GM Books $4.2b Net Loss in Q3; Bankrupt By December

The Wall Street Journal reports GM’s statement on its dismal Q3 results. The General’s general admits that “estimated liquidity during the remainder of 2008 will approach the minimum amount necessary to operate its business.” So, essentially, unless GM gets a federal bailout by 12/31/08, the artist formerly known as the world’s largest automaker will be forced to file Chapter 11. And no wonder, given GM’s cash burn reported [with all the numbers] by Yahoo! Finance. “Cash, marketable securities, and readily-available assets of the Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust totaled $16.2 billion on September 30, 2008, down from $21.0 billion on June 30, 2008… The change in liquidity reflects negative adjusted operating cash flow of $6.9 billion in the third quarter 2008.” The entire “money shot” quote after the jump.

“Even if GM implements the planned operating actions that are substantially within its control, GM’s estimated liquidity during the remainder of 2008 will approach the minimum amount necessary to operate its business. Looking into the first two quarters of 2009, even with its planned actions, the company’s estimated liquidity will fall significantly short of that amount unless economic and automotive industry conditions significantly improve, it receives substantial proceeds from asset sales, takes more aggressive working capital initiatives, gains access to capital markets and other private sources of funding, receives government funding under one or more current or future programs, or some combination of the foregoing. The success of GM’s plans necessarily depends on other factors, including global economic conditions and the level of automotive sales, particularly in the United States and Western Europe.”