China Distiller Jiangxiaobai Raises $300 Million

(Bloomberg) -- Chinese liquor distiller Chongqing Jiangxiaobai Liquor Co. has raised about $300 million from investors in a fresh funding round, according to people familiar with the matter.

China Renaissance Holdings Ltd. led the funding round for the company, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is private. Baillie Gifford & Co. and China Merchants Bank International Capital Corp. were among the investors who participated in the round, they said.

The round gave Jiangxiaobai a pre-funding valuation of roughly $1.6 billion, one of the people said.

Jiangxiaobai produces baijiu, a sorghum-based spirit that is extremely popular in China, and markets its brands toward younger adults, according to its website. Founded in 2012, its products are available in over 20 countries. The company counts Hillhouse Capital Management and IDG Capital among its existing investors.

China accounted for roughly 29% of global spirits demand in 2019, according to Bloomberg Intelligence citing Euromonitor, and local companies producing baijiu represented 98% of that volume.

Representatives for Jiangxiaobai, Baillie Gifford and China Renaissance declined to comment. A representative for CMBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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With assistance from Bloomberg