China, 8th February: Earlier this month, Alibaba Group, China’s leading e-commerce group, announced two deals to invest in the retail sector.

Alibaba plans to invest RMB 5.45 billion (US$863 million) in Beijing Easyhome Furnishing Chain Store Group Company in exchange for a 15% stake. Founded in 1999, Easyhome is the second largest home improvement supplies and furniture chain operator in China.

The second announced deal involves Alibaba buying a 38% stake in Shiji Retail Information Technology Co for US$486 million, through its subsidiary, Alibaba Investment Limited. Shiji is a domestic big-data firm focused on the hotel and retail sector in China.