
NAVISTAR AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REACH NEW BUSINESS AGREEMENT
Companies to Continue To Collaborate on Medium Duty Trucks and Other
Initiatives
From:
Ford News Release 1/17/09
DEARBORN, Mich. and WARRENVILLE, Ill. (January 13, 2009) – Ford Motor
Company (NYSE: F) and Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) have
reached an agreement to restructure their ongoing business relationship
and settle all existing litigation between the companies.
As a result of the agreement, the companies will end their current
diesel engine supply agreement effective Dec. 31, 2009. However, the
companies will continue to collaborate on a range of initiatives,
including their existing Blue Diamond Truck and Parts joint ventures.
Navistar will acquire additional equity in the Blue Diamond joint
ventures, which will continue to offer dealers and customers F-650 and
F-750 medium duty trucks, as well as parts support for a variety of Ford
products, including Ford's PowerStroke Diesel-equipped trucks. Ford and
Navistar also will continue their diesel engine supply relationship in
South America. As a result of the agreement, Ford will make a payment to
Navistar.
“Navistar and Ford benefitted from a successful partnership that
provided value to both companies for nearly three decades. However, it’s
in our best interests to resolve our conflict and continue our
relationship with each other in other areas,” said Dan Ustian, Navistar
chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The next phase of our
relationship is consistent with Navistar’s strategy to diversify our
customer base, while continuing to provide value to both companies through
our existing joint ventures and our supply agreement in South America.”
"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with Navistar that we
believe is in the best interest of both companies," said Mark Fields,
Ford's president of The Americas. "This agreement comprehensively
addresses our business relationship with Navistar and will help both
companies focus on meeting the needs of our current and future truck
customers."
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