28 October 2011 Last updated at 06:57 ET

Saab signs deal to be bought by Chinese firms for £88m

Dutch businessman Victor Muller, who founded Spyker, bought Saab from General Motors

Cash-strapped Swedish carmaker Saab has signed a deal to be taken over by two Chinese firms for 100m euros (£88m).

The company signed a memorandum of understanding with Pang Da and Youngman, having previously rejected takeover offers from them.

Saab is currently in court trying to stave off bankruptcy.

The agreement is valid until 15 November, as long as the Swedish carmaker stays in voluntary reorganisation in court.

"An important consideration for Swan to enter into the transaction is the commitment of Pang Da and Youngman to provide long term funding to Saab Automobile," parent company Swedish Automobile said in a statement.

"Pang Da and Youngman will invest way more than the 240m euros we had planned to invest, so Saab has now got the funding, the stability and the product portfolio it deserves," said Victor Muller, Saab's chief executive and majority shareholder in Swedish Automobile.

Job done

Analysis

Jorn Madslien Business reporter, BBC News

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Less than two years after acquiring the Swedish carmaker Saab, Victor Muller, the chief executive and majority shareholder of the parent company Swedish Automobile, has hammered out a deal to sell it.

The deal should safeguard the future for Saab's workers, dealers and suppliers.

But is it a good day for its shareholders?

On the face of it, Swedish Automobile has doubled its money, having agreed to sell Saab for 100m euros after having bought it from General Motors for 52m euros.

But not so quick.

During the last couple of years the parent firm has invested some 120m euros, so it will suffer a 70m loss.

• Saab chief reflects on sale to China

As a result of the deal, Guy Lofalk, Saab's administrator, has withdrawn his application to the Swedish court to halt the firm's reorganisation process.

The administrator had previously said it lacked the cash to carry on.

If the court had agreed to the request, Saab would have almost certainly been declared bankrupt.

Thousands of Saab employees and suppliers that had called for the bankruptcy are now expected to be paid the money they are owed.

Swedish Automobile, formerly called Spyker, bought Saab from US giant General Motors in January 2010.

"My job was to save the company," said Mr Muller.

"I think I achieved it."