Fiat looking to boost Chrysler stake with 3.3% purchase from trust fund

7/3/2012

ROME — Italian carmaker Fiat says it is consolidating its ownership of Chrysler by exercising an option to purchase around 3.3 percent of Chrysler equity from a trust fund that manages health care for pensioners.

The announcement today said the purchase in the coming weeks will raise Fiat's stake in Chrysler to 61.8 percent,

VEBA, as the trust fund is called, is the only other entity with a stake in the company now that government loans to the Detroit automaker have been paid back.