Chinese EV maker Nio raises $1b in convertible bond deal

SYDNEY, Sept 20 (Reuters): Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc said on Wednesday it had raised $1 billion in a two-tranche convertible bond from which it intends to use the proceeds to pay down debt and strengthen its balance sheet.

The company raised $500 million in a six-year put-four convertible bond and the same amount in a seven-year put-five bond.

The bonds will be senior, unsecured notes. The shorter dated bond has a 3.875 per cent interest rate, while the seven-year bond's rate is 4.625 per cent, Nio said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange announcement.

Nio's Hong Kong shares dropped 12 per cent in morning trade on Wednesday after the final pricing decision was set.

"The company plans to use a portion of the net proceeds from the notes offering to repurchase a portion of the existing debt securities ... and the remainder mainly to further strengthen its balance sheet position as well as for general corporate purposes," the company said.

Nio said in late August it planned to launch its first self-development mobile telephone later this month to improve the appeal of its cars with better software and connectivity.

Nio posted a net loss of 6.12 billion yuan ($839.51 million) in the second quarter, versus a loss of 2.75 billion yuan in the corresponding period a year earlier.