Tata buys Jaguar and Land Rover for US$2.3 billion

Jaguar LogoThe Jaguar and Land Rover deal has been sealed, and the two companies go to Tata Motors, which will pay US$2.3 billion for them. As part of the deal, Ford will inject US$600 million of the US$2.3 billion into the two companies’ pension funds, leaving about US$1.7 billion remaining for Ford’s coffers. Ford will have no stake in the companies after the sale is completed.

Most of the management team will be retained, and Ford will continue to supply Jaguar and Land Rover with powertrains and technology for the time being, depending on existing supply agreements. Ford Motor Credit Co will also provide financing for Jaguar and Land Rover dealers and customers for the period of up to 12 months. The deal includes the Rover, Daimler and Lanchester brand names.

Tata Motors says it was confident this investment would have a positive effect on its balance sheet in the long run. Shareholders do not seem to share these sentiments as Tata Motors shares dropped as much as 7.3% yesterday, finally settling on a 3.6% drop at the end of the day as analysts says the deal will be a strain on the balance sheet. As for Ford, the money will help it focus on turning around its North American operations, which are currently operating at a loss.

The other bids for Jaguar and Land Rover are former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser’s One Equity Partners, Ripplewood, and Texas Pacific Group, which was advised by Bob Dover, CEO of Jaguar and Land Rover between 2002 and 2003.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Roti Naan (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    well, finally the deal is made. All the best to TATA becoming one of the world leaders in Auto manufacturer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • ob8 (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    Tata introduces the Nano and later bought Jaguar and Land Rover as publicity stunt disguise as business strategies. Both doomed to fail. ohh.. from my crystal ball.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • corolla_KE70 (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 8:41 pm

    well, we just see what hapen in the future. i’m sure mr ratan tata will try his best to manage these two big names in the automotive industry..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • luqmanrohaizat (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 8:48 pm

    TATA + Land Rover= tata rover

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • nmh (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    Tata shud promise cheaper jags and landie

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • hyundai (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 9:50 pm

    Good job Tata!! Hope that Jaguar can be as popular as Mercedes-Benz…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • bolo (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    Every car manufacturer that have bought Jaguar and
    land rover got burnt.
    let’s see how long tata last!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • normaluser (Member) on Mar 28, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    Maybe Tata got the ‘cost advantage’ that can help revive the ailing Brit carmakers. Ford failed to squeeze profit out of Land Rover & Jaguar because of its failure to control costs, despite there have been some platform sharing & technology transfer. Similiar to Rover acquisition by SAC, I don’t expect that Tata can increase the brand’s popularity worldwide. Other than fresh capital injection & access to cheap labour, there’s little else that Tata can offer.

    Not all premium carmakers enjoy good profit margin despite the strong brand & quality. There have been speculations that Ford may sell Volvo too. Read this: http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSL2836370120070528?feedType=RSS

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mitlanevo (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 12:10 am

    make the price of Jaguar and Land Rover more affordable, please…..

    but of course must maintain quality….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • IsaacVky (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 12:50 am

    Proton should have bought them

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • johnson wong (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 1:23 am

    lalala

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Cyberkayu (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 1:26 am

    Tata Nano will have its varient

    Nano XKR which hav 420hp
    and
    Nano Range Rover which can go off road

    under the same Tata Nano shell~~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • chun (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 1:30 am

    I quite like the prospects of Land Rover and Jaguar. I believe that Land Rover has been profitable for the last three years and their 4X4’s are still the best around. And check out their new designs coming out, very cool. As for Jaguar, the perennial loss maker? I think their fortunes are going to turnaround quite soon. Look at the XF, an undoubtable success so far. And if you look at their upcoming cars, they look really nice too. If Tata leaves the guys at LR and Jaguar to do their stuff and provide them with the financial backing to do so, I would say the future is quite bright for these two brands.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • BW (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 4:01 am

    Wow 2 buah sekaligus eh? Hehe hope Tata will have a big improvements with landrover and jaguar’s technology

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mystvearn (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 4:20 am

    Only efficiency, cut cost, more working hours etc

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • azrai (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 7:37 am

    Another story of former british colonial state buying British icons. I just waiting when TATA decide to sell those two companies for 1 pound maybe. :-) Think about it. Ford is the company who benefit in this transaction more.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • sxe10r (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 8:23 am

    What the … TATA buough ~ Jaguar & Land Rover … almost the world 2 expensive brand … worldwide Jaguar & Land Rover ?? or Malaysia only ??? really shock for other … even the P1 also can’t affort to chery …

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Roti Naan (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 10:35 am

    hahaha…no need P1 buying anything.
    Many times before, proton got bailed by the GOVT after rugi here and there. Sooooo shameful- “Big boy” and still ask money from “papa” (GOVT)…and then bought a stupid ailing bike company.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • StingRayINC (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    TATA will come up with lousy JAGs and LAND ROVER TOY CAR, look at their history, bought over ROVER and came up with low quality hatch back, man….. i can’t imagine, unless they still remain those brilliant European Engineers….or else it like hiring roti canai and naan maker to assemble a car….just don’t ruin JAGs and Land Rover, ok…. stewpid american (ford)…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • altimi (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    I don’t think TATA can turn Land Rover and Jaguar to profit. If Ford can’t do it no one can….. so Bye Bye TATA.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • frequencymaniac (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Buy an XKR you will get a Tata Nano for free… Or maybe two, or three…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • frequencymaniac (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 2:06 pm

    Buy an XKR.. Get a Tata Nano for free.. Or maybe two, or three…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • corolla_KE70 (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 7:05 pm

    Roti Naan said,

    March 29, 2008 @ 10:35 am

    hahaha…no need P1 buying anything.
    Many times before, proton got bailed by the GOVT after rugi here and there. Sooooo shameful- “Big boy” and still ask money from “papa” (GOVT)…and then bought a stupid ailing bike company.

    ======================================

    the post is about TATA buying JAG and LAND ROVER..
    and suddenly here comes some basher with no points at all..
    pity you..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • lchan (Member) on Mar 29, 2008 at 7:57 pm

    haha..the irony it that now india owns the once proud british badge

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • engtaokia (Member) on Mar 30, 2008 at 1:39 am

    more and more british brand sold to oversea company…
    MG, Rover, Lotus, Jaguar, Land Rover…the list goes on…
    who next? aston martin? hahahaaa….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • raybrig85 (Member) on Mar 30, 2008 at 9:47 am

    i think aston martin can survive…it is not a mass production company…so…it is not a problem 4 them…they hv their own target etc…jz wait and c wat tata can do with both big boy…another news is fiat will joint venture wit tata to gt d jaguar xpert on rwd and develop for their upcoming alfa 169 model…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • BanyakMasukWorkshop (Member) on Mar 31, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    roti naan, you should use your brains before bashing if you have any. even when proton were losing hundreds of millions in 2005 up till mid 2007, there was no govt bailout. instead, the company was restructured, and better more ‘humble’ models were introduced, and are selling well. looks like proton are pulling themselves out of the hole already.

    and seriously, to those asking for “cheap jaguars”.. that would be the single most dumb thing to do. supposing tata bought mercedes tommorow, should consumers also expect “cheap mercedes cars???”

    those cars are priced high, because they are considered premium cars. their customers expect to pay higher for something they perceive as having higher values than other ‘regular’ cars.

    likewise, in the VW stable, you have Seat and skoda, priced in the lowerend of the market, and then you have golf, in the mid to low end.. then you have audi, priced at bmw levels ..etc.

    you dont buy jaguar and then price is like a tata. there is such a thing as market segmentation.

    likewise, you dont sell lotus cars at proton prices just because proton bought lotus.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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