A 2015 Ferrari 458 Italia
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is planning a US stock debut for Ferrari that values the luxury Italian sports carmaker at nearly US$10 billion, according to a filing with US regulators last Friday.
Ferrari, of the famed “prancing stallion” logo, will make its first steps on Wall Street, expected in late October, after years of rumours.
In its filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), FCA said it is offering to sell 17.2 million common shares of Ferrari, or about 9.0 per cent of its capital. The estimated offering price of the shares was between US$48 and US$52.
The initial public offering could raise up to US$893.1 million, valuing the automaker at US$9.92 billion.
Ferrari shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RACE as it moves toward independence from FCA, the Netherlands-based automaker combining Fiat of Italy and Chrysler of the United States under the reins of Sergio Marchionne.
Ferrari produces only about 7,000 cars a year, with a base price that starts at US$200,000. The company plans to boost production to 9,000.
Last year, Ferrari sold 7,245 of the luxury sports cars and had operating profit of 693 million euros (US$787.2 million), more than nine per cent higher than in 2013.
“This offering is intended to be part of a series of transactions to separate Ferra
ri from FCA,” Fiat Chrysler said in the SEC filing, adding that the separation was expected to be completed in early 2016.