Alibaba Files IPO in the U.S, Four problems that irritate Amazon, but threaten Alibaba’s existence, Apple is No. 2 after Amazon in online retail, Zulily’s Delivery Problem: the Packages Pile Up, Aramex Partners With InPost For Middle East Parcel Locker Network, Singapore’s GIC leads $170 mln investment in Brazil’s Netshoes and much more
It is finally here – Alibaba has started the process to go public and be listed in the US. They are clearly managing the process – they still have not indicated whether they will be listing on the NYSE or the Nasdaq. The initial document contains a few caveats and is indicating that only a billion dollars is to be raised (that is not the final number) and I suspect that the investment banks are fighting between themselves for position. Potentially there is a $400 million prize awaiting the successful investment bank /s that ensures a successful IPO for Alibaba. There is a lot of information in the initial documents but not a single mention is seen regarding Taobao and Tmall (which in my mind is a potential gold mine for investors). Alibaba also faces challenges that normal western businesses are not privy to. Everyone seems to think that mobile is their biggest challenge for the future but I disagree (that is another blogpost coming soon).
A story worth noting is the giant $170 million round of funding that Netshoes raised. Netshoes is a business that gets very little press coverage but it is a giant pure play ecommerce business in Latin America. “This investment round is the largest in the history of Netshoes. It happens at a time of relative economic instability in the country, which proves the fact that good companies with solid fundamentals remain able to attract the attention of blue chip investors“, says José Rogério Luiz, Vice President of Corporate Development for Netshoes.” I can’t help but think we are close to a bubble in terms of ecommerce investment.