• Sweden edition

Spyker chief 'very optimistic' over Saab bid

Published: 29 Dec 09 10:32 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/24106/20091229/

Saab suitor Spyker remains hopeful that it can snap up the iconic brand from General Motors despite previous reports of a rebuttal from the Swedish car maker's US owner.

"We expect an answer this week ... I am very optimistic," Spyker chief
executive Victor Muller told Svenska Dagbladet.

The paper last week said GM would not consider a renewed bid for Saab from Dutch sports car marker Spyker and was planning to shut down the troubled Swedish brand.

Spyker renewed its offer on December 20th, two days after General Motors said it wanted to close down Saab.

Swedish press reports have said GM agreed to re-open negotiations on the sale of Saab to Spyker after the withdrawal of two of Spyker's Russian investors.

GM was reportedly concerned about the transfer of technical know-how to Russia.

Svenska Dagbladet reported last week that Spyker's main investors, Vladimir and Alexander Antonov, with a 29.3 percent stake in the company, were no longer behind the Dutch group's bid for Saab.

Spyker's second-biggest investor, Abu Dhabi state investment fund Mubadala Development, which owns 22.7 percent, was likewise no longer involved, according to the report.

Instead, an unidentified Dutch billionaire was putting up the money, the paper said.

General Motors has said it wants to sell Saab, which employs 3,400 people in Sweden, before the end of the year.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

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11:48 December 29, 2009 by MK900
Lots of news about SAAB these days. Please check out this:

http://iwontbuyfromgm.wordpress.com/

And leave your comment to support SAAB and force GM to sell!

www.SAABsunited.com
15:37 December 29, 2009 by repat_xpat
I went to the two websites listed by the guy above. They are filled with bias and miss-information. It's just your typical web slander and dribble. From my years living in Sweden, I don't remember hate and slander as a Swedish virtue. Be careful about what you read on the web, there is no accountability for such misleading crap.

The Spyker guy is a clown. The old 9-3 & 9-5 is gone and there is no way GM is going to give Spyker GM's technology to let him build the new 9-5. He is just riding the issue for publicity.

Too bad for the SAAB folks who keep getting thrown between hope and despair. I wish the local would stop with these articles.
15:50 December 29, 2009 by allogarage
I hope that some company will buy Saab !
16:19 December 29, 2009 by ABuB
At repat_xpat:

If you have something good then say it, otherwise please honor us with your silence.

Bless any1 who support and supported our Swedish Saab anyway..

We have a saying here that says:

(If you didn't like something don't criticize it, because some1 else might like it)

Thank you and god Blessings and guideness.
16:38 December 29, 2009 by Scotsaab
How right you are ABuB. Let's keep it civil repat_xpat.
04:21 December 30, 2009 by spy
repat_xpat

How the hell would you know whether the 'Spyker guy is a clown' or what his intentions are? I suspect you move in very different circles to him. From what I have learnt he had a meteoric legal career specializing in mergers and acquisitions and he went on to have some significant business success.... I would say he could be a strong contender if GM actually want to sell Saab.
20:22 December 30, 2009 by morchad
You are not currently logged in.

Hope SAAB is saved! Happy New Year everyone!
21:34 January 4, 2010 by Raul el australiano
The first thing that came to my mind when I heard about Spyke´s bid was that free publicity could be interesting to them. To their share figures as well.

I just read about Spykes (previous?) investors... Abu Dhabi and a Russian who was shot...mmm I don´t know...

One thing is for sure... in free capitalism there is no mamma-state to give you a hand.
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