PUMPING IN MORE MONEY: Sources say Alibaba has invested US$600mil (RM2.2bil) in Paytm. This raises its total holdings to 40% of the Indian payments firm.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is in advanced talks to invest in Indian online payment platform and e-commerce firm Paytm, two sources said.
Alibaba's financial arm Ant Financial, which runs the Alipay online payment platform, is already an investor in Paytm's parent, having agreed in February to buy a 25% stake.
One source with direct knowledge of the matter said the new deal would see Alibaba directly invest around US$600mil (RM2.2bil) for a share in Paytm that could take the Chinese group's total holdings to around 40% of the Indian payments firm.
The fresh investment would value Paytm at around US$4bil (RM15.1bil).
The sources declined to be named as negotiations are not public.
A spokesperson for Alibaba declined to comment on the development. A spokeswoman for Paytm also declined to comment, but said the group regularly engaged with investors on "various funding opportunities". — Reuters
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