Takata bidders, carmakers to meet this month; US$3b bid on the table: sources

Tokyo

BIDDERS for Japan's Takata Corp will meet this month with the carmakers that are key to its survival to consider options, including a US$3 billion bid, at a gathering that could determine the future of the airbag maker, people familiar with the matter said.

Takata is seeking a financial investor to help pay for huge liabilities from the world's biggest car recall, with defective airbag inflators linked to at least 15 deaths globally.

The meetings of the five bidding groups and carmakers, who are Takata creditors and customers, will take place late this month in New York, four people involved or briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.

The bid from Japanese inflator maker Daicel Corp and US buyout firm Bain Capital for more than 300 billion yen (S$4 billion) is backed by Takata's steering committee of Japan-based lawyers and consultants, said a person invol…