iQIYI Prices Offering of US$600 Million Convertible Senior Notes due 2028 and Announces a Concurrent Repurchase of Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

Rhea-AI Summary

iQIYI, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQ) announces the pricing of a US$600 million offering of 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2028. These notes carry a quarterly interest rate of 6.50% and are set to mature on March 15, 2028. The conversion price is approximately US$9.86 per ADS, representing a 27.5% premium above the closing price of US$7.73 on February 28, 2023. Proceeds will be used primarily for repaying existing debt, including a planned repurchase of US$245 million of its 4% convertible senior notes due 2026. The offering is expected to close on March 7, 2023, pending customary conditions.

Positive

• Successful offering of US$600 million in convertible senior notes, providing liquidity.
• Repurchase of US$245 million in existing convertible notes reduces debt burden.
• Conversion price premium of 27.5% may enhance shareholder value.

Negative

• Notes rank junior to secured debts, increasing financial risk.
• Dependence on market conditions for successful conversion and pricing.

BEIJING, March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- iQIYI, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQ) ("iQIYI" or the "Company"), a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China, today announced the pricing of its offering (the "Notes Offering") of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2028 (the "Notes"). The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per year, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2023. The Notes will mature on March 15, 2028, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with the terms of the Notes prior to such date.

The Notes will rank effectively junior to any of the Company's secured indebtedness (including certain Company's obligations related to the outstanding convertible notes due 2028) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. Holders of the Notes may not convert the Notes at any time on or prior to the 40th day following the last date of original issuance of the Notes (such date, the "Compliance Period End Date"). After the Compliance Period End Date and prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding September 15, 2027, the Notes will be convertible only if certain conditions are met. On or after September 15, 2027 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, the Notes will be convertible at any time. Upon conversion, holders will receive cash, the American Depositary Shares, each representing seven Class A ordinary shares, with par value of $0.00001 per share, of the Company (the "ADSs") or a combination of cash and ADSs, at the election of the Company. The Notes will initially be convertible at a conversion rate of 101.4636 ADSs per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$9.86 per ADS and represents a conversion premium of approximately 27.5% above the Nasdaq closing price of the Company's ADSs on February 28, 2023, which was US$7.73 per ADS). The initial conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. On March 16, 2026 or in the event of certain fundamental changes, the holders of the Notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date. The Notes Offering is expected to close on or about March 7, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Notes are offered in offshore transactions outside the United States to certain non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes, the ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes (if any) and the Class A ordinary shares represented thereby have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, and may not be sold or otherwise transferred except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and in compliance with any other applicable securities laws. No public offering of the Notes, the ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes (if any) and the Class A ordinary shares represented thereby is being made into the United States.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering for repayment and/or repurchase of the existing debt securities.

Shortly after the pricing of the Notes, the Company entered into one or more separate and individually privately negotiated agreements with certain holders of the Company's 4% convertible senior notes due 2026 (the "Existing Notes") to repurchase approximately US$245 million principal amount of the Existing Notes for cash (each, a "Repurchase Transaction"). The terms of each Repurchase transaction have been individually negotiated with each holder of the Existing Notes.

Holders of the Existing Notes that agreed to sell their Existing Notes in such Repurchase Transactions (in particular, holders that employ a convertible arbitrage strategy with respect to the Existing Notes) may purchase the Company's ADSs in the market and/or in privately negotiated transactions and/or enter into or unwind economically equivalent derivative transactions, with respect to the Company's ADSs to hedge their exposure in connection with these Repurchase Transactions and their investment in the Existing Notes. In addition, certain purchasers of the Notes may establish a short position with respect to its ADSs by short selling the Company's ADSs or by entering into short derivative positions with respect to the Company's ADSs, in each case, in connection with the Notes Offering. Any of the above market activities could affect the market price of the Company's ADSs or the trading price of the Notes or other outstanding debt securities of the Company. The consummation of the Repurchase Transactions will be conditional on the completion of the Notes Offering.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities, nor shall there be a sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release contains information about the pending Notes Offering and the repurchase of the Existing Notes, and there can be no assurance that either of such transactions will be completed.

About iQIYI, Inc.

iQIYI, Inc. is a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China. It combines creative talent with technology to foster an environment for continuous innovation and the production of blockbuster content. It produces, aggregates and distributes a wide variety of professionally produced content, as well as a broad spectrum of other video content in a variety of formats. The Company distinguishes itself in the online entertainment industry by its leading technology platform powered by advanced AI, big data analytics and other core proprietary technologies. iQIYI attracts a daily subscriber base of more than 100 million, and its diversified monetization model includes membership services, online advertising services, content distribution, online games, IP licensing, talent agency, online literature, etc.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this announcement, as well as iQIYI's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. iQIYI may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about iQIYI's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: iQIYI's strategies; iQIYI's future business development, financial condition and results of operations; iQIYI's ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, and expand its service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; changes in iQIYI's revenues, costs or expenditures; Chinese governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing or whether any of the transactions referred to herein will be completed and the terms on which it will be completed. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of the press release, and iQIYI undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

Investor Relations
iQIYI, Inc.
ir@qiyi.com

 

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SOURCE iQIYI, Inc.

FAQ

What are the details of iQIYI's convertible senior notes offering?

iQIYI is offering US$600 million of 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2028, with an initial conversion price of about US$9.86 per ADS.

When is the expected closing date for the notes offering by iQIYI?

The offering is expected to close on March 7, 2023, subject to customary conditions.

How will iQIYI use the proceeds from the notes offering?

The proceeds will primarily be used for repayment and/or repurchase of existing debt securities.

What is the conversion premium for the notes offered by iQIYI?

The conversion premium is approximately 27.5% above the Nasdaq closing price of US$7.73 on February 28, 2023.