No other Websites seem to think the deal is in danger. Will TTAC be the prophet who gains credibility because it gets this prediction right? Or will TTAC lose credibility when the deal goes through a little late?

Time will tell.

These matter are not handled through emails… If I were Berlin I’d say: the hell with this. Send a written letter MoFos, signed by your CEO.

“The hell we will” was the most likely behind-the-doors reaction in Berlin.

Would be lovely to hear it in German… but yes, if they answer they will give proof to GM. They’re NOT stupid.

GM is not going to reply to both EU or Germany because it’s not convenient for their interests. Period.

This game is far from done. I’m curious, but I haven’t read much about the russian’s moves.

GM should get permission from its new overlords to transfer the money to both Opel and Daewoo if it don’t want to repeat Chrysler’s history.

That would put the German government in a very tight spot, especially considering Fiat was willing to keep a lot of plants open.

But the deal may die. And it should. If Magna does get Opel, a year from now Magna will wish it hadn’t.

So Gardiner Westbound is right that Frank Stronach’s reach may exceed his grasp. That’s as it should be. Or what’s a heaven for?

If the EU Commissar for Competition, Neelie Kroes holds up the Magna/Sperbank deal with a proper antitrust investigation, Opel will be declared insolvent and there goes 50,000 jobs during a recession.

Some of those 50,000 lost job will be in Antwerp, Belgium. What’s the current unemployment figures looking like in the Flemish portion of Belgium?

On the other hand, should Kroes look the other way and allow the German subsidized deal go through, some job losses are inevitable for Antwerp even in the best scenario.

Either way, the Opel’s Belgium work force will shrink.