Alibaba/SoftBank update

Alibaba Group Holding Limited has today (2 June) announced the terms of its purchase of Alibaba Group ordinary shares from SoftBank Group. In a statement posted on its website, the Chinese online retail giant said: “Alibaba Group has agreed to purchase 27,027,027 Alibaba ordinary shares from SoftBank Group at US$74.00 per share for an aggregate of US$2 billion. Members of the Alibaba Partnership, acting collectively, have also agreed to purchase 5,405,405 Alibaba ordinary shares from SoftBank Group at the same price per share for an aggregate of US$400 million.

“In conjunction with these transactions, SoftBank Group agreed to separate private placements of Alibaba ordinary shares in the amounts of US$500 million to Gamlight Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of GIC Private Limited, and US$500 million to Aranda Investments Pte. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited. The private placements to GIC and Aranda are also at US$74.00 per share.

“The sales to members of the Alibaba Partnership, GIC and Aranda were made pursuant to an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act, and the shares would be eligible for resale under Rule 144 following a 6-month holding period (subject, in the case of shares held by affiliates, to additional restrictions under Rule 144).

“These transactions were made in conjunction with SoftBank Group’s announced US$5.5 billion offering of mandatory exchangeable trust securities (METS) that are exchangeable into Alibaba American depository shares (ADSs) in three years. In connection with the offering, SoftBank has agreed to lock-up period of 180 days for its remaining Alibaba shares.”