The former owner of motorcycle company Ducati has bought a stake in Aston Martin Lagonda.
Italian private equity fund Investindustrial has signed a deal to invest £150m for a 37.5 per cent stake in the British sports car company. The deal cements Aston Martin's existing £100m a year product development programme for the next five years.
Mahindra and Mahindra was previously thought to be the front runner in the deal, offering a significantly greater cash injection. Although Investindustrial has relationships with AMG, a tie-in with Mercedes’ performance arm is not part of the deal. Investindustrial has significant contacts within the industry, according to a spokesman, who referred to Aston Martin's partnerships with other OEMs, including Ford and Toyota.
Investindustrial owned Ducati until earlier this year when it sold the company to Audi for $1.1bn.
Under the new deal, Investindustrial will become a shareholder alongside current majority shareholder Investment Dar and minority shareholders, Dr Ulrich Bez and David Richards. Investindustrial will be a minority shareholder, with four of the nine board seats.
Aston Martin chairman David Richards said: "I am delighted that Investindustrial has decided to become a major investor in Aston Martin. With the support of Investment Dar, we have made substantial progress over the past five years in laying the foundations for success as one of the world’s leading luxury sports car manufacturers.
"Investindustrial’s new investment reflects and sustains the unique position of Aston Martin within the industry. With this partnership and the continued commitment of Investment Dar, we look forward to working with our shareholders as we realise our vision and exciting future plans."
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benzpassionblog
Mahindra? My ar$e!
Autocar's world-renowned 'industry experts' strike again:
"Tractor maker Mahindra and Mahindra favourite to purchase a 50 per cent stake in Aston Martin"
http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/industry/aston-martin-ploughing-regardless
A blind man could have told you Mahindra are a joke and Merc-AMG tech was the obvious fit.
Paulius
benzpassionblog
I don't understand people like you, you keep bashing Autocar, but keep coming back to read their articles. If you don't like the quality of their articles go and follow some other website/magazine.
disco.stu
benzpassionblog
Actually, I think that there will be considerable surprise that Mahindra didn't get the nod. Investindustrial may have touted a 'tie-up' with Mercedes-AMG technology, but there has not yet been any indication of what this means. Investindustrial also seem to be more likely to be a short-term investor then look to sell again, as they did with Ducati. Mahindra seemed more likely to be around for the longer term.
Regardless, if Investindustrial can make the required investments to allow Aston Martin's ongoing future model developments, then it will be very welcome indeed. If the so-far-yet-to-be-explained connections with Mercedes-AMG materialise, that will be even better for Aston Martin.
www.TheCarExpert.co.uk
Maxecat
Aston + Investindustrial tie up with AMG not happening.
I see that a spokesman for Investindustrial states that their becoming shareholdes in Aston does not mean there will be any tie up with Mercedes or AMG.
maxecat
benzpassionblog
Maxecat wrote:I see that a
- any equity tie up. As Mercedes-Benz has no equity in Pagani. Mercedes will be the tech supplier for Investindustrial.
Bez, the AM CEO, wanted to get Mercedes on board back in 2009, using the 'vehicle' of the AMLagonda SUV concept. Due to Daimler's own problems at the time, and the collapse of SUV sales then, the deal was stillborn. Bez is a Swabian, born within a stone's throw of Mercedes HQ in Stuttgart.
As I said, a blind man could have seen this tie up, but not apparentlly all the industry 'experts', like H Holloway and Prof. David Bailey of Coventry Business School, the go-to academic 'expert' for the BBC on all matters Automotive industry, or indeed Mayor Boris Johnson, who was reported as being delighted the Mahindras wished to buy AM. All wrong, all fools.
liquidgold
benzpassionblog
Whilst I personally am delighted you stopped masturbating long enough to post here, I fear I may be in the minority.
Big S
..but Aston was bought by a tractor maker before!
Mahindra as tractor makers - yes - so what? Have a quick look at Aston's history: David Brown, the UK tractor company, bought them in 1947, then added Lagonda and Tickford to the group - and developed the first DB cars. Lamborghini is a tractor company too...
devil's advocate
Good news
Uncertainties about the future removed for now.
Evo_ermine
@Paulius - I couldn't have
@Paulius - I couldn't have said it better myself.
devil's advocate
@Paulius - I couldn't have
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