F&I Management & Training

Chrysler is to enter bankruptcy protection after failing to persuade its main lenders to write off its debts, a White House official has said. President Barack Obama is now due to make a statement later on the future of the struggling US carmaker. The news comes as Chrysler had been in last minute talks to restructure the business before a midnight deadline. President Obama has already said that Chrysler would emerge stronger after any move into bankruptcy protection. 'Hedge fund block' The US government had told Chrysler it would be given a further $6bn (£4bn) of vital state loans if it had successfully restructured the business by midnight. This included trying to persuade the firm's main lenders to accept $2bn in cash, in exchange for writing off all of Chrysler's $6.9bn secured debt. Reports have said that while Chrysler's banks accepted this proposal, it was rejected by hedge funds that also hold a sizeable proportion of its debt. However, some analysts had speculated that Chrysler may prefer to go into bankruptcy protection as a means to give its lenders even less. US Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection gives a US firm time to rearrange its finances under a court-supervised procedure, while continuing to trade, protected from its creditors. Chrysler is owned by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, which bought an 80.1% stake from Germany's Daimler for 7.4bn euros ($9.9bn; £6.6bn) in 2007. Fiat talks The US government gave Chrysler three key restructuring demands. In addition to lenders writing off the carmaker's debts, it was asked to secure a cost-cutting deal with its main union, and establish an alliance with Italian car firm Fiat. While Chrysler appears to have failed to reach agreement with its lenders, it has gained an agreement with the union, and talks with Fiat are said to be near a successful conclusion. Fiat is seeking an initial 20% stake in Chrysler, which would then rise to 35% and could even reach 51%. The Italian firm will not have to pay anything for the share, which will give it access to the North American marketplace. In return, Chrysler will be able to take advantage of Fiat's expertise in making smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Sector-wide woes Chrysler, the smallest of the US "Big Three" carmakers after General Motors (GM) and Ford, secured a $4bn loan from the US government at the start of the year, and has since gained $500m more. GM has also received multi-billion government loans. While Ford has yet to require any money, the government has agreed to give it financial support, should it be needed. All three firms have seen sales slump dramatically in their home market as the recession has intensified. GM has its own deadline of 1 June to restructure the business to receive additional state aid, and avoid needing bankruptcy protection. Daimler said earlier this week that it would now be giving up its remaining 19.9% stake in Chrysler. Under the deal, Daimler said it will also write off Chrysler's outstanding loans, and make three annual payments of $200m into the Chrysler's pension plans. Daimler said it marked the final separation of the two firms. The German firm bought Chrysler in 1998 for $38bn.

DATED: 30.04.09

FEED: AW