TOKYO — Shares of Nissan Motor tumbled sharply today, responding to the news that Mercedes‑Benz’s pension trust will sell its 3.8 percent stake in the embattled Japanese automaker. The divesture, valued at approximately $346 million, rattled investor confidence and sent Nissan’s stock down 6.5 percent in early trading.
The proposed sale appears to reflect internal portfolio housekeeping rather than a strategic repositioning. Mercedes‑Benz noted that the stake—transferred to its pension assets back in 2016—“is not of strategic importance.” The move to “clean out” the holding underscores efforts to streamline its investment allocations.
Nissan’s recent challenges have weighed heavily on its valuation. The automaker has grappled with falling sales across crucial markets such as the U.S. and China, while contending with damaging U.S. tariffs and an ongoing turnaround strategy. In the quarter ending June, Nissan recorded a staggering $535 million loss—pressures it hopes to offset through drastic restructuring, including cutting global production capacity from 3.5 million to 2.5 million vehicles and consolidating manufacturing sites from 17 to just 10.
The term sheet for the stake sale reveals that shares will be offered at a discount, at prices ranging between 337.5 and 345 yen—roughly 5 percent to 7 percent below Monday’s closing price of 363 yen. The pricing is expected to be finalized before the Tokyo Stock Exchange opens on Tuesday, with settlement anticipated later in the week.
In morning trading, the stock reacted decisively—falling to around 339 yen (approximately $2.30), marking an abrupt shift in sentiment amid growing uncertainty.
For Nissan, the departure of such a significant institutional investor deepens the urgency of its turnaround agenda, even as it presses ahead with production cuts and cost rationalisation. The sale, while not a vote of no confidence by Mercedes-Benz, certainly signals heightened caution among shareholders.
Source: Reuters
