Saab’s prospective Russian investor Vladimir Antonov was “heavily involved” in the deal that saw Chinese company Hawtai agree to plough EUR150m (US$222m) into Saab.
Antonov was cleared last week by Sweden’s National Debt Office (SNDO) to become an investor in the automaker, but despite still not receiving approval from the European Investment Bank (EIB), he appears to have been instrumental in the Chinese deal.
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“He was very heavily involved in the Chinese process,” Antonov’s holding company director Lars Carlstrom told just-auto from Sweden.
“We have been eyeing Hawtai for a while and know about their activities. What we have learned is very, very positive.”
Despite Carlstrom’s optimism, Antonov has still to secure official approval from the EIB for his application to underwrite EUR30m that would give him up to 29.9% of Saab.
“We have still not received approval from the EIB or the Swedish government, which is a little bit disturbing of course,” said Carlstrom. “We hope they will speed up this process – we have no idea when it will take place.”
The holding company director also confirmed that should everything fall into place – and any ownership change in Saab owner Spyker above 9.99% has to be ratified by the SNDO – that debts to suppliers would be the first to be settled.
“The suppliers will be first to be paid, definitely, it is so urgent to get the factory started,” said Carlstrom. “Each and every [non-working] day costs so much money for Saab.
Carlstrom discounted any further partnership announcements, preferring to highlight possible development with Hawtai of “environmentally-friendly” diesel engines.
“So many had counted out Saab and so many are surprised,” he said.
