GM says Opel deal could close this week
General Motors Co GM.UL remains committed to closing a deal to sell its European Opel unit to a group led by Magna International (MGa.TO), the automaker's chief executive told CNBC on Wednesday.
When our board considered the transaction, we recommended and proceeded with the Magna transaction, Henderson said in an interview broadcast live by CNBC.
Based upon subsequent input -- I'm in dialogue with our board members -- what we're trying to do is to get the Magna deal finalized while being in dialogue with the German government, he said.
The closing of the Opel sale, which had been expected last week, was delayed when European Union regulators challenged the terms of German government aid offered to support the deal.
Henderson said it was possible the Opel transaction could close as soon as this week if remaining issues are resolved. The proposed deal would sell a 55-percent stake in Opel to Canadian auto-parts maker Magna and Russian state-owned bank Sberbank.
I think right now there is no other buyer for the business and the deal we have on the table is, we think, in the best interest of GM, Henderson said. Our mainstream plan is to try to bring the Magna transaction to closure.
(Editing by Maureen Bavdek)