Good Morning. This is the Investor Lookout with the daily digest.

Here’s what we got today:

• 🛍️ Nordstrom & El Puerto de Liverpool Seal $6.25B Buyout

• 🚗 Honda Rescues Nissan with Long-Haul Alliance

• 🎥 Dahua Follows Hikvision in Xinjiang Exit

Nordstrom & El Puerto de Liverpool Seal $6.25B Buyout

Nordstrom’s turning the page—straight into a family scrapbook. Nordstrom ($JWN) is going private for $6.25 billion, led by its founding family and Mexico’s El Puerto de Liverpool ($LIVEPOL1). Shareholders will receive $24.25 per share, a 42% premium over Nordstrom’s March 18 closing price. A special dividend of up to 25 cents per share may follow once the deal concludes. The family, descendants of the 1901 Seattle founding, retains majority ownership. Nordstrom’s recent quarterly performance showed rising net sales and profit margins. 

• The company's stock peaked at $78 a decade ago.

• Nordstrom Rack posted a 3.9% bump in comparable sales last quarter.

Honda Rescues Nissan with Long-Haul Alliance

When Honda calls it a merger, it’s really more like a takeover in slow motion. Honda ($JP:7267) and Nissan ($JP:7201) announced plans to form a joint holding company, aiming to list it in August 2026. Despite calling it a “merger,” Honda will nominate most directors, reflecting what many see as a drawn-out acquisition. Nissan’s shares fell 7.3% on the news; Honda rose 14.4%. The deal follows both automakers’ struggles in China and the U.S., with Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe predicting true competitiveness by 2030. Mitsubishi Motors ($JP:7211) may also join, potentially boosting the alliance’s scale. Honda improved the move with a plan to buy back up to ¥1.1 trillion ($7 billion) of its stock.

• Nissan’s partner Renault ($RNO), which holds a 36% stake, acknowledged the talks with Honda.

• Nissan has reduced staffing and production due to declining sales, particularly in China.

Dahua Follows Hikvision in Xinjiang Exit

Surveillance unplugged: Dahua drops out of Xinjiang contracts. China’s Dahua Technology ($CN:002236) announced plans to withdraw from five government video surveillance projects in Xinjiang. Awarded between 2016 and 2017, some contracts were cut short while others were still running. Dahua will stop operating these projects, disposing of assets, and settling debts. The move follows a similar retreat by Hikvision ($CN:002415) earlier this month. Both companies have been on a U.S. trade blacklist since 2019, facing scrutiny over alleged human rights concerns in the region. Beijing has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in Xinjiang and criticized firms for pulling out.

• The U.S. cited perceived abuses against Uyghur and Muslim minorities in Xinjiang.

• Dahua labeled the U.S. decision as lacking “any factual basis.”

#1

Investors who hold Nordstrom shares stand to benefit from the higher buyout price and possible dividend.

#2

The Honda-Nissan merger signals near-term volatility is likely as each brand reshuffles its strategy.

#3

Investors in sectors under heavy scrutiny might track how companies adapt to compliance requirements and reputational issues.

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