Spyker-saab??

[IVR007]

I think I am getting the point of your statement above!!!! Victor seems to think the same!

another article:

Exclusive: Spyker CEO On Saab's Future
Some Saab Dealers Would Take Spyker Cars, No Dealer Reductions Planned
Posted: Dec, 31 20097 Comments Print


Victor R. Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars in The Netherlands, has one week left to secure the sale of Saab from GM (Mark Thompson, Getty Images).
by: David Sedgwick, AOL Autos See More Articles
from this AuthorIf Dutch businessman Victor Muller manages to acquire Saab Automobile, he will stick with Saab’s plans to rebuild the brand around the 9-3, the 9-5 and the 9-4X crossover.

You can forget about an entry-level 9-1 for now. But Muller says he’d love to build the Aero X concept if he can figure out how to finance it.

“I love that car, and it deserves to be built,” said Muller, in a Wednesday phone interview with AOL Autos. “It’s got true ‘Saabishness’ in it. It’s one of the best designs of the past five years.”

Muller, the CEO of Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker NV, is trying to meet General Motors’ Jan. 7 deadline to sell or close Saab. GM extended the deadline after it became clear that the negotiations wouldn’t be wrapped up by Dec. 31.

At least one other bidder, the Wyoming-based investment group Merbanco Inc., is said to be in the running.

Muller declined to discuss the negotiations themselves. But he did share his vision for the Saab’s turnaround if his bid prevails. Muller says he has abandoned plans to trim Saab’s U.S. network of dealerships from the current 218 stores down to 137 outlets.

“The last thing you want to do is alienate the most important link to the consumer, and that is the dealer,” he said.

However, Muller does plan to carry out other key portions of the proposed turnaround, which is essentially Saab’s own plan. Previously, that plan had been adopted by Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg AB when that company tried to buy Saab. After Koenigsegg dropped out of the bidding in November, Muller decided to use it.

Here’s the turnaround plan’s outline for future products:

•This coming spring, Saab would roll out the re-designed 9-5 sedan.
•The 9-4X crossover, a vehicle that shares mechanicals with the Cadillac SRX, would be introduced late next year or early in 2011.
•A redesigned 9-3 would enter dealer showrooms in 2012.

Saab would maintain its headquarters, engineering and production in Trollhattan, Sweden. Trollhattan would produce all Saab cars except the 9-4X, which would be produced in GM’s assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

And Saab would maintain close ties with GM in other ways. General Motors would continue to produce engines for Saab. And Saab would use GM parts in vehicles like the 9-4X and 9-5 sedan. Saab’s relationship with General Motors “would last for years,” Muller said. “It’s a very good relationship, too.”

Spyker also could expect to benefit from the deal. Muller says his sports car company could use Saab’s all-wheel drive technology, plus other components from Saab’s parts bin. Likewise, selected Saab dealerships could sell Spyker cars.

“We have our own distribution through Bentley and Lamborghini dealers, but there is no reason why high-end Saab dealers couldn’t sell Spykers,” he said.

Some details of the plan appear to be up in the air. Muller declined to indicate whether Saab can break even on sales of 100,000 units by 2011 or 2012, as had been previously reported. Saab sold 93,295 units in 2008, and sales this year could dip as low as 60,000 units or so.

It also is not clear whether Muller has lined up additional investors. In the past he has counted on Spyker Chairman Vladimir Antonov, who holds a 30 percent share of Spyker stock. Since Antonov also runs the Konvers Group, a Russian bank, presumably he could bring more money to the table.

But General Motors is said to be nervous about Spyker’s Russian connections, perhaps because GM might lose control of technology that it makes available to Saab.

Recently, media reports have named Dutch billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn as another possible investor. But Boekhoorn has issued public denials, and Muller declined to comment.

And here’s yet another unknown: The European Investment Bank has yet to rule on the company’s request for a $574 million loan. Muller says he doesn’t know when the bank will issue a decision.

And he says he has no idea whether GM still considers Spyker to be the lead bidder. As of Tuesday, GM spokesmen weren’t talking. Says Muller: “GM is holding its cards close to its chest.”

[IVR007]

Saab Offers Considered Until Jan. 7, GM Official Says (Update3)
Share Business ExchangeTwitterFacebook| Email | Print | A A A By David Welch

Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. will extend the deadline for talks on its Saab unit until Jan. 7, giving Spyker Cars NV more time to come up with financing to buy the Swedish brand, a GM official briefed on the matter said.

GM is willing to review bids through that date, when it begins the legal process of closing the business by notifying governments and cutting off supplier contracts, said the official, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. The new deadline coincides with a Saab board meeting, said an official at the Swedish unit.

GM said Dec. 18 it will shut the unprofitable Saab unit after talks collapsed on a sale to Spyker. The Detroit-based automaker has yet to receive a bid that has financing secured and will proceed with selling individual assets, said the official. Mike Stainton, a spokesman for Spyker, confirmed the deadline and declined to comment on financing.

“GM wants to sell this as a distressed asset,” said James Hall, principal of 2953 Analytics Inc. GM is wary of having to help develop cars with a buyer who lacks needed resources. “They would bust it up and sell the parts.”

About a week ago, GM had as many as a dozen potential bidders, most of which lacked funding or industrial capabilities, said a person involved in the negotiations.

One bid other than Spyker’s is still being considered and neither is very likely to succeed, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the talks are private. Talks with GM may be focused on Zeewolde, Netherlands-based Spyker and Merbanco Inc., the Wyoming-based group that revised its bid after bringing in Swedish investors, two people familiar with the matter said Dec. 29.

Keeping Dealers

Spyker’s plan for Saab includes retaining all of the brand’s 218 dealers in the U.S., Chief Executive Officer Victor Muller said today.

GM isn’t comfortable doing business with Spyker’s largest investors, Vladimir and Alexander Antonov, who control finance firm RMC Convers Group, said two company officials who asked not to be identified.

Other bidders are expressing interest in pieces of Saab should GM liquidate it as planned, the person involved in the talks said. GM may sell equipment, car technology, tooling and real estate in Trollhaetten, Sweden, where Saab is based.

GM can’t sell the Saab brand name. It is owned by Saab Automobile AB, defense contractor Saab AB and commercial truck maker Saab Scania, said Eric Geers, a Saab spokesman. He declined comment on the sale process.

Tom Wilkinson, a GM spokesman, didn’t respond to an e-mail and a voice message.

The failure of GM’s initial talks with Spyker, the maker of $235,000 sports cars, marked the second time efforts faltered to sell Saab. Swedish sports-car maker Koenigsegg Group AB, which had backing from Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., walked away from a deal last month. Beijing Auto paid $200 million to buy technology from Saab to use in its own cars.

[F Spider]

Exclusive: Spyker CEO On Saab's Future

If Dutch businessman Victor Muller manages to acquire Saab Automobile, he will stick with Saab’s plans to rebuild the brand around the 9-3, the 9-5 and the 9-4X crossover.

You can forget about an entry-level 9-1 for now. But Muller says he’d love to build the Aero X concept if he can figure out how to finance it.

“I love that car, and it deserves to be built,” said Muller, in a Wednesday phone interview with AOL Autos. “It’s got true ‘Saabishness’ in it. It’s one of the best designs of the past five years.”

Muller, the CEO of Dutch sports car manufacturer Spyker NV, is trying to meet General Motors’ Jan. 7 deadline to sell or close Saab. GM extended the deadline after it became clear that the negotiations wouldn’t be wrapped up by Dec. 31.

At least one other bidder, the Wyoming-based investment group Merbanco Inc., is said to be in the running.

Muller declined to discuss the negotiations themselves. But he did share his vision for the Saab’s turnaround if his bid prevails. Muller says he has abandoned plans to trim Saab’s U.S. network of dealerships from the current 218 stores down to 137 outlets.

“The last thing you want to do is alienate the most important link to the consumer, and that is the dealer,” he said.

However, Muller does plan to carry out other key portions of the proposed turnaround, which is essentially Saab’s own plan. Previously, that plan had been adopted by Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg AB when that company tried to buy Saab. After Koenigsegg dropped out of the bidding in November, Muller decided to use it.

Here’s the turnaround plan’s outline for future products:

This coming spring, Saab would roll out the re-designed 9-5 sedan.
The 9-4X crossover, a vehicle that shares mechanicals with the Cadillac SRX, would be introduced late next year or early in 2011.
A redesigned 9-3 would enter dealer showrooms in 2012.

Saab would maintain its headquarters, engineering and production in Trollhattan, Sweden. Trollhattan would produce all Saab cars except the 9-4X, which would be produced in GM’s assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

And Saab would maintain close ties with GM in other ways. General Motors would continue to produce engines for Saab. And Saab would use GM parts in vehicles like the 9-4X and 9-5 sedan. Saab’s relationship with General Motors “would last for years,” Muller said. “It’s a very good relationship, too.”

Spyker also could expect to benefit from the deal. Muller says his sports car company could use Saab’s all-wheel drive technology, plus other components from Saab’s parts bin. Likewise, selected Saab dealerships could sell Spyker cars.

“We have our own distribution through Bentley and Lamborghini dealers, but there is no reason why high-end Saab dealers couldn’t sell Spykers,” he said.

Some details of the plan appear to be up in the air. Muller declined to indicate whether Saab can break even on sales of 100,000 units by 2011 or 2012, as had been previously reported. Saab sold 93,295 units in 2008, and sales this year could dip as low as 60,000 units or so.

It also is not clear whether Muller has lined up additional investors. In the past he has counted on Spyker Chairman Vladimir Antonov, who holds a 30 percent share of Spyker stock. Since Antonov also runs the Konvers Group, a Russian bank, presumably he could bring more money to the table.

But General Motors is said to be nervous about Spyker’s Russian connections, perhaps because GM might lose control of technology that it makes available to Saab.

Recently, media reports have named Dutch billionaire Marcel Boekhoorn as another possible investor. But Boekhoorn has issued public denials, and Muller declined to comment.

And here’s yet another unknown: The European Investment Bank has yet to rule on the company’s request for a $574 million loan. Muller says he doesn’t know when the bank will issue a decision.

And he says he has no idea whether GM still considers Spyker to be the lead bidder. As of Tuesday, GM spokesmen weren’t talking. Says Muller: “GM is holding its cards close to its chest.”

[IVR007]

Thursday (7 Jan.) will be another exciting day, when Spyker (and other bidders) have to come up with their new, revised bids!

[Swisstrader]

hate to be a doubter, but it's sounding increasingly unlikely.

[IVR007]

From 'The Australia Business'

Deal to save Saab unlikely, says new General Motors CEO Ed Whitacre

THE new top executive at General Motors said today he believed the company could become profitable this year, though significant hurdles remained, and a deal to save Saab was unlikely.
Ed Whitacre, who took over the CEO job last month, said he was pleased with GM's progress and its sales performance in December.

GM may not be public until 2011, and an initial share offering wouldn't happen until late this year at the soonest, Mr Whitacre said.

He said he faced no pressure to make GM a public company on a set timetable.

He said a deal to save GM's Swedish Saab brand was unlikely and the company expected to begin shutting the company down by week's end.

"We said, 'Just show up with the money and you can have it,' and they haven't shown up with the money," said Mr Whitacre, speaking to reporters in Detroit.
Mr Whitacre said the company's new chief financial officer, Chris Liddell, was a candidate to replace him as CEO. He wouldn't speculate on when a replacement would be named


Among Mr Whitacre's immediate goals is repairing the automaker's relationship with the US Congress and the Obama administration following last year's controversial federal bailout.

"That left not a good taste in some people's mouths," he said. "But I think most people are willing to give us a chance."

Victor Muller responded: 'GM doesn't know our offer, so it is not able to respond on that. GM has given us until 11.00pm to make a new/ revised bid and that is what we'll do. Our second offer hasn't been rejected, we are refining it so that we can buy Saab, not to not buy Saab. I think they'll accept our offer.'

[IVR007]

A source from within GM has spoken to Swedish magazine 'auto motor och sport'.
Especially for you I made a (not so short) translation

"Spyker's bid is very good"

Right now Spyker cars is working on a third, improved bid for GM. An intern, anonymous source says that it is a bid GM can't refuse. If GM refuses to sell, it's not based on financial reasons.

Saab's faith is in the hand of the owners in the USA. Sell or wind down - that's the question many people want answered as soon as possible.

At the same time as negotiations about Saab's future are taking place, the Detroit auto show will start. On Thursday, the Swedish government will send represents to inform about the negotiations, hoping to persuade GM to sell Saab instead of wind it down.

Within the auto indrustri it's normal to rely on "internal and transparent'" sources. It is a person who is near the negotiations and reports about progress, this is so sensitive that the person doesn't want to be identified. Even here at Auto motor & sport we have our intern sources and we wil quote one person from Saab who seems to be very reliable. Earlier reports have shown to be correct, and that's why we believe even today's writing is correct.

GM boss Ed Whitacre seems to be unwilling to sell Saab, even if someone shows the money and pays. Our source tells us that there will be a third bid from Spyker that will be 'sugared' - improved. Spykers bid isn't completely ready but the waiting is over by the end of the week. Even if not all details are clear, our intern source says it is a bid "to good to refuse".

Our source doesn't want to give more details, probably in fear of being identified. But the new bid is good for GM as well for Saab.

However, a good bid isn't the same as GM happily choosing to sell Saab automobile. If Spyker's new bid gets the dumb down by GM, it depends on other reasons then financial ones, maybe because they want to protect their own brands in Europe and North-America from internal cannibalism. According to GM vice president Bob Lutz, such reasons are not known: 'GM only has to focus on building the best cars in each segment'. What other people find as secondary importance just as GM focuses on building the best cars, is keeping up the quality and offering a great design. A philosophy that probably most automotive directors will have.

On Wednesday Ed Whitacre said to AFP that he isn't awaiting a new bid for Saab. At the same time he didn't rejected a possible sale and said: "It's real easy. Just show up with the money and you can have it" . Ed whitacre hasn't seen Spyker's revised bid yet.

Secretary Jöran Hägglund confirms to Dagens Industri that, besides Spyker, two Swedish groups have come forward who want to do a "management buy-out". Hägglund has met the two groups and says they have one thing in common: 'The problem is they both don't have the financing to show'.

Saab's future is at least as uncertain as some weeks earlier. But within in a week we will see what Saab's faith is - sell or wind-down?

[Laviolette GT2R]

Thanx for the up-date!

[IVR007]

Other bidders:
- Merbanco
- Luxembourg-based Genii capital in partnership with Bernard Ecclestone
- Florida-based AWMS; made $400 milion cash offer

[Mattjs33]

To be honest, I'm surprised Koenigsegg did not make another bid.

[IVR007]

To be honest, I'm surprised Koenigsegg did not make another bid.

I guess it was no longer possible, financially. They made their offer together with BAIC but, now, BAIC already acquired the 'old' Saab technology.

[IVR007]

Spyker's bid was sent by e-mail, 5 minutes before the deadline passed (in 10 e-mails because of the large numbers of attachments; their bid is a couple of hundred pages big!). They worked in two shifts, 24h a day to get their bid ready!! Talking about dedication..
Mr. Muller thinks a reaction will come in the beginning of next week.

[IVR007]

Official statement:

SPYKER CARS SUBMITS OFFER ON SAAB.


ZEEWOLDE, The Netherlands (7 January, 2010) – Spyker Cars today has made a revised offer to General Motors for the acquisition of Saab Automobile A.B.. Victor Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars said: "We have continued a constructive dialogue with GM over the acquisition of Saab. He continued: "We believe the Saab brand has lots of potential and would be keen to close a deal as quickly as possible."

-Ends-

[Edwardo]

STOCKHOLM (Dow Jones)--A consortium made up of Luxembourg-based private investment firm Genii Capital together with Swedish businessman Lars Carlstrom and Formula One motor racing boss Bernie Ecclestone has placed a bid for General Motors Co.'s Saab Automobile AB, Carlstrom told Dow Jones Newswires Friday.

Swedish car maker Saab has a very strong brand, good production facilities and a reasonably strong financial position, Carlstrom said.

He said his consortium has money available for the bid, adding that a loan from the European Investment Bank would be an advantage but not necessary to carry through the bid.

A bidder should have some EUR800 million available, Carlstrom said, without commenting further on how much his consortium would be prepared to pay for the car maker.

He said his group plans to build on a business plan put forward by Swedish sports car maker Koenigsegg in its aborted attempt to buy Saab.

The consortium's only precondition for the bid is acceptance by GM, which requires that no other bidder makes a stronger offer for Saab, said Carlstrom. His group has been in talks with the U.S. car maker and has received "good response," he added.

Carlstrom said his consortium now has to wait for GM's next move, which will probably come in the next few days.

I think EUR800 million is to much for Spyker?what you think

[IVR007]

I talked about Spyker's brand awareness earlies, but too bad there is no Spyker dealer in Scandinavia. And I checked the Swedish DMV: not one registered Spyker there There is a place that has talked about becoming a dealer (Callisma) but it's not going to happen in a short-term.