One of the reasons given by Porsche actually is to block any take over of VW
from outside of the unofficial partnerships.  This has become a strained
position because some members of the european union have and are filing
national level law suits over the protection of ownership of VW stock
(currently protected under German law as to who can own how much outside of
the Wolfsburg rules).  They are claiming this gives VW protected and favored
status over other euro union members.  Porsche purchase would still leave
the brands and corporations separate (required legal point under euro rules)
but would also ensure and protect the long VW Porsche partnership and keep
anyone from outside of the group (basically mercedes, vw, and porsche) from
getting inside control. The majority stock control would then still be under
Wolfsburg controls and neutralize the european union law suits  Wonder how
many people outside of europe realize just how much these three competitors
actually work on joint projects borrowing each others technologies and even
parts in each others plants.  Personally I think it is the unofficial three
company mfr alliance that the other members of the european union are trying
to break up.

jimt

On 9/25/05 10:36 AM, "Zeitgeist" <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Wouldn't that more accurately be seen as a move to reduce the
likelihood of a
> hostile takeover of Porsche?  I think VW is the fifth
largest automaker on the
> planet, with facilities all over, and Porsche
is somewhere near the bottom of
> the pack in terms of size and
geographic scope...but, what do I know?  I
> believe Porsche is the most
profitable automaker though, so maybe they're on
> to something.

On 9/25/05, jimt <camper@tactical-bus.info> wrote:
> From a
> news release
>
> BERLINSep 25, 2005 �Luxury sports car maker Porsche AG said
> Sunday it
> plans to acquire a stake of about 20 percent in Volkswagen AG, a
> move aimed
> at strengthening ties between the automakers and preventing a
> future hostile
> takeover of Volkswagen.
> Porsche said Volkswagen has become
> "a significant supplier for about 30
> percent of our sales volume" as well as
> "an important partner in
> development."
> The two companies worked together
> to develop Porsche's Cayenne sport utility
> vehicle and Volkswagen's Touareg.
> They recently announced that they, along
> with Audi AG, were forming an
> alliance to develop hybrid engines.

Casey
Olympia, WA
Biodiesel:
'87 300TD
> intercooler (209k)
'84 300D (204k)
Gashuffer:
'89 Vanagon Wolfsburg Edition
> (185K)