It's deja vu all over again, says Yogi.
At the New York auto show in 1995, billionaire Kirk Kerkorian (#53 of the world's richest people, according to Forbes in 2006) announced that he would make a $20 Billion dollar bid to buy Chyrsler Corporation. That didn't happen.
A few years later the folks who brought you the Mercedes Benz came along with a bigger checkbook ($36 Billion worth) and they bought Chrysler out, changing the name to DaimlerChyrsler Corporation. The Germans promptly ran Chrysler right into the ground, tossing long term employees out the front door, whittling away at quality, increasing prices, etc. Basically they did just about everything necessary to gut the company of its true value.
Now, Kerkorian is back again, knocking on Chrysler's door. Well, actually the door says DaimlerChrysler on it now, but that may not be for long. At least 3 companies (or conglomerates) are publicly talking about buying Chrysler from its German owners now.
And Kerkorian? You just can't keep a good man (or, to be more precise, a rich man) down.
Just like in 1995, here comes Kerkorian again at the New York auto show announcing that he'll make another bid to buy Chrysler --- but this time he's only offering $4 1/2 Billion. If nothing else, Kerkorian apparently knows a good deal when he sees one and maybe he can turn this limping giant around and make it the company that Chrysler was "once upon a time". At least with him, the company is back in American control again. That alone is a step in the right direction.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known nationwide as a leading Lemon Law attorney, Ronald L. Burdge has represented literally thousands of consumers in "lemon" lawsuits and actively co-counsels and coaches other Consumer Law attorneys. From 2005 through 2018, attorney Ronald L. Burdge has been named as the only Lemon Law Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine and Thomson Reuters Corp., Professional Division. Burdge restricts his practice to Lemon Law and Consumer Law cases. The Ohio Super Lawyer results are published annually in the January issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Ronald L. Burdge was named Consumer Law Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004 by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the nation's largest organization of consumer law private and government attorneys. "Your impact on the auto industry has been magnified many times over because of the trail you blazed for others," stated NACA's Executive Director, Will Ogburn. Burdge has represented thousands of consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere since 1978 and is a frequent lecturer to national, state and local Bar Associations and Judicial organizations. Burdge is admitted to Ohio's state and federal courts, Kentucky's state courts, and Indiana's federal courts. Other court admissions are on a "pro hac" temporary, case by cases basis.