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GM denies accounting problems

 

By: Jeremy Grant
Financial Times, June 27, 2002

 

Shares in General Motors, the biggest US motor manufacturer, were briefly suspended on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday amid rumours - strongly denied by the company - that it was subject to unspecified accounting problems.

GM said: "There's some kind of a rumour out there which is unfounded. We are not subject to an accounting investigation and we strongly believe that our accounting is appropriate."

Investors, already unnerved by revelations of apparent accounting fraud at WorldCom, sent GM shares down $1.08 to $52, or about 2 per cent, in midday trade once trading resumed. The shares earlier hit a low of $51.50.

General Motors in the midst of an aggressive vehicle sales drive, fuelled by zero-financing and other incentives, in an effort to generate cash. The company says it needs to maintain the pressure on sales because of the damage done to its balance sheet by sagging equity markets, which have left its pension liabilities underfunded.

In an interview with the Financial Times last week, Rick Wagoner, chief executive, acknowledged that bolstering GM's balance sheet was the company's single biggest challenge. "Frankly, the negative returns of US equity markets in 2001 really put the pressure on the pension fund," he said.

Industry analysts calculate that if GM's return on pension fund assets is 8 per cent - as opposed to its own assumed return of 10 per cent - the size of its pension shortfall could increase by almost $8bn. Its balance sheet could be further weakened by healthcare obligations, which are forecast by Goldman Sachs to increase by $3.8bn by 2005.

GM is hoping for approval from US regulators for the sale of Hughes, its communications and satellite arm, to US media group Echostar. If cleared, the transaction could bring a $14bn gain for GM

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