http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ajPMKE2VfFV8"Geely, China’s largest private automaker, is prepared to pay about $2 billion for Volvo, less than a third of what Ford paid a decade ago, people familiar with the talks have said."
"Ford put Volvo on the block in December. It sold the Jaguar and Land Rover brands in the U.K. to India’s Tata Motors Ltd. last year for $2.4 billion. Geely first approached Ford about buying Volvo in the summer of 2008, people familiar with the matter had said, and the Chinese company emerged as the frontrunner. Ford also talked to Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. and the Crown Group, led by former Ford director Michael Dingman, son James Dingman and Shamel Rushwin, a former manufacturing and labor executive at the automaker, the people had said.
Ford had considered keeping the Swedish unit, whose losses are narrowing and sales are improving, people familiar with the situation had said. With Volvo’s prospects improving, Ford thought it may get a better bid for the luxury line when the economy improves, the people said.
Any buyer would gain insight into Ford’s future products, which will still share Volvo technology and mechanical vehicle designs, the people said. Ford will continue to provide engines and other major components to Volvo after it’s sold, which is why the intellectual property issues need to be resolved."