NEW YORK -- Opponents of General Motors' plan to sell the bulk of itself to a new government-controlled company face a noon deadline to file appeals and find a way to get the sale halted, according to The Associated Press.

But with their options dwindling and time running out, it's increasingly likely that U.S. Judge Robert Gerber's order approving the sale will go through at noon Eastern, paving the way for the automaker's speedy exit from Chapter 11.

GM's lawyers are working to get documents ready to close the sale quickly if the deadline passes and the sale is legally allowed to go through.