Alibaba to Upgrade Hong Kong Listing to Tap Chinese Traders

  • The Hong Kong listing will become primary on Aug. 28
  • Its shares significantly underperformed Tencent’s this year

Alibaba’s shares have underperformed those of key rival Tencent Holdings Ltd. amid concerns over the impact of competition and sluggish China consumption. 

Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shareholders have approved a plan to upgrade its Hong Kong listing to primary status on Aug. 28, a maneuver expected to attract billions of dollars in investment from mainland China.

Shareholders ratified the decision as expected to convert the Hong Kong listing, a plan first broached two years ago amid heightened tensions with the US. That allows Alibaba to join a program that connects the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses to Hong Kong’s exchange. The stock opened largely unchanged in Hong Kong on Friday.