GM sets end of road for Swedish brand Saab

[twinspark]

Swedish news sites are reporting that the sale is done and there should be a confirmation from both sides later today.

I don't see Saab's near future very bright either, but I wouldn't think they might as well be written off just yet. Of course a lot depends on the new 9-5 and it's pricing.

Edit: GM CEO Ed Whitacre just told in a press conference, that there is no news in Saab issue. So no sale so far, apparently.

[cargirl1990]

Barely anyone paid attention to these cars.

[Ferrer]

Barely anyone pays attention to something that's not German. And thanks to their idiocy it's our loss too.

[cargirl1990]

Barely anyone pays attention to something that's not German. And thanks to their idiocy it's our loss too.

LOL. I think all car companies have potential. Its just its the design, parts that they use, and advertising. In the case of Saab, it never seemed to work.

[twinspark]

Barely anyone paid attention to these cars.

I know it's inappropriate to feed the troll, but was there thousands of car owners showing their support in convoys and gatherings all around the world when Pontiac or Oldsmobile was killed?

[Ferrer]

LOL. I think all car companies have potential. Its just its the design, parts that they use, and advertising. In the case of Saab, it never seemed to work.

Some of the late GM-designed cars might not have been the best of choices, but overall Saabs presented and interesting, different and sometimes even quirky mix that used to work. So the word never is inappropiate.

[nota]

I know it's inappropriate to feed the troll, but was there thousands of car owners showing their support in convoys and gatherings all around the world when Pontiac or Oldsmobile was killed?

At the risk of being labelled a troll, there weren't any wakes of measure held in this part of 'all the world' for the passing of SAAB either. Few noticed and less cared. I guess its because its a long broken brand which hereabouts in recent times has literally had more models than customers.

Where lies the future saviour of SAAB, and where is their saviour? Is it to be Spyker, a dubious entity which last year iirc sold 23 cars? So at least there is common ground among the two, albeit in stark terms a commonality of irrelevancy.

[wwgkd]

I know it's inappropriate to feed the troll, but was there thousands of car owners showing their support in convoys and gatherings all around the world when Pontiac or Oldsmobile was killed?

I never saw a gathering like that for saab, but I saw several for Pontiac. I think location may be key there.

[Kitdy]

Some of the late GM-designed cars might not have been the best of choices, but overall Saabs presented and interesting, different and sometimes even quirky mix that used to work. So the word never is inappropiate.

Do you that Saab would have been viable without GM? Would customers in this increasingly advanced, homogenized, and globalized world of cars would have bought them?

Saab I feel were screwed with or without GM. GM had the money to keep them afloat.

Were they profitable pre-GM or post GM?

[wwgkd]

Do you that Saab would have been viable without GM? Would customers in this increasingly advanced, homogenized, and globalized world of cars would have bought them?

Saab I feel were screwed with or without GM. GM had the money to keep them afloat.

Were they profitable pre-GM or post GM?

I have to agree with you. As has been discussed before, it's really hard these days to build something truly different and turn a profit. Saab couldn't have been a vanilla builder relying on large volume, yet neither could they have stayed afloat building truly unique cars at a low volume.

[Ferrer]

Do you that Saab would have been viable without GM? Would customers in this increasingly advanced, homogenized, and globalized world of cars would have bought them?

Saab I feel were screwed with or without GM. GM had the money to keep them afloat.

Were they profitable pre-GM or post GM?

AFAIK they were profitable in the pre-GM era. Not big profits, but enough to go along.

What would've happened if GM hand't bought them? Nobody knows. Could they have survived? Possibly. Could they have gone bust? Possibly, as well.

Volume is certainly important these days. But there's a second way in which you specialize and survive. It's certainly not easy. But it's not impossible either.

[twinspark]

At the risk of being labelled a troll, there weren't any wakes of measure held in this part of 'all the world' for the passing of SAAB either.

I never saw a gathering like that for saab, but I saw several for Pontiac. I think location may be key there.

Probably most of those rallies are mentioned at the end of this post. Sure, many of especially the North American ones only had a few cars, but then again there was also many of those with more than a hundred cars. Maybe it is the location, but I would suppose Pontiac fans' conventions were practically concentrated in just North America?

It was just the 'Barely anyone' one liner that triggered my well refined sense of provocation.

[Wouter Melissen]

Deal is done:

GENERAL MOTORS AND SPYKER CARS REACH AGREEMENT ON SAAB


GM and Spyker Cars announce a binding agreement over the transfer of ownership of Saab

Terms are agreed and the deal is expected to close in February

Saab's future as an independent company is secured

Saab will exit the orderly wind-down process

Spyker shareholders will restructure at closure of the deal

Swedish Government issues guarantee in favour of EIB



ZEEWOLDE, The Netherlands (26 January, 2010) - General Motors Company and Spyker Cars N.V, today confirmed the details of a binding agreement over the transfer of ownership of Saab Automobile AB of Trollhättan, Sweden. The transaction is expected to close in February and Saab Automobile will exit the orderly wind down process in line with that timetable.



The transaction will be accomplished as follows:



Spyker acquires from Saab Automobile Investering AB, a subsidiary of General Motors ("GM"), all the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in the capital of Saab Automobile A.B. ("Saab") for a consideration of USD 74 million ("Purchase Price").



The Purchase Price will be paid in two instalments. The first instalment of USD 50 million will be paid on the date of completion of the transaction, expected to take place on or before February 15, 2010 ("the Closing"). The second instalment of USD 24 million will be paid on July 15, 2010.



The Share Purchase Agreement is subject to the execution of a EUR 400 million loan agreement between Saab and the European Investment Bank ("EIB"), guaranteed by the Swedish Government. Today, the Swedish government announced approval of this guarantee. The guarantee is subject to approval by the European Commission, which is expected shortly.



Upon completion of the transaction GM will retain redeemable preference shares of USD 326 million. The preference shares represent less than 1% of the voting rights in the capital of Saab. The mandatory redemption date is 31 December 2016 and Saab has the right to request voluntary redemption at any time prior to this date. The preference shares carry a dividend entitlement of 6% starting from January 2012, increasing to 12% as from July 1, 2014. The dividend over 2012 will be added to the principal, but as from January 1, 2013 the dividend is payable in cash. Should Saab have insufficient distributable reserves to pay the cash dividend it will be added to principal increased with a penalty factor.



In order to allow Saab to operate on a stand-alone basis outside GM, Saab and GM will enter into a number of ancillary agreements. As part of the transaction, Spyker intends to negotiate the acquisition of all the outstanding shares in Saab Great Britain Limited, the UK distribution, marketing and sales company for Saab from General Motors UK Limited.



Spyker will issue a corporate guarantee not exceeding USD 10 million for Saab's obligations to and for the benefit of the financing company GMAC.



Spyker will as soon as practically possible convene a general meeting of shareholders to approve the transaction. Spyker obtained irrevocable voting undertakings to vote in favour of the transaction representing the voting majority of its current shareholders.



It is the intention to change the name of Spyker Cars N.V. at that general meeting of shareholders to Saab Spyker Automobiles N.V.



As back-up financing, Spyker entered into a EUR 150 million Equity Credit Line Facility with GEM Global Yield Fund Limited ("GEM") for a term of 3 years. According to this facility, Spyker may issue shares to GEM at 90 per cent of the volume weighted average price of the shares over a period of 15 trading days following a draw down notice sent to GEM by Spyker. In relation to the GEM facility, Spyker has issued to GEM share warrants in respect of 1,570,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of EUR 4 per ordinary share. The warrants have a 5 year term.



The object of acquisition



In spite of media reports that certain parts have already been sold off, the object is Saab as a complete entity and going concern with all IP rights, trademarks, facilities and other infrastructures. The sale of pre 2003 Saab 9-3 and current Saab 9-5 technology to BAIC in December 2009 did not result in any part of Saab's business being divested or devalued. On the contrary, Saab has already started the production of the new generation Saab 9-5 in Trollhättan.



Both Saab management and Saab GB management prepared an estimated balance sheet as at 31 December 2009 for the purpose of this transaction. These estimated balance sheets are still subject to final account closing and audit procedures.



Spyker Cars does not yet have a balance sheet as at 31 December 2009 ready for reporting purposes. As such, it would be premature to show a pro-forma combined balance sheet for Spyker, Saab and Saab GB as at 31 December 2009.



Therefore Spyker only disclose an indicative combined balance sheet of Saab and Saab GB as at Closing date based on the estimated balance sheets for both entities as at 31 December 2009, adjusted for the impact of the transaction items as at Closing date.



It should be noted that the indicative closing balance sheet is based on the latest estimated balance sheets of both entities by Saab and Saab GB management which are subject to final closing and audit procedures and therefore subject to change, and does not reflect any potential fair value or purchase price allocation adjustments. The indicative closing balance sheet should therefore not be considered as the actual closing balance sheet, but only as an indication for the assets and liabilities to be acquired at closing date.





(The balance sheet is visible in the PDF version of the report)





Saab's and Saab GB's combined revenue amounted to some EUR 1.0 billion in 2009 (2008: EUR 1.6 billion). Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation amounted to EUR 0.4 billion negative in 2009 (2008: EUR 0.3 billion negative). In 2009 Saab sold 39.903 cars and produced 20.791 cars versus selling 94.751 cars in 2008 and producing 89.086 cars.

[Wouter Melissen]

Continued:

RESTRUCTURING AND MANAGEMENT BUY-OUT



As from Closing of the Saab acquisition, the ownership structure of Spyker will change as follows:



Tenaci Capital B.V. ("Tenaci"), a company wholly owned by Mr. V.R. Muller has made a successful bid on Mr. V. Antonov's current shareholding in Spyker consisting of 4.6 million ordinary shares. As agreed in 2007, when Mr V. Antonov acquired his shares in Spyker, Mr. V. Antonov will cause the transfer of the priority share to Spyker if and when he would dispose of his shareholding. A resolution to cancel the priority share will be proposed at the upcoming EGM.



Messrs. N. Stancikas, M. Bondars and Mr. V. Antonov will retire as members of Spyker's Supervisory Board effective as per the date of Closing.



Tenaci will grant to Spyker two loans. One for an amount of USD 25 million towards payment of part of the Purchase Price for Saab upon completion of the transaction. A second loan for an amount of EUR 57 million for repayment of all of Spyker's current outstanding loans to banks and other financial institutions controlled directly, or indirectly by Mr. V. Antonov. This loan mirrors the existing terms (including the lender's right to convert EUR 9.5 million into ordinary shares at a conversion price of EUR 4.00 per share).



The sale will be subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of applicable regulatory, governmental and court approvals. Other terms and conditions specific to the sale are not being disclosed at this time.



Victor R. Muller, Spyker's CEO, stated: "We are very much looking forward to being part of the next chapter in Saab's illustrious history. Saab is an iconic brand that we are honoured to shepherd. We are delighted to have secured the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of loyal Saab employees, suppliers and dealers and to have given reassurance to the 1.5 million Saab drivers and enthusiasts around the world. It was breathtaking to see so much support from the global Saab community over the last months which not only shows the strength of the brand but also helped us in our relentless determination to get the deal done."



"Spyker Cars will provide Saab with the backing required to compete as a competitive global brand along with an entrepreneurial leadership team sensitive to the uniqueness, heritage and individuality of the Saab brand. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Vladimir Antonov for his formidable support during the past two years. His contribution has allowed Spyker to get to the point that this transaction was made possible. I also want to extend my gratitude to Messrs. Stancikas and Bondars as Members of the Supervisory Board. They have made very valuable contributions to our company during their respective terms."



"Finally I would like to thank the Swedish Government for its constant support for our efforts culminating in granting the Guarantee in favour of the European Investment Bank today for an EUR 400 Million loan to Saab which we hope to secure in the coming weeks."



Jan Åke Jonsson, CEO of Saab Automobile AB said: "It has been a challenging 15 months for Saab but our global organization has shown a fighting spirit that will serve us well going forward. The agreement with Spyker Cars has secured Saab's future and will enable us to maximize the brand's potential through an exciting new product line-up with a distinctly Saab character."



"Today's news is great for Saab's customers, dealers, suppliers and employees around the globe. The level of passion and support shown to Saab over recent months has been remarkable and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those people who continued to believe that Saab deserved a future. Now we aim to get back to the execution of our business plan and with the continued support of our employees and business partners I am confident we will succeed."



Nick Reilly, President GM Europe, added: "As a responsible corporate citizen in Europe, and throughout the entire period, GM has always had the hope to find a positive solution for Saab that would avoid a wind-down of the brand. We have worked very hard with many parties, including governments and investors, and I'm very pleased that we could come to such a positive conclusion that preserves jobs in Sweden and elsewhere. GM will continue to support Saab and Spyker Cars on their way forward."

[Dino Scuderia]

If they can sell 23 Spykers and 23 Saab's they'll out sell Chrysler.