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Ford sells Mazda shares – 33% stake shrinks to 13%

11/18/2008, 10:33 AM

By Nick Aziz

Ford today announced it will sell 20 percent of Mazda, raising $540 million in much-needed cash. As much as 6.9 percent will be sold back to Hiroshima-based Mazda, while the other 13.1 percent will be sold to unidentified investors. The move will effectively end Ford’s control of the company, which began in 1996 when the American automaker rescued Mazda from bankruptcy. It’s not known if Ford is seeking buyers for its remaining 13 percent stake.

Ford’s entire stake in Mazda was said to be worth around $1.36 billion in October. A sale of 20 percent for $540 million would seem to put the overall valuation at $920 million — considerably less than expected.

Ford acquired a 25 percent stake in Mazda in 1979, ten years after the companies first partnered on an automatic transmission venture. Ford raised its stake in the carmaker to 33.4 percent in May of 1996, when the company effectively became a part of the Ford family.

Rumors about a sale of Mazda shares first broke in early October. Just over two weeks ago, Mazda president Hisakazu Imaki denied Ford was considering selling its controlling stake. As a part of its plan to buy back shares from Ford, Mazda announced Imaki will be replaced by Takashi Yamanouchi effective immediately.

Ford recently sold its Aston Martin, Jaguar, and Land Rover brands in similar efforts to raise capital. Rumors about a sale of Volvo continue to circulate.

Many of Ford’s products are tightly linked with Mazda’s — the companies share platforms for a number of vehicles, and development on a number of projects has been joint. Another Ford subsidiary possibly for sale, Volvo, also shares platforms with Mazda and Ford, making de-integration of next-generation vehicles projects a challenge.

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11/18, 11:11 AM

posted by:

lukematt

Ford buys shares in Mazda; Ford sells shares in Mazda.

BMW bought British automaker Rover; BMW sold British automaker Rover.

Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler; Daimler-Benz sold Chrysler.

Ford bought Jaguar; Ford sold Jaguar.

Wake up, people. Hello! Hello! Do you see a pattern here?

WHY WOULD SUPPOSEDLY INTELLIGENT EXECUTIVES MAKE SUCH MAJOR
ACQUISITIONS ONLY TO SELL THEM A FEW YEARS LATER?
(Answer: Because they were just following orders)

11/18, 11:22 AM

posted by:

pavlindrom

could you run that by me again?
I think it’s only the people being optimistic about the future of the market, then being disappointed.

11/18, 11:36 AM

posted by:

elviososa

^^This proved that idoits and morns are running the FOMOCO.

11/18, 11:37 AM

posted by:

A4

lukematt… ford would surely keep mazda if they could… they cant afford to not sell it at this point – and they probably cant afford to sell it either but they have to. i hope they buy it back when this is fixed, mazda was a ray of sunlight on fords portfolio

11/18, 11:44 AM

posted by:

TomF

Ford sells 20 percent of Mazda and only gets $540 million for it? That means the whole of Mazda is only worth $2.5 billion? It ought to bge worth more.

11/18, 11:59 AM

posted by:

Borat

Transparency at Ford is very murky. They probably got more or could get much more, but considering all the fees and adviser fee payed or directed towards Ford Family Trust, the number is only 540 mils. Good for Ford Family Trust, less so for 95% of shareholders.

11/18, 12:20 PM

posted by:

yarddog82abn

“The move will effectively end Ford’s control of the company, which began in 1996 when the American automaker rescued Mazda from bankruptcy.”

WOW…. What goes a round dose come around,
Did any one know that most of Ford’s electronics come from Mazda, I mean sure, most of the parts are made state side, but most of the parts come off Mazda first, then they trickle down to every one els, and most of the the programing is in Japanese, it’s true, just that it’s translated my the computer, it’s all still number the the commands are in Japanese.

11/18, 12:23 PM

posted by:

Chunnder

@ TomF
Mazda at this point is considered a “niche” manufacturer. As was reported about a month ago by LLN and some other news sites, Mazda was in the begining stages of growing its company to a size where they can compete with the likes of Toyota and Honda. I am all for it! For the money Mazda gives you the most bang for your buck and the best driving expierence for small to mid-sized sadans. Lets hope the next RX car stays true to Mazda principles.

11/18, 1:25 PM

posted by:

freeyellow2000

Someone math is off. Last time I checked controlling means you have more than a majority of the shares. 33% was owned by Ford, who owns the remaining 67% shares? How can Ford “own” Mazda with so little shares? Does this mean at some point that Ford can’t use Mazda designs such as the engine, platforms. That where Ford quality improved (some would say, since it was all Mazda designs).

11/18, 1:46 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

At least Ford’s taking care of its own house and not wasting time and resources spreading propaganda via the internet. I half expect to look up one day soon and see leaflets falling from the *ss end of a GM corporate jet.

11/18, 1:51 PM

posted by:

status

ford simply owned a larger share than any other single entity. the second largest shareholder is the master trust bank of japan at 7-8%

11/18, 2:14 PM

posted by:

Robert

In Japan, 33.4% is enough to control a company and the most a foreign firm can invest in a domestic company unless the government approves otherwise. The reason Ford could never report Mazda sales as its own or more closely tie its operations is becuase it “controls” Mazda, but does not “own” Mazda.

Mazda is only worth $2.5B. The $540mln or so that Ford is getting does not go to the Ford Family Trust. It goes into automotive cash. And Ford is getting right around market value and can’t get more. This is why idiots should not be allowed to post.

Mazda is not currently earning Ford any money. Its operations turned in a loss for Ford last quarter. While Ford and Mazda do a lot of sharing, not everything in a Ford comes from Mazda. And, you should look under a Mazda hood sometime and see how much Ford stuff is sitting under there.

Again, I think people fail to realize that Ford and Mazda aren’t going to stop working together. This is a similar stake to what Ford had until the late-70s or early-80s, and they worked together then. I think the important fact is that Mazda is retaining 6.9% of the stake for themselves, a lot of the strategic partners work with both Mazda and Ford and Ford retains a board seat. This is probably the best of all possible trades that Ford could have made.

11/18, 2:22 PM

posted by:

Pauly

What is Ford going to do when it doesn’t have anything left to sell off?

11/18, 2:32 PM

posted by:

EuroPower

Hopefully, they will seriously consider their design flaws and invest in a team of solid engineers.
“Americans herd bison” -Jeremy Clarkson

11/18, 3:28 PM

posted by:

DrFill

There goes the talent, the baby with the bath water
Nice!
DrFill

11/18, 4:41 PM

posted by:

Borat

Robert,
FYI all companies were loosing money during last quarter, Ford being an over aciever in loosing manage to loose during past 4-5 years. When US market was 16 million cars, pressures few were of Fords making. The problem did not appear last summer, or spring. Not even last fall when gas prices started to climb. Ford, just like GM, was caught with pants down with 1 good truck and nothing else to sell. Mazda was selling cars all along, and at a profit and small cars. Mazda was even selling at profit(!) when USD/yen exchange was(is) crappy.
Signed,
Posting Idiot

11/18, 5:24 PM

posted by:

Need more oil for GM

Less japcrap in this country the better. Buy American, buy GM

11/18, 6:54 PM

posted by:

joeblow5_0

Who do you think designed the 2010 Camaro that everybody is drooling over… not Americans. It was designed by Holden engineers as was the G8. I have no problem with that, but don’t say “Buy American, buy GM.”

Buy from the world economy, buy a Ford, GM, Toyota, etc.

 
 
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