Report: Alipay looking at stake in Germany's Wirecard

• Alipay, a payment systems unit of Alibaba (NYSE:BABA), is talking about taking a stake of up to 25% of German banking software firm Wirecard (OTCPK:WCAGY), according to Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
• That stake could grow in the future, the paper said.
• The two agreed to a partnership in December that would provide phone payment services for Chinese tourists visiting Europe; a deal would make sense as a defense against short-sellers for Wirecard and an entry into German expertise for Alipay.