Yahoo Finanzen 
Uber is raising even more money in China — and it could signal that an IPO is on the way
(Flickr/LeWeb13) Uber CEO Travis Kalanick.
Uber is raising new funding from Chinese investment management firm Hillhouse Capital Group, The Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the Journal, the investment could be for up to $1 billion, though another source told WSJ the final investment is likely to be "hundreds of millions of dollars."
The investment firm is purchasing bonds that will later convert into shares at a discount to Uber's IPO price.
The Wall Street Journal points out that the deal with the Chinese firm incentivises Uber to IPO soon, because the bonds rise in value the longer Uber waits to go public.
But the deal isn't just about raising new funding, it also signals the importance of the Chinese market to Uber.
Uber struggled for a long time to gain a foothold in China. Rival companies were able to operate in hundreds of cities, but Uber was bogged down by regulations.
However, it looks like Uber is doubling down on China. Leaked emails from CEO Travis Kalanick to investors show that he sees China as "the #1 priority for Uber’s global team." And it looks like that push to succeed in China is paying off: The graph below shows growth rates for Uber in cities around the world. Chinese cities grow at a much faster rate than any other location.
(Uber)
NOW WATCH: How to use Google Maps when you have no phone service
More From Business Insider
