Alibaba’s US$32bil day signals breakups for China tech

In executing the biggest overhaul in its history, Alibaba manages to address two objectives that have eluded many of its rivals – appeasing both a government distrustful of Big Tech and investors traumatised by a years-long regulatory crackdown. — AFP

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s overhaul could serve as a template for a restructuring of China Tech itself: a shake-up that achieves Beijing’s aim of carving up the country’s tech titans while unlocking potentially billions of dollars in pent-up shareholder value.

China’s online commerce leader surprised markets by announcing Tuesday plans to split its US$220bil empire into six units that will individually raise funds and explore initial public offerings. In executing the biggest overhaul in its history, Alibaba manages to address two objectives that have eluded many of its rivals – appeasing both a government distrustful of Big Tech and investors traumatised by a years-long regulatory crackdown.