'Ford family may go private'

NEW YORK: The Ford family also has considered taking the carmaker private. For now, the family views ending 50 years of public ownership a last resort. Discussion of the possibility of going private was reported on Thursday by USA Today, which cited an unidentified source. The Fords’ preferred move would be a partnership bringing Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan Motor and Renault SA, into a leadership position in the company, said one of the sources. Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt declined to comment.

Last month, Bill Ford told Ghosn he would like to explore an alliance if Ghosn fails to team up with General Motors, according to people familiar with the conversation. Ghosn said he wouldn’t talk to Ford before his discussions with GM conclude in mid-October, the people said. Under an arrangement created when the company went public in 1956, Ford family members control 40 percent of shareholder votes through Class B shares that they’ve agreed to sell only to each other.