Now here's the problem you strike when you work with translations.....
GP.se have written an article where, according to a Google Translation, they imply that the Koenigsegg Group may be splintering or changing. According to the translation, some of the prospective owners may be about to "jump off".
Needless to say, this could be a very important development, so accuracy is pretty important here.
Here's the Googletrans, and here's the original story at GP.se if anyone would care to clarify what GP.se are saying.
Eric Geers seems pretty clear at the end there, that he hasn't heard anything of this. I just hope Joran Hagglund is as clear in what he's saying. Once again, if the only thing we hear from the government is dis-information, they're really not doing anything to help Saab's cause.
UPDATE: we now have an accurate manual translation in comments, which supports the theories suggested in the Googletrans and commentary. Thanks Börjesson!!
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Saab Business can crack
Some of the prospective owners of Saab Automobile may be about to jump off. It states Jöran Hägglund on the Ministry of Industry, responsible for government negotiations.
Work with the sale of Saab Automobile is in an intensive stage. Ministry of Industry has been constantly updated over the summer about the process.
Now comes information that can split the whole affair. Yesterday, Secretary of State had Jöran Hägglund, who is the government's chief negotiator in the automobile industry, reached the alarming information that suggests an imminent abandonment. This is when the GP asks for clearer picture of the prospective owners, the persons Koenigsegg Group, which Jöran Hägglund responds:
- We have met them. We are trying to get as good a picture as possible to ... I think there is some change to the club.
Jöran Hägglund says it is working to get a confirmation:
- But there are those who do not like to be seen. They see clearly that what happened so far has been too much. So it is being be no change.
Koenigsegg Group has, as shown in the Swedish data, five executives, where Christian von Koenigsegg is President. Chairman is the American Augie K Fabela. The Board of the rest of the Norwegian Bård Eker and American Mark Bishop. Deputy Director is the American Melissa Schwartz.
Ever since they became public through the Swedish companies have researched who the persons behind Koenigsegg Group really are. Not least, it has questioned whether it might have the capital ....needed to run a car industry of Saab size.
If Jöran Hägglunds data happens, has this attention has become too much for someone, or some in the group.
One of the more ambitious reviews of Koenigsegg Group made by TTEla, the local newspaper in Trollhättan. TTEla believe that many threads, despite three Americans on the Board of purchasers, leading to Russia where Fabel built a fortune from telecoms company Vimpelcom, which he led together with the Russians Dmitry B Zimin. When this Russian company introduced on the New York Stock Exchange Melissa Schwartz participated in the work to make the stock price.
Saab informationschef Eric Geer says the GP when he hears the information from Jöran Hägglund:
- That is nothing I have information on.
Negotiations between GM and Koenigsegg Group is, by all appearances, in an intensive stage, perhaps a final stage.
It is a sensitive part of the hearing - and the less sensitive is not because part of the purchasers clearly not comfortable with even the little spotlight that made it this far.
Jöran Hägglund waiting for clearance:
- Reasonably, it is so next week needs to learn from them about the plans and others.
GP has sought Koenigsegg Group for a comment.
Saab deal might fall through
Some of the intended owners of Saab Automobile may be about to back out, according to Jöran Hägglund at the Department of Industry, which is in charge of the government's negotiations.
The ongoing work to sell Saab Automobile is in an intensive phase. The Department of Industry have been constantly updated about the process during the summer.
But now there is information emerging which could crack the whole deal. Yesterday, undersecretary Jöran Hägglund, who is the government's chief negotiator regarding the car industry, received worrying information that suggests a backing out may be imminent. It's when GP asks if the picture has cleared regarding the intended owners, the persons in the Koenigsegg Group, that Jöran Hägglund responds:
- We have met them. We are currently trying to get as good a picture as we can, because... I think some changes are happening in the gang.
Jöran Hägglund says they are working on getting a confirmation:
- But there are those among them who don't like to be seen. They obviously feel that what has happened so far has been to much. So a change of some sort is taking place.
The Koenigsegg Group has, according to Swedish data, five executives, of which Christian von Koenigsegg is the President. Chairman of the board is the American Augie K Fabela. The rest of the board is made up of Norwegian Bård Eker and the American Mark Bishop. Deputy Director is the American Melissa Schwartz.
Ever since these persons became public through the Swedish company directory, research has been ongoing to find out who the people behind the Koenigsegg Group really are. Not least, it has been put into question if the group really has the necessary capital needed for running a car manufacturer of Saab's size.
If Jöran Hägglund's information is proven correct, it would seem that this attention has gotten too much for someone, or someones, within the group.
One of the more ambitious investigations into the Koenigsegg Group has been carried out by TT Ela, the local newspaper in Trollhättan. TT Ela believe that many indications, in spite of there being three Americans on the board of the buyer group, point toward Russia, where Fabela built a fortune through the telecom company Vimpelcom, which he ran together with Russian Dmitry B Zimin. When this Russian company was introduced on the New York Stock Exchange, Melissa Schwartz was involved in the work of preparing the company for the stock exchange.
Saab's information officer, Eric Geers, says to GP on being presented with the information from Jöran Hägglund:
- I have no information on that.
Negotiations between GM and the Koenigsegg Group are by all accounts in an intensive phase, possibly a final phase.
It is a sensitive part of the negotiations - and it doesn't get less sensitive by the fact that a part of the buyer group are apparently uncomfortable even with the slight limelight there has been so far.
Jöran Hägglund is awaiting clarification:
- Reasonably, it must be that we will learn more next week from them about their plans and other things.
GP has tried to get a statement from the Koenigsegg Group.
Stephan Lövgren
Fact box:
Saab is heading out of reconstruction
On the 20th of August, the deadline for Saab's reconstruction expires, and according to what GP has learned, there will be no extension. The abatement with the creditors has been completed, and the other issues that caused Saab to be put into reconstruction have been dealt with.
Judge Cecilia Tisell at the Vänersborg district court, who has presided over the earlier negotiations, explains that the reconstruction will end automatically if Saab does nothing.
- But most likely the reconstructor will, with a letter, announce that their problems have now been solved and that the reconstruction ends, she says.
And the worldwide saab-community is'n able (or willing) to implement and support an easy an effective action like "MY NEXT CAR: SAAB" which could lead things back on the road of success.
I've run with this story because it seems significant, but I think it'll be when/if other Swedish news services run with it as well that we can really worry.
GT.se has been fairly critical all along. If other news services pick up on Hagglund's comments and report them in the same way, then it'll be of greater concern.
I just wish Saab or Koenigsegg would come out and confirm or deny and state where the transaction really is at. Not the details, just something like the fact they expect to close soon.
* The government have gotten regular updates on how the negotiations are going (as expected), but then to leak any of this underhand information to the media must be just breaking about any sort of trust there could be between them and K-egg.
* The reporter who stated that the deal "could crack". I think if they've gotten this far, one person jumping ship shouldn't really break the entire deal. There must be too much effort and prestige put into this now.
That aside, someone who has taken a lot of bashing is Mark Bishop and he's also the one that's been most under scrutiny (probably because there was something to scrutinize in the first place).
As to ralf22's idea about Saab enthusiasts rallying to buy new Saabs? It might be okay in theory, but Saab probably couldn't supply. The NG9-5 won't debut until next year, convertibles are out of production until moved to Trollhattan, and Saab hasn't had the funds to increase production of the 9-3 (back to previous levels) even though it has evidence it could probably sell more cars. About the only thing that could be achieved is to clear the backlog of old stock.
That the deal should could crack is a headline made up by GP. The only facts we have is what Jöran Hägglund said - "I think there is some changes happening in the group". Changes aren't necessarily bad if someone can't take the heat. Changes could also imply that someone is replaced, i.e. there is someone waiting to step in. I think we won't get the full facts before the deal is closed, if then...
I'm afraid that's the spin the media are going for right now, and will continue with unless new facts emerge. In a matter of hours, half the Swedish population - the half that aren't particularly interested and so only reads the headline and catch-phrases - will "know" that the deal is cancelled and Saab are bust.
Jöran Hägglund does not think the changes will stop the deal.
I get soo f***ing frustraded about how the government has handled this from the beginning... I want to punish someone.
Or as Ralf in the Swedish rock band Mustasch sings in one of there songs:
Bring me everyone (being the government), because I need to hurt someone...
1) We (the audience here) are a little biased. We eat, drink, and breath Saab and just want to hear the good news. :)
2) It is dangerous for a civil servants or a politicians to lie about facts when asked by media. If Hägglund is confronted with what he know is the truth, it would probably be even worse for Saab if he lied about the situation in general.
3) And we don't know if it is the Government that is "leaking" this to the media. Remember the new spin last week in Swedish press about the EIB not having enough information about the new Saab. The information could have come from EIB, but for some reason the journalists (who, as in many other countries, are mainly lefties) chose to have the right-wing Government in focus for this potential bad news.
Still, I wouldn't be surprised if there are problems behind the curtain in the negotiations because I can't see that it would have to drag on this long.
And after all: changes behind the scenes must not be bad but if you don't know all facts you can't judge.
They shouldn't let this part information out. But as it was with the 9-5 photos: one can't resist.
it could be a bluff from one of the investors to put some pressure on the other negotiating parties...
was too upset that Fiona sold her Aero on the last episode of 'Burn Notice' to sign on in the last ten hours. Of course, the next new episodes will be this winter, so Fiona gets to buy a new car in the meantime.
GM should have picked a group (if there was one) that could have received enthusiastic support from the government. There have been spoken doubts here since June. Questions about K-Segg are natural given their size and experieence.