View Poll Results: Do you think BMW will ever be acquired by another marque?
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Will BMW ever be taken over by another company?
04-24-2011, 03:21 PM
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04-24-2011, 03:29 PM
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First of all, BMW never owned Jaguar!
They bought the Rover group, but Ford picked up Jaguar.
They got rid of Land Rover, and the Rover group, but kept Mini.
They picked up Rolls Royce when VW thought they had it and Bentley.
The Quandt family owns the majority share of BMW, so they would have to sell it for anyone else to buy it.
And after the debacle of the Rover Group purchase (BMW lost billions on it), I doubt they'll buy anyone big. They are one of the most profitable and prestigious luxury car makers, why screw that up by buying someone else...?
Besides they learned their lesson with the Rover Group (as Daimler Benz learned with Chrysler). Don't try to get big by buying inferior priducts.
They bought the Rover group, but Ford picked up Jaguar.
They got rid of Land Rover, and the Rover group, but kept Mini.
They picked up Rolls Royce when VW thought they had it and Bentley.
The Quandt family owns the majority share of BMW, so they would have to sell it for anyone else to buy it.
And after the debacle of the Rover Group purchase (BMW lost billions on it), I doubt they'll buy anyone big. They are one of the most profitable and prestigious luxury car makers, why screw that up by buying someone else...?
Besides they learned their lesson with the Rover Group (as Daimler Benz learned with Chrysler). Don't try to get big by buying inferior priducts.
However lets not forget that Porsche was also a very cash-rich, prestigious and luxury car maker but still went for VW! So it could happen. Also, will external factors such as the push for electric cars and alternative energy in the future, shift this balance and force further M&A's in this marketplace or even co-brand development to cut costs and improve technologies in a bid to push these to the market? Will BMW have to react to VW's brand collection to remain competitive? Or will VW contaminate their own products through brand cannibalism?
04-24-2011, 03:37 PM
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Perfectly possible, but unlikely. BMW was almost taken over once by Mercedes before the Quandt family took their stake. Much like Ford, much of BMW is family owned and only some is publicly traded meaning no deal happens unless the Quandt family wants out, something that's looking very unlikely.
I don't see BMW acquring another brand, they are already in every segment (including some they ought not to be in) as it stands. It's also interesting how BMW positions itself as an independent brand, it's no more indepedent than any other major manufacturer that answers to a board and to stockholders.
Not that it matters, but the Porsche/VW deal was always going to happen in one way or another due to the family ties but it wasn't simply the credit crunch that impacted Porsche's (otherwise absolutely brilliant) strategy. There are state laws in Lower Saxony (the so-called VW Law) that gave the state, which was a 20.1% shareholder, the ability to block the deal despite having only a minority interest. The EU Courts struck down the VW Law but it keeps coming back in slightly altered form. Finally - Porsche isn't yet a VW subsidiary, but will be this year and the two companies have operated as one since the VW investment was made.
I don't see BMW acquring another brand, they are already in every segment (including some they ought not to be in) as it stands. It's also interesting how BMW positions itself as an independent brand, it's no more indepedent than any other major manufacturer that answers to a board and to stockholders.
Not that it matters, but the Porsche/VW deal was always going to happen in one way or another due to the family ties but it wasn't simply the credit crunch that impacted Porsche's (otherwise absolutely brilliant) strategy. There are state laws in Lower Saxony (the so-called VW Law) that gave the state, which was a 20.1% shareholder, the ability to block the deal despite having only a minority interest. The EU Courts struck down the VW Law but it keeps coming back in slightly altered form. Finally - Porsche isn't yet a VW subsidiary, but will be this year and the two companies have operated as one since the VW investment was made.
First of all, BMW never owned Jaguar!
They bought the Rover group, but Ford picked up Jaguar.
They got rid of Land Rover, and the Rover group, but kept Mini.
They picked up Rolls Royce when VW thought they had it and Bentley.
The Quandt family owns the majority share of BMW, so they would have to sell it for anyone else to buy it.
And after the debacle of the Rover Group purchase (BMW lost billions on it), I doubt they'll buy anyone big. They are one of the most profitable and prestigious luxury car makers, why screw that up by buying someone else...?
Besides they learned their lesson with the Rover Group (as Daimler Benz learned with Chrysler). Don't try to get big by buying inferior priducts.
They bought the Rover group, but Ford picked up Jaguar.
They got rid of Land Rover, and the Rover group, but kept Mini.
They picked up Rolls Royce when VW thought they had it and Bentley.
The Quandt family owns the majority share of BMW, so they would have to sell it for anyone else to buy it.
And after the debacle of the Rover Group purchase (BMW lost billions on it), I doubt they'll buy anyone big. They are one of the most profitable and prestigious luxury car makers, why screw that up by buying someone else...?
Besides they learned their lesson with the Rover Group (as Daimler Benz learned with Chrysler). Don't try to get big by buying inferior priducts.
While the points raised regarding institutional and state investors are important, we seem to be getting somewhat exaggerative in terms of share ownership, as it stands:
The Quandt Family (Stephan [son] 17.4%, Susanne [daughter] 12.5%, and Johanna [mother] 16.7%) owns just over 46%..
The Board (as a whole) owns just over 27%
Furthermore, we have to draw a line between choice and necessity of sale.
04-24-2011, 04:00 PM
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04-24-2011, 05:27 PM
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While the points raised regarding institutional and state investors are important, we seem to be getting somewhat exaggerative in terms of share ownership, as it stands:
The Quandt Family (Stephan [son] 17.4%, Susanne [daughter] 12.5%, and Johanna [mother] 16.7%) owns just over 46%..
The Board (as a whole) owns just over 27%
Furthermore, we have to draw a line between choice and necessity of sale.
The Quandt Family (Stephan [son] 17.4%, Susanne [daughter] 12.5%, and Johanna [mother] 16.7%) owns just over 46%..
The Board (as a whole) owns just over 27%
Furthermore, we have to draw a line between choice and necessity of sale.
It's also worth remembering that at 1.3m units or thereabout, BMW remains a comparatively small manufacturer compared to certain others who produce many more cars and, in some cases, aren't hurting for cash. I can't see any such deal happening near term, but there are number of players who have the wherewithal to fund a deal should BMW's board decide that this was in the best interests of the company.
04-25-2011, 03:57 AM
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It was from 1989 - 2008. Ford then sold Jaguar, (and Land Rover), to Tata Motors in June 2008. The furry felines are still made here in the UK. And although it's no longer a British owned firm, the Prime Minister and some Royals are still seen being driven about in them, as I believe they also holds Royal Warrants from our Queen, (not Elton but Elizabeth II) and Prince Charles. 