According to a new story at The New York Times, the Treasury Department and Chrysler are readying Chapter 11 bankruptcy documents for filing as early as next week.
The report goes on to say that the filing carries with it an "agreement in principle" with the United Auto Workers that would protect members' benefits packages, including pension and retiree health care obligations.
Whither Fiat? Apparently, the Italian automaker is still very much in the picture, although under this arrangement, it would not reach its stake-holding deal until after Chrysler is already in bankruptcy court. The big outstanding question is where this leaves Chrysler's lenders, who are owed nearly $7 billion.
Some industry watchers are apparently wondering aloud if the bankruptcy filling preparation work is merely a ploy to turn the screws on lenders, who have balked at previous proposals designed to reduce Chrysler debt.
[Autoblog]