A Jeep Renegade 4×4 e is presented at the Geneva Motor Show March 5, 2019. Signage in the background says”‘FCA Fiat Chrysler Automobiles,” to which Jeep belongs.
Uli Deck | picture alliance | Getty Images
Peugeot (PSA) and Fiat Chrysler on Thursday confirmed their intention to merge, in what would be a 50-50 share swap.
“Discussions have opened a path to the creation of a new group with global scale and resources owned 50% by Groupe PSA shareholders and 50% by FCA shareholders,” they said in a statement.
“In a rapidly changing environment, with new challenges in connected, electrified, shared and autonomous mobility, the combined entity would leverage its strong global R&D footprint and ecosystem to foster innovation and meet these challenges with speed and capital efficiency.”
The PSA board approved the merger and the Fiat Chrysler board met Wednesday. Executives have briefed regulators in the U.S. and France, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources.
Reports of the talks, including a potential “all-share merger of equals,” as the Wall Street Journal first reported, sent shares of Fiat Chrysler surging as much as 8% on Tuesday. The stock rose by less than 2% in midday trading Wednesday.
The confirmation of the deal comes about five months after Fiat Chrysler ended merger discussions with PSA’s French rival, Renault. However, this new merger is unlikely to face the same interference from the French government, a source told CNBC.
—CNBC’s Michael Wayland and Phil LeBeau contributed to this article.
