Ford to sell bulk of Mazda stake: Nikkei

Ford Motor Co (F.N) will sell a majority of its stake in Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T) to Sumitomo group firms and other companies with close business ties with Mazda, the Nikkei business daily reported.

Ford, the top shareholder in the Japanese automaker with 11 percent stake, is expected to reduce its interest to 3 percent or less, the daily reported.

Ford held about 195 million Mazda shares, worth around 42 billion yen ($515.6 million), at the end of Friday, the Nikkei said.

Mazda has asked main lender Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, Sumitomo Corp (8053.T) and other major Sumitomo group firms to buy shares from Ford, the business daily said.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking will likely end up owning more Mazda shares than Ford, since the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (8316.T) unit already holds 2.9 percent shares, the business daily said.

Each buyer may get about 1 percent of the outstanding shares, the Nikkei said.

Ford became Mazda's top shareholder in 1979, after buying 25 percent of its outstanding shares. The U.S. company raised its stake to 33.4 percent in 1996, gaining management control over Mazda, the Nikkei said.

The weaker capital ties after the upcoming share sale are expected to lead to a gradual winding down of business cooperation between the two automakers, the daily said.

When contacted, Ford said it did not have an immediate comment.

($1=81.46 Yen)