IMPORTANT NEWS: National Electric Vehicle Sweden has agreed to buy the assets of Saab Automobile and the sale is expected to be finalized during the summer.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

EIB loans to be transferred to commercial banks?

Swedish Radio reports today that according to Vladimir Antonov's spokesman in Sweden, Lars Carlström, commercial banks have now given positive signals on taking over the European Investment Bank (EIB) loans. If commercial banks take over the loan from the EIB, the Russian banker and eager Saab investor Vladimir Antonov can probably come in as part owner of Saab.

"We have received new indications now that has changed the picture, and we have a good chance of finding a solution," Carlström tells Swedish Radio.

After Vladimir Antonov has for several months been trying to get the approval of the EIB to become part owner of Saab, the hope that the EIB will give its approval is now more or less gone. Instead the strategy has become to transfer the loans from the EIB to commercial banks which do not put the same restrains on Saab.

On the question how far the discussions have come and when we can expect a solution, Carlstöm said that they have come a long way and have reached a certain agreement and that he hopes that a solution can be reached within reasonable time.