This article only represents the author's own views.
Alibaba’s (BABA.US; 9988.HK) money-losing international e-commerce unit is getting a quick lesson in growing up.
Just weeks after the internet giant announced its biggest corporate restructuring since its founding, the company has reportedly initiated a process to spin off and separately list its offshore operations. Such a move, first reported by Bloomberg last week, would bring both advantages and challenges for a brave new company whose main assets would include Alibaba’s Southeast Asian Lazada service, as well as its AliExpress that connects global buyers with Chinese e-commerce merchants.