| DEARBORN,
Mich., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today announced
it has completed the sale of Volvo Car Corporation and related assets to the Zhejiang
Geely Holding Group Company Limited. The
total purchase price for Volvo and related assets set forth in the agreement signed
in March 2010 was $1.8 billion, including a $200 million note and the balance
in cash, with the cash portion subject to customary purchase price adjustments
at closing. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Geely today issued the note
and paid $1.3 billion in cash to complete the sale. The estimated purchase price
adjustments used at closing are expected to be finalized and settled following
final true-up of the purchase price adjustments later this year. The final true-up
is expected to result in additional proceeds to Ford. "Volvo
is an excellent brand with a strong product line, and it has returned to profits
after a successful restructuring. We are confident Volvo has a solid future under
Geely's ownership," said Alan Mulally, Ford's president and CEO. "At
the same time, the sale of Volvo will allow us to sharpen our focus on the Ford
brand around the world and continue to deliver on our One Ford plan serving our
customers with the very best cars and trucks in the world." Ford
will continue to cooperate with Volvo in several areas to ensure a smooth transition,
but has not retained any ownership in the Volvo business. Ford will continue to
supply Volvo with, for differing periods, powertrains, stampings and other vehicle
components. Ford also has committed to provide engineering support, information
technology, access to tooling for common components, and other selected services
for a transition period. Agreements
between Ford and Geely govern the use of intellectual property; these agreements
will allow both Volvo and Ford to deliver their business plans and establish the
proper use of each other's intellectual property. "The
Volvo team has made tremendous progress in restructuring its business and delivering
results during the sale process," said Lewis Booth, Ford executive vice president
and chief financial officer. "We believe this agreement will provide Volvo
with the necessary resources, including the capital investment, to strengthen
the business and to continue to move it forward in the future. We wish Volvo's
management team, employees and new owners every success for the future. "Ford
appreciates the support of the Volvo management team, Volvo's labor unions and
the government officials in Sweden and China during this transaction," Booth
added. As
previously announced, Stephen Odell, CEO of Volvo Car Corporation, is returning
to Ford as group vice president and Chairman and CEO of Ford Europe. Stuart
Rowley, CFO of Volvo Cars, is returning to Ford as chief financial officer, Ford
Europe. "Volvo
is a proud company with a talented and dedicated team of employees," Odell
said. "I am especially pleased that with Ford's continued investment in recent
years, Volvo is well positioned for the future with an exciting range of products
that remain true to its core values - safety, quality, environmental responsibility
and modern Scandinavian design." About
Ford Motor Company Ford
Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures
or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 178,000 employees
and about 80 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln
and, until production ends as planned in the fourth quarter of 2010, Mercury.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For
more information regarding Ford's products, please visitwww.ford.com. SOURCE
Ford Motor Company
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