Swedish Automobile N.V. and Saab Automobile AB have been battling to gather funding from outside investors just so they can stay afloat. They recently made a large sale to an outside, Chinese company for the exportation of Saab cars but they could still use more help. That help will come by way of 28 million EUR conditional agreement with respect to the sale of 50.1 percent of Saab Automobile property.
Led by Hemfosa Fastigheter AB, a consortium of Swedish real estate investors went into agreement with Swedish Automobile N.V., formerly Spyker Cars who is the parent company of Saab. The Consortium will own 50.1 percent of Saab property that consists of a substantial amount of building space. The investors are also allowed to increase their purchase up to 33 million EUR within 30 days.
Read the full press release below.
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Trollhättan, Sweden: Swedish Automobile N.V. (Swedish Automobile) announces that Saab Automobile AB (Saab Automobile) have reached a conditional agreement with respect to a sale of 50.1% of the shares in Saab Automobile Property AB (Saab Property) with a transaction value of SEK 255 million (EUR 28 million).
A consortium of Swedish real estate investors, led by Hemfosa Fastigheter AB (the Consortium), will purchase 50.1% of the shares in Saab Property for a total consideration of SEK 255 million, reflecting an adjustment to the transaction price for a one year lease free period. The property consists of 483,000 m2 building space. The investors have the right to purchase additional shares to increase the amount to SEK 300 million (EUR 33 million) on the same terms within 30 days after closing.
Saab Automobile will enter into a lease agreement with Saab Property for a duration of 15 years.
As joint owners, the Consortium and Saab Automobile seek to further develop the property, including a refinancing of the property at a later date when commercially feasible. Saab Automobile is being advised by Catella Corporate Finance.
In order to enable Saab Automobile to sell the property, the Swedish National Debt Office (NDO), being the guarantor of the EUR 400 million loan of the European Investment Bank (EIB), is requested to release its pledge in the shares of Saab Property. If the NDO releases its pledge in the shares of Saab Property, the guarantee of the NDO in favour of the EIB will be reduced by EUR 120 million. As a result, Saab Automobile will draw up to a maximum of EUR 280 million under the existing EIB loan (of which EUR 216.9 million have currently been drawn). A further EUR 63.1 million will remain available to Saab Automobile under the EIB loan. Saab Automobile seeks final approval from the EIB, the NDO and the Swedish government to complete the transaction which it expects shortly.
Swedish Automobile and Saab Automobile continue their discussions with several parties to secure additional short-term funding to restart production. There can, however, be no assurance that these discussions will be successful or that additional short-term funding will be obtained.
Jens Engwall, CEO Hemfosa Fastigheter AB, said: “We are very pleased with the agreement with Saab Automobile. We will continue to add value for Saab Automobile in developing the property.”
