Friday, June 01, 2012

Alibaba.com privatization plan approved


News this week: Hong Kong-listed B2B e-commerce company, Alibaba.com, has announced plans to privatise the company have been approved by the majority of its shareholders. A special shareholders meeting was held in Hong Kong where more than 95% of shareholders voted in favour of the US$2.5 billion buyout offered by parent company Alibaba Group.

Alibaba Group regained control of the 27% minority stake in Alibaba.com it does not already own and will now delist Alibaba.com from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The deal will see independent stockholders paid HK$13.50 per share – approximately 60% more than the stock’s average closing price for the two months prior to the announcement of the proposal in February this year.

If Alibaba.com’s financial results from 2007 are compared to those it recorded in 2011: Revenues have increased almost 200% and the company’s net profit has risen 77%. The company is delisting the stock at the same price it offered it to investors during the IPO five years ago (HK$13.50). 

Alibaba.com’s share price dropped 42% in 2011. Trading of the company’s stocks were suspended from trading on 25th May and resumed on 28th May.

This post is excerpted from BSG's weekly e-newsletter which is part of our subscription research service, BSG Tracker. Visit our website to find out more about this service. You can also follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.

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