PARIS -- Japan's economy ministry held discussions with the French government and tried to independently create a framework in which the Japanese government could be involved in blocking a plan to merge Nissan Motor Co. and Renault SA, according to in-house Nissan emails obtained by The Yomuri Shimbun.
The six emails exchanged in April and May last year contained details of discussions between the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the French government regarding the business merger of the two automakers.
One of the text messages titled "Discussion between French, Japanese governments" was dated May 21 last year and addressed from a Nissan executive to then Chairman Carlos Ghosn and President Hiroto Saikawa, among others.
It noted that Renault Director Martin Vial -- who also serves as the head of APE, France's public body for state holdings -- and Japan's economy ministry held talks that day about a draft memorandum of understanding compiled by the ministry.
The draft memorandum listed the following items for confirmation, aimed at avoiding harm to the mutual trust between Japan and France:
-- Nissan's independence must be respected for the purpose of strengthening the Renault-Nissan alliance.
-- Considering the future of the alliance, negotiations between the two governments are extremely significant to improve mutual understanding.
-- When making certain proposals to Nissan as its shareholder, the French government is urged to notify the Japanese government (the economy ministry) of the matter, so as to establish an environment in which those involved in the alliance can communicate smoothly.
Saikawa responded to this draft in his reply email on May 22 last year: "It was surprising. There are some problems [with the draft memorandum]. I wonder if this move could negatively affect the credibility of the Japanese government."
He then directed the executive to ask the Prime Minister's Office to stop the economy ministry's intervention.
Prior to this email, another Nissan executive sent three emails on April 28-29 saying that Hiroshige Seko, the economy, trade and industry minister, was considering sending a letter to the French government. Saikawa then directed this executive to tell the ministry "not to move too aggressively."
The ministry apparently did not hide its concern that the French government would continue to apply pressure on Ghosn to realize the merger.
The other emails contain such exchanges as Renault presenting the benefits of a merger, and a Nissan executive objecting that Nissan "would prefer a rebalancing of the shareholding."
Japan's government so far has denied active involvement in discussions about a Nissan-Renault merger.
Some of the content of the emails has already been reported by French newspaper Journal Du Dimanche on Sunday.
Ghosn's side released a statement Monday saying that in contradiction of the Japanese government's claims, it has intervened in the free economy, and that a doubt is arising over whether the government also was involved in the accusations against Ghosn, who tried to merge the automakers.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
