Re: Alfa and GM (no longer any Alfa content)

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Jerry:

Not very Alfa-related, but I beleive Ferrari is currently held by 3 
entities.  Piero Lardi Ferrari owns 10%, and Fiat and a group of Italian 
banks each own 40-something %.  The bank deal happened earlier this year, 
and previous to that Fiat held 90%.  Last I heard Bernie Ecclestone, of 
Formula One infamy, is being courted to purchase both Fiat's and the banks' 
shares.  Market value of Ferrari Spa. is estimated at something over $2.5 
billion, pocket change for Bernie.  What worries me, as a great fan of 
Ferrari, is that King Bernie will necessarily want to make money with 
Ferrari, instead of being its great patron/savior.  Who would dispute that 
he's ruined F1?  Most say that Ferrari is just about a break-even company, 
much as it has always been.  Sales of the street cars finance the race 
cars, and the race cars' success sells the street cars.

I say why not take the company public?  Shares could be sold to fans 
worldwide, with no shortage of buyers.  As a shareholder I wouldn't lose 
sleep if the company never made a lira, as long as it could survive and 
continue to keep the marque alive in perpetuity.  Most all of the other 
greats have gone, with even Porsche selling out.  Anyone out there want a 
Cayenne?  Mssrs. (Drs.) Porsche and Ferrari both must be spinning in their 
graves.

Regards,

Dean


At 04:25 PM 10/23/2002, you wrote:

> Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 15:38:14 EDT
> From: GLewis4457@domain.elided
> Subject: Re: Alfa and GM
>
> In a message dated 10/23/2002 9:55:43 AM Central Daylight Time,
> owner-alfa-digest@domain.elided writes:
>
> > Also remember that this is a company (GM) that wants to make money,
> > and they make about $10k per vehicle selling trucks with station wagon
> > bodies to the uneducated masses
>
> Not only do they want to make money...being an investor owned company it is
> their fiscal RESPONSIBILITY to maximize their investors return.  Remember,
> Ferrari is largely privately held, as is Porsche (I think) and do not have to
> answer to investors.
>
> Jerry in Houston
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided