Microsoft to join US$100m investment in Indonesia's Bukalapak

[HONG KONG] Microsoft has agreed to join a US$100 million investment in Indonesian online marketplace Bukalapak.com, according to people familiar with the matter.

The investment may be announced as soon as today, said the people, asking not to be named as the details aren't public yet. Microsoft and existing backers GIC and Elang Mahkota Teknologi, better known as Emtek Group, are investing at a valuation of between US$2.5 billion and US$3 billion, they said.

The deal takes Bukalapak closer to its target of raising US$200 million to bankroll an online expansion, one of the people said. The company is in discussions with other potential investors to secure additional capital, the people said. Representatives for Microsoft weren't immediately available for comment. A Bukalapak representative declined to comment.

US tech giants are increasingly turning their attention to Indonesia, seeking to tap a rapidly growing smartphone population in the world's fourth most-populous country. Google has agreed to invest US$350 million in e-commerce platform Tokopedia together with Temasek Holdings, Bloomberg News reported last month. Facebook and PayPal Holdings have also injected an undisclosed amount of money into Indonesian ride-hailing giant Gojek.

Bukalapak's other existing backers include Jack Ma's Ant Group.

BLOOMBERG

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Monday, 3.30 pm

Garage

The hottest news on all things startup and tech to kickstart your week.

Sign Up