Ferrari

30.09.2006 Fiat raises its interest in Ferrari S.p.A. to 85 percent

Fiat has finally come to agreement to repurchase the 28 percent of Ferrari shares which are currently held by a consortium of banks headed by Italian institution Mediobanca. The issue is now finally resolved four years after Fiat originally sold the minority stake, and three months after a "call option" to buy back the shares expired, but which was extended to the end of September. The matter was also further clouded by a 5 percent stake that was sold in the intervening period by Mediobanca to the government of Abu Dhabi owned Mubadala Development Company, who will retain their stake, although Fiat holds a further "call option" on this also.

"Fiat today exercised its call option to buy back from Mediobanca and the other members of the consortium 2.3 million Ferrari shares, or 28.63 percent of the share capital, thereby raising to 85 percent its interest in Ferrari S.p.A.," a statement issued by the Fiat Group in Turin yesterday read. "The call option was provided for by the agreements signed on the occasion of the sale which took place in 2002. The exercise price of the option amounts to approximately €892 million, to be paid upon closing expected within the next several days.
 

FERRARI F430 SPIDER

The issue of the Mediobanca shares is now resolved four years after Fiat originally sold its stake, and three months after a "call option" to buy back the shares expired, but which was extended to the end of September. Above: Ferrari F430 Spider at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

FERRARI 599 GTB FIORANO

Fiat has finally come to agreement to repurchase the 28 percent of Ferrari shares which are currently held by a consortium of banks headed by Mediobanca. Above: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.


"Mubadala Development Company, which currently owns an approximately 5% stake in Ferrari S.p.A., on which Fiat holds a call option, will remain a member of the Ferrari shareholder base, notably in connection with the important project currently underway for the development of a theme park dedicated to the Prancing Horse in Abu Dhabi," the statement continued.

"Fiat will repurchase the Ferrari shares through the use of available cash resources, without resort to the capital markets for new financing. Reflecting its healthy operating performance and recent disposals of non-strategic assets, the Company enjoys a strong cash position. Today’s transaction is part of the Group’s strategy to focus on its core business and enhance all its automotive activities, among which Ferrari stands as an undisputedly prestigious and world-renowned brand for its high technological content," it concluded.
 

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14.09.2006

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed yesterday that the Turin carmaking group will buy back a stake in Ferrari from investment bank Mediobanca by the end of September, reports Italian news agency ANSA

© 2006 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed