• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Saab bought by electric car consortium

Published: 13 Jun 12 13:55 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/41410/20120613/

Saab bankruptcy administrators on Wednesday confirmed the purchase of Saab by National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs) during a press conference at Saab headquarters in Trollhättan, southern Sweden.

"It is a great day today for me to stand before you and say we have reached an agreement with the administrators," Nevs CEO Kai Johan Jiang said during the press conference.

Earlier this month, the group of Chinese and Japanese investors said they submitted an offer for Saab in April, before the deadline for bids expired.

The Swedish-registered firm founded by a Hong Kong-based company specializing in alternative energy and a Japanese investment fund, declined to disclose the amount of the offer at the time.

However, on Wednesday an agreement was signed.

"Nevs and the Receivers of the Saab Automobile bankruptcy estate today signed a purchase agreement which covers the main assets of Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB," NEVS and Saab bankruptcy administrators said in a joint statement.

Chinese carmaker Youngman was also known to be interested in buying Saab.

Swedish media have reported that Youngman placed a preliminary bid in late January or early February of about two billion kronor ($280 million).

Youngman has long been interested in Saab and tried to snap it up before it declared bankruptcy but those efforts were thwarted by the Saab's former owner, General Motors, which balked at transferring the necessary technology licences.

Reports have also surfaced that Indian commercial utility vehicles manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra has placed a bid as well.

Saab was on the brink of bankruptcy when GM sold it in early 2010 to Dutch company Swedish Automobile (SWAN) -- at the time called Spyker -- for $400 million.

Bankruptcy administrators said in April that Saab had assets to cover only just over a third of its debt of 13 billion kronor.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

12:02 June 13, 2012 by Eagle63
Hopefully Saab can eventually be restored to its former (pre-GM) glory.

Let's wait and see....
14:37 June 13, 2012 by coldjava
Damn SAAB, do all the Swedish firms have to be sold to the chinese??
14:48 June 13, 2012 by Carbarrister
I wish SAAB the best, but I wonder what NEV purchased? Plant and equipment? No reference to receiving any licenses from GM.
15:02 June 13, 2012 by Oren Kipnis
Wish only the best and all the best to SAAB.

A new era will begin now, and hopefully new models will be developed soon.

Good bye and never see you again GM.
05:02 June 14, 2012 by Freebie
Saab might be compared to an aging foster child--handed off from one caring family to another. Unfortunately, as the child ages and loses its 'cuteness,' it becomes more difficult to find a new home. Even General Motors, spending millions to 'make the kid more attractive,' was not enough enticement to persuade potential adoptive car buyers. The odds of a Chinese company strapping a battery pack on this kids back, and expecting sales to boom in this current sluggish economy is about as likely as those lucky numbers inside a fortune cookie hitting the jackpot. That being said, for the sake of the Swedish labor force, 'good luck.'
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Array

Aid cuts would be 'devastating'

Criticism of the government's foreign aid policy is mounting as Swedish ambassadors, aid organizations and politicians slam Development Aid Minister Gunilla Carlsson's announcements that development assistance to several countries may be slashed. READ () »

Array

Swedish forestry firm cuts 2,500 jobs

Forestry giant Stora Enso plans to let another 2,500 employees go, of whom 750 work in Sweden, citing weak markets and deflating profits. READ () »

Array

Sweden among winners in future EU-US deal

Sweden is second in line to benefit the most from an EU free-trade deal with the US, for which negotiations were finally given the all-clear in a move welcomed by pro-business groups in Sweden. READ () »

Array

New Telia CEO 'excited' about the job

TeliaSonera's new head Johan Dennelind believes he is the right man to restore the Swedish telecom giant's reputation after the company's Uzbek bribery scandal. READ () »

Array

ABB board unanimous in pick of CEO

Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB has appointed a new CEO, who has a background in oil and gas, utilities, telecoms and automotive industries and who was a key player in the acquisition of Baldor. READ () »

Array

Wine pulled because it was 'too good': supplier

Sweden's state-run liquor store monopoly has sent back 6,000 bottles of a Spanish wine because it tasted better than expected, according to a Swedish alcohol supplier. READ () »

Array

Sweden may cut aid to Palestinian territories

Development aid minister Gunilla Carlsson has said that the Swedish government may reduce development assistance for the Palestinians since they have failed to reach a peace agreement with Israel. READ () »

Array

Gothenburg corruption blamed on city culture

A hierarchical "Gothenburg Spirit" among politicians and civil servants contributed to a culture of corruption in the past decade, concluded a report on Sweden's second largest city. READ () »

Array

Sweden abandons bid to lift EU snus export ban

The Swedish government has given up its efforts to force the European Union to scrap its ban on the export of snus, choosing instead to focus on protecting the popular moist tobacco product's use in Sweden. READ () »

Labour migration in Sweden
Array

'Swedish work-visa window too narrow'

Since 2008, migrants to Sweden can swap course from seeking asylum to seeking a work visa with the help of an employer. The Local speaks to one migrant who praises the system, while saying it could be improved. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
18/06 Accounting Specialist
Hays
Katowice, SLA
18/06 Agency General Manager ? Scandinavia
Göteborg
18/06 C++ Developer
Stockholm
18/06 Chemical Plant Manager
The Valspar
Hendrik Ido Ambacht (NL)
18/06 Cloud Architect
Capgemini Sverige AB
Malmö, SKÅ
18/06 Compliance Manager - Nordics
Ace European Group Ltd
Stockholm
18/06 CPL Ireland - Swedish Collections
CPL Ireland
Malmö
18/06 CPL Ireland - Swedish or Danish
CPL Ireland
Malmö
18/06 Enterprise Services Solution Architect
Sverige
18/06 Financial Reporting Product Manager
Sverige

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE