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Aston Martin shares fall on stock market debut | Aston Martin shares fall on stock market debut |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Shares in sports carmaker Aston Martin closed almost £1 below their float price on their first day of trading in London. | |
They had been priced at £19, valuing the firm at £4.3bn, but fell as low as £17.75 before ending at £18.10. | |
Despite its glamorous association with James Bond films, the company has gone bust seven times in 105 years. | |
However, the float was highly anticipated as Aston Martin was the first UK carmaker in years to list. | |
The shares are trading on a conditional basis, an introductory and more limited period of trading applied to newly listed shares, this week ahead of full trading on Monday. | |
The share sale will raise at least £1bn for the firm. Aston has a further number of shares it will release if demand is strong enough, which would mean 27% of the company would be publicly traded. | The share sale will raise at least £1bn for the firm. Aston has a further number of shares it will release if demand is strong enough, which would mean 27% of the company would be publicly traded. |
Andy Palmer, chief executive, said the move was an historic moment: "We are delighted by the positive response we have received from investors across the world and are very pleased to welcome our new shareholders to the register." | Andy Palmer, chief executive, said the move was an historic moment: "We are delighted by the positive response we have received from investors across the world and are very pleased to welcome our new shareholders to the register." |
In August, Aston Martin reported half-year profits of £42m. | In August, Aston Martin reported half-year profits of £42m. |
Despite an illustrious history and a brand name synonymous with 007 films, Aston Martin had struggled for decades to make a profit. | Despite an illustrious history and a brand name synonymous with 007 films, Aston Martin had struggled for decades to make a profit. |
But under Mr Palmer, a former Nissan executive, the company has been broadening its product range and has moved into new areas. | But under Mr Palmer, a former Nissan executive, the company has been broadening its product range and has moved into new areas. |
Aston's projects include building an electric flying car, luxury homes in the US, and even a personal submarine. | Aston's projects include building an electric flying car, luxury homes in the US, and even a personal submarine. |
It expects full-year sales for 2018 to rise to between 6,200 and 6,400 units, and in the medium-term it aims to build nearly 10,000 in the 2020 calendar year. | It expects full-year sales for 2018 to rise to between 6,200 and 6,400 units, and in the medium-term it aims to build nearly 10,000 in the 2020 calendar year. |
Part of its turnaround strategy strategy involved targeting female buyers - no easy task given the company has sold fewer than 4,000 cars to women in its 105-year history. | Part of its turnaround strategy strategy involved targeting female buyers - no easy task given the company has sold fewer than 4,000 cars to women in its 105-year history. |