Socialist U.S. offered a majority stake in General Motors!
GM now means Government Motors.
DETROIT, Michigan - April 28, 2009 - General Motors Corp. outlined a new turnaround plan that would leave the U.S. government controlling the automaker, as it set up a showdown with bondholders that could determine whether the company lands in bankruptcy court.
Under the plan, GM is asking the Treasury Department for an additional $11.6 billion in loans, on top of the $15.4 billion it has already received. It envisions giving the government at least half ownership of the company as payment for half of the loans.
At the same time, GM said it would use stock instead of cash to pay off half the $20.4 billion it owes a United Auto Workers fund to cover retiree health care. That stock would leave the union owning about 39% of GM.
The upshot would be the transformation of a troubled Amerikan icon, leaving it in the hands of the government and its main union. The situation, fraught with complications and potential conflicts, comes on top of the U.S. government taking stakes in banks and insurer American International Group Inc.
Also Monday, the UAW and Chrysler LLC disclosed that the union would own 55% of that restructured carmaker, while Fiat SpA would get 35% and the U.S. and lenders would own the rest.