Tesla to Sell Up to $5 Billion in Stock -- Update
September 01 2020 - 11:51AM
Dow Jones News
By Dave Sebastian
Tesla Inc. said it planned to raise up to $5 billion in stock
offerings from time to time.
The return to capital markets comes after the electric-vehicle
maker's 5-for-1 split Monday, which sent shares up 13% to $498.32.
The latest fund raising represents roughly 1.1% of Tesla's $464
billion market capitalization, according to FactSet. Shares were
down about 1% to $493.34 in morning trading after rising in
premarket trading Tuesday.
The electric-vehicle maker in February raised more than $2
billion from a stock sale to help bolster its balance sheet. Chief
Executive Elon Musk has had a complicated relationship with
fundraising. As a CEO with a showman's flair, he has been
successful in drumming up investor enthusiasm in Tesla, while also
expressing a reluctance to issue stock over concerns it would
dilute value for existing shareholders. He is the largest owner of
Tesla stock.
The offerings could result in a 2% to 3% dilution in stock,
Wedbush Securities Inc. analyst Daniel Ives said. But the benefits
would outweigh the dilution, he said, as the company is now
profitable and could support the buildout of its assembly plants in
the U.S. and Europe.
"This will get them out of debt from a cash perspective," Mr.
Ives said. "It's near-term pain for long-term gain."
Tesla in July posted a fourth-consecutive profitable quarter for
the first time in its 17-year history, defying the Covid-19
pandemic, threat of extended economic recession and Wall Street
analysts who expected a loss. But reaching that point hasn't been
easy. In its quest to become the first mass producer of electric
cars, the company burned cash to raise production and overcome
logistical hurdles
The company on Tuesday said it has entered an equity
distribution agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA
Securities Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets
Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC,
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, SG Americas Securities LLC,
Wells Fargo Securities LLC and BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Those banks, which will act as sales agents, will get a
commission of up to 0.5% of gross proceeds from each sale of the
shares, as well as reimbursement for certain expenses, Tesla said.
The company said it could end the agreement at any time.
Tesla shares have surged about 80% from the company's Aug. 11
stock-split announcement and have risen nearly sixfold this
year.
Write to Dave Sebastian at dave.sebastian@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 01, 2020 11:36 ET (15:36 GMT)
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