Και τυπικά τέλος η συνεργασία της Volkswagen και της Suzuki

12:50 30/8/2015 - Πηγή: AutoBlog

Έστω και με την βοήθεια του Διεθνές Διαιτητικού Δικαστηρίου του Λονδίνου, η συνεργασία ανάμεσα στην Volkswagen και στη Suzuki αποτελεί πλέον και επίσημα λήξαν. Μετά από πέντε χρόνια συνεργασίας, με τα 4 εκ των οποίων η σχέση να περνά από τριβές, γκρίνια και καταγγελίες, οι δύο πλευρές λήγουν τη συνεργασία τους.

Να θυμίσω πως η συνεργασία των δύο εταιριών, ξεκίνησε το 2010 όταν η VW, ανακοίνωσε πως αγοράζει το 19,9% της Suzuki.

Η συμφωνία, προέβλεπε πρόσβαση της Suzuki στην τεχνολογία υβριδικών και diesel powertrains της VW ενώ από την άλλη πλευρά, οι Γερμανοί, αποκτούσαν πρόσβαση στην αγορά της Ινδίας και της Ν.Α. Ασίας.

Η συνεργασία όμως, ποτέ δεν ήταν ήρεμη. Οι Γερμανοί δήλωσαν απογοητευμένοι από το πώς εξελίσσονταν τα πράγματα ενώ η Suzuki είπε πως μέχρι το 2012, δεν είχε χρησιμοποιήσει καμία τεχνολογία της VW. Αφορμή για την οριστική ρήξη, ήταν η κίνηση των Ιαπώνων να συνεργαστούν με την Fiat για diesel κινητήρες. Έκτοτε, η Suzuki θέλει πίσω τις μετοχές της και δηλώνει διατεθειμένη να πληρώσει έως και 2,5 δις δολάρια για να τις αποκτήσει (η VW τις είχε αγοράσει έναντι 2,3 δις) ενώ οι Γερμανοί λένε “nein”. Υπήρχε μία περίοδος που δεν μιλούσαν, μετά αποφάσισαν πως η συνεργασία ίσως αξίζει μία δεύτερη ευκαιρία, η Suzuki βρήκε άλλον, οι δύο μεριές κατέληξαν στο Διαιτητικό Δικαστήριο και σε γενικές γραμμές, η σχέση των δύο εταιριών, θυμίζει λίγο εφηβικό love story…

Η απόφαση είναι τελεσίδικη και οι δύο πλευρές είναι αναγκασμένες να την σεβαστούν. H Volkswagen επιστρέφει στην Suzuki το 19,9% του ποσοστού των μετοχών της, εισπράττοντας τα κέρδη που αναλογούν στο ποσοστό αυτό, με την γερμανική εταιρία να έχει το δικαίωμα να απαιτήσει αποζημίωση, επειδή η Suzuki, όπως αποφάνθηκε το δικαστήριο, παραβίασε τους όρους της συμφωνίας που είχε γίνει ανάμεσα στις δύο πλευρές το 2010.

Δελτίο Τύπου

Notification Concerning Arbitration Award

As Suzuki received an award on 29 August 2015 regarding the arbitration that Suzuki filed with the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce on 24 November 2011, Suzuki informs you as follows:

1. History leading up to Request for Arbitration

Suzuki requested Volkswagen AG (“VW”) to terminate their business and capital alliance through amicable negotiation. However, as VW failed to respond to Suzuki’s request, Suzuki served on 18 November 2011 a notice of termination of the Framework Agreement that was made with VW. Further, on 24 November 2011, based on the parties’ agreement, Suzuki filed a request for arbitration in London, which is the place of arbitration with the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce. Thereafter, a tribunal was organized in accordance with the ICC arbitration rules. Suzuki made certain requests to the Tribunal, including asking the Tribunal to make a declaration that the Framework Agreement was validly terminated and order VW to divest its shares in Suzuki to Suzuki or a third party designated by Suzuki pursuant to that termination.On the other hand, VW also requested the Tribunal to dismiss all of Suzuki’s claims and uphold VW’s claims including its claim that Suzuki breached the Framework Agreement.

2. Outline of the Award

(i) Termination of Framework Agreement

The Tribunal found that the Framework Agreement was validly terminated by Suzuki’s notice of termination dated 18 November 2011 mentioned above, such termination being effective from 18 May 2012.

(ii) Divestment of Shares in Suzuki

The Tribunal upheld Suzuki’s claim regarding VW’s disposal of its shares in Suzuki and ordered VW to divest forthwith those shares to Suzuki or a third party designated by Suzuki using a method which is reasonably determined by Suzuki.

(iii) Suzuki’s Breaches of Agreement

VW’s counterclaims of Suzuki’s breach of the agreement were partially upheld and the Tribunal indicated that the amount of damages, if any, would be addressed in a further stage of the arbitration proceedings.

3. Outlook for the Future

Suzuki will closely review the award and will take appropriate measures.As announced on 9 December 2014, Suzuki intends to acquire the shares in Suzuki from VW through the ToSTNeT-3 system. Suzuki will disclose details regarding the acquisition of these shares as soon as they are determined.As a result of VW disposing of its shares in Suzuki, there will be a change in our largest shareholder, which is also a major shareholder.At this stage, Suzuki does not foresee any need to amend its forecast of consolidated results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016, however, if any matters that need to be disclosed occur, such matter will be promptly disclosed.

Ruling in arbitration proceedings: Cooperation between Volkswagen and Suzuki deemed terminated

Arbitral tribunal confirms Volkswagen met contractual obligations and finds that Suzuki has ordinary right to terminate agreement based on reasonable noticeVolkswagen to dispose of its 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki and expects positive effect on Company’s earnings and liquidity from transactionArbitrators also find that Suzuki breached its contractual obligations to Volkswagen under the agreement and that Volkswagen has right to claim damages

An arbitral tribunal in London has announced its ruling in the dispute between Suzuki Motor Corporation and Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. As a result, cooperation between the two parties is deemed terminated. The arbitrators confirmed that Volkswagen met its contractual obligations under the cooperation agreement and found that Suzuki has terminated the agreement upon reasonable notice. Volkswagen will therefore now dispose of its 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki and expects a positive effect on the Company’s earnings and liquidity from the transaction. The arbitral tribunal also confirmed that Suzuki breached its contractual obligations to Volkswagen under the agreement and that Volkswagen has the right to claim damages.

“We welcome the clarity created by this ruling. The tribunal rejected Suzuki’s claims of breach and found that Volkswagen met its contractual obligations under the cooperation agreement. Nevertheless, the arbitrators found that termination of the cooperation agreement by Suzuki on reasonable notice was valid, and that Volkswagen must dispose of the shares purchased. This decision is based on the principle that a contract may be terminated upon reasonable notice. Volkswagen expects a positive effect on the Company’s earnings and liquidity through the sale of the Suzuki shares”, the Group said on Sunday.

Furthermore, the arbitration court confirmed that Suzuki committed an infringement of the agreement. Suzuki broke off an ongoing cooperation project at the end of 2010/beginning of 2011 and failed to give Volkswagen last-call rights for the delivery of diesel engines. Volkswagen reserves the right to claim damages against Suzuki.

In December 2009, Volkswagen and Suzuki agreed to cooperate on the joint development of innovative and eco-friendly budget cars and on expanding their presence in dynamic emerging automotive markets. At the same time as this strategic cooperation was agreed, Volkswagen purchased a 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki. In return, Suzuki purchased approx. 1.5 percent of the ordinary shares in Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. In November 2011, Suzuki initiated arbitration proceedings in London.