Business digest

NATION

Group of Chrysler lenders objects to sale to Fiat

NEW YORK — A dissident group of Chrysler lenders is objecting to the sale of the bulk of the automaker’s assets to Italian automaker Fiat, saying that the proposed sale process is designed to prevent competitive bidding.

In an objection filed Tuesday, the lenders group says the proposed bidding procedures only give the appearance of legitimacy and don’t maximize the sale price of the assets.

Coffee wars heat up with marketing blitzes

NEW YORK — Specialty coffee retailers, now including the nation’s biggest hamburger chain, are hoping new ad campaigns and price cuts that start this week will entice more latte lovers to take a sip.

McDonald’s Corp. on Tuesday began a more than $100 million marketing campaign including TV, radio, print, online and outdoor ads for its McCafe line of espresso drinks. The drinks are now being rolled out to the chain’s 14,000 U.S. locations.

Just two days earlier, Starbucks ran — on a full page in the Sunday New York Times — the first ad of its new campaign, which positions its drinks as higher in quality than the competition and less pricey than consumers might expect.

Associated Press