Walmart acquired a majority stake in Flipkart in 2018 for about $16 billion.
The transaction was announced in May 2018 and valued Flipkart at approximately $20 billion. Walmart purchased roughly 77 percent of the company, while existing investors, including SoftBank, sold or retained holdings. The deal made Walmart the largest shareholder in one of India's leading online retailers.
Flipkart was founded in 2007 by former Amazon employees Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal. It began as an online bookstore before expanding into electronics, fashion, groceries, and other categories. Its growth was supported by innovations such as cash-on-delivery services in the Indian market.
The acquisition is distinct from Walmart's later investment in Indian digital payments and retail ventures. Flipkart continued operating as a separate company, with Walmart providing capital and international retail expertise.