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Η General Motors, ανακοίνωσε ότι ήρθε τελικά σε συμφωνία πώλησης των Hummer στην κινεζική Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery,
με την Tengzhong να κατέχει το 80% των μετοχών και το υπόλοιπο ποσοστό
να περνά σε ιδιώτες.
Οι λεπτομέρειες της συμφωνίας (όπως αναφέρονται στο σχετικό δελτίο
τύπου που ακολουθεί) περιλαμβάνουν τη συνέχιση της παραγωγής από την
GM, στα εργοστάσια της, Shrevport και Mishawaka έως τον Ιούνιο του 2011
με δυνατότητα επέκτασης της συμφωνίας έως το 2012.
Σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες η πώληση θα επιφέρει στην GM ένα πακέτο της
τάξης των 150 εκατομμυρίων δολλαρίων.
Η συμφωνία θα πρέπει να επικυρωθεί από τις αμερικανικές και τις
κινεζικές αρχές, πιθανότατα μέσα στο έτος η νωρίς το 2010.
Η Tengzhong, παράγει φορτηγά και βιομηχανικό εξοπλισμό και εισέρχεται
για πρώτη φορά στην αγορά των ιδιωτικών αυτοκινήτων, αλλά σύμφωνα με
τον Yanhg Yi, διευθυντή της Tengzhong, «Είμαστε ενθουσιασμένοι από τις
προοπτικές του Hummer και πιστεύουμε ότι η επένδυσή μας θα είναι
επικερδής, ιδιαίτερα με την ανάπτυξη της επόμενης γενιάς οχημάτων που
θα έχουν μικρότερη κατανάλωση»
Κείμενο: [Σπύρος
Κατσιμαλής]
Φωτογραφίες: [Hummer]
PRESS RELEASE
General Motors and
Tengzhong Sign Definitive Agreement For Sale of HUMMER
DETROIT and SICHUAN, Oct. 9, 2009 -
General Motors (GM) and Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery
Co., Ltd (Tengzhong), today announced that the companies have entered
into a definitive agreement that will allow Tengzhong to acquire GM's
premium all-terrain HUMMER brand.
Under the terms of the definitive
agreement, the buyer will acquire the ownership of the HUMMER brand,
trademark and tradenames, as well as specific IP license rights
necessary for the manufacture of HUMMER vehicles. The buyer will also
assume the existing dealer agreements relating to HUMMER's dealership
network.
Tengzhong intends to purchase HUMMER
through an investment entity, in which it will hold an 80 percent
stake. Mr. Suolang Duoji, a private entrepreneur with holdings that
include the Hong Kong-listed thenardite producer Lumena, will hold the
remaining 20 percent stake. Financial terms of the agreement were not
disclosed.
The transaction is subject to
customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and/or review by
government agencies in the U.S. and China. The completion of the
definitive agreement enables the companies to continue and further the
overall regulatory review process.
"HUMMER is a strong global niche
brand and this agreement signifies another important milestone in
writing the next chapter for both GM and HUMMER," said Fritz Henderson,
GM President and CEO. "For HUMMER, the combination of its knowledgeable
leadership team, vehicle design expertise and the capital financing of
Tengzhong portend a successful future."
Under the agreement, HUMMER would
contract vehicle manufacturing, key components and business services
from GM during a defined transitional time period. For example, GM's
Shreveport assembly plant would continue to contract assemble the H3
and H3T and AM General's Mishawaka assembly plant will continue to
assemble the H2. Both facilities will produce the specified vehicles
until June 2011, with an optional one year extension until June 2012.
The deal is expected to secure more than 3,000 jobs in the U.S. related
to the sale and manufacturing of HUMMER vehicles.
HUMMER will continue to be managed by
members of its existing leadership team including James Taylor, who
will remain in his current role as HUMMER's chief executive officer.
Prior to joining HUMMER, Taylor was General Manager of Cadillac where
he oversaw a reinvigoration of the brand, leading key innovations in
design and technology as well as the development of new models.
"We are fortunate to have a partner
who understands and recognizes the importance of continuing investment
in HUMMER's heritage as a U.S.-based and branded company with a view
toward capitalizing on global opportunities," said Taylor. "Backed by a
privately owned and well-capitalized company, we are going to be able
to focus on providing customers with more efficient models that deliver
HUMMER's promise of authentic, purpose-built design and engineering."
Once the transaction is complete,
HUMMER will become the first automaker to offer an alternative fuel
powertrain in every model, with the addition of E85 FlexFuel capability
in the 2010 H3 and H3T. HUMMER is also in the process of obtaining
emissions certification for a diesel H3 that will be introduced in
markets outside of North America. The brand's future product
development will focus on improving efficiency and performance in
current HUMMER models with alternative fuel powertrains, more efficient
gas engines, 6-speed transmissions and diesel engines.
"This transaction marks an exciting
step for both Tengzhong and HUMMER, as we invest in a business that has
significant opportunity in the U.S. and around the globe," said Yang
Yi, chief executive officer of Tengzhong. "We are excited about some of
the initiatives already underway at HUMMER that we believe our
investment will be able to accelerate, particularly related to the
creation of the next generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles to meet
not only future regulations but also customer expectations."
Credit Suisse is acting as exclusive
financial advisor and Shearman & Sterling is acting as
international legal counsel to Tengzhong on this transaction. Citi is
acting as financial advisor to GM.
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