Paperwork and a number of outstanding issues appear to be delaying Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.'s initial public offering.

The Chinese e-commerce giant had set a July date for its IPO, which could attract up to US$20 billion from investors.

But people familiar with the matter said Alibaba was still in the process of completing all the requirements of the deal, and a July 30 deadline looked impossible to meet.

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They disclosed that the launch would not take place until after the U.S. Labor Day holiday on September 1.

Alibaba filed IPO documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in May.

In an internal communication to staff, the Group's founder and chairman, Ma Yun, said it had never been Alibaba's goal to become a listed company, but added that the public listing in the U.S. "is a tactic and means to realize our mission."

The online Wall Street Journal reported that Alibaba bosses, including Ma, found their IPO timetable too aggressive.

People close to the company said there were many issues that need to be resolved before the IPO could proceed, including securing the SEC's stamp of approval.

Other issues still under discussion include the question of which of Alibaba's existing investors will sell their share as part of the deal.

In addition, bankers are still deciding the value of the company and the price that the shares could fetch, people familiar with the process said.

Another source of delay, according to The Wall Street Journal report, is Alibaba's plan to include second-quarter results in its IPO prospectus, which would require a full audit.

The outlook for Alibaba's IPO has been generally positive. But analysts say investors could turn cold feet because of recent international developments, such as the Middle East violence. A sudden fall in the U.S. stock market could also dampen investor confidence.

A successful trading debut by Alibaba could lead to more technology firms launching their own IPOs soon, the online Wall Street Journal said. 

TagsAlibaba IPO, Ma Yun