GM IPO is go!
Targeting a share price range of $26.00 to $29.00, the company will offer 365 million shares of common stock. GM will also offer 60 million shares of Series B mandatory convertible junior preferred stock with a value of $50/share. According to The Detroit News, GM could clear $12 billion in common stock sales and a further $3.45B in preferred stock sales.
For its part, the federal government is expected to sell 263.5 million shares or more, and the Canadian and Ontario governments will look to divest 30.5 million of its shares in the automaker. The United Auto Workers also has a healthy chunk of GM, and it will reportedly seek to sell 71 million shares.
General Motors will trade under the "GM" stock ticker on the New York Stock Exchange. For the official press release, click past the jump.
[Sources: General Motors, The Detroit News]
Offer includes common stock and mandatory convertible preferred stock
2010-11-03
DETROIT, Mich. – General Motors Company today announced it has commenced a public offering.
The offering will consist of 365 million shares of common stock to be sold by certain of its stockholders. The company will also issue 60 million shares of its Series B mandatory convertible junior preferred stock with a liquidation amount of $50 per share.
The estimated price range for the offering of common stock is $26.00 to $29.00 per share
Unless converted earlier at the option of the holder, each share of the Series B preferred stock will automatically convert on the mandatory conversion date, which is expected to be three years from the original issue date. The conversion provisions depend on the applicable market value of the company's common stock, and are subject to certain anti-dilution adjustments.
The underwriters have the option to purchase from the selling stockholders up to an additional 54.75 million shares of common stock and from the company an additional 9 million shares of Series B preferred stock, on the same terms and conditions, to cover over-allotments, if any.
Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan (representatives of the underwriters), BofA Merrill Lynch, Citi, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Securities and RBC Capital Markets will be the joint book-running managers for the offering. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained for free, by visiting the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may obtain a copy of the preliminary prospectus, by contacting:
• Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, telephone 1-866-718-1649, or by sending email to prospectus@morganstanley.com
• J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Attention: Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, telephone 1-866-803-9204
A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
About General Motors
General Motors, one of the world's largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 208,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in more than 120 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 31 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, Daewoo, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's largest national market is China, followed by the United States, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
In this press release and in related comments by our management, our use of the words "expect," "anticipate," "possible," "potential," "target," "believe," "commit," "intend," "continue," "may," "would," "could," "should," "project," "projected," "positioned" or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors might include: our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as a result of our restructuring initiatives and labor modifications; our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt, including as required to fund our planning significant investment in new technology; our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology; and our ability to continue to attract new customers, particularly for our new products.
GM's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q provide information about these and other factors, which we may revise or supplement in future reports to the SEC.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
GMFanBoi 4:29PM (11/03/2010)
I got my cash ready!
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MarkJM 5:33PM (11/03/2010)
Given the fact that you spell your name with "Boi" I doubt you have very much cash at all.
Dick Brogan 5:37PM (11/03/2010)
^^^ Being that you have an Aston Martin in you avatar you must me a millionaire.
GMFanBoi 5:45PM (11/03/2010)
I actually have an 03 CTS and a Silverado. Probably a lot nicer than anything you drive
CoupeDeBill 6:56PM (11/03/2010)
I have my cash ready and will buy as heavy as I can afford.
Tony 7:20PM (11/03/2010)
Just remember CoupeDeBill, You can buy as heavy as you can afford to lose. The stock market is still a wild west gamble, be careful, pick a price that you will sell at no matter what happens and stay close to the sell button.
Not THAT Matt 9:36PM (11/03/2010)
@GMFanBoi
Eww, you bought a CTS before they became world competitive. I am SO sorry for your waste of... whatever it is to buy an eight year old CTS used wherever you live.
Which brings me to option B - this proves the point you're a boy. Not only do you spell it "Boi" in your name, which is a very fifteen year old Xbox Live playing high school kid thing to do, but you can't be that tall to fit in mommy and daddy's CTS - the interior on that thing is super cramped.
I'm 6'5 and test drove an 07 (years ago, when they were new) and man was it not that comfortable. This is before the superb second generation model, of course.
GMFanBoi 8:51AM (11/04/2010)
Wrong, I bought it in 05. I spell it BOI cause it's an inside joke between my friends.
Cramped? Not at all for me, then again I don't sit in the back seat.
Commonsensebehindthewheel 4:33PM (11/03/2010)
That's great and all, but i need to know a particular DAY
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Sik68 4:34PM (11/03/2010)
Day traders are foaming at the mouth to time the bubble of the most hyped IPO in recent memory.
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paul34 5:14PM (11/03/2010)
I'm sure they'll have some restriction on selling these, so they're not going to be great for daytrading until a little while later.
The regular stock market is terrible, because the SEC constantly sets rules that favor the market maker and large institutional investors and make it extremely difficult for the little guy (like the daytrader).
ronpauls 4:34PM (11/03/2010)
When can I short this?
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FitFan 4:46PM (11/03/2010)
If you want to short it you should probably wait a couple of days after the IPO. You might want to consider GM's $50B in tax credits and how that might affect the bottom line before you decide to short.
I will personally watch from the sidelines because I don't like to gamble. I hope GM succeeds so taxpayers get as much as possible back from our investment in a healthy US auto manufacturing industry.
whiskers 5:16PM (11/03/2010)
FitFan - most sensible comment about the IPO I've heard so far. It's a gamble, but I hope it works out for all of us.
Zakspeed 4:35PM (11/03/2010)
Pass. I rather get the Pacific on bluray. Least get more enjoyment out of it and have better resale value.
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Level 4:36PM (11/03/2010)
I think the The United Auto Workers should keep theirs and not sell..
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paul34 5:14PM (11/03/2010)
No, they should sell everything. The UAW shouldn't have a say in any company, ever.
Luis 5:48PM (11/03/2010)
Paul, of course the workers shouldn't have a say in the products they make. Never! Leave it to upper management to make all the decisions, the workers, eh, they are worthless!
Level 7:11PM (11/03/2010)
I do agree the UAW should not have any say...but I think it would be the best possible way to keep them tame...
paul34 7:29PM (11/03/2010)
@ Luis - where did I say the workers shoudln't have a say? I await your answer.
You don't need a union, especially the UAW, in that sense. What I meant was a "say" in the same way a shareholder does. Employees can own stock and obviously make feedback. There's no need for a deadweight middleman like the UAW. I've given plenty of feedback at places I've worked at with no need for a union.
But ok, let's run with your argument. When has the UAW helped to improve the vehicles they make? All I see from them are their attempts to improve benefits packages for their members so they can get more in union dues.