Didi gets 600 mln USD financing from China Life Insurance

Chinese on-demand mobility (ODM) firm Didi confirmed Monday that it had secured 600 million U.S. dollars from China Life Insurance, part of its ongoing financing round that its president says will exceed 3.5 billion dollars.

The money provided by the Chinese insurer includes 300 million dollars in equity financing and 2 billion yuan (about 305 million dollars) in long-term debt. Didi declined to comment on the stake the insurer will hold or the maturity of the debt.

The investment is made through China Life Investment Holding Co. Ltd., Didi said in a statement.

Rival Uber announced a funding round of 3.5 billion dollars earlier this month, Didi's president Jean Liu said that the company is looking to surpass that amount in its current funding round, which also include 1 billion from Apple.

This round of funding could result in the Chinese start-up being valued at over 25 billion dollars, analysts say.

Didi said it will also work with China Life on insurance and other financial services and corporate car services. The two will also seek investment opportunities in transportation services both in China and abroad.

The Beijing-based start-up is engaged in aggressive financing to retain its dominance in China and to build alliance with similar firms overseas to counter Uber. According to Didi, its ODM platform has mobilized 15 million drivers to deliver rides for 300 million registered users, with daily orders over 14 million. Endi