RHJ may sweeten bid for GM's Opel/Vauxhall--WSJ

NEW YORK, Aug 7 (Reuters) - RHJ International SA (RHJI.BR), a Belgian investment firm, plans to sweeten its bid for General Motors Co's [GM.UL] European unit to overcome German government opposition to its bid, The Wall Street Journal said on Friday.

The firm is proposing to lower the amount of needed German taxpayer-funded loan guarantees to support a purchase of the Opel and Vauxhall operations to as little as 3.6 billion euros ($5.11 billion) from 3.8 billion euros ($5.39 billion), the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter.

The lower amount would be 900 million euros below the aid envisioned in a rival offer by Magna International Inc (MGa.TO), the newspaper said.

RHJ and GM did not immediately return requests for comment. (1 euro = $1.419) (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel)