© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The new GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Picture taken March 16, 2021. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo
By Joseph White and David Shepardson
DETROIT (Reuters) -General Motors on Wednesday secured a new $6 billion line of credit and estimated that the cost of the United Auto Workers strike was $200 million during the third quarter, a company spokesman said.
The targeted strike against the Detroit Three automakers began on Sept. 15 and is now in its 20th day.
GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson told CNBC the line of credit was “prudent” given statements from some UAW officials “that they intend to drag this on for months.” He said GM has made a record contract offer and said it needs a deal that puts it “on par with our competitors.”
The union has struck two GM assembly plants and 20 parts distribution centers.
Talks with Chrysler parent Stellantis and other automakers and the UAW have been active in recent days, sources said.
The strike cost at GM reflects 16 days in which production was stopped at one assembly plant in Wentzville, Missouri, for midsized pickup trucks and vans. It also reflects the strike at GM parts facilities and knock-on impacts including a production halt at a GM car plant in Kansas due to a lack of parts.
The indicated average cost of $12.5 million a day could rise sharply if the UAW shuts down more vehicle production in the weeks ahead.
Against that backdrop, GM said in a securities filing that it has locked in the new, $6 billion line of credit through October 2024. JP Morgan and Citibank are listed as joint lead arrangers for the deal.
The new line of credit will bolster GM’s balance sheet against a protracted strike that could widen to cut off production of its most profitable vehicles: large Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks and large SUVs such as the GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade. GM shares were down 1.8% on Wednesday afternoon.
The additional funds will require GM to maintain at least $4 billion in global liquidity and $2 billion in U.S. liquidity. The terms of the credit agreement also restrict GM from mergers or sales of assets and limits on other, new debt.
Rival Ford Motor (NYSE:) secured a $4 billion line of credit in August. Ford said on Tuesday it had made a new comprehensive contract offer but said a dispute over battery plants remained unresolved.
Ford said the new offer would further boost wages for workers, increase company 401(k) contributions and had further shrunk time needed to get to the top wage rate.
The UAW said on Monday it presented a new contract offer to GM. GM, in turn, said that despite the offer, “significant gaps remain.” The automaker has been forced to lay off 2,100 workers at five plants in four states.
Ford has laid off about 930 workers and Stellantis 370 workers in Ohio and Indiana because of the strike.
