* Says signed agreements with three Chinese state banks * Max total size of facilities is about $2.2 bln * Establishing holding co in China

* Shrs up 6.3 pct

April 28 (Reuters) - Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said it signed agreements with three Chinese state banks to provide it with up to 15 billion yuan ($2.20 billion) in potential credit facilities to finance domestic and overseas solar projects.

Shares of the company rose 6.3 percent in early electronic trade after the announcement which comes at a time when solar companies are struggling with a dearth of credit for renewable energy projects.

Under the agreements, each of the three banks may provide the solar cell maker up to 5 billion yuan ($732.4 million) in potential credit facilities.

Lack of credit, coupled with a pullback in solar subsidies in Germany and Spain and a strengthening U.S. dollar against the euro, has sent prices of solar products tumbling.

Canadian Solar shares are off about 90 percent from their June 2008 high of $51.80

The company said it was considering establishing a China holding company to manage these and other transactions.

Shares of the company were up 35 cents at $5.90 in pre-market trade Tuesday on Nasdaq. They had closed at $5.55 Monday.

($1=6.827 YUAN) (Reporting by Adveith Nair in Bangalore; Editing by Vikram S Subhedar)