The deal that Alibaba founder Jack Ma so covets could very well crumble before it even gets off the ground.

If anyone can pull off the labyrinthine deal between Alibaba Group and Yahoo Inc, it’s Jack Ma, who founded the e-commerce group and within a decade unlocked China’s huge online shopping potential.

(Reuters) – China’s Alibaba Group has hired Washington lobbying firm Duberstein Group Inc as it eyes a possible deal with Internet giant Yahoo Inc. Japan’s Softbank Corp is also listed as an Alibaba affiliate in the lobbying firm’s disclosure, according to the filing. The lobbying registration lists the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, [...]

(Reuters) – Yahoo has signed confidentiality agreements with several parties interested in buying all or part of the Internet company, according to people familiar with the matter. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Internet pioneer said potential buyers had to sign an agreement by Friday to be allowed a close look at Yahoo’s finances. The Friday deadline could [...]

(Reuters)–Giant Interactive Group Inc said it will invest $50 million in China’s e-commerce company Alibaba Group through an investment in Yunfeng e-Commerce Funds. Yunfeng e-Commerce Funds was established by Yunfeng Capital, a China-based private equity firm co-founded by Alibaba CEO Jack Ma. The share purchase is expected to close before the end of the year, [...]

NEW YORK, May 31 (Reuters) – Yahoo Inc has resolved a dispute with partner Alibaba Group over the Chinese company’s transfer of its prized online payments unit to its CEO Jack Ma, two sources close to the matter said. Yahoo’s feud with Alibaba, 43-percent-owned by the U.S. firm, over the Chinese company abruptly transferring Alipay, [...]

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group is attempting a management-led buyout of the 40% of the company held by Yahoo Inc., Reuters reported, adding that Alibaba wants to end the relationship as Yahoo becomes a takeover target. Alibaba founder Jack Ma has reportedly been in talks with unnamed private equity firms to fund the deal. Yahoo bought its minority stake in the Chinese company in 2005, paying roughly $1 billion.

BEIJING (Reuters) – Alibaba.com (1688.HK), China’s top e-commerce company, has released eight cornerstone investors from the original 2-year lock-up, allowing the immediate sale of a total of 157.8 million shares. The early release, which came into effective from the close of trading on Thursday, was initiated by Alibaba to increase liquidity in its stock and [...]