GMAC Financial Services,the former financing arm of General Motors Corp., may be in talks with the U.S. Treasury to receive a third financial lifeline, according to the Wall Street Journal.
GMAC has received $12.5 billion in bailout funds since December, 2008, and could receive an additional $2.8 billion to $5.6 billion in a third injection.
As part of the initial bailout, GMAC, which finances three-fourths of General Motors car loans and provides mortgages, insurance and other services, transformed into a bank holding company, which enabled it to receive Treasury aid. After the May, 2009 bailout, the U.S. government became the majority shareholder in the company.
Because GMAC backs so many new auto loans, it plays a vital role in revitalizing the auto industry, in which the government has already invested $25 billion.
General Motors, which filed bankruptcy this year, began selling off its interest in GMAC in 2006. The automaker maintained a small interest in GMAC before transferring many of its assets to the "new GM" as part is its Chapter 11 filing.