Italy close to approving $7.1 billion loan to Fiat Chrysler

  • Italy’s top lender Intesa Sanpaolo SpA gave the go-ahead to the loan last month.
File Photo of a Fiat logo. (REUTERS)
File Photo of a Fiat logo.

Italy is close to approving a 6.3 billion-euro ($7.1 billion) credit facility for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, setting the stage for Europe’s biggest government-backed financing to a carmaker since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to people familiar with the matter.

The guarantee still needs a sign-off from Finance Minister Roberto Gualtieri after accounting offices at his ministry approved the terms, the people said. It will then need to be green-lighted by Italy’s state auditor. An approval by the minister is expected as early as this week, the people said. A spokesman for the minister as well as a spokesman for Fiat declined to comment.

Also check these Vehicles

Find more Cars
Volkswagen Polo 2024 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon999 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 8 Lakhs
View Details
Volkswagen Tiguan 2025 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
Engine Icon1984 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 37 Lakhs
View Details
Volkswagen Taigun (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon1498.0 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 10.49 - 17.50 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Volkswagen Virtus (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon999.0 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 11.21 - 17.91 Lakh
Compare
View Offers
Volkswagen Tiguan (HT Auto photo)
Engine Icon1984.0 cc FuelType IconPetrol
₹ 32.79 Lakhs
Compare
View Offers
Volkswagen Id.7 (HT Auto photo)
UPCOMING
BatteryCapacity Icon77 kWh Range Icon621 Km
₹ 70 Lakhs
View Details

Fiat Chrysler shares rose as much as 2.1%, and were up 0.9%, to 8.50 euros, at 10:49 a.m. in Milan trading, giving the company a market value of about 13.2 billion euros.

Also Read : Fiat-Peugeot deal faces in-depth EU probe on van concerns

The financing will be used exclusively for the carmaker’s Italian activities, Fiat has said. The company will use the funds for workers’ salaries, to pay suppliers and for planned investments at domestic facilities. Italy’s automotive supply chain includes 200,000 small and medium-sized companies and the domestic industry generates more than 100 billion euros in annual revenue.

Italy’s top lender Intesa Sanpaolo SpA gave the go-ahead to the loan last month. Trade-credit insurer Sace SpA will guarantee 80% of the amount.

“Car sales in Italy will plunge this year to 1.2 million compared with 2.1 million in 2019," said Dario Duse, a managing director at consulting firm Alix Partners, who forecasts that industry-wide sales may take more than five years to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Also Read : Fiat Chrysler plans to resume Panda production on June 16

Car sales fell 57% in Europe in May after a 78% drop in April. The exact shape of a potential recovery is still unclear as carmakers from Volkswagen AG to Fiat prepare to announce results for what likely will be a devastating second quarter. In the U.S., Ford Motor Co. forecast a $5 billion loss for the three months through June.

Fiat Chrysler burned through $5.5 billion in the first quarter, and the Italian-American company and French peer PSA Group last month scrapped a plan to pay out 1.1 billion euros in dividends as part of their 2019 merger agreement.

Also Read : Setback for Mahindra as Fiat Chrysler wins case over 'Jeep Wrangler copy' Roxor

General Motors Co. and Ford have tapped credit lines to stock up on billions of dollars in cash. In April, Daimler AG secured a 12 billion-euro credit line and Renault SA struck a 5 billion-euro loan guarantee deal with the French state.


First Published Date: 17 Jun 2020, 21:03 PM IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS

Please provide your details to get Personalized Offers on

Choose city
+91 | Choose city
Choose city
Choose city

Want to get the best price for your existing car?

Powered by: Spinny Logo
By clicking "View Offers" you Agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy

Dear Name

Please verify your mobile number.

+91 | Choose city
Couldn't verify the OTP.
It's either expired or it's incorrect.