TROLLHATTAN, Sweden -

As the automaker continues to search for ways to secure more medium to long-term funding, on Thursday Saab celebrated the approval of a few recent agreements and announced it plans to restart production in early August.

Just yesterday, the automaker gained final approval from the Swedish Government, the Swedish National Debt Office and the European Investment Bank for the recently announced sale and lease back of Saab property.

The leaseback deal, worth an estimated $40 million, entails transferring a 50.1 percent stake in Saab Automobile Property to a consortium of Swedish real estate investors led by real estate company Hemfosa Fastigheter AB.

Swedish Automobile will sign a 15-year agreement to lease the Trollhattan plant, as well as other Saab facilities.

"We are very pleased with the agreement with Saab Automobile. We will continue to add value for Saab Automobile in developing the property,” noted Jens Engwall, chief executive officer of Hemfosa Fastigheter AB, at the time of the announcement.

This is not the only new development for Saab this week.

The automaker also just signed on Monday the final agreements securing investments with China’s auto dealership chain Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and automaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. that have been in the works since last month.

"I am pleased to announce the signing of binding agreements (subject to obtaining regulatory approvals) with Pang Da and Youngman, as it underlines the confidence of all parties in a successful tripartite partnership,” said Victor Mueller, chief executive officer of Swedish Automobile and Saab, on Monday.

The company also revealed that it will be partnering with Youngman Passenger Car Group Co. — a branch of the Youngman Automobile Group — on the formation of a Sweden-based new product joint venture company designed to develop three new Saab models.

These agreements and plans, along with a recent order for Saab vehicles worth $18.4 million, will mean the automaker has raised 61 million euros in additional funding commitments over the past few weeks, the company noted.

What does this mean for the future of Saab production?

The automaker noted it “continues its discussion with suppliers on material supply and commercial terms and is close to agreements,” but if all goes as planned, Saab expects to restart production Tuesday, Aug. 9.

But Saab still has a few kinks to work through.

In late June, 48 companies, including suppliers as well as other creditors, owed money by Saab and its parent company Swedish Automobiles, filed with Swedish collection agency Kronofogden to collect more than $3.6 million.

In response, the automaker requested its creditors accept 10 percent now and the remaining 90 percent in September of this year. The automaker also sent a letter to suppliers throughout the world requesting that the company be permitted to pay cash when components are delivered — or as soon as possible after delivery.

Besides working out relationships with suppliers, Saab stressed it “continues discussions with several parties to obtain further short-term funding to be able to restart and sustain production, including completion of a drawdown under the Eurpean Investment Bank loan facility.”