JD.Com Draws Bids at Premium in Gray Market Trading

(Bloomberg) -- Institutional investors are bidding for JD.com’s Hong Kong shares before this week’s debut at slightly more than the listing price.

Some institutional investors have bid to buy the Chinese e-commerce company’s shares at between HK$226.10 to HK$237 apiece in gray market trading Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter. That represents a premium of as much as 4.9% compared to the listing price of HK$226. Brokers quoted offers to sell the shares at between HK$239 and HK$245 each, the people said.

JD.com, which went public on Nasdaq in 2014, is expected to start trading in Hong Kong on June 18. The stock rose 2.5% in U.S. trading on Tuesday. Traders will be able to short the stock immediately after its debut, as well as hedge with futures and options, according to the Hong Kong exchange operator.

JD.com raised $3.9 billion last week selling 133 million new shares in Hong Kong in the second-biggest listing of the year, part of a wave of Chinese companies that are fleeing the U.S. and seeking secondary listings in the city.

Last week, internet gaming company NetEase Inc. began trading in the city, with the Hong Kong-listed shares now up 4.1% from the offer price after an initial pop on its first day of trading. Prior to listing, it also drew a small premium on the gray market.

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