Daimler moving to separate Mercedes, trucks in corporate shakeup

Oct. 18, 2017
Daimler AG wants to focus and strengthen the Group’s corporate structure through the creation of legally independent entities. In addition to the existing legally independent division Financial Services, the divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans as well as Daimler Trucks & Buses may be transferred into two legally independent entities to take greater entrepreneurial responsibility. 

Daimler AG wants to focus and strengthen the Group’s corporate structure through the creation of legally independent entities. In addition to the existing legally independent division Financial Services, the divisions Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans as well as Daimler Trucks & Buses may be transferred into two legally independent entities to take greater entrepreneurial responsibility.

This project intends to strengthen the future viability of the business units and better utilize the potential for growth and earnings in the various markets. Safeguarding Daimler’s future is based on three pillars: protecting and increasing the company’s success, pushing forward with shaping the future for the employees, and ensuring the long-term commitment of investors.

Based on the positive results of a feasibility study, the Board of Management has decided, subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, to continue with the project and in this context to take preparatory measures.

Close consultation is taking place with the employee representatives; an agreement has been reached on the cornerstones of a balance of interests to secure Daimler’s employees’ future. Major elements are the extension of the agreement on safeguarding employment until the end of 2029, increasing the funded status of pension obligations and an extension of the common profit-sharing bonus of Daimler AG.

“Daimler is today facing an exceptional challenge: On the one hand, we are more successful than ever before; on the other hand, our business is changing like never before,” stated Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“Whoever aims for sustainable competitiveness and profitability must continuously evolve and adapt to rapidly changing surroundings – technologically, culturally and also structurally. We are following a straight-forward strategy and have decided to examine a new divisional structure for our company against this backdrop, to make sure we are optimally prepared for the challenges in the new automotive era.”

With the possible implementation of a new structure under the roof and lead of Daimler AG, there would be three independent entities: Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans and Daimler Trucks & Buses as two new entities, and the existing legally independent Daimler Financial Services AG. The three entities would continue to have their registered offices in Germany. Daimler AG does not plan to divest any of its divisions.

“We want to secure Daimler’s future from a position of strength. For that reason, we not only need to be as close as possible to our customers’ pulse, but also to be able to react as quickly and flexible as possible to market developments and a fundamentally changing competitive environment,” explained Bodo Uebber, Member of the Daimler Board of Management responsible for Finance & Controlling and Daimler Financial Services. “With this project, we are creating the conditions for greater customer and market focus and therefore more growth opportunities. Not only our customers and investors, but above all our employees would benefit from that. We are cooperating with the employee representatives at all levels."

Under the roof and the lead of Daimler AG strong divisions would be created with own entrepreneurial responsibility and high value added potential, and so being prepared with even more market and customer focus for the challenges in the new automotive era. At the same time it would be assured that the synergies would remain unchanged. The Group does not pursue any savings or efficiency programs or the intention to cut jobs.

Until now, neither the Board of Management nor the Supervisory Board of Daimler AG has made a final decision on implementing the new structure for the Daimler Group. Both boards will come to a final resolution after the ongoing assessments and negotiations have been completed, such as tax-related issues or a comprehensive due diligence.

Should the Board of Management and Supervisory Board decide to finally implement the new Group structure, those measures would require the approval of a shareholders’ meeting of Daimler AG. Such a motion could be voted on at the earliest at a shareholders’ meeting in the year 2019.