Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) announced today that it has closed the initial sale of shares in Alibaba Group Holding Limited.

ENGADGET: Yahoo starts selling half of its Alibaba stake as promised, sends $3.65 billion to giddy shareholders

Jack Ma, chairman of China's largest e-commerce empire, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

WSJ: 12 Executives to Watch in the New Year

The dominant player in this market is Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.

WSJ: The First-Lady Effect on China's Fashion Labels

Inc. (NASDAQ:YHOO) and Alibaba Group Holding Limited today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement for a staged and comprehensive value realization plan for Yahoo!'

ENGADGET: Yahoo to sell back half of its Alibaba stake for $7.1 billion

In May it set up a unit to run its nascent e-commerce operations, preparing to take on established players like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and 360buy.com.

WSJ: China's Tencent Outperforms Its Western Peers

On Oct. 23, 2011, I wrote in this space that either Microsoft or Alibaba Group Holding, a Chinese major Internet company, will end up winning Yahoo.

FORBES: Is Microsoft In Or Out On Possible Yahoo Takeover Deal?