The debt-ridden sports car maker Porsche scheduled an extraordinary supervisory board meeting for 23 July 2009 to debate two rival rescue plans for the company: either a possible investment by the Qatar Investment Authority or the sale of a 49 % stake in Porsche to Volkswagen.

The move came after Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking agreed with Qatar on an outline plan under which the emirate would buy a stake in the Porsche holding company, including a package of options which could be converted into Volkswagen shares at some future time. An investment by Qatar would represent a milestone for Porsche, since a sale to an outside investor has always been considered a taboo for the company.

The other alternative would be a sale of 49% of Porsche to Volkswagen. Porsche desperately needs a large cash inflow to ease financial difficulties which arose after a conflict-ridden attempted takeover of a 50.76 % stake in Volkswagen left Porsche with a net debt burden exceeding EUR 9 billion (approx. USD 12.5 billion).

Which option will be chosen will again generally depend on the outcome of the power struggle between Wolfgang Porsche and Ferdinand Piëch. Sources close to the families have also indicated that it is far from given that the owners will reach any decision at all at the supervisory board meeting.