Alibaba Mulls AppNexus Stake as U.S. Strategy Takes Shape

In the latest sign of Alibaba Group’s aspirations to be a major player beyond its home base of China, the soon-to-be-public Web giant is considering making an investment in U.S.-based advertising technology firm AppNexus, according to people briefed on the recent discussions.

According to one U.S. Internet executive who was briefed by Alibaba on its U.S. strategy, the company wants to take stakes in numerous non-Chinese Web companies beyond the handful of investments and acquisitions it has already made. It would then have a front row seat to evaluate new technologies and be able to stand “close to the hoop” and possibly acquire the firms that take off, this executive said.