VW to consider acquisition of Karmann assets

Volkswagen AG will consider the purchase of assets from insolvent automaker Wilhelm Karmann at a board meeting, three people familiar with the situation said. 

The supervisory board will meet to discuss a proposal to buy Karmann property including assembly halls, manufacturing facilities and a paint shop in Osnabrueck, Germany, about 170 kilometers (106 miles) west of VW’s base in Wolfsburg, said the people, who declined to be identified because the talks are confidential. 

Negotiators have yet to bridge the gap between the minimum 55 million euros ($82 million) that Karmann is seeking and the 35 million euros that Volkswagen has may be willing to pay, according to two of the people. Karmann filed for bankruptcy protection in April as the worst slump in auto markets for decades left it unable to pay employees.