Swedish regional authorities have requested Saab pay SKR110m (US$15m) by 20 September to cover part of salary payments assumed during the automaker’s transition from General Motors to Spyker.
The Vastra Gotaland provincial authority in western Sweden guaranteed Saab salaries for three months, paying a total of SEK305m and is now asking for almost a third of this money to be repaid.
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Saab however, has made it clear it would pay 25% of this amount following a creditors’ meeting on 17 June, which apparently agreed to write off 75% of the debt.
“The politicians have changed the rules for this salary guarantee many times and now the rules are that they must pay back,” Vastra Gotaland deputy governor Goran Bendtsson told just-auto from Sweden.
“We have taken our decision and now they can appeal in court. We are asking Saab to pay SEK110m – Saab said it agreed 25% but the legislation does not say that.”
The matter could now be referred to a Kronofogdan or government enforcement service, with Bendtsson adding Saab could subsequently take the issue to court.
Saab said yesterday it was in dispute with the tax authorities in Vastra Gotaland, noting: “They think there is more to pay and we don’t – we have complied entirely.”
