Analysis: Why Alibaba ditched new property venture

Antitrust regulators focus on corralling vast market influence of big tech players

20210507 Alibaba logo AP_21106623544750

Alibaba pulled out of an online real estate trading platform that just launched in September 2020. © AP

NIU MUJIANGQU, Caixin Media

Amid mounting pressure from antitrust regulators, e-commerce giant Alibaba Group offloaded its entire stake in a real estate trading platform, retreating from a new business for which it once held high hopes.

Alibaba divulged a plan on April 29 to transfer its 85% stake in Tmall Haofang, a real estate trading platform it launched in September, to partner E-House (China) Enterprise. In return, Alibaba would increase its holdings of E-House shares to 22.57% from 13.26%, further strengthening its position as the second-largest shareholder of one of the country's biggest property agencies.

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