Autoblog

Just about a year ago we reported that former Ford CEO, Jacques Nasser, was interested in possibly buying Land Rover and Jaguar. It was kind of ironic, given the fact that Nasser had been instrumental in the acquisition of LR and Volvo during his tenure at Ford. Well, it's deja vu all over again as word has spread that Nasser is set to tour those British companies in the very near future. Working under JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s One Equity Partners LLC, he is expected to meet with trade union officials while there to discuss a possible purchase. No comment from Ford yet.

One Equity is seen as a master of the quick flip, having banked a 79% gain on Polaroid when they sold it after just two years of ownership recently. We're not sure what their plans for the two marques would be, but reports seem to indicate that One Equity wants Ford to retain 30% to 50% of these firms to "ensure security of engines and parts supplies." When Ford shed Aston Martin earlier this year, Ford retained a 15% stake in the company. So Nasser sets up PAG while with Ford and might end up having a hand in it being dismantled. Interesting world.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

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]

The investment group at which Jacques Nasser is senior partner for mergers and acquisitions is in talks with the former Ford CEO's ex-employer to purchase Jaguar and Land Rover, according to four people said to be familiar with the situation by Bloomberg. The sources go on to say that the talks are very cordial thanks to the fact that Nasser has been on good terms with Bill Ford, Ford's current CEO and Nasser's successor, ever since he was relieved of his duties at the company's helm in October of 2001. It's an ironic twist of events considering that during his tenure at Ford, Nasser oversaw the purchase of Volvo and Land Rover at a time when it was believed that PAG would account for a substantial portion of the Blue Oval's overall profit.

Nasser's investment group is JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s One Equity Partners LLC. The firm has a track record of turning companies around quickly and making a profit. In 2002, Nasser and the group bought Polaroid for $238 million and flipped it just last year for $426 million.

The sources cited by Bloomberg also say that regardless of Ford's current situation, the Volvo brand is not being considered for sale.

Check out the full Bloomberg article here, as it dives deep into this story by also covering the current speculation that Ford may go private, yesterday's news that JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford has also expressed interest in purchasing Jaguar, and the news this morning that Robert Rubin, chairman of Citigroup, Inc., has resigned his seat on Ford's board of directors.

[Source: Bloomberg]