Genii Capital compra ações da RUF

A empresa alemã de tuning RUF Automobile possui um novo acionista: trata-se da Genii Capital, proprietária da Lotus F1 Team. Não foram revelados termos ou porcentagens de aquisição da empresa de Gerard Lopez à de Alois Ruf. A RUF existe desde 1939, e é conhecida por produzir versões altamente modificadas de modelos da Porsche.

A Genii Capital quer expandir a RUF a novos mercados emergentes, encontrar novas oportunidades e definir estratégias mais audaciosas. Gerard Lopez foi apontado como chairman não-executivo da RUF. Além disso, falou que o Salão de Genebra, em março, "será especialmente excitante". Ele pode estar querendo dizer que um novo modelo está sendo produzido, com um motor V8 de baixo peso.

Confira mais informações sobre a aquisição no press release abaixo.

GENII CAPITAL BECOMES RUF PARTNER

Lotus F1 Team owners Genii Capital have expanded their involvement in top level automotive excellence by becoming a strategic partner to specialist vehicle manufacturer RUF Automobile

Genii Capital is delighted to announce that it has become a shareholder and strategic partner to German automobile manufacturer RUF, which will see Genii Capital founding partner Gerard Lopez become the non-executive chairman of the board.

RUF – established in 1939 – is synonymous with high performance vehicles based on the Porsche platform. It is classified as a manufacturer in its own right by the German government and produces a range of high performance cars including the 750 horsepower CTR3; the latest in a lineage from the iconic 1987 CTR ‘Yellowbird’ which was the fastest production car in the world when it was launched, with a top speed of 342kmh (214mph).

Genii will further enhance the RUF branding in emerging markets, while using its Business Exchange platform to identify new strategic opportunities. A centrepiece will be the in-house developed, high performance, light weight V8 engine.

Gerard Lopez:
“RUF is a fantastic brand with a loyal customer base and a global brand name. It is cars like the CTR (Yellowbird) and its successors that have build RUF’s legend. Today the brand is also connected to younger generations through its appearance in number one selling driver computer games, opening the potential to new buyers across the world. To be involved with RUF, you have to be passionate about high performance vehicles and Porsche in particular, as no other company in the world shows more respect to this brand. I count myself amongst those passionate for both, so for Genii to be able to make this commitment to RUF’s future at such an exciting period in their development is particularly rewarding. The high performance vehicle market is going through a fundamental transition with emerging markets and alternative propulsion solutions paving the way for RUF’s future. In light of these developments, the Geneva Motor Show will be especially exciting this year.”

Alois Ruf:
“It will soon be 50 years since I started to share my vision on a truly unique platform in automotive history; the Porsche 911. Looking forward I see a very exciting future in which we will be assisted by Gerard Lopez. I have been proud to see Gerard grow from an RUF-fascinated kid into a client – and first of all a friend – over more than 20 years and am very much looking forward to having him as a partner in RUF Automobile GmbH.”