Internet company Tencent will seek to increase its stake in US-based ride hailing service Uber as part of a secondary transaction, TechCrunch reported today.
A consortium led by internet and telecoms firm SoftBank and Dragoneer Investment is hoping to secure a stake of at least 14% in the process, launched yesterday, with TPG also revealed as being part of the group.
Uber’s China-based peer Didi Chuxing, General Atlantic and DST Global were previously reported to form part of the consortium, but have seemingly decided to drop out.
The four investors are hoping existing shareholders will sell at a discount of approximately 30%, handing over shares for $32.96 each, down from $48.77 as of Uber’s series G round. Between them, the four investors hope to spend some $8bn for the shares.
An additional $1bn direct investment in Uber by SoftBank would however value the company at $70bn. That deal will only go ahead if the consortium is successful in its secondary purchase, however.
Menlo Ventures and Benchmark Capital have confirmed they are willing to sell at least some of their shares. All stockholders that own more than 10,000 shares and are accredited investors will be eligible to sell.
If the secondary transaction is successful and Uber obtains the additional $1bn in equity funding, Benchmark is set to drop its lawsuit against former chief executive Travis Kalanick launched after he resigned as CEO but then appointed himself and two allies to the board.
Founded in 2009, Uber has developed a ride-sharing app that is available in more than 80 countries. The service has facilitated more than five billion journeys so far.
Uber has raised $11.5bn in capital to date, not including the potential SoftBank-led deal. However, the company remains unprofitable and its net loss during the third quarter grew to $1.46bn, up from $1.06bn during the second quarter.
Uber’s existing backers include Didi Chuxing, diversified conglomerate Alphabet, media groups Axel Springer and Bennett Coleman and Co, software developer Microsoft, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund and a large number of institutional and private investors.