ZTO Prices Offering of US$870 Million Convertible Senior Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO) has priced an offering of US$870 million in convertible senior notes due 2027. A 13-day option for an additional US$130 million is also available. Proceeds will be used for logistics enhancements, ecosystem investments, and working capital. The initial conversion price is approximately US$31.62 per American Depositary Share (ADS), reflecting a 30% premium over the August 24 closing price. The notes will bear 1.50% annual interest, payable semiannually. The offering is expected to close on or around August 29, 2022.

Positive

• Successfully priced US$870 million in convertible senior notes.
• Proceeds allocated for logistics scale-up and ecosystem investments.
• Initial conversion premium of 30% suggests investor confidence.

Negative

• Dependence on Alibaba ecosystem could pose risks.
• Potential dilution of shares upon conversion.

SHANGHAI, Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China ("ZTO" or the "Company"), today announced the pricing of US$870 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2027 (the "Notes") (the "Notes Offering"). The Notes have been offered to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). In addition, the Company has granted the initial purchaser in the Notes Offering an option, exercisable for settlement within a 13-day period, beginning on and including the date of the Notes Offering, to purchase up to an additional US$130 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes.

The Company plans to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to pay the cost of the capped call transactions as described below. The Company plans to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the Notes Offering for (i) enhancement of the scale and capability of our logistics operations; (ii)  investment in the logistics ecosystem; and (iii) working capital and other general corporate purposes.

When issued, the Notes will be general senior unsecured obligations of ZTO. The Notes will mature on September 1, 2027, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.

Holders may convert the Notes at any time prior to the close of business on the fifth scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 31.6296 of the Company's American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), each currently representing one Class A ordinary share of the Company, per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$31.62 per ADS and represents a conversion premium of approximately 30% above the New York Stock Exchange closing price of the Company's ADSs on August 24, 2022, which was US$24.32 per ADS). The conversion rate for the Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, the Company's ADSs, or a combination of cash and ADSs, at its election. Holders may elect to receive Class A ordinary shares in lieu of any ADSs deliverable upon conversion, which will be fungible with the Company's Class A ordinary shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after the resale restriction termination date (as set forth in the terms of the Notes).

The Company may redeem for cash all but not part of the Notes at any time if less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued remains outstanding at such time (the "Cleanup Redemption"). The Company may also redeem for cash all but not part of the Notes in the event of certain tax law changes (the "Tax Redemption").

Holders of the Notes have the option, subject to certain conditions, to require the Company to repurchase any Notes held in the event of a fundamental change. In addition, holders have the right to require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes on September 2, 2025 (the "Repurchase Date") at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Repurchase Date.

In connection with the pricing of the Notes, the Company has entered into capped call transactions with an affiliate of the initial purchaser and another financial institution (the "Option Counterparties"). The capped call transactions are generally expected to reduce potential dilution to the ADSs and the Class A ordinary shares of the Company represented thereby upon conversion of the Notes, and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, with such reduction of potential dilution and/or offset of cash payments, as the case may be, subject to a cap, and subject to the Company's ability to elect, subject to certain conditions, to settle the capped call transactions in cash (in which case the Company would not receive any ADSs from the Option Counterparties upon settlement of the capped call transactions). If the initial purchaser exercises its option to purchase additional Notes, the Company expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the additional Notes to enter into additional capped call transactions. The Company has been advised that, in connection with establishing their initial hedge positions with respect to the capped call transactions, the Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates expect to purchase the ADSs and/or enter into various derivative transactions with respect to the ADSs concurrently with, or shortly after, the pricing of the Notes. The effect, if any, of this activity, including the direction or magnitude, on the market price of the ADSs or the price of the Notes will depend on a variety of factors, including market conditions, and cannot be ascertained at this time.

In addition, the Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivative transactions with respect to the ADSs, the Notes or other securities of the Company and/or purchasing or selling the ADSs, the Notes or other securities of the Company in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the Notes and prior to the maturity of the Notes (and are likely to do so following any conversion of the Notes or repurchase of the Notes by the Company on any fundamental change repurchase date, the repurchase date or otherwise, in each case, if the Company elects to unwind the relevant portion of the capped call transactions early). Any of this activity could cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of the ADSs, other securities of the Company or the price of the Notes, which could affect whether the holders convert their Notes and the value of the consideration that holders will receive upon conversion of their Notes.

The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 1.50% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, beginning on March 1, 2023.

The cap price of the capped call transactions is initially US$36.48 per ADS, and is subject to adjustment under the terms of the capped call transactions.

The Company expects to close the Notes Offering on or about August 29, 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

The Notes, the ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes, if any, and the Class A ordinary shares represented thereby or deliverable upon conversion of Notes in lieu thereof, have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. They may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons, except to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

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 there can be no assurance that the Notes Offering will be completed.

About ZTO

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK:2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. ZTO may also make forward-looking statements in the Company's periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the " Hong Kong Stock Exchange" ), 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 statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology, such as " will," " expects," " anticipates," " future," " intends," " plans," " believes," " confidence," " estimates," "likely to" and similar statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Among other things, the terms of the Notes, and whether the Company will complete the Notes Offering, are forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the development of the e-commerce industry in China, its significant reliance on the Alibaba ecosystem, risks associated with its network partners and their employees and personnel, intense competition which could adversely affect the Company's results of operations and market share, any service disruption of the Company's sorting hubs or the outlets operated by its network partners or its technology system. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in ZTO's annual report on Form 20-Fs and other filings with the SEC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date hereof, and ZTO assumes no obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

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SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

FAQ

What is ZTO's recent convertible notes offering amount?

ZTO Express has priced an offering of US$870 million in convertible senior notes.

What will ZTO do with the proceeds from the notes offering?

The proceeds will be used to enhance logistics operations, invest in the logistics ecosystem, and for working capital.

What is the initial conversion rate for ZTO's convertible notes?

The initial conversion rate is 31.6296 ADSs per US$1,000 principal amount of notes.

When will ZTO's convertible notes mature?

The convertible notes will mature on September 1, 2027.

What is the interest rate on ZTO's convertible senior notes?

The notes will bear an interest rate of 1.50% per year, payable semiannually.