Nikola Announces $200 Million Convertible Senior Notes Investment

Nikola intends to use the net proceeds for business expansion in the form of scaling truck manufacturing and tooling setup, accelerating the development of its hydrogen infrastructure

Nikola Corporation (NASDAQ: NKLA) announced that an institutional investor has agreed to make a $200 million investment in Nikola through the purchase of Convertible Senior Notes.

Funds advised by Antara Capital LP have agreed to purchase $200 million aggregate amount of 8.00% / 11.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”). The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 8.00% if paid in cash, or at a rate of 11.00% through the issuance of additional Notes, at the Company’s election.

The Notes will be convertible at an initial conversion price to be determined prior to closing. The initial conversion price will represent a 30% premium to the lower of Nikola’s volume-weighted average price over a pre-determined time period between this announcement and closing of the Notes and the closing price of Nikola’s common stock on the last trading day prior to the date of this announcement, but will not be lower than 110% of such closing price. Upon conversion, Nikola will have the right to settle the Notes in cash, shares, or any combination thereof at its election. The Notes will mature on May 31, 2026, unless redeemed, repurchased, or converted prior to such date.

“We are very pleased to announce the investment in Nikola Convertible Senior Notes, which is a testimonial to the Company’s recent accomplishments of having achieved both operational and strategic milestones. These include shipment of our initial serial production battery-electric (BEV) trucks to dealers for customer delivery and the start of fuel cell electric (FCEV) truck pilot testing with select customers, as well as the continued expansion of our strategic partner network,” said Nikola CEO Mark Russell. “We believe that Nikola is at an inflection point as we see our customer momentum accelerating which requires scaling of our operations and investments in the hydrogen infrastructure build-out.”

Nikola intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes along with its other liquidity sources for business expansion in the form of scaling truck manufacturing and tooling setup, accelerating the development of its hydrogen infrastructure, as well as for general corporate purposes.

Nikola CFO Kim Brady commented on the agreement: “Including the $200 million investment we announced today, Nikola would have had a total cash and liquidity position of approximately $1.0 billion as of March 31, 2022, which we intend to deploy to fund our growth plans. The investment is the next step in solidifying our liquidity position at attractive terms. At the same time, we are strengthening our long-term, institutional investor base across the capital structure, which is reflective of Nikola’s evolving maturity and increasing attractiveness to investors.”

Additional information regarding this announcement may be found in a Form 8-K that will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as sole financial advisor to Nikola on the transaction, and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP served as legal advisor.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal advisor to Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

The Notes and any shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The investment agreement contemplates that the Notes will be transferrable to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Nikola has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after the closing, registering the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Notes.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy any of these securities (including the shares of Nikola common stock, if any, into which the Notes are convertible) and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

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