General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) shares were maintained at "Buy" Deutsche Bank (DB) on valuation. The bank has price target of $33 on the stock.
Earlier this week, the auto giant and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced the creation of a strategic alliance that is intended to focus on two primary areas -- platform/component sharing and purchasing.
As part of the deal, GM would buy a 7 percent stake in the Paris-based automaker PSA, making it the second-largest shareholder in Peugeot behind the Peugeot Family Group.
Under the arrangement, PSA will raise 1 billion euros ($1.34 billion) in new capital and the companies will consider developing a new common platform for low emission vehicles. The first vehicle on a common platform is expected to launch by 2016, GM said.
The companies plan to pursue synergies in material purchases, logistics, capital expenditures, and engineering, with the last two categories focused on joint development of four platforms: Small cars (B sized), Mid cars (D sized), MPVs, and Crossovers.
GM estimates the total synergies from the alliance at around $2 billion annually within about five years and would be split evenly between the two companies. The majority of these savings would likely be centered in Europe, given the physical presence of the two companies.
However, DB is of the view that "there will be relatively little evidence of savings over the next 2 years."
On Friday, GM shares are off 0.42% to trade at $26.36.