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General Motors faces a key bankruptcy hearing Tuesday in which it will present a plan to sell off most of its assets to a new company unburdened by its old debts and supported by billions of dollars in government loans.
Judge Robert Gerber has so far ruled in GM's favor on every motion placed before the court since the beleaguered automaker sought bankruptcy protection on June 1 and Chrysler's swift emergence from bankruptcy set a precedent for a speedy process.
"We hope to launch the new company as soon as possible after the sale is approved," said GM spokeswoman Julie Gibson, who declined to speculate on how long it would take for the new company to emerge.
GM managed to overcome a major hurdle just days before the hearing by agreeing to accept liability for past product defects amid mounting political pressure.
The only significant objection remaining comes from a host of dealers the Detroit giant plans to eliminate from its network.
GM is expected to reach a deal with the bulk of the dealers and the remaining objections will probably be dismissed by the judge, said John Pottow, who specializes in bankruptcy law at the University of Michigan Law School.
"The hearing won't take more than a day or two," Pottow speculated.
"Then, the judge will decide whether selling the assets (to a new company) is in the best interest of creditors and he's going to say yes."
Once the judge approves the asset sale, it will take several days or possibly a few weeks to be completed, Pottow told AFP.
The company was able to move through the process swiftly because it spent months preparing for the bankruptcy process and reaching agreements with its main union and most of its creditors.
But the aid and influence of President Barack Obama's administration cannot be underestimated, Pottow said.
"It's amazing what you can do when you have a government funded and staffed task force," he added.
GM gained approval on Thursday to tap into the second half of 30 billion dollars in government financing, keeping the rapid restructuring plan on track.
The funds, from the US and Canadian governments, will allow the biggest US automaker to pay its employees and suppliers and other expenses under the exit plan.
The US government would own 60.8 percent of the capital for its contribution under the plan and Canada would have 11.7 percent, while a United Auto Workers trust fund would hold 17.5 percent.
Creditors holding GM bonds would swap 27.1 billion dollars in debt for a 10 percent stake and warrants allowing them to buy an additional 15 percent stake, officials said.
Sources familiar with the case said that GM appeared to be on track for an exit from bankruptcy protection under the new scheme by mid-July.
Officials said the Obama administration has no intention of nationalizing General Motors over the long term and will not be participating in its day-to-day operations.
With a good product portfolio and solid new offerings in the pipeline, the new GM stands a strong chance of success, said Jeremy Anwyl, president of automotive research group Edmunds.com
"They really have the opportunity to reinvent themselves and create a new model for how a car goes to market," Anwyl said in a telephone interview.
The challenge will be whether GM is able to change its corporate culture to take advantage of its leaner, more focused and potentially more profitable structure.
"It's about getting people to think differently... which is very tricky and intangible," Anwyl said.
"It's going to be all about people at the end of this."
