(Photo= Yonhap news)

 

[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] Private equity fund (PEF) MBK Partners representatives reportedly visited the headquarters of AliExpress in China to explore the possibility of acquiring Homeplus. Both MBK and AliExpress have denied these acquisition discussions as baseless.

According to industry sources on the 18th, MBK representatives recently visited the AliExpress headquarters in Hangzhou, China, to express their interest in acquiring Homeplus. Although both parties officially deny any contact, industry insiders believe that merger and acquisition (M&A) discussions might be happening behind the scenes.

In 2020, Alibaba acquired Gaoxin, the largest retail distribution company, securing over 500 offline stores across China in one move. Industry analysts suggest that Alibaba could use a similar strategy in Korea, expanding from an online platform to offline channels.

Alibaba's substantial financial resources also increase the likelihood of a Homeplus acquisition. The acquisition of Homeplus by MBK is estimated to be worth 4 trillion KRW, and industry observers believe that only Alibaba has the financial capability to handle such a transaction. Additionally, in March of this year, Alibaba announced a domestic investment plan worth approximately 1.5 trillion KRW.

 

 

[ⓒ AlphaBIZ. 무단전재-재배포 금지]