General Motors (GM.N) seeking advice from investment banks shows it is taking an attempt by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) (FCHA.MI) (FCAU.N) to force a merger with its larger U.S. rival seriously, analysts and traders said.
GM openly rebuffed a merger proposal from the Italian-American carmaker earlier this year and CEO Mary Barra said last week she had no interest in a tie up.
But sources told Reuters that GM had asked Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) for advice as fiery FCA boss Sergio Marchionne is said to be lobbying GM investors in an effort to drag the GM board to the negotiating table.