Ford slashes automotive debt by $9.9 billion

Al Reuters via Yahoo! ^

[frogjerk]

DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F - News) has reduced its automotive debt by 38 percent, or $9.9 billion, part of a series of moves to bolster its finances amid a deep industry downturn, sending its shares up more than 11 percent.

The debt reduction, which Ford estimates will trim its annual cash interest expense by more than $500 million, is the latest evidence that Ford is powering ahead of domestic rivals General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM - News) and Chrysler in restructuring to survive the lowest U.S. auto sales in three decades.

Ford, the only U.S. automaker that has not sought emergency U.S. government loans, is using $2.4 billion in cash and 468 million shares of its common stock to reduce its outstanding automotive debt by $9.9 billion from $25.8 billion at the end of 2008.

Ford was also the first to reach an agreement with the United Auto Workers union that would slash cash payments for its retiree health care. GM and Chrysler remain in discussions with the UAW to restructure their remaining obligations into a retiree health-care fund.

[Hoplite]

That is one of the two stocks keeping my portfolio on balance today.

Bah. Diversification is for wimps. I bought Ford stock because it matched the grade I got in "Investing 101".

= )

(Yes, I'm joking, and quit calling me "Shirley".)

[Alberta's Child]

Proud owner of an F-150 4x4 here. Kudos to the “Blue Oval” for standing out as the only stable, reliable player among the Big Three!

[ErnBatavia]

My recently deceased mother's IRA has a Ford corporate note as part of the portfolio....paying just a hair under 7.5%; due this coming October.

It's been callable for quite some time, and I've been surprised they didn't exercise that option to date.

[frogjerk]

I do not currently own a Ford but I do own a Volvo (which is owned by Ford). An excellent care that saved my family’s life.

[ErnBatavia]

Limped home a few times (no thanks to Operator Error) but always got/gets me home.

You did better than I did with our blasted Aerostar....total garbage; I'd honestly never even consider another Ford product after the $10,000 hit I took when I unloaded it 18 months after purchase.

Fool me once....

[ClayinVA]

I really wish I had doubled down last month at somewhere around a dollar.

[Vaduz]

Someone has had a problem with any car maker evet top of the line cars.

[Cheetahcat]

“If our Government would stop dicking around with our Diesel Fuel, we would have had a lot more turbo diesel based cars several years ago”

Right and the Enviro crap starting in the 80’s crammed down Detroit's throat instead of letting technology be developed to meet the goals without us paying the price of the patchwork fixes to meet some misguided rullings

[Cheetahcat]

Oop’sRullings= Rulings

[SunkenCiv]

:’) Ford should be running the gov’t, not the other way around. ;’)

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

I know they're not quite there yet, but Ford reminds me more and more of Secretariat in the Belmont, when he was just starting to pull away from the pack...

Zero will find a way to punish Ford, don't you worry. Success must be punished.

[taildragger]

Looks like this move has caught the fancy of investors....

http://www.cnbc.com/id/30071688

[restornu]

No soup for you!

[mbraynard]

Thanks, but I’m looking at a Mercedes CLS.

[Richard Kimball]

I’ve been a Chevy guy since 1963, but it looks like I may end up Ford next time.

[SunkenCiv]

What a horse Secretariat was. In his Belmont run, each quarter time was faster than the previous one.

[SunkenCiv]

FORD:

[Radix]

The real concern is the fact that Government Motors won’t accept competition from Ford while they have the power to regulate Ford into submission.

 

Dude you are scary, but I do not necessarily disagree with you. The times themselves are scary.. 

 

Here is a link to a recent ad for a local (Boston area) car dealership. I found it interesting.  It made me consider buying a Ford again, down the road.

[RabidBartender]

"I don’t care.. Had a bad experience with Ford..."

So did the rest of the team...

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

My F150 van has never stranded me either. As you said, it might limp home but it always makes it. Ford made a good one when they made mine - 260,000 miles and going strong!