DKSH participates in another funding round at aCommerce, a leading e-commerce service provider in South East Asia. KKR subsidiary Emerald Media is also among the investors. The investment complements DKSH's position as a leading pan-Asian e-commerce servicer provider distributing more than 400 brands online.
Media release
Zurich, Switzerland, November 20, 2017 – DKSH, the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia, has subscribed to a further investment round in aCommerce. With a 20.5% holding, DKSH remains among the largest shareholders of the e-commerce service provider. Further investors include Emerald Media, a subsidiary of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), and Australia-based Blue Sky Alternative Investments.
The investment in aCommerce underlines DKSH's omni-channel strategy, ensuring the availability of its clients' products both off and online throughout South East Asia. The cooperation guarantees a seamless online presence – be it in direct trade (B2C), on the leading South East Asian e-marketplaces or in social media channels. Even though e-commerce still accounts for a very low single-digit percentage of total retail sales in the region, the development is promising.
aCommerce provides solutions to bring clients and retailers into online retailing, including channel management, performance marketing, content production, customer service, platform design, e-fulfillment and B2C delivery and logistics. Since its founding in 2013, aCommerce has successfully developed to become one of the leading platform-independent e-commerce service providers in South East Asia, employing more than 1,400 people. Together with DKSH's existing digital business, the company has leading market positions in Asia.
Stefan P. Butz, CEO of DKSH, said: “With our initial investment in aCommerce and our decision to build up our own digital business two years ago, we took an early mover position in South East Asia's e-commerce sector. By participating in the new funding round of aCommerce, we stay at the forefront of this trend, underscoring the confidence in DKSH's omni-channel strategy.”
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About DKSH Group
DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets. Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich. With 780 business locations in 36 countries – 750 of them in Asia – and 30,320 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 10.5 billion in 2016. DKSH was founded in 1865. With strong Swiss heritage, the company has a long tradition of doing business in and with Asia and is deeply rooted in communities and businesses across Asia Pacific.
About aCommerce
aCommerce is Southeast Asia’s leading ecommerce enabler and e-distributor, delivering localized retail solutions for global brands such as Samsung, Unilever, Nestlé, L’Oreal, Philips and Mars. Founded in June 2013, aCommerce has over 1,400 staff and offices/fulfillment centers in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The company provides end-to-end ecommerce technologies and brand centric services including performance marketing, channel management, webstore design, content production, order fulfillment and warehousing, delivery and localized customer service.