With the economic crisis, Opal owned by General Motors, was about to go under along with their parent company. To save Opal and preserve jobs, the German Government offered to buy Opal and there was an agreement. The German Government shelled out 1.5 Billion Euros in bridging loans to GM. As the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel was making her address to the American Congress yesterday, GM made an about face and decided not to sell.