Bad news?

[robgt]

I happened to notice the front page of the Birmingham Post today. The big story was that AM is up for sale and that there were 3 interested parties who were submitting offers. Namely Toyota , Mahindra and Tata. The paper stressed a sale was imminent within the next couple of weeks. Also AM posted a pre tax loss of 4.5 million . Apparently Tata were the favoured choice because of the close proximity of the Jaguar Land Rover factory.
Aston Martin when asked stated that the company was not for sale. Dar holdings which owns 65 per cent of AM said that they were very keen for a sale to go through.
All very confusing I'm sure you agree. Great to know that our foreign aid is going to be put such good use!!!!

[F1 NDW]

robgt said:

Great to know that our foreign aid is going to be put such good use!!!!

Nail on the head there Rob!

[Neil1300R]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[mikey k]

Yep several threads on this
I reckon Toyota will haggle for it
Tata are already invested up with JLR, Corus and Tata Chemicals
Mahindra are just dreaming I can't see Investment DAR, Bez & Richards wanting an association with their shonky tractors and jeep copies
Not to mention the asking price over values the business in the current climate

[Arjxh56]

Maybe we should all chip in a few quid, im sure we could scrape enough together ... especially if those of you with rich wives/girlfriends join in!?

[Mr Aston Martin]

Imagine Tata as majority owners building Astons in China.

Just like Jaguars and Land Rovers and of course UK manufacturing jobs are safe. Or that was the announcement.


The Canadian government takes a different view and takes into account the national interest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20024569

Ok this approach is fraught with dangers but we surely we must be able to develop some instruments to measure and protect our industries? Cadbury's anyone?

No doubt selling Britain by the kilo will propel UK manufacturing to a prominent position on the world stage and having a socialist as a business secretary is unhelpful. Unless we can agree the so called and heavily hinted mansion tax will help the economy? The phrase "re arranging the deck chairs on the titanic" springs to mind while illuminating the same grasp of the situation.

If there was a competition for most useless and ineffective politician and although there might be some strong competition old Vince would win hands down.

Shuffles off my soap box...

[theno23]

I would guess Tata is most likely, unless Toyota want to get rid of their beige image?

My cousin works for JLR, and says the Tata takeover was handled very well.

Having one company owning both Jag and AM isn't ideal IMHO. Too tempting to share platforms.

- Steve

[Zod]

FFS, chaps.

Tata is a private company and receives no foreing aid from the UK.

Jaguars may e produced in China for hte Chinese market. The vast majority will always be produced here.

Finally, DAR has denied the story.

[yeti]

Mr Aston Martin said:

Unless we can agree the so called and heavily hinted mansion tax will help the economy?

A populist tax to win votes and make it look to the 'working class people' that we're all in it together.

Trouble is the 'mansion tax' would see someone who has worked hard, bought early or inherited be paying out on a 3-bed semi in Chiswick - in London it's not just the aristocrats

[mikey k]

Mr Aston Martin said:

Imagine Tata as majority owners building Astons in China.

Just like Jaguars and Land Rovers and of course UK manufacturing jobs are safe. Or that was the announcement.

TATA have made enormous investment in JLR Solihull is making a car every 4 minutes and cannot make them quick enough, Halewood have just gone to 24hr production for the first time in over a decade.
So I doubt they will make another investment in a small volume "prestige" brand whne they have backed JLR so much

My bet is still on Toyota, though they have said they won't pay the asking price.
They have a great engine (AM's Ford engine deal runs out soon ) no longer used in the LFA
They have some great technology
They currently have a trading realtionship with AM from the iQ
There are "personal relationships" at high levels with both companies
They could do with going up market and getting cooler
Though they are taking a beating on recalls currently

[offendi]

Mr Aston Martin said:

Imagine Tata as majority owners building Astons in China.

Just like Jaguars and Land Rovers and of course UK manufacturing jobs are safe. Or that was the announcement.


The Canadian government takes a different view and takes into account the national interest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20024569

Ok this approach is fraught with dangers but we surely we must be able to develop some instruments to measure and protect our industries? Cadbury's anyone?

No doubt selling Britain by the kilo will propel UK manufacturing to a prominent position on the world stage and having a socialist as a business secretary is unhelpful. Unless we can agree the so called and heavily hinted mansion tax will help the economy? The phrase "re arranging the deck chairs on the titanic" springs to mind while illuminating the same grasp of the situation.

If there was a competition for most useless and ineffective politician and although there might be some strong competition old Vince would win hands down.

Shuffles off my soap box...

http://www.posh.co.uk/ mmmm look at all these windows for you to lick

[jas xjr]

mikey k said:

TATA have made enormous investment in JLR Solihull is making a car every 4 minutes and cannot make them quick enough, Halewood have just gone to 24hr production for the first time in over a decade.
So I doubt they will make another investment in a small volume "prestige" brand whne they have backed JLR so much

My bet is still on Toyota, though they have said they won't pay the asking price.
They have a great engine (AM's Ford engine deal runs out soon ) no longer used in the LFA
They have some great technology
They currently have a trading realtionship with AM from the iQ
There are "personal relationships" at high levels with both companies
They could do with going up market and getting cooler
Though they are taking a beating on recalls currently

would toyota get Aston ? i am sure they could improve production techniques maybe quality control but they are a bit digital to Astons analogue .

i cannot see tata being interested . ford had pumped a lot of money into jaguar . aston has been starved of investment .

not sure how big mahindra are , but i hope we do not go there . their jeeps are not that much in demand in india

[Mr Aston Martin]

offendi said:

http://www.posh.co.uk/ mmmm look at all these windows for you to lick

Is your name Vince;)

[Jon39]

Aston Martin Lagonda would be a great company to own. Wonderful brand, long history, admired products, but of course with business, the numbers are always the key to any purchase.

There have been so many instances of pay-too-much.
RBS with ABN, and yesterday HP were in the news regarding possible overpayment.

With the rumoured asking price of £800m, and debt of (is it) £300m, that is an enormous multiple of annual profits.

The only quoted British company in this sector is GKN, and that is currently trading at a value of 11.7 times earnings. In other words, potential to get your money back in 11.7 years.

Considering the present profitability, how do you sell enough Aston Martins, to recover your purchase cost in say 15 years?

Edited by Jon39 on Wednesday 21st November 15:34

[brakedwell]

I am still waiting for MB to join the fray

[Tony V12V]

mikey k said:

Though they are taking a beating on recalls currently

Whats gets me is that Toyota DO NOT MAKE the throttle switches etc that gave them such bad press. It a common part used by many manufacturers but Toyota were/are the only ones to put their hands up and do a recall.
I was taught many years ago that many car components are manufactured by a supplier - DENSO or LUCAS - for example and used on lots of different applications hence if you know how and why that part works then you can repair and I quote 'anything from a mini to a maserati'. In broad terms of course!

[yeti]

Jon39 said:

Considering the present profitability, how do you sell enough Aston Martins, to recover your purchase cost in say 15 years?

I suppose it helps you to have a halo brand which can drag the rest of your sad little econoboxes upwards and add a little cachet?

Toyota would have Lexus for luxury, AML for performance... but do they want a performance arm? Could the likes of the GT86 carry an Aston moniker for the next generation..? They'd sell a LOT of those, a 30k Aston, RWD with a turbo flat 4 and a decent interior!

TATA would have to make Aston their super GT / supercar brand, but the next gen cars would be based on their F-Type and XKR platforms or at least their tech. And there could be a Lagonda SUV based on the RR very easily... Vantage equivalant priced between the F and XK, DB9 above even the top XK and then a Vanq for the Super GT.

Many halfwits think Jag and Aston are still the same anyway... oh, and it would mean Ian Callum would be onboard for design again

Mahindra are crap even by Indian standards, but will want what Ratan Tata now has... kudos.

[mikey k]

Tony V12V said:

mikey k said:

Though they are taking a beating on recalls currently

Whats gets me is that Toyota DO NOT MAKE the throttle switches etc that gave them such bad press. It a common part used by many manufacturers but Toyota were/are the only ones to put their hands up and do a recall.
I was taught many years ago that many car components are manufactured by a supplier - DENSO or LUCAS - for example and used on lots of different applications hence if you know how and why that part works then you can repair and I quote 'anything from a mini to a maserati'. In broad terms of course!

Yep ironic but a good measure of thier commitment to quality and customer service (which in my recent experience AM need )

[mikey k]

yeti said:

Jon39 said:

Considering the present profitability, how do you sell enough Aston Martins, to recover your purchase cost in say 15 years?

I suppose it helps you to have a halo brand which can drag the rest of your sad little econoboxes upwards and add a little cachet?

Toyota would have Lexus for luxury, AML for performance... but do they want a performance arm? Could the likes of the GT86 carry an Aston moniker for the next generation..? They'd sell a LOT of those, a 30k Aston, RWD with a turbo flat 4 and a decent interior!

TATA would have to make Aston their super GT / supercar brand, but the next gen cars would be based on their F-Type and XKR platforms or at least their tech. And there could be a Lagonda SUV based on the RR very easily... Vantage equivalant priced between the F and XK, DB9 above even the top XK and then a Vanq for the Super GT.

Many halfwits think Jag and Aston are still the same anyway... oh, and it would mean Ian Callum would be onboard for design again

Mahindra are crap even by Indian standards, but will want what Ratan Tata now has... kudos.

All of that and the bold bit even more
Toyota no longer have that after the LFA died, they also have no use for that amazing V10
GT86 is not a sports car (in my book) it is a sporty coupe
Though read about the design philosophy from the Chief Designer its got Vantage written all over it
Take those ideas, the Aston cache and interior and the LFA V10 now that would be a car!

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Having Mahindra take over AM just follows on in the tradition of DB. What is old is new again...