Chrysler invites IPO pitches

REUTERS

Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles move down an assembly line at the Chrysler Belvidere Assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois.

New York/Lond - US carmaker Chrysler has asked banks to pitch next month for a mandate to run a potential public listing of its shares, four sources said, as parent Fiat wrangles with minority shareholder VEBA over a possible buyout.

Chrysler will interview investment banks in April for a underwriting role in a proposed initial public offering (IPO), sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

Three of the sources said bankers had been asked to prepare a “dual-track” sale leading either to the flotation of Chrysler shares owned by a United Auto Workers union retiree healthcare trust, VEBA, or an agreed buyout of its stake by Fiat.

A Chrysler Group spokesman said he had not heard of an April meeting of bankers for an IPO.

Fiat declined to comment.

Fiat owns 58.5 percent of Chrysler, while the other 41.5 percent is owned by VEBA.

Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of both Fiat and Chrysler, has long wanted to merge the two but has said he would be open to an IPO if Fiat and VEBA could not reach a deal.

Fiat has options to buy blocks of shares from VEBA, but its attempts to exercise them has been contested in court over their valuation.

An IPO pitching process could provide a way of independently valuing the company and settling the argument.

Fiat has no intention of reducing its ownership, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private.

Marchionne said earlier this week that he expected to reach a deal with VEBA and avert a public listing.

One banking source said talks were also starting on how Fiat would finance any future takeover of Chrysler.

Under a deal struck in 2009, when Fiat rescued Chrysler from bankruptcy, the Italian carmaker has options to purchase up to 16.6 percent from VEBA at a price set by an agreed formula.

But the two sides have been arguing about the arithmetic for months.

Fiat filed last July to buy the first 3.3 percent for $139.7 million, but VEBA said the transaction value was $342 million, and the issue has been in court ever since.

In January, VEBA said it would exercise a separate entitlement to sell Chrysler shares in an IPO, formally asking the company to register with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for a 16.6 percent issue.

Fiat has valued at Chrysler at $4.2 billion in court filings, way below VEBA's $10.3 billion figure.

UBS put the US carmaker's worth at around $9 billion in November.

The listing process launched by Chrysler may provide more clarity on how Wall Street values the company, people involved in the preparations said.

“The upside could be that there's a clear market price for Chrysler, and no more haggling about prices as Fiat moves to bring it under complete control,” said one, adding that a tentative IPO window had been set for the third quarter. - Reuters