GM`s decision on Daewoo due late April

General Motors (GM), a leading U.S. automaker, is expected to make a final decision on whether to purchase Daewoo Motor (DM) at the end of this month or early next month, an official said Wednesday.

Quoting a letter from GM, a high-ranking official of the Commerce, Industry and Energy Ministry said the GM official in charge of the Asia-Pacific market expressed strong intentions to take over the Korean automaker, saying ``We remain extremely interested in Daewoo.`` He said, ``As far as I know, the U.S. company will deliver its intention to acquire Daewoo Motor after undergoing a formal procedures late this month or early next month.``

The official said that GM was deeply concerned about labor disputes involving the Korean automaker but now it believes the problem is not as serious. ``The rumor that GM is no longer interested in Daewoo Motor is groundless,`` he added.

Another official said, ``At the moment, the government sees that the best option to handle the issue is to sell the company to GM, saying that resorting to other options such as turning it into a public enterprise or managing it on consignment cannot be proper alternatives.`` Last March, GM summoned a board meeting and discussed the issue of taking over Daewoo Motor but reserved a final decision.

[Yonhap]