GM to sell, lease back some of its European operations

The company also has delayed mutliple projects in an effort to cut costs.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Corp. said it would sell and lease back some of its nonmanufacturing operations in Europe as part of its efforts to raise cash quickly.

The company’s European division has retained real estate agent Jones Lang LaSalle to help identify potential buyers.

The company has the potential to raise about $257 million.

“Investigations are under way as to what would be viable,” said Denis Chick, spokesman for GM’s United Kingdom and Ireland division in an e-mail Friday.

According to Chick, properties in the U.K. that could be sold include its headquarters in Luton, a parts warehouse in Luton and an engineering site in Millbrook.

GM has also delayed multiple projects, including new vehicles and engines, in order to cut costs. Earlier this month, the company said it would sell its 3.02 percent stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. for $230 million.

The company is burning through cash more rapidly than it is making money, and may be at its minimum cash levels by the end of the year.

GM is banking on swift congressional approval of taxpayer-backed bridge loans.

Company executives are currently preparing a viability plan to present to Congress by Tuesday.

Shares of GM rose 43 cents, or 8.9 percent, to close at $5.24 Friday.