U.K. Business Secretary Peter Mandelson said Friday is it "pretty likely" that Canadian car components maker Magna International Inc. (MGA) and General Motors (GM) will become the new shared owners of U.K.-based carmaker Vauxhall.

Speaking to BBC television, Mandelson said he would seek a "very early" further meeting with the parties once the initial talks had been concluded to secure a "cast iron guarantee" on U.K. production and employment.

"I have no doubt that the British government...will be asked to underwrite the deal financially and I have already said that the British government in principle would be prepared to consider that, but that would be linked to production and employment in the U.K.," he said.

Mandelson also said it seemed that bridging finance from the German government and Magna would support not only Opel, but could ward off GM insolvency in Europe.

-By Natasha Brereton, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 20 7842 9254; natasha.brereton@dowjones.com