The firm, backed by gaming and social media firm Tencent Holdings Ltd, did not detail the amount of funds targeted or a time frame. Meituan-Dianping is likely to list in October, said the people, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Meituan-Dianping was formed in 2015 from the US$15 billion (RM60 billion) merger of Meituan, likened to US discounting platform Groupon Inc, and Dianping, akin to US online review firm Yelp Inc.

The company competes with Ele.me, backed by e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, as well as market entrants such as ride-hailing app operator Didi Chuxing.

Meituan-Dianping did not respond to requests for comment late last week about the deal size or potential valuation.

The company booked 33.9 billion yuan (US$5.2 billion) in revenue in fiscal 2017, sharply higher than the 12.99 billion yuan made in the prior year, the filing said.

It made a 2.85 billion yuan adjusted net loss last year, smaller than losses of 5.35 billion yuan in 2016 and 5.91 billion yuan in 2015.

The filing comes as investors ready for a series of Chinese tech-related IPOs. Smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp on Thursday launched a blockbuster Hong Kong IPO, aiming to raise up to US$6.1 billion in the biggest tech-related listing worldwide since Alibaba’s record-breaking US$25 billion in 2014.

China Renaissance Group, a tech-focused investment bank led by one of the country’s most famed rainmakers, is also planning a Hong Kong IPO, keen to raise as much as US$800 million, people with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Meituan-Dianping has mandated Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley to jointly sponsor its IPO.