VW’s Price to Buy Half of Porsche AG Jumps €600 Million

Volkswagen AG, which seeks to buy the 50.1% of sports car maker Porsche AG that it doesn't already own, may be required to pay €4.4 billion for the stake instead of the previously agreed-upon €3.9 billion, Financial Times Deutschland reports.

The German newspaper, which cites anonymous company and finance sources, says Porsche's price has increased because the two companies have achieved greater cost reductions from the merger than previously expected.

VW bought a 49.9% stake in the sports car company from Porsche Automobil Holding SE in December 2009. Plans to buy the remaining shares have stalled. German newspaper WirtschaftsWoche reported earlier this week that the companies have found a way to complete the transaction without triggering the €1 billion tax bill Porsche SE had expected.