Kirk Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp. made a $4.5-billion cash offer for DaimlerChrysler AG’s troubled U.S.-based Chrysler unit Thursday, the Los Angeles-based billionaire’s company said.

Tracinda said it wants “to build and strengthen” the troubled automaker and “will offer the UAW and Chrysler management the opportunity to participate as equity partners in the transaction.”

Tracinda said the offer is subject to Chrysler reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with the United Auto Workers, as well as a deal with DaimlerChrysler on sharing the unfunded pension liabilities and health care costs of Chrysler retirees.

Kerkorian has long been a holder of stock in the troubled three domestic automakers, however, last year he dumped his 10 percent share of General Motors Corp., the world’s largest automaker, and previously was a major shareholder in Chrysler Corp.