Daimler Wouldn't Mind Chinese Owners – Of Their Company
China is an important market for Daimler. China already buys more S-Class cars than any other country. Why not buy a chunk of Daimler and get it over with? The Chinese would find open doors: Daimler’s CFO Bodo Uebber “would welcome it if there are Chinese names in our shareholder structure.”
That according to the German Börsen Zeitung, which had a one-on-one interview with Uebber. He says it’s not imminent, but in the realm of the possible: “I can envision larger shareholders from China. However, we don’t plan on another anchor shareholder of the size of Kuwait or Abu Dhabi for the near future.” Kuwait holds 7 percent of Daimler, Abu Dhabi owns 9 percent of the Stuttgart car maker.
Uebber is not known for idle chitchat. He may be getting ahead of the message with a little pre-release before China’s rumor-mongering 21st Century Business Herald gets ahold of the story. Or Uebber could be talking up his stock.
One this is sure: Any Chinese stockholders will not be like Arab sheiks. They most likely will come from the same industry. Daimler (and BMW) need a potent partner. The Chinese are tired of playing the joint venture game and want to venture out into the world. I bet there are some Chinese automakers who share the same vision.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Brilliance? Beiqi Foton? Why not selling them shares? At least, "they most likely will come from the same industry." Shouldn't that make things easier?
We are talking taking shares in Daimler as a whole. The market cap of Daimler stands at $50b. A 10% interest would go for $5b. Brilliance is in bed with BMW and doesn't have that coin. BMW's partner BAIC could be interested and could come up with the money. After all, they were bidding for Saab and Opel. But I don't think they'd pay $5b for 10% in Daimler. Next?
SAIC is another one that would purchase a manufacturer. But I bet they are already eying GM. I don't know if Chery has the coin needed.
Soon enuf people from Middle Kingdom will own a piece of Daimler. I dont see the real benefit of a MK auto manufacturer buying shares of Daimler. One they dont have the coin to blow, plus what could they get out of them? SSyoung a Korean car co. who had build some cars with Merc engines, they didnt fare too well. MK's market is not big enuf for D to build a factory there yet? Or am I wong. One thing forsure MK has the voracious appetite for fine cars. Wonder how many Maybachs do they sell there? Probably that was the last refuge to see them fly off the shelf. Fragrance Harbour aka Hong Kong was known to have supported MB for the last 50 yrs, one time they account for 10% of RR's production, 200 cars goes to HK, ever since the peninsula hotel bought a fleet of shadows, ~12 cars. Then the gravy train started to get going. One bloke used to be a RR Mechanic or service director in Old Blighty, somehow his job was rendered redundant. He thought of throwing in the towels. Lo & behold Peninsula hotel was looking for a guy to look after their fleet, soon enuf his sunset years came alive again. At least his significant 1/2 is not complaining about the shopping selections.