Interessante storiella che gira fra gli operatori internazionali. Che sia stata messa in gira da qualche invidioso?
Subject: NEWSWIRES: FIAT CONFIRMS THAT IT IS INTERESTED IN ACQUIRING
SWITZERLAND
ZURICH, 07.05.09 17.09 -()- Italian carmaker Fiat, led by
pioneering CEO and turnaround specialist Sergio Marchionne, has
confirmed that it is interested in acquiring the increasingly troubled
European country of Switzerland. Marchionne, fresh from cementing a deal
to take operational control of Chrysler in the US, following successful
early talks with the German government about Opel, and subsequent to an
e.mail to the Swedish government confirming he is willing to take on
Saab, was seen leaving a government building in Berne, Switzerland,
today.
Sources insist that Marchionne was misreported when he said that the
minimum economic scale for a carmaker was 5.5-6mn units. Marchionne
actually said that for an automaker to reach minimum economic sale it
required 5.5-6mn employees. A Fiat spokesman said "Fiat Auto only has
55,000 employees, Opel only has 48,000 and Chrysler brings only 44,000 -
so we are still far short of plan".
A source close to the Agnellis said "Marchionne came up with this idea
himself over the weekend, while stopping off at home in Geneva for a
shower. Switzerland officially has 7.7mn people but we estimate about
2mn are foreigners, diplomats and tax exiles so if we reverse that out,
it's the perfect solution to get to the magic number".
A Fiat executive, who wished to remain anonymous, said "the synergies
are huge. The car industry suffers from too many brands and too much
capacity - just like the continent of Europe - where there are clearly
too many countries and too many currencies. By bringing Switzerland into
the Fiat-Chrysler-Opel-Saab Alliance we can improve car making scale
economies and start the European consolidation process"
Swiss politicians apparently have welcomed the move. One adviser to a
leading politician, speaking anonymously, said "this is a great solution
to looming unemployment in our country. As Marchionne knows, we have
tens of thousands of UBS employees that are no longer going to have a
job and now that Obama is determined to challenge our secrecy rules, the
whole private banking industry could be wiped out. The ski resorts are
suffering too as neither the Russians nor Brits can afford to come here
anymore. We just hope we can agree a deal with Fiat that avoids closing
any Cantons".
European politicians welcomed the move. EU Vice Commissioner Guenter
Verheugen, who only 10 days ago questioned Fiat's deal making, said
"this is a great solution for Fiat and for Europe. The Swiss have long
been difficult about joining Europe but thanks to this proposed Alliance
we can get them into the EU and leverage their highly skilled workforce
to start making competitive European cars".
Analysts agree that the deal has great potential. Max Warburton,
automobile analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein in London and a popular
source of cliched quotes on Fiat said "this is the Big One for sure. The
labour and organisational synergies are huge - Switzerland is half way
between Fiat's facilities in Italy and Opel in Germany. Think of the
time saved if executives can meet halfway."
Adam Jonas, auto analyst at Morgan Stanley said "This deal just has to
happen. The Swiss produce 22mn bars of Toblerone chocolate A DAY.
Imagine if they could take control of Fiat's low productivity plants and
ramp production up to that kind of level. Toyota watch out!"
Bob Lutz, recently retired GM and Chrysler product guru and former Swiss
citizen, said from his chalet above Klosters "this deal makes a
wholelotta sense, particularly from a branding pointaview. Let's be
honest, the Chrysler, Vauxhall and even the Saab brands are so weak that
it makes better sense to put the Swiss flag's red cross on the grilles
as a new brand instead. The Swiss flag stands for solidity and
discretion and is associated with the durability of the Swiss army knife
and precision of a Swiss watch. Excellent attributes for a range of
vehicles".
Rumours abound that if a Swiss deal cannot be reached, Fiat will turn
its attention to Ireland, with its similar population.
Neither Swiss politicians nor Mr. Marchionne could be reached for
comment.