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Kerkorian bids $4.5 billion for Chrysler

Old Apr 5, 2007 | 12:49 PM
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Kerkorian bids $4.5 billion for Chrysler

http://money.cnn.com/2007/04/05/news...ex.htm?cnn=yes

April 5 2007: 1:46 PM EDT


NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Group said Thursday it offered to acquire the Chrysler Group of DaimlerChrysler for $4.5 billion in cash.

Tracinda said it will offer the United Auto Workers union and Chrysler management the opportunity to participate as equity partners in the deal.


Billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian is bidding to buy the troubled automaker Chrysler from its German parent.
DaimlerChrysler (Charts) acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday it was talking with prospective buyers about the Chrysler unit, but would not commit itself to selling the U.S. automaker.

Sources close to the situation have told Reuters that private equity groups Cerberus Capital Management and Blackstone Group, as well Canadian car parts maker Magna International, are the leading contenders to buy Chrysler.

Kerkorian had previously purchased a 9.9 percent stake in GM (Charts) in an attempt to influence management, but later backed down, selling his shares.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 12:59 PM
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There now, a nice new toy for him to occupy his time now that he's no longer trying to tinker in GM.... I wonder if he has a sense of deja vu.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 01:19 PM
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God help Chrysler.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 02:15 PM
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The funny thing is that Kerkorian offered to buy Chrysler for 22 Billion in 1995 so now he can buy the same company for a nice 18 Billion discount in 2007.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 02:40 PM
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Here we go again. I'm pulling for Cerberus. They haven't meddled to much with GMAC since they bought them, and I think Chrysler just needs some direction and savy leaders.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Sixer-Bird
Here we go again. I'm pulling for Cerberus. They haven't meddled to much with GMAC since they bought them, and I think Chrysler just needs some direction and savy leaders.

Sometimes I think Cerberus might have their hands full just trying to keep GMAC profitable over the next few years.

Last edited by johnsocal; Apr 5, 2007 at 02:55 PM.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 02:54 PM
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If Kerkorian buys Chrysler and tries to run it himself...

... we will soon be referring to the boys in Detroit as "The Big Two".
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 02:56 PM
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I wonder why Kerkorian thinks he's capable of having serious control over an automotive company's affairs.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by johnsocal
Sometimes I think Cerberus might have their hands full just trying to keep GMAC profitable over the next few years.
GMAC for the most part is very healthy. It's the subprime portion of GMAC-Rescap (which I work for until the end of this month) that has had a tough year. I'm no market analyst, but I don't think GMAC proper is in any impending danger.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 07:01 PM
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Originally Posted by skorpion317
I wonder why Kerkorian thinks he's capable of having serious control over an automotive company's affairs.
I don't know, but $4.5 Billion is so cheap he can hardly go wrong.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 08:04 PM
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I would rather see Magna buy Chrysler. It would ensure that Chrysler still be around for at least a little while longer.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 10:51 PM
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Part of me would like to see Kerkorian actually succeed in buying Chrysler. It's pretty clear they are not going to survive in the long term on the path they are currently on; I'd like to see how an 'outsider' would shake things up and try to restructure the business. The only hesitation I'd have is that Kerkorian is not a long term investor, but then again, Chrysler's not really in a position to break up and sell in pieces so he'd pretty much have to make a go of it as a whole. It'd be an interesting experiment for GM and especially Ford to watch.
Old Apr 5, 2007 | 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted by R377
Part of me would like to see Kerkorian actually succeed in buying Chrysler. It's pretty clear they are not going to survive in the long term on the path they are currently on; I'd like to see how an 'outsider' would shake things up and try to restructure the business. The only hesitation I'd have is that Kerkorian is not a long term investor, but then again, Chrysler's not really in a position to break up and sell in pieces so he'd pretty much have to make a go of it as a whole. It'd be an interesting experiment for GM and especially Ford to watch.
I have a feeling that Kirk would bring in Carlos Goshen. They seem to be at least on talking terms from what I understand of the whole GM/Renault/Nissan deal. Maybe he is thinking that Goshen could come in and turn the company into a massive profit maker in the short term, as Carlos did with Nissan, and then sell for a profit.

I am with mastrdrver. I would like to see what Magna Corp. would do with it. It certainly understands at least part of the auto business and would have a vested intrest in keeping Chrysler healthy in the long term. Besides I would like to see how a Canadian Auto company would do.
Old Apr 6, 2007 | 02:54 AM
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Well anyone who didn't see this coming is in denial. I'm surprised he waited this long.
Old Apr 6, 2007 | 12:11 PM
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One thing Kirk has going for him, at least it hasn't been reported that the other companies interested in Chrysler havn't done, is talk to the UAW. I have a bad feeling that Kirk is going to sweet talk the UAW into supporting them. That would be a bad thing for just about everyone.

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