Flipkart Raises $3.6 Billion, Softbank Among Investors

Walmart Inc-owned Indian on-line retailer Flipkart on Monday ushered again Japan’s SoftBank as an investor in a $3.6 billion (roughly Rs. 26, 830 crores) funding spherical, after which the e-commerce agency will likely be valued at $37.6 billion (roughly Rs. 2,80,260 crores).

The fundraise comes amid Flipkart exploring going public within the United States and aiming for a valuation of as much as $50 billion (roughly Rs. 3,62,790 crores).

The newest funding was led by buyers GIC, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Walmart, the Bengaluru-based firm, which rivals Amazon and India’s Reliance Industries, stated.

It additionally attracted investments from sovereign funds DisruptAD, Qatar Investment Authority, Khazanah Nasional Berhad, and personal fairness agency Blackstone Group-backed Antara Capital amongst others.

Japan’s SoftBank had offered its roughly 20 p.c stake in Flipkart to Walmart, which acquired a roughly 77 p.c stake for about $16 billion (roughly Rs. 1,19,270 crores) in 2018. The newest funding values the corporate at almost double that fee.

“SoftBank’s re-investment in Flipkart is driven by our experience with and conviction in the company’s management team to continue addressing the needs of the Indian consumer in the decades to come,” Lydia Jett, associate at SoftBank Investment Advisers, stated.

Like its rival Amazon, Flipkart started by promoting books, however diversified quickly into promote promoting smartphones, clothes, and different objects. It now competes with Amazon in most classes.

“We will focus on accelerating growth for millions of small and medium Indian businesses, including kiranas,” Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Flipkart Group CEO stated in an announcement.

© Thomson Reuters 2021