Investment Dar: Drive another day

They make cars, don't they?

They are probably best known for having a stake in British luxury carmaker Aston Martin, but Investment Dar has a lot of other interests as well. They're one of the leading Islamic financial companies in the Middle East.

So how big are they?

They've come a long way, very fast. At its inception in 1994, Investment Dar was a single company with a capital of US$65m. Now, the Kuwaiti Stock Exchange-listed firm has a capital in excess of US$175m, and a working capital of over US$1.7bn. Under its umbrella are an integrated group of independent financial companies and establishments active in diverse economic sectors that include involvement in major financial activities such as finance, real estate and investment.

Boring! Let's get back to the cars...

Okay, okay. Back in March this year, the Ford Motor Co sold Aston Martin - made famous by the James Bond films - to a group fronted by former Benetton and BAR motor racing boss David Richards, in a deal worth US$925m. The consortium comprised Richards, US banker John Singer, Adeem Investment, and Investment Dar.

Bond, eh? So we're talking the world's top super-spy?

The very same. Aston Martin cars have appeared in most of the 21 Bond films, including last year's blockbuster, Casino Royale. The movies between them have raked in over US$4bn worldwide, and often the car's been the star. Sleek, stylish and reassuringly expensive, Aston Martin cars have become synonymous with cool.

So Investment Dar are in the fast lane?

Well, there's the interesting thing. Reports last week suggested that the company was looking to hand the wheel over to someone else - ‘A View to a Sale', if you like.

Stop that. Why would they want to offload?

We don't know that they definitely do. Investment Dar has confirmed that it has received offers to buy its stake in Aston Martin, although the Kuwaiti firm has not discussed them yet. That said, if someone comes in with a hefty offer, Investment Dar might be tempted to make a quick profit. After all, they are an investment company from whom shareholders demand healthy returns.

So who might be after 007's car? Dr No? Blofeld?

Unlikely - Bond saw those two off a while ago. Investment Dar have not disclosed the identities of the bidders, although a few big names have been linked, and reports suggest that any sale would see a profit of at least 20% for the Kuwaiti firm. Most intriguing is the suggestion that Ford might be back in the hunt. Apparently, the US automaker's recent restructuring has left it feeling a little bereft of its ‘crown jewels'. Reclaiming control of Aston Martin would be just the tonic, although raising the finances might prove a struggle.