Alibaba Group

Corporate Information

What is Alibaba Group's mission?

Our mission is "to make it easy to do business anywhere." Our founders started our company to champion small businesses, in the belief that the Internet would level the playing field by enabling small enterprises to leverage innovation and technology to grow and compete more effectively in the domestic and global economies.

When was Alibaba Group founded?

Alibaba Group was founded in 1999 by 18 people led by Jack Ma, a former English teacher from Hangzhou, China. It began as an online wholesale marketplace for small Chinese exporters and entrepreneurs to reach global buyers.

Why is the company called "Alibaba"?

Jack Ma chose the name because it is well-known around the world and it can be easily pronounced in many languages. E-commerce is global so we needed a name that was globally recognized. Alibaba brings to mind "open sesame," representing that our platforms open a doorway to fortune for small businesses.

Where is Alibaba Group headquartered?

The principal executive offices of our main operations are located in the Xixi District of Hangzhou, China

Can the public tour the Alibaba Group corporate campus?

Currently, the Alibaba Group corporate campus, located in the Xixi District of Hangzhou, China, is not open to the public.

Where are Alibaba Group’s offices located?

We maintain offices in many countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. In addition, we maintain data centers in a number of countries including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Japan, the United States and others.

How many people does Alibaba Group employ?

As of December 31, 2019, we had a total of 116,519 employees.

How do I learn about job openings at Alibaba Group?

To learn about our job openings, please visit the Careers page.

What is Alibaba Group doing to help the community?

We have always felt a responsibility to help solve problems in society, because that is implied in our mission – “to make it easy to do business anywhere.” For more information, please refer to our environmental, social and governance (ESG) report.

Business Operations

What is Alibaba Group’s core business?

Alibaba Group provides the technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses to leverage the power of new technology to engage with their users and customers and operate in a more efficient way. Our businesses are comprised of core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives. For more information on our key offerings, please visit the Our Businesses page.

Who are Alibaba Group's customers?

Our customers include both buyers and sellers on our marketplaces, and they discover, select and transact with each other on our platform. Buyers access our marketplaces free of charge. Buyers include consumers who come to our retail marketplaces to shop for anything anytime anywhere, as well as business buyers who use our wholesale marketplaces to source products for use in their own business or for resale. Sellers use our marketplaces to establish a presence on the Internet and market products and services to hundreds of millions of consumers and other businesses. Sellers include brands, retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers. We also provide cloud computing services to a wide range of customers including merchants doing business on our marketplaces, systems integrators, mobile app developers and digital entertainment companies.

What do you mean when you refer to the “Alibaba Digital Economy”?

A digital economy has developed around our platforms and businesses that consists of consumers, merchants, brands, retailers, third-party service providers, strategic alliance partners and other businesses. At the nexus of this digital economy are our technology platform, our marketplace rules and the role we play in connecting these participants to make it possible for them to discover, engage and transact with each other and manage their businesses anytime and anywhere. Much of our effort, time and energy is spent on initiatives that are for the greater good of the digital economy and on balancing the interests of its participants. We feel a strong responsibility for the continued development of the digital economy and we take ownership in this development. Accordingly, we refer to this as “our digital economy.”

How does Alibaba Group grow its business?

Our strategies include a focus on:
- Driving user growth and engagement;
- Empowering businesses to facilitate digital transformation and improve operational efficiency; and
- Continuing to innovate.

What is Alibaba Group’s long-term strategic goal?

As we continue to expand our businesses from commerce to cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, among other sectors, Alibaba has evolved into a digital economy that is unique, energetic and innovative. By the year 2036, we aim to have served 2 billion global consumers, empowered 10 million profitable businesses and created 100 million jobs.

Investor Information

When was Alibaba Group listed?

Alibaba Group was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 19, 2014, and was dual-listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK) on November 26, 2019.

Where is Alibaba Group traded and what is the ticker symbol?

Alibaba Group’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each representing eight ordinary shares of Alibaba Group, are traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol BABA. Alibaba Group’s ordinary shares are traded on the SEHK under the stock code 9988.

What is the dividend policy of Alibaba Group?

We have no present plan to pay any dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and may be based on a number of factors, including our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant.

How can I receive updates on investor news concerning Alibaba Group?

Please visit the Investor Relations section and subscribe to our RSS feeds.

What is Alibaba Group's relationship with SoftBank Corp. and Yahoo! Inc.?

SoftBank Corp. has been our shareholder since 2000 and Yahoo! Inc. since 2005.

Financial Reporting

How can I get a copy of the annual report of Alibaba Group?

A digital copy of our FY2019 Annual Report, which contains the audited consolidated financial statements, is available here. We will provide a hard copy of our annual report, free of charge, to our shareholders and ADS holders upon request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations Department, investor@alibaba-inc.com.

How do I know when Alibaba Group releases its next financial results?

You may visit the Investor News and Events page to find out our upcoming results announcement date. Alternatively, you may visit the Investor Relations section and subscribe to our RSS feeds to receive updates.

When is the fiscal year end of Alibaba Group?

Our fiscal year ends on March 31.

Corporate Governance

Who sits on Alibaba Group’s board of directors?

Information on Alibaba Group’s board of directors can be found on the Board of Directors page.

What is the Alibaba Partnership? Who are the partners of the Alibaba Partnership?

For information on the Alibaba Partnership and the current partners, please visit the Alibaba Partnership page.

Who is on Alibaba Group's management team?

Information on Alibaba Group's management team can be found on the Leadership page.

Who is Alibaba Group's auditor?

Alibaba Group's principal external auditor is PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Where can I find more corporate governance materials?

You can view Alibaba Group's corporate governance documents here.

Contact Information

Who can I contact about investor-related issues?

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for about Alibaba Group on this website, please contact us.

How do I contact your customer service team?

Alibaba Group operates a range of businesses and each of them has its own customer communication channels. For the key contact information of our major businesses and affiliated entities, please visit the Customer Service Contacts page.

Frequently Asked Questions