China’s cash-strapped LeEco said it is in talks to secure 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) from an unidentified strategic investor, but the announcement was seen as insufficient to dispel concern over the high-tech conglomerate’s financial health.
Led by tycoon Jia Yueting, LeEco expanded aggressively into electric and driverless cars and smartphones after making its name in video streaming, but last month warned staff it was facing ‘a big company disease’ after growing too fast and in too many directions left it short of funds.
LeEco is still finalizing details of the investment, according to a filing by its Shenzhen-listed unit Leshi Internet Information and Technology. Leshi said it would extend a trading halt on its stock but the halt would not exceed 10 days.
China Business News cited a source familiar with the situation as saying that the strategic investor was an insurance company. Representatives for LeEco declined to comment.
“They aren’t saying clearly where their money is coming from or how it will be allocated,” said Alex Ng, an analyst at China Merchants Securities.
Ng added that the company needed to explain its expansion plans further as so far there had been no discussion of any major change in direction.
source”cnbc”
