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GM to File Bankruptcy on Monday

select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,446 ✭✭✭✭
edited May 2009 in General Discussion
Call them Government Motors beginning Monday




DETROIT (freep.com) -- General Motors Corp., the industrial behemoth that once defined the American corporation, plans to file for bankruptcy reorganization Monday, the Free Press learned today.

Crippled by the worst U.S. economy since the Great Depression after years of decline, the Detroit automaker will try to restructure itself in Chapter 11 with more government financing.


Today, GM unveiled a proposal aimed at winning debt holders' support for its plan to create a new GM in bankruptcy out of its best parts and giving the first glimpse of what the new company could look like.


The new GM would have far less debt and be primarily owned by the U.S. government, the UAW's health care trust and current GM bondholders.


It's a far fall from 50 years ago, when the public debated whether to break up GM. With about half of the U.S. market, some wondered how other automakers could compete against GM's Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, GMC and Pontiac brands.


Now, GM is alive only because of $19.4 billion in federal loans as it prepares to put its future in the hands of a judge.


The U.S. Treasury will provide at least $30 billion more to help GM restructure in bankruptcy, a new regulatory filing indicated. All but $8 billion of the total U.S. aid of about $50 billion would be swapped for an initial 72.5% stake in the new GM.


GM is hopeful a bankruptcy would be swift.


"Everybody would have an incentive to get in and out as quickly as possible," Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, told the Automotive Press Association in Detroit. "A Chapter 11 that lasted for months and months would be very damaging."

RenCen retailers are nervous about filing Chapter 11

Sales at Calumet Market & Spirits, a 30-year tenant in the Renaissance Center, have dropped by 50% over the past five years due to General Motors Corp.'s job cuts, owner Henry Isaac said today as word filtered out that GM plans to file for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

"The economy in Michigan and Detroit is bad to start with, and then when you are working in the building with GM and hearing the talk of bankruptcy ... Everybody is worried about their job - from the janitor all the way up," Isaac said.


On top of that, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts offered a what he called an unprecedented proposal to GM today to move its headquarters from Detroit's RenCen to the GM Tech Center in Warren.


"If they move out of the building completely, that's a disaster not just for me, but for every retailer here in the building," Isaac said.


Isaac's anxiety was typical as confirmation of GM's plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy swept across Michigan.


"It's going to be painful, but pain is better than death," said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. "But I think the shock and awe of bankruptcy has been lessened because of what has happened with Chrysler."


Both Ficano and Michigan, Gov. Jennifer Granholm praised President Barack Obama's administration for supporting the industry, saying the situation would be worse otherwise.


"I shudder shutter to think what would have happened if the Obama administration hadn't insisted on maintaining a domestic auto industry," Granholm said.


"The main pain of a GM bankruptcy," she added, "will be on the families who depend on the automaker for wages and pensions."


However, U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., said he's concerned about the federal government owning such a large stake of the automaker.


"I got nervous when they fired Wagoner," he said of former CEO Rick Wagoner. "And I have some real questions about where we're going to be in 12-18 months."


Detroit City Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. said GM's trouble underscores the need for the region to transform its economy.


"This is another signal that we're truly in a new era and that no one or no company's are immune," Cockrel said. "We've got to diversify our economy."


Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, in a statement issued by through a spokesman, said "The presumed GM bankruptcy would have a tremendously negative impact on our city from a tax, employment, and image standpoint."

Workers and retirees worry most.


Hourly workers at UAW locals this week are voting on pay and benefit cuts as part of GM's restructuring.


"Over the past several months, I think the U.S. autoworker has experienced every emotion that you could possible experience," said Brian Fredline, president of UAW Local 602 in Lansing. "And now we are down to frustration and near despair, and at times that turns into anger."


Still, Fredline said, 70% of the 3,000 members who voted at his local voted in favor of the modified agreement.


William Hanline, 60, of Decatur, Ala., isn't sure whether GM or Delphi Corp. is going to pay his pension. Hanline retired from Delphi Corp.'s steering division on Jan. 1, but worked for GM in the 1980s and 1990s. Now, GM is to take back the division.


"Nobody is being held responsible for the condition that the company is in today, and that is what angers me," Hanline said.

Comments

  • CaptplaidCaptplaid Member Posts: 20,298 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Governmental occupation is a failure.

    You broke it. You fix it.
  • spanielsellsspanielsells Member Posts: 12,498
    edited November -1
    I want to know why GM was "too big" to be allowed to go bankrupt when Landru took office, but now, after he's handed them BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars, it is okay for them to go bankrupt.

    I want to know who he paid off. And, I want to know why there haven't been calls for his impeachment.

    What did Landru know, and when did he know it?
  • footlongfootlong Member Posts: 8,009
    edited November -1
    Whip em Good Spaniel. Throw em on the street. Take their jobs and homes. Then run and give YOUR beloved bankers MORE billions
  • trapguy2007trapguy2007 Member Posts: 8,959
    edited November -1
    Originally posted by spanielsells
    What did Landru know, and when did he know it?

    That only holds true for Republicans !
    With the Democrats it is #1 "I was not told ".
    #2 "They lied to me".
    #3 "That depends on your definition of is ".
    #4 "I don't know how all that money got in
    my freezer ".
    #5-- 5,000 other logical reasons .

    Don't expect an honest answer from any of them ![}:)]
  • slipgateslipgate Member Posts: 12,741
    edited November -1
    There is due diligence that has to be done before the bankruptcy can be filed. They were doomed to Chapter 11 reorganization no matter what, but they still had to go through the motions of exhausting every angle.
  • Colt SuperColt Super Member Posts: 31,007
    edited November -1
    The new American "success" story.

    Doug
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    they could have filed for reorganization WITHOUT stealing $$$$$ from honest taxpayers....I WILL NEVER BUY A GOVT BRAND VEHICLE.....NEVER
  • wsfiredudewsfiredude Member Posts: 7,769 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My question;

    The taxpayers were robbed of billions to help GM stay afloat, yet they are filing for bankruptcy.

    When do we get our money back?


    We don't. We were duped.[:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]
  • Aspen79seAspen79se Member Posts: 4,707
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by slipgate
    There is due diligence that has to be done before the bankruptcy can be filed. They were doomed to Chapter 11 reorganization no matter what, but they still had to go through the motions of exhausting every angle.


    Yep. GM held the definition of "over expanded". They didn't have a prayer of avoiding CH 11 after they took the second round of money. However Chrysler comes out of court expect a similar look for GM only without the partner company.
  • jltrentjltrent Member Posts: 9,328 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No Government motors for me.
  • big genobig geno Member Posts: 2,685 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    That's a DAMN shame[:(!][:(!]
  • footlongfootlong Member Posts: 8,009
    edited November -1
    You can go to your local GM dealership and "SEE" what some of what your tax dollars MAY have made.

    "what" can you "SEE" from the TRILLOIN DOLLARS the bloodsucking @#%#%^# bankers got[?][?]

    ANSWER THAT ONE[:(!][:(!][:(!]
  • RtWngExtrmstRtWngExtrmst Member Posts: 7,456
    edited November -1
    We (meaning those of us who pay taxes) are screwed. Union theives and their millionaire Lawyer/Lobbyest make out like bandits.

    Hope the ubion members can buy enough cars to keep GM afloat. Nobody else will buy one.
  • WaltherP-38WaltherP-38 Member Posts: 76 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Anytime the Gov't gets involved,it's chaos.Enough of the gov't buyouts,so far it has ALL been a waste of taxpayers money. They screwed it up,let them fix it. If you own a business,when was the last time the CEO got a huge bonus for failure? IT should NEVER happen!! The business fails,you're gone,and NOT with a huge bonus.
  • MBKMBK Member Posts: 2,918 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Look at the new capitalization. They will have liquid assets of about $30 billion. The company was burning through say $4 billion a month. Many disruptions in bankruptcy and plant shutdowns. They will be back for a big handout in 3 months.

    Look at the governance. UAW has 17%, bondholders 10%, and the Obamunist has said the Govt share will not vote. That means the UAW runs the show!

    The people who ran it into the ground with the idiotic retiree health care deal will be running it!
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    The sad part is, GM is making good product (now).

    BUT...since they made bad product in the past, lots of current Honda/Toyota owners (former GM owners) won't go back.

    We've owned GM stuff since 92, and really never had a bad one, with the exception of the wife's S-10 whose engine that took crap (thanks Dexcool) at 43K. Dealer made a super deal with us, and we got the TrailBlazer. Our local GM dealer is great, I think the dealers are the ones that are going to get royally screwed
  • Horse Plains DrifterHorse Plains Drifter Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 40,032 ***** Forums Admin
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by RtWngExtrmst
    We (meaning those of us who pay taxes) are screwed. Union theives and their millionaire Lawyer/Lobbyest make out like bandits.

    Hope the ubion members can buy enough cars to keep GM afloat. Nobody else will buy one.
    How so? the UAW just made a bunch of concessions to help keep GM operating.
  • trapguy2007trapguy2007 Member Posts: 8,959
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by RtWngExtrmst
    Hope the ubion members can buy enough cars to keep GM afloat. Nobody else will buy one.


    The union members are going to be the most surprised people on earth in 2 years .
    17% ownership will mean nothing if all the inventory is still sitting at the factory .
    Welcome to the real world ,guys !
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
    I want to know why GM was "too big" to be allowed to go bankrupt when Landru took office, but now, after he's handed them BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars, it is okay for them to go bankrupt.

    I want to know who he paid off. And, I want to know why there haven't been calls for his impeachment.

    What did Landru know, and when did he know it?
    [;)] Good questions all.

    Well, in reality, it was just part of the overall continuing plan to destroy the Republic.
  • Mr. FriendlyMr. Friendly Member Posts: 7,981
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by lt496
    quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
    I want to know why GM was "too big" to be allowed to go bankrupt when Landru took office, but now, after he's handed them BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars, it is okay for them to go bankrupt.

    I want to know who he paid off. And, I want to know why there haven't been calls for his impeachment.

    What did Landru know, and when did he know it?
    [;)] Good questions all.

    Well, in reality, it was just part of the overall continuing plan to destroy the Republic.


    and perpetuate the dream that is unions. If I hadn't watched this all unfold I would have never have believed it. Five years ago this all would have been considered impossible. It is amazing how quickly the country has fallen in 20 years. The final nails are set, they only need to be driven. We have failed our founding fathers, our country and our children. History will not jusdge us harshly though because it will be written by marxists
  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Todesengel
    quote:Originally posted by lt496
    quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
    I want to know why GM was "too big" to be allowed to go bankrupt when Landru took office, but now, after he's handed them BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars, it is okay for them to go bankrupt.

    I want to know who he paid off. And, I want to know why there haven't been calls for his impeachment.

    What did Landru know, and when did he know it?
    [;)] Good questions all.

    Well, in reality, it was just part of the overall continuing plan to destroy the Republic.


    and perpetuate the dream that is unions. If I hadn't watched this all unfold I would have never have believed it. Five years ago this all would have been considered impossible. It is amazing how quickly the country has fallen in 20 years. The final nails are set, they only need to be driven. We have failed our founding fathers, our country and our children. History will not jusdge us harshly though because it will be written by marxists
    Yep, pretty much.

    It still amazes me how easy, albeit time consuming, the transition from the Republic, to globalist-collectivism was.

    You can choose your label/philosophical flavor of the day, e.g., socialism, fascism, communism, or some other form. At the end of the day, we lose and it is what it is.

    The continuing lack of recognition and enlightenment is appalling.

    Go figure......
  • RtWngExtrmstRtWngExtrmst Member Posts: 7,456
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by PBJloaf
    The sad part is, GM is making good product (now).

    BUT...since they made bad product in the past, lots of current Honda/Toyota owners (former GM owners) won't go back.

    We've owned GM stuff since 92, and really never had a bad one, with the exception of the wife's S-10 whose engine that took crap (thanks Dexcool) at 43K. Dealer made a super deal with us, and we got the TrailBlazer. Our local GM dealer is great, I think the dealers are the ones that are going to get royally screwed


    GM problem is not now, nor never has been, its products. GMs problem is greedly and corrupt unions that have been enabled by a long line of greedy and corrupt management, and further enabled by greedy and corrupt politicians and the multimillionaire lawyer/lobbyists who funnel money to the politicians both from unions AND GM itself.
  • Jeepgod2002Jeepgod2002 Member Posts: 824 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    GM files bankruptcy and its ok. Yet its funny how GMAC will decline a buyer credit to purchase one of their products due to a previous bankruptcy. Mr. Pot meet Mr. Kettle.
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