Renault Won't Give Honda A Discount To Acquire Nissan

Renault is looking to secure a premium payout for its 36% stake in Nissan if Honda moves forward with an acquisition of its Japanese rival.

According to a report from Bloomberg, representatives from the French automaker traveled to Japan this week to express concerns about the structure of a potential Honda-Nissan merger, seeking assurances that Nissan's valuation is fully recognized in any agreement.

While Nissan and Honda executives have framed the discussions as a merger, the reality is that Honda would take control, setting the terms for the new entity and appointing a majority of directors.

This effectively positions the deal as a Honda takeover rather than a true equal partnership.

A Renault spokesperson stated that the company would evaluate all options based on shareholder interests, but declined to provide further details. Meanwhile, Nissan and Honda have not publicly commented on the talks.

“As the main shareholder of Nissan, Renault will consider all options based on the best interest of the group and its shareholders,” said the unnamed spokesperson.

Both Nissan and Honda are under mounting competitive pressure, particularly from Chinese automakers, which are increasingly dominating global vehicle exports. The potential tie-up between Honda and Nissan is aimed at improving efficiency, cost-sharing, and technology development, as both companies work to remain competitive in an evolving global market.

Renault's stake in Nissan originates from its longstanding alliance with the company, which also includes Mitsubishi Motors. However, the 25-year partnership has begun to unwind in recent years, with both Nissan and Renault pursuing alternative strategies while maintaining joint projects in markets like India and Latin America. Mitsubishi has expressed an intent to remain independent if the takeover/merger goes through.

It's pretty clear the French automaker wants to extract maximum value from its Nissan holdings before any potential takeover by Honda becomes official.

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