Nissan Motor Co has agreed to sell its global headquarters in Yokohama for ¥97 billion (US$630 million or RM2.64 billion) to a consortium led by Hong Kong-listed auto parts manufacturer Minth Group, as part of efforts to strengthen its finances amid ongoing struggles.
The acquisition is spearheaded by a special-purpose company managed by KJR Management, the Japanese real estate arm of US private equity firm KKR & Co, according to people familiar with the deal. The agreement forms part of a 20-year sale-and-leaseback arrangement, allowing Nissan to continue operating from its current premises.
Under the deal, Minth Group serves as the primary investor, while Nissan expects to record a net gain of approximately ¥74 billion. The company said the proceeds will be used to fund essential investments and upgrade internal systems, without affecting operations or staff at its Yokohama headquarters.
“This move reflects our disciplined approach to capital efficiency, unlocking value from non-core assets to support ongoing transformation during challenging times,” Nissan said in a statement.
The sale comes as Nissan undertakes an extensive cost-cutting plan involving job reductions and factory closures to cope with its weakest financial position in over 20 years. The automaker recently projected an operating loss of ¥275 billion for the fiscal year ending March 2026 — its first official guidance after withholding forecasts previously.
Shares of Nissan rose as much as 3.9% in early Tokyo trading on Thursday, though the stock remains down about 27% year-to-date.
Founded in Yokohama, Nissan moved its headquarters from Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district to its current waterfront location in 2009. The company’s current restructuring plans, led by chief executive Ivan Espinosa, include cutting 20,000 jobs and consolidating its global manufacturing footprint from 17 plants to 10, as it grapples with weak sales in the US and China, rising debt, and years of leadership instability.
