Volkswagen truck unit makes offer to buy Navistar in $2.9B deal

— Volkswagen AG’s Traton SE unit has offered to buy "the rest of" Navistar in a $2.9 billion bid, according to national media reports from Bloomberg and other outlets.

Troy Clarke, Navistar International Corp. CEO, confirmed the proposal in a letter sent to employees Thursday. 

The truck unit is offering to buy Navistar for $35 per share in cash, as first reported by Bloomberg. 

Navistar CEO Troy Clarke said in a letter sent to employees Thursday. 

Clarke, in his letter to employees said, Navistar's board of directors is reviewing the proposal, he said. 

"While we don't have any further detail to share at this time, we will make every effort to keep you informed as information becomes public," Clarke said in the letter. 

According to the national media reports, there is no assurance the deal will happen. 

Bloomberg reports that billionaire investor Carl Icahn is the biggest holder of Navistar shares of the Lisle, Illinois-based company that builds International-brand trucks, school buses, defense vehicles and engines. 

VW, based in Wolfsburg, Germany, owns an almost 17% stake in Navistar.