The Swedish managers of Volvo Car Corp. are reportedly
preparing a management buyout should Ford Motor Co. put the company on the
block, according to Thomson Financial and various blog reports. Automotive
blog Motor Authority has taken the liberty of translating Swedish press
reports as the source of the rumors. Evidently management would acquire the
company partially through private equity, and a flotation on the Stockholm
bourse. The report also suggested that Ford would continue to hold a minority
stake of up to 15%. However, the management team would have an uphill battle
winning an auction considering the rumors that BMW AG and Cerberus Capital
Management LP, new owner of Chrysler Corp., are ready to jump at the chance to
acquire Volvo. Of course with debt markets in turmoil, and
Ford
turning a profit last quarter, odds are Ford will wait to sell its
European jewel. —Matthew Wurtzel
See
story from Thomson via CNNmoney
See
post from Motor Authority
See
post from Autoblog
See
Ford Dealwatch
Tags: Ford,
automobiles,
Volvo
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