Opel decision could come from GM board meeting; Germany eager to know outcome

GM board meeting could decide Opel fate

FRANKFURT — General Motors Co.’s board is beginning a two-day meeting that could see it decide the fate of its German unit Opel, with German business leaders and politicians hoping any solution preserves jobs.

GM has two primary bids for the Ruesselsheim-based Adam Opel GmbH, with German officials, Opel workers and unions endorsing one from Canadian auto parts maker Magna International Inc. and Russian state-backed bank Sberbank.

The other bid comes from RHJ International, a Brussels-based investment company — if it sells the unit at all. RHJ has not guaranteed keeping as many jobs in Germany and could sell the unit back to GM later.

Opel employs 25,000 people in Germany, about half of GM Europe’s total work force, and German politicians are keen to safeguard jobs ahead of national elections Sept. 27.