Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-254035
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 March 11, 2021
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus dated March 9, 2021)
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Baidu, Inc.
95,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares
We are offering 95,000,000 Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.000000625 per share, as part of a global offering, or the Global Offering, consisting of an international offering of 90,250,000 Class A ordinary shares offered hereby, and a Hong Kong public offering of 4,750,000 Class A ordinary shares. The public offering price for the international offering and the Hong Kong public offering is HK$ per Class A ordinary share, or approximately US$ per Class A ordinary share based on an exchange rate of HK$7.7534 to US$1.00.
Our ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “BIDU.” On March 10, 2021, the last reported trading price of our ADSs on Nasdaq was US$255.14 per ADS, or HK$242.28 per Class A ordinary share, based upon an exchange rate of HK$7.7534 to US$1.00. Each ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
We will determine the offer price for both the international offering and the Hong Kong public offering by reference to, among other factors, the closing price of our ADSs on the last trading day before the pricing of the global offering, which is expected to be on or about March 17, 2021. The maximum offer price for the Hong Kong public offering is HK$295.00, or US$38.05, per Class A ordinary share (equivalent to US$304.38 per ADS).
The allocation of Class A ordinary shares between the international offering and the Hong Kong public offering is subject to reallocation. For more information, see “Underwriting” beginning on page S-44 of this prospectus supplement. The public offering price in the international offering may differ from the public offering price in the Hong Kong public offering. See “Underwriting—Pricing.” The international offering contemplated herein consists of a U.S. offering and a non-U.S. offering made outside the United States in compliance with applicable law. We are paying a registration fee for Class A ordinary shares sold in the United States, as well as for Class A ordinary shares initially offered and sold outside the United States in the Global Offering that may be resold from time to time into the United States.
We have applied to list our Class A ordinary shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange pursuant to Chapter 19C of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Listing Rules under the stock code “9888.”
See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-15 for a discussion of certain risks that should be considered in connection with an investment in our Class A ordinary shares.
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
PRICE HK$ PER CLASS A ORDINARY SHARE
| | | | | | | | |
| | Per Class A Ordinary Share | | | Total | |
Public offering price | | HK$ | | (1) | | HK$ | | |
Underwriting discounts and commissions(2) | | HK$ | | | | HK$ | | |
Proceeds to us (before expenses) (3) | | HK$ | | | | HK$ | | |
(1) | Equivalent to US$ per ADS, based upon each ADS representing eight Class A ordinary shares and an exchange rate of HK$7.7534 to US$1.00 as of December 31, 2020, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. |
(2) | See “Underwriting” beginning on page S-44 of this prospectus supplement for additional information regarding total underwriting compensation. |
(3) | Includes estimated net proceeds of HK$ from the sale of 4,750,000 Class A ordinary shares in the Hong Kong public offering. |
We have granted the international underwriters the option, exercisable by Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific) Limited, CLSA Limited and Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., or the Joint Representatives, on behalf of the international underwriters, to purchase up to an additional 14,250,000 ordinary shares at the public offering price until 30 days after the last day for the lodging of applications under the Hong Kong public offering. Merrill Lynch (Asia Pacific) Limited, through its affiliate Merrill Lynch International, expects to enter into a borrowing arrangement with Baidu Holdings Limited to facilitate the settlement of over-allocations. Merrill Lynch International is obligated to return Class A ordinary shares to Baidu Holdings Limited by exercising the option to purchase additional Class A ordinary shares from us or by making purchases in the open market. No fees or other remuneration will be paid by the underwriters to us or Baidu Holdings Limited for the loan of these Class A ordinary shares.
The underwriters expect to deliver the Class A ordinary shares against payment therefor through the facilities of the Central Clearing and Settlement System on or around , 2021.
Joint Sponsors, Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers
(In alphabetical order)
| | | | |
BofA Securities | | CLSA | | Goldman Sachs |
Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers
Joint Bookrunners and Joint Lead Managers
| | | | | | |
China Renaissance | | Nomura | | Citigroup | | ICBCI |
| | | | |
BOCI | | ABCI | | Haitong International |
The date of this prospectus supplement is , 2021.