Porsche, Volkswagen: Merger news **VW Takes 49.9% Stake In Porsche (page 4)**
#45
Senior Moderator
Do da merge dance!
#48
Pro
Porsche and Audi are totally different and cater to different customers. Don't expect Porsche to decide Audi's product planning. Also, Cayman is a very raw car and different from Audi's offerings.
#49
Senior Moderator
Porsche Reveals Plans to Raise VW stake to 75% in 2009
From WCF...
Porsche continues its bid to gain a controlling interest in VW, announcing on Sunday that it will raise its stake in Germany's largest automaker from its current 42.6 % to 75 % by 2009. The company also said it would reach a 50 % stake in VW by December. Porsche also owns another 31.5% of VW in cash-settled options, which is not the same as direct equity stake.
Under German law, control of a company requires 75% share of the vote at any given stockholder meeting. But VW has traditionally required an 80% share, giving the government of Lower-Saxony, which owns a minority stake in VW, addtional power over the company. The German state of Lower-Saxony, along with the worker's council which represents VW's organised labor, is opposed to Porsche taking control of VW.
VW's stock has been hit by the volatility caused by the current financial crisis, with its stock soaring and then falling again in recent weeks, but has increased in value by 77% over the last 12 months due to investor support for Porsche's takeover bid.
Under German law, control of a company requires 75% share of the vote at any given stockholder meeting. But VW has traditionally required an 80% share, giving the government of Lower-Saxony, which owns a minority stake in VW, addtional power over the company. The German state of Lower-Saxony, along with the worker's council which represents VW's organised labor, is opposed to Porsche taking control of VW.
VW's stock has been hit by the volatility caused by the current financial crisis, with its stock soaring and then falling again in recent weeks, but has increased in value by 77% over the last 12 months due to investor support for Porsche's takeover bid.
#50
Senior Moderator
From LLN..
Wish the author would have said why....
Porsche acquisition of VW might become “reverse takeover”
To the casual observer, the notion of Porsche acquiring the Volkswagen Group is hard to believe. Of course, those of you who have been following the auto industry for the last few years know that’s exactly what’s about to happen. But when the deal is done, the end result might ultimately be different from what one might expect.
As it turns out, post-acquisition VW probably won’t be a subsidiary of Porsche. Rather, the Porsche division will almost certainly become a brand in the Volkswagen Group, much like Audi, Bentley, or Lamborghini,
Analyst Arndt Ellinghorst told the Automobilwoche Congress in Berlin. “We expect a reverse takeover. In the long term, Porsche will be a brand in the VW group,” he said. “It is in the interests of the Porsche family that VW takes a dominant role,” he said.
Porsche effectively controls 74.1 percent of Volkswagen — thanks to a 42.6 percent controlling stake and 31.5 percent in cash-settled options on ordinary shares.
To the casual observer, the notion of Porsche acquiring the Volkswagen Group is hard to believe. Of course, those of you who have been following the auto industry for the last few years know that’s exactly what’s about to happen. But when the deal is done, the end result might ultimately be different from what one might expect.
As it turns out, post-acquisition VW probably won’t be a subsidiary of Porsche. Rather, the Porsche division will almost certainly become a brand in the Volkswagen Group, much like Audi, Bentley, or Lamborghini,
Analyst Arndt Ellinghorst told the Automobilwoche Congress in Berlin. “We expect a reverse takeover. In the long term, Porsche will be a brand in the VW group,” he said. “It is in the interests of the Porsche family that VW takes a dominant role,” he said.
Porsche effectively controls 74.1 percent of Volkswagen — thanks to a 42.6 percent controlling stake and 31.5 percent in cash-settled options on ordinary shares.
#51
The sizzle in the Steak
Wow!! All those automakers under the VW umbrella?
#52
I'm the Firestarter
It's crazy, how much money is Porsche making? They can afford to buy VW by selling luxury cars??
#54
Senior Moderator
full story here: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...=a6nHWSAu9kaE#
Porsche Gains on Plan to Raise VW Stake in Asset Swap
By Aaron Kirchfeld, Angela Cullen and Jacqueline Simmons
April 6 (Bloomberg) -- Porsche SE, the maker of the 911 sports car, rose to an eight-week high in Frankfurt trading as the company considered raising its stake in Volkswagen AG through an asset swap to preserve cash and limit debt.
Porsche gained 1.41 euros, or 3.3 percent, to 43.85 euros, the highest price since Feb. 11. Volkswagen rose 2.60 euros, or 1.1 percent, to 239 euros.
The sports-car maker is struggling to raise the financing needed to reach its aim of a 75 percent holding and the transaction would allow it to achieve that goal while preserving cash, three people close to the matter said on April 3. A proposal under consideration would involve the sale of Porsche assets to Volkswagen in return for new shares, and Volkswagen may also contribute cash, two of the people said.
By Aaron Kirchfeld, Angela Cullen and Jacqueline Simmons
April 6 (Bloomberg) -- Porsche SE, the maker of the 911 sports car, rose to an eight-week high in Frankfurt trading as the company considered raising its stake in Volkswagen AG through an asset swap to preserve cash and limit debt.
Porsche gained 1.41 euros, or 3.3 percent, to 43.85 euros, the highest price since Feb. 11. Volkswagen rose 2.60 euros, or 1.1 percent, to 239 euros.
The sports-car maker is struggling to raise the financing needed to reach its aim of a 75 percent holding and the transaction would allow it to achieve that goal while preserving cash, three people close to the matter said on April 3. A proposal under consideration would involve the sale of Porsche assets to Volkswagen in return for new shares, and Volkswagen may also contribute cash, two of the people said.
#55
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ very interesting
#56
Pro
Porsche VW merger
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/bu...ef=automobiles
After a four-year battle that combined dynastic politics with corporate deal-making, the families that control Porsche and Volkswagen reached a preliminary agreement on Wednesday to combine the two companies, uniting the biggest European car company with the elite sports car maker.
The combined entity will oversee 10 brands, but Porsche will continue to enjoy independent status within the new corporate structure, reflecting what is likely to be a continuing battle for dominance with Volkswagen.
But any final deal is weeks away because the supervisory boards of the two companies still have to sign off, as do union representatives and the state of Lower Saxony, which controls a sizable stake in Volkswagen.
But with the families in agreement, the biggest stumbling block in one of Europe’s longest-running corporate battles has been cleared.
In the new company, Porsche’s chief executive, Wendelin Wiedeking, is expected to play a more dominant role than he has, according to executives close to the negotiations who were not authorized to speak publicly about the deal.
Porsche is also expected to issue stock to help pay debt before any deal closes.
“In the final structure 10 brands shall stand below an integrated leading company alongside each other, whereby the independence of all brands and explicitly also of Porsche shall be ensured,” Porsche said in a statement.
Porsche had acquired a majority stake in Volkswagen, whose chairman, Ferdinand Piëch, is a member of the Porsche family that controls the automaker. But Mr. Piëch and his cousin, Wolfgang Porsche, could not agree on how to combine the two companies or how to lower Porsche’s debt of 9 billion euros ($12 billion).
Members of the Piëch and Porsche families have been in talks in Salzburg, Austria, that were part hard bargaining, part family drama.
The statement Wednesday did not address how the debt issue would be resolved. A working group, including union representatives of Lower Saxony and elsewhere, are to meet over the next four weeks to work out the details of the new company’s structure.
The global auto industry is in the midst of a broader consolidation, with Fiat of Italy preparing to take a 20 percent stake in Chrysler. Fiat is also interested in the European and Latin American operations of General Motors.
Volkswagen, which was created in the 1930s under the Nazi regime as the maker of the people’s car, has excelled in the market for small to midsize cars, and that is likely to be a crucial area of global competition.
Related: BMW puts a premium on independence
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/bu...ef=automobiles
After a four-year battle that combined dynastic politics with corporate deal-making, the families that control Porsche and Volkswagen reached a preliminary agreement on Wednesday to combine the two companies, uniting the biggest European car company with the elite sports car maker.
The combined entity will oversee 10 brands, but Porsche will continue to enjoy independent status within the new corporate structure, reflecting what is likely to be a continuing battle for dominance with Volkswagen.
But any final deal is weeks away because the supervisory boards of the two companies still have to sign off, as do union representatives and the state of Lower Saxony, which controls a sizable stake in Volkswagen.
But with the families in agreement, the biggest stumbling block in one of Europe’s longest-running corporate battles has been cleared.
In the new company, Porsche’s chief executive, Wendelin Wiedeking, is expected to play a more dominant role than he has, according to executives close to the negotiations who were not authorized to speak publicly about the deal.
Porsche is also expected to issue stock to help pay debt before any deal closes.
“In the final structure 10 brands shall stand below an integrated leading company alongside each other, whereby the independence of all brands and explicitly also of Porsche shall be ensured,” Porsche said in a statement.
Porsche had acquired a majority stake in Volkswagen, whose chairman, Ferdinand Piëch, is a member of the Porsche family that controls the automaker. But Mr. Piëch and his cousin, Wolfgang Porsche, could not agree on how to combine the two companies or how to lower Porsche’s debt of 9 billion euros ($12 billion).
Members of the Piëch and Porsche families have been in talks in Salzburg, Austria, that were part hard bargaining, part family drama.
The statement Wednesday did not address how the debt issue would be resolved. A working group, including union representatives of Lower Saxony and elsewhere, are to meet over the next four weeks to work out the details of the new company’s structure.
The global auto industry is in the midst of a broader consolidation, with Fiat of Italy preparing to take a 20 percent stake in Chrysler. Fiat is also interested in the European and Latin American operations of General Motors.
Volkswagen, which was created in the 1930s under the Nazi regime as the maker of the people’s car, has excelled in the market for small to midsize cars, and that is likely to be a crucial area of global competition.
Related: BMW puts a premium on independence
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/bu...ef=automobiles
#58
Senior Moderator
I can see the Porsche purists bitching already about driving a VW.
#60
The sizzle in the Steak
#61
#63
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
Lamborshe
#65
Hmmm, wasn't the 924 supposed to be marketed at a VW? I heard that after all the development work was done, VW pulled out and went with the Sirocco so Porsche went ahead with production anyway. Maybe it's just urban legend?
#66
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
its been on the news for awhile
#67
Pro
Right, it's long been expected, the relationship between VW and Porsche has gone on for a while.
Maybe the Porsche boss will work hard to improve the VW reliability.
I guess we'll see how BMW works out being a small independent. I admire them going against the merger trend. Kinda like Honda.
Maybe the Porsche boss will work hard to improve the VW reliability.
I guess we'll see how BMW works out being a small independent. I admire them going against the merger trend. Kinda like Honda.
#70
Wow. This is going to make them a powerhouse. Great mix of brands, lets just hope they don't pull a GM and have half of their cars be a rebadge years down the road. One thing is for sure, they are going to start sharing platforms.... you could see the next A8 being based off of the Panamera platform or vice versa.
#71
The sizzle in the Steak
^^ Let's hope so
#72
Welcome to Olliewood
Porsche owners should be happy the brand is still around, they all made their Cayenne jokes and now its the little SUV that could with the help of VW AG right?
#74
Engineer
#75
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
#77
Senior Moderator
Porschwagen.