Renault discusses cutting Nissan stake to revive Fiat deal

Paris: Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co. have held talks that would see Renault reduce its stake in the Japanese carmaker and help the French company restart merger discussions with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The sides are weighing plans under which Renault would cut its 43.4 per cent holding in Nissan, a move meant to rebalance their global alliance, the Journal said, citing internal emails as well as people briefed on the talks.

Any reduction of the stake would need approval from France, which owns 15 per cent of Renault.

A spokeswoman for Nissan declined to comment on the report. Representatives for Renault and the French government didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Merger talks between Fiat and Renault collapsed in June when Fiat’s controlling Agnelli family walked away from the deal as the French government sought more time to convince their unsupportive counterparts at Nissan.

Talks to modify the alliance’s structure — which are at an early stage — began after the Renault-Fiat deal collapsed, the Journal reported.

They could lead to an initial memorandum of understanding on the restructuring as soon as September, the newspaper said, citing emails.