IPO could raise US$200 million, according to report

Bloomberg Technology reported on Monday that Chinese streaming platform Bilibili is planning to make an initial public offering (IPO) to sell stock in the United States next year. The report mentions that the company "could raise at least $200 million" in its entry into the U.S. stock exchange according to Bloomberg's anonymous source "with knowledge of the matter." The sources also stated that the timing and size of the offer could change. Bilibili declined Bloomberg's request for comment.

Bilibili is China's largest streaming platform for Japanese animation, above Tencent Video and iQiyi. From January 2015 to July 2017, the platform has added more than 300 new anime titles. Its offerings include current simulcasts such as Himōto! Umaru-chan R and the second season of Mr. Osomatsu, and it holds the license to the Your Name anime film in China.

Since 2015, Bilibili has also invested in about 20 anime productions, including Akiba's Trip: The Animation and Space Patrol Luluco.

The website also includes Chinese animation and user-uploaded content. The service collects both advertising revenue and pay-per-view subscription charges.

Bloomberg reported last month that Baidu Inc's iQiyi streaming platform was also seeking to make an IPO in the United States, and that the deal could value the company at US$8 billion. Bloomberg cited anonymous, knowledgeable sources in that report.

Source: Bloomberg Technology (Lulu Yilun Chen and Crystal Tse)