ECD Automotive Design Enters into Discussions to Improve its Shareholder Equity Position

Rhea-AI Summary

ECD Automotive Design (NASDAQ: ECDA) announced on Jan 8, 2026 that on Jan 6, 2026 a lender entered discussions with the company about potential strategic transactions valued between $2 million and $10 million. Options include a cash plus preferred stock investment expected to close within 30 days and/or a $2M–$10M debt-to-preferred equity exchange with the current lender. The transactions are intended to help improve the company’s shareholder equity position. No definitive agreement or counterparty identity was disclosed.

Positive

• $2M–$10M potential capital available to improve equity
• Transaction options include cash plus preferred stock providing immediate liquidity
• Debt-to-preferred exchange could strengthen balance sheet by reducing debt

Negative

• Discussions are non‑binding; no definitive agreement announced
• Issuing preferred stock may dilute common shareholders
• Transaction value range ($2M–$10M) creates uncertainty about final size and impact

Key Figures

Strategic transactions size $2–$10 million Proposed cash/preferred stock deals and debt-to-preferred equity exchange

Q3 2025 revenue $5.8 million Quarter ended September 30, 2025

Q3 2025 gross loss $1.7 million Quarter ended September 30, 2025

Q3 2025 net income $2.2 million Driven largely by non‑cash gain on debt to preferred conversion

Cash and equivalents $157,682 As of September 30, 2025

Working capital deficit $6.0 million As of September 30, 2025

Shares registered for resale 300,761,352 shares Prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3)

Warrant exercise price $460.00 per share Public and private warrants, post 1‑for‑40 reverse split

Market Reality Check

$0.3420 Last Close

Volume Volume 769,796 is well below the 20-day average of 6,700,888 (relative volume 0.11). low

Technical Shares trade well below the 200-day MA of 39.92, with the stock at 0.4705 before this news.

Peers on Argus

Peer auto names showed mixed moves, with some up (e.g., AYRO +7.35%) and others down (e.g., EVTV -13.24%, CJET -3.58%), indicating this shareholder equity-focused announcement is more stock-specific than part of a broad sector trend.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 05	Product launch	Positive	+7.2%	Launch of Project Wrangler bespoke Defender 110 focused on manual driving.
Dec 29	Sales initiative	Positive	-40.4%	Launch of Luxury Agent Program to expand sales reach and production.
Dec 26	Product lineup update	Positive	+46.5%	Announcement of expanded 2026 product lineup and safety innovations.
Dec 24	Commercial agreement	Positive	+12.1%	Report of early traction from third-party build agreement with six orders.
Dec 23	Product showcase	Positive	-28.2%	Showcase of Project Inizio modernizing a classic Series III vehicle.

Pattern Detected

Recent news has mainly highlighted product launches and commercial initiatives. In the last five events, three saw share prices rise and two declined, showing mixed but often positive reactions to operational updates.

Recent Company History

Over the past weeks, ECDA has issued a series of operational and product announcements, including new builds like Project Inizio and Project Wrangler, early traction on a third-party build agreement with six initial orders, and an expanded 2026 product lineup. These updates emphasize growth initiatives and factory utilization. Today's discussion of $2–$10 million strategic transactions and a potential debt-to-preferred equity exchange ties directly to earlier disclosures about liquidity pressure and efforts to improve shareholder equity and Nasdaq compliance.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock dropped -14.9% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite an equity-enhancing proposal fits a backdrop of investor concern around liquidity and prior dilution. Recent filings showed cash of only $157,682 and a working capital deficit of $6.0 million, alongside large share registrations of up to 300,761,352 shares. Even though the new $2–$10 million transactions aim to bolster shareholder equity, skepticism about execution, past losses, and complex financing structures could weigh on sentiment.

Key Terms

preferred stock financial

"valued between $2 million and $10 million for a combination of cash and preferred stock"

Preferred stock is a type of ownership in a company that typically offers investors higher and more consistent dividend payments than common stock. Unlike regular shares, preferred stock usually doesn’t come with voting rights but provides a priority claim on the company’s assets and profits, making it a more stable and predictable investment option. This makes preferred stock attractive to those seeking steady income with lower risk.

preferred equity financial

"and/or a debt to preferred equity exchange valued between $2 million and $10 million"

Preferred equity is a type of investment that sits between common stock and debt in a company's financial structure. It typically offers investors priority in receiving dividends and getting their money back if the company runs into trouble, making it somewhat safer than regular shares. Investors value preferred equity because it provides a steady income stream while still allowing some participation in the company's success.

equity purchase facility financial

"shares issuable under an equity purchase facility with ECDA Bitcoin Treasury, LLC"

An equity purchase facility is an arrangement in which a company can sell newly issued shares to a counterparty or through a broker over time to raise cash as needed, similar to having a standby line at the bank but paid by selling pieces of the company instead of borrowing. It matters to investors because it provides flexible funding without taking on debt, but it can dilute existing shareholders and affect share price depending on how and when the shares are sold.

working capital deficit financial

"Cash and cash equivalents were $157,682 with a working capital deficit of $6.0 million"

A working capital deficit occurs when a company's short-term obligations—like bills, supplier payments and near-term debt—are larger than its readily available short-term resources such as cash, money expected from customers, and inventory that can be sold. Like a household whose monthly bills exceed its checking account, it signals potential difficulty paying immediate expenses, which matters to investors because it raises the chance the company will need outside financing or cut operations, affecting risk and value.

going concern financial

"conditions raise substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern"

A going concern is a business that is expected to continue its operations and meet its obligations for the foreseeable future, rather than shutting down or selling off assets. This assumption matters to investors because it indicates stability and ongoing profitability, making the business a more reliable investment. Think of it as believing a restaurant will stay open and serve customers, rather than closing down suddenly.

Regulation FD regulatory

"The company classifies this disclosure under Regulation FD, meaning it is intended"

Regulation FD is a rule that prevents company insiders, like executives, from sharing important information with some people before others get it. It matters because it helps ensure all investors have equal access to key news, making the stock market fairer and reducing chances of insider trading.

reverse stock split financial

"exercise price of $460.00 per share, adjusted for a 1‑for‑40 reverse stock split"

A reverse stock split is when a company reduces the number of its shares outstanding, making each share more valuable. For example, if you own 100 shares worth $1 each, a 1-for-10 reverse split would turn your 100 shares into 10 shares worth $10 each. Companies often do this to boost their stock price and appear more stable to investors.

warrants financial

"public and private warrants have an exercise price of $460.00 per share"

Warrants are special documents that give you the right to buy a company's stock at a set price before a certain date. They are often used as a way for companies to attract investors or raise money, and their value can increase if the company's stock price goes up.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

KISSIMMEE, Fla., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ECD Automotive Design, Inc. (“ECD” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: ECDA), the world’s largest Land Rover and Jaguar restoration company known for its custom luxury builds, including bespoke Defenders, Range Rovers, Jaguar E-Types, Ford Mustangs, and Toyota FJs, today announced that on January 6, 2026, a lender to ECD entered into discussions with the Company concerning pursuing various strategic transactions with the Company valued between $2 million and $10 million for a combination of cash and preferred stock, which are expected to close within the next 30 days and/or a debt to preferred equity exchange valued between $2 million and $10 million with the current lender to help the Company improve its Shareholder Equity position.

About ECD Auto Design

ECD, a public company trading under ECDA on the Nasdaq, is a creator of restored luxury vehicles that combines classic English beauty with modern performance. Currently, ECD restores Land Rover Defenders, Land Rover Series IIA, the Range Rover Classic, the Jaguar E-Type and we have recently added Ford Mustang and Toyota FJ. Historically, each vehicle produced by ECD was fully bespoke, a one-off that is designed by the client through an immersive luxury design experience and hand-built from the ground up in 2,200 hours by master-certified Automotive Service Excellence ("ASE") craftsmen. The Company was founded in 2013 by three British "gear heads" whose passion for classic vehicles is the driving force behind exceptionally high standards for quality, custom luxury vehicles. ECD's global headquarters, known as the "Rover Dome," is a 100,000-square-foot facility located in Kissimmee, Florida that is home to 98 staff with 67 talented craftsmen and technicians, who hold a combined 66 ASE and three master level certifications. ECD has an affiliated logistics center in the U.K. where its employees work to source and transport 25-year-old work vehicles back to the U.S. for restoration. For more information, visit www.ecdautodesign.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes express or implied statements that are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance and may contain projections of our future results of operations or of our financial information or state other forward-looking information. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “attempting,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. The forward-looking statements in this press release are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties that affect our business, including those described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the year ended December 31, 2024 with the SEC, which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our public announcements and filings with the SEC.

Investor Relations
investorrelations@ecdautodesign.com

FAQ

What did ECD Automotive Design (ECDA) announce on January 8, 2026?

A lender entered discussions on Jan 6, 2026 about strategic transactions valued between $2M and $10M to improve shareholder equity.

What types of transactions is ECDA discussing with the lender?

Options include a cash plus preferred stock investment expected to close within 30 days and/or a $2M–$10M debt-to-preferred equity exchange.

When are the proposed ECDA transactions expected to close?

They are expected to close within 30 days of the Jan 6, 2026 discussions, per the announcement.

Will the proposed ECDA transactions dilute current shareholders?

Issuing preferred stock could dilute common shareholders; the announcement lists preferred issuance as a potential option.

Did ECD disclose the lender’s identity in the Jan 8, 2026 announcement?

No; the announcement states a lender entered discussions but does not disclose the lender’s identity.