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Tata to buy minority stake in Pininfarina

04/28/2008, 11:01 AM

By Drew Johnson

India’s Tata Motors has really been on the move as of late. The Indian automaker first unveiled the world’s cheapest car — the Nano – and then purchased the Jaguar and Land Rover luxury brands from Ford. Tata has also expressed an interest in purchasing a stake in Ferrari and now comes word that Tata is planning to take a minority stake in Pininfarina.

According to Automotive News, Tata will partner with French industrial group Bollore to take a minority stake in the Italian design and engineering firm.

It remains unclear exactly how much the stake will be worth, but Pininfarina’s shareholders are expected to approve a 100 million euro capital increase on Tuesday.

Pininfarina is in the midst of some financial trouble, with losses growing to 115 million euros last year — up from a 22 million euro loss in 2006.

Despite the investment by Tata and Bollore, the Pininfarina family will still be the majority shareholder in the company, although their stake will fall from 55 percent to about 30.

Pininfarina is best known for its work with Ferrari, but the Italian company currently sees about 30 percent of its business from Chinese automakers.

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04/28, 11:08 AM

posted by:

xyunya

I see the crafting of empire. Automotive empire.

04/28, 11:10 AM

posted by:

corvette

might Tata be on the path of GM. buying up to much with not enough to pay it all back, banks come in take the company over and boot Ratan off the top spot.

04/28, 11:15 AM

posted by:

xyunya

Tata is a family conglomerate. $180 mils is a pocket change for the group.

04/28, 11:49 AM

posted by:

xyunya

Isn’t it a forum for car lovers? HemiRoadRunner confused it with his beloved KKK site again. It is not his fault: having sibling parents and beating in childhood produces that sort of specimen. Perhaps not very human, but then grandparents did not need wheels: they moved around on all 4’s (West Virginia 4 wheel drive).

04/28, 11:56 AM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

What’s the old saying? How do you make a small fortune in (fill in the blank)? Start off with a large one. Go ahead Tata, spend your brains out. Although I hardly think you need Pininfarina to style more turds on wheels like the Nano.

04/28, 12:54 PM

posted by:

441Zuke

” the new Nano styled by Pininfarina powered by a lawnmower engine”

04/28, 1:01 PM

posted by:

HemiRoadRunner

Waaaaaahhhhhhhhh, xyunya’s feelings are hurt because I made fun of some indians. I see my comments got erased, so much for freedom of opinion you communists. Is it cool to be the nerdy guy that supports people ruining EVERY productive country in the world? I guess it’s also soooo cool to call someone a racist nowadays, I hope, for your sake, I never catch you out on the street.

04/28, 1:11 PM

posted by:

roger426

I dont understand why Pinfirina would approve 100 mil euro, I dont think allowing Tata to buy or increase shares is a good idea…there already going to decrease jag and land rover’s sales because of there cheap image.

04/28, 1:20 PM

posted by:

xyunya

HemiGeneticMistake, you better hope that you don’t cross my street for your personal safety. The fun of Indians would not offend me if it would be funny. You must be hoot to listen in your toothless family, but for humans who walk upright for many generations you just an inbreed with bad personal hygiene. I did not call you racist: I called you a retard who is not responsible for his faults due to genetic misfortunes.

04/28, 1:26 PM

posted by:

roger426

Hemi and Xyunaya…little of subject!

04/28, 1:35 PM

posted by:

xyunya

My apologies. True enough.

04/28, 1:47 PM

posted by:

HemiRoadRunner

Dude, I would LOVE to cross your path, I only hope your as bad as you think you are so I can take my time. Your redneck comments make you sound like a typical goofy @$$ nerd that has no clue what they’re even talking about. Why don’t you just go live in the ghetto with your buddies that you love so much. As far as hygiene goes, your mother doesn’t mind.

04/28, 1:54 PM

posted by:

xyunya

HemiDegenerate, it is nice to see progress in your species. Keep up the good work, I’ll watch you on animal planet; wait do you know what TV is? As far you wondering in my neck of the woods – I don’t have to worry: how far can you travel on all 4? It’s getting cold up here as well.

04/28, 2:51 PM

posted by:

K-Factor

Dont know how Tata is working or what it is aiming for, but it seems to be dominating! Lets see what happens in coming time. I notice a pattern that Tata may be attracted to vulnerable companies. This is probably a business strategy which may bring them to the top.

04/28, 3:28 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

The name “Tata” just makes me laugh. Not because of the product, but because it’s just a goofy name.

04/28, 4:10 PM

posted by:

lamboz get a life

The new limo version will be called the “Grand Tatas”

04/28, 6:36 PM

posted by:

DeansterTJ

I don’t see what the big deal is. Maybe they’re looking for Pininfarina to style some new Jags or something.

04/28, 7:23 PM

posted by:

sharpie

Good for Tata. Everybody owns a stake in another company, so really this is common practice. Perhaps it is only news because this is an Indian company and not the usual from a developed nation.

04/28, 9:36 PM

posted by:

autonut

Tata is doing what any other billionaire on Forbes list does: making more money and having fun doing it. Guy loves cars, has few billions to burn. What 100 EU millions for a guy who has tens of billions? For him buying piece of Pininfarina is like for us buying a pair of sneakers.

04/28, 9:41 PM

posted by:

Veda

Buy a stake in Pininfarina, have them design all Tata cars and have the Chinese pay for their designs as well though their Asian connections. It might just work, especially since getting them when they’re doing badly is certainly good timing.

04/28, 10:38 PM

posted by:

nite41

Well Tata is just buying a minor stake! So all those worried about Tata taking over Pininfarina can sit back, for now. I think, when Tata puts his attention to a thing, he get it sooner or later. So i assume, in the future, he’ll end up buying a majority stake in Pininfarina. I also read somewhere else that Tata is looking to buy a minority share in MV Augusta! Man is on fire! lol! He wants bikes and cars, both! lol! What’s next? A stake in Airbus? I assume that may be the case. Airbus isn’t doing that well anyways!

04/29, 7:20 AM

posted by:

JohnnyBlazE

LOL While the western world is in TURMOIL, crying their eyes out because Indians can afford to buy **** they can’t, HHR bitches about “meeting” people in person to do what exactly??

Lube up lads, the redneck assfocker is in town.

04/29, 7:21 AM

posted by:

JohnnyBlazE

FFS these people got me typing HHR instead of HRR, but you know who you are asshat

04/29, 8:31 AM

posted by:

HemiRoadRunner

^^^^ Ok Ghostrider, go read some more of your Marvel comics geek boy.

04/29, 8:32 AM

posted by:

HemiRoadRunner

Have fun making minimum wage the rest of your life too because nothing will be built here anymore.

04/29, 9:14 AM

posted by:

xyunya

Hey HemiRetard go change bed pan in room 441, old lady gives good tips to substitute your income.

JohnnyBlazeE, good call!

04/29, 9:23 AM

posted by:

HemiRoadRunner

^^^ See, I knew you were a bunch of nerds trying to be cool. Do I need any other evidence? Now go give the 7-11 cashier a tug job.

04/29, 1:23 PM

posted by:

xyunya

And don’t forget diaper in 237, you f*ing Nazi boy.

04/30, 7:43 AM

posted by:

JohnnyBlazE

I’m in the UK HRR, and here nothing is built anymore, practically.

I don’t do minimum wage; I work for people who own buildings you couldn’t afford in a million years, not even the £12m rent for one year for one of our buildings… I happen to be working in the group for a successful, floated company with a propery portfolio worth over $22bn USD (as a safe guestimate) in a position where I get benefits, bonuses etc… Not minimum wage by a long shot.

04/30, 8:50 AM

posted by:

HemiRoadRunner

Sure, you sound like a little rich snob who uses their boss’s money to make you sound impressive. Well I work for a company that you couldn’t even begin to think about buying in a bilion years………

 
 
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