Bondholders Reject GM Deal; Bankruptcy Looms

Obama administration will not rule out Chapter 11 for ailing autos

(NEWSER) - Treasury advisers are working to line up $40 billion in financing for General Motors and Chrysler—5 times the size of any previous bankruptcy loan—just in case the two automakers need it, the Wall Street Journal reports. While efforts continue to restructure the companies by other means, the administration is speaking to as many as 70 lenders—including Citigroup and JPMorgan, themselves recipients of bailout cash—to provide government-backstopped financing for operations during a Chapter 11 restructuring. More»

Privately owned automaker preparing for Chapter 11 should feds not help out

(NEWSER) - Chrysler has contracted a law firm to help it prepare for bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reports. The hiring of Jones Day suggests the automaker faces immediate failure if Congress decides to deny financial assistance to Detroit automakers. Jones Day has experience in automotive matters and has represented the United Auto Workers in many cases. More»

Obama plans speech outlining firm's future

(NEWSER) - Once king of the auto industry, General Motors filed for bankruptcy this morning, the Wall Street Journal reports. The firm must cut some 21,000 workers and close 12 to 20 factories and 40% of dealerships, adds the New York Times. GM says it owes $172.8 billion and has assets of $82.3; for the US government, which will own 60% of the firm, some $30 billion hangs on GM’s return to profitability. More»

After decades of dominance, automaker blamed others for downfall

(NEWSER) - General Motors dominated the auto industry for much of the 20th century, and its downfall took place over decades. Many of the attributes GM once saw as strengths, from its rigid structure to its diverse range of vehicles, became liabilities as Japanese competitors sucked away even its most loyal customers, reports the New York Times. Yet its bankruptcy filing would have been unthinkable even a few years ago, as GM insisted it was too big to fail. More»

(NEWSER) - General Motors will appoint Al Koch as chief restructuring officer when the company files for bankruptcy tomorrow at 8am, the Wall Street Journal reports. A managing director at an advisory firm, 67-year-old Koch has attended GM management meetings for months and helped negotiate pre-bankruptcy deals with shareholders and lenders. He is expected to wind down the "old GM" as a new one emerges from bankruptcy court. More»