Alibaba Group
Tech IPOs: An issue of control
Alibaba Group wants the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to permit a bespoke IPO structure that would allow management to retain board control. By refusing, is the bourse going to forgo more China tech business?
China e-commerce logistics: The missing link
China’s fragmented logistics industry is a problem for e-commerce companies as they attempt to provide customers with a better quality service. Should they build competencies in house? Should PE help them?
China’s Fosun supports Alibaba in logistics build-out
Chinese conglomerate Fosun International will contribute RMB500 million ($81.4 million) for a 10% interest in Alibaba Group’s nationwide logistics project. Known as the China Smart Logistics Network, the project is expected to receive up to RMB100 billion...
Alibaba invests $294m in Chinese digital mapping firm
Alibaba Group has agreed to pay $294 million for a 28% stake in AutoNavi Holdings, a Chinese digital mapping company listed in the US. The deal is further evidence of cash-rich Chinese internet companies’ increasing acquisitiveness as they seek to diversify...
Jack Ma’s retirement as Alibaba CEO fuels IPO speculation
Jack Ma will step down as CEO of Alibaba Group in May ahead of the private equity-backed firm’s widely anticipated IPO. Ma, who will remain as chairman indicated that he wanted to hand over to a younger successor, telling employees that “the next...
Alibaba in bumper Yahoo buyback
New and existing private equity investors acquire much-sought-after stakes in Alibaba Group as the e-commerce firm repurchases part of Yahoo’s stake in a $7.6 billion deal
PE firms, sovereign funds support Alibaba’s Yahoo buyback
China Investment Corporation (CIC), Boyu Capital, CITIC Capital and CDB Capital participated in a $3.9 billion equity issue by Alibaba Group alongside existing investors including Silver Lake, DST Global and Temasek Holdings. The financing was used to...
AVCJ China Awards: PE Deal of the Year – Alibaba Group
Silver Lake started building relations with Alibaba Group almost as soon as it launched its Asia operations in 2008. It was the logical thing to do: the private equity firm assiduously builds relationships with senior management at most of the world’s...
CIC poised to invest $2b in Alibaba Group – report
China Investment Corp. (CIC) may take a $2 billion stake in Alibaba Group in order to finance the Chinese internet company’s purchase of a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo. Last week, Alibaba agreed to purchase half of Yahoo’s 40% holding for $7.1 billion...
Alibaba to buy back 20% of Yahoo’s stake for $7.1b
Alibaba Group has agreed to repurchase about a 20% stake in itself from Yahoo for $7.1 billion ahead of an initial public offering. The US internet company bought 40% of Alibaba - founded by Jack Ma (pictured) - in 2005, paying $1 billion plus ownership...
Tencent backs Korean mobile messager Kakao
Tencent has teamed up Korean online games developer Wemade Entertainment to invest KRW92 billion ($80 million) in Kakoo Talk, a popular Korean mobile messaging application.
China’s corporates embrace VC
Once start-ups in their own right, China’s leading technology companies are emerging are key players in the corporate venture capital space. What does it mean for incumbent investors?
Vision Knight Capital invests in Silver Lake-backed Allyes
Allyes Group, a Chinese online media service provider, has received a strategic investment from Vision Knight Capital, the private equity firm set up by former Alibaba CEO David Wei. It is the largest single investment by Vision Knight since its inception...
Yahoo, Alibaba deal talks flounder – reports
Negotiations between Yahoo and Alibaba over the US firm’s potential divestment of its stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant are said to have reached an impasse. There are conflicting reports as to the cause of problems, but some suggest it rests on...
Yahoo chairman to step down, future of Asian assets unresolved
Yahoo is replacing its chairman and three other directors as it continues to restructure its business, a process that includes the potential spin-out of its Asia-based assets to a consortium comprising Alibaba Group, Softbank and some private equity players.
Alibaba hires US lobby group for potential Yahoo bid
Alibaba Group has hired Washington lobbying firm Duberstein Group in what is seen as evidence that the company is considering a bid for all of Yahoo if negotiations to buy back the US firm’s Asian assets fail.
Yahoo studies part-exit from its Asian assets
Yahoo is considering the sale of a substantial chunk of its 40% interest in Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group as well as exiting its 35% holding in Yahoo Japan. The value of the transaction would reportedly be $17-18 billion, allowing the US internet...
Yahoo unhappy with bids for its US, Asia businesses
Yahoo is unhappy with the with the low premium being offered by private equity firms looking to invest in the company as well as the discounts proposed by prospective buyers of its Asian subsidiaries, which may stall any deal.
Alibaba seeks $4b loan to support Yahoo buyback
Alibaba Group has approached lenders about financing part of the company’s buyback of a 40% stake currently held by Yahoo. The Chinese e-commerce firm is seeking a $4 billion loan to support the purchase.
PE firms close in on Yahoo acquisition
Several prospective buyers of Yahoo have signed confidentiality agreements in order to get a closer look at the company’s finances.
Investor consortium pays $1.6b for 5% of Alibaba
Silver Lake, Yunfeng Capital and other investors have purchased a 5% stake in Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group, worth $1.6 billion. The transaction is thought to be the tender offer made to employee shareholders and option holders, as well as certain...
Yahoo tipped to sell Asian assets, pay shareholder dividend
Yahoo is likely to close the door to potential private equity suitors by divesting its Asian assets and redistributing the proceeds to shareholders. The redistribution might take the form of a special divided or share buyback.
Yunfeng Capital creates cloud computing fund with Alibaba
Yunfeng Capital, the venture capital firm set up by Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, is to create a RMB1 billion ($157 million) fund with Alibaba Cloud Computing. It will invest in cloud computing businesses and developers building applications for Aliyun...
Yahoo founder refuses to rule out sale to Alibaba, private equity
Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has refused to rule out the possible sale of the company to Alibaba Group’s Jack Ma or to a private equity interests. “There are plenty of options,” he told a conference in Hong Kong Wednesday.