Tata bids over $2.05 bn for Jaguar-Land Rover

LONDON: Jaguar and Land Rover, two iconic auto brands in the UK, are set to see a change of ownership in the new year, with their current American parent Ford Motor looking to finalise a winner by the end of 2007 or early 2008.

The bids from leading Indian conglomerates and the front- runners for the deal, Tatas and Mahindras, are worth over $2.05 billion and $1.9 billion respectively, sources close to the development said.

While no official confirmation could be obtained, another suitor, a private equity firm led by former Ford CEO Jacques Nasser -- OneEquity -- is still in the reckoning, but Ford is understood to be preferring a buyer directly involved in the auto manufacturing business.

According to the sources, Ford is looking to finalise the name of the buyer by the end of 2007 or early next year.

Meanwhile, The New York Times on Tuesday reported that Jaguar and Land Rover are poised to join Tata Motors and a decision could be made in the "next few days".