default-output-block.skip-main
BoF Logo

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.

Amazon Said to Walk Away From $1 Billion Souq.com Takeover Talks

The e-commerce business is now seeking other potential investors and is negotiating with mall-operator Majid Al Futtaim.
Source: Souq.com
By
  • Bloomberg

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Amazon.com Inc. and India's Flipkart Online Services Pvt have walked away from talks to acquire Dubai-based Souq.com after disagreeing over price, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

The e-commerce business is now seeking other potential investors and is negotiating with mall-operator Majid Al Futtaim, one of the people said, asking not to be identified as the talks are not public.

US online retail giant Amazon entered talks with Souq.com last year in a deal that would have been worth about $1 billion, people with knowledge of the matter said in November. The Middle Eastern company’s existing investors include Tiger Global Management and South Africa’s Naspers Ltd. Souq.com appointed Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to find buyers for a stake last year, people familiar said.

Souq.com became the highest valued Internet company in the Middle East after a $275 million founding round in February 2016, according to Standard Chartered Plc., which has invested in Souq. The company sells more than 1.5 million products online to customers in countries including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman for Majid Al Futtaim declined to comment, while Amazon and Flipkart did not immediately return requests for comment. Souq.com was not immediately available to comment.

By Dinesh Nair and Matthew Martin; editors: Dale Crofts and Stefania Bianchi.

© 2022 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions

More from News & Analysis
Fashion News, Analysis and Business Intelligence from the leading digital authority on the global fashion industry.

Join us for our next #BoFLIVE on Thursday, February 16 at 15:00 GMT / 10:00 EST, based on our latest case Study How to Build a Profitable DTC Brand. BoF’s deputy editor Brian Baskin along with DTC correspondent Malique Morris and chief marketing officer of UK-based beauty brand Trinny London, Shira Feuer explore blueprints for growing a profitable brand.


The 10 themes in The State of Fashion 2023, the authoritative annual report from The Business of Fashion and McKinsey & Company, highlight how businesses can deploy realistic yet bold strategies to drive growth, even amid challenging times.




view more

The Business of Fashion

Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
CONNECT WITH US ON
BoF Professional Summit - An Inflection Point in Fashion Tech
© 2023 The Business of Fashion. All rights reserved. For more information read our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy and Accessibility Statement.
BoF Professional Summit - An Inflection Point in Fashion Tech