Brussels-based RHJ International said it has entered advanced talks with General Motors over the issue of acquiring a majority stake in U. S. auto maker's European division called Opel.

RHJ said in a brief statement that discussions with GM "have been taking place over a number of weeks and are at an advanced stage."

The announcement came even when other potential buyer are still trying their luck.

Officials informed that the move in which Magna International, a Canadian auto parts grouphad agreed to takeover Opel is preliminary and until a the two companies hit the final deal, other potential suitors will remain in the ground.

Last week, GM confirmed that China's Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. had put in its own bid for Opel.

General Motors, which has recently emerged from bankruptcy protection in the U. S., has been rebuilding itself as a comparatively weak automaker in the broad restructuring as it is hacking its units and brands.

An intimate source informed that RHJ has plans to trim down around 10,000 jobs across Opel's European operations.

However, RHJ did not specify how big a stake it aims to take.

Soon after the news, shares of RHJ slipped a little to 4.10 euros, down 0.2%.