JD Finance is reportedly preparing a 5-billion-yuan Series A funding round with a domestic IPO targeted in 2017. [Photo: qq.com]

It's been reported that online financing and retail investment platform JD Finance, a subsidiary of JD.com, is preparing a 5-billion-yuan Series A funding round with a domestic IPO targeted in 2017.

Media reports say the Series A will include three main investors, one of whom will be Sequoia Capital.

However, a spokesperson at JD Finance declined to comment.

JD Finance began independent operations in 2013, with a market valuation of over 40 billion yuan, or 6 billion US dollars.

It has built seven major business modules, including supply chain financing, crowdfunding and wealth management services.