iQIYI, Inc. American Depositary Shares - IQ STOCK NEWS

iQIYI, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQ) announced the closing of its US$600 million offering of 6.50% convertible senior notes due 2028. The notes, with a conversion premium of approximately 27.5% above the February 28, 2023 closing price, will be used primarily for the repayment and repurchase of existing debt. The net proceeds stand at US$591 million. Additionally, iQIYI plans to repurchase around US$340 million of its 4% convertible senior notes due 2026. This move is expected to enhance shareholder value by reducing debt obligations.

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.

iQIYI, Inc. (Nasdaq: IQ) has announced a proposed offering of $600 million in convertible senior notes due 2028. These senior, unsecured notes will mature on March 15, 2028, with specific terms concerning repurchase and conversion. The offering, aimed at non-U.S. persons in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act, intends to use the net proceeds for the repayment or repurchase of existing debt. Noteholders may have specific conditions affecting conversion and repurchase rights, impacting iQIYI's ADS market price. This announcement does not constitute an offer in any jurisdiction where unlawful.

iQIYI reported a transformative year in 2022, overcoming significant challenges through strategic pivots. The company achieved record highs in various metrics including market share and revenue generation. Specifically, Q4'22 marked a high with membership revenues up 15% year-over-year and an operating income of RMB1.3 billion, a reversal from the previous year's loss. iQIYI's commitment to original content has been pivotal, with a total of 119.7 million subscribers by year-end. Looking forward, iQIYI aims for 'high-quality growth,' focusing on core business investments and premium content production while maintaining strong financial health.

iQIYI, a leading provider of online entertainment video services in China, reported its unaudited financial results for Q4 and FY 2022 on February 22, 2023. Q4 revenues were RMB7.6 billion (US$1.1 billion), marking a 3% increase year-over-year. The operating income reached RMB783.6 million (US$113.6 million), a significant contrast to an operating loss of RMB975.2 million in Q4 2021. FY 2022 total revenues declined 5% to RMB29.0 billion (US$4.2 billion). Notably, net income for Q4 was RMB304.3 million (US$44.1 million), recovering from a net loss of RMB1.8 billion in the previous year. The total average daily subscribing members surged to 111.6 million.

On February 18, 2023, iQIYI launched the Luoyang Virtual Reality (VR) Project in Shanghai, marking a significant advancement in all-immersive entertainment. This project integrates immersive theatre, VR technologies, and original IP-based plotlines to offer a unique experience that transports participants back 1,300 years to the ancient city of Luoyang. Utilizing advanced Inside-out Tracking technology and sensory-simulation techniques, the project creates a highly realistic 300 square meter environment. Developed by iQIYI's DREAMVERSE studio, it adds to the iQIYI Chinese Historic City Universe, which comprises 12 entertainment projects inspired by Luoyang.

iQIYI, Inc. announced a notice for holders of its 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025, allowing them to require the company to repurchase their notes for cash on April 1, 2023. The repurchase opportunity starts at 9:00 a.m. on March 3, 2023, and ends at 5:00 p.m. on March 30, 2023. If fully exercised, the total cash required would be US$1.2 billion, which includes principal and accrued interest. This repurchase right enables holders to liquidate their investments if desired, potentially impacting shareholder value.

On February 15, 2023, iQIYI (NASDAQ: IQ), a leading online entertainment provider in China, announced a framework agreement with Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU). This agreement connects iQIYI with Baidu's AI generative dialogue product ERNIE Bot. The partnership aims to leverage AI-Generated Content (AIGC) technologies to enhance iQIYI's content search, promotion, and creation processes, improving production efficiency and user experience. iQIYI's access to ERNIE Bot will allow it to trial and integrate advanced generative AI capabilities, driving innovation in film and television content creation.

iQIYI's recent series, The Knockout, has set new records, achieving a peak content popularity index of 11,800 during the Chinese New Year holiday. This surpasses the record set by My Heroic Husband and marks the highest popularity index in the platform's history. The show drove a 33% increase in viewing hours and topped the app rankings, outperforming major competitors like WeChat and Douyin. With a 9.1/10 rating on Douban and over 460,000 reviews, nearly 90% rated it four stars or higher. DAI Ying emphasized that this success positions iQIYI strongly for future growth.