UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

November 2, 2010

 

 

Tesla Motors, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-34756   91-2197729

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(650) 681-5000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

On November 2, 2010, Tesla Motors, Inc. (“Tesla”) entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which Tesla issued and sold to a single institutional investor, an entity affiliated with Panasonic Corporation (“Panasonic”), in a private placement transaction an aggregate of 1,418,573 shares of Tesla’s common stock at a price of $21.148 per share which price was equal to the average of the high and low sale prices for Tesla’s common stock during the prior five trading day period ended October 29, 2010. Tesla received aggregate proceeds of $30 million from the sale. Neither Tesla nor Panasonic engaged any investment advisors with respect to the sale, and no finders’ fees were paid to any party in connection therewith.

The shares were issued in reliance upon the exemptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Regulation D and Section 4(2). The shares were issued directly by Tesla and did not involve a public offering or general solicitation. Panasonic is an “accredited investor,” as that term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D.

Concurrently with the sale and issuance of the shares to Panasonic, Tesla amended its investors’ rights agreement as of November 2, 2010 to grant Panasonic registration rights on a pari passu basis with certain of its other holders of registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock purchased in the private placement. A copy of the amendment is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

On November 3, 2010, Tesla issued a press release announcing the private placement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

 4.1    Amendment to Fifth Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2010, between Tesla Motors, Inc., Energy Company, Panasonic Corporation and certain holders of the capital stock of Tesla Motors, Inc. named therein.
99.1    Press release of Tesla Motors, Inc., dated November 3, 2010.

 

2


 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

TESLA MOTORS, INC.
By:  

/ S /    D EEPAK A HUJA        

 

Deepak Ahuja

Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 4, 2010

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

 4.1    Amendment to Fifth Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2010, between Tesla Motors, Inc., Energy Company, Panasonic Corporation and certain holders of the capital stock of Tesla Motors, Inc. named therein.
99.1    Press release of Tesla Motors, Inc., dated November 3, 2010.

 

4

Exhibit 4.1

TESLA MOTORS, INC.

AMENDMENT TO

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT TO THE FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”) is made as of November 2, 2010 by and among Tesla Motors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and certain other holders of the Company’s capital stock (the “ Stockholders ”), and Panasonic Corporation, acting through Energy Company, a Japanese corporation (“ Panasonic ”). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings set forth in that certain Fifth Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2009, as amended (the “ Rights Agreement ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholders previously entered into the Rights Agreement;

WHEREAS, Sections 2, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5 and 4.1 of the Rights Agreement automatically terminated upon the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering;

WHEREAS, the Company is entering into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Panasonic dated as of even date herewith (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) pursuant to which Panasonic will purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “ Shares ”);

WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholders now desire to amend the terms of the Rights Agreement as set forth herein to include the Shares as Registrable Securities under the Rights Agreement solely for purposes of Sections 1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 of the Rights Agreement;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Rights Agreement, the Rights Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Company and the holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities then outstanding; and

WHEREAS, the undersigned Stockholders collectively represent the holders of at least two-thirds of the Registrable Securities outstanding as of the date hereof and wish to consent to the changes as set forth in this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, all of the parties hereto mutually agree as follows:


AGREEMENT

1. Amendment to Section 1.1(b) . Section 1.1(b) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

“(b) The term “ Registrable Securities ” means (i) the shares of Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series D Preferred Stock, the Series E Preferred Stock, and the Series F Preferred Stock, (ii) shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series E Preferred Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion of warrants issued pursuant to that Secured Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated February 14, 2008, as amended, (iii) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise of warrants issued to certain Series E Stockholders dated May 20, 2010, (iv) shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the certain Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and Toyota Motor Corporation dated May 20, 2010, (v) shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the certain Common Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and Panasonic dated November 2, 2010 and (vi) any other shares of Common Stock of the Company issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares listed in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi); provided , however , that the foregoing definition shall exclude in all cases any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which his or her rights under this Agreement are not assigned. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Common Stock or other securities shall only be treated as Registrable Securities if and so long as they have not been sold to or through a broker or dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or a public securities transaction;”

2. Consent to Add Party . Each of the undersigned hereby consents to the addition of Panasonic as a “Holder” party to the Rights Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, solely for the purposes of Sections 1, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3., 5.4, 5.5 and 5.6 thereunder.

3. Subordination of Registration Rights . Panasonic hereby acknowledges and agrees that the rights granted to it hereunder shall not in any way reduce the amount of Registrable Securities that the United States Department of Energy (the “ DOE ”) is entitled to include in a registration filed pursuant to Section 1.2 of the Registration Rights Agreement by and between the Company and the DOE dated January 20, 2010, as amended (the “ DOE Rights Agreement ”) and that any Registrable Securities held by Panasonic which Panasonic requests to include in any such registration may be cut back or eliminated altogether as necessary to allow the DOE to include the full amount of Registrable Securities to which it is entitled pursuant to the DOE Rights Agreement. Panasonic further acknowledges and agrees that the rights granted to it hereunder shall not permit Panasonic to make a demand registration which could result in such registration statement being declared effective prior to the earlier of either of the dates set forth in subsection 1.2(a) of the DOE Rights Agreement or within one hundred twenty (120) days of the effective date of any registration effected pursuant to Section 1.2 of the DOE Rights Agreement.

4. Governing Law . This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

 

-2-


 

5. Rights Agreement . Wherever necessary, all other terms of the Rights Agreement are hereby amended to be consistent with the terms of this Amendment. Except as specifically set forth herein, the Rights Agreement shall remain in full force and effect

6. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

*  *  *

 

-3-


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

T ESLA M OTORS , I NC .,
a Delaware corporation
By:  

/s/ Elon Musk

  Elon Musk,
  Chief Executive Officer


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

E NERGY C OMPANY , P ANASONIC C ORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Naoto Noguchi

  Naoto Noguchi,
  President


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

A L W AHADA C APITAL I NVESTMENT LLC
By:  

/s/ Hisham Maharmeh

  Dr. Hisham Maharmeh

 

Address:

  Al Wahda Capital Investment LLC
  7th Floor, ADWEA Building
  6th Street
  Abu Dhabi
  United Arab Emirates


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

B LACKSTAR I NVESTCO LLC
By:   /s/ Marco G. DeSanto
 

Marco G. DeSanto,

Secretary

By:   /s/ Alexander Nediger
 

Alexander Nediger,

Assistant Secretary

Address:
 

Blackstar Investco LLC

c/o Daimler North America Corporation

One Mercedes Drive

Montvale, NJ 07645

Fax No.: (201) 573-2595

Attention: Dr. Thomas Laubert

With a copy to:
 

Daimler AG

Epplestr. 225

70546 Stuttgart

Fax No.: +49 (711) 17-91577

Attention: Alexander Nediger

With a copy to:
 

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

One Battery Park Plaza

New York, NY 10004

Fax No.: (212) 422-4726

Attention: Kenneth A. Lefkowitz


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

D RAPER F ISHER J URVETSON F UND VIII, L.P.
By:  

/s/ John Fisher

Name:   John Fisher
Title:   Managing Director

 

D RAPER F ISHER J URVETSON P ARTNERS VIII, LLC
By:  

/s/ John Fisher

Name:   John Fisher
Title:   Managing Member

 

D RAPER A SSOCIATES , L.P.
By:  

/s/ Timothy C. Draper

Name:   Timothy C. Draper
Title:   General Partner


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

D RAPER F ISHER J URVETSON G ROWTH F UND 2006, L.P.
By:   Draper Fisher Jurvetson Growth Fund 2006 Partners, L.P.
Its:   General Partner
By:   DFJ Growth Fund 2006, Ltd.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Mark W. Bailey

  Mark W. Bailey,
  Director
D RAPER F ISHER J URVETSON P ARTNERS G ROWTH F UND 2006, LLC
By:  

/s/ Mark W. Bailey

  Mark W. Bailey,
  Authorized Member


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

E LON M USK R EVOCABLE T RUST DATED J ULY  22, 2003
By:  

/s/ Elon Musk

  Elon Musk,
  Trustee


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

T ECHNOLOGY P ARTNERS F UND VIII, LP
By:   TP Management VIII, LLC

 

By:  

/s/ Ira Ehrenpreis

Name:  

Ira Ehrenpreis

Title:  

Managing Member


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

V ALOR E QUITY P ARTNERS , LP
By:   Valor Equity Management, LLC
Its:   General Partner
By:   Valor Management Corp.
Its:   Managing Member
By:  

/s/ Antonio J. Gracias

  Antonio J. Gracias,
  Chief Executive Officer
V ALOR VC, LLC
By:  

/s/ Antonio J. Gracias

  Antonio J. Gracias,
  Managing Member
VEP T ESLA H OLDINGS , LLC
By:  

/s/ Antonio J. Gracias

  Antonio J. Gracias,
  Chief Executive Officer


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

B AY A REA E QUITY F UND I, L.P.
By:   Bay Area Equity Fund Managers I, L.L.C.
  Its: General Partner
By:   DBL Investors L.L.C.
Its:   Managing Member
By:  

/s/ Nancy E. Pfund

Name:  

Nancy E. Pfund

Title:  

Managing Member


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

P ACIFIC S EQUOIA H OLDINGS LLC
By:  

/s/ John Jonson

  John Jonson,
  Manager
T HE S KOLL F OUNDATION
By:  

/s/ John Jonson

  John Jonson,
  Manager
T HE S KOLL F UND
By:  

/s/ John Jonson

  John Jonson,
  Manager


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

C OMPASS V ENTURE P ARTNERS II, L.P.
By:   Compass Venture Management II, LLC
Its:   General Partner

 

By:    

/s/ David G. Arscott

    David G. Arscott,
    Managing Director


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

J ASPER H OLDINGS , LLC
By:  

/s/ Kimbal Musk

  Kimbal Musk


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

W ESTLY C APITAL P ARTNERS , L.P.
By:  

/s/ Steve Westly

  Steve Westly,
  Managing Partner

 

Exhibit 99.1

PANASONIC INVESTS $30 MILLION IN TESLA:

COMPANIES STRENGTHEN COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIP

Palo Alto, Calif. — Panasonic Corporation and Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) today announced that Panasonic has invested $30 million in Tesla. The investment was made through the purchase of Tesla common stock in a private placement at a price of $21.15 per share. The investment builds upon a multi-year collaboration of the two companies to accelerate the market expansion of the electric vehicle.

Panasonic is the world’s leading battery cell manufacturer and a diverse supplier to the global automotive industry. Tesla currently uses Panasonic battery cells in its advanced battery packs and has collaborated with Panasonic on the development of next generation battery cells designed specifically for electric vehicles. While Tesla’s current battery strategy incorporates proprietary packaging using cells from multiple battery suppliers, Tesla has selected Panasonic as its preferred lithium-ion battery cell supplier for its battery packs.

“Panasonic aims to be the number one Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry by 2018, the 100th anniversary of our founding,” said Naoto Noguchi, President of Energy Company, a unit of Panasonic responsible for the battery cell business. “Our sophisticated lithium-ion battery cell technology, combined with Tesla’s market-leading EV powertrain technology, helps us fulfill this goal by promoting sustainable mobility. We are proud to strengthen our relationship with Tesla Motors.”

“It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Panasonic, the world’s leading battery cell manufacturer, would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla,” said Tesla CEO and cofounder Elon Musk. “Panasonic offers the highest energy-density cells and industry-leading performance with cutting edge Nickel-type cathode technology. We believe our partnership with them will enable us to further improve our battery pack while reducing cost.”

In addition to producing its own vehicles, Tesla also builds electric powertrains, including battery packs, for other automobile manufacturers. Panasonic and Tesla intend to explore joint marketing and sales of battery packs that would be designed and assembled by Tesla using Panasonic’s battery cells.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and manufacture of electronic products for a wide range of consumer, business, and industrial needs. Based in Osaka, Japan, the company recorded consolidated net sales of 7.42 trillion yen (US$79.4 billion) for the year ended March 31, 2010. The company’s shares are listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and New York (NYSE:PC) stock exchanges. For more information on the company and the Panasonic brand, visit the company’s website at http://panasonic.net /.


 

About Tesla Motors

Tesla’s goal is to produce a full range of electric cars, from premium sports cars to mass market vehicles – relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicles. It is currently the only automaker in the U.S. that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tesla designs and manufactures EVs and EV powertrain components. Tesla has delivered more than 1,300 Roadsters to customers in North America, Europe and Asia. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions. Visit Tesla online at www.teslamotors.com

Safe Harbor Disclosure

Certain statements in this press release, including statements relating to Tesla’s expectations regarding its partnership with Panasonic, including anticipated battery pack improvements and cost reductions, and anticipated joint marketing and sales of battery pack by the parties are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Without limitation, among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are: the parties’ ability to jointly improve battery performance and cost, successfully conduct joint marketing and sales of battery packs, and other risks detailed in Tesla’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 and other publicly available filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements reflect Tesla’s expectations only as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as reflecting Tesla’s views, expectations or beliefs at any date subsequent to the date of this release. Tesla disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Media Contacts:

Panasonic Corporation

Overseas Public Relations Office

Tel: 03-6403-3040 Fax: 03-3436-6766

Panasonic News Bureau

Tel: 03-3542-6205 Fax: 03-3542-9018

Tesla Motors

Email: press@teslamotors.com

United States contact: Khobi Brooklyn, Tel.650-681-5452

Japan Contact: Atsuko Doi, Tel. 090-1844-7922