Jaquar, Land Rover Unions Would Back Tata Buyout

NEW YORK, Nov 21, 2007; Sinead Carew and Kevin Krolicki writing for Reuters reported that U.K. union leaders for workers at Ford Motor Co's Land Rover and Jaguar brands have voted to support a Tata Motors Ltd bid to buy the brands if Ford sells them, according to a report on the Wall Street Journal Web site.

According to the report, which cited an unnamed labor official, the union still opposes a sale but its representatives see India's Tata as the only bidder "with enough money, clout and experience" to successfully manage the brands.

Union support would not be binding on Ford but could give a boost to Tata's bid, according to the report.

Rival bidders include One Equity Partners, a unit of JPMorgan Chase, and India's Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

A U.S. based representative for Ford was not immediately available for comment.

Edited by Gary Hill for Reuters