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Looking Good................
Prospects Surrounding Among Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) With JD.Com Inc(ADR) (NASDAQ:JD), Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)
Stake of Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) [Trend Analysis] in Alibaba is an undervalued asset, according to a Piper Jaffray analyst who in a research note, the rating firm raised its rating for Yahoo stock to overweight, or buy. The core business of Yahoo is still “challenged,” other than its stake in Alibaba is “undervalued at its current price,” according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who had rated the stock neutral. While analysts Gene Munster and Douglas Clinton stated in a note that they anticipate that as they get nearer an Alibaba IPO, a more realistic valuation should be reflected in YHOO.
Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) gained 2.57%, closing the day at $35.13 in last regular trading while in after hours trading shares moved up 0.77%. The firm has market capitalization of $35.37B, and enterprise value of $32.71B. It has PEG Ratio (5 yr expected) of 2.68%, along the price over sales value of $7.38 for the most recent quarter. Corporation has the total of cash of $2.94B as compares to total debt of $1.17B for the most recent quarter with the current ratio of 3.75% for the most recent quarter.
From Seeking Alpha 6 11 2014
YHOO: Alibaba challenges Baidu/Qihoo with UCWeb; Q1 results reportedly on tap
Priority: Normal Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 1:42 PM Size: 30 KB
Alibaba challenges Baidu/Qihoo with UCWeb; Q1 results reportedly on tap • 2:39 PM
Acquisition-hungry Alibaba (ABABA) is buying the 1/3 of top Chinese mobile browser vendor UCWeb it doesn't yet own for a mixture of cash and stock. The price hasn't been disclosed, but Alibaba claims the deal is the biggest Chinese Web merger in history, exceeding Baidu's (BIDU +0.4%) $1.9B purchase of app store provider 91 Wireless.
UCWeb has a 50%+ share of the Chinese mobile browser market, and also has 35% of the Indian market. The company claims 500M total browser users, as well as 50M users for its Android app store, which competes against Baidu and Qihoo's (QIHU +3.8%) popular stores.
More importantly for Baidu (and also relevant for Qihoo), UCWeb claims a 20%+ share of the Chinese mobile search market on the back of 100M active users. A mobile search JV was launched with Alibaba in April.
Meanwhile, CNBC reports Alibaba will likely file a new F-1 next week that includes its Q1 results. Odds are Yahoo (YHOO +0.6%). which has been reporting Alibaba's results a quarter in arrears, will move on the numbers.
CNBC adds Alibaba is still expected to go public in the first week of August. Bloomberg previously reported Alibaba is eying an Aug. 8 IPO.
Read comments
$40 Here We Come. Obama Plugs Tumblr ..........
12:24 pm ET
Jun 10, 2014
White House
Obama Takes to Tumblr at 4 P.M. Tuesday to Chat College Costs, Student Loans
Article Comments
Barack Obama
College
College Costs
Student Loans
Tumblr
By
Jeffrey Sparshott
President Barack Obama is no stranger to using different technology platforms to reach audiences directly: He has tweeted, been asked anything on Reddit, chatted between two ferns, and traveled virtually via Google+.
His latest foray into social media lands him for the first time on Tumblr, a blogging site owned by Yahoo Inc.YHOO +0.53% Mr. Obama is pressing a new initiative to lower student debt burdens and at 4 p.m. Tuesday will take questions on education and the affordability of college, at http://whitehouse.tumblr.com.
What's Driving Yahoo Today !!!!!!!!!!!
12:13 PM EDT, 06/06/2014 (MT Newswires) -- Yahoo's(YHOO) popular Flickr photo storage service said it will remove Facebook(FB) and Google(GOOG) log-ins, news that helped drive Yahoo(YHOO) shares up nearly 2% midday Friday.
Flickr integrated the third-party log-ins three years ago to attract more users, but Yahoo(YHOO) CEO Marissa Mayer appears to want to use Flickr to boost Yahoo's(YHOO) own user base, according to The Next Web.
A new note posted to Flickr users from Flickr informed them that after June 30, they would need a Yahoo(YHOO) account in order to sign in, and provided them a link to sign up with Yahoo(YHOO) if they had not already done so.
YHOO last changed hands at $35.64. FB is down 0.6%. GOOGL is little changed.
Oh Yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go MM Go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks Like APDN Is Still Needed....................
Featured Story
As Alibaba IPO Date Nears, Counterfeiters Told to Knock It Off
Alibaba IPO date
? By David Zeiler, Associate Editor, Money Morning - May 30, 2014
As the Alibaba IPO date approaches, the company is racing to resolve an issue with counterfeit products on its site that threatens to undermine investor confidence.
Compared to a few years ago, Alibaba has made a major effort to weed out listings of knockoff products and go after the groups selling them. Last year alone Alibaba removed 100 million listings of fakes suspected to violate intellectual property rules, and the company now spends $16.1 million each year to fight the problem.
Seeking Alpha 5/27/2014...................
AdAge: Yahoo getting set to launch YouTube rival • 7:19 PM
Yahoo (YHOO) is "ramping talks with video producers" ahead of a planned summer launch of a would-be YouTube rival, AdAge reports.
Backing up a March re/code report, AdAge's sources state Yahoo is looking to lure top YouTube content creators with a choice of either better ad splits - YouTube normally takes 45% - or a fixed ad rate 50%-100% higher than YouTube's average net rate. Yahoo is also comfortable allowing creators to simultaneously upload to YouTube.
While some creators are interested, others are said to be lukewarm, given their ad rates are currently well above the YouTube average. Moreover, YouTube recently launched a program (Google Preferred) that allows brand advertisers to buy ads for top creators alone.
Moreover, creators have reportedly bristled over some of Yahoo's initial demands, such as giving Yahoo a perpetual license to videos shared on Tumblr. One producer: "Anyone who's done a content deal knows that would never fly."
Yahoo, bent on growing its video ad inventory, has already struck a high-profile deal with Katie Couric and has begun dabbling in original content. More recently, the company was reported to be a near a deal for streaming software/services firm RayV.
Thanks For The Insights !
:)
DocLevi, What's Your Take On This Fly On The Wall PR ?
Yahoo June and July volatility decreases as Alibaba IPO approaches
Yahoo June call option implied volatility is at 28, July is at 29, August is at 34, October is at 35; compared to its 26-week average of 34 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing June and July price movement as Alibaba IPO approaches.
Thanks !
CNBC On Alibaba Information 3 Days Ago......
While I'm on the Alibaba topic, there's been a lot of questions about when they will go public. Much of this is speculation, because there is a crucial issue that is not answerable right now: how much scrutiny will the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) give the company?
Normally, for a company of Alibaba's size (over $1 billion in revenues), the time frame for going public is typically two to three months from the time they file until they set pricing terms. At that point, they will do a road show, and if the reception is favorable, go public a week to a couple weeks after that.
Alibaba filed on May 6th. Two to three months would be early July to mid August, which is the time frame most people are going with. But the path isn't always so smooth. Look at JD.com: they filed in January, and didn't announce terms until May 9th—that's four months.
The SEC is reviewing the Alibaba prospectus now. The company will have to get SEC approval before they can announce terms. When will that happen? While the company has provided some financials, they will likely update them. Once they do, the SEC will review them.
Seeking Alpha Unlocking The Value 5 22 2014.
What's in store for the future of Yahoo? Will Marissa Mayer turn the core business of Yahoo around? What will Yahoo do with the proceeds it receives from the Alibaba IPO sale? Truthfully, these are all mysteries. However, if Marissa Mayer and company can manage to make progression with the core business and make the right decisions and investments with the hoard of cash it will be sitting on, one has to imagine Yahoo's stock value will see a worthy increase. While most of the acquisitions under Marissa Mayer are just too recent to really show whether they'll pay off, I believe that Yahoo will continue to make meaningful acquisitions and eventually they will make another genius acquisition like they did in 2005 when they purchased 40% of Alibaba for just $1 billion. If you believe Yahoo is capable of turning the lump of cash it will receive into valuable assets then you would be a fool to not buy Yahoo at its current valuation.
The Street Rates Yahoo A "Buy"..........
Highlights from the analysis by TheStreet Ratings Team goes as follows:
?Although YHOO's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09 is very low, it is currently higher than that of the industry average. Along with this, the company maintains a quick ratio of 3.20, which clearly demonstrates the ability to cover short-term cash needs.
?The gross profit margin for YAHOO INC is currently very high, coming in at 83.44%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 27.50% is above that of the industry average.
?YAHOO INC's earnings per share declined by 17.1% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has suffered a declining pattern of earnings per share over the past year. However, we anticipate this trend reversing over the coming year. During the past fiscal year, YAHOO INC reported lower earnings of $1.26 versus $3.28 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($1.64 versus $1.26).
?YHOO, with its decline in revenue, underperformed when compared the industry average of 21.3%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly dropped by 0.7%. The declining revenue appears to have seeped down to the company's bottom line, decreasing earnings per share.
?Looking at where the stock is today compared to one year ago, we find that it is not only higher, but it has also clearly outperformed the rise in the S&P 500 over the same period, despite the company's weak earnings results. The stock's price rise over the last year has driven it to a level which is somewhat expensive compared to the rest of its industry. We feel, however, that other strengths this company displays justify these higher price levels.
?You can view the full analysis from the report here: YHOO Ratings Report
From Amigo Bulls..................
Yahoo Valuation
Irrespective of the impact of this acquisition, we think Yahoo’s stock is undervalued, as we had discussed in our previous coverage of Yahoo after Alibaba’s IPO filing. Though Alibaba has valued itself at $109 billion, which is much lower than analyst estimates, that valuation is not necessarily final.
We think Alibaba could end up getting valued at $150 billion, in which case, we think Yahoo’s stock price is worth about $43 a share, representing a 29% upside from its current price of $33.4. However, a conservative estimate based on Alibaba’s $109 billion valuation indicates an upside of 5% from its Yahoo’s current price, to about $35.2 a share.
To see the current stock price of Yahoo click here: (NASDAQ:YHOO)
Applied DNA Sciences To Present at the Marcum MicroCap Conference On
May 29 in New York
Man!,,, Present ! Present ! Present !
How much in revenue have they seen from all the years of Present !
Present ! Present ??
:(:(
WSJ: Yahoo near deal for streaming software/services firm RayV • 5:26 PM
RayV offers a cloud-based platform for encoding, delivering, and monetizing professional-grade Web/mobile video. The company asserts its proprietary congestion control tech (adapts to network conditions) allows it to outperform YouTube and Netflix.
The WSJ reports Yahoo (YHOO) is "close to finalizing" an acquisition of RayV, and notes its technology could bolster Yahoo's video-streaming infrastructure.
Yahoo has struck multiple high-profile deals to expand its professional video inventory (a priority of Marissa Mayer's), and is also reportedly looking to poach top YouTube talent. At the same time, the company has been thwarted in its efforts to acquire Hulu and Dailymotion.
The WSJ reported in March Yahoo was in preliminary talks to buy leading video syndication platform NDN.
Seeking Alpha ..................
CNBC: Alibaba's IPO could arrive in August
May 19 2014, 16:05 ET
Citing sources, CNBC reports Alibaba (ABABA) "could look to make its stock market debut the first week of August."
The company reportedly expects to receive feedback from the SEC about its F-1 filing (published two weeks ago) as soon as June 7, and then "spend a few weeks correcting or clarifying any issues raised." Presumably, Alibaba would then launch its IPO roadshow.
Yahoo (YHOO +1.4%) followed Internet peers higher today. The company sold off after Alibaba filed its F-1, but rallied in April after posting Alibaba's Q4 numbers.
The Q4 figures led some of the sell-side to argue a $200B+ post-IPO valuation is possible. The recent selloff in Chinese Internet stock might temper Alibaba's multiples a bit.
Why Yahoo! (YHOO) Stock Is Up Today
BY Andrew Meola | 05/19/14 - 01:46 PM EDT
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Yahoo! (YHOO_) rose Monday after CFO Ken Goldman said buying back stock was an "attractive" use of the company's cash at the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Telecom Conference.
Goldman also noted the company is "in the investment mode today." He said Yahoo's search click revenue driven growth has been "quite consistent" and the company is investing "heavily" in search. Goldman also commented the company can do more with mobile and still has some work to do in displays.
Furthermore, Goldman said Yahoo's growth areas include social media, such as Tumblr, and noted the homepage is a "leading indicator" for company. Finally, Goldman said he prefers to keep a cash balance of approximately $3 billion.
Funtrader ! Hello !! What Do You See On Yahoo !!
With The Alibaba IPO Valuation At $109 ?
MM Acquisitions !
Thanks
Yahoo Should have A GREAT Day From Now On !
'Fast Money' Recap: Impressive Alibaba
BY Bret Kenwell | 05/07/14 - 05:00 AM EDT
Tim Seymour, managing partner of Triogem Asset Management, said Alibaba reported "very impressive" metrics in its F-1 filing. He said the IPO will go well. He added that Alibaba could come public with a market cap near $190 billion.
Guy Adami, managing director of stockmonster.com, said he's "clearly missing something." He argued that if Alibaba IPOs with a market cap even close to $175 billion, shares of Yahoo! (YHOO_) should be above $40 due to its 24% stake.
Karen Finerman, president of Metropolitan Capital Advisors, suggested that shares of Yahoo! aren't trading higher because investors are unsure of what management will do with the proceeds of the Alibaba IPO.
Steve Grasso, director of institutional sales at Stuart Frankel, still owns a small long position in Yahoo!. He said the stock should be trading between $42.50 to $45, given the potential valuation of Alibaba.
Sam Hamadeh, CEO and founder of PrivCo, was a guest on the show. He said Alibaba's audited F-1 filing confirms the impressive estimates on which many investors have been relying. He is valuing the online retailer at $195 billion, partly due to its investments in other growth companies. Alibaba has 80% of the Chinese e-commerce market, he concluded.
Robert Peck, managing director at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, was a guest on the show. He has a buy rating on Yahoo! with a $40 price target. He called the Alibaba IPO "unique for American investors." He said Yahoo! will sell 9% of its stake and use the money to return to shareholders and possibly make acquisitions. The rest of its stake will be held as a long-term investment.
After Hrs.......... Like Now !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tomorrow, Here’s Why It Does Matter to Silicon Valley
May 5, 2014, 4:07 PM PDT
By Kara Swisher
As Re/code has reported several times, the sure-to-be-blockbuster IPO filing for China’s mega-Internet giant Alibaba Group is now set to drop this week. Sources said that the documents could be at the Securities and Exchange Commission as early as tomorrow after markets close.
I noted this timing on CNBC on Friday (you can see me talking about it below) and so did John Paczkowski several times in our new Code/red daily column of sass and scoops. There is, of course, always a caveat that there could be a delay, but sources said that tomorrow seems to be when the much-anticipated filing will finally drop for the e-commerce giant.
Shail In Reference To Alibaba On My Earlier Post......
Not Sure How APDN Would Fit In...
HONG KONG—Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is stepping up its battle against rampant counterfeiting in China, as it gears up for one of the technology industry's biggest initial public offerings.
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is stepping up efforts to remove counterfeit goods from its websites. The WSJ's Juro Osawa tells Yun-Hee Kim why Alibaba is tackling this issue now.
For the past several years, the Chinese e-commerce giant has been working to remove fake items from its Taobao shopping site. But counterfeiters are persistent, posing a challenge for Alibaba just as bankers and investors are raising their expectations for the company ahead of its initial public offering. The IPO is likely to raise about $70 billion based on analysts' estimates and bankers said it could take place as soon as this year, but Alibaba hasn't set a specific date.
"Counterfeiting is a cancer we have to deal with," Alibaba founder Jack Ma said at a news conference in April, when the company announced its partnership with government agencies to fight piracy online and offline. Later this month, a group of Alibaba officials will travel to the U.S. to meet with representatives from brands, industry associations and the government in Los Angeles, New York and Washington to discuss intellectual property issues, the company said
Hello ! Still Keeping One Eye On APDN..........
Has Alibaba Been Approached !!!
This Could Be Huge !!!!!!!!
:):)
A PR From Yahoo On This Deal Would Be Real Nice !!!!!!!!!!
Is Yahoo angling to replace Google on Apple devices?
Google is the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser for iPhones and iPads. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer is trying to change that.
• by Richard Nieva
@richardjnieva
• April 16, 2014 6:23 PM PDT
We know this much: Since taking the helm as Yahoo's chief executive, Marissa Mayer has tried to bolster the company's efforts in search, but a report published Wednesday by Recode suggests that her ambitions are even bigger.
Mayer and Yahoo mobile chief Adam Cahan are reportedly spearheading the effort to make Yahoo search the first option on Apple's Safari browser, pitching the company on a mobile search engine that Yahoo reportedly has in the works. Yahoo's plan is apparently far along, with detailed decks and images of what the product would look like. While Yahoo has yet to make the presentation, Mayer has already made the idea known to Apple design chief Jony Ive, one of the most powerful executives at Apple.
Spokespersons for Yahoo and Google declined to comment. Apple did not return a request for comment.
Of the Silicon Valley tech giants, Yahoo is behind in generating money from mobile revenue. Last quarter, Mayer said on a conference call with analysts that the company's mobile advertising revenue were "not material." By contrast, Facebook makes 53 percent of its advertising revenue on mobile. And Google's search partnership with Apple on iOS devices is very lucrative for Apple, raking in upwards of $1 billion in fees annually, according to Recode.
Hello, Anyone See The Rise To $40 Begin Monday ?
:)
Looks Like MM'S Keeping Yahoo Down !
Maybe Options Closing Friday ??
Alibaba could file for U.S. IPO on Monday
Apr 16 2014, 04:08 ET
Alibaba Group (ABABA) could file the prospectus for its U.S. IPO on Monday, Reuters reports, adding that the listing could be worth over $16B.
The report comes after major shareholder Yahoo (YHOO) disclosed that Alibaba's Q4 net income surged 110% to $1.35B as revenue jumped 66% to $3.06B.
Alibaba's results helped Yahoo's shares climb 6.8% in AH trading. In Tokyo, shares in SoftBank (SFTBF), which owns 37% in Alibaba, jumped 8.5%.
Question Where Do The Options Expiring Apr 19 Come In ??
The $35's Were The Most Sold ????
Oh Yes !! This Is HUGE !!!!!!!!!!
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba reported strong fourth-quarter revenue and profit, as it prepared for an initial public offering in coming months.
Alibaba's results were reported by Yahoo(YHOO), which holds a roughly 24% stake in the Chinese company.
Alibaba's fourth-quarter revenue of nearly $3.1 billion -- helped by a strong one-day shopping festival on November 11 -- leapt 66% compared with the prior year.
Net income more than doubled, to $1.4 billion, from $642 million in the year-earlier period.
The results should allay investor concerns that a slower growth rate in the third quarter was the start of an ominous trend.
The Alibaba results were highly anticipated because the company is preparing for an initial public offering in New York later this year that could value it at $100 billion or more.
"They crushed it," said Bernstein & Co. research analyst Carlos Kirjner, after the numbers were posted. "These figures justify a valuation [for Alibaba] well in excess of $150 billion."
Alibaba posted its highest profit margins in the fourth quarter since its numbers were first released publicly in late 2009. Gross profit margin of 78% tied a figure posted in the September quarter of 2010, when Alibaba's revenue was just about one-ninth of what it is today. Meanwhile operating profit margin of 54% topped Alibaba's previous record, dating back to late 2009, of 51%.
The results helped drive Yahoo(YHOO) shares up 8% in after-hours trading.
The rising profit margins suggest suggests Alibaba is benefiting from so-called "network effects" as more merchants and more consumers are drawn to the online marketplace it has already built.
Alibaba had previously signaled a big fourth quarter when it reported that shoppers spent $5.8 billion on merchandise across its sites on a one-day shopping festival in November. By comparison, Americans spent $3.6 billion across all online retailers on Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined, estimated comScore.
In part that is thanks to China not having as many brick and mortar retail options for consumers as strip-mall saturated America, a factor that bodes well for the continued growth of Alibaba's business.
The next step for Alibaba towards its IPO will come when it files its registration statement with the SEC, disclosing more detailed financial figures for the first time. That filing is expected to come within the next month.
More at The Wall Street Journal's Digits blog, http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/
Access Investor Kit for Yahoo!, Inc.(YHOO)
Visit http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=A591&isin=US9843321061
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
Never Mind Google Let's Take Out Netflix !!
Yahoo! Goes After Netflix
Yahoo! seeks to take on the likes of Netflix with a new round of streaming content.
Under new CEO Marissa Mayer, Internet powerhouse Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) has already made huge strides in its transitions part of its business model. And a recent move from the online portal takes aim at another high-flying tech stock -- Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX)
Yahoo! has overcome plenty in the last few years, from activist investors and naysayers alike, which has helped power a share price performance that's nearly double the market's return during the last one-year period.
But Yahoo! isn't resting on its laurels. In fact, Yahoo! made another bold, but positive, announcement recently that signals its seriousness about competing head-to-head with with the likes of Netflix in an emerging growth space in online entertainment
Oh Yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MM'S Ran It Down !!!!!!!!
When They Get It Where They Want It, Up We Go !!!!!!!
:(:(
funtrader1 Hello ! What's Your Forecast For Yahoo !!
Given The Current Market Twist Adn Turns ?
Is Yahoo Still On Course To $50+ By Year End ??
Thanks
Looks Like MM'S Are Going To Make A Killing !!!
As Usual !!!!!!
:(:(
Thanks funtrader1 Great Info As Usual !
Take Care !
:)
funtrader1, Hello! What Do You See For Qtr.1 Earnings ?
I Know Yahoo Has A Ton of Irons In The Fire, But Will Any
Of Them Pan Out For Qtr.1 Earnings ?
Thanks
Sold Most of My Position In APDN..........
I Need APDN At.20 To Break Out Even In Second Trading Account !
Watching My Other Investments......
Looks Like Nothing Has Really Changed !
MM'S Still Controlling APDN...
:)
WOW! Vans ! Looks Like MM'S Still Own APDN.........
This Is So SAD !!!!!!!
Anyone See $40'S By Friday..
Someone On CNBC Said They See $45 For Yahoo !!
Seeking Alpha Shows Alibaba IPO Confirmation !
Alibaba confirms plans to list in the U.S.
Mar 16 2014, 03:56 ET
Alibaba has confirmed reports that it intends to carry out an IPO in New York - and not in Hong Kong - as it looks to become a "more global" and transparent company.
The Internet giant could reportedly raise over $15B in the offering, which would make it biggest U.S. IPO ever by a Chinese company. Analysts reckon that the firm's market cap could top $130B.
Alibaba hasn't decided which exchange it will lost on, nor on a date.
Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan will play major roles in the IPO, while Citigroup will have a smaller part.
Alibaba said that it might consider listing its shares in China in the future, although it didn't provide details.
Alibaba investors Yahoo (YHOO) and Softbank (SFTBF) should be in line for a healthy bonanza from the IPO.
The WSJ provides a primer on Alibaba's busines model, calling the company a "a mix of Amazon, eBay and PayPal with a dash of Google thrown in." Alibaba also has "some uniquely Chinese characteristics."
ETF: IPO (PR)
Monday Should Be Very Interesting !
Do We See A POP At The Open ?
:)
Looking Closer To A US Alibaba IPO !!!!
Alibaba Preparing for U.S. Listing
DOW JONES & COMPANY, INC. 12:45 PM ET 3/14/2014
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is beginning to prepare for a U.S. initial public offering, said people familiar with the matter, in what could be a bigger deal than that of Facebook Inc.
The deal under consideration for the Chinese e-commerce company would raise more than $15 billion, with Yahoo Inc. and other pre-IPO investors as the selling shareholders, one of the people said. Facebook's 2012 deal raised $16 billion.
If the company proceeds, an IPO filing could come as soon as April, and an offering could occur as soon as the third quarter, people familiar with the matter said.
Up to five banks ultimately may be given lead underwriting roles, some of the people said.
A company spokeswoman said: "We have no timetable, no venue and no underwriters hired for an IPO event."
Bloomberg earlier reported the potential timing of the deal and listing locale.
The company faces a deadline of 2015 to go public, per the terms of an agreement with Yahoo, which owns a large stake in Alibaba.