Catenaa, Friday, August 29, 2025- ByteDance, the Chinese owner of TikTok, is preparing an employee share buyback valuing the company at over $330 billion, sources said.
The buyback, set for this autumn, will offer staff $200.41 per share, up 5.5% from the previous $189.90 six months ago, reflecting the company’s rising revenue and expanding domestic and international business.
ByteDance’s second-quarter revenue reached approximately $48 billion, a 25% increase year-on-year, mostly from China, surpassing Meta’s $42.3 billion in the same period.
The company remains profitable overall, although TikTok’s U.S. operations continue to operate at a loss under pressure to divest by U.S. lawmakers over national security concerns.
President Donald Trump extended the deadline for TikTok’s US divestment to September 17, with US buyers reportedly lined up.
If finalized, TikTok’s US business is expected to be controlled by a joint venture with ByteDance holding a minority stake.
The investor consortium includes Susquehanna International Group, General Atlantic, KKR, and Andreessen Horowitz, while Blackstone recently withdrew after delays.
ByteDance’s buybacks allow employees to liquidate holdings without an IPO and signal financial strength, using its own balance sheet instead of external funding.
The company has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, including Nvidia chips and AI infrastructure, aiming to expand its technological capabilities. The buyback could also boost morale for US-based staff concerned about TikTok’s uncertain future.
