Saab goes into bankruptcy protection

General Motors Corp.'s Swedish-based subsidiary Saab went into bankruptcy protection Friday so the unit can be spun off or sold by its struggling U.S. parent, officials said.

The move comes after Sweden turned down GM's request for government help for Saab.

An application to reorganize the brand was filed at a district court in Vanersborg, in southwestern Sweden, Saab spokeswoman Margareta Hogstrom said. It was approved later Friday.

The Swedish government on Wednesday rejected a request from loss-making GM to inject money into the carmaker.

GM, which is seeking help from the U.S. government to avoid bankruptcy at home, has been looking for buyers for Saab, but said it needs more funding to spin off or sell the division.

"We explored and will continue to explore all available options for funding and/or selling Saab, and it was determined a formal restructuring would be the best way to create a truly independent entity that is ready for investment," Saab's managing director, Jan Ake Jonsson, said in a statement.

The move would give Saab protection from creditors while it restructures in a process similar to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S.

GM said in a statement that Saab would continue operating normally. Fearing that parts suppliers would stop shipping, Detroit-based GM said it would make sure they are paid.

"GM is fully committed to maintaining a viable and successful local and global supplier base during the Saab reorganization," Bo Andersson, GM group vice-president for purchasing, said in a statement.

Saab said that pending court approval, the reorganization would take place over three months and would require independent funding. The automaker said it would seek funding "from both public and private sources."

However, government officials seemed to rule out financial assistance. "I'm not sure what they're referring to, because support in the form of money is not on the agenda," Industry Ministry spokesman Hakan Lind said.

Industry Minister Maud Olofsson told Swedish news agency TT it was "very hard to say what our role will be."

Rejected plea

On Wednesday, Olofsson rejected GM's plea for state funding for Saab, saying it was up to the U.S. automaker to save the brand.

In its own restructuring plan, GM said Tuesday it would need up to $30 billion US from the U.S. Treasury Department, up from a previous estimate of $18 billion and including $13.4 billion it has already received. It also said it would need to cut 47,000 jobs worldwide and close five more U.S. factories.

GM said it needed about $6 billion in support from the governments of Canada, Germany, Britain, Sweden and Thailand to provide liquidity for its overseas operations in those countries.

The Detroit automaker said it had developed a proposal that would cap its financial support of Saab with the Trollhattan-based automaker's operations "effectively becoming an independent business entity" by Jan. 1.

Saab has around 4,500 workers in more than 50 countries. Its main markets include the U.S. Britain, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Australia, France, the Netherlands, and Norway, with most of its production located in Sweden.

New models

With three new models ready for launch in the next 18 months — the 9-5, 9-3X and 9-4X — Jonsson said Saab has "an excellent foundation" to grow, assuming it can get funding for engineering, tooling and launch costs.

"Reorganization will give us time and means that help these products to market while minimizing the liquidity impact of Saab on GM," Jonsson said.

But analysts questioned whether Saab could survive on its own since it is a small player in the battered global auto industry.

"It doesn't have the economies of scale or the deep pockets," said Stephen Pope, chief global markets strategist for Cantor Fitzgerald. "Perhaps they're just trying dress it up for buyers."

Originally an aircraft maker, Saab started manufacturing cars after the Second World War. General Motors bought a 50 per cent stake and management control of Saab Automobile in 1989 and gained full ownership in 2000. The aircraft division remains a different company.

GM's other European brands are Opel in Germany and Vauxhall in Britain. GM also markets its Chevrolet brand in Europe.

German officials have indicated that they are willing to help keep open Opel plants, but are insisting that the company outline a long-term plan for the division first.

Economy Ministry spokesman Steffen Moritz said in Berlin on Friday that the automaker is expected to produce that concept "by the end of next week."