Malaysia’s state-controlled carmaker, Proton Holdings, on Friday said it was negotiating with a potential buyer for its stake in Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta.
“The Board of Directors of Proton Holdings would like to inform that Proton Capital Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Proton Holdings, is in active discussion with a financial investor regarding a potential transaction,” Proton said in a statement cited by Reuters, giving no further details.
The news agency noted that Proton was replying to a stock exchange query over a newspaper report that it was seeking a buyer for its 57.7% stake in Agusta.
Reuters noted that Proton reported a net loss of 154.3 million ringgit (US$40.8 million) in its fiscal second quarter ended on 30 September, hurt by bad-debt charges related to Agusta.
The report added that Proton rescued Agusta a year ago by pumping EUR70m ($83 million) into the struggling firm, allowing it to pay off its debts, but the move into motorbikes surprised many investors.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData