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Didi raises funds worth $4.4 billion

Chinese ride-hailer Didi raises funds worth $4.4 billion. It went public on the New York Stock Exchange in a much anticipated US IPO. Didi is the biggest Chinese IPO in the US since Alibaba’s $25 billion listings in 2014.

Details on the deal

The company priced its IPO at $14, the top of the expected range. It opened at $16.65 per share on day 1, and closed at $14.14, a modest 1% up from the initial offering price. 

Two days before Didi’s debut, CNBC’s Jim Cramer recommended the stock on his show “Mad Money.” “If you want to speculate on a Chinese IPO, you’ve got my blessing to bet on Didi. I would try to get as many shares as you can,” Cramer said.

David Trainer, founder of New Constructs, a US-based investment research company wrote that Didi is overvalued and worth “no more than $37 billion,” a little over half of its current valuation in a Wednesday analysis. He worries that Chinese regulatory risks and an “unprofitable” business model will hurt the company’s performance, despite Didi having a 90% market dominance in China. 

Didi reported losses of $1.6 billion on $21.6 billion in revenue in 2020. The company turned a profit of $800 million on $6.4 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2021, according to its IPO filing. 

download 1 Didi raises funds worth $4.4 billion
Didi raises funds worth $4.4 billion in largest China-US IPO since Alibaba

Further on Didi raising funds

Didi performed better than its US counterparts on the first trading day. Uber fell below its initial offering price of $45 on the first trading day. In May 2019, Uber opened below its initial offering price and dropped more than 7%.

Like many other leading tech companies in China, Didi faces increased regulatory scrutiny. In June it was reported that Didi is facing antitrust investigations from the country’s top market watchdog. The investigation was on whether the company had used unfair practices to squeeze out smaller competitors. 

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Alex

Alex is a seasoned editor and writer with a deep passion for technology and startups. With a background in journalism, content creation, and business development, Alex brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to the ever-changing world of innovation. As the lead editor at Startup World, Alex is committed to discovering the hidden gems in the startup ecosystem and sharing these exciting stories with a growing community of enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and investors. Always eager to learn and stay updated on the latest trends, Alex frequently attends industry events and engages with thought leaders to ensure Startup World remains at the forefront of startup news and insights. Alex's dedication and expertise help create an engaging platform that fosters knowledge-sharing, inspiration, and collaboration among tech-savvy readers worldwide.

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