FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Automaker DaimlerChrysler AG ended its ill-fated involvement with Japan's Mitsubishi Motors Co. on Friday, selling its 12.4 percent stake in the company to Goldman Sachs for an undisclosed price.

The German-American carmaker once held 37 percent of Mitsubishi Motors as part of its goal to become a global auto powerhouse, but the company decided last year against pumping more money into the troubled Japanese automaker.

Before the latest share transaction, DaimlerChrysler was Mitsubishi Motors' fourth-largest shareholder. U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now becomes Mitsubishi Motors' largest shareholder with a 13.4 percent stake.

"It's the end of an episode and is putting their relationship on a new basis," said Stephen Cheetham, European auto analyst for Bernstein & Co. Inc. in London, who said the move capped the company's attempt to boost market share in Asia through acquisitions.

Shares of DaimlerChrysler gained nearly 2 percent to 42.78 euros ($50.32) in Frankfurt trading.

Meanwhile, DaimlerChrysler said Friday that prosecutors had closed an insider trading investigation against two of the automaker's managers over stock deals before the resignation of chief executive Juergen Schrempp.

Prosecutors found no evidence of wrongdoing by management board member Ruediger Grube or communications chief Hartmut Schick, DaimlerChrysler spokesman Toni Melfi said. Prosecutors could not be reached Friday.

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