Tesla confirms it secured $1.6 billion in financing for Gigafactory Shanghai

Tesla released a filing today confirming previous reports that it secured $1.6 billion in financing from Chinese banks in order to finance its growing operation in the world’s largest electric vehicle market.

As we discussed last week, reports from China were stating that Tesla had come to terms with several Chinese banks about financing worth more than 10 billion yuan ($1 billion USD).

Today, Tesla filed a statement with the SEC confirming their latest :

“On December 18, 2019, a subsidiary of Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”) entered into agreements with a syndicate of lenders in China for: a secured term loan facility of up to RMB 9.0 billion and an unsecured revolving loan facility of up to RMB 2.25 billion, in each case to be used in connection with our Gigafactory Shanghai. On December 20, 2019, proceeds from one of the new facilities were used to repay in full the subsidiary’s drawn amounts on its existing bridge loan facility of up to RMB 3.5 billion, which was terminated as a result of the full repayment.”

In short, Tesla used a part of the new loans to repay a previous loan and they plan to use the rest to expand Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai.

Tesla is already steadily producing and shipping made-in-China Model 3 vehicles out of Gigafactory 3, but the automaker is expected to invest in the production of more components locally and it should also start Model Y production at the factory next year.

Here’s the SEC release in full:

Tesla Shanghai Fixed Asset Term Facility Agreement

On December 18, 2019, Tesla (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Tesla Shanghai”) entered into a Fixed Asset Syndication Loan Agreement and a Supplemental Agreement (together, the “Fixed Asset Facility”) with China Construction Bank Corporation, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Special Area Branch, Agricultural Bank of China Shanghai Changning Sub-branch, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., Shanghai Branch, and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Special Area Branch, as lenders (the “Lenders”). Under the Fixed Asset Facility, Tesla Shanghai may for a period of three years draw funds from time to time on a secured term facility of up to a total of RMB 9.0 billion (or the equivalent amount drawn in U.S. dollars). The proceeds of such loans may be used only for expenditures related to the construction of and production at our Gigafactory Shanghai or to repay certain outstanding debt of Tesla Shanghai, including under its RMB 3.5 billion Syndication Loan Agreement, dated March 1, 2019, under which each Lender or its affiliate was also a lender (the “Bridge Loan”). The Fixed Asset Facility is secured by the land and buildings at Gigafactory Shanghai and is non-recourse to Tesla or its assets.

Outstanding borrowings pursuant to the Fixed Asset Facility accrue interest at a rate equal to: (i) for RMB-denominated loans, the market quoted interest rate published by the People’s Bank of China minus 0.7625%, and (ii) for U.S. dollar-denominated loans, the sum of one-year LIBOR plus 1.3%. Starting on the third anniversary of the first borrowing, Tesla Shanghai must also repay principal amounts on a specified schedule, such that all outstanding loans will be repaid by the fifth anniversary of the first borrowing. Tesla Shanghai is subject to certain covenants, including a restriction on liens and other security interests on assets, other than specified exceptions, as well as certain customary covenants and events of default.

Tesla Shanghai Working Capital Revolving Facility Agreement

On December 18, 2019, Tesla Shanghai entered into a Syndication Revolving Loan Agreement (the “Working Capital Facility”) with the Lenders. Under the Working Capital Facility, Tesla Shanghai may draw funds from time to time on an unsecured revolving facility of up to a total of RMB 2.25 billion (or the equivalent amount drawn in U.S. dollars). The proceeds of such loans may be used only for expenditures related to production at our Gigafactory Shanghai. The Working Capital Facility will terminate and all outstanding loans will mature on the first anniversary of the first borrowing under the loan, and the Working Capital Facility is non-recourse to Tesla or its assets.

Outstanding borrowings pursuant to the Working Capital Facility accrue interest at a rate equal to: (i) for RMB-denominated loans, the market quoted interest rate published by the People’s Bank of China minus 0.425%, and (ii) for U.S. dollar-denominated loans, the sum of one-year LIBOR plus 0.8%. Tesla Shanghai is subject to certain covenants, including a restriction on liens and other security interests on inventory and accounts receivable, other than specified exceptions, as well as certain customary covenants and events of default.

Repayment of Tesla Shanghai Bridge Loan

On December 20, 2019, Tesla Shanghai used proceeds from the Fixed Asset Facility to repay in full all of the then-outstanding obligations under the Bridge Loan, which was then terminated.