Governo iraniano pretende comprar MG-Rover
25 de Abril de 2005
O governo iraniano vai apresentar aquela que será a primeira proposta para a compra da falida MG-Rover, numa clara tentativa de fazer destas duas marcas um grupo automóvel estatal.
Reuters
Iran says it wants to revitalise MG Rover
April 25, 2005
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it was still interested in buying MG Rover, and hoped to breathe new life into the collapsed carmaker rather than just strip it of assets as one Iranian automaker suggested.
Britain's century-old carmaker, which once made sturdy Land Rovers and sleek MG sports cars, stopped production after failing to secure a rescue deal, an embarrassing blow to Prime Minister Tony Blair in the run-up to next month's parliamentary elections.
"Some talks have been held; we're now in the assessment stage to see what the ceding terms are," Iran's Minister of Industries and Mines, Eshaq Jahangiri, told reporters.
"We reckon our auto industry is capable of reforming a troubled European carmaker and churning out a car to world markets under the same brand," he said.
Iran Khodro, the Middle East's largest carmaker, has said acquiring Rover would not fit with its plans. SAIPA, Iran's second-biggest, has said it would be interested in salvaging parts from the British firm.
But Jahangiri said a full buy-out could still be on the cards, particularly if Iran were to team up with other Asian countries.
"I think Iran and China, and maybe India at a later stage, can manufacture some Rover parts in their countries," he told reporters.
Iran Khodro and China signed a contract on Sunday to jointly produce the Samand, Iran's new national car, in China.
After news broke on Friday about Iranian interest in buying the collapsed British firm, the conservative press voiced its objections, recalling what it called the "Talbot story".
In the late 1970s Iran bought the production lines to manufacture the boxy Paykan, formerly the Hillman Hunter made by the Talbot company.
"By buying that collapsed company then and transferring its outdated technology, Iran rescued the company, but held its auto industry back for 40 years," the hardline Kayhan daily wrote on Saturday.
Paykan production will end next month, the minister said.
Iran Khodro now has ambitious plans to produce a million cars a year by 2011 and has begun setting up factories in the Middle East, Africa and former Soviet states.
"This is not a story like the Paykan. I don't think they want to sell the production line for the car to be manufactured elsewhere," Jahangiri said, explaining Britain's priority would be protecting domestic jobs.
"The British government will be looking for someone who can re-launch Rover there (in Britain)," he added.
Jahangiri said Rover's research centre could still design cars after an Asian takeover. Some of the parts would then be produced in Iran, China and India before being assembled back in Britain under the Rover brand.
He said an Asian solution would bring down prices.
"It's Rover's best bet," he concluded.
Jahangiri did not comment on whether London's close relations with Washington, Iran's arch-foe, would present a political obstacle to any potential Iranian buy-out.
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Martin Moseley apresenta proposta para aquisição da MG-Rover
18 de Maio de 2005
O multi-milionário Martin Moseley é o novo concorrente na corrida para a compra do grupo MG-Rover.
icBirmingham
“I love Rover so much I'll buy the company”
May 18, 2005
By Jon Griffin, Evening Mail
MIDLAND millionaire Martin Moseley likes MG Rover so much he wants to buy the company!
The Hockley Heath haulage boss, who was once an apprentice at Longbridge, has tabled a 400 million dollar takeover bid for the entire car plant.
So keen is Mr Moseley on MG Rover cars that he owns eight of them himself and has banned any other make of vehicle from coming onto his company car park.
Today he claimed that if his bid was successful he would re-hire about 4,000 workers and rename MG Rover as the Crusader Motor Company.
The 50-year-old businessman says cash from a Taiwanese tycoon has been offered as security for the deal and claims he could relaunch volume car production at Longbridge within 45 days.
His legal adviser, Bearwood-based Fatema Patwa, confirmed a bid had been submitted to administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers in time for last Friday's deadline.
Mr Moseley, who is boss of Olton International Freight at Hockley Heath, said: "I have not got any ulterior motive. I do not want big salaries or big houses - I already have them. It's not impossible for an individual like me to take on this lot. My role is to get this company up and running and to get people to buy these cars. Longbridge is the last jewel in our crown, but the plant is slowly being chipped away and let go. I have got the money to buy the plant - 400 million dollars of it. I have come up with the money, there's nobody else who has been able to do that."
But Mr Moseley claimed his rescue plan was being blocked by PwC who had refused to meet him, despite assurances over the necessary cash guarantees.
"I am trying to buy this place and they are trying to stop it. I have got the money, but it seems I can't buy it. Why not? Am I supposed to sit back and say 'take Rover to Tehran?'"
His lawyer Fatema Patwa said: "We want to buy Rover intact, the whole of it. The bid is supported by a guarantee from a multimillionaire tycoon in Taiwan. That money will act as security for borrowings. The plan is to keep MG Rover cars in production until new models are brought in. They have accepted our bid but they want more information. We have not met the administrators face to face, but it is not for want of trying."
Birmingham historian and Phoenix Trust trustee Carl Chinn said: "The Moseley family has been involved in Midland business for 100 years - it is good to see them coming forward with these plans." Mr Moseley, who was today due to meet Advantage West Midlands chief executive John Edwards to discuss his plans, said he was convinced Longbridge had a future.
PwC spokeswoman Jenny Britton said: "We never comment on individual expressions of interest received - we are not in a position to do that."
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Price Waterhouse Coopers dá a primeira conferência de imprensa
20 de Maio de 2005
A empresa Price Waterhouse Coopers concedeu a sua primeira conferência de imprensa desde que assumiu a administração judicial provisória da MG-Rover. No comunicado a empresa informa que está a avaliar propostas para a compra do grupo automóvel britânico.
PWC Press Release
May 20, 2005
MG Rover Group Limited and subsidiary companies (in administration) -update by the joint administrators-20 May 2005 20/05/2005 13:11
The joint administrators of MG Rover Group Limited asked potential bidders to provide proof of funds for their bids by the end of last week and have spent this week examining these. Interest in the MG TF sports car business has been narrowed down to three potentially viable proposals, which will now be explored in detail to see if one of these can be transacted, and discussions for the sale of the rest of the business and assets are continuing with two credible interested parties.
Rob Hunt, joint administrator and partner PricewaterhouseCoopers said:
“We are still discussing a sale of the rest of the business and assets with two credible interested parties. They are particularly concerned to understand what rights SAIC or other third parties have in physical assets at Longbridge and in the intellectual property rights. We can now provide them with a lot more positive information regarding these points as we have further examined the matter.”
“While there is still an outside possibility that some form of car production could recommence at Longbridge, the cost and complexity of the challenge should not be underestimated. Engine production would be a lesser, but still very demanding, challenge. The potential buyers are known to be looking at the alternative scenarios of continuing production at Longbridge or relocating it elsewhere.”
“While efforts to sell the business continue, we are progressively downsizing the support functions in order to further reduce costs. Around 400 people are still employed at MG Rover, helping us mothball the facilities and support car sales activities in the UK and Europe. A further 110 people are employed at Powertrain undertaking similar roles.”
“We will be posting letters to creditors early next week, notifying them of a meeting on 10 June at which we will report on the companies' affairs.”
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Honda pondera compra da marca MG
24 de Maio de 2005
Uma delegação japonesa da Honda esteve este mês em Longbridge para tentar adquirir a marca MG, mas não o grupo MG-Rover. Não são conhecidos pormenores sobre as negociações entre o construtor japonês e a Price Waterhouse Coopers (empresa que administra provisóriamente a MG-Rover).
Autocar
May 24, 2005
Autocar has been told that a Honda delegation from Japan paid a visit to part of of the closed Longbridge factory in mid-May. The delegation is said to have been accompanied by senior trade union officials.
Although there is no chance of Honda rescuing the defunct MG Rover operation, it is possible that Honda might have an interest in the MG brand itself. Despite years of trying, Honda has never had great success selling sports cars under its own name. Neither the NSX supercar or the S2000 roadster made a breakthrough in global markets. Indeed the NSX is said to have been inspired by the aluminium, mid-engined V6 Austin-Rover-built MG EX-E concept of 1986.
The same source revealed that MGR's paint shop is under orders to remain on standby by 'keeping the paint fresh', although there's no clue as far as to why.
Meanwhile, the German autopress is awash with rumours that MGR's erstwhile partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, is set to move in on Fiat Auto.
Despite strong denials from Fiat, reports suggest that SAIC, possibly in tandem with other Chinese car makers, is set to try to take a stake in the Italian company this autumn. Fiat Auto has to repay a £2bn loan to six banks by this September, or it will be converted into shares, further diluting Fiat's autonomy. It's being suggested that Chinese makers could swoop and offer to inject the £2bn in exchange for a significant stake in Fiat Auto.
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