MILAN — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced Wednesday it will spin off sports car maker Ferrari into a separate company, a move to unlock the luxury brand’s value and distinguish it from its mass-market parent.

The spinoff aims to raise money to support the newly merged carmaker’s plans to invest $61 billion over five years to compete with global giants Toyota and Volkswagen. Shares in Fiat Chrysler soared on the news.

“I think we are doing the right thing by giving Ferrari a proper, unique place in the capital markets to be evaluated and valued as a luxury automaker,” Marchionne told an analyst conference call.

Fiat Chrysler, which owns 90 percent of Ferrari, will sell 10 percent of its shares in a public offering, and distribute the remaining 90 percent of its holding to its own shareholders.

Marchionne refused to speculate on Ferrari’s value, saying only “I think we will be pleasantly surprised.”

Investors seemed to agree. Shares in Fiat Chrysler closed up nearly 13 percent at 8.60 euros in Milan, and jumped 11.93 percent to $10.88 on the New York Stock Exchange.

News of the spinoff was coupled with an announcement that Fiat Chrysler will issue $2.5 billion in convertible bonds to help fund its business plan.

Marchionne said Fiat Chrysler expects the new initiatives to inject 4 billion euros worth of capital into the car company, taking into account also the leveraging of Ferrari and floating 10 percent of its shares.

Barclays analyst Kristina Church placed the value of Ferrari as an independent company at 3.8 billion euros, which would value the 10-percent IPO at around 400 million euros.

The board intends to complete the spinoff during 2015, and said shares would be listed in the United States, with a possible double listing in Europe, as Fiat Chrysler has done.

A Ferrari spinoff had long been speculated by industry experts. Fiat Chrysler’s other luxury brands, including Alfa Romeo and Maserati, will remain part of the parent company, and are a key part of Marchionne’s plans to focus production in Italy on higher-margin luxury cars.

The decision to break off Ferrari comes about two months after an awkward transition at Ferrari that saw longtime chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo resign after a public spat over strategy with Marchionne, who has since taken over his job.

Marchionne has been vocal in his displeasure over Ferrari’s long absence from the Formula One winner’s circle, and has pledged to get the team back to the top. The last time it won the driver’s crown was in 2007.

Copy the Story Link