Advertisement

Spyker chief 'very optimistic' over Saab bid

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Spyker chief 'very optimistic' over Saab bid

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.

Advertisement

"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.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also