RHJ in advanced talks to buy Opel

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian holding company RHJ International (RHJI.BR) said on Monday it was in advanced talks to buy a majority stake in General Motors' GMGMQ.PK European unit Opel.

RHJ's statement confirms a second rival to leading Opel contender Magna International, a Canadian auto parts group that has said it wants to a preliminary deal for Opel with its U.S. parent this week.

RHJ waited until Monday to confirm its interest in Opel because only now did it feel it was close enough to its goal to go public, a spokesman said.

"We felt we've reached advanced stages of negotiations and we feel it is now appropriate to confirm these talks," RHJ spokesman Arnaud Denis said.

RHJ's shares dropped slightly after the news, trading down 0.2 percent to 4.10 euros at 8:48 a.m. British time.

While Magna has long been seen as the front-runner for Opel, the German government -- which agreed to supply 1.5 billion euros (1.29 billion pounds) in bridge financing to Opel while a takeover was finalised -- has said the race remains open.

China's Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co (BAIC) submitted a detailed bid for Opel earlier this month, according to documents seen by Reuters, laying out a plan to use Opel's brand and technology to tap the huge Chinese market.

RHJ plans just under 10,000 job cuts across Opel's European operations, one source familiar with Opel's plans told Reuters on Sunday.

German daily Bild am Sonntag reported on Sunday that RHJ would require some 3.8 billion euros in government guarantees for Opel, less than the 4.5 billion Magna has said it needs.