Alibaba Group filed its video roadshow with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday. The 38 minute video is essentially a pitch of data points that are in previous regulatory filings, but condensed to its key points and noting plans to expand into cross-border commerce.
Those include a shopping platform with 279 million active shoppers — up from 185 million in the rolling 12 months ended June 2013; total value of goods and services reaching $296 billion for the rolling 12 months ended June 2014; and plans to expand to groceries and digital entertainment. The company, which connects buyers and sellers through six marketplaces, expects growth will be fueled by “easier access to mobile and online,” with mobile continuing to be a critical driver for online shopping as “Chinese users live on mobile devices,” said Joe Tsai, executive vice chairman.
Alibaba is an “ecosystem of hundreds of millions of buyers, sellers and service providers, which creates a network that gets stronger every day,” the company said.
Tsai also emphasized to investors that the company’s core mission is to “make it easy to do business everywhere.”
Growth for Alibaba is more than just increasing wallet share and expanding merchandise category offerings. It also means enhancing data and cloud computing technologies, as well as cross-border commerce opportunities.
The company will begin its roadshow this week and is expected to price its shares the evening of Sept. 18, with the IPO slated for the following day.