H Fiat ίσως θα μπορέσει να βρει τα απαραίτητα μετρητά μέσα στον Μάιο, έτσι ώστε να εξαγοράσει το υπόλοιποι 41,5% των μετοχών της Chrysler, το οποίο σήμερα κατέχεται από το UAW (United Auto Workers). Σύμφωνα με ανώνυμες πηγές, η ιταλική αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία βρίσκεται σε προχωρημένες συζητήσεις με τις τράπεζες έτσι ώστε αυτές να την χρηματοδοτήσουν για να εξαγοράσει το υπόλοιπο ποσοστό το οποίο κοστολογείται κοντά στα $3,5 με $4 δις δολάρια.
Η συμφωνία με τις τράπεζες αναμένεται να ολοκληρωθεί μέχρι τα τέλη του επόμενου μήνα, με την Fiat να αντλεί κοντά στα 4 δις δολάρια (3 δις ευρώ) έτσι ώστε να ολοκληρώσει την εξαγορά από το UAW στις αρχές Ιουλίου. Ο Sergio Marchionne, CEO τόσο της Fiat όσο και της Chrysler, στόχος του είναι με τη συγχώνευση των δύο εταιριών να γίνει η 7η μεγαλύτερη αυτοκινητοβιομηχανία του κόσμου, ενώ με αυτόν τον τρόπο θα μπορέσει να χρησιμοποιήσει τα κεφάλαια της Chrysler, για λογαριασμό της Fiat.
H Fiat είχε ταμειακά διαθέσιμα 9 δις ευρώ στις 31/12 του 2012, αλλά επέλεξε να αυξήσει τη χρηματοδότηση της, έτσι ώστε να διατηρήσει τη πιστοληπτική της ικανότητα. Στόχος του Marchionne ήταν με τη συγχώνευση των δύο εταιριών να αποφύγει την αρχική δημόσια εγγραφή (IPO) στο χρηματιστήριο, αλλά δεν αποκλείεται τελικά η Fiat-Chrylser, να μπει στο χρηματιστήριο, αν η Fiat και το UAW δεν καταλήξουν σε συμφωνία.
Στις σχετικές ειδήσεις, η Chrysler ανακοίνωσε πως θα επενδύσει σχεδόν 20 εκατ. δολάρια στο εργοστάσιο της στο Toledo, έτσι ώστε αυξήσει την ικανότητα παραγωγής των μετατροπέων ροπής αλλά και των νέων 9-τάχυτων αυτόματων κιβωτίων, ενώ παρουσίασε κέρδη 166 εκατ. δολαρίων κατά το πρώτο τρίμηνο του έτους.
[Πηγή: The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Chrysler]
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Chrysler Group Plans to Invest Nearly $20 Million in Toledo Machining Plant
- Investment to increase capacity for production of torque converters for new generation, fuel-efficient nine-speed transmission
- Company’s total investment in U.S. facilities over $5.2 billion since June 2009
April 26, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC announced today that it will invest $19.6 million in its Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg, Ohio, to increase capacity of the torque converter it’s machining for the nine-speed transmission. With this announcement, the Company’s total investments in its U.S. operations since June 2009 increase to over $5.2 billion.
The new torque converters will be paired with the next generation, fuel efficient nine-speed front-wheel drive transmission being assembled at Chrysler Group’s Indiana (Kokomo, Ind.) Transmission Plant I. The new transmission will debut in the 2014 Jeep® Cherokee.
“The new nine-speed transmission is a critical part of our strategy to meet fuel economy requirements over the next several years and Toledo Machining will play an integral role in bringing this transmission to market,” said Scott Garberding, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, Chrysler Group LLC. “Securing this additional investment is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the plant’s workforce and helps secure its future long-term.”
The investment will fund the installation of new equipment and tooling for additional machining and assembly capacity. Installation is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2014 and will be completed by the end of 2014.
In August 2011, a $72 million investment in Toledo Machining was announced to modernize the plant to produce the eight- and nine-speed torque converters on two new production lines and a new steering column for the Dodge Dart and Jeep Cherokee. These installations will be complete in the third quarter this year.
“We’re very pleased that Chrysler is once again investing in the Toledo Machining Plant and the skilled workforce there,” said General Holiefield, Vice President and Director, UAW Chrysler Department. “This will help preserve and enhance jobs in the area and give a greater measure of security to our members and their families well into the future.”
In February, the Company announced that it was investing $374 million in several of its Kokomo, Ind., facilities, including establishing a new manufacturing site in Tipton, Ind., to increase production capacity of the nine-speed transmission.
Toledo Machining currently produces torque converters for Kokomo Transmission (Ind.), Indiana Transmission I and II (Kokomo, Ind.), Sterling Heights Assembly (Mich.), and Toluca (Mex.).
The plant also produces steering columns for the following assembly plants: Warren Truck (Mich.), Belvidere (Ill.), Sterling Heights (Mich.), Toledo Assembly Complex (Ohio); Windsor (Ont.), Toluca (Mex.), Saltillo (Mex.), Arab American Vehicles (Egypt) and Carabobo (Venezuela).
Chrysler Group Reported First-Quarter 2013 Net Income of $166 Million
Modified Operating Profit Was $435 Million, From $740 Million a Year Ago, and Free Cash Flow Was $356 Million on Lower Shipments As Key Products Launch
Group Confirms Guidance for the Year
- Chrysler Group net income in the first quarter of 2013 was $166 million, versus $473 million a year ago
- As anticipated, results were affected by lower vehicle shipments as well as industrial costs related to several key product launches, and lower vehicle shipments to Europe and Latin America, even as retail sales in North America remain strong
- Net revenue for the quarter was $15.4 billion, compared with $16.4 billion a year ago
- Modified Operating Profit(a) was $435 million in the first quarter, down from $740 million a year earlier, with shipments improving each month of the quarter as the Company executed the launches of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2013 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks
- Free Cash Flow(d) for the first quarter totaled $356 million; Cash(c) as of March 31, 2013, was $11.9 billion, compared with $11.3 billion a year ago and $11.6 billion at Dec. 31, 2012
- Net Industrial Debt(e) was $619 million at March 31, 2013, improving from $1.3 billion a year ago and $1.0 billion at Dec. 31, 2012
- Worldwide vehicle shipments were 574,000 for the quarter, down from 607,000 a year ago, principally due to 31,000 fewer Jeep Liberty shipments as production ceased during 2012 in preparation for the production launch of the all-new Jeep Cherokee in the second quarter
- Strong worldwide vehicle sales for the first quarter of 563,000, up 8 percent from a year ago, were driven primarily by a 12 percent increase in U.S. retail sales
- U.S. market share was 11.4 percent for the first quarter, compared with 11.2 percent a year ago; Chrysler Group was the quarterly market leader in Canada with a 16.0 percent share, up from 15.0 percent a year ago
- Chrysler Group confirms its guidance for the year, including worldwide shipments of 2.6 million to 2.7 million, Modified Operating Profit of approximately $3.8 billion and net income of approximately $2.2 billion
April 29, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC today reported its preliminary 2013 first-quarter results, including net income of $166 million on revenue of $15.4 billion. As anticipated, the quarter was negatively affected by the reduced vehicle shipments that resulted from key product launches, namely the 2013 Ram Heavy Duty trucks and the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, as well as preparation for the second-quarter production launch of the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee. These actions are expected to position the Company for a strong performance in the second half of 2013. The first-quarter results mark the Company’s seventh consecutive quarter of positive net income, reflecting continued improvements in product acceptance, pricing discipline, and market share.
“We remain on track to achieve our business targets, even as the first-quarter results were affected by an aggressive product launch schedule,” said Chrysler Group LLC Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne. “This quarter underscores the importance of an unwavering commitment to execute flawless vehicle introductions to reach our full potential. While the task ahead this year is daunting, we remain committed to our overall targets, including a minimum shipment increase of 8 percent and a Modified Operating Profit of $3.8 billion.”
Revenue for the quarter was down 6 percent from $16.4 billion in the first quarter of 2012. The anticipated reduction was primarily attributable to lower shipments in the quarter due to the end of Jeep Liberty production in 2012 in preparation for the all-new 2014 Jeep Cherokee production launch in the second quarter, and the ongoing launches of the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2013 Ram Heavy Duty trucks. In addition, international shipments declined year-over-year due to continued economic weakness in Europe and import restrictions in Latin America.
Modified Operating Profit was $435 million, or 2.8 percent of revenue, in the first quarter, versus $740 million reported in the prior year. The decrease was attributable to reduced shipments, industrial costs related to the new vehicle launches, and a foreign currency exchange loss related to the February 2013 devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte relative to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by continued favorable net pricing in North America.
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