Alibaba.com (HKSE: 1688) (1688.HK) is the global leader in e-commerce for small businesses and the flagship company of Alibaba Group.
Founded in 1999 in Hangzhou, China, Alibaba.com makes it easy for millions of buyers and suppliers around the world to do business online through three marketplaces: a global trade platform (www.alibaba.com ) for importers and exporters; a Chinese platform (www.1688.com ) for domestic trade in China; and, through an associated company, a Japanese platform (www.alibaba.co.jp ) facilitating trade to and from Japan. In addition, Alibaba.com offers a wholesale platform on the global site (www.aliexpress.com ) geared for smaller buyers seeking fast shipment of small quantities of goods. Together, these marketplaces form a community of more than 50 million registered users in more than 240 countries and regions. Alibaba.com also offers business management software and Internet infrastructure services targeting businesses across China, and provides educational services to incubate enterprise management and e-commerce professionals. Alibaba.com has offices in more than 60 cities across Greater China, Japan, Korea, Europe and the United States.
Alibaba.com completed its US$1.7 billion initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in November 2007, the biggest Internet IPO at the time since Google’s 2004 offering on the NASDAQ.
