Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) investors has approved the spin-off of its luxury sports car manufacturer, Ferrari NV – a move that comes after an initial public offering (IPO) of 10% of the Italian marque’s shares was completed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Wall Street in October. Plans to list Ferrari on the Italian stock market have also been set in motion.
Currently, 80% of Ferrari’s shares are parked under the FCA, 10% are publically traded, while the remaining 10% is held by Piero Ferrari, son of company founder, Enzo Ferrari. FCA’s remaining stake will be distributed within Ferrari to its own investors starting early next year, effectively completing the de-merger of Ferrari from the Italian-American group.
Even though Ferrari will soon be trading independently, it will need to demonstrate that a supercar maker is able to operate on its own, without a large group pumping capital into it. This includes companies like Koenigsegg and Pagani. Other carmakers like Lamborghini and Bentley meanwhile, are both under the Volkswagen Group.
Sergio Marchionne, FCA’s CEO and current chairman of Ferrari, plans to increase the carmaker’s yearly output. The move contradicts a strategy put in place by previous chariman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo of intentionally restricting production to heighten the sports car’s scarcity value. Last year, Ferrari sold 7,300 cars but Marchionne plans to increase that number to 9,000 by 2019.
“An independent Ferrari will be better positioned to realise its potential and will have increased access to capital,” Marchionne told shareholders, according to the Wall Street Journal. The spin-off will also help FCA reduce its debt and fund growth, including a 48 billion euro five-year investment plan for new cars.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
