Benzinga·2026-01-23 14:58Core Viewpoint - Alibaba Group is reportedly considering a spinoff and separate listing for its chip-making unit, T-Head, in response to high valuations in the Chinese AI chip market, following a similar move by Baidu [4][21]. Group 1: Spinoff Plans - The potential spinoff of T-Head would occur nearly three years after Alibaba's initial plan to split into six divisions was scrapped [5]. - T-Head is closely linked to Alibaba's Cloud Intelligence Unit, which had previously abandoned its own spinoff due to U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chips [6]. - Alibaba aims to restructure T-Head as a business partly owned by its employees before exploring an IPO, potentially within the next three to four months [12]. Group 2: Market Context - Chinese chip startups, including T-Head, are developing their own AI chips to fill the gap left by U.S. restrictions, with companies like Moore Threads and Biren seeing significant stock price increases [7][8]. - The high valuations of these Chinese companies are driven by expectations of state support as China seeks to reduce reliance on Western technology [9]. - Alibaba's stock rose 5% following the spinoff news, with its market cap reaching $423 billion, narrowing the gap with Tencent [15]. Group 3: Financial Performance - Alibaba's revenue rose 5% to 248 billion yuan ($35.6 billion) in the quarter through September, with a notable 34% growth in its cloud unit [18][19]. - The instant commerce segment, which includes the merger of Ele.me and Taobao Instant Commerce, reported a 60% year-on-year growth [19]. - The spinoff plan is seen as opportunistic, capitalizing on the inflated valuations of AI chip makers and the strong growth in Alibaba's cloud and instant commerce sectors [20].