Solar Energy News  
SOLAR DAILY
Tesla reaches $2.6 bn deal to buy SolarCity
By John BIERS
New York (AFP) Aug 1, 2016


Electric carmaker Tesla said Monday it won agreement from SolarCity to acquire the solar power company for $2.6 billion, confirming a deal that has been criticized on Wall Street.

Tesla announced the bid in late June, but it drew jeers on Wall Street, in part because of skepticism over the motives of Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who is also chairman of SolarCity as well as its biggest shareholder.

Some analysts also questioned whether the deal -- which still requires shareholder approval from both companies -- would divert Tesla's attention from an ambitious plan to significantly expand electric-car production in the next few years.

But Tesla argued the combination would meet the needs of a growing portion of consumers who are environmentally focused and will be drawn to the opportunity buy their car from the same company that would install a solar-powered fueling station at their homes.

Tesla said that the buyout would also enable it to achieve lower hardware and marketing costs and boost manufacturing efficiency, creating the "world's only vertically integrated sustainable energy company," it said in a statement.

"There is natural parts integration here where there isn't for gasoline and cars," said Musk. "You don't want the gas station at your house."

The all-stock transaction values SolarCity at $25.37 a share, below the original range discussed in June of between $26.50 and $28.50 a share.

The agreement allows SolarCity to solicit alternative proposals for 45 days.

The boards of directors of each company have signed off on the deal. However, the agreed acquisition requires approval from a majority of shareholders of both companies.

Musk, who holds 21.1 percent of Tesla and 22.5 percent of SolarCity, will not be able to vote as a shareholder on the deal.

- Searching for profitability -

Musk has announced an ambitious goal of producing 500,000 electric cars a year by 2018, which would take it from being a niche producer of luxury sedans to a mainstream competitor in the auto industry. Skeptics have questioned those targets.

Tesla reported a loss of $282.3 million in the first quarter and has had annual losses the last five years. SolarCity lost $21.5 million in the first quarter and also has a record of annual losses.

"It's combining two companies that are cash-flow negative," said Efraim Levy, analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence. "That creates the potential for dilutive capital raises."

While there is some strategic logic over the long-term, the deal likely dims the chances of Tesla turning a profit in the near term, he said.

"If you're buying (Tesla) on the anticipation of it becoming profitable, or big-time profitable, in the next few years, this is going to set back your plan, if they ever become profitable," Levy said.

But Trip Chowdhry, analyst at Global Equities Research, said Tesla's vision is to "create a whole new industry" akin to Amazon, which lost money for years. Profitability is not the most important factor in evaluating Tesla, he said.

"When you create an industry, you only win because of speed," Chowdhry said.

SolarCity shares tumbled 7.4 percent to $24.72, while Tesla lost 2.0 percent at $230.01


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
SOLAR DAILY
Breakthrough solar cell captures CO2 and sunlight, produces burnable fuel
Chicago IL (SPX) Jul 29, 2016
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have engineered a potentially game-changing solar cell that cheaply and efficiently converts atmospheric carbon dioxide directly into usable hydrocarbon fuel, using only sunlight for energy. The finding is reported in the July 29 issue of Science and was funded by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy. A provi ... read more


SOLAR DAILY
Patented bioelectrodes have electrifying taste for waste

Bioenergy decisions involve wildlife habitat and land use trade-offs

Novel 'repair system' discovered in algae may yield new tools for biotechnology

Biological wizardry ferments carbon monoxide into biofuel

SOLAR DAILY
New robot overcomes obstacles

New remote-controlled microrobots for medical operations

SSL to provide robotic arms to DARPA for satellite servicing

Hey robot, shimmy like a centipede

SOLAR DAILY
Offshore wind the next big thing, industry group says

France's EDF buys Chinese wind energy firm

Scotland commits $26M for low-carbon economy

More wind power added to French grid

SOLAR DAILY
Tesla loss widens as company works to speed production

German state Bavaria to sue VW over pollution scandal

Ride-share battle ends with Didi buying Uber China operations

VW gets preliminary approval for US emissions settlement

SOLAR DAILY
Chemists create vitamin-driven battery

More power to you

New catalyst for hydrogen production

Researchers printed energy-producing photographs

SOLAR DAILY
Tiny creatures prompt Australia to reject uranium mine

France's EDF 'knew in advance' about British nuclear plan delay

UK nuclear project delay is 'bonkers': trade union

France's EDF backs nuclear plan but UK delays

SOLAR DAILY
ORNL-led study analyzes electric grid vulnerabilities in extreme weather areas

New MIT system can identify how much power is being used by each device in a household

Carbon-financed cookstove fails to deliver hoped-for benefits in the field

Sweden's 100 percent carbon-free emissions challenge

SOLAR DAILY
Rainforest greener during 'dry' season

New model is first to predict tree growth in earliest stages of tree life

Effects of past tropical deforestation will be felt for years to come

Trees' surprising role in the boreal water cycle quantified









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.