Aston Martin owner said to approach suitors for sale

Aston Martin owner said to approach suitors for sale

Author
Discussion

pb1695

390 posts

177 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
Lets hope TATA move in - Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston together. The products and brands could be made to fit perfectly well together, Ford were originally working on a plan like this before they got into trouble and could not afford to fund it, albeit Volvo also formed part o the plan.

Land Rover - Freelander, Defender and Discovery - all based around utilitarian use with incremental increases in luxury up the line.

Range Rover - Sporting and Luxury 4x4 vehicles - integrity based luxury - proper off road credential wrapped in a luxury package - Evoque, Sport and FFRR.

Jaguar - Sporty, luxury mid range cars - X -type replacement to take on 3 series, XF - 5 series, XJ - 7 series, F type - high end Boxster/ Cayman and lower end 911 competitor, XKR - 911, BMW 6 and Merc SL competitor.

Aston - Bespoke Sports cars, Vantage - 911, Maserati Competitor, DB9 - Bentley, Maserati, Ferrari California class, Vanquish - SLS, 458, McLaren et al group but offering a British take in the Supercar / GT segment.

Effectively Aston are able to continue to be a competitor in its natural market segments but with a more British, bespoke style. Land Rover and Range Rover become more separated in target markets and Jaguar continue to grow and flourish in the high mid market with lower volume semi bespoke models.

Mr Tata, I am available for consultancy to help with the acquisition and integration of this master plan!

brakedwell

1,229 posts

200 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
pb1695 said:
Lets hope TATA move in - Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston together. The products and brands could be made to fit perfectly well together, Ford were originally working on a plan like this before they got into trouble and could not afford to fund it, albeit Volvo also formed part o the plan.
I would be very worried if TATA bought Aston Martin. Anybody care to hazard a guess as to how long it will be before TATA moves the bulk of JLR production to India?

XXXAngelXXX

1,711 posts

229 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
Toyoto has the money to develop new models....

silverspeed

1,505 posts

231 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
brakedwell said:
pb1695 said:
Lets hope TATA move in - Land Rover, Jaguar and Aston together. The products and brands could be made to fit perfectly well together, Ford were originally working on a plan like this before they got into trouble and could not afford to fund it, albeit Volvo also formed part o the plan.
I would be very worried if TATA bought Aston Martin. Anybody care to hazard a guess as to how long it will be before TATA moves the bulk of JLR production to India?
I understand they had a minimum 10 year commitment to the uk as part of the bailout they received in 2008/09. ? On that basis at least another 5 years.

Jockman

17,917 posts

161 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
johng39 said:
silverspeed said:
JBE68 said:
Last year AM had revenues of £474mn, operating profits of £35mn, net profits of £7.6mn and net assets of £333mn. Difficult to value the actual brand vs the operating business. I wonder if VW will add them to their stable of super car brands.
Not sure where these figures came from they do have a Holdings Co but Co House shows A M Limited trading revenue £506m and LOSS £35m. They pay £50m+ a year in interest on loans !!
Probably a way of not paying UK tax. Buy the company, loan it money and then take extortionate interest to stop it making a profit, no tax paid but a healthy profit paying back the loan!!!

Problem is the company looks basically worthless save the assets. As Mikey, lets club together and offer £250M and see if we get it. Mikey can I borrow some dough I am short of a few quid this month!!!!
The thing is Cockernee.....to what extent are these figures reliable when drafted by a Company that knows it is going to sell up confused

No doubt prospective suitors will undertake due process and expose any anomolies. I fully expect there to be a bumpy ride ahead.

My offer of £1 remains on the table.

Subject to contract of course smile

zthomasz

80 posts

180 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
silverspeed said:
I understand they had a minimum 10 year commitment to the uk as part of the bailout they received in 2008/09. ? On that basis at least another 5 years.
What bailout? They never had a bailout.

GAGA

51 posts

206 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
These are such times in which you wish you were filthy rich, at least I wish I were filthy rich now. There are so many companies for sale at the moment or could be bought due to their dire situation. If money were no object, I would buy Aston Martin, make the Lotus' parent company an offer they can't refuse (not only paying
several hundred million for Group Lotus, but also taking over all debts of Group Lotus, paying them back immediatly), also buy Cosworth and if possible, buy also MV Augusta in Italy. Then invest between 3-4 billion Euro into these companies: Developing an whole "engine family" (4,6,8,12 cylinder engine), develop also transmissions for these engines, develop Lotus motorcycles based on MV Augusta/Cagiva bikes, develop and use common platforms for Aston and Lotus, buy smaller
automotive suppliers in UK and Europe and integrate them either in Group Lotus or Cosworth, set up Aston Martin - Lotus dealers (owned by AMLLC Ltd (Aston Martin Lagonda Lotus Costworth Ltd.), revive the Lagonda brand with a traditional luxury saloon, a SUV and perhaps a classic british two-seater drop-top roadster, if possible, buy the DeTomaso brand in Italy and sell rebodied Lotus models as Detomasos (rebodied Elise as the new Vallelunga, rebodied Esprit as a Pantera), marry an "english rose" and have two or four beautiful children with her, get knighted by the Queen for investing in Britain and rescuing two storied british brands, become a figurehead of the automotive industry in UK which is beloved by the public and especially by car enthusiasts and petrolheads, die as a happy old chap and watch from "above", how Lotus and Aston owners (and owners of Ford Cossies) show up with their cars to your funeral, forming a big car parade. Declare in your last will, that an foundation (the AMLLC foundation) becomes owner of AMLLC Ltd., so that nobody can buy the company or destroy your lifetime achievement.

silverspeed

1,505 posts

231 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
zthomasz said:
silverspeed said:
I understand they had a minimum 10 year commitment to the uk as part of the bailout they received in 2008/09. ? On that basis at least another 5 years.
What bailout? They never had a bailout.
Jaguar Land Rover to get £800m in Government bailout lifeline ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Jaguar-Land-Rover-800m-Gov...
3 Apr 2009 – Jaguar Land Rover to get £800m in Government bailout lifeline ... About £ 300million will be a loan from the European Investment Bank ...

michael gould

5,691 posts

242 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
GAGA said:
These are such times in which you wish you were filthy rich, at least I wish I were filthy rich now. There are so many companies for sale at the moment or could be bought due to their dire situation. If money were no object, I would buy Aston Martin, make the Lotus' parent company an offer they can't refuse (not only paying
several hundred million for Group Lotus, but also taking over all debts of Group Lotus, paying them back immediatly), also buy Cosworth and if possible, buy also MV Augusta in Italy. Then invest between 3-4 billion Euro into these companies: Developing an whole "engine family" (4,6,8,12 cylinder engine), develop also transmissions for these engines, develop Lotus motorcycles based on MV Augusta/Cagiva bikes, develop and use common platforms for Aston and Lotus, buy smaller
automotive suppliers in UK and Europe and integrate them either in Group Lotus or Cosworth, set up Aston Martin - Lotus dealers (owned by AMLLC Ltd (Aston Martin Lagonda Lotus Costworth Ltd.), revive the Lagonda brand with a traditional luxury saloon, a SUV and perhaps a classic british two-seater drop-top roadster, if possible, buy the DeTomaso brand in Italy and sell rebodied Lotus models as Detomasos (rebodied Elise as the new Vallelunga, rebodied Esprit as a Pantera), marry an "english rose" and have two or four beautiful children with her, get knighted by the Queen for investing in Britain and rescuing two storied british brands, become a figurehead of the automotive industry in UK which is beloved by the public and especially by car enthusiasts and petrolheads, die as a happy old chap and watch from "above", how Lotus and Aston owners (and owners of Ford Cossies) show up with their cars to your funeral, forming a big car parade. Declare in your last will, that an foundation (the AMLLC foundation) becomes owner of AMLLC Ltd., so that nobody can buy the company or destroy your lifetime achievement.
Are you on drugs ?


Retman

848 posts

159 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
michael gould said:
GAGA said:
These are such times in which you wish you were filthy rich, at least I wish I were filthy rich now. There are so many companies for sale at the moment or could be bought due to their dire situation. If money were no object, I would buy Aston Martin, make the Lotus' parent company an offer they can't refuse (not only paying
several hundred million for Group Lotus, but also taking over all debts of Group Lotus, paying them back immediatly), also buy Cosworth and if possible, buy also MV Augusta in Italy. Then invest between 3-4 billion Euro into these companies: Developing an whole "engine family" (4,6,8,12 cylinder engine), develop also transmissions for these engines, develop Lotus motorcycles based on MV Augusta/Cagiva bikes, develop and use common platforms for Aston and Lotus, buy smaller
automotive suppliers in UK and Europe and integrate them either in Group Lotus or Cosworth, set up Aston Martin - Lotus dealers (owned by AMLLC Ltd (Aston Martin Lagonda Lotus Costworth Ltd.), revive the Lagonda brand with a traditional luxury saloon, a SUV and perhaps a classic british two-seater drop-top roadster, if possible, buy the DeTomaso brand in Italy and sell rebodied Lotus models as Detomasos (rebodied Elise as the new Vallelunga, rebodied Esprit as a Pantera), marry an "english rose" and have two or four beautiful children with her, get knighted by the Queen for investing in Britain and rescuing two storied british brands, become a figurehead of the automotive industry in UK which is beloved by the public and especially by car enthusiasts and petrolheads, die as a happy old chap and watch from "above", how Lotus and Aston owners (and owners of Ford Cossies) show up with their cars to your funeral, forming a big car parade. Declare in your last will, that an foundation (the AMLLC foundation) becomes owner of AMLLC Ltd., so that nobody can buy the company or destroy your lifetime achievement.
Are you on drugs ?
The name says it all. rolleyes

Little Donkey

1,544 posts

142 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
GAGA said:
These are such times in which you wish you were filthy rich, at least I wish I were filthy rich now. There are so many companies for sale at the moment or could be bought due to their dire situation. If money were no object, I would buy Aston Martin, make the Lotus' parent company an offer they can't refuse (not only paying
several hundred million for Group Lotus, but also taking over all debts of Group Lotus, paying them back immediatly), also buy Cosworth and if possible, buy also MV Augusta in Italy. Then invest between 3-4 billion Euro into these companies: Developing an whole "engine family" (4,6,8,12 cylinder engine), develop also transmissions for these engines, develop Lotus motorcycles based on MV Augusta/Cagiva bikes, develop and use common platforms for Aston and Lotus, buy smaller
automotive suppliers in UK and Europe and integrate them either in Group Lotus or Cosworth, set up Aston Martin - Lotus dealers (owned by AMLLC Ltd (Aston Martin Lagonda Lotus Costworth Ltd.), revive the Lagonda brand with a traditional luxury saloon, a SUV and perhaps a classic british two-seater drop-top roadster, if possible, buy the DeTomaso brand in Italy and sell rebodied Lotus models as Detomasos (rebodied Elise as the new Vallelunga, rebodied Esprit as a Pantera), marry an "english rose" and have two or four beautiful children with her, get knighted by the Queen for investing in Britain and rescuing two storied british brands, become a figurehead of the automotive industry in UK which is beloved by the public and especially by car enthusiasts and petrolheads, die as a happy old chap and watch from "above", how Lotus and Aston owners (and owners of Ford Cossies) show up with their cars to your funeral, forming a big car parade. Declare in your last will, that an foundation (the AMLLC foundation) becomes owner of AMLLC Ltd., so that nobody can buy the company or destroy your lifetime achievement.
You haven't really thought this through at all, have you?

Jockman

17,917 posts

161 months

Monday 12th November 2012
quotequote all
michael gould said:
Are you on drugs ?
I love the utopian outlook - GAGA is clearly a man OF substance smile

yeti

10,523 posts

276 months

Monday 12th November 2012
quotequote all
michael gould said:
GAGA said:
These are such times in which you wish you were filthy rich, at least I wish I were filthy rich now. There are so many companies for sale at the moment or could be bought due to their dire situation. If money were no object, I would buy Aston Martin, make the Lotus' parent company an offer they can't refuse (not only paying
several hundred million for Group Lotus, but also taking over all debts of Group Lotus, paying them back immediatly), also buy Cosworth and if possible, buy also MV Augusta in Italy. Then invest between 3-4 billion Euro into these companies: Developing an whole "engine family" (4,6,8,12 cylinder engine), develop also transmissions for these engines, develop Lotus motorcycles based on MV Augusta/Cagiva bikes, develop and use common platforms for Aston and Lotus, buy smaller
automotive suppliers in UK and Europe and integrate them either in Group Lotus or Cosworth, set up Aston Martin - Lotus dealers (owned by AMLLC Ltd (Aston Martin Lagonda Lotus Costworth Ltd.), revive the Lagonda brand with a traditional luxury saloon, a SUV and perhaps a classic british two-seater drop-top roadster, if possible, buy the DeTomaso brand in Italy and sell rebodied Lotus models as Detomasos (rebodied Elise as the new Vallelunga, rebodied Esprit as a Pantera), marry an "english rose" and have two or four beautiful children with her, get knighted by the Queen for investing in Britain and rescuing two storied british brands, become a figurehead of the automotive industry in UK which is beloved by the public and especially by car enthusiasts and petrolheads, die as a happy old chap and watch from "above", how Lotus and Aston owners (and owners of Ford Cossies) show up with their cars to your funeral, forming a big car parade. Declare in your last will, that an foundation (the AMLLC foundation) becomes owner of AMLLC Ltd., so that nobody can buy the company or destroy your lifetime achievement.
Are you on drugs ?
If he is, I want some smile

Nice plan; Michael can your wife lend me 3-4 billion Euros please? She's probably got that down the back of the sofa...

zthomasz

80 posts

180 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
silverspeed said:
Jaguar Land Rover to get £800m in Government bailout lifeline ...
www.dailymail.co.uk/.../Jaguar-Land-Rover-800m-Gov...
3 Apr 2009 – Jaguar Land Rover to get £800m in Government bailout lifeline ... About £ 300million will be a loan from the European Investment Bank ...
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/jaguar-land-rover-goes-it-alone

"Jaguar Land Rover goes it alone"

"Jaguar Land Rover has told the British government that it no longer needs its support, after obtaining private funding.

"JLR owner Tata Motors said it had secured direct bank loans believed to be worth £175 million, as well as guarantees that would allow it access to a £340m European Investment Bank loan.

"Government funding via a £170m bridging loan was offered earlier this year but did not materialise, after JLR and the government wrangled over the terms of the agreement

"With the positive trend in the external environment in financial markets and improvement in general liquidity, these arrangements have been, and are expected to be, concluded without necessitating guarantees from the UK government, for which discussions had been ongoing for some time."




Jon39

12,861 posts

144 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
A few thoughts to throw into the discussion.

A passive investor owns a majority of the Company, so can decide it's future.

Debt servicing costs exceed net profit.

Big seller model (Vantage), sales peak has passed.

For a financially sound company, development of new products should mostly be funded from profits, otherwise future debt looms.

With such beautiful products, it is a shame that apparent financial pressures continue to be present.

I hate to imagine Aston Martin being owned and operated by some (dare not name) companies.

With the AM centenary next year, one could draw a comparison with (not the products, but the stability of the business model) Morgan.
Admittedly a much smaller car company, but their centenary was in 2010, and their product waiting list, about two years.



Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 13th November 11:00

michael gould

5,691 posts

242 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
yeti said:
michael gould said:
GAGA said:
These are such times in which you wish you were filthy rich, at least I wish I were filthy rich now. There are so many companies for sale at the moment or could be bought due to their dire situation. If money were no object, I would buy Aston Martin, make the Lotus' parent company an offer they can't refuse (not only paying
several hundred million for Group Lotus, but also taking over all debts of Group Lotus, paying them back immediatly), also buy Cosworth and if possible, buy also MV Augusta in Italy. Then invest between 3-4 billion Euro into these companies: Developing an whole "engine family" (4,6,8,12 cylinder engine), develop also transmissions for these engines, develop Lotus motorcycles based on MV Augusta/Cagiva bikes, develop and use common platforms for Aston and Lotus, buy smaller
automotive suppliers in UK and Europe and integrate them either in Group Lotus or Cosworth, set up Aston Martin - Lotus dealers (owned by AMLLC Ltd (Aston Martin Lagonda Lotus Costworth Ltd.), revive the Lagonda brand with a traditional luxury saloon, a SUV and perhaps a classic british two-seater drop-top roadster, if possible, buy the DeTomaso brand in Italy and sell rebodied Lotus models as Detomasos (rebodied Elise as the new Vallelunga, rebodied Esprit as a Pantera), marry an "english rose" and have two or four beautiful children with her, get knighted by the Queen for investing in Britain and rescuing two storied british brands, become a figurehead of the automotive industry in UK which is beloved by the public and especially by car enthusiasts and petrolheads, die as a happy old chap and watch from "above", how Lotus and Aston owners (and owners of Ford Cossies) show up with their cars to your funeral, forming a big car parade. Declare in your last will, that an foundation (the AMLLC foundation) becomes owner of AMLLC Ltd., so that nobody can buy the company or destroy your lifetime achievement.
Are you on drugs ?
If he is, I want some smile

Nice plan; Michael can your wife lend me 3-4 billion Euros please? She's probably got that down the back of the sofa...
had one of the staff check down the bacs of all 7 sofas and they found a total of £3.52 + 2 Euros + hairclip + some fluff

yeti

10,523 posts

276 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
michael gould said:
had one of the staff check down the bacs of all 7 sofas and they found a total of £3.52 + 2 Euros + hairclip + some fluff
Shall we make Investment Dar an offer then? smile

michael gould

5,691 posts

242 months

Tuesday 13th November 2012
quotequote all
yeti said:
michael gould said:
had one of the staff check down the bacs of all 7 sofas and they found a total of £3.52 + 2 Euros + hairclip + some fluff
Shall we make Investment Dar an offer then? smile
perhaps just offer the fluff ?