UPDATE:Germany's Ruettgers Says Magna,Fiat Improved Opel Bids

The governor of the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, Juergen Ruettgers, said Wednesday that both Fiat SpA (F.MI) and Magna International Inc. (MGA) improved their offers for General Motors Corp.'s (GM) German Adam Opel GmbH unit.

Ruettgers told reporters in Berlin that he doesn't expect a final decision on a new investor for Opel to made at Wednesday's meeting in the German chancellery.

"I hope we will get somewhat more clarity today," he said. "There will be tough negotiations tonight in which not all questions will be answered," Ruettgers said.

"It became clear in the course of today that the debates we are conducting with the Americans have made progress. Whether this is sufficient, we will have to examine," he added.

German chancellor Angela Merkel is currently meeting with representatives of Opel, Magna, Fiat and RHJ International SA (RHJI.BT), as well the governors of German states where Opel plants are located, to discuss the company's options. U.S. government officials and representatives from Opel's parent GM are also attending the meeting.

Company Web site: www.opel.com

-By Andrea Thomas, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]