Aston Martin today confirmed that the partnership with Italian investment fund Investindustrial has been completed. Previously announced in December 2012, the deal gives Aston Martin a much-needed investment of £150 million (€177 million) in the form of a capital increase, and Investindustrial, a 37.5 percent equity stake in Aston Martin.
The British carmaker says this investment is the basis for a significant new product development program worth more than £500 million (€590 million) over the next five years. Having secured the support of major shareholders The Investment Dar, Adeem Investment and now, Investindustrial, Aston Martin can now implement its growth strategy.
The company said it will announce details of this year’s first quarter results to bondholders later this month. Aston Martin has stressed that production will remain at its global headquarters at Gaydon in Warwickshire, a purpose-built facility where its sports cars are assembled.
Investindustrial previously owned Italian motorcycle company Ducati, which it sold to Audi for $1.1 billion (€834 million) last year. The Ducati transaction earned Investindustrial a 300 percent return on its original investment. The investment fund holds assets of around $4 billion, including investments in leading British outdoor brand – Karrimor, Italy’s biggest theme park – Gardaland and satellite services operator Eutelsat.
Aston Martin is the only important luxury car manufacturer that is not owned by a global automaker. In 2007, Ford sold its majority stake in the company to a consortium led by Prodrive chairman David Richards for £475 million ($848 million). The group includes American investment banker John Singers and two Kuwaiti companies, Investment Dar and Adeem Investment.
By Dan Mihalascu
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