Ctrip.com International announced that The Priceline Group will invest an additional $250 million in the company.

The investment will be made via a convertible bond and Ctrip has granted permission to The Priceline Group to increase its ownership in Ctrip through the acquisition of Ctrip's American depositary shares in the open market so that, when combined with the shares issuable upon conversion of the new bond and the $500 million convertible bond issued to The Priceline Group in August 2014, The Priceline Group may hold up to 15% of Ctrip's outstanding shares.

This investment follows a commercial relationship established between the two companies in 2012, which was expanded in August 2014 along with the $500 million investment by The Priceline Group.

Immediately following issuance of the new $250 million bond and assuming conversion of the two bonds, The Priceline Group will own securities representing approximately 10.5% of Ctrip's outstanding shares.

The two companies will continue their existing commercial partnership, whereby accommodations inventory is cross-promoted between the brands.