| Mazda says no decision on Ford's stake sale By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) -- Mazda denied Saturday that a decision had been made by troubled Ford Motor Co. to sell its stake in the Japanese automaker but it didn't rule out a possible deal. Japanese media reported Saturday that Ford was considering selling its one-third stake in Hiroshima-based Mazda Motor Corp. Public broadcaster NHK TV, without citing sources, reported that Ford would maintain some of its stake in Mazda and management ties. "Nothing has been decided," Mazda said in a statement received Saturday by The Associated Press. "Any important decision will be disclosed." The move, should it happen, would be a symbolic retreat for U.S. automakers in Japan. General Motors Corp. similarly sold off its stakes in Japanese automakers in recent years. Selling shares of Mazda, which makes the RX-8 sports car and Miata roadster, would furnish Ford with cash as it tries to turn around its business. Ford has struggled amid a drastic downturn in U.S. auto sales, burning through nearly $11 billion of its cash stockpile in the past year. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker reported its worst-ever quarterly loss of $8.7 billion in the second quarter. Speculation has risen the American auto icon may file for bankruptcy, although Ford has denied that. Ford's stock price has also suffered, plunging to its lowest level in 25 years. Ford formed a capital alliance with Mazda in 1979, taking a 25 percent stake. That was raised to 33.4 percent in 1996 _ a controlling share in Japan. Over the last decade, Ford helped engineer a turnaround at once-struggling Mazda, sending executives and sharing technology and auto parts to cut costs. Mazda, Japan's fourth-biggest automaker, has been a bright spot in Ford's otherwise-gloomy fortunes of late. Mazda posted a six-fold surge in profit in the April-June quarter. In an interview with The Associated Press in Detroit on Friday, CEO Alan Mulally denied Ford was about to run out of cash. Mulally did not rule out asset sales as a way to raise money, but he did not refer to Mazda specifically. "Cash is really, really important, so we are managing that very carefully," Mulally said. ___ AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher in Detroit and Associated Press Writer Jay Alabaster in Tokyo contributed to this report. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Neither these AP material nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
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