Hints and tips:
...That is part of the power of John Cage’s silent composition 4’33 — just about the same length of time, it so happens, as Miss González’s silence....
...John Smith, GM’s chief negotiator, said that the board would consider at a scheduled meeting on November 3 a German offer of state aid that lies at the heart of the EU’s concerns about the sale’s legality...
...Speaking before Ms Kroes’ letter was made public, Mr Guttenberg said that the European Commission had urged Germany to make it clear that state aid for Opel was not tied to any conditions....
...“We, as a government, have done our homework …we expect a decision of the board of directors next week,” Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, economics minister, said on the ARD public sector network on Friday....
...Neelie Kroes, the EU’s competition chief, threw the sale into disarray on Friday when she said in a letter to German Finance Mnister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg that Berlin’s financial aid for the spin-off...
...Lord Mandelson discussed it with his German counterpart Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg on Tuesday....
...Separately, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany’s economics minister, expressed confidence on Monday that other European countries would end up contributing loans for the deal....
...Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany’s economics minister, on Sunday urged the bidders to offer more cash for Opel. “The bidders have to be ready to take on more risk themselves....
...Reporting by Bertrand Benoit in Berlin, Daniel Schäfer in Frankfurt, John Reed in London and Jean Eaglesham in Manchester...
...Talks on Opel created a rift within Germany’s government, and Mr Guttenberg opposed the choice of Magna....
...Mr Guttenberg’s words came amid growing resistance in Germany against a rival takeover approach from Italian carmaker Fiat....
...Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany’s economics minister, has encouraged rival bids because of his reservations about Magna’s offer, which most of his colleagues endorsed in late May....
...However, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, German economics minister, sounded a sombre note, saying the agreement was fraught with risk and hinting that he had only signed up to it under political pressure....
...Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany’s economics minister, this week said the government was talking to Fiat and Canadian-Austrian supplier Magna about Opel and would ask both to present detailed proposals...
...“What happened overnight borders on the absurd,” said Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany’s economics minister A senior German official said: “It was an ambush,” adding “no democracy can come up with such...
...The awarding of exclusivity to the Canadian-Russian consortium created a rift in the German government where economics minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said at the weekend that he “could not support the...
...To bridge the gap, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, German economics minister, wants to hand over Opel to a trustee....
...Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, economics minister, on Monday said that he intended to use the US government’s 60-day extension of a viability deadline for GM to “optimise and clarify” whether Opel qualified...
...Mr Guttenberg said that state aid could only be the last resort....
...Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Germany’s economics and technology minister, is due to travel on Sunday to the US, where GM’s plight will be on the agenda of his talks with US Treasury secretary Tim Geithner...
...The bail-out of Opel has opened a deep rift in Germany’s government after Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, economics minister, said Berlin had yielded to “extortion” in keeping GM’s European operation afloat....
...Comment, analysis and other offerings from Wednesday’s FT, John Authers: Is it back to the Fifties?...
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