Alibaba, Paytm in talks to invest in Indian online grocer

Alibaba and its Indian associate Paytm E-commerce are in talks to invest about $200 million for a stake of roughly 20% in India’s leading online grocer, Bigbasket, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations told Bloomberg.  Alibaba and Paytm are in a 60-day exclusive pact with Bigbasket and are conducting due diligence, said the person, who did not want to be quoted as the negotiations are private. The two could invest as a team or separately, the person said. Several others are also said to be interested and in various stages of conversation with Bigbasket, including global retail titan Amazon, said a different person familiar with the matter. Morgan Stanley is advising Supermarket Grocery Supplies, which owns the Bigbasket brand, on the fundraising, that person said. Bigbasket’s existing investors include the Dubai-headquartered Abraaj Group and Sands Capital.