German carmaker Opel, a European unit of General Motors Corp. (GM), could be one company to receive liquidity guarantees as part of the planned EUR100 billion rescue fund for German companies in need of financing amid tight credit markets, Chancellor Angela Merkel told HR info radio.

"Opel has already started to negotiate about possible state guarantees weeks ago, these negotiations are continuing," Merkel said. "Opel hasn't had an urgent need for any decision before Christmas. But of course, this is the case for a guarantee...Opel would be part of such a guarantee line."

Her comments come ahead of a meeting of senior ruling grand coalition party officials Monday evening. They are set to agree on the EUR100 billion fund, which Merkel said centers "explicitly, mainly around guarantees" for liquidity, as well as a second fiscal stimulus plan worth roughly EUR50 billion.

In November, Opel and GM Europe met with the government to talk about a possible state liquidity guarantee. At the time, Merkel said a possible state liquidity guarantee for Opel would depend on any finance being put to use in Germany.

The head of GM's European division, Carl-Peter Forster, has said the talks centered around the possible need of a guarantee of slightly over EUR1 billion.

-By Andrea Thomas, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 (0)30 2888 4126; andrea.thomas@dowjones.com

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