Best Logistics, a China-based logistics services provider backed by e-commerce firm Alibaba, filed yesterday to raise up to $750m in an initial public offering in the US.
Best provides logistics and supply chain services, generally for online merchants. It leases facilities, works with more than 1,400 third-party service providers and coordinates the operation through its cloud software platform.
The company made a net loss of approximately $198m in 2016 from $1.28bn of revenue. Its net loss for the first three months of this year was $61m from revenue of $472m.
Alibaba CEO Jack Ma and Terry Gou, president of manufacturing services provider Foxconn, were reportedly responsible for founding Best in 2008, and their companies were reported to have invested $15m in the startup the same year.
Walden International and CDH Investments supplied another $15m in 2010, before Alibaba, Walden subsidiary PacVen Walden Ventures and private equity firm Hina Group joined Denlux Logistics Invest, Hong Kong Jiashi International Group and Orchid Development Holdings to invest $20m in 2011.
Pacven and Florence Star Worldwide added $76.5m later the same year, before Alibaba unit Alibaba Investment, CDH, IDG-Accel China, Hina, Broad Street Principal Investments and Brackenhill Tower provided $137.5m of series E funding in 2014.
Alibaba Investment invested $132.5m in series F-2 funding the following year. Alibaba’s logistics platform, Cainiao Smart Logistics, was part of a $343m round in February 2016, and was among 10 participants in a $277m extension two months later.
Best’s largest shareholder is Alibaba Investment, with a 23.4% stake, while founder, chairman and CEO Shao-Ning Johnny Chou owns 14.7%.
Investment holding entity Florence Star Worldwide holds an 11.3% share through a vehicle called CR Entities, while IDG-Accel China Capital owns 6.2% and Cainiao 5.6%.
Citigroup Global Markets, Credit Suisse Securities (USA), Goldman Sachs (Asia), JP Morgan Securities and Deutsche Bank Securities have been appointed underwriters for the offering.