Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) shares jumped more than 5% in early trading after rumors surfaced that the Ford family was considering selling off its controlling stake. Bloomberg reported that executive chairman Bill Ford Jr. had briefed directors on the Ford family members' views before the shareholders meeting last Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

The reaction to the rumor suggests that shareholders do not want the family to have a controlling stake. The Ford family only owns only 4% of the company's shares, but due to a dual class voting structure they control nearly 40% of the votes. And in an M&A market that recently paid $7.4 billion for 80% of DaimlerChysler, shareholders probably don't want any nostalgic owners getting in the way of handsome profits.

These dissident shareholder views were further reflected by the company's annual meeting last week that had the third straight proposal to eliminate the B shares. The proposal drew 27.4% of the vote, but the company opposed the plan saying that the B shares provided "long-term stability" to the company. Combined with the recent cross-generational Ford family feud, many investors are hoping that the family will simply unload or convert its shares.

However in the end the family's attorney cleared the air saying, "The Ford family is not discussing the sale of its holdings in Ford Motor Company. Statements attributable to unnamed sources are untrue." Whether or not the family will eventually sell remains to be seen, but at least we know where the shareholders stand!

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