Bain Capital, the US private equity group, has agreed to make a strategic investment of up to $630m in Gome Electrical Appliances, a leading Chinese retailer, according to people familiar with the matter.
The proposed deal marks Bain Capital's biggest mainland investment and will boost confidence in Hong Kong-listed Gome, whose former chairman and leading shareholder is being investigated as part of an alleged share trading scandal.
People familiar with the situation said official confirmation of the deal could be announced as early as this week. Gome's search for private equity backing was first reported last December by the Financial Times.