Alibaba eyes to invest in online fashion retailer Farfetch

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd 9988.HK is in advanced talks to invest nearly $300 million in online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch Ltd FTCH.N, the Information reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Shares of London-based Farfetch jumped about 16% to $32.59 following the news.

The two companies are also in talks to create a Chinese joint venture, the report said here, adding that Cartier-owner Richemont, which has teamed up with Alibaba to create mobile applications, is also considering investing in Farfetch alongside the Chinese e-commerce giant.

Both Farfetch and Alibaba were not immediately available for comment.

Farfetch, which counts Alibaba’s competitors JD.com 9618.HK and Tencent Holdings Ltd 0700.HK among its investors has been betting on China’s burgeoning online luxury goods world. Chinese consumers make up a third of luxury goods purchases worldwide.

Terms of the current and past deals with Tencent and JD would not prevent Alibaba from investing in Farfetch, the Information said, citing a source.