Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Aston Martin back up for sale?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/aston-martin-back-up-for-sale/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/aston-martin-back-up-for-sale/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/aston-martin-back-up-for-sale/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

It's been a busy few years for Aston Martin. Back in May of 2007, the British sportscar company was sold by Ford to a consortium of investors, including Kuwaiti firm Investment Dar and its partner Adeem Investment Company. Ever since, the grapevine has swirled regarding the future of Mr. Bond's favorite automaker, with the rumormill hitting a fever-pitch as of late with whispers that up to 20% of Dar's stake is available for bidding.

Aston Martin's future product chips all seem to be on the table already, with thr new four-door Panamera-fighting Rapide, Lagonda uber-luxury sedan and One-77 supercar all waiting in the wings. Of course, all of that development work is expensive, and times are already tough. If an agreement is struck, Dar would be looking to either profit from selling a portion of Aston or for an instant infusion to its current stable of technology. We wonder if Mercedes-Benz, which has both cash and engineering expertise, may be involved in any potential deal.

Gallery: First Drive: 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage


[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Aston Martin back up for sale? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martinaston martin saleAstonMartinAstonMartinSaleinvestment darInvestmentDarMon, 15 Dec 2008 16:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford says final price for Aston Martin was actually $931 million]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/ford-says-final-price-for-aston-martin-was-actually-931-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/ford-says-final-price-for-aston-martin-was-actually-931-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/ford-says-final-price-for-aston-martin-was-actually-931-million/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Automotive News just reported that Ford received a total of $931 million for Aston Martin when it sold the British premium GT maker earlier this year. We had previously put the purchase price at $870 million after reducing it from the initial rumor of $965 million. Confused yet? Good, so are we. Basically all we need to know at this point is that Ford received $931 million for Aston Martin, in the form of cash and preferred stock in Primrose Cove Ltd. Primrose Cove is the name of the holding company that purchased Aston for its group of investors. Among those investors are Kuwait investment firms Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co., as well as Prodrive's David Richards, and banker and Aston racer, John Sinders. The sale price amounted to a pretax gain of $187 million for Ford, and pretty much matched their March 12 statement that the company would be getting $848 million plus keep a $77 million stake in the company. Can you tell it's a slow news day?

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

Ford says final price for Aston Martin was actually $931 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aston Martin saleAstonMartinSalePrimrose Cove Ltd.PrimroseCoveLtd.ProdriveWed, 08 Aug 2007 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Aston Martin may sell for $100 million less than previously thought]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/09/aston-martin-about-to-sell-for-just-870-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/09/aston-martin-about-to-sell-for-just-870-million/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/09/aston-martin-about-to-sell-for-just-870-million/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The Detroit News just reported that the winning bid for Aston Martin might be a little lower than we originally thought. The group of investors led by Prodrive's David Richards is about to close the deal for about £450 million ($870 million). That's a full 10 percent lower than we just reported yesterday. The £500 million guess would have been half of Ford's initial asking price for the British luxury sports car maker. Whatever the final price, we still believe Ford will keep an interest in Aston Martin, as it is A-M's number one parts supplier. Also, Ulrich Bez should stay on as chief, despite having submitted his own bid for the company.

As the company already running the racing team for Aston-Martin, Prodrive would consolidate management and ownership of the company's headquarters, research and production facilities in Gaydon, England. Aston Martin is a small but valuable marque that has links to not only racing prowess, but to James Bond, as well. That image is priceless to some and apparently worth about $870 million to others.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Aston Martin may sell for $100 million less than previously thought originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aston Martin saleAstonMartinSaleDavid RichardsDavidRichardsProdriveUlrich BenzUlrich BezUlrichBenzUlrichBezFri, 09 Mar 2007 15:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Motor Trend: Aston Martin sold, but maybe not to LVMH]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/motor-trend-aston-martin-sold-but-maybe-not-to-lvmh/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/motor-trend-aston-martin-sold-but-maybe-not-to-lvmh/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/02/motor-trend-aston-martin-sold-but-maybe-not-to-lvmh/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Motor Trend is disputing yesterday's published reports that Brit luxury/sports car manufacturer Aston Martin will be sold to Louis Vuitton. According to MT, which cites "well-placed" UK sources, Aston's bags are packed and ready to leave Ford, but they do not have that iconic "LV" logo on them. Apparently the buyer is a group of high-finance types we've never heard of. They're set to pony up around $1 billion for the storied automaker.

The sale is said to include the factory, and Ford is still expected to retain a stake in the company. Motor Trend can't resist needling Autobild and the blogosphere for (supposedly) getting the buyer wrong. (Marketwatch, the major outlet that ran the story yesterday, gets a pass.) Somewhat ironically, MT uses its own blog to get its version of the Aston saga out to the public.

UPDATE: MT has updated their post to reference the Marketwatch story that many outlets (including Autoblog) picked up on and reported.

UPDATE 2: LVMH has dismissed reports that it is the buyer for Aston Martin as "pure rubbish."

[Source: Motor Trend]

Motor Trend: Aston Martin sold, but maybe not to LVMH originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Feb 2007 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aston martin saleAstonMartinSalelouis vuittonLouisVuittonmotor trendMotorTrendFri, 02 Feb 2007 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Did you get your bid in? Auction closed for sale of Aston Martin]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/did-you-get-your-bid-in-auction-closed-for-sale-of-aston-martin/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/did-you-get-your-bid-in-auction-closed-for-sale-of-aston-martin/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/30/did-you-get-your-bid-in-auction-closed-for-sale-of-aston-martin/#commentsFiled under: ,



Did you get your bid in? Hope you didn't put it off to the last minute and let it slip by. After all, this IS one of the coolest car companies on the planet. Just think of yourself being able to say, "I liked the car so much, I bought the company!" And even better is the knowledge that it might not be losing as much money as you may have thought when you first considered your bid. The bidding for Aston Martin is just about to close and we will hopefully have the winning bidders name for you as soon as it is released.

The sale of Aston Martin initially attracted more than 30 bidders, but it is believed that the final contenders are the James Packer led consortium, another led by current Aston boss Ulrich Bez, and a bid led by Syrian-born billionaire Simon Halabi. According to Autocar, others in the running include equity groups from the UK and Magna, the Canadian component manufacturer. The investment bank handling the sale, UBS, had asked that all final bids be submitted by today.

[Source: Autocar]

Related Posts:

Did you get your bid in? Auction closed for sale of Aston Martin originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aston Martin saleAstonMartinSaleJames PackerJamesPackerMagnaPremier Automotive GroupPremierAutomotiveGroupUBSTue, 30 Jan 2007 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Line to buy Ford's Aston Martin grows]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/29/line-to-buy-fords-aston-martin-grows/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/29/line-to-buy-fords-aston-martin-grows/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/29/line-to-buy-fords-aston-martin-grows/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



At least five potential Aston Martin buyers have now whipped out their platinum cards in anticipation of taking the esteemed carmaker off Ford's hands. One London banker said, "The interesting question is whether this is just going to be a scrap between the rich men of Russia and the rich men of the Middle East." It's interesting to note the plethora of former Ford execs hoping to get a piece of Aston.

List of potential bidders after the jump.

[Source: thebusinessonline.com]

Continue reading Line to buy Ford's Aston Martin grows

Line to buy Ford's Aston Martin grows originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Oct 2006 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albert frereAlbertFrereaston martinaston martin saleaston martin vanquishAstonMartinAstonMartinSaleAstonMartinVanquishbernard arnaultBernardArnaultcerberus capitalCerberusCapitaldavid thursfieldDavidThursfieldfordford of europeFordOfEuropeistithmarjacques nasserJacquesNasserldvmagmamartin leachMartinLeachpagpremiere auto groupPremiereAutoGroupulich bezUlichBezSun, 29 Oct 2006 13:30:00 EST