China’s Luckin Coffee Nets $260 Million Private-Equity Investment

Investment from current shareholders Centurium Capital and Joy Capital will help facilitate a debt restructuring and pay an SEC settlement, Luckin says.

Luckin Coffee Inc. said it has secured a $260 million investment from two Chinese private-equity firms, funding that the troubled coffee chain operator said would support its debt restructuring and help pay a U.S. regulatory penalty over allegations it fabricated sales to make its growth appear stronger.

The investment is led by Centurium Capital, a Luckin shareholder, which has agreed to invest $240 million in senior convertible preferred shares, Luckin said. Fellow shareholder Joy Capital has agreed to invest $10 million.

 Luckin Coffee Inc. is a Chinese coffee company and coffeehouse chain. It was founded in Beijing in 2017. As of January 2020, it managed 4,507 stores and exceeded the number of Starbucks stores in China.

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