Rivian jumps as $5 bln Volkswagen investment signals 'vote of confidence'
Stock set for best day
Investment to also help Rivian's plans to develop future models
Analysts see deal as "red flag" for Aptiv's software business
Updates shares, market capitalization and adds stock milestones in paragraphs 1,6 and 12
By Akash Sriram
June 26 (Reuters) -Rivian Automotive RIVN.O surged about 36%on Wednesday after a $5 billion investment from Volkswagen offered the loss-making startup more firepower to roll out new models to attract consumers in a slowing electric-vehicle market.
The investment will also bolster Rivian's depleting cash reserves, move the startup closer to profitability and help it compete better in a market dominated by Tesla TSLA.O.
Under the deal, Rivian will form an equally controlled joint venture with Volkswagen VOWG_p.DE to share EV architecture and software that couldeventually be used by the German automaker's brands including Audi, Porsche PSHG_p.DE and Lamborghini.
More than 80 million Rivian shares exchanged hands in early trading, more than twice its 30-day average trading volume. The stock was also set for its best day on record ifgains hold. It is alsothe top trending stock on retail trader platform Stocktwits.
"It's a big vote of confidence in the EV maker's prospects," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown.
"Joining forces in this way may also help lower the cost-per-vehicle and bolster defences against the growing might of Chinese EV makers."
Shares of Lucid LCID.O also rose 3% as Citi analysts said the deal could spotlight the Saudi Arabia-backed luxury EV which has been open to licensing its technology and already has a tie-up with British automaker Aston Martin.
The increasing collaboration between EV makers and legacy automakers could, however, dent the businesses of companies such as Aptiv APTV.N that have for years provided the auto industry with third-party software and technology.
Aptiv shares were down nearly 10%, with Piper Sandler analysts saying the deal was a "red flag" for the company's strategy.
Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe told Reuters Volkswagen's investment would also provide the company the funding necessary to develop its less expensive Tesla Model Y-competitor R2 SUVs and its planned R3 crossovers.
"This is a core game changer for Rivian and changes the capital structure of the company looking ahead for the story and the Street's view at a key time," said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.
The company was set to add more than $4 billion to its market value of $12 billion. Its stock has lost nearly half its value this year after Rivian said in February it does not expect to produce more vehicles in 2024.
Still, D.A. Davidson analyst Michael Shlisky warned the funding could weigh on Rivian's share price as it was dilutive.
"We don't mean to throw cold water on the situation, but this funding isn't free, with $3 billion of dilutive equity investment over time, some of it at a discount to the current price," Shlisky said.
Rivian has also scrapped previous deals to make electric vehicles and commercial vans under separate joint ventures with Ford F.N in 2021 and Mercedes Benz MBGn.DE in 2022.
Rivian's shares have slumped in the past year https://reut.rs/3XzJZFv
Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath
면책조항: XM Group 회사는 체결 전용 서비스와 온라인 거래 플랫폼에 대한 접근을 제공하여, 개인이 웹사이트에서 또는 웹사이트를 통해 이용 가능한 콘텐츠를 보거나 사용할 수 있도록 허용합니다. 이에 대해 변경하거나 확장할 의도는 없습니다. 이러한 접근 및 사용에는 다음 사항이 항상 적용됩니다: (i) 이용 약관, (ii) 위험 경고, (iii) 완전 면책조항. 따라서, 이러한 콘텐츠는 일반적인 정보에 불과합니다. 특히, 온라인 거래 플랫폼의 콘텐츠는 금융 시장에서의 거래에 대한 권유나 제안이 아닙니다. 금융 시장에서의 거래는 자본에 상당한 위험을 수반합니다.
온라인 거래 플랫폼에 공개된 모든 자료는 교육/정보 목적으로만 제공되며, 금융, 투자세 또는 거래 조언 및 권고, 거래 가격 기록, 금융 상품 또는 원치 않는 금융 프로모션의 거래 제안 또는 권유를 포함하지 않으며, 포함해서도 안됩니다.
이 웹사이트에 포함된 모든 의견, 뉴스, 리서치, 분석, 가격, 기타 정보 또는 제3자 사이트에 대한 링크와 같이 XM이 준비하는 콘텐츠 뿐만 아니라, 제3자 콘텐츠는 일반 시장 논평으로서 "현재" 기준으로 제공되며, 투자 조언으로 여겨지지 않습니다. 모든 콘텐츠가 투자 리서치로 해석되는 경우, 투자 리서치의 독립성을 촉진하기 위해 고안된 법적 요건에 따라 콘텐츠가 의도되지 않았으며, 준비되지 않았다는 점을 인지하고 동의해야 합니다. 따라서, 관련 법률 및 규정에 따른 마케팅 커뮤니케이션이라고 간주됩니다. 여기에서 접근할 수 있는 앞서 언급한 정보에 대한 비독립 투자 리서치 및 위험 경고 알림을 읽고, 이해하시기 바랍니다.