In its 103-year history, Ford Motor Company has never needed to pledge its plants, equipment, or other property as collateral to secure loans, but they're doing it now. As they slipped to the number four position in the US auto market, they announced plans to mortgage office buildings, patents, trademarks, and stakes in Ford Credit and Volvo to raise $18 billion to fund a restructuring. (All of their outstanding stock is currently worth $15.4 billion.) Part of this restructuring package is a buyout offer for almost half of Ford's US factory workforce, and 38,000 workers have accepted the offer. According to some analysts, if the restructuring doesn't work, the mortgaged debt will threaten Ford's independence, making them a potential target for a merger or buyout.