Related News
Beijing Automotive eyes stake in Opel
By Angelika Gruber |
July 4, 2009, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A CHINESE auto maker has offered to buy a stake in General Motors unit Opel, challenging a deal from Canadian auto parts supplier Magna, sources said yesterday.
Beijing Automotive has submitted an indicative, non-binding offer for Germany's Opel and would make a binding offer by mid-July, sources said.
The news comes ahead of yesterday's deadline for GM lawyers to submit papers to US federal bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber, who will rule by July 10 on a plan to create a "new GM" with brands Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and truck unit GMC.
Magna, backed by Russian partners, is the frontrunner to buy Opel. Sources on Thursday said Magna's board wants to approve a business plan for Opel next Tuesday.
Belgian holding company RHJ International is the third bidder, although it posted a wider full-year loss on Wednesday and analysts doubt it has the cash to compete with its rival suitors.
Whoever wins the race for Opel faces a tough antitrust probe, a German government minister said yesterday.
When asked whether he counted on Brussels examining any deal for Opel under a lengthier, "phase II" investigation, German Deputy Economics Minister Jochen Homann said: "Yes, clearly."
He declined to specify what issues might concern EU competition authorities since the German government is still awaiting a business plan for the takeover, which he hoped to get by the end of this month.
Any business plans submitted will be evaluated by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of Berlin, since the government will have to offer more state aid after already extending Opel a six-month 1.5-billion-euro (US$2.1 billion) bridge loan that matures on November 30.
Beijing Automotive has submitted an indicative, non-binding offer for Germany's Opel and would make a binding offer by mid-July, sources said.
The news comes ahead of yesterday's deadline for GM lawyers to submit papers to US federal bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber, who will rule by July 10 on a plan to create a "new GM" with brands Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and truck unit GMC.
Magna, backed by Russian partners, is the frontrunner to buy Opel. Sources on Thursday said Magna's board wants to approve a business plan for Opel next Tuesday.
Belgian holding company RHJ International is the third bidder, although it posted a wider full-year loss on Wednesday and analysts doubt it has the cash to compete with its rival suitors.
Whoever wins the race for Opel faces a tough antitrust probe, a German government minister said yesterday.
When asked whether he counted on Brussels examining any deal for Opel under a lengthier, "phase II" investigation, German Deputy Economics Minister Jochen Homann said: "Yes, clearly."
He declined to specify what issues might concern EU competition authorities since the German government is still awaiting a business plan for the takeover, which he hoped to get by the end of this month.
Any business plans submitted will be evaluated by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of Berlin, since the government will have to offer more state aid after already extending Opel a six-month 1.5-billion-euro (US$2.1 billion) bridge loan that matures on November 30.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
