KKR Leads ¥90 Billion Bid for Nissan’s Yokohama Headquarters

KKR & Co. has become the front-runner to buy Nissan Motor Co.’s 22-storey global headquarters in Yokohama for roughly 90 billion yen (about US$610 million), according to people familiar with the negotiations. The offer was lodged through KKR’s Japanese real-estate arm, KJR Management, and topped bids from several investment funds. The proposed deal is structured as a sale-and-leaseback that would allow Nissan to remain in the building for 10 years while releasing cash to bolster its balance sheet. Talks are continuing and the parties could still decide against proceeding, the people said. Nissan and KKR declined to comment. Selling the property is part of a wider turnaround programme at the automaker, which is grappling with an aging vehicle line-up, intensified competition from Chinese electric-vehicle makers and a heavy debt load. Nissan reported a ¥670.8 billion net loss for the fiscal year ended March 2025 and expects an operating loss of about ¥180 billion for April–September. Proceeds from the headquarters sale would add to earlier cost-cutting moves that include plant closures and workforce reductions.