FlyAU
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DaimlerChrysler Stirs Concern Over Level of Cash, Bond Sale
The Wall Street Journal
Friday, January 12, 2001
STUTTGART, Germany -- With an alarming plunge in DaimlerChrysler AG's cash reserves and simultaneous $3 billion hike in a large bond issue sold Wednesday, concerned investors are questioning whether the auto giant's cash crunch will crush coming dividends.
Cheif Financial Officer Manfred Gentz assured analysts Wednesday at the Detroit Auto Show that the company's cash situation is "very healthy," although it dwindled from six billion euros ($5.62 billion) at the end of the third quarter of last year to zero by the end of the fourth. Its industrial operations' net cash was squeezed by spiraling losses at Chrysler and big acquisitions last year as part of its globalization strategy.
In 2000, the car maker bought holdings in Mitsubishi Motors Corp. of Japan, Hyundai Motor Corp. of South Korea, Detroit Diesel Corp. and Canada's Western Star Truck Holdings Ltd.
A DaimlerChrysler spokesman yesterday said it raised the bond issue to $7.1 billion from an original $4 billion due to high demand, as the issue was oversubscribed. But DaimlerChrysler had to yield margins to Treasurys that were about 0.80 perecentage point wider than other auto makers' recent bond issues on the longest maturities to pull in investors.
"Relative to the rest of the market, it appears attractive and that's what people are focused on," said Michael Penn, portfolio manager for Legg Mason Capital Management in Baltimore.
DaimlerChrysler shares were up $1.01 at $42.84 in 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange composite trading yesterday.
[Edited by FlyAU on 01-14-2001 at 12:08 PM]