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G.M. Pushes for U.S. to Sell Entire Stake at I.P.O. [“We want the government out, period,”...]
New York Times ^

Posted on 08/05/2010 5:04:27 PM PDT by Sub-Driver

G.M. Pushes for U.S. to Sell Entire Stake at I.P.O. By NICK BUNKLEY

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Eager to shed his company of the stigma of being government owned, the chief executive of General Motors, Edward E. Whitacre Jr., said Thursday that G.M. wanted Washington to sell its entire stake during an initial public offering.

“We want the government out, period,” Mr. Whitacre said in comments after speaking at an automotive conference in northern Michigan. “We don’t want to be known as Government Motors.”

Through its sponsorship of the automaker’s bankruptcy last summer — including more than $50 billion in loans — the Treasury Department holds about 61 percent of G.M. Analysts have been expecting G.M. to sell part of its shares during the initial offering, but Mr. Whitacre said the company anticipated selling them all at once.

Eliminating government ownership, he said, would be good for employee morale and would improve G.M.’s image. While unusual, selling all the shares during an initial offering is not unheard of. The credit card giant Visa raised about $19 billion during an offering in March 2008. The risk of a large offering, analysts said, is that interest among buyers could wane as the sale approaches, causing the price to fall. A Treasury spokesman, Mark Paustenbach, declined to comment on Thursday. The department issued a statement in June saying that G.M. would control the timing of the offering but that the Treasury would “retain the right, at all times, to decide whether and at what level to participate in the offering, should it occur.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
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To: McGavin999
“They are buying Ford instead because they didn’t take the bail out”

My son just graduated from a automotive technical school in May and is an entry level auto technician with the 2nd largest Ford dealership in NJ. He came home last night and said that they are so busy with new car preps and maintenance that they have to either turn business away or schedule weeks in advance. Great for job security!

The only downside in my book is that he received his UAW union card in the mail this week... I can't stand the UAW.

21 posted on 08/05/2010 5:32:29 PM PDT by alice_in_bubbaland (Professional Politicians are a Threat to the Republic! Remove them on 11-2-10!)
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To: Slehn

“Too late you SOB. I will never, EVER, purchase another GM vehicle. GM shall forever be known as Government Motors. Millions of productive, car-buying citizens feel the same way, I’m certain.”

Exactly. Your past is known. No hymen-restoring surgery for you.


22 posted on 08/05/2010 5:38:37 PM PDT by caseinpoint (Don't get thickly involved in thin things)
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To: alice_in_bubbaland

You tell your son what that card really represents. I understand he has to have it in order to work, but make sure he understands what they are willing to do to this country.


23 posted on 08/05/2010 5:39:37 PM PDT by McGavin999 (I'm sorry, your race card is overdrawn and no further charges can be accepted)
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To: Sub-Driver

BULLDROPPINGS


24 posted on 08/05/2010 5:53:07 PM PDT by Carley (For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.)
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To: Sub-Driver

LOL! So they can screw over investors a second time?!?


25 posted on 08/05/2010 5:54:13 PM PDT by Caipirabob ( Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Sub-Driver

Look for the Union Label....then, buy something else.


26 posted on 08/05/2010 5:55:36 PM PDT by traditional1 ("Don't gotsta worry 'bout no mo'gage, don't gotsta worry 'bout no gas; Obama gonna take care o' me!)
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To: Sub-Driver

Americans sunk this little piece of Obamafascism. Now if we could gouge his banksters and other corporate pigs...


27 posted on 08/05/2010 6:01:22 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: Sub-Driver

After that POS Whitacre went on TV and lied to America I will never trust him or care about what he has to say. GM is dead to me.


28 posted on 08/05/2010 6:11:05 PM PDT by TigersEye (Greenhouse Theory is false. Totally debunked. "GH gases" is a non-sequitur.)
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To: demsux
My next car WILL NOT be built by the UAW...period.

As much as I hate to say it (my dad was a loyal UAW worker) that is the way to go.

We should probably go a step further and not buy any Union produced goods. The Unions are corrupt and meddle in politics to the detriment of the country.

29 posted on 08/05/2010 6:15:41 PM PDT by Pontiac
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To: Sub-Driver

Lie down with dogs get fleas.


30 posted on 08/05/2010 6:18:02 PM PDT by Wiggins
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To: Pontiac

My new car built in Georgia.

31 posted on 08/05/2010 6:21:40 PM PDT by bmwcyle (It is Satan's fault)
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To: Sub-Driver

Sorry, Bud, but you own the name Gubmint Motors now. You ain’t gettin’ rid of it any time soon. Your company is forever known as Gubmint Motors. Shoulda’ thought of that before you took the Gubmint Money.

You may get the gobmint’s stake out in an IPO, but in the public’s mind you are forever truly Gubmint Motors.

Live with it. Love it. Eat it.


32 posted on 08/05/2010 6:27:19 PM PDT by Houghton M.
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The Government - We taxpayers - assumed/paid off GM’s debt. If this debt were still on their balance sheet GM would be bankrupt or at least unable to make any kind of I.P.O. with a positive price per share.

They will always be Government Motors. May they go out of business as soon as possible.


33 posted on 08/05/2010 6:31:37 PM PDT by D-fendr (Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Allied-Signal (now Honeywell) had a crazy loser CEO back in the 80s who overpaid for Signal, then floated an idea past Lee Iacocca head of Chrysler to make a bid for GM, it would only be 40 billion or so.

That would have been overpaying big time. Heck, I wouldn’t even touch GM stock at the bottom.

Hope springs eternal but I give them the same advice I gave a stupid boss one time: Go up on the roof, take the short way down and aim for the concrete.


34 posted on 08/05/2010 6:46:41 PM PDT by Eagles2003
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To: RingerSIX
"Shove it, forever! I’ll buy a Ford."

My family have been GM customers for three generations. But our latest vehicle was a Ford. We will never go back.

35 posted on 08/05/2010 6:59:26 PM PDT by redhead (Abortion: The number one killer of human beings. Period.)
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To: Sub-Driver

GM is dead to me. I’d like to buy a new truck but won’t even consider a GM.


36 posted on 08/05/2010 7:34:57 PM PDT by CodeToad ("Idiocracy" is not just a movie.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Read my tag line


37 posted on 08/05/2010 7:40:55 PM PDT by RatRipper (I'll ride a turtle to work every day before I buy anything from Government Motors.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Sorry GM, my next vehicle will be a Ford.
You took Obama’s money, which Obama took from me, my family, my neighbors, my friends and my descendents. That money, which we worked hard for is gone forever and you’ll never pay it back.
GM, I hope you you enjoy the next 2 or 3 years, because after that you will be gone and only the shells of empty factories will be left along with a warehouse full of batteries for a $61,000 electric lemon that nobody wants.


38 posted on 08/05/2010 8:13:55 PM PDT by BuffaloJack (Obama, the Criminal, is BAD for AMERICA.)
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To: Lexington Green
Wel, how about we call you Union Motors?

Now here is the chance for the U.A.W. to step up and buy G.M. I would actually respect them for doing that. The negotiating table would take on a whole new shape.

39 posted on 08/05/2010 10:42:26 PM PDT by Mike Darancette (Socialism is the philosophy of failure, - W Churchill)
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