The elimination round is over.

Ford Motors Company has already invited its list of short-listed bid players to meet the management teams of the two firms that Ford has put on the market – Jaguar and Land Rover. Industry insiders have divulged that Tata Motors and M&M have been contacted for the said management meetings.

Sources have also pinpointed Former Ford Executives Nick Scheele and Jacques Nasser as part of the select few of bidders. Scheele is partnered with Ripplewood Holdings LLC, while Nassers leads the private equity firm of JPMorgan Chase called One Equity Partners.

Part of the management discussion would revolve on Ford seeking the guarantee of the shortlisted players that whoever is the chosen company would be amenable to particular conditions. One of such situations is ensuring that the UK factories of the two firms will continue production to safeguard UK jobs. Jaguar has three factories in Coverty, Birminghan, and Liverpool; while Land Rover occupies the West Midlands. The said UK factories have been in operation for at least five years and currently have a combined manpower of 19,000 workers.