Akerson to Struggle in Proving to IPO Investors Europe Fixable

General Motors Co. incoming Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson’s biggest challenge in selling investors on the company’s initial public offering may be convincing them he can revive the unprofitable European unit.

In Europe, the Detroit-based automaker’s only unprofitable region, losses totaled $637 million before interest and taxes in the first half. Its updated Astra compact failed to reverse a drop in market share and unions still are stinging over plans to close Adam Opel GmbH’s factory in Antwerp, Belgium.