According to reports out of Germany, VW chairman Chairman Ferdinand Piech is strongly considering purchasing the Ferrari sports car brand from Fiat. The 73-year old executive has already expressed interest in Fiat’s Alfa Romeo brand, and now his attention appears to be turning to Ferrari.
Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has previously stated that the Ferrari brand as a whole isn’t for sale, but Marchionne didn’t rule out a partial sale of the division. Fiat could sell shares of Ferrari through an initial public offering, but would likely retain at least a 51 percent stake in the marque.
That partial stake could quench Piech’s appetite, and VW certain has the cash reserves to pull off the move. Ferrari’s estimated value is somewhere between $3.1 billion and $4.8 billion, which is well within VW’s $27 billion bank account.
