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Chinese delivery giant Meituan eyes US$3 billion from bond issue amid intense competition



Meituan expects to raise US$3 billion from a dual-currency bond offering, as the Chinese on-demand delivery giant looks to bolster its war chest to stave off the challenge from rivals led by Alibaba Group Holding and JD.com.
The Beijing-based company will offer US$1.99 billion in greenback-denominated bonds and 7.08 billion yuan (US$1 billion) of notes in the local currency, according to its statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday.

Meituan said it had signed an agreement with initial buyers and applied to the city’s bourse for the listing and trading of those securities, which are targeted at professional investors. The proceeds from the bond offering would be used to refinance existing offshore debts and for other general corporate purposes, according to the statement.

The US dollar bonds carry maturity terms of six, seven and 10 years, with the coupon rates ranging from 4.5 per cent to 5.125 per cent. The yuan-denominated notes have tenors of five and 10 years, with interest rates of 2.55 per cent and 3.10 per cent, respectively, according to the exchange filing.

Meituan’s latest debt flotation reflects its intense competition against Alibaba and JD.com in instant commerce – a turbocharged combination of online shopping and swift dispatch – which has brought hefty promotional subsidies and speedy deliveries right to mainland consumers’ doorsteps. Alibaba owns the Post.

The size and scope of instant commerce appear unparalleled in China’s retailing landscape, as the segment covers hundreds of millions of consumers who have grown accustomed to ordering a wide range of products and services online, with expedited on-demand deliveries.



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