Alibaba, the US-listed Chinese ecommerce group, is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for potential violations of US securities law.
SEC officials have asked the company to provide documents and other information relating to several aspects of its business, including its accounting for its Cainiao logistics business, its handling of related party transactions and its reporting of operating data from Singles Day, an unofficial Chinese holiday that is now marked by the biggest shopping frenzy in the global calendar.
The company said in its annual report, filed with the SEC on May 24, that it was voluntarily disclosing that the probe was taking place and was co-operating with investigators.