Walmart has finally sealed the deal on its investment in Chinese e-commerce site YiHaoDian.com. We reported on its announcement back in May but the transaction seems to have taken longer than the expected two months to nail down.
The giant American r…
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire a minority stake in the holding company of Yihaodian, a fast-growing eCommerce company in China. The transaction is expected to close within 60 days.
Launched in July 2008, Yihaodian offers more than 75,000 SKUs and has achieved a significant position in online grocery sales, as well as in categories such as baby/Mom, consumer electronics and apparel. With 2,000 employees and an existing logistics network based in Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, Yihaodian is serving a growing customer base with next-day delivery of essential daily items at competitive prices.
Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and CEO of Walmart Global eCommerce and Global Sourcing, said, “We are excited about this investment. Online sales in China are growing rapidly and are projected to match U.S. online sales in the next few years. By investing in Yihaodian, we’re continuing to establish a presence in this important eCommerce market, and are moving forward on fulfilling our aspiration of being the leading global multichannel retailer.”
