory, so there's room to grow

Will

[thecustomer]

zeta3 said:

Want to see the 3 wheeler with a Moto Guzzi engine

Your wish is my command ;-)

http://trikingsportscars.co.uk/

Will

[GT3-RS]

oh dear the slippery slope....

[cardigankid]

We can only hope for the best. The problem is they talk about Investindustrial putting money into Morgan. As far as I can see they have paid the money to the shareholders, not Morgan. The problem, unless I am misunderstanding the position, is that Morgan will now be tasked with earning a return on that investment before anything else happens, or possibly even paying back its own purchase cost to Investindustrial.

[thegreenhell]

sgtBerbatov said:

simonjrwinter said:

The beginning of the end for Morgan?
These big investors are not known for their sympathy with brands, merely profits. While you or I might put our last penny into something we are passionate about, these big investors ONLY care about the bottom line. I worked in business media for 25 up until I retired and it’s an oft repeated formula. If something isn’t making money ( or not enough) it’s canned.
I REALLY REALLY hope I’m wrong, but greed and the lure of money may be the kiss of death for MMC

If the news was that they sold shares to anyone BUT venture vultures, then yeah it'd be good news. But these people, like you said, are only in for the profits. Spend the least amount of money to get the most out of the company in order to sell it on to anyone willing to buy it for a profit. That's all these guys are interested in.

Just like they've done with Aston Martin, eh?

[dbroughton]

Is it just me or are Morgans getting more interesting as I get older (51 in a couple of weeks)?

I love my Boxster S but perhaps its a little too ubiquitous. Meanwhile all the interesting sports car action now seems to happening at 6 figures plus. The new Plus 6 seems to occupy that space once occupied by the Esprit or TVR. The look nothing alike but they all possess that affordable (ish) British quirkiness. The older Morgans just seemed a little eccentric

[DSC OFF]

dbroughton said:

Is it just me or are Morgans getting more interesting as I get older (51 in a couple of weeks)?

I love my Boxster S but perhaps its a little too ubiquitous. Meanwhile all the interesting sports car action now seems to happening at 6 figures plus. The new Plus 6 seems to occupy that space once occupied by the Esprit or TVR. The look nothing alike but they all possess that affordable (ish) British quirkiness. The older Morgans just seemed a little eccentric

even at 35, I know how you are thinking, I find the new plus 6 very appealing as a sunday mooch out grand tourer

a lot of it is to do with becoming disillusioned with the current sports/supercar becoming flooded with different versions of essentially the same car, being too fast to use on public roads, and a decently spec'd 992 coming in at over £110,000

[Lotobear]

Never really got the whole Morgan thing, but I was in HHC again on Saturday and, once again, this got my attention:

http://www.hhcsportscars.co.uk/car/marvellous-mogg...

I really do like this particular car, even though I was discussing an incoming Evora with the proprietor (which I've decided I need in my life)

[markcoopers]

simonjrwinter said:

The beginning of the end for Morgan?
These big investors are not known for their sympathy with brands, merely profits. While you or I might put our last penny into something we are passionate about, these big investors ONLY care about the bottom line. I worked in business media for 25 up until I retired and it’s an oft repeated formula. If something isn’t making money ( or not enough) it’s canned.
I REALLY REALLY hope I’m wrong, but greed and the lure of money may be the kiss of death for MMC

This is a little naive and simplistic. Nobody invests a penny unless they are sure that it is something they can make a return on and it fits with their sensibilities and corporate vision/ social responsibilities. Sure they want a return and making a profit is not wrong, but that profit may be realised in 10-15Y time on a future sale, and in the mean time take a reasonable dividend for financing the growth above a banks basic interest rate. An investor may well be about profits, but they do not do so without believing in the product or killing the thing that is feeding them.

Independent of any other brand or car maker owner they will not be forced to add a Morgan badge to say a Mx5, or use a set of parts from a generic parts bin (lambo). Frankly the prospect of investment to see them past a 5y horizon, competing on the world stage and having a non constraining parent owner who supports them seems an entirely applause able situation.

[bertie]

DSC OFF said:

dbroughton said:

Is it just me or are Morgans getting more interesting as I get older (51 in a couple of weeks)?

I love my Boxster S but perhaps its a little too ubiquitous. Meanwhile all the interesting sports car action now seems to happening at 6 figures plus. The new Plus 6 seems to occupy that space once occupied by the Esprit or TVR. The look nothing alike but they all possess that affordable (ish) British quirkiness. The older Morgans just seemed a little eccentric

even at 35, I know how you are thinking, I find the new plus 6 very appealing as a sunday mooch out grand tourer

a lot of it is to do with becoming disillusioned with the current sports/supercar becoming flooded with different versions of essentially the same car, being too fast to use on public roads, and a decently spec'd 992 coming in at over £110,000

I'm another one.....

I've had a lot of very quick stuff and have got more comming but as you point out, they chance to use them is so limited they seem more and more out of kilter with modernt day motoring

Not a week goes by without there being the next big new thing that more powerful / faster than last weeks, it;s all getting a bit boring to me.

Maybe it is just getting old, I've been looking at TVRs again as I used to have them and loved them, but the Plus 6 really appeals.

[Digga]

zeta3 said:

Want to see the 3 wheeler with a Moto Guzzi engine

I've always wondered what one with a Ducatti V-twin would be like. I just love the sound of those desmo valves.

Anyway, good luck to the Italians and Morgan - nothing wrong with a bit of well aimed and well-intentioned foreign direct investment.

[romac]

Re: comments about the Eva - with a bit of fettling (and painting it black) it could out-noire the Bugatti ‘La Voiture Noire’ as a pastiche on the Type 57 Atlantic.

As for Morgan selling a bit of the company to a VC - Sadly, it happens. Doesn't mean the end, but some things are bound to change. Long Live Morgan!

[gareth h]

Lotobear said:

Never really got the whole Morgan thing, but I was in HHC again on Saturday and, once again, this got my attention:

http://www.hhcsportscars.co.uk/car/marvellous-mogg...

I really do like this particular car, even though I was discussing an incoming Evora with the proprietor (which I've decided I need in my life)

I moved from an Evora to an Aero 8, very different cars, but very glad to have owned both.
From this

To this

Via this

[Chris Type R]

samoht said:

So, a Morgan IPO in 2025? II will presumably want to make an exit at some point.

Or sold to Mike Ashley. You never know

[Digga]

Chris Type R said:

samoht said:

So, a Morgan IPO in 2025? II will presumably want to make an exit at some point.

Or sold to Mike Ashley. You never know

Could be worse, like 'Sir' (for how long?) Philip Green.