Nio China has received a new investment of RMB 3.3 billion from strategic investors in Hefei, and Nio will also invest RMB 10 billion to subscribe for newly issued shares in Nio China.

Nio (NYSE: NIO) announced that Nio China has received a new investment from investors in Hefei, Anhui province, as its Chinese business operations entity receives further support from the city.

The EV maker announced today that it has entered into definitive agreements with Hefei Jianheng New Energy Automobile Investment Fund Partnership, Anhui Provincial Emerging Industry Investment Co Ltd and CS Capital Co Ltd for an investment in its 92.1 percent-owned Chinese subsidiary, Nio Holding Co Ltd (Nio China).

The three existing strategic investors of Nio China will invest a total of RMB 3.3 billion ($470 million) in cash to subscribe for newly issued shares in Nio China, according to a statement.

At the same time, Nio will invest a total of RMB 10 billion in cash to subscribe for newly issued shares of Nio China.

Upon completion of the investment transaction, Nio will hold a controlling 88.3 percent stake in Nio China, and the strategic investors, together with other existing shareholders, will hold the remaining 11.7 percent stake in Nio China.

Nio also has the right to invest an additional RMB 20 billion to subscribe for additional shares in Nio China by December 31, 2025, at the same price and on the same terms as the investment transaction.

The transaction is subject to regulatory and internal approvals and customary closing conditions.

The strategic investors and Nio will inject capital into Nio China in two phases, with 70 percent of the strategic investment amount and Nio investment amount to be made by the end of November 2024, with the remaining 30 percent to be made by the end of December 2024.

The investment not only demonstrates the strategic investors' strong support for the high-quality development of the EV industry, but also highlights their strong recognition of Nio's unique value and industry leadership, the EV maker said.

With an enhanced balance sheet, Nio is strategically positioned to maintain its long-term advantages in technology, products, services, and user community, the company said.

This will also drive its multi-brand strategy and penetration into wider markets, propelling the company into the next phase of sustainable growth, it said.

Nio China is a subsidiary of Nio established in Hefei, headquartered in the city, after investors from Hefei bailed out the EV maker at the end of 2019. Nio's global headquarters are located in Shanghai.

On April 29, 2020, Nio signed an agreement with strategic investors in Hefei regarding its investment in Nio China. The strategic investors and Nio invested RMB 7.0 billion and RMB 4.26 billion, respectively, in Nio China, at the time.

Upon completion of the transaction in April 2020, both parties held 24.1 percent and 75.9 percent equity interests in Nio China, respectively, and Nio China received a capital increase of RMB 11.26 billion.

In February 2021, Nio said it would repurchase 3.305 percent of the equity from two strategic investors in Nio China for RMB 5.5 billion. At the same time, Nio increased its equity stake in Nio China by RMB 10 billion.

Upon completion of the equity acquisition and capital subscription, Nio held an aggregate controlling stake of 90.36 percent in Nio China, according to the February 2021 statement.

During the first quarter 2020 earnings call, William Li, Nio's founder, chairman and CEO, said that Nio China has the potential for an IPO in the Chinese market.

The February 2021 buyback move was then thought to be a possible preparation for Nio China's IPO, although that was subsequently denied by Nio.

A February 2021 report in the Securities Journal noted that under Nio's definitive investment agreement with Hefei in 2020, Nio China would need to file for an IPO within 48 months and achieve an IPO within 60 months.

Otherwise, the strategic investors would require Nio to repurchase its shares of Nio China at a redemption price of the total investment by the strategic investors, with interest at a compounded rate of 8.5 percent per annum, the report said.

Nio says buyback of Nio China shares has nothing to do with the latter's IPO

($1 = RMB 7.0111)