[CPC]

Peugeot-Citroen will only be ready for a possible merger after it has completed its recovery plan, CEO Carlos Tavares told a newspaper, dampening speculation of a potential tie-up with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

"[Fiat Chrysler CEO] Sergio Marchionne is welcome every time he wants to speak to us but for us it's a little bit early now," Tavares said in an interview published by Italy's Corriere della Sera today. "We need to finish our cure and recover our good health."

Earlier this month Marchionne said he was exploring various merger and acquisition options.

Equity researchers MainFirst have speculated how a potential merger between Fiat Chrysler and PSA could work out. The two companies could form a new automaker called Peugeot Chrysler Fiat Automobiles with Marchionne as chairman and Tavares as CEO, MainFirst said, according to a report in French newspaper Les Echos.

 

[Missy]

The French and US-Italian carmakers held informal discussions within the past year, but talks did not progress, according to people familiar with the talks. Both companies are considering a range of options to address their shared problems of high costs and patchy emerging market exposure.

If a deal had been struck, it would have brought together two of Europe’s most venerable automotive houses and carmaking family dynasties in an effort to tackle investment needs at both groups.

Deal proponents saw benefits in combining Fiat and Peugeot’s European operations and leveraging Chrysler’s US presence, while PSA’s Chinese shareholder Dongfeng Motor would have provided greater Asian access and fresh capital, according to four people with knowledge of the talks.

Full article here: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f4061264-1331-11e4-8244-00144feabdc0.html

 

[123-108]

It sounds like Fiat are getting a bit desperate. Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne pleaded with the global automotive industry last week to explore mergers and partnerships to deal the rapidly rising cost of building cars and trucks globally.

But the central question the maverick CEO left unanswered is this: Who, if anybody, is listening or willing to entertain any kind of a merger, acquisition or alliance with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles?

read the rest here: http://www.freep.com/story/money/ca...fca-merger-marchionne-consolidation/26637673/

I kind of agree. I wouldn't go anywhere near them.

 

[Milhouse]

I wouldn't touch Fiat with a barge-pole!

 

[mde108]

I wouldn't touch Fiat with a barge-pole!

Fiat have a bad rep. Similar to Alfa Romeo in many ways. Interesting cars, with poor QC and reliability.

But lets remember, scoda too had a dreadful reputation - and now thanks to the VW merger they are no longer the butt of all jokes.

Peugeot don't have a great rep though...