Ford to offer 300 million shares of common stock

Right now, cash is king in the automotive world, and Ford Motor Company is looking to raise some serious greenbacks with 300 million shares of common stock. The money will be used to fund automotive operations, with a portion of the payments Ford is required to make to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) retiree health care fund with the UAW.

At the close of trading on Monday, Ford stock was worth $6.08 per share, and the stock sale should net somewhere close to $1.8 billion, depending on future share fluctuations. That's low by historic standards, but nearly five times what it was worth in November, when the size and scope of the recession and automotive slump was being realized. Since that time, Ford has emerged as the one Detroit automaker that didn't need government funding. The Blue Oval has also increased market share in six of the past seven months, something the Dearborn, MI-based automaker hasn't done in years. The common share sale will be handled jointly by Citi, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley. Hit the jump to pour over Ford's press release.

[Source: Ford | Image Source: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

PRESS RELEASE:

FORD MOTOR COMPANY ANNOUNCES PUBLIC OFFERING OF 300 MILLION SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

DEARBORN, Mich., May 11, 2009 – Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today a registered public offering of 300 million shares of its common stock at a par value of $0.01 per share. Ford said it also expects to grant to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 45 million shares of common stock.

Net proceeds to Ford from the offering are expected to be used for general corporate purposes, including to fund with cash, instead of stock, a portion of the payments the company is required to make to the Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) retiree health care trust with the United Auto Workers.

"We continue to make strong progress on our transformation plan – gaining retail market share with great new products, improving quality, reducing costs and positioning Ford for a return to profitability," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally. "Today's equity offering is another example of the fast, decisive action we are taking as we build momentum on our plan, including further progress on improving our balance sheet."

Citi, Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering.

Ford has filed a registration statement – including a prospectus – with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before investing, investors should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Ford has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Ford and this offering.

Investors may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send the prospectus and the prospectus supplement upon request by calling Citi at (800) 831-9146; Goldman, Sachs & Co. at (212) 902-1171 or (866) 471-2526; J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. at (718) 242-8002; or Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated at (866) 718-1649.