">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Crunch time for Opel as Germany mulls China bid
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Crunch time for Opel as Germany mulls China bid
AFP - Thursday, May 28
BERLIN (AFP) - - The fate of tens of thousands of workers hung in the balance on Wednesday as Berlin prepared a crunch meeting to select its preferred bidder for struggling General Motors subsidiary Opel.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chancellor Angela Merkel will begin talks at 1900 GMT with top politicians from Berlin and Washington, as well as representatives from the three bidding firms that have placed official bids, Magna, RHJ International and Fiat .
And in a last-minute dramatic twist to the long-running saga, Berlin confirmed it had also received interest from a Chinese firm, reportedly the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation.
According to Die Welt daily, the Beijing company is seeking less in the way of loan guarantees from Berlin and has pledged not to close any German plants for two years, seen as an attractive proposal in an election year.
Although the final decision lies with GM and the US government, Germany has a major say because it is offering billions of euros (dollars) in loan guarantees and has most of GM Europe's factories and employees.
Germany is manoeuvring to keep as many of Opel's 25,000 German employees as possible four months before the country holds a general election.
The talks are expected to last late into Wednesday night and the decision could yet be postponed unless the bidders improve their offer, business daily Handelsblatt reported.
The paper cites government advisors as saying that a hasty decision would be a "catastrophe."
The frontrunner in the bidding war remains Canadian auto parts giant Magna International -- backed by Russia's top bank, the state-controlled Sberbank -- which would see Russian truck maker GAZ making Opel vehicles in Russia.
Premiers of states where Opel has its main factories have come out clearly in favour of Magna, as have unions, while centre-left members of the governing coalition are also thought to favour the Canadian solution.
But advisors cited by Handelsblatt criticised the Magna offer for not bringing sufficient funds to the table. If the bid were accepted "the new company would be insolvent from day one," the experts were quoted as saying.
For its part, Italian car giant Fiat seeks to combine GM's European and Latin American operations with Chrysler, in which it holds a 20 percent stake, to create the world's second largest automaker after Japan's Toyota.
But the Italian bid fell foul of Opel's powerful union bosses as details leaked out of sweeping job cuts. Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne held last-gasp talks with Merkel on Tuesday to push his offer.
He has said Fiat would cut 10,000 jobs across Europe, including just 2,000 in Germany with no plant closures.
Brussels-based RHJ International, the third bidder, owns stakes in auto parts firms including Niles and Asahi in Japan, Belgium's Honsel, as well as Columbia Music Entertainment.
Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has also raised the possibility of declaring Opel insolvent but the government has stressed this is a last resort and would prefer to find an investor.
GM, which also owns Vauxhall in Britain and Saab in Sweden, is racing against a June 1 deadline to come up with restructuring measures that would convince the US Treasury to keep it afloat with billions of taxpayer dollars.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: China's Economy
South Korea to help Algeria boost growth and diversifyAFP - Thursday, May 28
Geithner to meet top Chinese leadersAFP - Thursday, May 28
Up to nine Chinese buying teams to head for Taiwan: govtAFP - Thursday, May 28
Malaysia heads for recession after 6.2% Q1 contractionAFP - Thursday, May 28
Related Articles: Business
India Hot Stocks: MRPL extends gains on resultsReuters - Wednesday, May 27
Yuan down ahead of Geithner's visit, volatilities upReuters - Wednesday, May 27
SCENARIOS-How markets may react to China's May PMIReuters - Wednesday, May 27
Indian shares rise 2.2 pct early on strong AsiaReuters - Wednesday, May 27
No dethroning dollar despite risks-China FX officialReuters - Wednesday, May 27
Related Full Coverage
China Economy
china economy
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – Business
Viewed
Canada's governor eats raw seal heart
NZealand zookeeper killed by white tiger: police
Climate change: World's destiny at stake
Medvedev scolds officials for gloomy forecasts
Vitamin D boosts brain power in middle-aged men
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Thursday, 28 May 2009 Astronauts blast off to double space station crew
GM fate uncertain, Chrysler poised for overhaul
Russian girl discovered 'behaving like dog'
Netanyahu cites reciprocity on eve of Abbas U.S. trip
| International
|
Iraq leader vows to end corruption amid scandal
| International
|
Crunch time for Opel as Germany mulls China bid
Sri Lanka eases restrictions at biggest camp: U.N.
| International
|
Israeli bill seeks to outlaw denial of Jewish state
| International
|
U.S. targets Hezbollah network in Africa
| International
|
Egg bombardment disrupts Czech leftists
| International
|
Nokia apologises for hitches with new online store
Nokia halts investment in media-sharing site
Ex Italian spy denies involvement in CIA kidnapping
Yahoo CEO says talks with Microsoft continue
| Technology
|
AT&T says to double mobile data speeds by 2011
| Technology
|
Three million UK homes are Web Notspots
| Technology
|
Beijing protest honours Pelosi's visit
Judge says will quit KRouge court if can't work
Roh leapt to death 'after sending guard away'
US offers reward for Philippine militant suspects
Pakistani 10-year PIB cut-off yield at 12.6303 pct
Indonesia to double palm oil production by 2020
Rare white tiger kills NZealand zookeeper: police
GM future in the balance, Chrysler set for overhaul
Bomb kills troops in Pakistan's Swat: officials
Crunch time for Opel as Germany mulls China bid
Australia braced for swine flu, as Asia cases rise
Fitch:NZ budget deficit itself won't trigger downgrade
Facebook fugitive caught after 105 days
China expects 600 bln yuan of new loans in May
Taiwan man arrested for cyber love scams
Eight carriers in undersea Asia cable project
Singer Chris Brown says he's not a monster
| Entertainment
|
'Slumdog' child stars to get new homes
Students suffer in France's four-month strike
Japan launches digital archive on director Kurosawa
Achtung tourists! Berlin eateries get cheeky
Attacks, strikes kill 34 in Afghanistan
Ousted Madagascar president accuses France of backing rival
Iraq PM vows to root out graft after trade minister quits
US journalism institute, entrepreneurs in news venture
Germany holds high-stakes Opel meeting
North Korea faces U.N. sanctions
| International
|
Jobs sounds 'healthy, energetic': Apple co-founder
Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility for Lahore attack
| International
|
World first: Japanese scientists create transgenic monkeys
Global newspaper sales 'inch up in 2008'
Eminem's "Relapse" Debuts At #1 On The Billboard Albums Chart
Website documents Google Book debate
Obama to hear Abbas plea on Israeli settlements
| International
|
Director Danny Boyle Rescues "Slumdog Millionaire" Kids From Homelessness
Suicide car bomb hits Lahore, 23 dead
Amnesty: Economic crisis fuels rights time bomb
| International
|
search worth 'boatloads of money': Bartz
Chris Brown Claims He "Ain't A Monster," Plugs Upcoming Album
Photos show rape and sex abuse in Iraq jails: report
| International
|
Ed McMahon Settles Lawsuit With Mansion Owners Over His Fall
'DTXTR' translates teen text into English
'New arms race' taking shape in cyberspace: Van Loan
James Brown's Heirs Settle Estate Feud
NATO and Afghan troops kill 34 Taliban
| International
|
Global newspaper sales inched up in 2008: industry body
U.N. rights body backs Sri Lankan resolution on war
| International
|
Putin urges innovation to revive Russia
Mike Tyson's Daughter Dies After Accidently Strangling Herself
Tiananmen protests a distant memory for China youth
| International
|
Nokia apologises for hitches with new online store
Black Eyed Peas Hold Off Kris Allen From The Top Of The iTunes Top 10
IMF denies reports it negotiated with Hezbollah
| International
|
US expat's blog on Saudi life censored
'DTXTR' translates teen text into English
Park makes history, but United off song in Rome
Rights diplomats fail to find Sri Lanka compromise
Obama draws line on Israeli settlements
Japan PM, opposition rival face off in first debate
Court set to rule on Chrysler's fate
China unveils new measures to boost exports
Videogames get more physical as recession bites
| Technology
|
AT&T eyes sale of Palm Pre in future
| Technology
|
Govt announces money for green jobs, training
South Korea to help Algeria boost growth and diversify
Geithner to meet top Chinese leaders
Malaysia heads for recession after 6.2% Q1 contraction
Up to nine Chinese buying teams to head for Taiwan: govt
Indonesia expects 5.0-6.0% growth in 2010: minister
AmEx sues rocker Courtney Love for unpaid bill
| Entertainment
|
Singer Chris Brown says he's not a monster
| Entertainment
|
Warhol collector's monopoly suit gets green light
Tom Hanks enlists for WWII documentary
| Entertainment
|
Fall in Singapore tourist arrrivals eases in April
John Lithgow kills for 'Dexter' role
| Entertainment
|
Cambodia breaks ground on its first overpass
Year Without Sex proves to be time well spent
| Entertainment
|
Rapper Jay-Z close to a deal with Sony
| Entertainment
|
Buckcherry supporting Kiss on summer tour
| Entertainment
|
Spike's Jesse James should be outlawed
| Entertainment
|
Israeli actress Game for Plame CIA tale
| Entertainment
|
Update: Missing Philadelphia Mom, Daughter Found In Florida's Disney World
Millions Threatened by Shortage of Yellow Fever Vaccine
Retired U.S. Navy Warship Sunk In Florida Keys To Become Artificial Reef
Kansas Girl Wins Naming Rights to Next Mars Rover
Mother, Daughter Abduction Triggers Amber Alert In Pennsylvania
Wall Street Takes Late Slide On Treasury News
President Obama Touts Solar Energy Plan At Nevada Press Conference
Ft Campbell Army Base Closed For 3 Days Because Of High Number Of Suicides
White House Press Secretary Gibbs Discusses Sotomayor, North Korea During Press Conference
IRS Tax Revenue Declines With People's Income
Microsoft launching Zune HD
Attack kills 34 insurgents in Afghanistan
Youth diabetes in Europe set to explode: study
Britain appeals for release of kidnapped men in Iraq
GM talks with Europe break down, Chrysler future on hold
At least 4 die in major quake off Honduras
| International
|
Depeche Mode's Dave Gahan Undergoes Surgery Following Show Cancellations
Slain leaders' heirs vie for Lebanon votes
Kelly Ripa Warns Weight Loss Product Company For Unauthorized Use Of Her Image
Sri Lanka says U.N. rights vote vindicates war victory
| International
|
U.S. and Israel square off over settlement expansion
OPEC set to hold output steady
Gary Collins Sentenced To Four Months Of House Arrest
Myanmar hits back at critics of Suu Kyi trial
| International
|
Simon Cowell's Ex-Girlfriend Requests Restraining Order Against Attacker
Berlusconi would resign if lied over teenager
| International
|
Courtney Love Sued By American Express For $350K Unpaid Bills
Amnesty raps Medvedev on Russia rights violations
| International
|
Paparazzo Cries Assault By Chris Brown's Bodyguard
Irish president says abuse report didn't come as shock
| International
|
Russian police find feral girl in Siberia
| International
|
Govt announces money for green jobs and training
Help for poor countries at Paris climate talks
Brian Eno lights up Sydney Opera House for global warming
Taliban claims Lahore attack
Publisher defends Zhao memoir after Beijing attack
Australian FM condemns attacks on Indian students
Microsoft revamps search engine, dubbed Bing
| Technology
|
China-made children's products unsafe: state media
Time Warner to separate AOL near year end
| Technology
|
SAsian cyclone toll 200, villagers return home
News Corp hopes for broader ad deal with Google
| Technology
|
Myanmar overshadows Europe-ASEAN meetings
iPhone to replace register at Japan university
| Technology
|
SKorea, US upgrade alert after NKorea threat: ministry
Wired South Korea mourns ex-president online
| Technology
|
Amnesty targets Pakistan and SLanka rights records
Indonesia's mud victims await justice
Videogames get more physical as recession bites
| Technology
|
Obama names ambassadors to Japan, India, Sri Lanka
Chef jailed 2 nights has same name as drug suspect
Decomposed Remains Found Near Des Plaines River Belong To A Man
Cancer Death Rates Falling Across The U.S.
Japan warns on global rise in protectionism
Seoul, United States Raise Alert Levels In Korean Peninsula
GE boss Immelt: Worst is over in crisis
WRAPUP 1-S.Korea manufacturing mood soars, central bank cautious
Obama Raises $4 Million At Hollywood Fundraiser
Seoul shares gain 2 pct led by banks, exporters
AT&T Wireless To Upgrade Its 3G Network By 2011
South Korea loosens bank capital requirements
U.S. Goes After Two Hezbollah Fundraisers In Africa
NZ April household borrowing rises in April
Responding To Appeal By Bush v. Gore Lawyers, Gay Groups Warn Against "Ill-Timed Lawsuits"
NZ dollar gains on S&P revision after budget
Obama Heads Back To White House For Meeting With Palestinian Leader, Clinton
RPT-WRAPUP 2-NZ wins S&P reprieve after belt-tightening budget
Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak Announces Intention To Run Against Specter
S&P lifts NZ outlook to stable, affirms rating
Three-Year-Old California Girl Accidentally Shoots Dead Younger Brother
New Zealand plans NZ$8.5 bln bond issues in 2009/10
Born to Run? Teen star Demi Lovato launches tour
| Entertainment
|
Finns get a break from stress in saunas
The Mentalist voted sexiest, best new TV show
| Entertainment
|
Cash crunch hits Amsterdam's red-light district
Russian heir fights Yale over van Gogh painting
Boyle dreams as British talent show final looms
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights