UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549-1004
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 11, 2006
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
--------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
STATE OF DELAWARE 1-143 38-0572515
----------------- ----- ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) File Number) Identification No.)
300 Renaissance Center, Detroit, Michigan 48265-3000
----------------------------------------- ----------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (313) 556-5000
--------------
================================================================================
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01 - Other Events
On January 12, 2006, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of General Motors Corporation (GM), filed a Current
Report on Form 8-K that stated it would recognize a non-cash charge of
approximately $450 million (after-tax) as of December 31, 2005, primarily for
the impairment of goodwill at its Commercial Finance operating segment. Pursuant
to SFAS 142 (defined below), GM will not recognize this impairment charge in its
December 31, 2005 consolidated financial statements because such goodwill is
recoverable by GM at the GMAC reporting unit level.
The text of GMAC's Form 8-K follows.
On January 11, 2006, management recommended, and the Management Audit Committee
of General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) approved, non-cash goodwill
impairment charges of approximately $450 million (after-tax), which will be
recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2005. The charges relate
predominantly to GMAC's Commercial Finance operating segment and, in particular,
primarily to the goodwill recognized in connection with the 1999 acquisition of
The Bank of New York's commercial finance business.
These fourth quarter charges result from annual impairment tests required to be
made for all of GMAC's reporting units in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" (SFAS 142).
Management's conclusions were reached as part of the year-end preparation of
financial statements required to be included in GMAC's Annual Report on Form
10-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in mid-March. The
audit of such financial statements by the Company's external auditors remains in
process.
GMAC will report fourth quarter and full year 2005 earnings on January 26, 2006.
Net income for the year is expected to be relatively consistent with previously
announced expectations - in the $2.5 billion range - after considering these
impairment charges, and well in excess of such guidance, excluding these
impairment charges.
# # #
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
--------------------------
(Registrant)
Date: January 12, 2006 By: /s/PETER R. BIBLE
--- -----------------
(Peter R. Bible,
Chief Accounting Officer)