Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA)

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) (“Alibaba” or the “Company”) today announced the pricing of the Global Offering of 500,000,000 ordinary shares (the “Shares”) which comprises an international offering and a Hong Kong public offering. The final offer price for both the international offering and the Hong Kong public offering (the “Offer Price”) has been set at HK$176 per Share. Based on the ratio of eight Shares per NYSE-listed American depository share (“ADS”), the Offer Price translates to approximately US$180 per ADS. The Company has set the Offer Price by taking into consideration, among other factors, the closing price of the ADSs on November 19, 2019 (the latest trading day before pricing). Subject to approval from The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “SEHK”), the Shares are expected to begin trading on the Main Board of the SEHK on November 26, 2019 under the stock code “9988.”

The gross proceeds to the Company from the Global Offering, before deducting underwriting fees and the offering expenses, are expected to be approximately HK$88,000 million. In addition, the Company has granted the international underwriters an over-allotment option, exercisable from November 20, 2019 until 30 days thereafter, to require the Company to issue up to an additional 75,000,000 new Shares at the Offer Price.

The Company plans to use the proceeds from the Global Offering for the implementation of its strategies to drive user growth and engagement, empower businesses to facilitate digital transformation, and continue to innovate and invest for the long term.

BEIJING, Oct. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TuanChe Limited ("TuanChe" or the “Company”) (TC), a leading omni-channel automotive marketplace in China, today announced that it has signed a strategic partnership with Tmall Auto, the automotive arm of Alibaba Group’s (BABA) Tmall, China's largest e-commerce platform for brands and retailers. This partnership will further enable both TuanChe and Tmall Auto to collaborate and explore additional growth opportunities along China’s automotive transaction value chain.

As part of the agreement, Tmall Auto will work with TuanChe to integrate its online resources, e-commerce infrastructure, and big data analysis capabilities with TuanChe’s pervasive national coverage and proven track record managing offline automotive operations and sales events. Both companies also plan to jointly integrate a new data-driven, smart, online-to-offline automotive transaction service while further expanding each other’s customer bases and enhancing the car-purchasing experience for consumers.  

In conjunction with these commitments, the Company has also become the first regional partner for Tmall Auto’s Bijiabao. Bijiabao is an automotive price comparison product that offers free price quoting services to automotive shoppers online, effectively increasing the overall transparency of pricing throughout China’s automotive industry.

“We are excited to work with Tmall Auto to provide Chinese consumers with a superior, smarter, and ultimately more transparent automotive shopping experience,” commented Mr. Wei Wen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TuanChe. “Since the second half of 2018, car sales in China have started to deteriorate as a result of changes in domestic policy and macroeconomic uncertainties. Major Chinese OEMs are currently facing an unprecedented industry downturn and are under significant pressure to reduce their marketing budget while still growing their top-line sales performance. As a result of this slowdown in the marketplace, our ability to consistently generate sales leads that are both accurate and highly relevant is increasingly regarded as a must-have solution for these suppliers. Our partnership with Tmall Auto, a dominant player in the e-commerce industry, will further bolster our ability to facilitate such automotive transactions for OEMs.”

“Tmall Auto’s massive stream of online traffic and technological capabilities in big data analysis and AI will help to bolster our core suite of services along the automotive transaction value chain. Upgrades to our AI technologies will enable us to produce more precise user profile analyses, for example, while cutting-edge big data analysis will support the development of the smart automotive transaction system. We expect to put our partnership into action as soon as the 11.11 Shopping Festival this year, at which point we plan to roll out a variety of offline sales events throughout our coverage network,” added Mr. Wen.

HANGZHOU, China, Sept. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NetEase, Inc. ("NetEase") (NTES) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited ("Alibaba") (BABA) today announced Alibaba's acquisition of NetEase's import e-commerce platform Kaola for approximately US$2 billion. The transaction paves the way for the two internet companies with deep roots in Hangzhou to further identify and explore business collaborations.

Alibaba plans for Kaola to continue to operate independently under its current brand. Tmall Import and Export General Manager Alvin Liu will serve as Kaola's new CEO.

In addition, Alibaba and NetEase have entered into a definitive agreement for Alibaba, together with Yunfeng, to invest approximately US$700 million in NetEase Cloud Music in its latest round of financing. The completion of this transaction is subject to certain closing conditions. NetEase will remain the controlling shareholder of NetEase Cloud Music following the closing of this transaction.

"We are pleased to have found a strategic fit for Kaola within Alibaba's extensive ecosystem, where Kaola will continue to provide Chinese consumers with high-quality import products and services. At the same time, the completion of this strategic transaction will allow NetEase to focus on its growth strategy, investing in markets that allow us to best leverage our competitive advantages. We remain fully committed to offering our users best-in-class and differentiated online content born from our relentless drive for craftsmanship and innovation," said William Ding, the Chief Executive Officer of NetEase. "As the controlling shareholder of NetEase Cloud Music, we will continue to fully support the growth of this business, helping it to realize its strategic goals in the music industry."

"Alibaba is confident about the future of China's import e-commerce market, which we believe remains in its infancy with great growth potential. We welcome Kaola to the Alibaba family and value NetEase's contributions in incubating an e-commerce platform with strong import capabilities. With Kaola, we will further elevate import service and experience for Chinese consumers through synergies across the Alibaba ecosystem," said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. "Alibaba also looks forward to becoming a partner in the future development of NetEase Cloud Music and exploring innovative collaboration in the digital entertainment space."

SHANGHAI, China, March 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qutoutiao Inc. (“Qutoutiao” or the “Company”) (QTT), a leading mobile content platform company in China, today announced that the Company has entered into a convertible loan agreement with Alibaba Investment Limited, an affiliate of Alibaba Group (“Alibaba”).

Pursuant to the agreement, Alibaba will advance approximately US$171 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible loan (the “Convertible Loan”) to Qutoutiao. The Convertible Loan will be convertible into Class A ordinary shares of Qutoutiao (the “Shares”) at Alibaba’s option at a conversion price of US$60 per share, equivalent to US$15 per ADS. Upon full conversion of the Convertible Loan, the Company will issue new shares to Alibaba, representing approximately 4.0% of the Company’s share capital as of the date hereof. Interest of 3% per annum will accrue on the Convertible Loan, which will be waived in case of conversion or payable at maturity. The Convertible Loan will mature in three years, unless previously repaid or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.

HANGZHOU, China, Dec. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uxin Limited (“Uxin” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UXIN), the largest used car e-commerce platform in China, and Taobao, China’s massive and fast-growing consumer community, operated by Alibaba Group Holding Limited (“Alibaba Group”) (NYSE: BABA), entered into a strategic partnership to foster further growth and expand service opportunities for used car e-commerce in China. The two companies will collaborate in the areas of B2C and B2B used car transactions, integrated supply chain, and used car loan facilitation, to bring innovative online used car purchasing services to consumers across China.

Under the terms of the agreement, Uxin and Taobao will jointly establish an online used car shopping mall on Taobao Marketplace. At the initial stage, the two companies will provide a full suite of used car product and service offerings ranging from intelligent listing, displaying and matching, to one-stop transaction solutions. For example, in addition to the standard inspection report that evaluates 315 check points of a used car listing, the two companies will also provide videos and VR car viewing experience so that consumers can gain a comprehensive understanding of the car’s condition. With Uxin’s more than 290,000 used car selection on its platform and cross-regional transaction facilitation capabilities, Taobao users will now be able to purchase used cars from anywhere in China, anytime. Users will also be able to enjoy a full range of financing and post-transaction services, with superior consumer protection policies provided by both Taobao and Uxin.

Through this partnership, Uxin will further extend its leadership by integrating its nationwide supply chain of cross-regional transaction services and infrastructure with Taobao’s platform. The two companies also intend to collaborate on the enhancement of advanced data analysis in areas including intelligent used car recommendation and user behavior analysis, as more used car transactions are facilitated on Taobao. With Alibaba’s strong data and credit expertise, this partnership could also provide Uxin with abundant opportunities for further collaboration in used car loan facilitation, such as enhancing risk profiling and management capabilities.

“As China’s largest used car e-commerce platform which pioneers in facilitating cross-regional transactions, Uxin’s platform shares many similarities with Taobao, which presents many areas for potential synergies,” said Kun Dai, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Uxin. “We are honored to work with Taobao to provide Chinese consumers with integrated used car transaction services.”

“Over the past few years, consumers have become increasingly receptive to buying used cars as a cost-effective alternative to new vehicles. This is particularly the case for consumers in lower-tier cities. With extremely limited used car selection in most cities, there is rapidly growing demand for an online platform that expands access to used cars from across the country. By combining Uxin’s unique ability to support cross-regional used car transactions with Taobao’s massive e-commerce traffic and superior data capabilities, we are confident that we can take the used car purchasing experience to the next level,” added Kun Dai.

“We are excited to cooperate with Uxin to explore new retail opportunities in the used car vertical,” said Fan Jiang, President of Taobao. “With unparalleled understanding and expertise in China’s used car industry, Uxin has transformed the used car supply chain over the past seven years. By effectively tackling challenges throughout the used car transaction value chain, such as providing a wide selection of high-quality used cars, standardized used car inspections, value-added services and used car logistics, Uxin has created a close loop of efficient and professional used car transaction services. We are confident that Uxin will become an integral part of Alibaba’s ecosystem. Through the combination of Uxin’s nationwide supply chain and Alibaba’s massive traffic, our partnership will bring significant benefits to both used car consumers and business customers.”

SHANGHAI, Nov. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Group (BABA) today announced its commitment to help import $200 billion worth of goods from more than 120 countries over the next five years, underscoring the company's long-term commitment to globalization and boosting its efforts to meet the rising demand of Chinese consumers for high-quality international products.

"Globalization is one of Alibaba's most critical long-term growth strategies. We are building the future infrastructure of commerce to realize a globalized digital economy where trade is possible for every country around the world," said Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group. "Leveraging Alibaba's innovative technology and robust ecosystem, we are committed to making global trade more inclusive and fulfilling our mission 'to make it easy to do business anywhere' in the digital era."

The company unveiled its $200 billion goal at its Global Import Leadership Summit held at the first-ever China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Between 2019 and 2023, Alibaba will help import international goods from businesses of all sizes in top countries such as Germany, Japan, Australia, U.S., and South Korea. Several top global brands including P&G, Nestle, JBS, and Refa, touted their holistic partnership with the entire Alibaba ecosystem. By collaborating with various Alibaba businesses units, these brands have been able to effectively engage with China's massive middle class, a primary engine powering China's consumption growth.

"China's middle class is booming. As incomes are rising in China, consumers want faster access to and a wider variety of high-quality products from around the world," said Alvin Liu, General Manager of Tmall Import and Export. "Tmall is uniquely positioned to help international brands tap into the growing China market as consumers seek to upgrade their lifestyle."

According to a joint report by Deloitte China, the China Chamber of International Commerce, and AliResearch, China's robust economic growth in recent years has increased the number of middle-to-high income Chinese consumers, who are fueling the demand for imported, quality goods. The report notes that China's cross-border e-commerce market has grown remarkably, with the proportion of imports to total e-commerce sales growing from 1.6% in 2014 to 10.2% in 2017. The report also highlights that, between 2014 and 2017, the number of shoppers on Alibaba's dedicated platform for cross-border shopping, Tmall Global, has grown ten-fold.

Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

• Revenue was RMB85,148 million (US$12,398 million), an increase of 54% year-over-year.
• Non-GAAP net income was RMB23,453 million (US$3,415 million). Diluted EPS was RMB7.62 (US$1.11) and non-GAAP diluted EPS was RMB9.60 (US$1.40).

“Alibaba had another strong quarter of rapid growth. In particular, annual active consumers increased by 25 million to reach 601 million in the 12 months ended September 30, 2018,” said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. “We generated synergies across our businesses, demonstrating the power of the Alibaba digital economy, which will be further showcased during our upcoming 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. Under our New Retail strategy, we are realizing our vision to enable renewed growth for traditional retailers through digitizing their store-based operations, powered by Alibaba’s technology and consumer insights.”

“We outpaced all industry peers by again delivering robust revenue growth of 54% this quarter,” said Maggie Wu, Chief Financial Officer of Alibaba Group. “While the growth of our overall profitability this quarter has been tempered by significant investments in local services, logistics, entertainment and international expansion, our core marketplace business continued to show strong profit and cash flow growth, which enables us to re-invest into strategic areas and our technology.”

Revenue Guidance

Looking ahead, we are revising our fiscal year 2019 revenue guidance to a range of RMB375 billion to RMB383 billion. The new guidance range reflects a 4% to 6% adjustment to the original revenue guidance. In light of current fluid macro-economic conditions, we have recently decided not to monetize, in the near term, incremental inventory generated from growing users and engagement on our China retail marketplaces. We expect this decision to benefit SMEs on our marketplace platforms.

HANGZHOU, China, May 29, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) ("Alibaba") and its logistic arm Cainiao Network ("Cainiao"), and ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (ZTO) ("ZTO"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today announced a strategic agreement in which investors led by Alibaba and Cainiao will invest US$1.38 billion in ZTO in exchange for an approximately 10% equity stake in the company. The transaction is expected to close in early June, subject to customary closing conditions.

The investment will see Cainiao and ZTO deepen their collaboration in the transformation of China's logistics industry amid the growth of New Retail, a concept developed by Alibaba that promotes seamless integration between online and offline commerce. The investment will further support both Cainiao and ZTO's focus on building up first and last-mile pickup and delivery capabilities, warehouse management, cross-border logistics and technology-driven smart solutions.

Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group and Chairman of Cainiao Network, said:  "ZTO has been an important partner to Alibaba Group and Cainiao Network in the development of the new digital economy. The continuing expansion of New Retail is catalyzing new opportunities and demands in logistics. This strategic investment will strengthen synergies across our mutual businesses to create new value and improved experience for merchants and consumers."

Lin Wan, President of Cainiao Network, said: "The logistics industry in China is highly competitive with its own unique features and presents plenty of new opportunities ahead. This investment will enable Cainiao and ZTO to supercharge joint innovation and development to accelerate digitalization of the industry. We will continue to work closely with industry leaders, including ZTO, to enhance our logistics infrastructure and broaden our service offerings to meet the growing demand from New Retail."

Meisong Lai, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZTO, said: "The growth of e-commerce and New Retail in China demands more efficient express delivery and expanded logistics services. To that effect, we are delighted to enhance our partnership with Alibaba and Cainiao through their strategic investments in ZTO. This partnership will enable us to expand our selection of high quality service offerings both in China and internationally, and is fully aligned with our common interest in improving logistics efficiency and enhancing customer experience."

Lai added: "Built as an open platform based on a shared-success philosophy, ZTO has become one of the leaders in the express delivery industry in China. Our continued collaboration with all industry constituents, and particularly with Alibaba and Cainiao through this strategic partnership, will amplify our competitive advantage and support our mission to become a world-class comprehensive logistics service provider."

New Retail links online and offline commerce through deep consumer engagement based on insights drawn from advanced technology and data analytics. Moving forward, New Retail will require investment in smart supply chains, retail technologies, advanced logistics and mobile payments. These investments are all aimed at delivering a better experience for both consumers and merchants.

Cainiao has the world's leading smart logistics network. Its technological innovation for the industry includes e-shipping labels and smart sorting. It has the capability to provide same-day and next-day delivery in nearly 1,500 districts and counties in China, and now operates Cainiao Post, a network of last-mile stations covering communities in top 100 cities and around 1,800 university campuses across the country.

ZTO is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. It has high-quality service capabilities across the country such as line-haul, last-mile, express delivery, in-city delivery, fulfilment and warehousing. Propelled by the rapidly growing e-commerce industry and enabled by early strategic investments in its network infrastructure and technology and innovation, ZTO is expanding its capabilities and product offerings to make a transformative contribution to the express delivery industry. Recent initiatives in building its logistics eco-system in areas including LTL transportation services, international logistics and supply-chain management have shown meaningful progress and results.

SHANGHAI, China, Dec. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) today announced a strategic partnership with Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing and business unit of Alibaba Group (BABA). The two companies are working together to enable development of secure smart devices for edge computing applications and have plans to further develop solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT).

As part of the partnership, AliOS Things, the Alibaba IoT operating system has been integrated onto NXP applications processors, microcontroller chips, and Layerscape multicore processors. Both NXP’s i.MX and Layerscape processors are currently the only embedded systems on the market using the Alibaba Cloud TEE OS platform. The new solution benefits various markets including automotive, smart retail and smart home. And it is currently being applied in applications such as automotive entertainment and infotainment systems, QR code payment scanning applications and smart home speakers.

“As the leader of IoT innovation in China, Alibaba Cloud has launched a range of IoT basic and content services to support the demands of cloud computing, big data, AI [artificial intelligence], cloud integration and security. Alibaba Cloud IoT kit has launched more than 200 categories, with a total of more than 10 million sets of sales,” said Li Zheng, NXP global senior vice president and President of Greater China. “Our partnership with Alibaba Cloud will promote the continuous and steady expansion of NXP's technological advantages for edge computing and IoT security, and will support the long-term and secure development of China’s IoT ecosystem.”

“We share the same vision as NXP on providing advanced and secure IoT solutions for an ‘everything connected’ world,” said Ku Wei, General Manager of IoT of Alibaba Cloud. “Based on the integration of AliOS Things with NXP’s applications processors and microcontroller chips, our comprehensive solution will better serve the development of China’s local commercial and manufacturing industries.”

With the deep partnership between NXP and Alibaba Cloud Link in the field of IoT security, NXP has become a council member of the ICA IoT Connectivity Alliance. In the future. The two companies plan to jointly develop solutions to support application development in different fields including smart manufacturing and smart city.

The ‘Annual Report of China IoT Development 2015-2016’ predicts that the amount of equipment connected to IoT globally will reach 20-50 billion by 2020, with 80 percent of that equipment in China. NXP's robust product portfolio covers offering from the edge node to gateway and comprehensive cloud IoT solutions. NXP's products are widely used in smart homes, smart cities, smart transportation, and secure connectivity.

In China, NXP combines outstanding enterprises in upstream and downstream industries, working together with industry leaders for the safe, connected, sustainable development and motivation for innovation of IoT.

SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS Holdings”, “GDS” or the “Company”) (GDS), a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, today announced a new data center campus development project for Alibaba Group (“Alibaba”). Located in Hebei province, the new campus will be developed in several phases, with the first phase of approximately 5,000 sqm of IT capacity currently under construction. Alibaba has committed 100% of the capacity.

“We are excited to be partnering with Alibaba for a major build-to-suit project in one of their key hub locations,” stated Mr. William Huang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GDS Holdings. “While our core focus will remain on Tier 1 markets, we will also work closely with our major Cloud and Internet customers to help them expand their footprint outside Tier 1 markets. This allows us to strategically position ourselves for additional growth opportunities and will further strengthen our key customer relationships.”

First Quarter 2017 Financial Results

• Revenue was RMB50,184 million (US$7,403 million), an increase of 56% year-over-year.
• Diluted EPS was RMB5.65 (US$0.83) and non-GAAP diluted EPS was RMB7.95 (US$1.17).

“Alibaba had a strong start to fiscal 2018, reflecting the strength and diversity of our businesses and the value we bring to customers on our platforms. Our technology is driving significant growth across our business and strengthening our position beyond core commerce,” said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. “We are excited about the future as we continue to innovate and drive synergies among the businesses throughout the Alibaba ecosystem.”

“We delivered excellent results in the first quarter, with robust revenue growth of 56%. The significant growth in customer management revenue represents the differentiated business value we provide to our customers,” said Maggie Wu, Chief Financial Officer of Alibaba Group. “It is our intention to continue investing in long-term growth opportunities, some of which are already delivering significant value to customers and investors.”

SHANGHAI, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. ("Alibaba") (BABA) and Marriott International, Inc. ("Marriott International") (MAR) today announced the establishment of a joint venture to redefine the travel experience for the hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers traveling abroad and domestically every year.

The joint venture will leverage Marriott International's global portfolio of brands and unparalleled hospitality expertise to revolutionize the travel experience as well as Alibaba's digital retail leadership and its role as a gateway for international brands to reach over 500 million mobile monthly active users across its platforms. Drawing on resources from both Marriott and Alibaba, the joint venture will manage Marriott's storefront on Fliggy, Alibaba's travel service platform. It will also market directly to Alibaba's customer base, provide a link between Marriott's loyalty programs and Alibaba's loyalty program, and support Marriott hotels globally with content, programs and promotions customized for the Chinese traveler. 

As incomes rise, China's middle class is looking for higher quality products and travel experiences. This new venture is designed to satisify consumers' expectations for seamless, integrated, personalized, and convenient travel solutions that connect travelers directly to Marriott's portfolio of international hotel brands. The travel industry is an important growth opportunity as China's travelers are expected to take an estimated 700 million trips over the next five years. Marriott's owners and franchisees globally will benefit from the joint venture by capturing a greater share of this growing Chinese travel market and lower distribution costs associated with the joint venture.

"We are proud to join forces with Marriott International – combining our large-scale consumer base, leading-edge technology and consumer insights with their unparalleled hospitality expertise," said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. "Together, we are elevating and redefining the travel experience for Chinese consumers to be more seamless and personalized as they embark on adventures to discover the world."

"We have long admired Alibaba's digital expertise and deep understanding of Chinese consumers' needs and behaviors," said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. "By forming this partnership, we are pairing our hospitality expertise with Alibaba's digital travel plaform, retail expertise and digital payment platform, Alipay, and driving membership to our loyalty programs. With the growing number of Chinese consumers exploring new destinations, this venture will introduce our hotels worldwide to this new and growing traveling class."

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, today announced the opening of four new data centers by the end of 2016 in the Middle East (Dubai), Europe, Australia and Japan. As a major milestone of Alibaba Cloud’s global expansion, the new centers will boost its data center network to 14 locations, covering key economic centers around the world. The data center in the Middle East, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, commenced initial operations today.

Alibaba Cloud’s expansion will provide customers worldwide with improved latency and greater access to its diverse offerings, including data storage and analytics services, enterprise-level middleware, and cloud security services. Strengthening Alibaba Cloud's position as a major global cloud provider, the new data centers will support Alibaba Cloud’s growing client base beyond the current 2.3 million.

Through a stronger network of facilities and strategic partnerships, Alibaba Cloud also plans to drive a globalization of innovation. The enhanced cloud capabilities make breakthrough innovation a real possibility with artificial intelligence, deep learning and data analytics.

“Alibaba Cloud has contributed significantly to China’s technology advancement, establishing critical commerce infrastructure to enable cross-border businesses, online marketplaces, payments, logistics, cloud computing and big data to work together seamlessly. We want to establish cloud computing as the digital foundation for the new global economy using the opportunities of cloud computing to empower businesses of all sizes across all markets,” said Simon Hu, President of Alibaba Cloud.

Evidence of the potential of Alibaba Cloud can be seen during the recently completed 2016 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, where Alibaba Cloud technology supported all of Alibaba’s online marketplaces and facilitated a record-breaking 175,000 transactions per second during peak traffic spikes. The festival showcased the capabilities not only of the cloud, but also a number of other areas, such as virtual reality, thus helping to redefine technological boundaries.

“The four new data centers will further expand Alibaba Cloud’s global ecosystem and footprint, allowing us to meet the increasing demand for secure and scalable cloud computing services from businesses and industries worldwide. The true potential of data-driven digital transformation will be seen through globalization and the opportunities brought by the new global economy will become a reality,” said Sicheng Yu, Vice President of Alibaba Group and General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Global.

Since its launch, Alibaba Cloud’s technologies have enabled all types of businesses globally, ranging from start-ups to multi-national companies, to benefit from the greater operational and cost efficiency that cloud computing can provide. The new facilities are based in four strategically important trading and economic centers to enable the ambitions to make it easy to do business anywhere. Each of the four will add significant value to the global network and expand horizons.

Middle East

Alibaba Cloud will be the first major global public cloud services provider to offer cloud services from a local data center in the Middle East. The opening of the Dubai Data Center is held in conjunction with YVOLV, a joint venture of Alibaba Cloud and Meraas Holdings, a Dubai-based holding company with a portfolio spanning across key economic sectors in the United Arab Emirates. YVOLV will support and drive Dubai’s Smart City vision by leveraging Alibaba Cloud’s sophisticated cloud computing technologies to create new applications and big-data tools for customers in the region.

Europe

To support enterprises in Europe, Alibaba Cloud will partner with Vodafone Germany to open its first data center in Europe. The center is co-located in Vodafone’s data facilities in Frankfurt, Germany, one of the leading technology hubs in Europe with a highly developed infrastructure supporting technological innovation. The facility is well positioned to meet the increasing demand for sophisticated cloud computing services as the region seeks to accelerate the upgrade of its digital infrastructure.

Australia

Extending its global footprint in the Asia-Pacific, Alibaba Cloud will open a new data center in Sydney, Australia by the end of 2016. Alibaba Cloud will bring its most popular cloud services in data storage and processing services, enterprise-level middleware, and cloud security services to the Australian market. A dedicated team will be based in Australia, and build up a cloud ecosystem with local technology partners to drive cloud and big-data business in the region.

Japan

The Japan Data Center, hosted by SB Cloud Corporation, a joint venture between Softbank and Alibaba Group, will provide Japanese enterprises with competitive and enhanced public cloud computing services from Alibaba Cloud. With the joint venture, Alibaba Cloud will further expand its cloud computing service platform by leveraging SoftBank’s extensive enterprise customer base in Japan.

ANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma’s work as a promoter of easier access to world markets for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) was recognized at the G20 summit. The G20 Leaders Communique released on Monday welcomed the recommendation of business leaders under Business 20 (B20) to strengthen digital trade and took note of its initiative on an Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), a concept for a more inclusive way for nations to implement free and fair trade for their SME constituents.

Mr. Ma was the chairman of the B20 SME Development Taskforce. The SME Development Taskforce, which had 107 members from international business, issued recommendations for SME development to the G20, including support for eWTP.

On the heels of the closing of the G20 Summit, World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevêdo met with Mr. Ma at Alibaba’s headquarters. Mr. Azevêdo and Mr. Ma discussed Mr. Azevêdo’s vision for a more inclusive WTO and how they can work together to deliver it.

The enablement of global trade is the common objective of both the WTO and eWTP. With a focus on SMEs, eWTP speaks to a shared vision of a future WTO that enables more inclusive trade and ensures small businesses can participate in the digital era. By promoting public-private dialogue to incubate e-trade rules and foster a more effective and efficient policy and business environment, SMEs can further expand their capabilities and reach worldwide.

Speaking to the press after the WTO meeting, Mr. Ma said, “The G20 leaders have acknowledged the importance of freer, more inclusive and innovation-driven trade to extend the benefits of globalization to those that have been left behind in the current model. The eWTP will benefit small and medium-sized businesses and consumers. It is about the people, not big business.”

Mr. Azevêdo said, “Trade has been at the top of the agenda here in Hangzhou - at both the G20 and B20 summits - with leaders calling for trade to be at the heart of efforts towards global growth. As part of this, we must trade more inclusively - allowing everyone to take part and feel the benefits. That means trade must work for SMEs.”

“One vital element will be to ensure that SMEs can access online commercial platforms. That’s why the discussion on digital trade is so important, including the proposal for an Electronic World Trade Platform - or eWTP. This idea, in which Alibaba has played an important role, was one of the key recommendations adopted by the B20 and noted in the G20 leaders communique. I welcome Jack Ma’s leadership on this front,” added Mr. Azevêdo.

“Making progress here will require a global approach - and therefore the WTO, which sets global trade rules, is looking at how to take work on e-commerce forward, including for the benefit of SMEs and development. I look forward to working with Jack in that effort,” concluded Mr. Azevêdo.

The G20 was also occasion for representative trade and commercial organizations in many countries to sign agreements and discuss cooperation with Alibaba in the areas of access to the Chinese consumer market, travel and tourism, and investment, including organizations from Australia, Canada, Italy and Russia.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba (Australia) Company Pty. Ltd., a member of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (“Austrade”), signed a strategic collaboration agreement today to strengthen trade opportunities by expanding the variety of Australian products sold to some of Alibaba’s hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers through Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms. The agreement aims to broaden Alibaba’s existing partnership with Austrade by providing dedicated services for Australian products and leveraging digital content to build brand Australia abroad.

The signing of the agreement was witnessed at a ceremony at Alibaba’s corporate headquarters in Hangzhou by Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and Alibaba Group’s Founder and Executive Chairman, Jack Ma.

Prior to the signing of the agreement Jack Ma, Executive Chairman and Founder of Alibaba Group said, “The next chapter of trade between China and Australia will require closer cooperation and this agreement provides a new framework to ensure more businesses, especially Small and Medium Enterprises, can benefit through the partnership between Austrade and Alibaba. Together we can all work jointly to support Australian jobs and shape a new future for many people and businesses through the cooperation forged today.”

Speaking during his visit, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Alibaba “enables the smallest businesses, the mom-and-dad businesses, in the regional part of Australia to have access to the biggest part of the world, something that hitherto only a very large company with enormous resources, with enormous representation would be able to do. It’s a liberating force for small business. And because so many of the services are available on the cloud, again it reduces the cost of business and levels the playing field between the big company and the small company.”

On signing the agreement with Austrade, Maggie Zhou, Managing Director of Australia and New Zealand for Alibaba said, “Australia is a key market for Alibaba Group and we are excited to extend our collaboration with Austrade to cultivate successful Australian exporters that are capitalising on China’s expanding middle class. With Alibaba Group’s new Melbourne office opening later this year, our local team will be dedicated to providing businesses the information and tools they need to advance their international growth.”

The businesses to be explored by Alibaba and Austrade under the strategic collaboration are wide-ranging but a key highlight is the introduction of an annual “Australian Fresh Food Week” sales promotion and education event on Tmall Fresh, Tmall’s fresh food channel, advancing the interests of Australian companies that export dairy, meat, seafood, fruit and other fresh produce.

Alibaba Group also plans on establishing a channel on Youku.com, a leading provider of video and streaming services in China with over 500 million monthly active users, to further promote fresh Australian produce and advance the perception of Australian products in the eyes of Chinese consumers.

Michael Clifton, Senior Trade Commissioner said, “Austrade’s collaboration with Alibaba will allow more Chinese consumers to enjoy easy online access to a wider variety of Australia’s premium products and fresh produce. Online delivery of imported fresh food in China is becoming increasingly viable as a result of improvements in last-mile cold chain logistics.”

In addition to supporting Australian companies already succeeding in China, a key focus of the partnership will be targeting first time exporters, particularly SMEs, and facilitating access to Alibaba assistance in commercialising new digital technology and services in China.

June Quarter 2016 Financial Results

• Revenue was RMB32,154 million (US$4,838 million), an increase of 59% year-over-year. China retail marketplaces revenue was RMB23,383 million (US$3,518 million), an increase of 49% year-over-year; and mobile revenue of China retail marketplaces was RMB17,514 million (US$2,635 million), an increase of 119% year-over-year, representing 75% of our total China retail marketplaces revenue.
• Non-GAAP diluted EPS* was RMB4.90 (US$0.74), an increase of 33% year-over-year.

"Alibaba Group had an outstanding quarter. Our results show the scale and leverage of our ecosystem, as we strengthen our competitive positions in core commerce, cloud computing and digital media and entertainment," said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. "The acceleration of our revenue growth reflects the deep value propositions that we bring to our customers. We are changing the way our 434 million active buyers engage with our platform, as we introduce social, community and personalization driven by smart data into our e-commerce marketplaces, realizing our vision of Live@Alibaba. We are poised for strong profitable growth into the future."

"We delivered excellent results this quarter. The 59% revenue growth for the company overall and the 49% revenue growth of our China retail marketplaces represent the highest growth rates we've achieved since our IPO,� said Maggie Wu, Chief Financial Officer of Alibaba Group. "We passed an important milestone this quarter in achieving higher monetization of mobile users than non-mobile users for the first time, reflecting the success of our strategy to stay ahead of the curve by embracing mobile. As we demonstrate from our segmental disclosure, our results reflect the unrivaled strength of our core commerce business, as well as the accelerating traction we are seeing from our cloud computing and digital media and entertainment businesses."

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) today announced that it has agreed to a US$2 billion purchase of Alibaba Group shares from SoftBank Group. The company intends to fund the transaction with cash-on-hand.

Further to the US$2 billion share purchase, members of the Alibaba Partnership, acting collectively, will enter into an agreement with SoftBank Group to acquire an additional US$400 million of Alibaba shares at the same price per share as the purchase by Alibaba Group.

These transactions have been agreed in conjunction with SoftBank Group’s launch of US$5 billion in principal amount of mandatory exchangeable trust securities (METS) that are exchangeable into Alibaba shares in three years. All of the transactions announced today were initiated by SoftBank Group in order to generate proceeds that will be used to increase SoftBank’s liquidity cushion, improve its leverage ratio and enable flexible and prudent financial management for SoftBank. This transaction will be SoftBank Group’s first sale of Alibaba stock since its initial investment in 2000. As of March 31, 2016, SoftBank Group held 32% of Alibaba Group’s total outstanding shares, and assuming all of the proposed transactions as described in SoftBank’s press release are completed, SoftBank’s shareholding in Alibaba Group would be reduced to 28%.

“Under the leadership of Masayoshi Son, SoftBank has been a highly valued, long-time partner of Alibaba for more than 16 years, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership together,” said Jack Ma, Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group. “As SoftBank looks to strengthen its own balance sheet, Alibaba determined that it was the best use of our capital to re-invest in our own business through an efficient buyback of a large number of shares in our own company that is accretive to our stockholders.”

March Quarter 2016 Financial Results

• Revenue was RMB 24,184 million (US$3,751 million), an increase of 39% year-over-year; China retail marketplaces revenue was RMB18,340 million (US$2,844 million), an increase of 41% year-over-year; and mobile revenue was RMB13,084 million (US$2,029 million), an increase of 149% year-over-year;
• Non-GAAP diluted EPS(2) was RMB3.02 vs. last years RMB3.00 

“Alibaba Group finished the fiscal year on a very strong note. In March we surpassed RMB3 trillion in annual GMV and our revenue for the year was over RMB100 billion. We achieved strong growth in mobile users, active buyers and transactions,” said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. “Our focus on long-term strategic priorities – globalization, rural expansion, building a world-class cloud computing business and creating a comprehensive media and entertainment platform – has laid a strong foundation for future growth.”

“Our excellent results this quarter reflect the unique strength of our core e-commerce business despite challenging economic conditions, as well as the emerging momentum of our balanced portfolio of businesses from mobile media to cloud computing. As a result, we achieved accelerating year-over-year revenue growth of 39%, which was the highest revenue growth rate for the past four quarters,” said Maggie Wu, Chief Financial Officer of Alibaba Group. “With several consecutive quarters of increases in revenue per active buyer and revenue per mobile MAU, we showcase the resiliency and growing clout of Chinese consumers. This bodes well for our business as our annual active buyers on our China retail marketplaces increased to 423 million.”

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) announced today that it has entered into a definite agreement to acquire the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and other media assets of SCMP Group Limited (SEHK: 0583).

The agreement combines the heritage and editorial excellence of the SCMP with Alibaba�s digital expertise to provide comprehensive and insightful news and analysis of the big stories in Hong Kong and China.

�The South China Morning Post is unique because it focuses on coverage of China in the English language. This is a proposition that is in high demand by readers around the world who care to understand the world's second largest economy,� said Joe Tsai, executive vice chairman of Alibaba Group. �Our vision is to expand the SCMP�s readership globally through digital distribution and easier access to content.�

�With proven expertise especially in mobile Internet, Alibaba is in an excellent position to leverage technology to create content more efficiently and reach a global audience,� said Robin Hu, Chief Executive Officer of SCMP. "We welcome Alibaba�s commitment to invest additional resources in its editorial and business operations to make the SCMP even stronger."

Apart from the flagship South China Morning Post newspaper, the agreement includes the acquisition of the magazine, recruitment, outdoor media, events & conferences, education and digital media businesses of SCMP Group Limited. Besides the broadsheet, other SCMP titles include the Sunday Morning Post, its digital platforms SCMP.com and related mobile apps, and the two Chinese websites Nanzao.com and Nanzaozhinan.com. The acquisition also includes a portfolio of magazine titles including the Hong Kong editions of Esquire, Elle, Cosmopolitan, The PEAK and Harper�s Bazaar.

HONG KONG, Dec. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba's B2B business unit, including Alibaba.com and 1688.com, the leading platforms for online wholesale trade of the Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA), and UBM plc, one of the world's leading trade exhibition organisers, have today announced a strategic alliance to unite the online and offline trade buying experience initially in Asia.

The two companies have begun exploring opportunities to link the B2B online and face-to-face trading worlds by leveraging their combined strengths, technologies and relationships. The alliance will begin with pilot programmes introducing Alibaba B2B business unit's online secure transactional platforms and business portals for companies participating in select UBM Asia trade fairs. Cross promotional marketing, match-making services and audience development of the two company's brands and networks will be another key aspect in working towards the longer term goal of creating the next generation of on and offline trade experiences.

Sophie Wu, President of the Alibaba B2B business unit, commented: "We are excited to collaborate with UBM to offer small and medium-sized enterprises a multichannel B2B trading experience. They can also tap into the abundant and combined expertise of the two industry pioneers for more worldwide trading opportunities."

Tim Cobbold, CEO of UBM plc, said: "A fundamental element of our 'Events First' strategy is our commitment to innovate and to deliver value for our customers. We are excited at the opportunity to partner with Alibaba.com, to create the next generation of trade buying experience."

Pilot programmes for the joint collaboration will begin with UBM Asia's Malaysia International Furniture Fair (MIFF) to be held on 1-5 March 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Finefood Shanghai -- part of Hotelex Shanghai -- to be held 29 March to 1 April 2016 inShanghai, China; and the co-located Materials Manufacturing & Technology (MM&T) and Fashion Access (FA) fairs to be held 30 March to 1 April 2016 in Hong Kong.

The collaboration will commence with promotions of the UBM fairs to both parties' respective trade audiences and Alibaba will begin offering their Trade Assurance service onsite to select exhibitors. Alibaba's Trade Assurance service allows participating suppliers to offer guarantees on order quality standards and on-time shipment. Further pilots in the second half of 2016 will include additional business match-making components for other UBM Asia events such as Shanghai International Children Baby Maternity Industry Expo (CBME China) and SIGN & LED CHINA fairs.

James Dong, Head of B2B Strategy, Investment, Business Development and Business Intelligence of Alibaba.com, commented: "We see great added values that this collaboration brings to global business traders. Alibaba's online trading resources and technology complements with the interaction and dialogues in the offline UBM trade shows. Such an alliance not only makes trading more cost-effective but enables higher level of trust between global buyers and sellers."

Jime Essink, President and CEO of UBM Asia Ltd, said: "One of the challenges of the trade exhibition industry is continuing the buyer and seller dialogue and experience throughout the year. Meanwhile, the limitation of a pure online trading world is the absence of the physical interaction and development of the personal relationship. With Alibaba and UBM Asia -- both prominent players in our respective fields of B2B trade -- working together, we see opportunities to change how online and offline trade takes place, providing improved returns and efficiencies for our customers."

BEIJING and HANGZHOU, China, November 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) and Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE:YOKU) today announced their entry into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which an affiliate of Alibaba Group ("Alibaba") will acquire Youku Tudou Inc., a leading multi-screen entertainment and media company in China ("Youku Tudou"), in an all-cash transaction (the "Transaction").

Upon completion of the Transaction, the shareholders of Youku Tudou, other than the current investment entity controlled by Alibaba, will have the right to receive US$27.60 per American Depositary Share ("ADS", each representing 18 ordinary shares of Youku Tudou) in cash. The price represents a premium of 35.1% over the closing price of Youku Tudou's ADSs on October 15, 2015, one day prior to the date that Youku Tudou announced it had received a "going private" proposal from Alibaba, and a premium of 49.9% to the volume-weighted average closing price of Youku Tudou's ADSs during the three months prior to October 15, 2015.

Youku Tudou's board of directors (the "Youku Tudou Board"), acting on the recommendation of an independent special committee of the Youku Tudou Board (the "Special Committee"), unanimously approved the merger agreement and the Transaction and recommends that Youku Tudou's shareholders vote to authorize and approve the merger agreement and the Transaction.

"We believe this combination with Alibaba maximizes value for Youku Tudou shareholders and significantly benefits our customers, users and team," said Victor Koo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Youku Tudou. "We are eager to work with Alibaba to grow our multi-screen entertainment and media ecosystem. We are confident that we will strengthen our market position and further accelerate our growth through the integration of our advertising and consumer businesses with Alibaba's platform and Alipay services. With Alibaba's support, Youku Tudou's future as the leading multi-screen entertainment and media platform in China has been firmly secured."

The Transaction, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2016, is subject to customary closing conditions, including the affirmative vote of the shares of Youku Tudou representing at least two-thirds of the shares present and voting in person or by proxy as a single class at an extraordinary general meeting of Youku Tudou's shareholders. Alibaba has entered into a support agreement with Youku Tudou's Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Victor Koo, Chengwei Capital and various entities affiliated with them pursuant to which such shareholders have agreed to, among other things and solely in their capacity as shareholders of Youku Tudou, vote all of the ordinary shares of Youku Tudou beneficially owned by them in favor of the Transaction and against any competing transaction in accordance with the terms of the support agreement. Alibaba and the parties to the support agreement collectively beneficially own approximately 60.6% of the total voting power of the Youku Tudou shares.

Following the completion of the Transaction, Victor Koo will remain as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Youku Tudou. If the Transaction is completed, Youku Tudou's ADSs will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cainiao Logistics, the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA), has unveiled special logistics arrangements made for this year�s 11.11 Global Shopping Festival.

Cainiao operates an industry-leading proprietary logistics information platform providing both buyers and sellers with real-time information access. The information helps facilitate the efficient delivery of goods ordered on Alibaba�s marketplaces. During this year�s 11.11 online sale event, Cainiao estimates more than 1.7 million delivery personnel, 400,000 vehicles, 5,000 warehouses and 200 airplanes will be deployed by its logistics partners to handle deliveries on the busiest day on the shopping calendar.

This year�s 11.11 festival is shaping up to be the most international ever with more than 5,000 international brands from 25 countries joining the sale, selling directly to consumers in more than 200 countries and regions through Alibaba�s China and international marketplaces. To facilitate international deliveries, Cainiao has launched Hassle-free Logistics Service enlisting the support of 49 cross-border delivery partners who have set up 16 dedicated cross-border delivery routes and 74 warehouses that can support 4 million package deliveries per day. Cainiao has also made arrangements for faster customs clearance for cross-border packages via bonded warehouses while integrating logistics data sharing with local customs in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Guangzhou.

�The massive number of delivery orders generated from this great online shopping event really pushes us and our delivery partners to do our very best,� said Cainiao Chief Technology Officer Ben Wang. �The extraordinary success and increasing popularity of 11.11 is a testament to the hard work and achievements of our partners and staff. By leveraging big-data technology and our extensive domestic and international logistics network, all of us stand ready to deliver world-class logistics services to our customers once again this year.�

Cainiao�s logistics information platform connects and coordinates a network of more than 3,000 logistics partners in China and abroad, including delivery firms, warehouse operators and cross-border logistics companies. Collectively these service providers operate more than 176,000 delivery stations across China. Cainiao has also established more than 300,000 pick-up stations where consumers can take delivery of online-ordered goods in more than 190 Chinese cities. In rural areas, Cainiao is working with regional last-mile delivery firms to ensure the logistical needs of residents are met. With the most comprehensive address database in China, Cainiao also enables courier companies to serve customers with structured and efficient last-mile delivery throughout much of the country.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited

US$8,000,000,000

Offer to Exchange All Outstanding
Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2017
1.625% Senior Notes due 2017
2.500% Senior Notes due 2019
3.125% Senior Notes due 2021
3.600% Senior Notes due 2024
4.500% Senior Notes due 2034

For an Equal Principal Amount of
Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2017
1.625% Senior Notes due 2017
2.500% Senior Notes due 2019
3.125% Senior Notes due 2021
3.600% Senior Notes due 2024
4.500% Senior Notes due 2034
Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

  We will exchange all of our outstanding Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2017, or the Outstanding 2017 Floating Rate Notes, our outstanding 1.625% Senior Notes due 2017, or the Outstanding 2017 Fixed Rate Notes, our outstanding 2.500% Senior Notes due 2019, or the Outstanding 2019 Fixed Rate Notes, our outstanding 3.125% Senior Notes due 2021, or the Outstanding 2021 Fixed Rate Notes, our outstanding 3.600% Senior Notes due 2024, or the Outstanding 2024 Fixed Rate Notes, and our outstanding 4.500% Senior Notes due 2034, or the Outstanding 2034 Fixed Rate Notes, that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2017, or the 2017 Floating Rate Notes, 1.625% Senior Notes due 2017, or the 2017 Fixed Rate Notes, 2.500% Senior Notes due 2019, or the 2019 Fixed Rate Notes, 3.125% Senior Notes due 2021, or the 2021 Fixed Rate Notes, 3.600% Senior Notes due 2024, or the 2024 Fixed Rate Notes, and 4.500% Senior Notes due 2034, or the 2034 Fixed Rate Notes, respectively, that are freely tradable. The Outstanding 2017 Floating Rate Notes, Outstanding 2017 Fixed Rate Notes, Outstanding 2019 Fixed Rate Notes, Outstanding 2021 Fixed Rate Notes, Outstanding 2024 Fixed Rate Notes and Outstanding 2034 Fixed Rate Notes are collectively referred to hereinafter as the Outstanding Notes. The 2017 Fixed Rate Notes, 2019 Fixed Rate Notes, 2021 Fixed Rate Notes, 2024 Fixed Rate Notes and 2034 Fixed Rate Notes are collectively referred to hereinafter as the Fixed Rate Notes. The 2017 Floating Rate Notes and the Fixed Rate Notes are collectively referred to herein as the Notes.

The Exchange Offer

• 

The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 25, 2015, unless extended. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date.

• 

You may withdraw tenders of Outstanding Notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

• 

The exchange of Outstanding Notes for Notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax or Cayman Islands tax law purposes.

• 

We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

The Exchange Notes

• 

The Notes are being offered in order to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the placement of the Outstanding Notes.

• 

The terms of the Notes to be issued in the exchange offer are substantially identical to the Outstanding Notes, except that the Notes will be freely tradable.

Resales and Listing of Notes

• 

The Notes may be sold in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or through a combination of such methods.

• 

An application will be made to The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, or the SEHK, for listing of, and permission to deal in, the Notes by way of debt issues to professional investors only. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and the SEHK take no responsibility for the contents of this document, make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaim any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document.

  If you are a broker-dealer and you receive Notes for your own account, you must acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Notes. By making such acknowledgment, you will not be deemed to admit that you are an underwriter under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Broker-dealers may use this prospectus in connection with any resale of Notes received in exchange for Outstanding Notes where such Outstanding Notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale, and will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal. A broker dealer may not participate in the exchange offer with respect to Outstanding Notes acquired other than as a result of market-making activities or trading activities. See "Plan of Distribution."

  If you are an affiliate of ours or are engaged in, or intend to engage in, or have an agreement or understanding to participate in, a distribution of the Notes, you cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and you must comply with the registration requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

• Revenue was RMB22,171 million (US$3,488 million), an increase of 32% year-over-year;
• Non-GAAP diluted EPS in the quarter ended September 30, 2015 was RMB3.63 (US$0.57), an increase of 30% compared to RMB2.79 in the same quarter of 2014. The lower non-GAAP diluted EPS growth rate relative to non-GAAP net income growth rate was due to an increase in the average number of diluted shares outstanding in the quarter ended September 30, 2015 following the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014. A reconciliation of diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS is included at the end of this earnings release.

"This was a great quarter for Alibaba Group, with strong growth across the board and particular outperformance in mobile. We continued our efforts to drive healthy GMV growth, deliver an unparalleled consumer experience and help quality merchants do business on our platform,� said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. �We are winning in mobile and remain focused on our top strategic priorities, including internationalization, expanding our ecosystem from cities to villages, and building a world-class cloud computing business."

"We had very strong results this quarter. GMV grew to US$112 billion, a year-on-year increase of US$25 billion in this quarter," said Maggie Wu, Chief Financial Officer of Alibaba Group. "We also made significant progress in monetization and our revenue growth accelerated. Meanwhile, we generated strong free cash flow of US$2.1 billion this quarter. The fundamental strength of our business gives us the confidence to invest in our strategic priorities."

BEIJING, October 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Youku Tudou Inc. (NYSE: YOKU), a leading multi-screen entertainment and media company in China ("Youku Tudou" or the "Company"), today announced that its Board of Directors (the "Board") has received a nonbinding proposal, dated October 16, 2015, from Alibaba Group Holding Limited ("Alibaba") for a "going private" transaction in which it would acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company, including ordinary shares represented by American depositary shares ("ADSs," each representing 18 ordinary shares of the Company), that are not owned by Alibaba for US$26.60 per ADS in cash, subject to certain conditions (the "Transaction"). The offer price set forth in the proposal letter represents a premium of approximately 30.2% over the closing price of the ADSs as quoted by the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on October 15, 2015, the last trading day prior to this announcement, and a premium of 44.5% to the volume-weighted average closing price of the ADSs as quoted by the NYSE during the last three months.

In connection with the proposal letter, certain shareholders of the Company, including Victor Koo, the Company's founder, chairman and chief executive officer, Chengwei Capital and various entities affiliated with them have entered into a Support Agreement with Alibaba, dated October 16, 2015, pursuant to which such shareholders have agreed to, among other things and solely in their capacity as shareholders of the Company, vote their shares of the Company in favor of the Transaction in accordance with the terms of the Support Agreement.

According to the proposal letter, Alibaba intends to fund the consideration payable in the Transaction with its cash on hand.

The Board has formed a special committee consisting of two independent disinterested directors, Mr. Jonathan Jia Zhu and Mr. Jixun Foo, to consider the Transaction. The special committee will retain independent legal and financial advisors to assist it in this process.

The Board cautions the Company's shareholders and others considering trading in its securities that the Board has just received the proposal letter and no decisions have been made with respect to the Company's response to the Transaction. There can be no assurance that any definitive offer will be made, that any agreement will be executed or that this or any other transaction will be approved or consummated. The Company does not undertake any obligation to provide any updates with respect to this or any other transaction, except as required under applicable law.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alibaba Group (BABA) announced today the opening of the Robert Mondavi Wines exclusive flagship store on Tmall.com, to officially kick off its newly launched “Tmall Vineyard Direct” program on its Tmall.com marketplace, China’s largest third-party platform for brands and retailers.

Robert Mondavi, one of the most historic and esteemed wine brands in California, has chosen Tmall.com as the first and only online destination to reach hundreds of millions of consumers in China. It reflects Tmall’s status as the premiere platform for brands and retailers who wish to establish their online presence and direct engagement with customers. The opening of the Robert Mondavi Wines flagship store on Tmall.com marks the official launch of the “Tmall Vineyard Direct” program, where Tmall will work directly with wineries globally, to bring the finest and best selection of wines from around the world to the Chinese consumer market. With the opening of the exclusive flagship store on Tmall.com, Chinese consumers will be able to purchase a wide range of authentic, high-quality Robert Mondavi wines bottled and shipped from the wineries in the U.S., including labels such as Robert Mondavi Winery, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, and Twin Oaks by Robert Mondavi.

“We are honored that Robert Mondavi, one of the most reputed wine brands in the U.S. and in the world, has chosen Tmall as the exclusive online platform to grow their business in China,” said Gary Clubb, Head of International Business Development at Tmall.com, Alibaba Group. “Working directly with the winery itself is key to a robust supply chain and allows us to leverage the power of the Alibaba ecosystem to pioneer innovative sales and marketing campaigns to the 367 million buyers on our platforms.”

“Over the past few years, we have seen a very encouraging uptake in Chinese tourists visiting our wineries in California, as well as wine sales in China,” said Philip Kingston, SVP of International, Constellation Brands. “This exclusive flagship store on Tmall allows us to sell our wines to Chinese consumers in a marketplace which we believe will build our brand. It also strengthens our presence in China as we expect to benefit from Alibaba’s sophisticated data analytics capabilities and extensive customer insights.”

Growing its business internationally is a strategic priority for Alibaba Group because its mission is "to make it easy to do business anywhere". The increasing number of international agreements and activities over the past several months reflects one element of Alibaba Group's globalization strategy as outlined by Chairman Jack Ma in June 2015 – to help brands and companies of all sizes sell their goods to the growing Chinese consumer class.

SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Aliyun, Alibaba Group�s (BABA) cloud computing arm, today announced that it will establish a new cloud data center in Singapore. Its headquarters for overseas business will also be based out of Singapore to drive Aliyun�s overseas expansion plan. Scheduled for an early September launch, the Singapore facility will be the seventh globally.

The new cloud data center leverages on Alibaba Group�s recent US$1 billion investment for cloud computing, and will enable more businesses to benefit from secure and reliable Aliyun-powered cloud services while riding on record foreign direct investment flows in Southeast Asia.

�Singapore is a natural destination to be our headquarters for overseas expansion. The city state is a natural springboard into the Asia Pacific region, not only for us, but for our target audience. We are seeing healthy demand for cloud-related data management services in Singapore because of the ease of doing business, comprehensive transport and telecommunications connections and robust intellectual property regime. The stable geo-political climate and abundance of highly skilled talent are advantages too,� said Sicheng (Ethan) Yu, Vice President of Aliyun.

With direct connections to Aliyun's data center network via Beijing, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Silicon Valley, the Singapore cloud data center will cater to the cloud computing needs of businesses investing in Southeast Asia with Chinese businesses being a key focus.

�The cloud data center in Singapore is a key milestone in our strategy to help businesses of all sizes innovate and scale, wherever they are based, and however they choose to grow,� said Sicheng (Ethan) Yu, Vice President of Aliyun. �Aliyun offers a unique combination of services for success in the cloud, including high-volume cloud-based transaction support and quality assurance for cloud computing services.�

In the June quarter this year, Aliyun�s revenue growth from cloud computing and Internet infrastructure increased 106% year-on-year, driven by the accelerated growth of its cloud computing business compared to 82% in the prior quarter.

Aliyun has successfully established itself as the market leader in cloud computing services in China. Security and reliability are Aliyun hallmarks. Aliyun is the first cloud security provider to earn ISO27001 Information Security Management System Certification in China. It is also the first cloud service provider to offer Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) Star certification for its facilities all over the world. CSA Star certification is an enhancement to the ISO/IEC 27001 standard that addresses issues around cloud security.

Aliyun�s expertise with extremely massive workloads in the cloud is proven. It supplies the technology infrastructure for Alibaba Group and provides sophisticated networking solutions, big-data intelligence products and large-scale cloud computing services to third parties. The company currently serves 1.8 million customers as of June 30, 2015, including key Chinese corporations and Chinese government agencies and state-owned public service providers.

Leading up to the official launch, core service for the Singapore data centre can now be pre-ordered on www.aliyun.com:

• Elastic Computing Service, which provides high availability and maximize performance

Other services, which will be available on www.aliyun.com after the official launch include:

• Relational Database Service, which is immediately usable, reliable and elastic
• Server Load Balance, a load balancing service that distributes traffic for multiple cloud servers
• Open Cache Service, an online caching service, which provides rapid response for the access of hotspot data
• Open Storage Service, a massive, secure and highly reliable cloud storage service
• Open Table Service, a NoSQL database service, which provides users with storage and real-time access of mass structured data
• Yundun: a security service, which includes DDoS protection, host intrusion prevention, vulnerability detection, Trojan detectio

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alibaba Group announced today the launch of Suning Commerce�s official flagship store (http://suning.tmall.com) on Tmall.com, China�s largest third-party B2C platform for brands and retailers, a move that closely follows the announcement of Alibaba Group�s investment in Suning Commerce Group Limited made last week.

Japan�s leading duty-free group Laox Co. Ltd., in which Suning holds a majority stake, has also launched its official overseas flagship store (http://laox.tmall.hk) on Tmall Global, an overseas platform and an extension to Tmall.com�s B2C business which enables overseas merchants to enter China�s online retail market. Together with recently announced additions, this marks as a further expansion of duty-free stores on Tmall Global.

Alibaba Group and Suning Commerce Group have entered into a strategic alliance, through Alibaba�s 19.99% stake investment in Suning announced last week, in order to build on synergies in e-commerce, logistics, and new businesses through joint omni-channel initiatives. Through the cooperation, Alibaba and Suning will be able to provide holistic and more convenient shopping experiences for consumers in China.

�Just one week following the strategic cooperation between Alibaba Group and Suning Commerce, we now welcome the launch of the official Laox store on Tmall Global in tandem with the Suning launch on Tmall.com,� said Jeff Zhang, president of China retail marketplaces of Alibaba Group. �The speed of integration and global import strategy efforts from both parties has exceeded expectations. This year, both Alibaba and Suning are focused on globalization initiatives and we�ve agreed on import strategies and will work together to rapidly establish a new, globalized business ecosystem.�

�Laox has 85 years of experience in the retail business in Japan, and has retained the unique focus and customer service of Japanese companies,� said Luo Yiwen, CEO of Laox Co. Ltd. �China is an important overseas market and it is our goal to achieve rapid growth through online and offline integration. This is why we launched on Suning Commerce and now on Tmall Global as well. We look forward to expanding our coverage for consumers in China through this cooperation in order to enable them to purchase Laox products and services without leaving China.�

Suning�s flagship store on Tmall.com will offer a variety of popular consumer electronic products, while looking to expand in mother and baby products, cosmetics, supermarket and overseas goods for the hundreds of millions of Chinese shoppers on Tmall platforms.

Laox, meanwhile, will introduce a range of discounted small kitchen appliances and cosmetic products through Tmall Global. The addition of Laox further expands Tmall Global�s World Duty Free service, which is one of the strategic initiatives of Alibaba Group�s globalization strategy.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group announced today an exclusive agreement with Macys China Limited, a joint venture between Macy�s Inc, one of America�s most iconic fashion retailers and the largest U.S. department store by retail sales, and Hong Kong-based Fung Retailing Limited, a leading retailer in Greater China ⁽¹⁾. Under the agreement, Macys China Limited will launch an exclusive online flagship store on Tmall Global providing a wide selection of authentic, high-quality Macys merchandise to shoppers in China. This partnership will enable Macys brands to reach hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers by leveraging Alibabas data-driven ecosystem.

This is a major milestone as Macy�s, through the joint venture, will be the first U.S. department store to join Alibaba�s Tmall Global. With more than 150 years of tradition and heritage, Macy�s is a revered retail institution that has truly embraced the spirit of e-commerce including the effort to merge online and offline commerce. Alibaba continues to help brands to expand their customer reach in providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to make it easier for brands to sell premium imported goods to China, making this win-win partnership.

As a core element of their go-to-market strategy in China, Macy�s China Limited will launch an exclusive official Macy�s online flagship store on Tmall Global in late 2015. Tmall Global will be the first and only third-party e-commerce platform in China providing apparel, fashion accessories and home products directly from Macy�s to consumers across China.

Macys is one of the most iconic brands in the world and we are honored Macys China Limited has chosen us as their exclusive partner to grow their business in China,� said Daniel Zhang, chief executive officer of Alibaba Group. Macys exclusive Tmall Global flagship store is a major win for consumers across China. It reinforces Tmall Globals status as the premiere solution for brands and retailers in their strategic online presence and direct engagement with customers in China.

Millions of Chinese tourists have come to know and love Macys when they travel to New York, San Francisco, Chicago and other American destinations,� said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman and chief executive officer of Macys, Inc. By making Macys accessible in China through Alibabas Tmall Global, we have an opportunity to deepen our relationship with international customers and to grow sales.

Fung Retailings chairman, Dr. Victor K. Fung, said, Macys is not only a premier retailer in the States but also a frontrunner in omni-channel retailing. With our affiliates, including LF Logistics, we shall be fully supporting the activities of the Macy�s-Fung Retailing joint venture.

Growing its business internationally is a strategic priority for Alibaba Group because its mission is �to make it easy to do business anywhere. The increasing number of international agreements and activities over the past several months reflects one element ofAlibaba Groups globalization strategy as outlined by Chairman Jack Ma in June 2015  to help brands and companies of all sizes sell their goods to the growing Chinese consumer class.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) (Alibaba) and Suning Commerce Group Limited (002024.SZ) (�Suning�) today announced that Alibaba will invest approximately RMB28.3 billion (US$4.63 billion) for a 19.99% stake in Suning, one of the largest consumer electronics retail chains in China. After the closing of the investment in Suning, Alibaba will be the second-largest shareholder in the company.

Concurrent with Alibaba�s investment in Suning, Suning will invest up to RMB14 billion (US$2.28 billion) to subscribe for up to 27.8 million newly issued ordinary shares of Alibaba. After the investment, Suning will hold approximately a 1.1% interest in Alibabas enlarged issued and outstanding share capital.

The strategic collaboration between Alibaba and Suning marks a milestone that signals the further integration of digital and offline retail. This strategic collaboration will bring benefits to hundreds of millions of Chinese consumers who use Alibabas online platforms and Suning�s offline channels. By cooperating, Alibaba and Suning will be able to provide holistic and more convenient shopping experiences, as well as superior customer service to users looking to purchase online and through mobile devices.

As part of the transaction, Alibaba and Suning have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to build on synergies in e-commerce, logistics and incremental business through joint omni-channel initiatives. Under the collaboration, Suning will open a flagship store on Alibabas Tmall.com platform, focusing on consumer electronics, home appliances and baby products. The store will offer high-quality product offerings at attractive prices and an unparalleled superior shopping experience. Suning�s flagship store will be a major win for Tmall.com, and reflects Tmalls status as the premiere platform for brands and retailers who wish to establish their online presence and direct engagement with customers.

In the area of logistics, Suning will become a partner of Cainiao, Alibaba�s logistics affiliate and Suning�s logistics services cover almost all of the 2,800 counties and districts in China. Suning boasts a nationwide logistics network covering over 90% of China�s counties including eight national distribution centers, 57 regional distribution centers, 353 city forwarding centers and over 1,700 last-mile delivery stations. With Cainiao�s intelligent delivery solutions and Suning�s well-developed distribution network, customers can expect to receive their orders in as fast as two hours in the near future.

This collaboration highlights how Alibaba Group�s unrivaled leadership in mobile commerce and payments makes it possible for offline retailers to have an aggressive and successful omni-channel strategy. This collaboration brings together a strong bricks-and-mortar operation with an extensive online customer base and resources. Capitalizing on Suning�s extensive network of offline stores and leveraging Alibabas edge in data technology, both parties can explore online-to-offline and offline-to-online commerce opportunities that better serve customer needs and preferences. The collaboration will provide many tangible benefits to consumers. For example, consumers will be able to have a physical experience with the product in store, while at the same time being able to operate other areas such as ordering and payment through their own mobile device. Not only will customers be able to enjoy the tremendous amount of offerings and pay directly via the Alipay Wallet on their mobile device, they will also be able to experience the products and after-sale services in person in Suning�s over 1,600 physical retail stores in 289 cities across China. In addition, Sunings retail stores, as well as its over 3,000 after-sales service locations and over 5,000 affiliate servicing partners in 320 cities across China will also be able to perform important after-sale maintenance or repair services to Tmall  consumers.

Zhang Jindong, Suning�s Chairman, said: The collaboration between Alibaba and Suning is a milestone in China�s retail industry and its influence on e-commerce and offline retailing will be enormous. This collaboration signals a new trend in the Internet age: Strengthening China�s traditional industries by leveraging the power of Internet. It will also help transform China�s manufacturing industry and broaden the global horizons of Chinese brands.

Sun Weimin, Suning�s Vice Chairman, said, We believe the strengths of Alibaba and Suning complement each other. By exploring standards and models in the O2O sector, we hope to bring real benefits to Chinese consumers.

in Suning and the investment by Suning in Alibaba are subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and, in the case of the investment by Alibaba in Suning, the approval of the shareholders of Suning.

BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group (BABA) today announced that it will invest an additional US$1 billion to fuel further growth at Aliyun, its cloud computing arm, a testament to cloud computing as an important growth area for Alibaba. The additional funding will be used to expand Aliyun�s international presence, extend and support an alliance-based global cloud computing ecosystem, and for the development of new cloud and big data solutions that enable customers to increase productivity, lower costs and scale quickly as their businesses grow.

�Aliyun has become a world-class cloud computing service platform that is the market leader in China, bearing the fruits of our investment over the past six years. As the physical and digital are becoming increasingly integrated, Aliyun will serve as an essential engine in this new economy,� said Daniel Zhang, CEO of Alibaba Group. "This additional US$1 billion investment is just the beginning; our hope is for Aliyun to continually empower customers and partners with new capabilities, and help companies upgrade their basic infrastructure. We want to enable businesses to connect directly with consumers and drive productivity using data. Ultimately, our goal is to help businesses successfully transition from an era of information technology to data technology."

Aliyun is focused on bringing the benefits of user-friendly, cost-efficient and secure cloud computing to businesses around the world. Part of the additional US$1 billion investment will contribute to further international expansion for Aliyun as part of this globalization strategy. Aliyun currently provides public cloud computing services in five data centers in China and in Hong Kong, and earlier this year launched its first overseas data center in Silicon Valley. Part of this new investment will be used to set up a global network of Aliyun cloud computing centers in the Middle East, Singapore, Japan and Europe.

The additional funding also underpins Aliyun's vision of a comprehensive cloud ecosystem that ensures businesses can be powered by cloud computing, with peace of mind, from day one of their operations. One initiative is the internationalMarketplace Alliance Program, which is designed to provide global users with one-stop cloud services and contribute to the worldwide development of cloud computing. The first wave of alliance partners "Intel, Singtel, Dubai-based Meraas, Equinix, PCCW, LINKBYNET, and Hong Kong-based Towngas " cover North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Tmall.com, China’s largest business-to-consumer platform and a unit of Alibaba Group (BABA), announced today it has launched a RMB 1 billion ($161 million) online grocery promotional campaign targeted at Beijing users, and teamed up with Cainiao, the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group, to offer same-day delivery services to Beijing city residents.

Online grocery shopping is a rapidly growing e-commerce segment and a strategic area of interest for Alibaba Group. The convenience of online grocery shopping has already drawn in millions of users. According to Kantar Worldpanel, China’s FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) e-commerce penetration rate was 36 percent in 20141, while McKinsey states that 40 percent of Chinese consumers have bought food online.

Tmall Supermarket (http://chaoshi.tmall.com) will run its promotion three times a day, allowing Beijing-based Internet users a chance to win ‘red packets’ that subsidize their grocery purchases. The promotion will end on July 31st.

Beijing residents who order from Tmall’s supermarket before 11 a.m. will be eligible for same-day delivery service. In the future, Tmall Supermarket and Cainiao plan to roll-out same-day delivery services to Shanghai and other Chinese cities.

Jeff Zhang, President of Alibaba Group’s China Retail Marketplaces said Tmall Supermarket will draw on Alibaba Group’s complete e-commerce ecosystem - including Alibaba’s advantage in logistics, strength in online payments, big data and cloud computing, to bring consumers the most convenient and secure online shopping experience for quality productsTmall Supermarket was established in 2012 and provides a one-stop shopping solution for Chinese users looking to purchase authentic food products, cosmetics, beverages, snacks, imported items, etc. In the past year, Tmall Supermarket’s Beijing area GMV soared more than 700 percent with 90 percent of consumers shopping on their mobile phones.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group and Unilever China announced today a comprehensive strategic partnership that will enable Unilever to reach customers across China with unprecedented precision and effectiveness through Alibaba Group’s data-driven ecosystem. Key areas of collaboration include rural China penetration, cross-border e-commerce, consumer protection and Big Data.

"We are very pleased to amplify our partnership with an industry leader such as Unilever,” said Daniel Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Alibaba Group. “We look forward to building on our success in sales over the years and taking the collaboration to the next level. Moving forward, Alibaba Group and Unilever will jointly innovate in Big Data analytics application, cross-border e-commerce, and supply chain management. In this rapidly changing business landscape, we are committed to continually provide greater value to merchants and better experiences to shoppers.”

“Alibaba has changed the shopping habit of Chinese consumers. Its mission is to make it easy to do business everywhere, and its vision is to build the future infrastructure of commerce. This meets the Unilever’s development needs in China,” said Marijn Van Tiggelen, Unilever North Asia President. “Alibaba is the leading internet company in China, with the most innovative thinking. It’s not only an online store, but also a solution platform for online payment, e-finance, and e-commerce logistics. In cooperation with Alibaba, Unilever can provide more convenient services to consumers in China.”

This agreement is a major milestone for a partnership that started five years ago with a single Tmall store, which has since grown steadily on a solid foundation of mutual trust and success over the years. Through this strategic partnership, Alibaba Group and Unilever China will work together to:

• Strengthen cooperation to expand distribution channels, especially for consumers in rural areas to enjoy more convenient access to Unilever products
• Further develop cross-border ecommerce cooperation and make the Tmall Global Unilever store home to the richest selection of Unilever products from around the world
• Expand application of Big Data to optimize Unilever’s digital advertising strategy through Alimama, Alibaba’s online marketing business, and reach more consumers through online-offline retail integration
• Deepen collaboration in Alibaba’s Blue Star program where each product is tagged with a unique QR code that allows the consumer to verify its authenticity and origin. This will help protect Unilever’s brand and combat counterfeit goods to protect the customer user experience
• Develop innovations in supply chain management and offline distribution models

The upcoming Unilever Week on Tmall, scheduled for July 22 to 24, will celebrate the start of this partnership agreement.

Unilever China opened its first Tmall flagship store in June 2011 and, most recently, a Tmall Global flagship in September 2014, leveraging the free trade zone and bonded warehouse model.

BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA), announced today an expansion of its cross-border e-commerce initiatives, including the launch of 11 official country pavilions on its Tmall Global platform and cooperative partnerships between Juhuasuan, Alibaba’s group-buying platform, and 26 foreign embassies in China.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) announced today it has signed a strategic agreement with Shanghai Media Group (SMG) to leverage both companies� Internet technology and media resources in order to penetrate China's financial information services industry.

As part of the strategic agreement, Alibaba Group intends to invest RMB1.2 billion ($193.6 million) into China Business News (CBN), a leading Chinese financial media company under SMG, to create a financial data and information services company that will help Chinese small and medium enterprises tap a rich mine of financial data. By utilizing Alibaba Group�s big data and cloud computing capabilities, both companies will jointly develop a comprehensive financial data and information platform that will provide users with timely financial news and information in order to enhance their investment and financial decision-making capabilities.

The aim of this platform is to raise the bar on enterprise efficiency in China by leveling the information playing field. By giving a greater number of Chinese enterprises access to precious financial data that can be easily mined and analyzed for actionable investment and business decisions, this platform is expected to help these enterprises scale and expand their businesses.

Currently, Alipay and CBN are collaborating to provide users with stock quote information and CBN's wealth management information product will also soon launch on Mobile Taobao. Alipay is part of Ant Financial Services Group, a related party of Alibaba Group. Alibaba Group and SMG will also work toward enhancing digital and traditional media convergence in the industry through the launch of innovative new media products for the market.

"The era of Data Technology is here and it will surpass the Information Technology era. The DT era is about transparency, sharing of information and enabling others. Alibaba is excited about the possibilities of the DT era and how it can bring value to society," said Alibaba Group Founder and Executive Chairman Jack Ma.

This strategic agreement with SMG is expected to help Alibaba Group develop DT-era products and services to enrich the lives of Chinese users, be it in academia, business or media sectors. Alibaba Group Strategic Decision Committee member Tiger Wang and CBN Chairman LI Rong participated in the signing ceremony in Shanghai.

Through this tie-up, CBN is well-poised to expand its financial media information services and continue to innovate in China�s traditional financial media industry. CBN is China�s leading financial media group with a variety of media assets, such as television, radio, newspaper, magazine and news agencies.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cainiao, the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA), announced today the establishment of its first supermarket distribution center in Chengdu, China, that will let users in southwestern China enjoy next-day delivery services for Tmall supermarket products. Cainiao also revealed plans to increase the number of supermarket distribution centers to 7, allowing grocery products ordered on Tmall Supermarkets to be delivered to more than 250 cities in 25 Chinese provinces. Residents in 50 of those cities will be able to enjoy same or next-day delivery service by the end of 2015.

The Chengdu supermarket distribution center will initially provide next-day grocery deliveries to Tmall Supermarket users in Chengdu and Chongqing, and will gradually expand delivery services to other regions in southwestern China. The Tmall supermarket vertical sells groceries, pantry items and other non-perishable fast-moving-consumer goods.

Cainiao plans to add one more centre in Wuhan to cover the provinces of Hubei, Henan and Hunan, as well as rural areas, allowing next-day deliveries to more than 250 cities in 25 Chinese provinces covering a customer base of more than 100 million. The Chengdu centre is the sixth supermarket distribution center. Cainiao has five existing distribution centers in Tianjin, Shanghai, Suzhou, Guangzhou and Jinyi.

“As Chinese consumers increasingly embrace the idea of buying groceries online, Cainiao aims to give consumers a convenient and smooth logistics experience by having their orders delivered within a day or even within hours,” said Duan Zhiguo, head of supermarket logistics department at Cainiao. “Cainiao attaches great importance to the development of a strong and flexible logistics network in China, in order to support the growing demands of our consumers,” Duan said.

Cainiao operates an open platform and works with other players in the logistics industry. By partnering up with local and international logistics and delivery firms, Cainiao is able to develop a comprehensive warehouse and logistics network and provide customers with more efficient delivery services.

According to a Nielsen Corporation report in April 2015, online grocery shopping has become the preferred retailing option in the region, with high usage in China. About 46% of China respondents said they deliver online groceries straight to their homes.

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to inaccurate news reports today that Silver Lake has sold approximately half of its shares in Alibaba (BABA), Silver Lake confirms that its fund continues to own over 85% of its original stake in the company and has not distributed any Alibaba shares from the fund to its limited partners.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) today announced it has agreed to take a minority stake in Shanghai YTO Express (Logistics) Co., Ltd, one of China�s leading logistics companies. Both companies will cooperate in developing optimal logistics solutions for China in order to raise operational efficiency in the industry.

YTO Express is one of 14 logistics partners that work closely with Cainiao, the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group. Cainiao and YTO Express will work together to enhance the industry�s logistics management capabilities and international and rural delivery services. This will in turn raise the bar on service quality and user experience for merchants, consumers and logistics companies.

Cainiao was founded by Alibaba Group in May 2013 in partnership with a consortium of logistics companies. Cainiao aims to build a nationwide logistics platform that connects delivery companies, warehouses and distribution centers together in order to enable higher efficiency in China�s logistics industry and a better customer and merchant experience.

�As a leading player in China�s logistics industry, our collaboration with Alibaba Group and Cainiao will boost our strategic product and service offerings to catalyze a breakthrough in efficiency within China�s logistic sector,� said YTO Express Chairman YU Wei Jiao.

Judy TONG, Senior Vice President of Alibaba Group and President of Cainiao said, �The strategic investment in YTO Express reflects our commitment to improving quality and service standards in China�s logistics industry. As a platform, we look forward to working closely with partners who share our vision in developing an efficient logistics infrastructure and solutions that will drive development of China�s logistics sector in order to fully satisfy our customers� needs.�

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Pac-12 Conference and Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA), the world�s largest online and mobile commerce company, announced today a partnership to support the upcoming historic Pac-12 China Game featuring a men�s collegiate basketball game between the Washington Huskies and Texas Longhorns.

The game and the two-year partnership with Alibaba Group represent a major first for sports in China. With this game, the Pac-12 will become the first U.S. sports league, collegiate or professional, to host a regular season contest in China. The partnership with Alibaba Group will continue into the 2016-2017 academic year and support a second regular season Pac-12 China Game between schools to be announced at a later date.

The Pac-12 China Game will be played Nov. 14 at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai and is the latest event in the Pac-12�s Globalization Initiative, an unprecedented effort to promote goodwill and showcase the Conference and its member institutions in China through student-athlete exchanges and sport.

�We are proud to welcome Alibaba Group as a partner for our first-ever Pac-12 China Game,� said Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott. �Alibaba�s innovative spirit and excellence are compatible with Pac-12�s values, and will be critical as we focus on growing our activities in China and providing our student-athletes with transformative educational and cultural experiences.�

The game will be played at 11 a.m. local Shanghai time and broadcast live in the United States on ESPN on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET. Alibaba Group is the unrivaled leader in mobile in China, and the game will be distributed live via Alibaba�s mobile and digital distribution platforms.

�We are proud to partner with the Pac-12 to bring this historic game to China,� said Jim Wilkinson, Alibaba Group�s Senior Vice President. �This game and Alibaba Group�s involvement is consistent with our commitment to bringing the best of the world to China, and showcasing the best of China to the world.�

�This partnership is about so much more than a basketball game,� said Wilkinson. �As these student-athletes complete their education and enter the global economy, China/US relations will be central to the future of the world in which they live. We truly believe that this trip will provide these student athletes with a once in a lifetime chance to learn about China, to make new friends, and to hopefully impact their futures in a positive way.�

In addition to being the presenting sponsor, Alibaba Group is also developing an academic program for the visiting student-athletes. While the game will be played in Shanghai, during their visit to China both teams will travel from Shanghai to Hangzhou, China for an educational program there.

Alibaba Group is headquartered in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province and one of the seven ancient capitals of China. The city was described by Italian traveler Marco Polo as the finest and most luxurious city in the world. Hangzhou has been one of the most renowned and prosperous cities in China for much of the last millennium, due in part to its beautiful natural scenery and its historical and cultural heritages. Richard Nixon visited Hangzhou during his historic visit to China in 1972, which was an important and historic step in building relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China.

Alibaba Group is deeply committed to education, especially given the company was founded by former English teacher Jack Ma. In addition to experiencing the Hangzhou culture and history, both teams will visit Alibaba Group�s headquarters for a full day educational program that is being developed by the company. This program will seek to educate the student-athletes on strategic societal, cultural and business trends taking place across China, including in the important area of e-commerce. Following the trip Alibaba Group will provide the China education module to all Pac-12 institutions for their students.

Importantly, the visit to Alibaba Group�s campus will coincide with the 11.11 Shopping Festival, which is the biggest online shopping day in the world. The teams will also practice at the Alibaba Group headquarters� athletic facilities.

�This is a great opportunity for these students to participate in true cultural exchange through college sports,� said Scott. �Their experiences both on and off the court will not only be valuable to their future success, but also help foster goodwill and mutual understanding between our two countries.�

�Just like in the realm of the steadily growing business and economic ties between our two great countries, competition and cooperation in athletics as well can serve as valuable mechanisms for deepening our bilateral engagement with one another and strengthening the bonds of friendship among all segments of our respective societies,� concluded Scott.

Fast Facts about Pac-12 Globalization Initiative:

• Since starting the initiative in 2011, the Pac-12 has sent two men�s (UCLA, Arizona State) and the Cal women�s basketball teams, two all-star women�s volleyball teams, and one all-star men�s basketball team to compete in China.
• In the U.S., the Pac-12 has hosted three U.S.-China Symposiums on Collegiate Sports Development at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 Pac-12 Basketball Tournaments.
• The Pac-12 has a key partnership with the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) for the Initiative. The FUSC is China�s national organization for university sports and operates under the Ministry of Education.
• Across Pac-12 institutions (undergrad and graduate), international students make up roughly 14 percent of the student body.
• More than 21,000 students (undergrad and grad) at Pac-12 institutions are from China.
• Basketball is the most popular sport in China with an estimated 300 million people playing the sport.
• 184 million Chinese viewers tuned into the Team China versus USA Dream Team Basketball Game during the Beijing Olympics.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates & HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Meraas, a leading Dubai-based holding company, and Aliyun, Alibaba Group�s cloud computing subsidiary, today signed a deal to setup a new technology enterprise that offers system integration services to private companies and government institutions in the MENA region.

The agreement was signed by Abdulwahab Al Halabi, Group Chief Investment Officer of Meraas and Sicheng Yu, Vice President of Aliyun, in the presence of His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai, Group Chairman of Meraas and Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group at the Alibaba campus in Hangzhou, China.

Headquartered in Dubai, the new joint venture will specialize in application development, service-oriented architecture, testing, validation, citizenship e-services and Big Data operations with a special focus on analytics, revenue-generation and payment solutions. The enterprise will support potential clients in achieving stronger business results, help them respond rapidly to market changes, and transform their business and IT services.

Commenting on the partnership, His Excellency Abdulla Al Habbai said: �In line with the initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform the emirate into a smart city, the company will offer services that contribute to the six key pillars including transport, communications, infrastructure, electricity, economic services and urban planning. We strongly believe that the new company will alter the information technology landscape of the region.

�Alibaba, our chosen partner has an excellent global track record of offering world-class services to clients. Together, we aim to raise industry standards and provide state-of-the-art technology solutions that contribute to translating the objectives of our visionary leadership,� added Al Habbai.

�As the world evolves, I believe the information technology era is moving towards the data technology era. Dubai�s advanced infrastructure and economic strength is a good match for our technology edge, and with Meraas we will be able to provide local entrepreneurs with the vital infrastructure that will ignite innovation and help them to succeed,� said Jack Ma, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group.

While the initial focus will be on the technology venture, Meraas will leverage its development capabilities through the creation of a technology-oriented master-planned integrated community comprising of a Tier 3 Data Center, as well as hospitality, residential and commercial spaces, retail and food & beverage units. The newly-formed joint venture company will be an anchor tenant.

Highlighting the impact of the new venture, Abdulwahab Al Halabi said: �The technology market is an evolving domain that we have decided to foray into. As a holding company with several entities operating under our umbrella, we have a solid understanding of what it takes to succeed in this region.

�Consequently, we have partnered with Aliyun, a leading company in the clouding computing space that holds sound and proven technical abilities. We are positive that by marrying our understanding to their expertise, the new venture will deliver unmatched system integration services in the region.�

�We are delighted to work with Meraas for our development in the MENA region. We believe our mutually beneficial synergies will contribute to meeting Meraas�s objectives of bringing to life Dubai�s Smart City plan. In addition, as Aliyun develops highly scalable cloud computing and data management services, we aim to extend our flexible, cost-effective solutions to help more large and small enterprises to boost their business development in the UAE and the world at large,� said Sicheng Yu.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in the MENA region is witnessing unprecedented growth. A new International Data Corporation (IDC) report anticipates regional ICT spending to surpass US$270 billion in 2015, with the IT market growing at around nine percent, the second-fastest globally. Moreover, IDC forecasts that the overall managed and data center services markets in the UAE is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19.8 percent between 2013 and 2018 to reach a total of US$971.8 million by 2018.

Initially designed to handle exponential traffic volumes and data management, Aliyun today focuses on designing sophisticated networking solutions and data intelligence for small companies, while driving the adoption of cloud services among large enterprises and organizations. In 2013, Aliyun was awarded the world�s first gold certification for cloud security by the British Standards Institute (BSI). It has also received the ISO/IEC 27001 certification for information security management. As of June 30, 2014, over 1.4 million customers are using Aliyun services directly or indirectly through independent software vendors.

Tier 3: Tier 1 to 4 data center is a standardized methodology used to define the uptime of data centers. Tier 3 data center is considered as the second most robust and less prone to failures. Tier 3 is designed to host mission critical servers and computer systems, with fully redundant subsystems (cooling, power, network links, storage etc) and compartmentalized security zones controlled by biometric access controls methods.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Cainiao (formerly known as China Smart Logistics), the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA), today unveiled a swift delivery service in five Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou and Tianjin, that will deliver products to consumers within three hours after they place their orders. The logistics service will initially cover healthcare products ordered from Tmall.com but will be gradually expanded to cover other product categories. By the end of 2015, Cainiao plans to expand this service to 14 other major cities including Shenzhen, Nanjing, Chongqing, Wuxi, Qingdao, Shenyang and Xi�an, bringing the total number of cities covered by this innovative service to 19.

At the initial launch, Cainiao has teamed up with more than 1,500 drugstores from five pharmacy chains that have flagship storefronts on Tmall.com. Two more pharmacy chains will join the scheme in Wuhan and Chengdu in late May.

Named Ji Su Da (�fast delivery�), the three-hour speedy delivery service works like this: When a consumer purchases a product with the �speedy delivery� logo on it, the order will be directed to the closest store to the customers based on information from AutoNavi, Alibaba Group�s mapping and location-based services company. Once the store accepts the order, Cainiao�s courier partners will receive an automated alert for picking the goods for delivery which will be faster and more efficient than that of a central warehouse.

�This service is ideal for consumers who need non-prescription drugs and other healthcare products quickly,� said Xu Hui, head of Cainiao Ji Su Da. �This service effectively mobilizes resources at both online and offline stores, which in turn brings the customers a seamless shopping experience.�

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tmall Global, China�s leading cross-border e-commerce platform, announced today the launch of a new �World Duty Free� service that allows Chinese tourists to prepay for their duty-free purchases before going on vacation.

Tmall Global, a platform under Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA), also announced that Thailand�s largest duty-free retail group, King Power, will open a duty-free storefront on the platform (http://kingpowerdutyfree.tmall.hk/) and become the first company to offer this service to Chinese consumers. By launching the �World Duty Free� service, Tmall Global hopes to enhance cross-border e-commerce opportunities for global companies looking to reach Chinese shoppers when they travel.

�We are excited that Thailand�s King Power is launching its duty-free store on Tmall Global. Cross-border e-commerce has great potential in China and Tmall Global will continue to help brands and retailers sell into China through innovative solutions, at the same time providing Chinese consumers a wide variety of product choice,� said Maggie WU, head of Tmall Global.

The King Power Duty Free store on Tmall Global allows consumers to purchase stored-value cards online before their vacation and when they visit Thailand, users can then spend the value on those cards in five King Power shops in the country, including the stores in Bangkok�s Don Mueang International Airport and the Suvarnabhumi Airport. King Power�s duty-free stores host over 600 global brands.

In the future, the �World Duty Free� service on Tmall Global will support online purchase of specific duty-free items and delivery of those items to the airport for customers to pick up. Tmall Global is also working with duty-free companies in South Korea, Japan and Europe to open stores on the platform.

Through Tmall Global�s �World Duty Free� service, companies like King Power are able to tailor special promotional discounts for Chinese tourists and help them minimize the hassle of carrying cash and dealing with exchange rates. Although the King Power Duty Free store has been online for less than a month, the total order value from consumers has topped RMB 1 million (US$161,000), with an average order size of RMB 7135 ($1150).

According to tax rebate company, Global Blue, Chinese global shoppers accounted for nearly 30 percent of all tax-free shopping spending in the world last year.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A statement from Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) is below:

“Today Alibaba Group received notices from Zhejiang Price Bureau that the company has been fined RMB500,000 (approx. US$81,000) for matters related to Singles Day pricing by third-party sellers on our Tmall marketplace in 2013 and 2014 and RMB300,000 (approx. US$48,000) for pricing in other promotions in 2013 and 2015. Alibaba marketplaces are designed to bring buyers and sellers together and, while pricing by third party sellers is done independent of Alibaba, we are strongly committed to protecting consumers. Thus we will be reinforcing pricing rules and regulations with our sellers in our daily operations and emphasizing these rules well in advance of our 2015 Singles Day activities.”

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) today confirmed the upcoming expiration of the 180-day lock-up period in March 2015 in connection with its initial public offering completed in September 2014 (the �IPO�).

In light of press stories containing different expiration dates that have recently come to Alibaba Group�s attention regarding the lock-up period ending in March 2015, Alibaba Group confirms that, approximately 437 million ordinary shares (including approximately 8 million restricted share units and share options that vested after the IPO) subject to the 180-day lock-up period described in Alibaba Group�s IPO prospectus will be available for sale to the public commencing March 18, 2015. Of these ordinary shares that will no longer be subject to the 180-day lock-up starting from March 18, 2015, approximately 100 million shares will nevertheless remain subject to Alibaba Group�s employee trading restrictions until after the announcement in May 2015 of its earnings results for the quarter and fiscal year ending March 31, 2015.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Aliyun, Alibaba’s cloud computing business, today announced the opening of its first overseas data center in Silicon Valley, signifying an important move to serve clients globally. The center will initially target Chinese enterprises based in the United States with the plan to gradually expand its products and services to international clients in the second half of this year. Aliyun has existing data centers in Hangzhou, Qingdao, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The Silicon Valley data center initially will provide a variety of cloud computing services that are expected to attract overseas Chinese businesses as they develop various kinds of applications. U.S. businesses will also be sought as Aliyun learns more about the needs of overseas companies.

“Aliyun offers users top-notch cloud computing products and services at competitive prices. Now Aliyun hopes to meet the needs of Chinese enterprises in the United States, and the ultimate objective of Aliyun is to bring cost-efficient and cutting-edge cloud computing services to benefit more clients outside China to boost their business development,” said Ethan Sicheng Yu, Vice President of Aliyun.

During Alibaba Group’s 11.11 Shopping Festival, Aliyun handled peak order creation volumes of 80,000 orders per second. The high volume of data processed and the stability of the system during the Shopping Festival underscores the reliability of Aliyun’s network. Aliyun also provides a high level of data security. An Aliyun cloud security service called YunDun last year successfully fended off a hacker attack on a Chinese gaming app company that is believed to be the largest DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack ever recorded on the mainland. Occurring on Dec. 20, this incident lasted 14 hours and peak attacking traffic reached 453.8 gigabytes per second. Aliyun’s customers range from start-ups to established corporations in digital entertainment, consumer electronics, financial services and mobile communications space. As of June 30, 2014, over 1.4 million customers were using Aliyun services directly or indirectly through independent software vendors. According to a report from IDC, Aliyun is the largest IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) provider in China with a 22.8% market share in the first half of 2014.

A survey from North Bridge shows that 75% of the companies in America use some form of cloud services. In 2014, the global cloud computing industry is predicted to be worth more than $150 billion.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) and Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. ('Ant Financial' today announced the closing of the restructuring of the relationships between the two companies (the 'Restructuring'). Ant Financial (formerly known as Small and Micro Financial Services Company) is the parent company of Alipay.

As disclosed in detail in Alibaba Group's prospectus for its initial public offering in September 2014 (the 'IPO'), in connection with the Restructuring, Alibaba Group and Ant Financial entered into a share and asset purchase agreement (the 'SAPA'), and entered into or amended certain ancillary agreements in August 2014, which together govern the relationships between the two companies. Pursuant to the SAPA, among other things, Alibaba Group agreed to sell to Ant Financial certain entities and loan and other assets primarily relating to its small and medium enterprise ('SME') loan business and other related services. Except for the sale of the SME loan business, the restructuring contemplated by the SAPA and the ancillary agreements took effect upon execution of those agreements.

Upon the satisfaction of the closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals, the sale of the SME loan business by Alibaba Group to Ant Financial pursuant to the SAPA has now been completed. Following the completion of this sale, Alibaba Group will no longer consolidate the financial results of the SME loan business. The completion of this sale also marks the closing of the Restructuring between Alibaba Group and Ant Financial.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) and Meizu Technology Corporation Limited ("Meizu") announced today that Alibaba Group has agreed to invest US$590 million for a minority stake in Meizu, one of China's leading smartphone manufacturers.

This investment will be subject to customary closing conditions.

As a result of the investment, Alibaba Group and Meizu will collaborate at both strategic and business levels to achieve a deeper integration of Meizu's hardware and Alibaba Group's mobile operating system. Alibaba Group will provide Meizu with resources and support in the fields of e-commerce, mobile Internet, mobile operating system and data analysis with the aim of developing Meizu's smartphone ecosystem. Alibaba Group's online shopping marketplaces will also become distribution channels for Meizu�s smartphones and other devices.

"The investment in Meizu represents a significant expansion of the Alibaba Group ecosystem and an important step in our overall mobile strategy as we strive to bring users a wider array of mobile offerings and experiences," said Jian WANG, Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Group.

"This strategic collaboration with Alibaba Group will enable Meizu to further develop our smartphone business and our smart devices ecosystem," said Meizu's Chief Executive Officer, Yongxiang BAI.

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (Alibaba Group) (BABA) today announced the pricing of an offering of US$8.0 billion aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes, consisting of:

• US$300 million floating rate notes due 2017 at an issue price per note of 100.000%;
• US$1,000 million 1.625% notes due 2017, at an issue price per note of 99.889%;
• US$2,250 million 2.500% notes due 2019 at an issue price per note of 99.618%;
• US$1,500 million 3.125% notes due 2021 at an issue price per note of 99.558%;
• US$2,250 million 3.600% notes due 2024 at an issue price per note of 99.817%;
• and US$700 million 4.500% notes due 2034 at an issue price per note of 99.439% (collectively, the notes).

The offering is expected to close on November 28, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions. Alibaba Group plans to use the net proceeds from the offering, together with cash on hand, to repay its existing term facility.

HANGZHOU, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) today announced that it proposes to offer senior unsecured notes (the "notes"), subject to market and other conditions. The principal amount, interest rates, maturity dates and other terms of the notes have not been finalized and will be determined at the time of pricing of the offering.

Alibaba plans to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily to refinance its existing credit facilities.

The notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the �U.S. Securities Act�), or any state securities laws. The notes are being offered and sold within the United States only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act.

Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results

• Revenue Revenue for the quarter ended September 30, 2014 was RMB16,829 million (US$2,742 million), an increase of 53.7% compared to RMB10,950 million in the same quarter of 2013. The increase was mainly driven by the continuing rapid growth of our China commerce retail business.
• Non-GAAP diluted EPS in the quarter ended September 30, 2014 was RMB2.79 (US$0.45) on 2,438 million diluted shares outstanding, an increase of 9.4% compared to RMB2.55 on 2,317 million diluted shares outstanding in the same quarter of 2013.

"We delivered a strong quarter with significant growth across our key operating metrics,� said Jonathan Lu, chief executive officer of Alibaba Group. "Our business continues to perform well, and our results reflect both the strength of our ecosystem and the strong foundation we have for sustainable growth. On our China retail marketplaces, gross merchandise volume for the quarter increased 49% and annual active buyers increased 52% year on year. We extended our unrivaled leadership in mobile with 217 million monthly active users on our mobile commerce apps in September and US$95 billion in mobile GMV for the twelve months ended September 2014. We are also encouraged by continued improvement of mobile monetization which demonstrates the strong commercial intent of our users.

"Our financial performance this quarter was robust, with revenue growing 54% year on year,"said Maggie Wei Wu, chief financial officer of Alibaba Group. �We continue to execute our focused growth strategy, and the fundamental strength of our business gives us the confidence to invest in new initiatives to add new users, improving engagement and customer experience, expand our products and services and drive long-term shareholder value."