Abu Dhabi fund eyes stake in Daimler

The magazine quoted sources close to the company as saying Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche was warm to the plan as the German car maker was vulnerable to attacks from private equity investors due to its weak share price and the lack of large shareholders.

Focus also said Daimler managers were in talks with ADIA. It added that Kuwait, Daimler's only major shareholder with a 7.6 percent stake, plans to increase its holding in the company. Daimler had said it was not seeking another large shareholder.

"We do not comment on current and potential investors when their holdings are below disclosure levels," a Daimler spokesman told the magazine.