Billionaires vying for FiskerJan 10 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Kevin Sablan The Orange County Register
Despite its ignominious collapse into bankruptcy, Fisker Automotive of Anaheim has attracted the attention of two of the world's richest men. Today, in a Delaware bankruptcy court a judge may decide which of their companies' dueling plans can move forward. Both anticipate restarting production of Fisker's luxury-car. On Thursday, Judge Kevin Gross indicated he may give more than 150 laid-off Fisker workers more time to argue they should be compensated for unpaid wages. "The emergence of another very interested, cash-paying suitor, Wanxiang America Corporation, may enhance creditor recoveries and shows the mischief from undue speed," said his order, which set a Jan. 31 date to hear worker claims. Here's a look at the billionaires behind the contending plans: Richard Li Hybrid Technology -- Personal worth: $1.9 billion -- Age: 47 -- Education: Dropped out of Stanford -- Made his money: He is trying to close a deal to make HKT one of Hong Kong's leading wireless providers, and has bought up media and financial companies. -- Personal: Single, three children. The youngest son of Li Ka-shing, Asia's richest man (worth $32 billion). -- Interest in Fisker: An early investor, he bought control of Fisker last year by paying $25 million for a $168 million Department of Energy loan. -- Fisker plan: Plans to relaunch the Karma. Whether it would be built in a Delaware plant Fisker owns is unclear. Lu Guanqiu Wanxiang Group -- Personal worth: $3.4 billion -- Age: 69 -- Education: Doctorate, Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Made his money: Started with a farm-machinery workshop and built it into China's largest auto-parts conglomerate. -- Personal: Married, four children. Traveled with China's now-President Xi Jinping to the U.S. in 2012. http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=31169670&
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