In March 2007, Investment Dar announced the purchase of 50  percent of Aston Martin, the quintessential British sports car which has achieved fame on the race track and James Bond films, and has come to epitomise glamour, style and speed.

In a high-profile deal the prestigious sports marque was sold by Ford Motor Company for $925 million to a consortium led by Investment Dar, its investing partner Adeem Investment, Prodrive chairman David Richards and American banker John Singers. A group of very  strong investors who are committed to the brand, its success and existing business plan which envisages growth, profitability and new products, including the much acclaimed four door concept Rapide, shown for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show in 2006.

Under the sale Investment Dar acquired a slightly-over 50 per cent stake worth $464.16 million while Ford retained a $77 million operating stake, with the other three consortium partners sharing payment for the remaining $384 million. The deal was partly financed by international banks, which agreed to a $393 million sharia’h-compliant loan Investment Dar’s sporty acquisition brought the prowess of this visionary investment group – which has associated projects and assets under management in excess of $15 billion – in the spotlight of the business world yet again.

Aston Martin will remain at its high tech production facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire, a purpose-built facility where a skilled workforce of 1800 employees have helped gather numerous awards from the automotive and design industries in the past five years. Aston Martin has also enjoyed considerable success on the track and the company’s sporting heritage continues to infuse every model.

Aston Martin is a one of the world’s leading sports car manufacturers. Founded in 1914 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford the company has been responsible for some of the most evocative automobiles of all time.   Aston Martin has evolved into a prestige manufacturer with class-leading products and perhaps the most high profile automotive brand name in the world.

The current model line-up of the award-winning V8 Vantage, DB9, DB9 Volante and Vanquish S, V8 Vantage Roadster will soon be enhanced by the eagerly awaited high performance DBS model.  Voted the UK’s coolest brand in 2006, Aston Martin has a fast-expanding dealership network of 126 dealers representing in 27 countries.