Alibaba set to raise up to $12.9bn in largest Hong Kong listing in nine years
The Chinese e-commerce giant sets world record for a cross-border secondary share sale
Alibaba is set to raise up to $12.9 billion (£10bn, €11.5bn) in its secondary listing in Hong Kong, the largest share sale in the city in nine years and a world record for a cross-border secondary share sale.
The Chinese e-commerce giant has priced its shares at HK$176 ($22.48) each, a discount of 2.9 per cent on its New York closing price.
This price means 0'>Alibaba will raise at least HK$88bn ($11.3bn) – a symbolic total as the number 8 is deemed as good fortune in Chinese culture. Alibaba has also chosen the stock code 9988 for its listing, combining the two lucky numbers. Shares of Alibaba will begin trading in Hong Kong on Tuesday November 26.
However, the total raised from the deal could eventually reach $12.9bn if a so-called “greenshoe” option is exercised, selling an additional 15 per cent of shares to investors.
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Alibaba will issue 500 million new ordinary shares plus 75 million “greenshoe” options. The latter will give bankers the ability to sell more shares than the original set amount.
Of those 500 million shares, 50 million will be reserved for retail investors.
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