Volkswagen to buy Suzuki. Maruti Suzuki will also be affected

Stocks

oi-Shoaib

By Shoaib Md

Published: Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 17:36 [IST]

German magazine Der Spiegel reported that Volkswagen could make a move to acquire the Japan's Suzuki.
The magazine cited an unnamed senior manager at VW. "I do not rule out this possibility."

Even the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that the German Car-maker can launch a hostile bid for Suzuki Motors. It too quoted a senior-manager of the company.

Volkswagen intends to acquire Suzuki Motor's operations based out of Japan. Suzuki Motors is the parent company, controlling 54.21, of the Indian car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki.

As the two company, Volkswagen and Suzuki Motors, has disagreement over the management the JV was put on hold.

Now the German Automaker is not ready to compromise as it is eyeing the management control of Suzuki. As the Indian law says that the acquisition of parent or management control change can lead to an open offer under SEBI laws. This can in effect change the entire shareholding pattern in Maruti Suzuki.

Analysts are cautious as there is no confirmed news on this subject.

Background

The alliance between the two companies started out two years ago but there was no substantial progress on the partnership. The two companies annoyed each other, when VW described its partner as an 'associate' in the annual report.

This irked the Japanese car maker and the company tied up with Italy's Fiat for diesel engines. This escalated and the German auto-maker accused Suzuki of violating the mutual agreement.

But according to Spiegel, VW cannot raise its stake in Suzuki without the Japanese company's consent as long as the alliance between the two companies is still in place. But if Suzuki cancels the partnership, VW would be free to stock up, it said.

According to news report, Suzuki chairman and CEO Osamu Suzuki, has offered to buy Volkswagen's 19.9% stake in his company with cash. It has also been reported that the German company has no intention of selling.

VIEW: While there are many views which start from how it will benefit to how it will not benefit. Our stand is that until there is no confirmation it would be better to stay away from the stock. A hostile acquisition of Suzuki can always open new doors of opportunities to trade its Indian subsidiary.

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