Porsche set to give Qatar VW stake
June 25, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Porsche is moving towards a deal with Qatar that, if successful, will give the Gulf state a shareholding in Volkswagen and will clear the way for the two manufacturers to merge.
Porsche has been left with substantial debt (9 billion euros) since trying to absorb bigger rival Volkswagen shortly before the global economic crisis took hold, but as the financial situation worsened in the car industry, so too did Porsche’s position.
Initial talks saw Qatar interested in a stake in Porsche, but now with Volkswagen dominating the debt-riddled partnership, Qatar’s interest has shifted.
Aid from the state could save the deal from ever going ahead, but there are strong signals from Berlin that the request will be denied.
Porsche, already owning almost 50 per cent of VW stock, is rumoured to be prepared to surrender its right to buy about a fifth of Volkswagen’s voting shares, leaving these open for Qatar to purchase.
If the deal were to be completed, Qatar would be on equal footing with Volkswagen’s second biggest shareholder, the state of Lower Saxony.
We’ll keep you posted on any further developments.
Print it: 
*****PRIMO!*****
I am sure that Porker don’t really want to be be part owned by non-Germans, but its what happens when you try taking over vw and it goes bad and also the fatle mistake of not watching your bottom line and books.
Should not change to much, the arabs own a portion of Ferrari, making a Ferrari theme park too, looks fantastic
Cheers
F-0
On a recent visit to Germany I was told by a local that employees at Porsche were all gifted a $1,000 Euro bonus at the end of 08 in line with the companies record breaking profit. I wonder what will happen this year.
Thank god for the Qatarians! A motoring world without Porsche would be a disaster. Csnt wait for the 998…I think Porsche have a point to prove since a certain Nissan blasted onto the scene.
JJ
They shouldn’t be offering let alone allowing them any part of that famous German company
If this story is true I hope the company just shuts down, this is indeed another bad day in Germany’s history, a shame really because they were so well respected and now they are the jokes of Western Europe.
Another case of “we should never have given these ni&@s money”….
Elitist you are a complete racist bastard, and i hope you fall and break ur legs.
Oh great, if this deal goes through then everytime you buy a Volkswagen you will be indirectly financing terrorism. I hope the German government blocks it from happening.
Shak, there is no reason to speak like that, but I must say that the Elitist is 100% correct. Let’s hope if this deal goes through that Porsche performs scorched earth and destroy all their plants much like the Kriegsmarine did with the Bismarck in WW2
To me this is another Fall of Berlin… A lesser race will now pillage all your goodness.
“Elitist” Ya 100% spot-on.!