Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-218972
The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell the securities and is not soliciting offers to buy the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 3, 2018
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated June 26, 2017)
Baidu, Inc.
US$ 4.375% Notes due 2024
(to be consolidated and form a single series with the US$600,000,000 4.375%
Notes due 2024 issued on November 14, 2018)
We are offering US$ of our 4.375% notes due 2024 (the “New Notes”). The New Notes offered hereby shall constitute a further issuance of, and be fungible with and be consolidated and form a single series with, the US$600,000,000 4.375% Notes due 2024 issued by us on November 14, 2018 (the “Initial Notes,” and collectively with the New Notes, the “ Notes”). The New Notes will constitute additional Notes under the indenture dated as of November 28, 2012, as supplemented by the seventh supplemental indenture dated as of November 14, 2018, having the same terms and conditions as the Initial Notes in all respects (except for the issue date and the issue price). Upon completion of this offering, the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes will be US$ .
The Notes will mature on May 14, 2024. Interest on the Notes will accrue from November 14, 2018 and be payable on May 14 and November 14 of each year, beginning on May 14, 2019.
We may at our option redeem the Notes at any time prior to April 14, 2024, in whole or in part, at a price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount of the Notes and the make whole amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date. In addition, we may also redeem the Notes from or after April 14, 2024 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the redemption date. We may also redeem the Notes at any time upon the occurrence of certain tax events. Upon the occurrence of a triggering event, we must make an offer to repurchase all Notes outstanding at a purchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to (but not including) the date of repurchase. For a more detailed description of the Notes, see “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement.
The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and will rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future obligations expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; rank at least equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured unsubordinated obligations (subject to any priority rights pursuant to applicable law); be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured obligations, to the extent of the value of the assets serving as security therefor; and be structurally subordinated to all existing and future obligations and other liabilities of our subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities.
See “Risk Factors” beginning on pageS-14 for a discussion of certain risks that should be considered in connection with an investment in the New Notes.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Notes or determined that this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
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| | Per New Note | | | Total | |
Public Offering Price(1) | | | | % | | US$ | | |
Underwriting Discount | | | | % | | US$ | | |
Proceeds to Baidu(1) | | | | % | | US$ | | |
(1) | Plus accrued interest from (and including) November 14, 2018 to (but excluding) , 2018. |
Approval-in-principle has been received for the listing and quotation of the New Notes on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (the“SGX-ST”). TheSGX-ST assumes no responsibility for the correctness of any of the statements made, opinions expressed or reports contained herein. Approvalin-principle for the listing and quotation of any New Notes on theSGX-ST is not to be taken as an indication of the merits of us, or any of our subsidiaries or consolidated affiliated entities or of the New Notes. Currently, there is no public trading market for the New Notes.
We expect to deliver the New Notes to investors through the book-entry delivery system of The Depository Trust Company and its direct participants, including Euroclear Bank SA/NV (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking S.A. (“Clearstream”), on or about , 2018. Purchasers of the New Notes should note that trading of the New Notes may be affected by this settlement date.
Joint Bookrunners
| | |
Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. | | J.P. Morgan |
The date of this prospectus supplement is , 2018.