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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)  

o
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

ý
 
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 20152017

OR

o
 
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

o
 
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report……………report...............

For the transition period from                        to                         

Commission file number 001-36614

Alibaba Group Holding Limited
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Cayman Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

c/o Alibaba Group Services Limited
26/F Tower One, Times Square
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
(Address of principal executive offices)

Timothy A. Steinert, Esq., General Counsel and Secretary
Telephone: +852-2215-5100
Facsimile: +852-2215-5200
Alibaba Group Holding Limited
c/o Alibaba Group Services Limited
26/F Tower One, Times Square
1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay
Hong Kong
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
Ordinary Shares, par value $0.000025US$0.000025 per share  

American Depositary Shares, each representing
one Ordinary Share

 New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:None

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 2,495,499,0362,529,364,189 Ordinary Shares

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

oý Yes    ýo No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

o Yes    ý No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

ý Yes    o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

oý Yes    ýo No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.filer, or an emerging growth company. See definitionthe definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and large accelerated filer""emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer oý Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer ýoEmerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act    o

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP ý International Financial Reporting Standards as issued
by the International Accounting Standards Board o		 Other o

If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

o Item 17    o Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

o Yes    ý No

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

o Yes    o No

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  
 Page

 

PART I

  

Item 1.ITEM 1

 

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and AdvisersIDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

 1

Item 2.ITEM 2

 

Offer Statistics and Expected TimetableOFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

 1

Item 3.ITEM 3

 

Key InformationKEY INFORMATION

 1

Item 4.ITEM 4

 

Information on the CompanyINFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

 5256

ItemITEM 4A.

 

Unresolved Staff CommentsUNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 89115

Item 5.ITEM 5

 

Operating and Financial Review and ProspectsOPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

 90115

Item 6.ITEM 6

 

Directors, Senior Management and EmployeesDIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

 131165

Item 7.ITEM 7

 

Major Shareholders and Related Party TransactionsMAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 149184

Item 8.ITEM 8

 

Financial InformationFINANCIAL INFORMATION

 167199

Item 9.ITEM 9

 

The Offer and ListingTHE OFFER AND LISTING

 169202

Item 10.ITEM 10

 

Additional InformationADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 169203

Item 11.ITEM 11

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market RiskQUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 178212

Item 12.ITEM 12

 

Description of Securities Other Than Equity SecuritiesDESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

 179213

 

PART II

 
 

Item 13.ITEM 13

 

Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and DelinquenciesDEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

 181216

Item 14.ITEM 14

 

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of ProceedsMATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 181216

Item 15.ITEM 15

 

Controls and ProceduresCONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 181216

ItemITEM 16A.

 

Audit Committee Financial ExpertAUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

 181217

ItemITEM 16B.

 

Code of EthicsCODE OF ETHICS

 181217

ItemITEM 16C.

 

Principal Accountant Fees and ServicesPRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 182217

ItemITEM 16D.

 

Exemptions From the Listing Standards for Audit CommitteesEXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEE

 182217

ItemITEM 16E.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated PurchasersPURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

 182217

ItemITEM 16F.

 

Change in Registrant's Certifying AccountantCHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

 183218

ItemITEM 16G.

 

Corporate GovernanceCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 183218

ItemITEM 16H.

 

Mine Safety DisclosureMINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

 183219

 

PART III

 
 

Item 17.ITEM 17

 

Financial StatementsFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 184220

Item 18.ITEM 18

 

Financial StatementsFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 184220

Item 19.ITEM 19

 

ExhibitsEXHIBITS

 184220

i

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CONVENTIONS THAT APPLY TO THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F

       Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F to:

ii

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ii

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       Our reporting currency is the Renminbi. This annual report contains translations of Renminbi, Hong Kong dollar and Singapore dollar amounts into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations of Renminbi, Hong Kong dollars and Singapore dollars into U.S. dollars were made at RMB6.1990RMB6.8832 to US$1.00, HK$7.7714 to US$1.00, and S$1.3967 to US$1.00, the respective exchange raterates on March 31, 2017 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on March 31, 2015.Board. We make no representation that the Renminbi, Hong Kong dollar, Singapore dollar or U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this annual report could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars, Renminbi, Hong Kong dollars or Renminbi,Singapore dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. On June 19, 2015,9, 2017, the noon buying rate for Renminbi was RMB6.2085RMB6.7970 to US$1.00.

iii

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

       This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about us, our industry and the regulatory environment in which we and companies integral to our ecosystem operate. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the "safe harbor" provision under Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements included in this annual report relate to, among others:

       The global and PRC Internet, retail, wholesale, online and mobile commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and data industries market may not grow at the rates projected by market data, or at all. The failure of these industries or markets to grow at the projected rates may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market price of our ADSs. If any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data turns out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

       The forward-looking statements made in this annual report relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this annual report. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this annual report and the documents that we have referred to in this annual report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

iv

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PART I

ITEM 1.1    IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

       Not Applicable.

ITEM 2.2    OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

       Not Applicable.

ITEM 3.3    KEY INFORMATION

A.    Selected Financial Data.Data

       The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 20142016 and 20152017 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. Our selected consolidated statements of operations data for the yearyears ended March 31, 20122013 and 2014 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 20122013, 2014 and 20132015 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. Our selected consolidated statements of operations data for the year ended March 31, 2011 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2011 have been derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report.

       The following selected consolidated financial data for the periods and as of the dates indicated are qualified by reference to and should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects," both of which are included elsewhere in this annual report.

       Our historical results for any prior period do not necessarily indicate our results to be expected for any future period.


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Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:


 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

 2011(1) 2012 2013 2014 2015  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 

 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 

 (in millions, except per share data)
  (in millions, except per share data)
 

Revenue

              34,517 52,504 76,204 101,143 158,273 22,994 

China commerce

 7,665 15,637 29,167 45,132 62,937 10,153 

International commerce

 3,433 3,765 4,160 4,851 6,486 1,046 

Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure

 425 515 650 773 1,271 205 

Others

 380 108 540 1,748 5,510 889 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Total

 11,903 20,025 34,517 52,504 76,204 12,293 

Cost of revenue

 (3,497) (6,554) (9,719) (13,369) (23,834) (3,845) (9,719) (13,369) (23,834) (34,355) (59,483) (8,642)

Product development expenses

 (2,062) (2,897) (3,753) (5,093) (10,658) (1,720) (3,753) (5,093) (10,658) (13,788) (17,060) (2,479)

Sales and marketing expenses

 (3,154) (3,058) (3,613) (4,545) (8,513) (1,373) (3,613) (4,545) (8,513) (11,307) (16,314) (2,370)

General and administrative expenses(2)

 (1,724) (2,211) (2,889) (4,218) (7,800) (1,258)

General and administrative expenses(1)

 (2,889) (4,218) (7,800) (9,205) (12,239) (1,778)

Amortization of intangible assets

 (144) (155) (130) (315) (2,089) (337) (130) (315) (2,089) (2,931) (5,122) (744)

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

 — (135) (175) (44) (175) (28) (175) (44) (175) (455) — — 

Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment(3)

 — — (3,487) — — — 
             

Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment(2)

 (3,487) — — — — —
 
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Income from operations

 1,322 5,015 10,751 24,920 23,135 3,732  10,751 24,920 23,135 29,102 48,055 6,981 

Interest and investment income, net

 549 258 39 1,648 9,455 1,525  39 1,648 9,455 52,254 8,559 1,244 

Interest expense

 (4) (68) (1,572) (2,195) (2,750) (443) (1,572) (2,195) (2,750) (1,946) (2,671) (388)

Other income, net

 68 327 894 2,429 2,486 401  894 2,429 2,486 2,058 6,086 884 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

 1,935 5,532 10,112 26,802 32,326 5,215  10,112 26,802 32,326 81,468 60,029 8,721 

Income tax expenses

 (327) (842) (1,457) (3,196) (6,416) (1,035) (1,457) (3,196) (6,416) (8,449) (13,776) (2,002)

Share of results of equity investees

 — (25) (6) (203) (1,590) (257) (6) (203) (1,590) (1,730) (5,027) (730)
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

Net income

 1,608 4,665 8,649 23,403 24,320 3,923  8,649 23,403 24,320 71,289 41,226 5,989 

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 (425) (437) (117) (88) (59) (9)
             

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

 (117) (88) (59) 171 2,449 356 
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Net income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

 1,183 4,228 8,532 23,315 24,261 3,914  8,532 23,315 24,261 71,460 43,675 6,345 

Accretion of convertible preference shares(4)

 — — (17) (31) (15) (2)

Dividends accrued on convertible preference shares(4)

 — — (111) (208) (97) (16)
             

Accretion of convertible preference shares(3)

 (17) (31) (15) — — — 

Dividends accrued on convertible preference shares(3)

 (111) (208) (97) — — —
 
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

 1,183 4,228 8,404 23,076 24,149 3,896  8,404 23,076 24,149 71,460 43,675 6,345 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
​
             
​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

Earnings per share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders:

 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		  
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 

Basic

 0.49 1.71 3.66 10.61 10.33 1.67  3.66 10.61 10.33 29.07 17.52 2.55 

Diluted

 0.48 1.67 3.57 10.00 9.70 1.56  3.57 10.00 9.70 27.89 16.97 2.47 

Supplemental information:(5)

 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 

Non-GAAP EBITDA

 3,009 7,274 16,607 30,731 40,753 6,574 

Weighted average number of shares used in computing earnings per share:

 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 

Basic

 2,294 2,175 2,337 2,458 2,493   

Diluted

 2,389 2,332 2,500 2,562 2,573   

Supplemental information:(4)

 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 
 		 

Adjusted EBITDA

 16,607 30,731 40,753 52,340 74,456 10,817 

Adjusted EBITA

 15,802 29,392 38,427 48,570 69,172 10,049 

Non-GAAP net income

 2,778 6,452 13,869 28,274 34,981 5,643  13,853 28,263 34,876 42,791 57,871 8,408 

Non-GAAP diluted EPS

 0.95 2.38 5.76 12.09 13.97 2.25  5.75 12.08 13.93 16.77 23.44 3.41 

Free cash flow

 4,881 8,752 19,745 32,269 48,121 7,763  19,745 32,269 48,121 51,279 68,790 9,994 
(1)
Financial results of Alipay were consolidated into our financial statements prior to the year ended March 31, 2012. Due to regulatory requirements relating to payment service providers in China, our relationship with Alipay was restructured in 2011. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions" for more details. Since then, as we do not have any ownership interest in, or control over, Alipay, the financial results of Alipay have not been included in our consolidated financial statements starting from the end of fiscal year 2011.

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(2)
In fiscal year 2014, these expenses included an equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million relating to the grant of options to purchase 50,000,000 of our ordinary shares to a non-profit organization designated by Jack Ma and Joe Tsai.
(3)(2)
We entered into the Yahoo TIPLA in October 2005, pursuant to which we paid royalty fees to Yahoo. We and Yahoo amended the existing TIPLA in September 2012, pursuant to which we made a lump sum payment in the amount of US$550 million.
(4)(3)
Upon the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014, all of our then outstanding convertible preference shares were converted into ordinary shares.
(5)(4)
See "Non-GAAP Measures" below.

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Non-GAAP Measures

       We use non-GAAPadjusted EBITDA (including adjusted EBITDA margin), adjusted EBITA (including adjusted EBITA margin), non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS and free cash flow, each a non-GAAP financial measure, in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

       We believe that non-GAAPadjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of thecertain income or expenses that we include in income from operations, net income and diluted EPS. We believe that non-GAAPadjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS provide useful information about our core operating results, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

       We consider free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by our business that can be used for strategic corporate transactions, including investing in our new business initiatives, making strategic investments and acquisitions and strengthening our balance sheet. We use free cash flow to manage our business, make planning decisions, evaluate our performance and allocate resources. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in our cash balance for a reporting period.

       Non-GAAPAdjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITA, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS and free cash flow should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to income from operations, net income, diluted EPS, cash flows or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of our operating performance. Non-GAAP EBITDA,These non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP diluted EPS and free cash flowfinancial measures presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data.

       Non-GAAPAdjusted EBITDA represents net income from operations (which excludesbefore (i) interest and investment income, net, interest expense, other income, net, income tax expenses and share of results of equity investees) before (i)investees, (ii) certain non-cash expenses, consisting of share-based compensation expense, amortization, depreciation, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets as well as (ii)and (iii) one-time expense items consisting of the Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment and an equity-settled donation expense, thatwhich we do not believe are reflective of our core operating performance during the periods presented.

       Adjusted EBITA represents net income before (i) interest and investment income, net, interest expense, other income, net, income tax expenses and share of results of equity investees, (ii) certain non-cash expenses, consisting of share-based compensation expenses, amortization and impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and (iii) one-time expense items consisting of the Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment and an equity-settled donation expense, which we do not believe are reflective of our core operating performance during the periods presented.

       Non-GAAP net income represents net income before share-based compensation expense, amortization, impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and investments, gain (loss) on deemed disposals/disposals/revaluation of investments, amortization of excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of commercial arrangementarrangements with Ant Financial Services, and one-time expense items consisting ofrelating to the Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment, an equity-settled donation expense, the expenses relating to the sale of shares by existing shareholders in our initial public offering, and charge for financing-related fees as a result of early repayment of bank borrowings.borrowings and others.

       Non-GAAP diluted EPS represents non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the periods on a diluted basis, including accounting for the effects of the assumed conversion of convertible preference shares prior to our initial public offering in September 2014.

       Free cash flow represents net cash provided by operating activities as presented in our consolidated cash flow statement less purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets (excluding acquisition of land use rights


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and construction in progress), and adjusted for changes in loan receivables relating to micro loans of our SME loan business and(which we transferred to Ant Financial Services in February 2015), the Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment.


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payment and others. We present the adjustment for changes in loan receivables because such receivables are reflected under cash flow from operating activities, whereas the secured borrowings and other bank borrowings used to finance them are reflected under cash flows from financing activities, and accordingly, the adjustment is made to show cash flows from operating activities net of the effect of changes in loan receivables.

       The following table below sets forth a reconciliation of our net income from operations to non-GAAPadjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:


 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 

 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 

 (in millions)
  (in millions)
 

Net income

 8,649 23,403 24,320 71,289 41,226 5,989 

Less: Interest and investment income, net

 (39) (1,648) (9,455) (52,254) (8,559) (1,244)

Add: Interest expense

 1,572 2,195 2,750 1,946 2,671 388 

Less: Other income, net

 (894) (2,429) (2,486) (2,058) (6,086) (884)

Add: Income tax expenses

 1,457 3,196 6,416 8,449 13,776 2,002 

Add: Share of results of equity investees

 6 203 1,590 1,730 5,027 730 
​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Income from operations

 1,322 5,015 10,751 24,920 23,135 3,732  10,751 24,920 23,135 29,102 48,055 6,981 

Add: Share-based compensation expense

 932 1,254 1,259 2,844 13,028 2,102  1,259 2,844 13,028 16,082 15,995 2,324 

Add: Amortization of intangible assets

 144 155 130 315 2,089 337  130 315 2,089 2,931 5,122 744 

Add: Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and land use rights

 611 715 805 1,339 2,326 375 

Add: Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

 — 135 175 44 175 28  175 44 175 455 — — 

Add: Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment

 — — 3,487 — — —  3,487 — — — — — 

Add: Equity-settled donation expense

 — — — 1,269 — —  — 1,269 — — — —
 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

Non-GAAP EBITDA

 3,009 7,274 16,607 30,731 40,753 6,574 
             

Adjusted EBITA

 15,802 29,392 38,427 48,570 69,172 10,049 

Add: Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and land use rights

 805 1,339 2,326 3,770 5,284 768 
​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Adjusted EBITDA

 16,607 30,731 40,753 52,340 74,456 10,817 
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
​
             
​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

       The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our net income from operations to non-GAAP net income for the periods indicated:


 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 

 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 

 (in millions)
  (in millions)
 

Net income

 1,608 4,665 8,649 23,403 24,320 3,923  8,649 23,403 24,320 71,289 41,226 5,989 

Add: Share-based compensation expense

 932 1,254 1,259 2,844 13,028 2,102  1,259 2,844 13,028 16,082 15,995 2,324 

Add: Amortization of intangible assets

 144 155 130 315 2,089 337  130 315 2,089 2,931 5,122 744 

Add: Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and investments

 — 399 420 163 1,032 166  420 163 1,032 2,319 2,542 369 

Add: Loss (gain) on deemed disposals/disposals/ revaluation of investments

 94 (21) (76) (384) (6,715) (1,083)

Less: Gain on deemed disposals/disposals/revaluation of investments and others

 (76) (384) (6,715) (50,435) (7,346) (1,066)

Add: Amortization of excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of commercial arrangements with Ant Financial Services

 — — — — 166 27  — — 166 264 264 38 

Add: Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment

 — — 3,487 — — —  3,487 — — — — — 

Add: Equity-settled donation expense

 — — — 1,269 — —  — 1,269 — — — — 

Add: Expenses relating to the sale of shares by existing shareholders at initial public offering

 — — — — 231 37  — — 231 — — — 

Add: One-time charge for financing-related fees as a result of early repayment of bank borrowings

 — — — 664 830 134 
             

Add: Non-recurring charge for financing-related fees as a result of early repayment of bank borrowings

 — 664 830 — — — 

Adjusted for tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments(1)

 (16) (11) (105) 341 68 10 
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Non-GAAP net income

 2,778 6,452 13,869 28,274 34,981 5,643  13,853 28,263 34,876 42,791 57,871 8,408 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
​
             
​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
(1)
Tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments are comprised of tax provisions on the amortization of intangible assets and certain gains on disposal of investments, as well as tax benefits from share-based awards. Comparative figures for prior years were updated to conform with the current period presentation.

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       The following table sets forth a reconciliation of our diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS for the periods indicated:


 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 

 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 

 (in millions, except per share data)
  (in millions, except per share data)
 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

 1,183 4,228 8,404 23,076 24,149 3,896  8,404 23,076 24,149 71,460 43,675 6,345 

Add: Reversal of accretion upon assumed conversion of convertible preference shares

 — — 17 31 15 2  17 31 15 — — — 

Add: Dividend eliminated upon assumed conversion of convertible preference shares

 — — 111 208 97 16  111 208 97 — — — 

Less: Dilution effect on earnings arising from option plans operated by a subsidiary

 (2) (7) — — — — 
             

Less: Dilution effect on earnings arising from share-based awards operated by a subsidiary and equity investees

 — — — — (11) (2)
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing diluted EPS

 1,181 4,221 8,532 23,315 24,261 3,914  8,532 23,315 24,261 71,460 43,664 6,343 

Add: Non-GAAP adjustments to net income(1)

 1,170 1,787 5,220 4,871 10,661 1,720  5,204 4,860 10,556 (28,498) 16,645 2,419 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing non-GAAP diluted EPS

 2,351 6,008 13,752 28,186 34,922 5,634  13,736 28,175 34,817 42,962 60,309 8,762 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Weighted average number of shares on a diluted basis

 2,466 2,522 2,389 2,332 2,500    2,389 2,332 2,500 2,562 2,573   

Diluted EPS(2)

 0.48 1.67 3.57 10.00 9.70 1.56  3.57 10.00 9.70 27.89 16.97 2.47 

Add: Non-GAAP adjustments to net income per share(3)

 0.47 0.71 2.19 2.09 4.27 0.69  2.18 2.08 4.23 (11.12) 6.47 0.94 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Non-GAAP diluted EPS(4)

 0.95 2.38 5.76 12.09 13.97 2.25  5.75 12.08 13.93 16.77 23.44 3.41 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
​
             
​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
(1)
See the table above aboutregarding the reconciliation of net income to non-GAAP net income for more information of these non-GAAP adjustments.
(2)
Diluted EPS is derived from net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing diluted EPS divided by weighted average number of shares on a diluted basis.
(3)
Non-GAAP adjustments to net income per share is derived from non-GAAP adjustments to net income divided by weighted average number of shares on a diluted basis.
(4)
Non-GAAP diluted EPS is derived from non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing non-GAAP diluted EPS divided by weighted average number of shares on a diluted basis.

       The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow for the periods indicated:


 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 

 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 

 (in millions)
  (in millions)
 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 5,914 9,275 14,476 26,379 41,217 6,649  14,476 26,379 41,217 56,836 80,326 11,670 

Less: Purchase of property and equipment and intangible assets (excluding land use rights and construction in progress)

 (1,033) (749) (1,046) (3,285) (4,770) (769) (1,046) (3,285) (4,770) (5,438) (12,220) (1,775)

Add: Changes in loan receivables, net

 — 226 2,828 9,175 11,674 1,883 

Add: Changes in loan receivables, net and others

 2,828 9,175 11,674 (119) 684 99 

Add: Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment

 — — 3,487 — — —  3,487 — — — — —
 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

Free cash flow

 4,881 8,752 19,745 32,269 48,121 7,763  19,745 32,269 48,121 51,279 68,790 9,994 
             
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
​
             
​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

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Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:


 As of March 31,  As of March 31, 

 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 

 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 

 (in millions)
  (in millions)
 

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments(1)

 15,940 21,744 32,686 43,632 122,341 19,735  32,686 43,632 122,341 111,518 146,747 21,319 

Investment securities and investment in equity investees(2)(1)

 3,933 2,483 2,426 22,131 52,146 8,412  2,426 22,131 52,146 125,031 155,874 22,645 

Property and equipment, net

 1,905 2,463 3,808 5,581 9,139 1,474  3,808 5,581 9,139 13,629 20,206 2,936 

Goodwill and intangible assets

 11,846 11,791 11,628 13,699 48,508 7,825 

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

 11,628 13,699 48,508 87,015 139,528 20,271 

Total assets

 37,830 47,210 63,786 111,549 255,434 41,206  63,786 111,549 255,434 364,245 506,812 73,630 

Current bank borrowings

 807 1,283 3,350 1,100 1,990 321  3,350 1,100 1,990 4,304 5,948 864 

Secured borrowings

 — — 2,098 9,264 — —  2,098 9,264 — — — — 

Non-current bank borrowings

 — — 22,462 30,711 1,609 260  22,462 30,711 1,609 1,871 30,959 4,498 

Unsecured senior notes(2)

 — — — — 48,994 7,903  — — 48,994 51,391 54,825 7,965 

Redeemable preference shares

 — — 5,191 — — —  5,191 — — — — — 

Total liabilities

 9,413 12,797 52,740 70,731 97,363 15,707  52,740 70,731 97,363 114,356 182,691 26,542 

Convertible preference shares(3)

 — — 10,447 10,284 — —  10,447 10,284 — — — — 

Total Alibaba Group Holding Limited shareholders' equity (deficits)

 26,052 31,488 (24) 29,338 145,439 23,462  (24) 29,338 145,439 216,987 278,799 40,504 

Total equity(4)

 28,402 34,383 513 30,417 157,413 25,393  513 30,417 157,413 249,539 321,129 46,654 
(1)
Includes both cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments, which primarily comprise fixed deposits with original maturities of between three months and one year.
(2)
Includes both current and non-current investment securities and investment in equity investees.
(2)
Includes both current and non-current portion of unsecured senior notes.
(3)
Upon the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014, all of our then outstanding convertible preference shares were converted into ordinary shares.
(4)
The decrease from March 31, 2012 to March 31, 2013 was primarily due to the repurchase of our ordinary shares from Yahoo in September 2012 and the privatization of Alibaba.com, partially offset by the issuance of ordinary shares to finance the repurchase. The increase from March 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015 was primarily due to the issuance of our ordinary shares in connection with our initial public offering in September 2014 and net income for fiscal year 2015.

Selected Operating Data

GMVAnnual active buyers

       The following charttable below sets forth the GMV transactednumber of annual active buyers on our China retail marketplaces and mobile GMV as a percentage of GMV for the periods indicated:

 
 Twelve months ended 
 
 Jun 30,
2015		 Sep 30,
2015		 Dec 31,
2015		 Mar 31,
2016		 Jun 30,
2016		 Sep 30,
2016		 Dec 31,
2016		 Mar 31,
2017		 
 
 (in millions)
 

Annual active buyers

  367  386  407  423  434  439  443  454 

Mobile

       The table below sets forth the mobile MAUs on our China retail marketplaces for the periods indicated:

 
 Three months ended 
 
 Jun. 30,
2013		 Sep. 30,
2013		 Dec. 31,
2013		 Mar. 31,
2014		 Jun. 30,
2014		 Sep. 30,
2014		 Dec. 31,
2014		 Mar. 31,
2015		 
 
 (in billions of RMB, except percentages)
 

GMV(1)

                         

Taobao Marketplace GMV

  257  275  346  295  342  380  494  381 

Tmall GMV

  88  99  183  135  159  176  293  219 

Total GMV

  345  374  529  430  501  556  787  600 

Mobile GMV (as a percentage of total GMV)

  12%  15%  20%  27%  33%  36%  42%  51% 
 
 The month ended 
 
 Jun 30,
2015		 Sep 30,
2015		 Dec 31,
2015		 Mar 31,
2016		 Jun 30,
2016		 Sep 30,
2016		 Dec 31,
2016		 Mar 31,
2017		 
 
 (in millions)
 

Mobile MAUs

  307  346  393  410  427  450  493  507 

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Revenue per active buyer and mobile revenue per mobile MAU

       The table below sets forth information with respect to annual China commerce retail revenue per annual active buyer and annualized mobile revenue per mobile MAU from China commerce retail for the periods presented:

 
 Jun 30,
2015		 Sep 30,
2015		 Dec 31,
2015		 Mar 31,
2016		 Jun 30,
2016		 Sep 30,
2016		 Dec 31,
2016		 Mar 31,
2017		 
 
 (in RMB)
 

Annual China commerce retail revenue per annual active buyer(1)

  171  174  184  189  202  215  241  251 

Mobile revenue per mobile MAU from China commerce retail — Annualized(2)

  76  87  108  123  140  151  166  179 
(1)
China commerce retail revenue per active buyer for each of the above periods is calculated by dividing the China commerce retail revenue for the previous 12-month period by the annual active buyers for the same 12-month period.
(2)
Mobile revenue per mobile MAU from China commerce retail, annualized is calculated by dividing mobile revenue from China commerce retail for the previous 12-month period by the mobile MAUs for the last month of the same period.

GMV

       The table below sets forth the GMV, mobile GMV, revenue, monetization rate, mobile revenue and mobile monetization rate in respect of our China retail marketplaces for the periods indicated:

 
 Year ended 
 
 Mar 31, 2015 Mar 31, 2016 Mar 31, 2017 
 
 (in billions of RMB, except percentages)
 

GMV(1)

          

Taobao Marketplace GMV

  1,597  1,877  2,202 

Tmall GMV

  847  1,215  1,565 

Total GMV

  2,444  3,092  3,767 

Mobile GMV

  994  2,003  2,981 

as a percentage of GMV

  41% 65% 79%

  
(in millions of RMB, except percentages)		 

Revenue

          

China commerce retail revenue

  59,732  80,033  114,109 

Mobile revenue

  17,840  50,337  90,731 

as a percentage of China commerce retail revenue

  30% 63% 80%

Monetization rate

  
2.44
%		 
2.59
%		 
3.03
%

Mobile monetization rate

  1.79% 2.51% 3.04%
(1)
GMV generated from traffic through Juhuasuan is recorded as either Taobao Marketplace GMV or Tmall GMV depending on which of these two marketplaces the transaction is completed.

Cloud computing paying customers

       The table below sets forth the number of paying customers of our cloud computing business as of the dates indicated:

 
 Jun 30,
2015		 Sep 30,
2015		 Dec 31,
2015		 Mar 31,
2016		 Jun 30,
2016		 Sep 30,
2016		 Dec 31,
2016		 Mar 31,
2017		 
 
 (in thousands)
 

Paying customers

  263  313  383  513  577  651  765  874 

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Annual Active BuyersExchange Rate Information

       Most of our revenues and expenses are denominated in Renminbi. This annual report contains translations of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specific rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB in this annual report were made at a rate of RMB6.8832 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on March 31, 2017 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, at the rates stated below, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. On June 9, 2017, the noon buying rate was RMB6.7970 to US$1.00.

       The following charttable sets forth, the number of active buyers on our China retail marketplaces for the periods indicated:

indicated, information concerning exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar based on the exchange rates set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.

 
 Noon buying rate 
Period
 Period end Average(1) Low High 
 
 (RMB per US$1.00)
 

2012

  6.2301  6.2990  6.3879  6.2221 

2013

  6.0537  6.1412  6.2438  6.0537 

2014

  6.2046  6.1704  6.2591  6.0402 

2015

  6.4778  6.2869  6.4896  6.1870 

2016

  6.9430  6.6400  6.9580  6.4480 

December

  6.9430  6.9198  6.9580  6.8771 

2017

             

January

  6.8768  6.8907  6.9575  6.8360 

February

  6.8665  6.8694  6.8821  6.8517 

March

  6.8832  6.8940  6.9132  6.8687 

April

  6.8900  6.8876  6.8988  6.8778 

May

  6.8098  6.8843  6.9060  6.8098 

June (through June 9)

  6.7970  6.7998  6.8085  6.7935 
 
 Twelve months ended 
 
 Jun. 30,
2013		 Sep. 30,
2013		 Dec. 31,
2013		 Mar. 31,
2014		 Jun. 30,
2014		 Sep. 30,
2014		 Dec. 31,
2014		 Mar. 31,
2015		 
 
 (in millions)
 

Active buyers

  185  202  231  255  279  307  334  350 
(1)
Annual averages are calculated using the average of the rates on the last business day of each month during the relevant year. Monthly averages are calculated using the average of the daily rates during the relevant month.

B.    Capitalization and Indebtedness

       Not Applicable.

C.    Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

       Not Applicable.

D.    Risk Factors

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Maintaining the trusted status of our ecosystem is critical to our success and future growth, and any failure to do so could severely damage our reputation and brand, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       We have established a strong brand name and reputation for our ecosystem in China.ecosystem. Any loss of trust in our ecosystem or platformplatforms could harm our reputation and the value of our brand and result in buyers consumers, merchants, brands


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and sellers ceasing to transact business on our marketplaces as well asother participants reducing thetheir activity level of their commercial activity in our ecosystem, which could materially reduce our revenue and profitability. Our ability to maintain our position as a trusted platform for online and mobile commerce is based in large part upon:

    •
    the reliability and security of our platform;platforms as well as the commitment to high levels of service, reliability, security and data protection by the merchants, developers, logistics providers, service providers and other participants in our ecosystem;

    •
    the quality, breadth and functionality of products, and the wide range of services and functions we makeand the quality, variety and appeal of content available to participants onthrough our platform;platforms;

    •
    the effectiveness and perceived fairness of rules governing our marketplaces;

    •
    the qualitymarketplaces and breadth of productsother platforms and services offered by sellers through our marketplaces;overall ecosystem;

    •
    the strength of our consumer and intellectual property rights protection measures; and

    •
    our ability to provide reliable and trusted payment and escrow services through our arrangements with Alipay.

Increased investments in our business, strategic acquisitions and investments as well as our focus on long-term performance and on maintaining the health of our ecosystem may negatively affect our margins and our net income.

       We have experienced significant growth in our profit margins and net income. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our growth at these levels, or at all. Our operating profit grew 65% from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017 but our net income decreased by 42%. Consistent with our focus on the long-term interests of our ecosystem participants, we may take actions that fail to generate positive short-term financial results, and we cannot assure you that these actions will produce long-term benefits. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sustain our net income growth rates or our margins.

       We continue to increase our spending and investment in our business to support our future growth, including in expanding our core commerce offerings, such as our continuing efforts to grow Tmall Supermarket, a supermarket category for high quality fresh produce, food products and fast moving consumer goods, or FMCG; improving our technological infrastructure and cloud computing capacities; and investing in our digital media and entertainment business. All of these initiatives are crucial to the success of our business but will have the effect of increasing our costs and lowering our margins and profit, and this effect may be significant, at least in the short term. Moreover, many of our business initiatives emphasize expanding our user base and enhancing user experience, rather than initially prioritizing monetization or profitability.

       Furthermore, we have made, and intend to continue to make, strategic investments and acquisitions to expand our user base and geographic coverage and add complementary offerings and technologies to further strengthen our ecosystem. For example, we expect to continue to make strategic investments and acquisitions relating to core commerce (including in connection with our new retail strategy), cloud computing and big data, digital media and entertainment, international expansion, logistics services, local services, healthcare and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, or AI. Our strategic investments and acquisitions may adversely affect our future financial results, including by decreasing our margins and net income. For example, we believe that our continuing expansion into the digital media and entertainment sectors, including our acquisition of Youku Tudou, our international expansion, including our acquisition of a controlling stake in Lazada, and our investments and acquisitions to transform our core commerce business, such as our recent privatization of Intime, are important to our overall business but will have a negative effect on our financial results, at least in the short term. In addition, the performance of minority investments we make that are accounted for under the equity method investments may also adversely affect our net income.

We may not be able to maintain or grow our revenue or our business.

       We have experienced significant growth in revenue in recent years. In particular, our revenue grew 45% from fiscal year 2014 to fiscal year 2015, 33% from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2016 and 56% from fiscal year 2016 to


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fiscal year 2017. Our ability to continue to generate and grow our revenue depends on a number of factors. For example, our marketing customers do not have long-term marketing commitments with us. If our services do not generate the rate of return expected or offer prices that are competitive to alternatives, marketers may reduce their spending on the marketing services we offer. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations — Our Ability to Create Value for Our Users and Generate Revenue" and "— Our Monetization Model."

       Our future revenue growth also depends on our ability to continue to grow our core commerce and other businesses, including our cloud computing business, digital media and entertainment business, as well as the businesses we have acquired or invested in and new business initiatives we may explore in the future, including in industries in which we have limited or no experience. This requires significant investments of time and resources, and our new businesses and initiatives may present new and difficult technological, operational and legal challenges. For example, as we expand our digital media and entertainment business, we may be unable to produce or license quality content on commercially reasonable terms or at all, fail to anticipate or keep up with changes in user preferences, user behavior and technological developments or fail to gain access to content distribution channels. In addition, as we expand into the online video industry we may not be able to acquire and retain users, attract marketers to purchase online marketing services on our video platforms, obtain professionally produced content at competitive prices or at all, encourage more user-generated content, or grow user acceptance and the popularity of our online video content. In addition, our expansion into new sectors will subject us to additional regulatory risks. We may also fail to identify or anticipate industry trends and competitive conditions or fail to invest sufficient resources in new growth areas. If we are unable to successfully expand and monetize our businesses, our future revenue growth may be adversely affected.

       In addition, our revenue growth may slow or our revenues may decline for other reasons, including decreasing consumer spending, increasing competition and slowing growth of the China retail or China online retail industries and changes in government policies or general economic conditions. In addition, although our revenue grew at a faster rate in fiscal year 2017 than fiscal year 2016, as our revenue grows to a higher base level, our revenue growth rate may slow in the future.

If we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

       We face increasingly intense competition, mainly from established Chinese Internet companies, such as Tencent, Baidu and their respective affiliates, global Internet companies, as well as certain offline retailers and e-commerce players, including those that specialize in a limited number of product categories, such as FMCG, global or regional cloud computing service providers and digital media and entertainment providers. We compete to:

    •
    attract, engage and retain consumers based on the variety and value of products and services listed on our marketplaces, the engagement of digital media and entertainment content available on our platforms, the overall user experience of our products and services and the effectiveness of our consumer protection measures;

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    attract and retain merchants and brands, based on our size, the size and the engagement of consumers on our platforms and the effectiveness of our products and services to help them build brand awareness and engagement, acquire and retain customers, complete transactions, expand service capabilities, protect intellectual property rights and enhance operating efficiency;

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    compete to attract and retain marketers, publishers and demand side platforms operated by agencies based on the reach and engagement of our media properties, the depth of our consumer data insights and the effectiveness of our branding and marketing solutions;

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    •
    attract other participants of our ecosystem based on access to business opportunities created by the large scale of economic activity on our platforms, the strength of the network effect of our ecosystem, as well as tools and technologies that help them operate and grow their businesses;

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    optimize the usefulness of the data and technologies we provide, including data-enabled customer relationship management tools, marketing data and data science, media ecosystem for branding, cloud computing services, omni-channel solutions, the availability and quality of supporting services, including payment settlement and logistics services, and the quality of our customer service;

    •
    thrive in new industries and sectors as we acquire new businesses and expand, bringing us into competition with major players in these and other industries and sectors; and

    •
    attract motivated and capable employees, including engineers and product developers who serve critical functions in the development of our products, services and our ecosystem.

Many of our competitors generate significant traffic, have established brand recognition, significant technological capabilities and significant financial resources, and have built significant ecosystems around their core businesses, such as e-commerce, social media and gaming.

       In addition, as we expand our various businesses and operations into an increasing number of international markets, including markets in which we have limited or no experience and in which we may be less well-known, such as Southeast Asia, India and Russia, we increasingly face competition from domestic and international players operating in these markets.

       Our ability to compete depends on a number of other factors as well, some of which may be beyond our control, including:

    •
    the timely introduction and market acceptance of the products and services we offer, compared to those of our competitors;

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    our ability to innovate and develop new technologies;

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    our ability to maintain and enhance our leading position in retail commerce in China;

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    our ability to benefit from new business initiatives; and

    •
    alliances, acquisitions or consolidations within the Internet industry that may result in stronger competitors.

       If we are not able to compete effectively, the level of economic activity and user engagement on our platforms may decrease significantly, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations as well as our brand.

We may not be able to maintain and improve the network effects of our ecosystem, which could negatively affect our business and prospects.

       Our ability to maintain a healthy and vibrant ecosystem that creates strong network effects between buyers, sellersamong consumers, merchants and other participants is critical to our success. The extent to which we are able to maintain and strengthen these network effects depends on our ability to:

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    offer a secure and open platformplatforms for all participants;participants and balance the interests of these participants, including consumers, merchants, brands, service providers and others;

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    provide tools and services that meet the evolving needs of buyersconsumers, merchants and sellers;brands;

    •
    provide a wide range of high-quality product, service and servicecontent offerings to buyers;consumers;


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    •
    attract and retain merchants and brands of all sizes;

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    provide sellersmerchants and brands with a high level of traffic flow with strong commercial intent and effective online marketing services;

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    •
    further enhance the attractiveness of our mobile platform;platforms;

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    arrange secure and trusted payment settlement and escrow services;

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    coordinate fulfillment and delivery services with third-party logistics and delivery companies;service providers;

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    attract and retain third partythird-party service providers whothat are able to provide quality services on commercially reasonable terms to our sellers;merchants;

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    maintain the quality of our customer service; and

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    continue adapting to the changing demands of the market.

       In addition, changes we may make to enhance and improve our ecosystem and balance the needs and interests of the various participants on our ecosystem, or to comply with regulatory requirements, may be viewed positively from one participant group's perspective, (suchsuch as buyers)consumers, but may have negative effects from another group's perspective, (suchsuch as sellers).merchants. If we fail to balance the interests of all participants in our ecosystem, fewer buyers, sellersconsumers, merchants, brands and other participants may visitspend less time, mind share and resources on our marketplaces, or they mayplatforms and conduct fewer transactions or use alternative platforms, any of which could result in a material decrease in our revenue and net income.

Our operating philosophy and interest in maintaining the health of our ecosystem may negatively influence our short-term financial performance.

       Consistent with our operating philosophy and focus on the long-term interests of our ecosystem participants, we may take actions that fail to generate short-term financial results, and we cannot assure you that these actions will produce long-term benefits. For example, we share a significant portion of the revenue generated from our network of third-party marketing partners, or the Taobao Affiliate Network, with such marketing partners. In addition, our efforts relating to our mobile platform have emphasized expanding our user base and enhancing user experience, rather than prioritizing monetization of user traffic on our mobile platform. We also make investments in new products, services and business initiatives that may not provide economic benefits to us in the short-term or at all.

User behavior on mobile devices is rapidly evolving, and if we fail to successfully adapt to these changes, our competitiveness and market position may suffer.

       Buyers, sellers and other participants are increasingly using mobile devices in China for a wide range of purposes, including for e-commerce. While a significant and growing portion of participants access our platforms through mobile devices, this area is relatively new and developing rapidly and we may not be able to continue to increase the level of mobile access to and engagement on our marketplaces. The variety of technical and other configurations across different mobile devices and platforms increases the challenges associated with this environment. Our ability to successfully expand the use of mobile devices to access our platform is affected by the following factors:

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    our ability to continue to provide compelling commerce platforms and tools in a multi-device environment;

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    the quality of our mobile offerings, or mobile-based payment services provided by Alipay;

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    our ability to successfully deploy apps on popular mobile operating systems that we do not control, such as iOS and Android;

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    our ability to adapt to the device standards used by third-party manufacturers and distributors; and

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    the attractiveness of alternative platforms.

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       If we are unable to attract significant numbers of new mobile buyers and increase levels of mobile engagement, our ability to maintain or grow our business would be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be able to successfully monetize traffic on our mobile platform, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

       An increasing percentage of our users are accessing our marketplaces through mobile devices, a trend that we expect to continue. Our ability to monetize our mobile user traffic is critical to our business and our growth. We face a number of challenges to successfully monetizing our mobile user traffic, including:

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    providing marketing services in a compelling and effective manner on mobile devices;

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    developing alternative sources of revenue generated from mobile access to our marketplaces;

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    offering a comprehensive user experience on our mobile apps; and

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    ensuring that the mobile services we provide are secure and trusted.

       If as we experience increased use of mobile devices for mobile commerce we are unable to monetize that increased use, our business may not grow or could decline, and our revenues and net income would be materially reduced. For instance, to date we have chosen not to display as many marketing impressions on our mobile apps as compared to on our personal computer-based websites. Although we do not believe the increasing use of mobile devices to conduct commerce has had an adverse effect on our business, our rapid overall growth may make less apparent any adverse effects of this trend on our near-term financial performance. In the quarter ended March 31, 2015, our mobile GMV exceeded 50% of our total GMV for the first time, and we expect mobile GMV as a percentage of total GMV will continue to grow and that our monetization rates for mobile interfaces in the near term will remain lower than those we have achieved from websites because to date our focus has not been on maximizing mobile monetization and we have only recently begun to increasingly monetize mobile activities. Going forward we believe our financial results will become increasingly dependent on our ability to monetize the use of mobile devices to access our marketplaces. We expect this trend will have a greater effect on our business to the extent that shopping on mobile devices displaces transactions that could have occurred on personal computers.

We may not be able to maintain our culture, which has been a key to our success.

       Since our founding, our culture has been defined by our mission, vision and values, and we believe that our culture has been critical to our success. In particular, our culture has helped us serve the long-term interests of our customers, attract, retain and motivate employees and create value for our shareholders. We face a number of challenges that may affect our ability to sustain our corporate culture, including:

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    failure to identify, attract, promote and promoteretain people in leadership positions in our organization who share our culture, values and mission;

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    failure to execute aan effective management succession plan to replace our current generation of management leaders;

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    the increasing size, complexity, geographic coverage and geographiccultural diversity of our business and workforce;

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    the integration of new personnel and businesses as we expand our existing businesses and acquire new businesses;

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    challenges of effectively incentivizing and motivating employees, including members of senior management, and in particular those who have gained a substantial amount of personal wealth because of our initial public offering;related to share-based incentives;

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    competitive pressures to move in directions that may divert us from our mission, vision and values;

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    the continued challenges of an ever-changing business environment;

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    the pressure from the public markets to focus on short-term results instead of long-term value creation; and

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    the increasing need to develop expertise in new areas of business that affect us; and

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    the integration of new personnel and businesses from acquisitions.us.

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If we are not able to maintain our culture or if our culture fails to deliver the long-term results we expect to achieve, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

If we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

       We face increasingly intense competition, mainly from Chinese and global Internet companies as well as from offline retailers, particularly those establishing online marketplaces. We compete to attract, engage and retain buyers based on the variety and value of products and services listed on our marketplaces, overall user experience and convenience and availability of payment settlement and logistics services. We compete to attract and retain sellers based on our size and the engagement of buyers, and the effectiveness and value of the marketing services we offer. We also compete based on the usefulness of the services we provide, including marketing data and data science, cloud computing services, the availability of supporting services, including payment settlement and logistics services, and the quality of our customer service. In addition, we compete for motivated and effective talent and personnel, including engineers and product developers who serve critical functions in the development of our products and our ecosystem.

       Our ability to compete depends on a number of other factors as well, some of which may be out of our control, including:

    •
    the timely introduction and market acceptance of the services we offer, compared to those of our competitors;

    •
    our ability to innovate and develop new technologies;

    •
    our ability to maintain and enhance our leading position in mobile commerce in China;

    •
    our ability to benefit from new business initiatives; and

    •
    alliances, acquisitions or consolidations within the Internet industry that may result in stronger competitors.

       If we are not able to compete effectively, the GMV transacted on our marketplaces and the user activity level on our platform may decrease significantly, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations as well as our brand.

We rely on Alipay to conduct substantially all of the payment processing and all of the escrow services on our marketplaces. Alipay's business is highly regulated, and it is also subject to a range of risks. If Alipay's services are limited, restricted, curtailed or degraded in any way or become unavailable to us or our users for any reason, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

       Alipay provides payment processing and escrow services that are critical to our platform through contractual arrangements with us. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, 75% of GMV on our China retail marketplaces was settled through Alipay, and the settlement and escrow services and convenient payment mechanisms provided by Alipay are critical factors contributing to our success and the development of our ecosystem.

       We established Alipay in December 2004 to operate our payment services. In June 2010, the PBOC issued new regulations that required non-bank payment companies to obtain a license in order to operate in China. These regulations provided specific guidelines for license applications only for domestic PRC-owned entities. These regulations stipulated that, in order for any foreign-invested payment company to obtain a license, the scope of business, the qualifications of any foreign investor and any level of foreign ownership would be subject to future regulations to be issued, which in addition would require approval by the PRC State Council. Further, the regulations required that any payment company that failed to obtain a license had to cease operations by September 1, 2011. Although Alipay was prepared to submit its license application in early 2011, at that time the PBOC had not issued any guidelines applicable to license applications for foreign-invested payment companies (and no such guidelines have been issued as of the date of this annual report). In light of the uncertainties relating


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to the license qualification and application process for a foreign-invested payment company, our management determined that it was necessary to restructure Alipay as a company wholly-owned by PRC nationals in order to avail Alipay of the specific licensing guidelines applicable only to domestic PRC-owned entities. Accordingly we divested all of our interest in and control over Alipay, which resulted in deconsolidation of Alipay from our financial statements. This action enabled Alipay to obtain a payment business license in May 2011 without delay and without any detrimental impact to our China retail marketplaces or to Alipay. Following the divestment of our interest in and control over Alipay, effective in the first calendar quarter of 2011, we entered into a framework agreement with Ant Financial Services (the parent company of Alipay), Alipay, SoftBank, Yahoo, Jack Ma and Joe Tsai to govern our relationship with Alipay and its parent company, Ant Financial Services. In August 2014, we entered into a share and asset purchase agreement or the 2014 SAPA, to further restructure the economic terms of our relationship with Alipay and Ant Financial Services. Pursuant to a commercial agreement we entered into with Alipay in connection with the 2011 framework agreement, as amended through August 2014, Alipay continues to provide payment services to us on terms preferential to us, which arrangement remains unchanged under the 2014 SAPA. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries."

       Alipay's business is highly regulated, and it is also subject to a number of risks that could materially and adversely affect its ability to provide payment processing and escrow services to us, including:

    •
    increased regulatory focus and the requirement to comply with numerous complex and evolving laws, rules and regulations;

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    increasing costs to Alipay, including fees charged by banks to process funds through Alipay, which would also increase our cost of revenues;

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    dissatisfaction with Alipay's services or lower use of Alipay by consumers and merchants;

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    changes to rules or practices applicable to payment card systems that link to Alipay;

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    leakage of customers' personal information and concerns over the use and security of any collected information;

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    service outages, system failures or failure to effectively scale the system to handle large and growing transaction volumes;

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    failure to manage funds accurately or loss of funds, whether due to employee fraud, security breaches, technical errors or otherwise; and

    •
    failure to manage business and regulatory risks.

       Regulators and third parties in China have been increasing their focus on online and mobile payment services, such as those provided by Alipay, and recent regulatory and other developments could reduce the convenience or utility of Alipay users' accounts, including the following:

    •
    In March 2014, it was reported that the PBOC had prepared a further draft of regulations relating to online and mobile payment services. The new draft of the regulations includes a number of proposed provisions relating to account management, security measures and other matters. These provisions would, if adopted, prohibit individuals from using the funds in their online and mobile payment accounts with third-party payment providers such as Alipay to make purchases in excess of RMB5,000 (US$807) in any single transaction or over RMB10,000 (US$1,613) in aggregate purchases per month. In addition, these provisions, if adopted, would limit transfers without any underlying e-commerce transaction from an individual's account with third-party payment providers to other accounts to RMB1,000 (US$161) per transaction and RMB10,000 (US$1,613) in aggregate transfers per year. If the draft regulations were to be adopted in their current or similar form, or other limits were imposed on the size or other aspects of transactions that may be processed through Alipay, the ability of buyers to pay for purchases on our marketplaces using Alipay payment accounts could be materially limited. The draft regulations, however, do not affect Alipay's escrow

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    services. Buyers on our marketplaces could continue to pay for purchases through other means, such as online bank transfers and credit cards, and continue to fund their Alipay escrow accounts. So long as payments are not made outside of the Alipay escrow system, we would continue to collect commissions on such purchases if they were made on marketplaces on which we collect commissions. The PBOC has indicated that the purpose of these provisions and other parts of the draft regulations is prudential and that final regulations, including these provisions, would be subject to public consultation and revision.

    •
    In March 2014, certain large commercial banks in China reduced their existing limits on the amounts that may be transferred by automatic payment from customers' bank accounts to their linked accounts with third-party payment services. Certain of these banks imposed lower limits on Alipay than on other payment services. These limits on payments funded through Alipay's automatic payment services range from RMB10,000 per day to RMB50,000 per day depending on the bank, while monthly transfer limits on payments funded through third-party payment companies' automatic payment services were set as low as RMB50,000 per month by certain banks. Although we believe the impact of these restrictions has not been and will not be significant in terms of the overall volume of payments processed for our China retail marketplaces, and automatic payment services represent only one of many payment mechanisms that buyers may use to settle transactions, the practices of the banks remain in flux. We cannot predict whether these and any additional restrictions could be put in place that could have a material adverse effect on our marketplaces.

    •
    In April 2014, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, or the CBRC, and the PBOC issued Joint Circular 10, which, effective June 30, 2014, will require commercial banks and other financial institutions in China to conduct additional customer verification procedures prior to establishing an automatic payment link between customers' bank accounts and their accounts with third-party payment services, such as Alipay. Once the accounts have been linked, Joint Circular 10 also requires commercial banks and other financial institutions in China to, upon the customer's request, adjust any limits imposed on the amounts that may be transferred to the linked accounts. It is unclear how commercial banks and other financial institutions will implement the additional customer verification procedures or the requirement to adjust the transfer limits.

       We rely on the convenience and ease of use that Alipay provides to our users. If the quality, utility, convenience or attractiveness of Alipay's services declines as a result of these limitations or for any other reason, the attractiveness of our marketplaces could be materially and adversely affected.

       If we need to migrate to another third-party payment service for any reason, the transition would require significant time and management resources, and the third-party payment service may not be as effective, efficient or well-received by buyers and sellers on our marketplaces. These third-party payment services also may not provide escrow services, and we may not be able to receive commissions based on GMV transacted through these systems. In addition, we would no longer have the benefit of the terms preferential to us under our commercial agreement with Alipay and would likely be required to pay more for payment processing and escrow services than we are currently paying. There can be no assurance that we would be able to reach an agreement with an alternative online payments service on acceptable terms or at all.

       Moreover, because of our close association with Alipay and overlapping user base, events that negatively affect Alipay could also negatively affect customers', regulators' and other third parties' perception of us. In addition, any actual or perceived conflict of interest between us and Alipay or any other company integral to the functioning of our ecosystem could also materially harm our reputation as well as our business and prospects.


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We do not control Alipay or its parent entity, Ant Financial Services, over which Jack Ma effectively controls a majority of the voting interests. Accordingly, if conflicts arise between us and Alipay or Ant Financial Services, including conflicts that could threaten our ability to continue to receive payment services on preferential terms or conflicts relating to commercial opportunities that we or Alipay or Ant Financial Services wish to pursue, such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor and could have a negative effect on our ecosystem and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Moreover, conflicts of interest may arise due to Jack Ma's role as executive chairman of our company and through his voting control over and his economic interest in Ant Financial Services, and he may not act to resolve such conflicts in our favor.

       Although we rely on Alipay to conduct substantially all of the payment processing and all of the escrow services on our marketplaces, we do not have any control over Alipay. Following the divestment of our interests in and control over Alipay, effective as of the first calendar quarter of 2011, we entered into an agreement with Alipay pursuant to which Alipay provides payment services on terms that are preferential to us. The agreement, as amended through August 2014, has an initial term of 50 years from the date of the original agreement, and is automatically renewable for further periods of 50 years. Following such divestment and subsequent equity holding restructurings, an entity controlled by Jack Ma, our executive chairman, has become the general partner of Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership, or Junhan, a PRC limited partnership, and Junao Equity Investment Partnership, or Junao, a PRC limited partnership, which are two major equity holders of Ant Financial Services. Accordingly, Jack has an economic interest in Ant Financial Services and is able to exercise the voting power of the major shareholders of Ant Financial Services. We understand that through the exercise of such voting power, Jack continues to control a substantial majority of the voting interests in Ant Financial Services.

       As noted in the immediately preceding risk factor, Alipay's business is subject to a number of risks. If Alipay were not able to successfully manage these risks, its ability to continue to deliver payment services to us on preferential terms may be undermined. Furthermore, if, notwithstanding its existing obligations to us under the agreement, Alipay sought to alter the terms of the agreement and to amend the terms of its arrangements with us in order to improve its business by modifying the payment processing terms or otherwise, there is no assurance that Jack Ma, in light of his voting control over Alipay's parent, Ant Financial Services, will act in our interest. If we were to lose such preferential terms or if Alipay is unable to successfully manage its business, our ecosystem could be negatively affected, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

       In addition to the payment processing and escrow services provided by Alipay, Ant Financial Services provides other financial services to participants in our ecosystem, including micro-finance services through the SME loan business that we transferred to Ant Financial Services upon the completion of the restructuring of our relationship with Ant Financial Services in early February 2015, and may provide additional services in the future. Other conflicts of interest between us, on the one hand, and Alipay and Ant Financial Services, on the other hand, may arise relating to commercial or strategic opportunities or initiatives. Although we and Ant Financial Services have each agreed to certain non-competition undertakings under the 2014 SAPA, we cannot assure you that Ant Financial Services would not pursue opportunities to provide services to our competitors or other opportunities that would conflict with our interests. Jack Ma may not resolve such conflicts in our favor. Furthermore, our ability to explore alternative payment services other than Alipay for our marketplaces may be constrained due to Jack's relationship with Ant Financial Services.

       In addition, we have granted share-based awards to employees of Ant Financial Services, and Junhan has made share-based awards tied to the value of Ant Financial Services to our employees. The provision of awards to our employees tied to the value of Ant Financial Services is expected to enhance our strategic and financial relationship with Ant Financial Services. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Share-based Award Reimbursement Arrangements" and "— Equity-based Awards to Our Employees by a Related Party." The share-based awards granted by Junhan to our employees resulted in expenses that are recognized by our company. Subject to the approval of our audit committee, Jack, through his role with us and his control over Junhan could be in a position to propose and promote further share-based grants that result


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in additional, and potentially significant, expenses to our company. Accordingly, these and other potential conflicts of interest between us and Alipay, and between us and Jack or Junhan, may not be resolved in our favor, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If we are not able to continue to innovate or if we fail to adapt to changes in our industry, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

       The Internet industry is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, new mobile apps, protocols and technologies, new service and product introductions, new media and entertainment content — 


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including user-generated content — and changing customer demands.demands and trends. Furthermore, our competitors are constantly developing innovations in Internet search, online marketing, communications, social networking, entertainment and other services, on both mobile devices and personal computers, to enhance users' online experience. We continue to invest significant resources in our infrastructure, research and development and other areas in order to enhance our platform technology and our existing products and services as well as to explore new growth strategies and introduce new high quality products and services that willto attract more participants to our marketplaces.platforms. The changes and developments taking place in our industry may also require us to re-evaluate our business model and adopt significant changes to our long-term strategies and business plan.plans. Our failure to innovate and adapt to these changes and developments would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       For example, we derive significant revenue from mobile, and the ways users access content, interact and transact on our mobile platforms develop rapidly. We may fail to continue to offer superior user experience in order to increase or maintain the level of mobile engagement on our platforms. The variety of technical and other configurations across different mobile devices and platforms increases the challenges associated with this environment, and we may fail to develop and provide products and services that work effectively with this wide range of configurations. If we are unable to continue to attract and retain significant numbers of mobile consumers and increase or maintain levels of mobile engagement on our platforms, our ability to maintain or grow our business would be materially and adversely affected.

Our failure to manage the growth of our business and operations could harm us.

       Our business has become increasingly complex as the scale, diversity and geographic coverage of our business and our workforce continue to grow. We have also significantly expanded our headcount, office facilities and infrastructure, and we anticipate that further expansion in certain areas and geographies will be required. This expansion increases the complexity of our operations and places a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources. We must continue to hire, train and effectively manage new employees. If our new hires perform poorly or if we are unsuccessful in hiring, training, managing and integrating new employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.

       Moreover, our current and planned staffing, systems, policies, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our future operations. To effectively manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we will need to continue to improve our transaction processing, operational and financial systems, policies, procedures and controls, which could be particularly challenging as we acquire new operations with different and incompatible systems in new industries or geographic areas. These efforts will require significant managerial, financial and human resources. We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively manage our growth or to implement all these systems, procedures and control measures successfully. If we are not able to manage our growth effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We face risks relating to our acquisitions, investments and alliances.

       We have acquired and invested in a large number and a diverse range of businesses, technologies, services and products in recent years, including investments of varying sizes in equity investees and joint ventures, and we have a number of pending investments and acquisitions that are subject to closing conditions. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities." We expect to continue to evaluate and consider a wide array of potential strategic transactions as part of our overall business strategy, including business combinations, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, technologies, services, products and other assets, as well as strategic investments and alliances. At any given time


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we may be engaged in discussing or negotiating a range of these types of transactions. These transactions involve significant challenges and risks, including:

    •
    difficulties in integrating into our operations the diverse and large number of personnel, operations, products, services, technology, internal controls and financial reporting of companies we acquire, and any unanticipated expenses relating to business integration;

    •
    disruption of our ongoing business, distraction of our management and employees and increase of our expenses;

    •
    departure of skilled professionals as well as the loss of established client relationships of the businesses we invest in or acquire;

    •
    for investments over which we may not obtain management and operational control, we may lack influence over the controlling partner or shareholder, which may prevent us from achieving our strategic goals in these investments;

    •
    regulatory requirements and compliance risks as well as publicity risks that we may become subject to, including as a result of acquisitions of businesses in new industries or geographic areas or otherwise, especially for acquisitions of companies which are subject to heightened regulatory requirements and scrutiny;

    •
    actual or alleged misconduct or non-compliance by us or any company we acquire or invest in (or by its affiliates), whether before, during or after our acquisition or investment, which may lead to negative publicity, litigation, government inquiry or investigations against these companies or against us;

    •
    unforeseen or hidden liabilities or additional operating losses, costs and expenses that may adversely affect us following our acquisitions or investments;

    •
    potential impairment charges or write-offs due to the changes in the fair value of our investments or acquired companies as a result of market volatility or other reasons that we may or may not control, particularly with respect to public investee companies, such as Alibaba Pictures, the market value of which investment has been significantly lower than its carrying value for an extended period of time; such that, if the fair value of our investment in this or other equity investee companies remains below its carrying value for a significantly longer period of time, we may need to write down the carrying value to its fair value, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results;

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    regulatory hurdles including in relation to the anti-monopoly and competition laws, rules and regulations of China and other jurisdictions in connection with any proposed investments and acquisitions, including, in the case of the exercise of our option in the future to acquire an equity interest in Ant Financial Services, PRC regulations pertaining to non-bank payment companies and other relevant financial services;

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    the risk that any of our pending or other future proposed acquisitions and investments fails to close, including as a result of political and regulatory challenges and protectionist policies; and

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    challenges in maintaining or further growing our acquired businesses, or achieving the expected benefits of synergies and growth opportunities in connection with these acquisitions and investments, such as our acquisition of Youku Tudou and a controlling stake in Lazada and our recent privatization of Intime.

       We have concluded a number of significant acquisitions and investments in recent years, and we have limited experience in integrating major acquisitions. As our acquisition and investment activity continues at a rapid pace, with a large number and a diverse range of target companies, we and our management will continue to face significant challenges, including unanticipated ones, in integrating these businesses into our existing businesses.


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We may face challenges in expanding our international and cross-border businesses and operations.

       As we expand our international and cross-border businesses into an increasing number of international markets, such as Southeast Asia, India and Russia, we will face risks associated with expanding into markets in which we have limited or no experience and in which we may be less well-known. We may be unable to attract a sufficient number of customers and other participants, fail to anticipate competitive conditions or face difficulties in operating effectively in these new markets. The expansion of our international and cross-border businesses will also expose us to risks inherent in operating businesses globally, including:

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    inability to recruit international and local talent and challenges in replicating or adapting our company policies and procedures to operating environments different than that of China;

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    lack of acceptance of our product and service offerings;

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    challenges and increased expenses associated with staffing and managing international and cross-border operations and managing an organization spread over multiple jurisdictions;

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    trade barriers, such as import and export restrictions, customs duties and other taxes, competition law regimes and other trade restrictions, as well as other protectionist policies;

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    differing and potentially adverse tax consequences;

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    increased and conflicting regulatory compliance requirements;

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    challenges caused by distance, language and cultural differences;

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    increased costs to protect the security and stability of our information technology systems, intellectual property and personal data, including compliance costs related to data localization laws;

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    availability and reliability of international and cross-border payment systems and logistics infrastructure;

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    exchange rate fluctuations; and

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    political instability and general economic or political conditions in particular countries or regions.

       As we expand further into new regions and markets, these risks could intensify, and efforts we make to expand our international and cross-border businesses and operations may not be successful. Failure to expand our international and cross-border businesses and operations could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       Transactions conducted through our international and cross-border platforms may be subject to different customs, taxes and rules and regulations, and we may be adversely affected by the complexity of and developments in customs and import/export laws, rules and regulations in the PRC and other jurisdictions. For example, effective as of April 8, 2016, the Notice on Tax Policies of Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation, or the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice, replaced the previous system for taxing consumer goods imported into the PRC and introduced a 17% value-added tax, or VAT, on most products sold through e-commerce platforms and consumption tax on high-end cosmetics. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Tax Regulations."

       In addition, changes to trade policies, treaties and tariffs in the jurisdictions in which we operate, or the perception that these changes could occur, could adversely affect our international and cross-border operations, our financial condition and results of operations. For example, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has advocated greater restrictions on trade generally and significant increases on tariffs on goods imported into the United States, particularly from China.


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We rely on Alipay to conduct substantially all of the payment processing and all of the escrow services on our marketplaces. If Alipay's services are limited, restricted, curtailed or degraded in any way or become unavailable to us or our users for any reason, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

       Given the significant transaction volume on our platforms, Alipay provides convenient payment processing and escrow services to us through contractual arrangements on preferential terms. These services are critical to our platforms and the development of our ecosystem. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, approximately 72% of GMV on our China retail marketplaces was settled through Alipay's escrow and payment processing services. We rely on the convenience and ease of use that Alipay provides to our users. If the quality, utility, convenience or attractiveness of Alipay's services declines for any reason, the attractiveness of our marketplaces could be materially and adversely affected.

       Alipay's business is subject to a number of risks that could materially and adversely affect its ability to provide payment processing and escrow services to us, including:

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    dissatisfaction with Alipay's services or lower use of Alipay by consumers and merchants;

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    increasing competition, including from other established Chinese Internet companies, payment service providers and companies engaged in other financial technology services;

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    changes to rules or practices applicable to payment systems that link to Alipay;

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    breach of customers' personal information and concerns over the use and security of information collected from customers;

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    service outages, system failures or failure to effectively scale the system to handle large and growing transaction volumes;

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    increasing costs to Alipay, including fees charged by banks to process transactions through Alipay, which would also increase our cost of revenues;

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    negative news about and social media coverage on Alipay, its business or its products and service offerings; and

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    failure to manage funds accurately or loss of funds, whether due to employee fraud, security breaches, technical errors or otherwise.

       In addition, certain commercial banks in China impose limits on the amounts that may be transferred by automated payment from customers' bank accounts to their linked accounts with third-party payment services. Although we believe the impact of these restrictions has not been and will not be significant in terms of the overall volume of payments processed for our China retail marketplaces, and automated payment services linked to bank accounts represent only one of many payment mechanisms that consumers may use to settle transactions, we cannot predict whether these and any additional restrictions that could be put in place would have a material adverse effect on our marketplaces.

       Alipay's business is highly regulated and faces challenges in managing its regulatory risks. Alipay is required to comply with numerous complex and evolving laws, rules and regulations. In particular, regulators and third parties in China have been increasing their focus on online and mobile payment services, and recent regulatory and other developments could reduce the convenience or utility of Alipay users' accounts. In addition, as Alipay expands its businesses and operations into more international markets, it will become subject to additional legal and regulatory risks and scrutiny. Furthermore, our commercial arrangements with Alipay may be subject to anti-competition challenges. See "— We and Ant Financial Services are subject to a broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations on our business or otherwise that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations," and "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation Applicable to Alipay."


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       If we needed to migrate to another third-party payment service or significantly expand our relationship with other third-party payment services, the transition would require significant time and management resources, and the third-party payment service may not be as effective, efficient or well-received by consumers and merchants on our marketplaces. These third-party payment services also may not provide escrow services, and we may not be able to receive commissions based on GMV transacted through these systems. We would also receive less, or lose entirely, the benefit of the commercial agreement with Ant Financial Services and Alipay, which provides us with preferential terms, and would likely be required to pay more for payment processing and escrow services than we currently pay. There can be no assurance that we would be able to reach an agreement with an alternative online payment service on acceptable terms or at all.

We do not control Alipay or its parent entity, Ant Financial Services, over which Jack Ma effectively controls a majority of the voting interests. If conflicts that could arise between us and Alipay or Ant Financial Services are not resolved in our favor, they could have a negative effect on our ecosystem and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

       Although we rely on Alipay to conduct substantially all of the payment processing and all of the escrow services on our marketplaces, we do not have any control over Alipay. Alipay provides payment services to us on preferential terms pursuant to our long-term commercial agreement with Ant Financial Services and Alipay. Following the divestment and subsequent equity holding restructuring related to Ant Financial Services, an entity controlled by Jack Ma, our executive chairman, became the general partner of Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership, or Junhan, a PRC limited partnership, and Junao Equity Investment Partnership, or Junao, a PRC limited partnership, which are two major equity holders of Alipay's parent, Ant Financial Services. Accordingly, Jack has an economic interest in Ant Financial Services and is able to exercise the voting power of the equity interest in Ant Financial Services held by Junhan and Junao. We understand that through the exercise of this voting power, Jack continues to control a substantial majority of the voting interests in Ant Financial Services.

       If Alipay were not able to successfully manage the risks relating to its business, its ability to continue to deliver payment services to us on preferential terms may be undermined. Furthermore, if for any reason, Alipay sought to amend the terms of its agreements and arrangements with us, there is no assurance that Jack Ma, in light of his voting control over Alipay's parent, Ant Financial Services, would act in our interest. If we were to lose the preferential terms with Alipay or if Alipay is unable to successfully manage its business, our ecosystem could be negatively affected, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.

       Ant Financial Services also provides other financial services to participants in our ecosystem, including wealth management, lending, insurance and credit system, and may provide additional services in the future. Other conflicts of interest between us, on the one hand, and Alipay and Ant Financial Services, on the other hand, may arise relating to commercial or strategic opportunities or initiatives. Although we and Ant Financial Services have each agreed to certain non-competition undertakings, Ant Financial Services may provide services to our competitors from time to time and we cannot assure you that Ant Financial Services would not pursue other opportunities that would conflict with our interests. Jack Ma may not resolve these conflicts in our favor. Furthermore, our ability to explore alternative payment services other than Alipay for our marketplaces may be constrained due to Jack's relationship with Ant Financial Services.

       In addition, we grant share-based awards to employees of Ant Financial Services, and Junhan grants share-based awards tied to the value of Ant Financial Services to our employees. The provision of awards to our employees tied to the value of Ant Financial Services is intended to enhance our strategic and financial relationship with Ant Financial Services. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Equity-based Award Arrangements." The share-based awards granted by Junhan to our employees result in expenses that are recognized by our company. Subject to the approval of our audit committee, Jack, through his role with us and his control over Junhan, could be in a position to propose and promote further share-


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based grants that result in additional, and potentially significant, expenses to our company. Accordingly, these and other potential conflicts of interest between us and Ant Financial Services or Alipay, and between us and Jack or Junhan or Junao, may not be resolved in our favor, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

       Moreover, because of our close association with Ant Financial Services and overlapping user base, events that negatively affect Ant Financial Services could also negatively affect customers', regulators' and other third parties' perception of us. In addition, any actual or perceived conflict of interest between us and Ant Financial Services or any other company integral to the functioning of our ecosystem could also materially harm our reputation as well as our business and prospects.

Our business generates and processes a large amount of data, and the improper use or disclosure of such data could harm our reputation as well as have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.

       Our marketplacesbusiness, including our cloud computing business, generates and platform generate and processprocesses a large quantity of personal, transaction, demographic and behavioral data. We face risks inherent in handling and protecting large volumes of data and in protecting the security of such data. In particular, we face a number of challenges relating to data from transactions and other activities on our platform,platforms, including:

    •
    protecting the data in and hosted on our system, including against attacks on our system by outside parties or fraudulent behavior or improper use by our employees;

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    addressing concerns related to privacy and sharing, safety, security and other factors; and

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    complying with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the collection, use, storage, transfer, disclosure orand security of personal information, including any requests from regulatory and government authorities relating to suchthis data.

       The PRC regulatory and enforcement regime with regard to data security and data protection is evolving. According to the Cybersecurity Law, which was promulgated by the National People's Congress Standing Committee on November 7, 2016 and took effect as of June 1, 2017, as network operators we are obligated to provide technical assistance and support for public security and national security authorities to protect national security or assist with criminal investigations. In addition, the Cybersecurity Law provides that personal information and important data collected and generated by an operator of critical information infrastructure in the course of its operations in the PRC must be stored in the PRC, and the law imposes additional data security and privacy protection obligations on network operators. Further, on July 1, 2015, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the National Security Law, or the New National Security Law, which took effect on the same date and replaced the former National Security Law promulgated in 1993 and covers various types of national security including technology security and information security. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation of Internet Security." Compliance with the Cybersecurity Law, the New National Security Law, as well as additional laws and regulations that PRC regulatory bodies may enact in the future, may result in additional expenses to us and subject us to negative publicity which could harm our reputation with users and negatively affect the trading price of our ADSs. There are also uncertainties with respect to how the Cybersecurity Law and the New National Security Law will be implemented in practice. PRC regulators, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, and the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the Cyberspace Administration, have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection. We expect that these areas will receive greater attention and focus from regulators, as well as attract continued or greater public scrutiny and attention going forward, which could increase our compliance costs and subject us to heightened risks and challenges associated with data security and protection. If we are unable to manage these risks, we could become subject to penalties, including fines, suspension of business and revocation of required licenses, and our reputation and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.


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       In addition, pursuant to our data sharing agreement with AlipayAnt Financial Services and other participants in our ecosystem,Alipay, which sets forth data security and confidentiality protocols, and subject to relevant legal requirements and limitations, we share certainhave agreed to a broad sharing of data with AlipayAnt Financial Services through a data sharing platform that we own and operate. Cainiao Network, Koubei and Alibaba Pictures have also entered into agreements with us to participate in the data sharing platform. We also grant expressly limited access to specified data on our data platform to certain other participants in our ecosystem whothat provide services to sellers,merchants and consumers, such as marketing affiliates, retail operationaloperating partners, logistics service providers, mobile app developers, independent software vendors, or ISVs, cloud developers, marketing affiliates and various professional service providers. These ecosystem participants face the same challenges inherent in handling and protecting large volumes of data and in protecting the security of such data. Any systems failure or security breach or lapse on our part or on the part of any of our ecosystem participants that results in the release of user data could harm our reputation and brand and, consequently, our business, in addition to exposing us to potential legal liability.

       As we expand our operations into international markets, we will be subject to additional laws in other jurisdictions where we operate and where our sellers, buyersmerchants, consumers, users, customers and other participants are located. The laws, rules and regulations of other jurisdictions, such as the United States and Europe, may be more comprehensive, detailed and nuanced in their scope, and impose more stringent or conflicting requirements and penalties than those in China, complianceChina. Complying with whichlaws and regulations for an increasing number of jurisdictions could require significant resources and costs. Our privacycontinued expansion into cloud computing services, both within China and overseas, will also increase the number of users and the amount of data hosted on our system, as well as increase the number of jurisdictions in which we have information technology systems. This, as well as the increasing number of new legal requirements in various jurisdictions, such as the Russian Data Localization Law, which came into effect on September 1, 2015, and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation, which will come into effect in May 2018, present increased challenges and risks in relation to policies and practicesprocedures relating to data collection, storage, transfer, disclosure, protection and privacy. Our privacy policies concerning the collection, use and disclosure of userpersonal data are posted on our websites. Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with our posted privacy policies or with any regulatory requirements or privacy protection-related laws, rules and regulations could result in adverse publicity or proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others. These proceedings or actions maycould subject us to significant penalties and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase our costs and severely disrupt our business.


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We may not be able to maintain or grow our revenue or our business.

       We primarily derive our revenue from online marketing services, commissions based on transaction value derived from certain of our marketplaces and fees from the sale of memberships on our wholesale marketplaces, and we have experienced significant growth in revenue in recent years. In particular, our revenue grew 52% from fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2014 and 45% from fiscal year 2014 to fiscal year 2015. Our marketing customers are typically brand owners, distributors and merchants who are sellers on our marketplaces. Marketing customers do not have long-term marketing commitments with us. The price a merchant is willing to pay for online marketing services generally depends on its expected GMV, profit margins and lifetime value of customers derived from such marketing investment. If those services do not generate the rate of return the seller expects or rates that are competitive to alternatives, the seller may reduce its spending on the marketing services we offer. In addition, as we currently are monetizing mobile GMV at a lower rate than GMV generated through personal computer interfaces, our revenue growth rate may be affected by the increasing proportion of mobile GMV in our overall GMV. Furthermore, our efforts to improve user experience may also adversely affect our revenue growth and financial results in the near term.

       Sellers on Tmall and Juhuasuan are required to pay a commission typically ranging from 0.3% to 5% of GMV settled through Alipay depending on the product category. If less GMV is transacted through such marketplaces or more GMV is generated from product categories with lower commission rates, or if more transactions are settled directly between buyers and sellers without using Alipay's payment processing and escrow services, the commissions we receive from transactions would decrease.

       For our wholesale marketplaces, we primarily derive revenues from membership fees. Potential changes in our strategy for monetizing our wholesale marketplaces could result in prolonged reductions in revenue from those marketplaces.

       Our future revenue growth may also depend on our ability to grow our other businesses, including our cloud computing business and the businesses we have acquired or invested in and new business initiatives we may explore in the future. In particular, we face risks associated with expanding into industries in which we have limited or no experience. For example, as we expand our entertainment business, we may be unable to produce or license quality content on commercially reasonable terms or at all, fail to anticipate or keep up with changes in user preferences, user behavior and technological developments or fail to gain access to content distribution channels. In addition, our expansion into the entertainment industry will subject us to additional regulatory risks, such as permit requirements and regulations over content in the PRC. If we are unable to successfully monetize and expand these businesses, our future revenue growth may be adversely affected.

       In addition, our revenue growth may slow or our revenues may decline for other reasons, including decreasing consumer spending, increasing competition, slowing growth of the China retail or China online retail industry and changes in government policies or general economic conditions. In addition, our revenue growth rate will likely decline as our revenue grows to higher levels.

Increased investments in our business may negatively affect our margins and our net income.

       We have experienced significant growth in our profit margins and net income. For example, our operating profit and net income grew 132% and 171%, respectively, from fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2014. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our growth at these levels, or at all. For example, our operating profit declined by 7% and net income only grew 4% from fiscal year 2014 to fiscal year 2015.

       Furthermore, we have made, and intend to continue to make, strategic investments and acquisitions to expand our user base, enhance our cloud computing business, add complementary products and technologies and further strengthen our ecosystem. For example, we expect to continue to make strategic investments and acquisitions relating to mobile, entertainment, cloud computing and big data, logistics services, local commerce, category expansion, healthcare, as well as the Internet of things. Our strategic investments and acquisitions may affect our future financial results, including by decreasing our margins and net income. For example, our acquisitions,


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including UCWeb, OneTouch and AutoNavi, resulted in an increase of expenses, but we do not expect they will materially increase our revenue in the short term. Historically, our costs have increased each year due to these factors and we expect to continue to incur increasing costs, which may be greater than we anticipate. Increases in our costs may materially and adversely affect our business and profitability and there can be no assurance that we will be able to sustain our net income growth rates or our margins.

Failure to maintain or improve our technology infrastructure could harm our business and prospects.

       We are constantly upgrading our marketplaces and platformplatforms to provide increased scale, improved performance for both online and mobile use of our platform and additional built-in functionality and additional capacity for our cloud computing services.capacity. Adopting new products and maintaining and upgrading our ecosystemtechnology infrastructure, including our data centers, cloud operating systems and big data analytics platform, require significant investments of time and resources, including adding new hardware, updating software and recruiting and training new engineering personnel. MaintainingAny failure to maintain and improvingimprove our technology infrastructure require significant levels of investment. Adverse consequences could includeresult in unanticipated system disruptions, slower response times, impaired quality of buyers' and sellers'users' experiences and delays in reporting accurate operating and financial information. For example, on Singles Day, there is significantly higher than normal activity on our marketplaces that our systems must handle. In addition, much of the software and interfaces we use are internally developed and proprietary technology. If we experience problems with the functionality and effectiveness of our software or platforms, or are unable to maintain and constantly improve our technology infrastructure to handle our business needs, our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects, as well as our reputation, could be materially and adversely affected.

The successful operation of our business depends upon the performance and reliability of the Internet infrastructure in China and other countries in which we operate.

       Our business depends on the performance and reliability of the Internet infrastructure in China and other countries in which we operate. Substantially all of our computer hardware and a majority of our cloud computing services are currently located in China. Almost all access to the Internet in China is maintained through state-ownedstate-


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owned telecommunication operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China.MIIT. In addition, the national networks in China are connected to the Internet through state-owned international gateways, which are the only channels through which a domestic user can connect to the Internet outside of China. We may face similar or other limitations in other countries in which we operate. We may not have access to alternative networks in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with the Internet infrastructure in China or elsewhere. In addition, the Internet infrastructure in the countries in which we operate may not support the demands associated with continued growth in Internet usage.

       The failure of telecommunications network operators to provide us with the requisite bandwidth could also interfere with the speed and availability of our websites.websites and mobile applications. We have no control over the costs of the services provided by the telecommunications operators. If the prices that we pay for telecommunications and Internet services rise significantly, our gross margins could be adversely affected. In addition, if Internet access fees or other charges to Internet users increase, our user traffic may decrease, which in turn may significantly decrease our revenues.

Our ecosystem could be disrupted by network interruptions.

       Our ecosystem depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications systems. Substantially allSystem interruptions and delays may prevent us from efficiently processing the large volume of transactions on our computer hardware and our cloud computing services is currently located in China.marketplaces. In addition, a large number of sellersmerchants maintain their important systems, such as enterprise resource planning, or ERP, and customer relationship management, or CRM, systems on our cloud computing platform, which contains substantial quantities of data relating to their accounts, transaction data, buyerconsumer information and other data that enables sellersmerchants to operate and manage their businesses. Increasing media and entertainment content on our platforms also requires additional network capacity and infrastructure to process. Consumers expect our media and entertainment content to be readily available online, and any disruptions or delay to the delivery of content could affect the attractiveness and reputation of our media and entertainment platforms.

       We and other participants in our ecosystem, including Ant Financial Services and Cainiao Network, occasionally experience system interruptions and delays that make websites and services temporarily unavailable or slow to respond. Although we have prepared for contingencies through redundancy measures and disaster recovery plans such preparationand also carry business interruption insurance, these preparations and insurance coverage may not be sufficient and we do not carry business interruption insurance.sufficient. Despite any precautions we may take, the occurrence of a natural disaster, such as an earthquake, flood or fire, or other unanticipated problems at our facilities or the facilities of Alipay,Ant Financial Services, Cainiao LogisticsNetwork and other participants in our ecosystem, including power outages, system failures, telecommunications delays or failures, construction


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accidents, break-ins to information technology systems or computer viruses, could result in delays or interruptions to our marketplaces and platforms, loss of our, consumers' and customers' data and business interruption for us and our customers. Any of these events could damage our reputation, significantly disrupt our operations and the operations of the sellersmerchants and other participants in our ecosystem and subject us to liability, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our sellers useIf third-party logistics and delivery companies to fulfill and deliver their orders. If these logistics and delivery companiesservice providers used by our merchants fail to provide reliable deliverylogistics services, or ourthe logistics informationdata platform operated by Cainiao Network were to malfunction, suffer an outage or otherwise fail, our business and prospects, as well as our financial condition and results of operations, may be materially and adversely affected.

       We cooperateOur merchants use third-party logistics service providers to fulfill and deliver their orders. Cainiao Network cooperates with a number of third-party logistics and delivery companiesservice providers to help merchants on our sellersplatforms fulfill orders and deliver their products to buyers. We have establishedconsumers. Cainiao Network operates a logistics informationdata platform that is operated by Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain Management Co. Ltd., or Cainiao Logistics (formerly referred to as China Smart Logistics), our 48%-owned affiliate, that links our information system toand those of our logistics service partners.providers. Interruptions to or failures in these third-parties' logistics and delivery services, or in ourCainiao Network's logistics informationdata platform, could prevent the timely or proper delivery of products to buyers,consumers, which would harm the reputation of our marketplaces and our ecosystem. These interruptions or failures may be due to events that are beyond our control or the control of Cainiao Network or these logistics and delivery companies,service providers, such as inclement weather, natural disasters, transportation disruptions or labor


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unrest. These logistics and delivery services could also be affected or interrupted by business disputes, industry consolidation, insolvency or government shut-downs. We do not have agreements with logistics and delivery companies that require them to offer services to our sellers. The sellersmerchants on our marketplaces may not be able to find alternative logistics and delivery companiesservice providers to provide logistics and delivery services in a timely and reliable manner, or at all. We do not have agreements with logistics service providers that require them to offer services to our merchants. If the logistics informationdata platform we useoperated by Cainiao Network were to fail for any reason, ourthe logistics service providers would be severely hindered from or unable to connect with our sellers,merchants, and their services and the functionality of our ecosystem could be severely affected. If the products sold on our marketplaces are not delivered in proper condition, on a timely basis or at shipping rates that marketplace participants are willing to bear, our business and prospects, as well as our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

If other third-party service providers on our ecosystem fail to provide reliable or satisfactory services, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

       In addition to the services provided to our ecosystem by AlipayAnt Financial Services, Cainiao Network and a number of other third-party participants, including retail operating partners, logistics service providers, a number of third party participants, includingmobile app developers, ISVs, cloud developers, marketing affiliates retail operational partners, ISVs, and various professional service providers, also provide services to sellers. We do not have any agreements that require these third-party participants to provide services to sellers.users on our platforms, including merchants, brands, consumers and users of our cloud computing services. To the extent these third-party service providers are unable to provide satisfactory services to sellersour users on commercially acceptable terms or at all or if we fail to retain existing or attract new quality service providers to our marketplaces,platforms, our ability to retain, attract or attract sellers and buyersengage our users may be severely limited, which may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, certain of these third-party service providers on our ecosystem have access to our user data to a limited extent in order to provide their services. These third-party service providers also engage in a broad range of other business activities outside of our platforms. If these third-party participants engage in activities that are negligent, illegal or otherwise harm the trustworthiness and security of our ecosystem, including the leak or negligent use of data or failure to perform their contractual obligations, or users are otherwise dissatisfied with their service quality on or off our platforms, we could suffer reputational harm, even if these activities are not related to, attributable to or caused by us, or within our control.

We depend on key management as well as experienced and capable personnel generally, and any failure to attract, motivate and retain our staff could severely hinder our ability to maintain and grow our business.

       Our future success is significantly dependent upon the continued service of our key executives and other key employees. If we lose the services of any member of management or key personnel, we may not be able to locate suitable or qualified replacements, and may incur additional expenses to recruit and train new staff, which could severely disrupt our business and growth. In particular, Jack Ma, our lead founder, executive chairman and one of our principal shareholders, has been crucial to the development of our culture and strategic direction.

       In addition, we have a number of employees, including many members of management, whose equity ownership inAs our company gave them a substantial amount of personal wealth following our initial public offering.


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As a result,business develops and evolves, it may bebecome difficult for us to continue to retain and motivate these employees. A number of our employees, and this wealth could affect their decisions about whether or not they continueincluding many members of management, may choose to remain with us.pursue other opportunities outside of our company. If we are unable to motivate or retain these employees, our business may be severely disrupted and our prospects could suffer.

       The size and scope of our ecosystem also require us to hire and retain a wide range of effectivecapable and experienced personnel who can adapt to a dynamic, competitive and challenging business environment. We will need to continue to attract and retain experienced and capable personnel at all levels, including members of management, as we expand our business and operations. Competition for talent in the PRC Internet industry is intense, and the availability of suitable and qualified candidates in China is limited. Competition for these individuals could cause us to offer higher compensation and other benefits to attract and retain them. Even if we were to offer higher compensation and other benefits, there is no assurance that these individuals will choose to join or continue to work for us. Any failure to attract or retain key management and personnel could severely disrupt our business and growth.


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Our revenue and net income may be materially and adversely affected by any economic slowdown in China as well as globally.

       The success of our business ultimately depends on consumer spending. We currently derive a substantial majority of our revenue from China and are also expanding into international markets. As a result, our revenue and net income are impacted to a significant extent by economic conditions in China and globally, as well as economic conditions specific to online and mobile commerce. The global economy, markets and levels of consumer spending are influenced by many factors beyond our control, including consumer perception of current and future economic conditions, political uncertainty (including potential impact resulting from political and regulatory uncertainties in the United States and the proposed exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union), levels of employment, inflation or deflation, real disposable income, interest rates, taxation and currency exchange rates.

       The growth of the PRC economy has slowed in recent years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China's GDP growth rate was 6.7% in 2016, down from 6.9% in 2015 and 7.4% in 2014. There have also been concerns on the relationships among China and other Asian countries as well as the relationship between China and the United States, which may result in or intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial, regional security and trade disputes. For instance, the United States has expressed a desire to reexamine the trade relationship between China and the United States. Any continuing or worsening slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in China, including through the Internet generally and within our ecosystem. Although our financial performance is mainly affected by consumer spending, which may not be as adversely affected as other sectors of the economy, an economic downturn, whether actual or perceived, a further decrease in economic growth rates or an otherwise uncertain economic outlook in China or any other market in which we may operate could have a material adverse effect on consumer spending and therefore adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Security breaches and attacks against our systems and network, and any potentially resulting breach or failure to otherwise protect confidential and proprietary information, could damage our reputation and negatively impact our business, as well as materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

       Although we have employed significant resources to develop our security measures against breaches, our cybersecurity measures may not detect, prevent or preventcontrol all attempts to compromise our systems, including distributed denial-of-service attacks, viruses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, social engineering, security breaches or other attacks and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted by our systems or that we otherwise maintain. Breaches of our cybersecurity measures could result in unauthorized access to our systems, misappropriation of information or data, deletion or modification of user information, or a denial-of-service or other interruption to our business operations. As techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers, we may be unable to anticipate, or implement adequate measures to protect against, these attacks.

       We have in the past and are likely again in the future to be subject to these types of attacks, although to date no such attack has resulted in any material damages or remediation costs. If we are unable to avert these attacks and security breaches, we could be subject to significant legal and financial liability, our reputation would be harmed and we could sustain substantial revenue loss from lost sales and customer dissatisfaction. We may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks may target us, our sellers, buyersmerchants, consumers, users, customers or other participants, or the communication infrastructure on which we depend. Actual or anticipated attacks and risks may cause us to incur significantly higher costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and network protection technologies, train employees, and engage third-party experts and consultants. Cybersecurity breaches would not only harm our reputation and business, but also could materially decrease our revenue and net income. We do not carry business interruption or cybersecurity insurance.

Our failure to manage the growth of our business and operations could harm us.

       Our business has become increasingly complex, both in the types of businesses we operate and their scale. We have significantly expanded our headcount, office facilities and infrastructure, and anticipate that further expansion in certain areas and geographies will be required. This expansion increases the complexity of our operations and places a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources. We must continue to effectively hire, train and manage new employees. If our new hires perform poorly or if we are unsuccessful in hiring, training, managing and integrating new employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially harmed.

       Moreover, our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our future operations. To effectively manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we will need to continue to improve our transaction processing, operational and financial systems, procedures and controls, which could be particularly challenging as we acquire new operations with different and incompatible systems.


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These efforts will require significant managerial, financial and human resources. We cannot assure you that we willmay not be able to effectively manage our growth or to implement all these systems, procedures and control measures successfully. If we are not able to manage our growth effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We face risks relating to our acquisitions, investments and alliances.

       We have acquired and invested inacquire a significant number of businesses, technologies, services and products in recent years, including investments indirect equity investees and joint ventures in which we do not hold a controlling stake, and have a number of pending investments and acquisitions that are subject to closing conditions. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities." We expect to continue to evaluate and consider a wide array of potential strategic transactions as part of our overall business strategy, including business combinations, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, technologies, services, products and other assets, as well as strategic investments and alliances. At any given time we may be engaged in discussions or negotiations with respect to one or more of these types of transactions. These transactions involve significant challenges and risks, including:

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    difficulties integrating into our operations the personnel, operations, products, services, technology, internal controls and financial reporting of companies we acquire;

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    disruption of our ongoing business, distraction of our management and employees and increase of our expenses;

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    loss of skilled professionals as well as established client relationships of the businesses we invest in or acquire;

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    for investments over which we may not obtain management and operational control, we may lack influence over the controlling partner or shareholder, which may prevent us from achieving our strategic goals in such investment;

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    new regulatory requirements and compliance risks that we become subject to as a result of acquisitions of businesses in new industries or otherwise;

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    actual or alleged misconduct or non-compliance by any company we acquire or invest in (or by its affiliates) that occurred prior to our acquisition or investment, which may lead to negative publicity, government inquiry or investigations against such company or against us;

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    unforeseen or hidden liabilities or costs that may adversely affect us following our acquisition of such targets;

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    potential impairment charges or write-offs due to the changes in the fair value of the acquired targets as a result of market volatility or other reasons that we may or may not control;

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    regulatory hurdles including in relation to the anti-monopoly and competition laws, rules and regulations of China and other countries in connection with any proposed investments and acquisitions, including, in the case of our potential future acquisition of an equityownership interest in Ant Financial Services, PRC regulations pertainingServices.

           In August 2014, we entered into a share and asset purchase agreement, or the 2014 SAPA, to non-bank payment companies;

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    restructure the risk that any of our pending or other future proposed acquisitions does not close; and

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    challenges in achieving the expected benefits of synergies and growth opportunities in connection with these acquisitions and investments, such as the inability to realize the expected benefits of the restructuring in August 2014economic terms of our relationship with Alipay and Ant Financial Services.

       Our significant acquisition activity has occurred recently, and we do not have substantial experience in integrating major acquisitions. Any of these difficulties could disrupt our ongoing business, distract our management and employees and increase our expenses. In particular, the The 2014 SAPA provides for future potential acquisition by usequity issuances of anup to 33% of equity interest in Ant Financial Services subject to us in the event that Ant Financial Services applies for and receives certain PRC regulatory approvals. We


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cannot assure you thata qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay, if our total ownership of equity interests in Ant Financial Services, if any, has not reached 33%, we would be entitled, at our election, to receive a one-time payment equal to 37.5% of the equity value, immediately prior to a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services, as a whole and not just of its subsidiary Alipay. If we acquire equity interests in Ant Financial Services in an aggregate amount less than the full 33% equity interest, then the percentage of Ant Financial Services' equity value used to calculate the liquidity event payment will be reduced proportionately. If Ant Financial Services does not receive the required PRC regulatory approvals mentioned above, we will not be able to obtain the regulatory approvals necessary for us to acquire ana direct equity ownership interest in Ant Financial Services, and we would fail to benefit from any appreciation in its equity value beyond the date of a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay. Our inability to reap the benefits of any appreciation in equity value of Ant Financial Services, including in connection with a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay, could represent a significant missed opportunity that is beyond our control. In addition, if we elect to receive a one-time payment equal to 37.5% of the equity value, immediately prior to a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services, it is possible that Ant Financial Services will be ablenot have sufficient funds to acquiremake the payment in a timely manner or on a schedule acceptable to us. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — 2014 Restructuring of Our Relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay."

Tightening of tax compliance efforts that affect our merchants could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       E-commerce in China is still developing, and the PRC government may require operators of marketplaces, such equity interestas our company, to assist in the future.collection of taxes with respect to the revenue or profit generated by merchants from transactions conducted on their platforms. A significant number of small businesses and sole proprietors operating businesses through storefronts on Taobao Marketplace may not have completed the required tax registration. PRC tax authorities may enforce registration requirements that target small businesses or sole proprietors on Taobao Marketplace and may request our assistance in these efforts. As a result, these merchants may be subject to more stringent tax compliance requirements and liabilities and their business on our marketplaces could suffer or they could decide to remove their storefronts from our marketplace rather than comply, which could in turn negatively affect us. We may also be requested by tax authorities to supply information on our merchants, such as transaction records and bank account information, and assist in the enforcement of tax regulations, including the payment and withholding obligations against our merchants, in which case, we may lose existing merchants and potential merchants might not be willing to open storefronts on our marketplaces. Stricter tax enforcement by the PRC tax authorities may also reduce the activities by merchants on our platforms and result in liability to us. For example, as a result of recent stricter enforcement on VAT and the payment of VAT refunds, we substantially increased our allowance for doubtful accounts for VAT receivables in relation to our VAT refund service in fiscal year 2017.

       Potential heightened enforcement against participants in our ecosystem (including imposition of reporting or withholding obligations on operators of marketplaces with respect to value-added tax of merchants and stricter tax enforcement against merchants generally) could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We have been and may continue to be subject to allegations and lawsuits claiming that items listed and content available on our marketplaces and websites are pirated, counterfeit or illegal.

       We have received in the past, and we anticipate we will receive in the future, communications alleging that items offered, sold or soldmade available through our online marketplaces by third parties or that content we make


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available through other services, such as our online video and music platform,platforms, infringe third-party copyrights, trademarks and patents or other intellectual property rights. Although we have adopted measures to proactively verify the authenticity of products sold on our marketplaces for infringement and to minimize potential infringement of third-party intellectual property rights through our intellectual property infringement complaint and take-down procedures, these measures may not always be successful. In the event that alleged counterfeit or infringing products are listed or sold on our marketplaces or allegedly infringing content are made available through our other services, we could face claims and negative publicity relating to these activities or for our alleged failure to act in a timely or effective manner in response to infringement or to otherwise restrict or limit these activities. We may also choose to compensate consumers for any losses, although we are currently not legally obligated to do so. If, as a result of regulatory developments, we are required to compensate consumers, we would incur additional expenses.

       We may implement further measures in an effort to strengthen our protection against these potential liabilities, including working with brands and government authorities to assist in their offline investigations and taking legal actions against sellers of counterfeit goods on our marketplaces. These measures could require us to spend substantial additional resources and/or experience reduced revenues. In addition, these measures may reduce the attractiveness of our marketplaces and other services to consumers, merchants, brands and other participants. A merchant or online marketer whose content is removed or whose services are suspended or terminated by us, regardless of our compliance with the applicable laws, rules and regulations, may dispute our actions and commence action against us for damages based on breach of contract or other causes of action, make public complaints or allegations or organize group protests and publicity campaigns against us or seek compensation. Any costs incurred as a result of liability or asserted liability relating to the sale of unlawful goods or other infringement could harm our business.

       We also have been and may continue to be subject to allegations of civil or criminal liability based on allegedly unlawful activities or unauthorized distribution carried out by third parties through our online marketplaces. We also have been and may continue to be subject to allegations that we were participants in or facilitators of such allegedly unlawful activities. For example, inIn May 2015, we were named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York by Kering S.A and other plaintiffs, which asserts various claims based on, among other things, the sales of allegedly counterfeit or otherwise trademark infringing merchandise by sellersmerchants on certain of our marketplaces. We have also acquired certain companies, such as Youku Tudou and a controlling stake in Lazada, which are from time to time subject to allegations and lawsuits regarding alleged infringement of third-party intellectual property or other rights, and we may continue to acquire other companies which are subject to similar disputes.

       When we receive complaints or allegations regarding infringement or counterfeit goods, we follow certain procedures to verify the nature of the complaint and the relevant facts. We believe these procedures are important for purposes of investigating the allegations in question so that we can ensure confidence in our marketplace among buyers and sellers; however, these procedures could result in delays in delistings of allegedly infringing product listings. In the event that alleged counterfeit or infringing products are listed or sold on our marketplaces or our other services, we could face claims relating to such listings or sales or for our alleged failure to act in a timely or effective manner in response to infringement or to otherwise restrict or limit such sales or infringement.

       We may implement further measures in an effort to strengthen our protection against these potential liabilities that could require us to spend substantial additional resources and/or experience reduced revenues by discontinuing certain service offerings.       In addition, these changeswe have been and may reduce the attractiveness of our marketplacescontinue to be subject to significant negative publicity in China and other services to buyers, sellers or other users. A customer whose content is removed or whose services are suspended or terminated by us, regardless of our compliance with the applicable laws, rules and regulations, may dispute our actions and commence action against us for damages based on breach of contract or other causes of action or make public complaints or allegations. Any costs incurred as a result of liability or asserted liability relating to the sale of unlawful goods or other infringement could harm our business. Moreover, we havecountries. For example, in the past received negative publicity regarding the sales of counterfeit and pirated items on our marketplaces. In 2008, 2009 and 2010, Alibaba.com, and in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, Taobao Marketplace, were named as "notorious markets" in the annual Special 301 Report or Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review prepared byDecember 2016, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The U.S. Trade Representative, subsequently removed these marketplaces fromor USTR, identified Taobao Marketplace as a "notorious market" that, according to submissions to the list.USTR by certain brands and industry associations, facilitates substantial copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting. In January 2015, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce in China, or SAIC, released a report stating that Taobao Marketplace had the highest percentage of counterfeit goods among the online marketplaces that it surveyed. Subsequently, in the same month, the SAIC released a self-described "white paper" discussing perceived failures of our platform,platforms, including an alleged failure to crack down on the sale of counterfeit goods and other alleged illegal activities on our China retail marketplaces. Although the SAIC withdrew the so-called "white paper" the same day it was released, and later clarified that the document carried no legal force, there may be continued public perception that counterfeit or pirated items are commonplace on our marketplaces or that we delay the process of removing such items,these items. This perception, even if factually incorrect, could damage our reputation, result in lower list prices for goods sold through our marketplaces, harm our business, result inand existing or new litigation and regulatory pressure or action against us andrelated to intellectual property rights protection could damage our reputation with consumers, harm our business, diminish the value of our brand name.


Tablename and negatively affect the trading price of Contentsour ADSs.

Failure to deal effectively with any fraud perpetrated and fictitious transactions conducted on our marketplaces and other sources of customer dissatisfaction would harm our business.

       We face risks with respect to fraudulent activities on our marketplaces and periodically receive complaints from buyersconsumers who may not have received the goods that they had purchased, as well as complaints from sellers


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merchants who have not received payment for the goods that a buyerconsumer had contracted to purchase. Although we have implemented various measures to detect and reduce the occurrence of fraudulent activities on our marketplaces, there can be no assurance that suchthese measures will be effective in combating fraudulent transactions or improving overall satisfaction among our sellers, buyersmerchants, consumers and other participants. Additional measures that we take to address fraud could also negatively affect the attractiveness of our marketplaces to buyersconsumers or sellers.merchants. In addition, sellersmerchants on our marketplaces contribute to a fund to provide consumer protection guarantees. If our sellersmerchants do not perform their obligations under these programs, then we may use funds that have been deposited by sellersmerchants in a consumer protection fund to compensate buyers.consumers. If the amounts in the fund are not sufficient, we may choose to compensate buyersconsumers for such losses although currently we are not legally obligated to do so. If, as a result of regulatory developments, we are required to compensate consumers, we would incur additional expenses. Although we have recourse against our sellersmerchants for any amounts we incur, there is no assurance that we would be able to collect from our sellers.merchants.

       In addition to fraudulent transactions with legitimate buyers, sellersconsumers, merchants may also engage in fictitious or "phantom" transactions with themselves or collaborators in order to artificially inflate their own ratings on our marketplaces, reputation and search results rankings.rankings, an activity sometimes referred to as "brushing." This activity may harm other sellersmerchants by enabling the perpetrating sellermerchant to be favored over legitimate sellers,merchants, and may harm buyersconsumers by deceiving them into believing that a sellermerchant is more reliable or trusted than the sellermerchant actually is.

       Moreover, illegal, fraudulent or collusive activities by our employees could also subject us to liability or negative publicity. For instance, we learned thatWe have discovered cases in early 2011 and 2012 in two separate incidents,which certain of our employees had accepted payments from sellersmerchants or other service providers in order to receive preferential treatment on Alibaba.com and Juhuasuan.our marketplaces. Although we dismisseddismiss the employees responsible for thethese incidents and have taken action to further strengthen ourimplemented internal controls and policies with regard to the review and approval of sellermerchant accounts, sales activities and other relevant matters, we cannot assure you that suchour controls and policies will prevent fraud or illegal activity by our employees or that similar incidents will not occur in the future. Any such illegal, fraudulent or collusive activity could severely damage our brand and reputation as an operator of trusted marketplaces, which could drive users and buyersconsumers away from our marketplaces, and materially and adversely affect GMV transacted on our marketplaces, our revenuesbusiness, financial condition and our net income.results of operations.

       In January 2015, the SAIC discussed alleged fraudulent and fictitious transactions on our China retail marketplaces in its self-described "white paper." Although the SAIC withdrew the so-called "white paper" the same day it was released and later clarified that the document carried no legal force, the negative publicity and user sentiment generated as a result of this document or other allegations of fraudulent or deceptive conduct on our platform, whether allegedly engaged in by our employees or by third parties,platforms could severely diminish consumer confidence in and use of our services, reduce our ability to attract new or retain current sellers, buyersmerchants, consumers and other participants, damage our reputation, result in shareholder or other litigation and diminish the value of our brand names, and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may increasingly become a target for public scrutiny, including complaints to regulatory agencies, negative media coverage, including social media and malicious reports, all of which could severely damage our reputation and materially and adversely affect our business and prospects.

       We process millionsan extremely large number of transactions on a daily basis on our marketplaces, and the high volume of transactions taking place on our marketplaces and publicity about our business creates the possibility of heightened attention from the public, regulators, the media and our participants. For example, we receive complaints fromHeightened regulatory and public concern over consumer protection and consumer safety issues may subject us to additional legal and social responsibilities and increased scrutiny and negative publicity over these issues, due to the large number of transactions that take place on our sellers, buyersplatforms and other participants aboutthe increasing scope of our marketplaces.overall business operations. In addition, changes in our services or policies have resulted and could result in objections by members of the public, the media, including social media, participants in our ecosystem or others. From time to time, these objections or allegations, regardless of their veracity, may result in public protests or negative publicity, which could result in government inquiry or harm our reputation. Corporate transactions we or related parties undertake, such as our


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or related parties undertakeacquisition of the media business of SCMP Group Limited, which includes the South China Morning Post newspaper, and our partnership with the International Olympic Committee, may also subject us to increased media exposure and public scrutiny.scrutiny in Hong Kong, China and internationally. Moreover, as our business expands and grows, both organically and through acquisitions of and investments in other businesses, domestically and internationally, we will be exposed to heightened regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions where we already operate as well as in new jurisdictions in areas including consumer safety, public health and public trust. There is no assurance that we would not become a target for regulatory or public scrutiny in the future or suchthat scrutiny and public exposure would not severely damage our reputation as well as our business and prospects.

       In addition, our directors and management have been, and continue to be, subject to scrutiny by the media and the public regarding their activities in and outside Alibaba Group, which may result in unverified, inaccurate or misleading information about them being reported by the press. Negative publicity about our executive chairman or other founders, directors or management, even if untrue or inaccurate, may harm our reputation.

We and Ant Financial Services are subject to variousa broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations on our business or otherwise that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       The industries in which we and Ant Financial Services operate in the PRC and other countries, including online and mobile commerce and payments, financial services, and cloud computing and digital media and entertainment and other online content offerings, are highly regulated. TheAs we and Ant Financial Services expand into new regions and markets, we will become subject to additional regulatory compliance requirements, which may be complex and potentially conflicting. In particular, the PRC government authorities are likely to continue to issue new laws, rules and regulations governing these industries, enhance enforcement of existing laws, rules and regulations and requireimpose requirements relating to, among other things, new and additional licenses, permits and approvals fromor governance or ownership structures on us, Ant Financial Services and our users. These laws, rules and regulations and their application to us could take a direction that is adverse to our or Ant Financial Services' business at any time. In addition, there is no assurance that any required licenses, permits and approvals could be obtained or any new requirements can be satisfied in a timely or cost-effective manner, and failure to obtain them could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Changes in regulatory enforcement as well as tax policy in the PRC and other countries could also result in additional compliance obligations and increased costs or place restrictions upon our current or future operations. Any such legislation or regulation of this kind could also severely disrupt and constrain our business and the payment services used on our marketplaces.

       Transactions conducted through our cross-border marketplaces may be subject to different customs and import/export rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are complex, and customs and tax authorities in the relevant jurisdictions may challenge our interpretation of applicable customs and import/export rules relating to product shipments under their respective customs and import/export laws and treaties. In addition, we will also face the challenge of complying concurrently with the compliance rules and regulations of multiple jurisdictions, and such rules or regulations could conflict or interact with each other in complex ways.

We have from time to time been subject, and are likely again in the future to be subject, to PRC and other foreign government inquiries and investigations, including those relating to website content, and alleged third-party intellectual property infringement.infringement and securities laws and regulations. We also face scrutiny, and have been subject and continue to be subject to inquiries and investigations, from PRC and foreign governmental bodies that focus on cross-border trade, tax, intellectual property protection, our investment activities, human rights, and user privacy matters.and data protection matters and fraudulent or other criminal transactions. We may also face protectionist policies and regulatory scrutiny on national security grounds in foreign countries in which we conduct business or investment activities. None of these inquiries and investigations has resulted in significant restrictions on our business operations. However, as we continue to grow in scale and significance, we expect to face increased scrutiny, which will, at a minimum, result in our having to increase our investment in compliance and related capabilities and systems.

       The increasing sophistication and development of our user base and our expansion into the mobile and entertainment business will also subject us to additional regulations and increase the need for higher standards of user protection, privacy protection and dispute management. Any increased involvement in inquiries or investigations could result in significantly higher legal and other costs, restraints on our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into, loss of business and revenue, liability for breach of contracts with third parties,


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diversion of management and other resources, as well as negative publicity, which could harm our business and reputation and materially reduce our revenue and net income.

       Ant Financial Services, which through Alipay which provides the substantial majority of the payment processing services on our marketplaces as well as other financial and value-added services, such as payment, wealth management, lending, insurance and credit system, is subject to various laws, rules and regulations in the PRC and other countries where it operates, including those governing banking, privacy, cross-border and domestic money transmission, anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and consumer protection laws, rules and regulations. These laws, rules and regulations are highly complex and could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for Alipay to comply. In recent years, the PRC government has increasingly focused on regulation of the financial industry, including laws, rules and regulations relating to the provision of payment services. See "— We rely"Item 4. Information on Alipaythe Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation Applicable to conduct substantially all of the payment processingAlipay." These laws, rules and all of the escrow services on our marketplaces. Alipay's business isregulations are highly regulated,complex and could change or be reinterpreted to make it is alsodifficult or impossible for Ant Financial Services to comply. As Ant Financial Services expands into international markets, it will increasingly become subject to a range of risks. If Alipay's services are limited, restricted, curtailed or degradedadditional legal and regulatory compliance requirements as well as political and regulatory challenges, including scrutiny on data privacy and security, anti-money laundering compliance and national security grounds, to its business and investment activities in any


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way or become unavailable to us for any reason, our business may be materially and adversely affected."these markets. In addition, Alipay is required to maintain a payment business license in the PRC. In 2011, we divested our interest in and control over Alipay in response to PBOC regulations issued in June 2010 that required non-bank payment companies to obtain a payment business license before September 1, 2011. These regulations provided specific guidelines for license applications only for domestic PRC-owned entities but stated that specific guidelines applicable to license applications for foreign-invested payment entities would be issued separately (although no such guidelines have been issuedPRC as of the date of this annual report). Accordingly, our management restructured the ownership and control of Alipay into a company wholly-owned by PRC nationals in order to obtain a payment business license within the time period prescribed by the PBOC regulations. In August 2014, we entered into the 2014 SAPA to further restructure the economic terms of our relationship with Alipay and its parent company. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Share and Asset Purchase Agreement."

       Alipay is also required to maintainwell as other applicable money transmitter or other licenses and approvals from regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions in whichcountries where it operates, and the expansion by Alipay of its business may require additional licenses and approvals. Currently, inoperates. In certain jurisdictions where Alipay currently does not have the required money transmitter or other licenses, Alipay provides payment processing and escrow services through third-party service providers. If these providers were to terminate their relationship with Alipay or otherwise cease providing services to Alipay, cross-border transactions on our marketplaces would be negatively affected. If Alipay failsits partners fail to obtain and maintain all required licenses and approvals or otherwise fails to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations, if new laws, rules or regulations come into effect that impact Alipay or its partners' businesses, or if any of Alipay's business,partners ceases to provide services to Alipay, its services could be suspended or severely disrupted, and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

We may be accused of infringing intellectual property rights of third parties and content restrictions of relevant laws.

       Third parties may claim that the technology used in the operation of our platforms or our service offerings or the content on our platforms, including content available through our cloud computing services, infringesdigital media and entertainment business, search business, online reading platform and news feed features, infringe upon their intellectual property rights. Although we have not in the past faced material litigation involving direct claims of infringement by us, the possibility of intellectual property claims against us, whether in China or other jurisdictions, increases as we continue to grow, particularly internationally. SuchWe have also acquired businesses, such as Youku Tudou, that have been, and may continue to be, subject to liabilities for infringement of third-party intellectual property rights or other allegations based on the content available on their websites or the services they provide. In addition, we expect our ecosystem to involve more and more user-generated content, including the entertainment content on Youku Tudou, the interactive media content displayed on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall, including livestreams, as well as the data generated, uploaded and saved by users of our cloud computing services, over which we have limited control and we may be subject to claims for infringement of third-party intellectual property rights, or subject us to additional scrutiny by the relevant government authorities. These claims or scrutiny, whether or not having merit, may result in our expenditure of significant financial and management resources, injunctions against us or payment of damages. We may need to obtain licenses from third parties who allege that we have infringed their rights, but suchthese licenses may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all. These risks have been amplified by the increase in the number of third parties whose sole or primary business is to assert suchthese claims.

       China has enacted laws and regulations governing Internet access and the distribution of products, services, news, information, audio-video programs and other content through the Internet. The PRC government has prohibited the distribution of information through the Internet that it deems to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of China or the public interest, or is obscene, superstitious, fraudulent or defamatory. Users of certain of our websites and platforms, including Youku Tudou, can upload content, to these websites and platforms, which is generally referred to as "user-generated content." Due to the significant amount of content uploaded by our users, we may not be able to identify all the videos or other content that may violate


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relevant laws and regulations. If any of the information disseminated through our marketplaces and websites, including videos and other content (including user-generated content) displayed on Youku Tudou's or our other websites or on our Tmall set-top boxes and smart televisions powered by our YunOS that provide access to entertainment and e-commerce content, were deemed by the PRC government to violate any content restrictions, we would not be able to continue to display suchthese content and could become subject to penalties, including confiscation of income, fines, suspension of business and revocation of required licenses, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The outcome of any claims, investigations and proceedings is inherently uncertain, and in any event defending against these claims could be both costly and time-consuming, and could significantly divert the efforts and resources of our management and other personnel. An adverse determination in any suchof these litigation matters or proceedings could cause us to pay damages, as well as legal and other costs, limit our ability to conduct business or require us to change the manner in which we operate.operate and harm our reputation. As we expand our operations internationally, we expect that we will become subject to similar laws and regulations in other jurisdictions.

We may be subject to claims under consumer protection laws, including health and safety claims and product liability claims, if property or people are harmed by the products and services sold on our marketplaces.

       Due to several high-profile incidents involving food safety and consumer complaints that have occurred in China in recent years, the PRC government, media outlets and public advocacy groups are increasingly focused on consumer protection. Government authorities in other countries where we operate also place high importance on consumer protection. Moreover, as part of our growth strategy, we expect to increase our focus on food, food supplements and beverages, mother care, baby care and healthcare products and services, and electronics products. For example, through Tmall Supermarket, we offer products that are frequently purchased by consumers, such as groceries and FMCG. We have also invested in companies involved in these sectors. These activities could expose us to increasing liability associated with consumer protection laws in those areas. Operators of e-commerce platforms are subject to certain provisions of consumer protection laws even where the operator is not the merchant of the product or service purchased by the consumer. For example, under applicable consumer protection laws in China, e-commerce platform operators may be held liable for consumer claims relating to damage if they are unable to provide consumers with the true name, address and contact details of merchants or service providers. In addition, if we do not take appropriate remedial action against merchants or service providers for actions they engage in that we know, or should have known, would infringe upon the rights and interests of consumers, we may be held jointly liable for infringement alongside the merchant or service provider. Moreover, applicable consumer protection laws in China hold that trading platforms will be held liable for failing to meet any undertakings that the platforms make to consumers with regard to products listed on their websites. Furthermore, we are required to report to SAIC or its local branches any violation of applicable laws, regulations or SAIC rules by merchants or service providers, such as sales of goods without proper license or authorization, and we are required to take appropriate remedial measures, including ceasing to provide services to the relevant merchants or service providers. We may also be held jointly liable with merchants who do not possess the proper licenses or authorizations to sell goods or sell goods that do not meet product standards.

       In addition, we are facing increasing levels of activist litigation in China by plaintiffs claiming damages based on consumer protection laws. This type of activist litigation could increase in the future, and if it does, we could face increased costs defending these suits and damages should we not prevail, which could materially and adversely affect our reputation and brand and our results of operations.

       As our business expands outside of China, we may also face increasing scrutiny from consumer protection regulators, as well as increasingly become target for litigation, in the United States, Europe and other jurisdictions. If claims are brought against us under any of these laws, we could be subject to damages and reputational damage as well as action by regulators, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We do not maintain product liability insurance for products and services transacted on our marketplaces, and our rights of indemnity from the merchants on our marketplaces may not adequately cover us for any liability we may incur. Even unsuccessful claims could result in significant expenditure of funds and


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diversion of management time and resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations, net income and profitability.

We may be subject to liability for content available in our ecosystem that is alleged to be socially destabilizing, obscene, defamatory, libelous or otherwise unlawful.

       Under PRC law and the laws of certain other jurisdictions in which we operate, we are required to monitor our websites and the websites hosted on our servers and mobile interfaces for items or content deemed to be socially destabilizing, obscene, superstitious or defamatory, as well as for items, content or services that are illegal to sell online or otherwise in other jurisdictions in which we operate our marketplaces, and promptly take appropriate action with respect to the relevant items, content or services. We may also be subject to potential liability in China or other jurisdictions for any unlawful actions of our merchants, marketing customers or users of our websites or mobile interfaces, or for content we distribute or that is linked from our platforms that is deemed inappropriate. It may be difficult to determine the type of content that may result in liability to us, our websites and platforms, such as our cloud computing services, which allow users to upload and save massive data on our cloud data centers, or Youku Tudou, which allows users to upload videos and other content to our websites, may make this even more difficult. If we are found to be liable, we may be subject to negative publicity, fines, have our relevant business operation licenses revoked, or be prevented from operating our websites or mobile interfaces in China or other jurisdictions.

       In addition, claims may be brought against us for defamation, libel, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement, tort (including personal injury), other unlawful activity or other theories and claims based on the nature and content of information posted on our platforms, including user-generated content, product reviews and message boards, by our consumers, merchants and other participants.

       Regardless of the outcome of any dispute or lawsuit, we may suffer from negative publicity and reputational damage as a result of these actions.

We may become the target of anti-monopoly and unfair competition claims, which may result in our being subject to fines as well as constraints on our business.

       Although the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law is relatively recent, having taken effect on August 1, 2008, two of the three PRC anti-monopoly enforcement agencies, namely the Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and the SAIC, have in recent years strengthened enforcement actions, including levying significant fines, with respect to concentration of undertakings and cartel activity, mergers and acquisitions, as well as abusive behavior of companies having market dominance. The PRC Anti-Monopoly Law also provides a private right of action for competitors or users to bring anti-monopoly claims against companies. In recent years, an increased number of companies have been exercising their right to seek relief under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law. As public awareness of the rights under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law increases, more companies, including our competitors, business partners and customers may resort to seeking the remedies available under the law, such as through complaints to regulators or as plaintiffs in private ligation, to improve their competition position, regardless of the merits of their claims.

       From time to time, we may receive close scrutiny from government agencies under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law in connection with our business practices, investments and acquisitions. Any anti-monopoly lawsuit or administrative proceeding initiated against us may result in our being subject to profit disgorgement, heavy fines and various constraints on our business, or result in negative publicity which could harm our reputation and negatively affect the trading price of our ADSs. These constraints could include forced termination of any agreements or arrangements that are determined to be in violation of anti-monopoly laws, required divestitures and limitations on certain pricing and business practices, which may limit our ability to continue to innovate, diminish the appeal of our services and increase our operating costs. These constraints could also enable our competitors to develop websites, products and services that mimic the functionality of our services, which could


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decrease the popularity of our marketplaces, products and services among sellers, buyersmerchants, consumers and other participants, and cause our revenue and net income to decrease materially.

We may face challenges in expanding our cross-border operations.

       As we plan to continue expanding our existing cross-border operations into existing and other markets, we will face risks associated with expanding into markets in which we have limited or no experience and in which our company may be less well-known. We may be unable to attract a sufficient number of customers and other participants, fail to anticipate competitive conditions or face difficulties in operating effectively in these new markets. The expansion of our cross-border business will also expose us to risks inherent in transacting business globally, including:

    •
    lack of acceptance of our service offerings;

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    challenges and increased expenses associated with staffing and managing cross-border operations and managing an organization spread over various jurisdictions;

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    trade barriers such as import and export restrictions, competition law regimes and other trade restrictions;

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    differing and potentially adverse tax consequences;

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    increased and conflicting regulatory compliance requirements;

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    challenges caused by distance, language and cultural differences;

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    increased costs to protect intellectual property;

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    exchange rate fluctuations; and

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    political instability and general economic or political conditions in particular countries or regions.

As we expand further into new regions and markets, these risks could intensify. One or more of these factors could adversely impact our cross-border operations. Accordingly, any efforts we make to expand our cross-border operations may not be successful. Failure to expand our cross-border operations could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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Our brand name and our business may be harmed by aggressive marketing and communications strategies of our competitors.

       Due to intense competition in our industry, we have been and may be the target of incomplete, inaccurate and false statements about our company and our products and services that could damage our and our management's reputation and our brand and materially deter consumers from making purchases on our marketplaces. Our ability to respond to our competitors' misleading marketing efforts may be limited during our self-imposed quiet periods around quarter ends or due to legal prohibitions on permissible public communications by us during certain other periods.

Our revenue and net income may be materially and adversely affected by any economic slowdown in China as well as globally.

       The success of our business ultimately depends on consumer spending. We derive substantially all of our revenue from China. As a result, our revenue and net income are impacted to a significant extent by economic conditions in China and globally, as well as economic conditions specific to online and mobile commerce. The global economy, markets and levels of consumer spending are influenced by many factors beyond our control, including consumer perception of current and future economic conditions, political uncertainty, levels of employment, inflation or deflation, real disposable income, interest rates, taxation and currency exchange rates.

       The PRC government has in recent years implemented a number of measures to control the rate of economic growth, including by raising interest rates and adjusting deposit reserve ratios for commercial banks as well as by implementing other measures designed to tighten credit and liquidity. These measures have contributed to a slowdown of the PRC economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China's GDP growth rate was 7.4% in 2014. Any continuing or worsening slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in China, including through the Internet generally and within our ecosystem. An economic downturn, whether actual or perceived, a further decrease in economic growth rates or an otherwise uncertain economic outlook in China or any other market in which we may operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our results of operations fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter which may make it difficult to predict our future performance.

       Our results of operations fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter. In addition, our business is characterized by seasonal fluctuations, which may cause further fluctuations. The fourth quarter of each calendar year generally contributes the largest portion of our annual revenues due to a number of factors, such as sellersmerchants allocating a significant portion of their online marketing budgets to the fourth calendar quarter, promotions, such as Singles Day on November 11 of each year and the impact of seasonal buying patterns in respect of certain categories such as apparel. The first quarter of each calendar year generally contributes the smallest portion of our annual revenues, primarily due to a lower level of allocation of online marketing budgets by sellersmerchants at the beginning of the calendar year and the Chinese New Year holiday, during which time consumers generally spend less and businesses in China are generally closed. We may also introduce new promotions or change the timing of our promotions in ways that further cause our quarterly results to fluctuate and differ from historical patterns. In addition, seasonal weather patterns may affect the timing of buying decisions. For example, unexpectedly long periods of warm weather could delay the purchase of heavier clothing items that have higher average selling prices, resulting in lower than expected GMV.prices. The performance of our equity investees and of businesses, including internally developed businesses in which we have made investments, may also result in fluctuations in our results of operations. Fluctuations in our results of operations related to our investments may also result from the accounting implication of re-measurement of fair values of certain financial instruments, share-based awards and previously held equity interests upon disposal or step acquisitions. Given that the fair value movements of the underlying equities of financial instruments, share-based awards or previously held equity interests are beyond the control of our management, the magnitude of the related accounting impact is unpredictable and may affect our results of operations significantly.

       Our results of operations will likely fluctuate due to these and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. In addition, our rapid growth hasin the past may have masked the seasonality that might otherwise be apparent


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in our results of operations. IfAs the rate of growth of our growth slows,business declines in comparison to prior periods, we expect that the seasonality in our business may become more pronounced. Moreover, as our business grows, we expect that our fixed costs and expenses, such as payroll and benefits, bandwidth and co-location fees, will continue to increase, which will result in operating leverage in seasonally strong quarters but can significantly pressure operating margins in seasonally weak quarters.

       Our quarterly and annual financial results will likely differ from our historical performance. To the extent our results of operations are below the expectations of public market analysts and investors in the future, or if there are significant fluctuations in our financial results, the market price of our ADSs could decline materially.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights.

       We rely on a combination of trademark, fair trade practice, patent, copyright and trade secret protection laws in China and other jurisdictions, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions, to protect our intellectual property rights. We also enter into confidentiality agreements with our employees and any third parties who may access our proprietary information, and we rigorously control access to our proprietary technology and information.


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       Intellectual property protection may not be sufficient in China or other countries in which we operate. Confidentiality agreements may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to us for any such breach.these breaches. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our contractual rights in China or elsewhere. In addition, policing any unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult, time-consuming and costly and the steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our intellectual property. In the event that we resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, suchthe litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managerial and financial resources. We can provide no assurance that we will prevail in suchany litigation. In addition, our trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by, our competitors. Any failure in protecting or enforcing our intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be subject to claims under consumer protection laws, including health and safety claims and product liability claims, if property or people are harmed by the products sold on our marketplaces.

       Due to several high-profile incidents involving food safety and consumer complaints that have occurred in China in recent years, the PRC government, media outlets and public advocacy groups are increasingly focused on consumer protection. Moreover, as part of our growth strategy, we expect to increase our focus on food and beverage and healthcare products, which could expose us to increasing liability associated with consumer protection laws in those areas. Operators of commerce marketplaces and platforms are subject to certain provisions of consumer protection laws even where such operator is not the seller of the product or service purchased by the consumer. For example, under applicable consumer protection laws in China, e-commerce platform operators may be held liable for consumer claims relating to damage if they are unable to provide consumers with the true name, address and contact details of sellers or service providers. In addition, if we do not take appropriate remedial action against sellers or service providers for actions they engage in that we know, or should have known, would infringe upon the rights and interests of consumers, we may be held jointly liable with the seller or service provider for such infringement. Moreover, applicable consumer protection laws in China hold that trading platforms will be held liable for failing to meet any undertakings such platforms make to consumers with regard to products listed on their websites. Furthermore, we are required to report to SAIC or its local branches any violation of applicable laws, regulations or SAIC rules by sellers or service providers, such as sales of goods without proper license or authorization, and to take appropriate remedial measures, including ceasing to provide services to such sellers or service providers. If claims are brought against us under any of these laws, we could be subject to damages and reputational damage as well as action by regulators, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We do not maintain product liability insurance for products and services transacted on our marketplaces, and our rights of indemnity from the sellers on our marketplaces may not


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adequately cover us for any liability we may incur. Even unsuccessful claims could result in the expenditure of funds and management time and resources and could materially reduce our net income and profitability.

Tightening of tax compliance efforts with respect to the revenue or profit generated by our sellers could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       E-commerce in China is still developing, and the PRC government may require operators of marketplaces, such as our company, to assist in the collection of taxes with respect to the revenue or profit generated by sellers from transactions conducted on their platforms. A significant number of small businesses and sole proprietors operating businesses through storefronts on Taobao Marketplace may not have completed the required tax registration. PRC tax authorities may enforce registration requirements that target small businesses or sole proprietors on Taobao Marketplace and may request our assistance in these efforts. As a result, these sellers may be subject to more stringent tax compliance requirements and liabilities and their business on our marketplaces could suffer or they could decide to remove their storefronts from our marketplace rather than comply, which could in turn negatively affect us. We may also be requested by tax authorities to supply information on our sellers, such as transaction records and bank account information, and assist in the enforcement of tax regulations, including the payment and withholding obligations against our sellers, in which case, potential sellers might not be willing to open storefronts on our marketplaces.

       Potential heightened enforcement against participants in e-commerce transactions (including imposition of reporting or withholding obligations on operators of marketplaces with respect to business tax or value-added tax of sellers) could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be subject to material litigation and regulatory proceedings.

       We have been involved in a high volume of litigation in China and a small volume of litigation outside China relating principally to third-party and principal intellectual property infringement claims, contract disputes involving sellersmerchants and buyersconsumers on our platform,platforms, consumer protection claims, employment related cases and other matters in the ordinary course of our business. As our ecosystem expands, including across jurisdictions and as litigation becomes more common in China,through the addition of new businesses, we may face an increasing number of suchthese claims, including those involving higher amounts of alleged damages. We are subject to laws and regulations in China and the other jurisdictions where our merchants, consumers, users, customers and other participants are located. These laws, rules and regulations may vary in their scope and impose requirements which are more stringent than, or which conflict with, those in China. We have acquired and may acquire companies, such as Youku Tudou, that are subject to or may become subject to litigation, including shareholder class action lawsuits in the case of companies we acquire that are or were publicly-listed companies, as well as regulatory proceedings.

       As a publicly-listed company,companies, we mayand certain of our subsidiaries face additional exposure to claims and lawsuits inside and outside China. We will need to defend against suchthese lawsuits, including any appeals of such lawsuits should our initial defense be successful. The litigation process may utilize a material portion of our cash resources and divert management's attention from the day-to-day operations of our company, all of which could harm our business. There can be no assurance that we will prevail in any suchof these cases, and any adverse outcome of these cases could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business and results of operations. In particular, we have been named as a defendant in certain purported shareholder class action lawsuits described in "Item 8. Financial Information — A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal and Administrative Proceedings." We are currently unable to estimate the possible loss or possible range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these lawsuits. An unfavorable outcome from the lawsuits, including any plaintiff's appeal of the judgment in these lawsuits, could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in the future. In addition, although we have obtained directors and officers liability insurance, the insurance coverage may not be adequate to cover our indemnification obligations.obligations to indemnify our directors and officers, fund a settlement of litigation in excess of insurance coverage or pay an adverse judgment in litigation.

       In addition, on January 30, 2015,early 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, initiated a non-public inquiryinformed us that it was initiating an investigation into whether there have been any violations of the federal securities laws have occurred. Please see "Item 8. Financial Information — A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal and Administrative Proceedings — Regulatory Inquiry." As part of its inquiry, thelaws. The SEC has requested that we voluntarily provide certain information.it with documents and information relating to, among other things: our consolidation policies and practices (including our accounting for Cainiao Network as an equity method investee), our policies and practices applicable to related party transactions in general, and our reporting of operating data from Singles Day. We have agreed to voluntarily cooperateare cooperating with the SEC and, through our legal counsel, have been cooperating with the SEC. We intend to continue to cooperate fully with the SEC's inquiry and to provideproviding the SEC with requested documents and information. The SEC advised us that the requested information. However, the inquiry has resulted and could continue to result in considerable legal expenses, the diversioninitiation of a significant amount of management's attention from other business concerns and could harm our business. There canrequest for information should not be no assurance thatconstrued as an indication by the SEC or its staff that any violation of the federal securities laws has occurred. This matter is ongoing, and, as with any regulatory proceeding, we cannot predict when it will not recommend action against us, or our directors or officers, which could include penalties, fines, injunctive relief,be concluded.


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a cease and desist order, limitations on the service of directors or officers, and other sanctions. We can provide no assurances as to the outcome of the SEC's inquiry.

       The existence of litigation, claims, investigations and proceedings may harm our reputation and adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs. The outcome of any claims, investigations and proceedings is inherently uncertain, and in any event defending against these claims could be both costly and time-consuming, and could significantly divert the efforts and resources of our management and other personnel. An adverse determination in any such litigation, investigation or proceedingsproceeding could cause us to pay damages as well as legal and other costs, limit our ability to conduct business or require us to change the manner in which we operate.

We may suffer reputational harm and the price of our ADSs may decrease significantly due to business dealings by, or connections of, sellersmerchants or buyersconsumers on our marketplaces with sanctioned countries.countries or persons.

       The U.S. government imposes broad economic and trade restrictions on certain countries and regions, or the Sanctioned Countries, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria, and Sudan are identified bynumerous individuals and entities, including those designated as having engaged in activities relating to terrorism, drug trafficking, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or human rights violations, or the U.S. State Department as state sponsors of terrorismSanctioned Persons. The United Nations, the European Union, or the EU, the United Kingdom, or the UK, and are the target of comprehensive U.S.other countries also impose economic sanctions.and trade restrictions, including on certain Sanctioned Countries and Sanctioned Persons. We do not have physical staffemployees or operations in these sanctioned countries,the Sanctioned Countries, and, although our websites are open and available worldwide, we do not actively solicit business from users in these sanctioned countries.the Sanctioned Countries or Sanctioned Persons.

       As a non-U.S. entity,Cayman Islands company, we are generally not generally required to comply with U.S., UK, and EU sanctions to the same extent as U.S. entities, with certain exceptions principally relating to, UK or EU entities. However, our U.S., UK, and EU subsidiaries, any of our employees who are U.S. persons or dealingsUK or EU nationals, activities in the U.S., UK, or EU, activities involving U.S.-origin goods, technology or services.services, and certain Iran-related activities, are subject to applicable sanctions requirements. In the case of Alibaba.com, our aggregate cash revenue from members in these sanctioned countriesSanctioned Countries in fiscal year 20152017 accounted for less than 0.02%0.002% of our international wholesale commerceAlibaba.com's cash revenue. In the case of AliExpress and Taobao Marketplace,our China retail marketplaces, an insignificant numberpercentage of orders have been placed by buyersconsumers from the sanctioned countries,Sanctioned Countries, with an aggregate GMV settled of approximately US$3.49.3 million in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015.2017. As all transaction fees on AliExpress and Taobao Marketplaceour China retail marketplaces are paid by sellers,merchants, primarily based in China, we do not earn any fees or commissionscommission from buyersconsumers in sanctioned countriesSanctioned Countries in respect of transactions conducted on these platforms.

       We cannot assure you that current or future economic and trade sanctions regulations or developments will not have a negative impact on our business or reputation. International economic and trade sanctions are complex and subject to frequent change, including jurisdictional reach and the lists of countries, entities, and individuals subject to the sanctions. Hence, we may incur significant costs related to current, new, or changing sanctions programs, as well as investigations, fines, fees or settlements, which may be difficult to predict. We also could face increased sanctions-related compliance costs and risks as we expand globally and into additional businesses, such as cloud computing, hardware and data hosting. In addition, our expanding network of investee companies, global business partners, joint venture partners or other parties that have collaborative relationships with us or our affiliates may engage in activities in or with Sanctioned Countries or Sanctioned Persons, which might result in negative publicity, governmental investigations and reputational harm. Any of the above may cause the price of our ADSs to decline significantly, and thus materially reduce the value of your investment in our ADSs.

Certain U.S.-based institutional investors, including state and municipal governments in the United States and universities, as well as financial institutions, have proposed or adopted divestment or similar initiatives regarding investments in companies that do business with sanctioned countries.Sanctioned Countries. Accordingly, as a result of activities on our marketplaces involving users based in the sanctioned countries,Sanctioned Countries, certain investors may not wish to invest, and certain financial institutions may not wish to lend or extend credit and may divest their investment in, or seek early repayment of loans to us. SuchThese divestment initiatives may negatively impact our reputation and investor sentiment with respect to our ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, as our business continues to expand, our business partners, joint venture partners or other parties that have collaborative relationship with us or our affiliates may engage in activities in or with sanctioned countries, which may also result in negative publicity and reputational harm against us. Any negative investor sentiment as a result of such reputational issues may cause the price of our ADSs to decline significantly and may materially reduce the value of our investment in our ADSs.

We may be subject to liability for content on our websites and mobile interfaces that is alleged to be socially destabilizing, obscene, defamatory, libelous or otherwise unlawful.

       Under PRC law and the laws of certain other jurisdictions in which we operate, we are required to monitor our websites and the websites hosted on our servers and mobile interfaces for items or content deemed to be socially destabilizing, obscene, superstitious or defamatory, as well as items, content or services that are illegal to sell online or otherwise in other jurisdictions in which we operate our marketplaces, and promptly take appropriate action with respect to such items, content or services. We may also be subject to potential liability for any unlawful actions of our customers or users of our websites or mobile interfaces or for content we distribute that is deemed inappropriate. It may be difficult to determine the type of content that may result in liability to us, and if we are found to be liable, we may be subject to fines, have our relevant business operation licenses revoked, or be prevented from operating our websites or mobile interfaces in China or other jurisdictions.

       In addition, claims may be brought against us for defamation, libel, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark infringement, tort (including personal injury), other unlawful activity or other theories and claims based on the


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nature and content of information posted on our marketplaces, including product reviews and message boards, by our buyers, sellers and other marketplace participants.

       Regardless of the outcome of such a dispute or lawsuit, we may suffer from negative publicity and reputational damage as a result of these actions.

Failure to comply with the terms of our indebtedness could result in acceleration of indebtedness, which could have an adverse effect on our cash flow and liquidity.

       We have issued an aggregate of US$8.0 billion unsecured senior notes. We have also entered into a five-year term loan facility of US$4.0 billion. In addition, in April 2017, we replaced our US$3.0 billion revolving credit facility which we have not yet drawn.with a new US$5.15 billion revolving credit facility. Under the terms of our unsecured senior notes and credit facilityfacilities and under any debt financing arrangement that we may enter into in the future, we are, and may be in the future, subject to covenants that could, among other things, restrict our business and operations. If we breach any of these covenants, our lenders under our credit facilities and holders of our unsecured senior notes will be entitled to accelerate our debt obligations. Any default under our credit facilityfacilities or unsecured senior notes could require that we repay these debts prior to maturity as well as limit our ability to obtain additional financing, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on our cash flow and liquidity.

We may need additional capital but may not be able to obtain it on favorable terms or at all.

       We may require additional cash resources due to future growth and development of our business, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our cash resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to issue additional equity or debt securities or obtain new or expanded credit facilities. Our ability to obtain external financing in the future is subject to a variety of uncertainties, including our future financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, trading price of our ADSs, liquidity of international capital and lending markets and PRC governmental regulations over foreign investment and cross-border financing and the Internet industry in the PRC. For example, although not explicitly required by statute, since May 2016, the NDRC has been requiring offshore incorporated companies directly or indirectly controlled by PRC residents to complete filings with the NDRC before pricing and closing of any offshore debt issuance. In addition, incurring indebtedness would subject us to increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financingfinancial covenants that would restrict our operations. There can be no assurance that financing will be available in a timely manner or in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, or at all. Any failure to raise needed funds on terms favorable to us, or at all, could severely restrict our liquidity as well as have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, any issuance of equity or equity-linked securities could result in significant dilution to our existing shareholders.

We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our indebtedness.

       We are exposed to interest rate risk related to our indebtedness. The interest rates under our credit facilityfacilities and one tranche of our unsecured senior notes with an aggregate principal amount of US$300 million are based on a spread over LIBOR. As a result, the interest expenses associated with suchour indebtedness will be subject to the potential impact of any fluctuation in LIBOR. Any increase in LIBOR could impact our financing costs if not effectively hedged. Our RMB denominated bank borrowings are also subject to interest rate risk. Although from time to time, we use hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to interest rate risk, these hedges may not be effective.

We may not have sufficient insurance coverage to cover our business risks.

       We have obtained insurance to cover certain potential risks and liabilities, such as property damage.damage, business interruptions and public liabilities. However, insurance companies in China and other jurisdictions in which we operate may offer limited business insurance products. As a result, we may not be able to acquire any insurance for certainall types of risks such as business liability or service disruption insurance forwe face in our operations in China and elsewhere, and our coverage may not be adequate to compensate for all losses that may occur, particularly with respect to loss of business or operations. We do not maintain business interruption insurance or product liability insurance, nor do we maintain key-man life insurance. This could leave us exposed to potential claims and losses. Any business disruption, litigation, regulatory action, outbreak of epidemic disease or natural disaster could also expose us to substantial costs and diversion of resources. We cannot assure you that our insurance coverage is sufficient to prevent us from any loss or that we will be able to successfully claim our losses under our current


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insurance policies, or the compensated amount is significantly less than our actual loss, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

An occurrence of a natural disaster, widespread health epidemic or other outbreaks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       Our business could be materially and adversely affected by natural disasters, such as snowstorms, earthquakes, fires or floods, the outbreak of a widespread health epidemic, such as swine flu, avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, Ebola, Zika or other events, such as wars, acts of terrorism, environmental accidents, power shortage or communication interruptions. The occurrence of such a disaster or a prolonged outbreak of an epidemic illness or other adverse public health developments in China or elsewhere in the world could materially disrupt our business and operations. SuchThese events could also significantly impact our industry and cause a temporary closure of the facilities we use for our operations, which would severely disrupt our operations and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our operations could be disrupted if any of our employees or employees of our business partners were suspected of having the swine flu, avian influenza, SARS, Ebola, Zika or other epidemical diseases,disease epidemics, since this could require us or our business partners to quarantine some or all of suchthese employees or disinfect the facilities used for our operations. In addition, our revenue and profitability could be materially reduced to the extent that a natural disaster, health epidemic or other outbreak harms the global or PRC economy in general. Our operations could also be severely disrupted if our buyers, sellersconsumers, merchants or other participants were affected by such natural disasters, health epidemics or other outbreaks.

Risks Related to our Corporate Structure

The Alibaba Partnership and related voting agreements limit the ability of our shareholders to nominate and elect directors.

       Our articles of association allow the Alibaba Partnership to nominate or, in limited situations, appoint a simple majority of our board of directors. If at any time our board of directors consists of less than a simple majority of directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership for any reason, including because a director previously nominated by the Alibaba Partnership ceases to be a member of our board of directors or because the Alibaba Partnership had previously not exercised its right to nominate or appoint a simple majority of our board of directors, the Alibaba Partnership will be entitled (in its sole discretion) to nominate or appoint such number of additional directors to the board as necessary to ensure that the directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership comprise a simple majority of our board of directors.

       In addition, we have entered into a voting agreement pursuant to which SoftBank, Yahoo, Jack Ma and Joe Tsai have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the Alibaba Partnership director nominees at each annual general shareholders meeting for so long as SoftBank owns at least 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Furthermore, the voting agreement provides that SoftBank has the right to nominate one director to our board until SoftBank owns less than 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares, and that right is also reflected in our articles of association. In addition, pursuant to the voting agreement, Yahoo, Jack Ma and Joe Tsai have agreed to vote their shares (including shares for which they have voting power) in favor of the election of the SoftBank director nominee at each annual general shareholders meeting in which the SoftBank nominee stands for election. Moreover, subject to certain exceptions, pursuant to the voting agreement SoftBank and Yahoo have agreed to give Jack and Joe a proxy over, with respect to SoftBank, any portion of its shareholdings exceeding 30% of our outstanding shares and, with respect to Yahoo, all of its shareholdings up to a maximum of 121.5 million of our ordinary shares. These proxies will remain in effect until Jack Ma owns less than 1% of our ordinary shares on a fully dilutedfully-diluted basis or we materially breach the voting agreement.

       This governance structure and contractual arrangement limit the ability of our shareholders to influence corporate matters, including any matters determined at the board level. In addition, the nomination right granted to the Alibaba Partnership will remain in place for the life of the Alibaba Partnership unless our articles of


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vote at a shareholders meeting. The nomination rights of the Alibaba Partnership will remain in place notwithstanding a change of control or merger of our company and, for so long as SoftBank and Yahoo remain substantial shareholders, we expect the Alibaba Partnership nominees will receive a majority of votes cast at any meeting for the election of directors and will be elected as directors. These provisions and agreements could have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control and could limit the opportunity of our shareholders to receive a premium for their ADSs, and could also materially decrease the price that some investors are willing to pay for our ADSs.ADSs, As of the date of this annual report, the parties to the voting agreement and the partners of the Alibaba Partnership held in the aggregate more than 50% of our outstanding ordinary shares (including unvested shares and shares underlying vested and unvested awards). See "Item 6. Directors, and Senior Management and Employees — A. Directors and Senior Management — Alibaba Partnership."

The interests of the Alibaba Partnership may conflict with the interests of our shareholders.

       The nomination and appointment rights of the Alibaba Partnership limits the ability of our shareholders to influence corporate matters, including any matters to be determined by our board of directors. The interests of the Alibaba Partnership may not coincide with the interests of our shareholders, and the Alibaba Partnership or its director nominees may make decisions with which they disagree, including decisions on important topics such as compensation, management succession, acquisition strategy and our business and financial strategy. For example, because the Alibaba Partnership will continue to be largely comprised of members of our management team, the Alibaba Partnership and its director nominees, consistent with our operating philosophy, may focus on the long-term interests of our ecosystem participants at the expense of our short-term financial results, which may differ from the expectations and desires of shareholders unaffiliated with the Alibaba Partnership. To the extent that the interests of the Alibaba Partnership differ from the interests of any of our shareholders, such shareholderour shareholders may be disadvantaged by any action that the Alibaba Partnership may seek to pursue.

Our articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could adversely affect the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

       Our articles of association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of third parties to acquire control of our company, including:

    •
    a provision that grants authority to our board of directors to establish from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series;

    •
    a provision that grants the Alibaba Partnership the right to nominate a simple majority of our board of directors notwithstanding a change of control or merger of our company; and

    •
    a classified board with staggered terms that will prevent the replacement of a majority of directors at one time.

       These provisions could have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control, and could limit the opportunity for our shareholders to receive a premium for their ADSs, and could also materially decrease the price that some investors are willing to pay for our ADSs.

SoftBank owns more than 30%approximately 29% of our outstanding ordinary shares and its interests may differ from those of our other shareholders.

       As of March 31, 2015,2017, SoftBank owned approximately 32%29% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Subject to certain exceptions, SoftBank has agreed to grant the voting power of any portion of its shareholding exceeding 30% of our outstanding ordinary shares to Jack Ma and Joe Tsai by proxy. Under the terms of the voting agreement we entered into with SoftBank, SoftBank also has the right to nominate one member of our board of directors, and Yahoo, Jack and Joe have agreed to vote their shares (including shares for which they have voting


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SoftBank nominee stands for election until such time as SoftBank holds less than 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares. SoftBank's director nomination right is also reflected in our articles of association. Except with regard to shareholder votes relating to the Alibaba Partnership director nominees, SoftBank will have significant influence over the outcome of matters that require shareholder votes and accordingly over our business and corporate matters. SoftBank may exercise its shareholder rights in a way that it believes is in its own best interest, which may conflict with the interest of our other shareholders. These actions may be taken even if SoftBank is opposed by our other shareholders.

       For more information, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party TransactionTransactions — Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Yahoo — Voting Agreement."

If the PRC government deems that the contractual arrangements in relation to our variable interest entities do not comply with PRC governmental restrictions on foreign investment, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations changes in the future, we could be subject to penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.

       Foreign ownership of certain types of Internet businesses, such as Internet information services, is subject to restrictions under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. For example, foreign investors are generally not permitted to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunication service provider. Any such foreign investor must also have experience and a good track record in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas. Although according to the Notice on Lifting the Restriction to Foreign Shareholding Percentage in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (Operational E-commerce) promulgated by the MIIT on June 19, 2015, foreign investors are allowed to hold up to 100% of all equity interests in the online data processing and transaction processing business (operational e-commerce) in China, other requirements provided by the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules (such as the track record and experience requirement for a major foreign investor) still apply. It is unclear how this notice will be implemented and there exist high uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by authorities.

       While the significant majority of our revenue was generated by our wholly-foreign owned enterprises in fiscal year 2014,2017, we provide Internet information services in China, which are critical to our business, through a number of PRC incorporated variable interest entities. The variable interest entities are owned by PRC citizens who are our founders or senior employees or by PRC entities owned by suchthese PRC citizens, or the variable interest entity equity holders, with whom we have contractual arrangements, or the contractual arrangements. The contractual arrangements give us effective control over each of the variable interest entities and enable us to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits arising from the variable interest entities as well as consolidate the financial results of the variable interest entities in our results of operations. Although the structure we have adopted is consistent with longstanding industry practice, and is commonly adopted by comparable companies in China, the PRC government may not agree that these arrangements comply with PRC licensing, registration or other regulatory requirements, with existing policies or with requirements or policies that may be adopted in the future.

       In the opinion of Fangda Partners, our PRC counsel, the ownership structures of our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises and our material variable interest entities in China do not and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation or rule currently in effect; and the contractual arrangements between our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises, our material variable interest entities and their respective equity holders governed by PRC law are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect and will not violate any applicable PRC law, rule or regulation currently in effect. However, Fangda Partners has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current PRC laws, rules and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities and PRC courts may in the future take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel.


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       It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws, rules or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. Please also see "— Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law."

       If we or any of our variable interest entities are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws, rules or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion to take action in dealing with suchthese violations or failures, including revoking the business and operating licenses of our PRC subsidiaries or the variable interest entities,


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requiring us to discontinue or restrict our operations, restricting our right to collect revenue, blocking one or more of our websites, requiring us to restructure our operations or taking other regulatory or enforcement actions against us. The imposition of any of these measures could result in a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct all or any portion of our business operations. In addition, it is unclear what impact the PRC government actions would have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of any of our variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements, if the PRC government authorities were to find our legal structure and contractual arrangements to be in violation of PRC laws, rules and regulations. If the imposition of any of these government actions causes us to lose our right to direct the activities of any of our material variable interest entities or otherwise separate from any of these entities and if we are not able to restructure our ownership structure and operations in a satisfactory manner, we would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of our variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements. Any of these events would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law.

       The Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law in January 2015 aiming to, upon its enactment, replace the major existing laws and regulations governing foreign investment in China WhileChina. The MOFCOM completed the MOFCOM solicitedsolicitation of comments on this draft earlier this year, substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, interpretationin February 2015, and implementation. Theindicated in March 2017 that it had revised the draft Foreign Investment Law if enacted as proposed, may materially impactbased on public comments and is cooperating with the entire legal framework regulating foreign investments in China.Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council and the Law Committee of National People's Congress for the legislative deliberation of the revised draft Foreign Investment Law. However, the revised draft Foreign Investment Law has not been made available to the public, and there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the enactment timetable and the final content of the Foreign Investment Law.

       Among other things, the discussion draft of the Foreign Investment Law published by the MOFCOM purports to introduce the principle of "actual control" in determining whether a company is considered a foreign invested enterprise, or an FIE. The discussion draft Foreign Investment Law specifically provides that entities established in China but "controlled" by foreign investors will be treated as FIEs, whereas an entity organized in a foreign jurisdiction, but cleared by the MOFCOM as "controlled" by PRC entities and/or citizens, would nonetheless be treated as a PRC domestic entity for investment in the "restriction category" on the "negative list." In this connection, "control" is broadly defined in the draft law to cover any of the following summarized categories:

    •
    holding 50% or more of the voting rights or similar equity interestrights and interests of the subject entity;

    •
    holding less than 50% of the voting rights or similar equity interestrights and interests of the subject entity but having the power to directly or indirectly appoint or otherwise secure at least 50% of the seats on the board or other equivalent decision making bodies, or having the voting power to materially influence the board, the shareholders' meeting or other equivalent decision making bodies; or

    •
    having the power to exert decisive influence, via contractual or trust arrangements, over the subject entity's operations, financial, staffing and technology matters.

       Once an entity is determined to be an FIE, and its investment amount exceeds certain thresholds or its business operation falls within a "negative list" purported to be separately issued by the State Council in the future, market entry clearance by the MOFCOM or its local counterparts would be required.


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       The "variable interest entity" structure, or VIE structure, has been adopted by many PRC-based companies, including us and certain of our equity investees such as Weibo, and Youku Tudou, to obtain necessary licenses and permits in the industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China. Under the discussion draft of the Foreign Investment Law, variable interest entities that are controlled via contractual arrangements would also be deemed as FIEs, if they are ultimately "controlled" by foreign investors. For any companies with a VIE structure in an industry category that is in the "restriction category" on the "negative list," the existing VIE structure may be deemed legitimate only if the ultimate controlling person(s) is/are of PRC nationality (either PRC state owned enterprises or agencies, or PRC citizens). Conversely, if the actual controlling person(s) is/are of foreign


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nationalities, then the variable interest entities will be treated as FIEs and any operation in the industry category on the "negative list" without market entry clearance may be considered as illegal.

       Based on the definition of "control" in the discussion draft of the Foreign Investment Law, as currently proposed, we believe that there are strong basis for a determination that we and our variable interest entities are ultimately controlled by PRC citizens for the following reasons:

    •
    Alibaba Partnership has an exclusive right to nominate and appoint up to a simple majority of the members of our board of directors and therefore it effectively controls the board and all management decisions of our company;

    •
    nearly all of the partners of Alibaba Partnership are PRC citizens; and

    •
    Alibaba Partnership exercises its nomination rights by a majority of votes of all its partners.

See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — A. Directors and Senior Management — Alibaba Partnership."

       However, there are significant uncertainties as to how the control status of our company, our variable interest entities and our equity investees with a VIE structure would be determined under the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law. In addition, it is uncertain whether any of the businesses that we currently operate or plan to operate in the future through our consolidated entities and the businesses operated by our equity investees with a VIE structure would be on the to-be-issued "negative list" and therefore be subject to any foreign investment restrictions or prohibitions. We also face uncertainties as to whether the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law and the final "negative list" would mandate further actions, such as MOFCOM market entry clearance, to be completed by companies with existing VIE structure and whether suchthis clearance can be timely obtained, or at all. If we or our equity investees with a VIE structure were not considered as ultimately controlled by PRC domestic investors under the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law, further actions required to be taken by us or suchthese equity investees under the enacted Foreign Investment Law may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

       In addition, our corporate governance practice may be materially impacted and our compliance costs could increase if we were not considered as ultimately controlled by PRC domestic investorsentities and/or citizens under the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law. For instance, the discussion draft of the Foreign Investment Law as proposed purports to impose stringent ad hoc and periodic information reporting requirements on foreign investors and the applicable FIEs. Aside from investment implementation report and investment amendment report that would be required for each investment and alteration of investment specifics, an annual report would be mandatory, and large foreign investors meeting certain criteria would be required to report on a quarterly basis. Any company found to be non-compliant with these information reporting obligations could potentially be subject to fines and/or administrative or criminal liabilities, and the persons directly responsible could be subject to criminal liabilities.

Our contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing control over the variable interest entities as direct ownership.

       We rely on contractual arrangements with our variable interest entities to operate part of our Internet businesses in China and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see "Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure — 


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Contractual Arrangements among Our Wholly-foreign Owned Enterprises, Variable Interest Entities and the Variable Interest Entity Equity Holders." These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our variable interest entities.

       If we had direct ownership of the variable interest entities, we would be able to exercise our rights as an equity holder directly to effect changes in the boards of directors of those entities, which could effect changes at the management and operational level. Under our contractual arrangements, we may not be able to directly change the members of the boards of directors of these entities and would have to rely on the variable interest entities


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and the variable interest entity equity holders to perform their obligations in order to exercise our control over the variable interest entities. The variable interest entity equity holders may have conflicts of interest with us or our shareholders, and they may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. For example, our variable interest entities and their respective equity holders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations, including maintaining our websites and using our domain names and trademarks which the relevant variable interest entities have exclusive rights to use, in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. Pursuant to the call option, we may replace the equity holders of the variable interest entities at any time pursuant to the contractual arrangements. However, if any equity holder is uncooperative and any dispute relating to these contracts or the replacement of the equity holders remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under the contractual arrangements through the operations of PRC law and arbitral or judicial agencies, which may be costly and time-consuming and will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. See "— Any failure by our variable interest entities or their equity holders to perform their obligations under the contractual arrangements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations." Consequently, the contractual arrangements may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership.

Any failure by our variable interest entities or their equity holders to perform their obligations under the contractual arrangements would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       If our variable interest entities or their equity holders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce suchthe arrangements. Although we have entered into call option agreements in relation to each variable interest entity, which provide that we may exercise an option to acquire, or nominate a person to acquire, ownership of the equity in that entity or, in some cases, its assets, to the extent permitted by applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, the exercise of these call options is subject to the review and approval of the relevant PRC governmental authorities. We have also entered into equity pledge agreements with respect to each variable interest entity to secure certain obligations of such variable interest entity or its equity holders to us under the contractual arrangements. However, the enforcement of suchthese agreements through arbitral or judicial agencies may be costly and time-consuming and will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. Moreover, our remedies under the equity pledge agreements are primarily intended to help us collect debts owed to us by the variable interest entities or the variable interest entity equity holders under the contractual arrangements and may not help us in acquiring the assets or equity of the variable interest entities.

       In addition, although the terms of the contractual arrangements provide that they will be binding on the successors of the variable interest entity equity holders, as those successors are not a party to the agreements, it is uncertain whether the successors in case of the death, bankruptcy or divorce of a variable interest entity equity holder will be subject to or will be willing to honor the obligations of such variable interest entity equity holder under the contractual arrangements. If the relevant variable interest entity or its equity holder (or its successor), as applicable, fails to transfer the shares of the variable interest entity according to the respective call option agreement or equity pledge agreement, we would need to enforce our rights under the call option agreement or equity pledge agreement, which may be costly and time-consuming and may not be successful.

       The contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration or court proceedings in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with


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PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. Moreover, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how contractual arrangements in the context of a variable interest entity should be interpreted or enforced under PRC law, and as a result it may be difficult to predict how an arbitration panel or court would view suchthese contractual arrangements. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce the contractual arrangements. Under PRC law, if the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards or court judgments within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only


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enforce the arbitration awards or court judgments in PRC courts, which would require additional expense and delay. In the event we are unable to enforce the contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over the variable interest entities, and our ability to conduct our business, as well as our financial condition and results of operations, may be materially and adversely affected.

We may lose the ability to use, or otherwise benefit from, the licenses, approvals and assets held by our variable interest entities, which could severely disrupt our business, render us unable to conduct some or all of our business operations and constrain our growth.

       Although the significant majority of our revenues are generated, and the significant majority of our operational assets are held, by our wholly-foreign owned enterprises, which are our subsidiaries, our variable interest entities hold licenses and approvals and assets that are necessary for our business operations, as well as equity interests in a series of our portfolio companies, to which foreign investments are typically restricted or prohibited under applicable PRC law. The contractual arrangements contain terms that specifically obligate variable interest entity equity holders to ensure the valid existence of the variable interest entities and restrict the disposal of material assets of the variable interest entities. However, in the event the variable interest entity equity holders breach the terms of these contractual arrangements and voluntarily liquidate our variable interest entities, or any of our variable interest entities declares bankruptcy and all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, or are otherwise disposed of without our consent, we may be unable to conduct some or all of our business operations or otherwise benefit from the assets held by the variable interest entities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, if any of our variable interest entities undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its equity holders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of the assets of suchthe variable interest entity, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business as well as constrain our growth.

The equity holders, directors and executive officers of the variable interest entities as well as our employees who execute other strategic initiatives may have potential conflicts of interest with our company.

       PRC laws provide that a director and an executive officer owes a fiduciary duty to the company he or she directs or manages. The directors and executive officers of the variable interest entities, including Jack Ma, our lead founder and executive chairman, must act in good faith and in the best interests of the variable interest entities and must not use their respective positions for personal gain. On the other hand, as a director of our company, Jack has a duty of care and loyalty to our company and to our shareholders as a whole under Cayman Islands law. We control our variable interest entities through contractual arrangements and the business and operations of our variable interest entities are closely integrated with the business and operations of our subsidiaries. Nonetheless, conflicts of interests for these individuals may arise due to dual roles both as directors and executive officers of the variable interest entities and as directors or employees of our company, and may also arise due to dual roles both as variable interest entity equity holders and as directors or employees of our company.

       We cannot assure you that these individuals will always act in the best interests of our company should any conflicts of interest arise, or that any conflicts of interest will always be resolved in our favor. We also cannot assure you that these individuals will ensure that the variable interest entities will not breach the existing contractual arrangements. If we cannot resolve any suchof these conflicts of interest or any related disputes, we would have to rely on legal proceedings to resolve these disputes and/or take enforcement action under the contractual


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arrangements. There is substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any suchof these legal proceedings. See "— Any failure by our variable interest entities or their equity holders to perform their obligations under the contractual arrangements would have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations."

       In April 2015, Simon Xie, who is one of our founders and an equity holder in certain of our variable interest entities, was grantedFurthermore, a financing with an aggregate principal of up to RMB6.9 billion by a major financial institution in the PRC, which was used to fund a minority investment in Wasu via a PRC limited partnership. A


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company controlled by Jack Ma serves as one of the general partners of thisa PRC limited partnership.partnership that made a minority investment in Wasu. Yuzhu Shi, the founder, chairman and a principal shareholder of Giant Interactive, a China-based online game company that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and an entrepreneur with significant experience in and knowledge of the media industry in China, serves as the other general partner. Jack, through his control of one of the general partners, and Mr. Shi, as the other general partner and the executive partner, jointly control this PRC limited partnership.partner. The interest of the general partner controlled by Jack in the limited partnership is limited to a return of its RMB10,000 capital contribution. In addition, Simon Xie, a former employee who is one of our founders and an equity holder in certain of our variable interest entities, is a limited partner in this PRC limited partnership. To fund this investment, in April 2015 Simon was granted a financing with an aggregate principal of up to RMB6.9 billion by a major financial institution in the PRC. The financing is secured by a pledge of the Wasu shares acquired by the PRC limited partnership, and a pledge of certain wealth management products we purchased. In addition, we entered into a loan agreement for a principal amount of up to RMB2.0 billion with Simon Xie in April 2015 to finance the repayment by Simon of the interest under the above financing. We expect that these arrangements will facilitatestrengthen our entering into and strengthen strategic business arrangements with Wasu to pursue our strategy of expanding entertainment offerings to our customers.consumers. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities — Entertainment — Wasu" and "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Pledge for the Benefit of and Loan Arrangement with a Related Party."

       We cannot assure you that Jack Ma or Simon Xie will act in our interest given Jack'shis ability to control one of the general partners of the PRC limited partnership and Simon's economic interests as a limited partner of the PRC limited partnership that invested in Wasu, respectively, nor can we assure you that theyhe will not breach their respectivehis obligations to us as our director, and executive officer, in the case of Jack, or as our employee, in the case of Simon, including their respective obligations not to compete with us pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements.us. In addition, the interests of Mr. Shi, as an independent third party,third-party, may not coincide with those of Jack as the other general partner in the PRC limited partnership, that made the investment, or with our interests in pursuing our entertainment strategy. If any such conflicts of this kind arise between Jack and Mr. Shi in conducting the business of the PRC limited partnership, it could potentially have a material adverse effect on our relationship with the shareholder of Wasu and, consequently, on our ability to achieve the strategic objectives of our alliance with Wasu. Furthermore, there is no assurance that Simon will have sufficient resources to repay the loans in a timely manner or at all. The loan that we provided to Simon is secured by a pledge of Simon's limited partnership interest in the PRC limited partnership. However, if Simon fails to repay the loan, our enforcement of suchour secured interests could be costly and time-consuming and would be subject to the uncertainties in the PRC legal system.

The contractual arrangements with our variable interest entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities. Any adjustment of related party transaction pricing could lead to additional taxes, and therefore substantially reduce our consolidated net income and the value of your investment.

       The tax regime in China is rapidly evolving and there is significant uncertainty for taxpayers in China as PRC tax laws may be interpreted in significantly different ways. The PRC tax authorities may assert that we or our subsidiaries or the variable interest entities or their equity holders are required to pay additional taxes on previous or future revenue or income. In particular, under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties, such as the contractual arrangements with our variable interest entities, may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities. If the PRC tax authorities determine that any contractual arrangements were not entered into on an arm's length basis and therefore constitute a favorable transfer pricing, the PRC tax liabilities of the relevant subsidiaries and/or variable interest entities and/or variable interest entity equity holders could be increased, which could increase our overall tax liabilities. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment interest. Our net income may be materially reduced if our tax liabilities increase.


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Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China

Changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC government may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and may result in our inability to sustain our growth and expansion strategies.

       Most of our operations are conducted in the PRC and substantially alla substantial majority of our revenue is sourced from the PRC. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations are affected to a significant extent by economic, political and legal developments in the PRC.

       The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the extent of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China's economic growth by allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, regulating financial services and institutions and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

       While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past three decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall PRC economy, but may also have a negative effect on us. Our financial condition and results of operation could be materially and adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. In addition, the PRC government has implemented in the past certain measures, including interest rate increases, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity, whichactivity. While the PRC government maintained its expansionary monetary policy in turn2016, there have been signs of continuing economic slowdown in China. Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy could lead to a reduction in demand for our services and consequently have a material adverse effect on our businesses, financial condition and results of operations.

There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.

       Most of our operations are conducted in the PRC, and are governed by PRC laws, rules and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

       In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws, rules and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China or may be subject to significant degree of interpretation by PRC regulatory agencies and courts. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited number of published decisions and the non-precedential nature of suchthese decisions, and because the laws, rules and regulations often give the relevant regulator significant discretion in how to enforce them, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involve uncertainties and can be inconsistent and unpredictable. Therefore, it is possible that our existing operations may be found not to be in full compliance with relevant laws and regulations in the future. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, and which may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until after the occurrence of the violation.


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       Any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more


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developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

PRC regulations regarding acquisitions impose significant regulatory approval and review requirements, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

       Under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law, companies undertaking acquisitions relating to businesses in China must notify MOFCOM, in advance of any transaction where the parties' revenues in the China market exceed certain thresholds and the buyer would obtain control of, or decisive influence over, the target.other party. In addition, on August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the MOFCOM, the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, the SAIC, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which came into effect on September 8, 2006 and was amended on June 22, 2009. Under the M&A Rules, the approval of MOFCOM must be obtained in circumstances where overseas companies established or controlled by PRC enterprises or residents acquire domestic companies affiliated with such PRC enterprises or residents. Applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations also require certain merger and acquisition transactions to be subject to security review.

       Due to the level of our revenues, our proposed acquisition of control of, or decisive influence over, any company with revenues within China of more than RMB400 million in the year prior to any proposed acquisition would be subject to MOFCOM merger control review. As a result of our size, many of the transactions we may undertake could be subject to MOFCOM merger review. Complying with the requirements of the relevant regulations to complete suchthese transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including approval from MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete suchthese transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. In addition, MOFCOM has not accepted antitrust filings for any transaction involving parties that adopt a variable interest entity structure. If MOFCOM's practice remains unchanged, ourOur ability to carry out our investment and acquisition strategy may be materially and adversely affected and there may beby MOFCOM's current practice, which creates significant uncertainty as to whether transactions that we may undertake would subject us to fines or other administrative penalties and negative publicity and whether we will be able to complete large acquisitions in the future in a timely manner or at all.

PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC-resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our PRC subsidiaries' ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits.

       SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents' Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as "SAFE Circular 75" promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents' legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a "special purpose vehicle." SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from


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carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.

       We have notified substantial beneficial owners of ordinary shares who we know are PRC residents of their filing obligation, and we have periodically filed SAFE Circular 75 reports prior to the promulgation of SAFE


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Circular 37 on behalf of certain employee shareholders who we know are PRC residents. However, we may not be aware of the identities of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. We do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC-resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, may subject suchthe beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. On February 28,13, 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Notice 13, entities and individuals are required to apply for foreign exchange registration of foreign direct investment and overseas direct investment, including those required under the SAFE Circular 37, with qualified banks, instead of SAFE. The qualified banks, under the supervision of SAFE, will directly review the applications and conduct the registration.

       Furthermore, since it is unclear how those new SAFE regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC government authorities, we cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. Failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries' ability to distribute dividends to our company. These risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding our employee equity incentive plans may subject the PRC plan participants in the plans, us or usour overseas subsidiaries to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.

       Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. OurIn the meantime, our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who have residedare non-PRC residents residing in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to limited exceptions, and who have been granted restricted shares, options or restricted share units, or RSUs, by us or optionsour overseas listed subsidiaries may follow SAFE Circular 37 to apply for the foreign exchange registration. We and our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who have resided in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who have been granted restricted shares, RSUs or options are subject to the Notice on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, issued by SAFE in February 2012, according to which,apply for the foreign exchange registration. According to those regulations, employees, directors, supervisors and other management members participating in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company who are PRC citizens or who are non-PRC citizens residing in China for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to limited exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which couldmay be a PRC subsidiary of suchthe overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit the ability to make payment under ourthe relevant equity incentive plans or receive dividends or sales proceeds related thereto, or our ability to contribute additional capital into our wholly-foreign owned enterprises in China and limit our wholly-foreign owned enterprises' ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory uncertainties under PRC law that could restrict our ability or the ability of our overseas listed subsidiaries to adopt additional equity incentive plans for our directors and employees underwho are PRC law.citizens or who are non-PRC residents residing in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to limited exceptions.


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       In addition, the State Administration for Taxation has issued circulars concerning employee share options, restricted shares or RSUs. Under these circulars, employees working in the PRC who exercise share options, or whose restricted shares or RSUs vest, will be subject to PRC individual income tax. The PRC subsidiaries of an overseas listed company have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees related to their share options, restricted shares or RSUs. Although we and our overseas listed subsidiaries currently withhold income tax from our PRC employees in connection with their exercise of options and the vesting of their restricted shares and RSUs, if the employees fail to pay, or the PRC subsidiaries fail to withhold, their income taxes according to relevant laws, rules and regulations, the PRC subsidiaries may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities.


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We rely to a significant extent on dividends, loans and other distributions on equity paid by our principal operating subsidiaries in China and on remittances, including loans, from the variable interest entities in China to fund offshore cash and financing requirements.

       We are a holding company and rely to a significant extent on dividends, loans and other distributions on equity paid by our principal operating subsidiaries and on remittances, including loans, from the variable interest entities, for our offshore cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, fund inter-company loans, service any debt we may incur outside of China and pay our expenses. When our principal operating subsidiaries or the variable interest entities incur additional debt, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions or remittances, including loans, to us. Furthermore, the laws, rules and regulations applicable to our PRC subsidiaries and certain other subsidiaries permit payments of dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with applicable accounting standards and regulations.

       Under PRC laws, rules and regulations, each of our subsidiaries incorporated in China is required to set aside a portion of its net income each year to fund certain statutory reserves. These reserves, together with the registered equity, are not distributable as cash dividends. As a result of these laws, rules and regulations, our subsidiaries incorporated in China are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their respective net assets to their shareholders as dividends. In addition, registered share capital and capital reserve accounts are also restricted from withdrawal in the PRC, up to the amount of net assets held in each operating subsidiary. As of March 31, 2015,2017, these restricted net assets totaled RMB26,902RMB45,472 million (US$4,3406,606 million).

       Limitations on the ability of the variable interest entities to make remittance to the wholly-foreign owned enterprises to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities, including to make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends to our shareholders or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

TheOur pay-for-performance services conducted by our wholly-foreign owned enterprises might be regarded as a form of online advertising or as part of services requiring anconstitute Internet content provider license or other licenses and subjectingadvertisement, which subjects us to other laws, rules and regulations as well as increased taxes.additional obligations.

       OurWe derive a significant amount of our revenue from pay-for-performance, or P4P, services and other related services. On July 4, 2016, the SAIC promulgated the Interim Administrative Measures on Internet Advertising, or the Internet Advertising Measures, which came into effect as of September 1, 2016 and define Internet advertisements as any commercial advertising that directly or indirectly promotes goods or services are currently not classified as athrough Internet media in any form including paid-for search results. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation of online advertising in China or as part of services requiring an ICP license or other licenses. We conductAdvertising Services." Under the Internet Advertising Measures, our P4P and other related business through our wholly-foreign owned enterprises in the PRC, which are not qualified to operate an online advertising business and do not hold an ICP license. However, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not classify our P4Pservices and other related services as a form of online advertising or as part of services requiring an ICP license or other licensesconstitute Internet advertisement.

       Since the Internet Advertising Measures came into effect recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation in the future. If new regulations characterize our P4P and other related services as a form of online advertising or as part of ICP services requiring an ICP license or other licenses, we may have to conduct our P4P business through the variable interest entities, which are qualified to operate online advertising business and hold ICP or other licenses.

       If we conducted our P4P business through the variable interest entities, wepractice by various government authorities. We may face increased scrutiny from the tax authorities and may incur additional taxes on any services fees paid by the variable interest entities to the wholly-foreign owned enterprises. In addition, advertising services are subject to a cultural construction fee under PRC law, which is a 3% surcharge in addition to the applicable value-added tax. Ifconnection with our P4P and other related services were to be considered a form of online advertising, our revenue from those services would be subject to the 3% surcharge. If that were to occur, our margins would decline and our net income could be reduced. In addition, the substantial revenue streams attributable to our P4P services would then be collected from variable interest entities and subject to the risks associated with the variable interest entities. If the change in classification of our P4P and other related services were to be retroactively applied, we might be subject to sanctions, including payment of delinquent taxes and late payment interest.

services. Moreover, PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations require advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors to ensure that the content of the advertisements they prepare or distribute is fair and accurate and is in full compliance with applicable law. Violation of these laws, rules or regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising fees and orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements andadvertisements. In circumstances involving serious violations, the PRC government may suspend or revoke a violator's business license or license for operating an advertising business. In addition, the Internet Advertising Measures require paid-for search results to be obviously distinguished from natural search results so that consumers will not


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ordersmisunderstand the nature of these search results, therefore we are obligated to publish an advertisement correctingdistinguish from others the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations,merchants who purchase P4P and related services or the PRC governmentrelevant listings by these merchants. Complying with these requirements, including any penalties or fines for any failure to comply, may revokesignificantly reduce the attractiveness of our platforms and increase our costs and could have a violator's license for operating an advertising business.material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       In addition, for advertising content related to specific types of products and services, advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors must confirm that the advertisers have obtained requisite government approvals, including the advertiser's operating qualifications, proof of quality inspection of the advertised products, and, with respect to certain industries, government pre-approvalapproval of the contentscontent of the advertisement and filing with the local authorities. IfPursuant to the Internet Advertising Measures, we become subject to PRC advertising laws, we would needare required to take steps to monitor and to ensure that our third-party marketing affiliates monitor, the content of any advertisements displayed on our platforms. This could requirerequires considerable resources and time, and could significantly affect the operation of our business, while also subjecting us to increased liability under the relevant laws, rules and regulations. The costs associated with complying with suchthese laws, rules and regulations, including any penalties or fines for our failure to so comply if required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any further change in the classification of our P4P and other related services by the PRC government may also significantly disrupt our operations and materially and adversely affect our business and prospects.

We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income.

       Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules, both of which came into effect on January 1, 2008, enterprises established under the laws of jurisdictions outside of China with "de facto management bodies" located in China may be considered PRC tax resident enterprises for tax purposes and may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on their global income. "De facto management body" refers to a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise. The State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore-Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, or Circular 82, on April 22, 2009. Circular 82 provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the "de facto management body" of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China. Although Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises, not those controlled by foreign enterprises or individuals, the determining criteria set forth in Circular 82 may reflect the State Administration of Taxation's general position on how the "de facto management body" test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises. Currently, we generate only a small portion of our revenues offshore. However, if this proportion were to increase and ifIf we were to be considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our global income. In such case, our profitability and cash flow may be materially reduced as a result of our global income being taxed under the Enterprise Income Tax Law. We believe that none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body."

Dividends payable to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of our ADSs or ordinary shares by our foreign investors may become subject to PRC taxation.

       Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation regulations issued by the State Council, a 10% PRC withholding tax is applicable to dividends payable by a resident enterprise to investors that are non-resident enterprises, which do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC or which have such establishment or place of business but the dividends are not effectively connected with such establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC.PRC, subject to any reduction set forth in applicable tax treaties. Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares of a resident enterprise by suchthese investors is also


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subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 10%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties, if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC. If we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends paid on our ordinary shares or ADSs, and any gain realized by the investors from the transfer of our ordinary shares or ADSs, would be treated as income


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derived from sources within the PRC and would as a result be subject to PRC taxation. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Tax Regulations." Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to individual investors who are non-PRC residents and any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares by suchthese investors may be subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 20%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in applicable tax treaties. It is unclear whether if we or any of our subsidiaries established outside China are considered a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas and to claim foreign tax credit if applicable. If dividends payable to our non-PRC investors, or gains from the transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares by suchthese investors are subject to PRC tax, the value of your investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares may decline significantly.

Discontinuation of preferential tax treatments we currently enjoy or other unfavorable changes in tax law could result in additional compliance obligations and costs.

       OperatingChinese companies operating in the high-technology and software industry a number of our China operating entities enjoy various types of preferential tax treatment according to the prevailing PRC tax laws. Our PRC subsidiaries may, if theythat meet the relevant requirements may qualify for three main types of preferential treatment, which are high and new technology enterprises, software enterprises and key software enterprises within the scope of the PRC national plan.

For a qualified high and new technology enterprise, the applicable enterprise income tax rate is 15%. The high and new technology enterprise qualification is re-assessed by the relevant authorities every three years. Moreover, a qualified software enterprise is entitled to a tax holiday consisting of a two-year tax exemption beginning from the first profit-making calendar year and a 50% tax reduction for the subsequent three calendar years. The software enterprise qualification is subject to an annual assessment. For a qualified key software enterprise within the scope of the PRC national plan, the applicable enterprise income tax rate for a calendar year is 10%. The key software enterprise qualification is subject to an assessment every two years.annual assessment.

       A number of our China operating entities enjoy these preferential tax treatments. Our effective tax rate in fiscal year 20152017 was 19.8%23%. The discontinuation of any of the various types of preferential tax treatment we enjoy could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Taxation — PRC Income Tax."

We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises or other assets attributed to a PRC establishment of a non-PRC company, or other assets attributable to a PRC establishment of a non-PRC company.

       On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax andon Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 698, issued by the State Administration of Taxation, on December 10, 2009. Pursuant to this Bulletin, an "indirect transfer" of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be recharacterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if suchthe arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from suchthis indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax.

       According to Bulletin 7, "PRC taxable assets" include assets attributed to an establishment or a place of business in China, immoveable properties located in China, and equity investments in PRC resident enterprises, in respect of which gains from their transfer by a direct holder, being a non-PRC resident enterprise, would be subject to PRC enterprise income taxes. When determining whether there is a "reasonable commercial purpose" of the transaction arrangement, factors to be taken into consideration include: whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise directly or indirectly derives from PRC taxable assets; whether the


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assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect investment in China or if its income mainly derives from China;China, directly or indirectly; whether the offshore enterprise and its subsidiaries directly or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have real commercial nature which is evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure; the duration of existence of the business


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model and organizational structure; the foreign income tax liabilities arising from the indirect transfer of PRC taxable assets; the replicability of the transaction by direct transfer of PRC taxable assets; and the tax situation of such indirect transfer and applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment or place of business, the resulting gain is to be included with the enterprise income tax filing of the PRC establishment or place of business being transferred, and would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties located in China or to equity investments in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not related to a PRC establishment or place of business of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the transfer payments has the withholding obligation. Where the payor fails to withhold any or sufficient tax, the transferor shall declare and pay such tax to the tax authority by itself within the statutory time limit. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest. Bulletin 7 does not apply to transactions of sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where suchthe shares were acquired from a transaction through a public stock exchange.

       There are uncertainties as to the application of Bulletin 7. As Bulletin 7 was promulgated recently, it is not clear how it will be implemented. Bulletin 7 may be determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to some of our offshore restructuring transactions or sale of the shares of our offshore subsidiaries or investments where PRC taxable assets are involved. The transferors and transferees may be subject to the tax filing and withholding or tax payment obligation, while our PRC subsidiaries may be requested to assist in the filing. Furthermore, we, our non-resident enterprises and PRC subsidiaries may be required to spend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 7 or to establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under Bulletin 7, for our previous and future restructuring or disposal of shares of our offshore subsidiaries, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

       The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under Circular 698/Bulletin 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. If the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under Circular 698/Bulletin 7, our income tax costs associated with such potential acquisitions or disposals will increase, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our PRC revenue effectively.

       Substantially all of our revenue is denominated in Renminbi. The Renminbi is currently freely convertible under the "current account," which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but notrequires approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities or designated banks under the "capital account," which includes foreign direct investment and loans, including loans we may secure from our onshore subsidiaries or variable interest entities. Currently, our PRC subsidiaries, which are wholly-foreign owned enterprises, may purchase foreign currency for settlement of "current account transactions," including payment of dividends to us, without the approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, the relevant PRC governmental authorities may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. In 2016, PRC governmental authorities began imposing more stringent restrictions on outbound capital flows, including heightened scrutiny over "irrational" overseas investments for certain industries including real estate, hotel, cinema, entertainment and sports clubs, as well as over four kinds of "abnormal" offshore investments, which are:

    •
    investments through enterprises established for only a few months without substantive operation;

    •
    investments with amounts far exceeding the registered capital of onshore parent and not supported by its business performance shown on financial statements;

    •
    investments in targets which are unrelated to onshore parent's main business; and

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    •
    investments with abnormal sources of Renminbi funding suspected to be involved in illegal transfer of assets or illegal operation of underground banking.

       On January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness and Compliance Verification, which tightened the authenticity and compliance verification of cross-border transactions and cross-border capital flow, including requiring banks to verify board resolutions, tax filing forms and audited financial statements before wiring foreign invested enterprises' foreign exchange dividend distribution of over US$50,000. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation of Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution — Foreign Exchange Regulation." Since a significant amount of our futurePRC revenue will beis denominated in Renminbi, any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenue generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside of the PRC, service any debt we may incur outside of China or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE and other relevant PRC governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for our subsidiaries and the variable interest entities.

Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses and could materially reduce the value of your investment.

       The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. On July 21, 2005,For instance, in August 2015, the PRC governmentPeople's Bank of China, or PBOC, changed its policythe way it calculates the mid-point price of peggingRenminbi against the U.S. dollar, requiring the market-makers who submit for reference rates to consider the previous day's closing spot rate, foreign-exchange demand and supply as well as changes in major currency rates. In 2015 and 2016, the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against


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the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008depreciated approximately 4.4% and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the PRC government has allowed the RMB to appreciate slowly7.2% against the U.S. dollar, again, and it hasrespectively. From the end of 2016 through the end of May 2017, the value of the Renminbi appreciated more than 10% since June 2010. In April 2012,slightly by approximately 1.9% against the PRC government announced that it would allow more RMB exchange rate fluctuation. However, it remains unclear how this announcement might be implemented.U.S. dollar. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy, including any interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve, may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy, including from the U.S. government, which has threatened to label China as a "currency manipulator," which could result in greater fluctuation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. Substantially all

       A substantial percentage of our revenues and costs are denominated in Renminbi, and a significant portion of our financial assets are also denominated in Renminbi while a significant portionsubstantially all of our debt is denominated in U.S. dollars. We are a holding company and we rely on dividends, loans and other distributions on equity paid by our operating subsidiaries in China and on remittances, including loans, from our variable interest entities in China for our cash needs. Any significant revaluationfluctuations in the value of the Renminbi may materially reduce any dividends payableand adversely affect our liquidity and cash flows. If we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of repaying principal or interest expense on our outstanding U.S. dollar-denominated debt, making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs inor other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollars. Todollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount we would receive. Conversely, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive. Conversely, ifFrom time to time we decideenter into hedging activities with regard to convertexchange rate risk. We cannot assure you that our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purposehedging activities will successfully mitigate these risks adequately or at all, and in addition hedging activities may result in greater volatility in our results of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount we would receive.operations.

The audit report included in this annual report is prepared by auditors who are not inspected fully by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, our shareholders are deprived of the benefits of such inspection.inspection by it.

       As an auditor of companies that are publicly traded in the United States and a firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or PCAOB, PricewaterhouseCoopers is required under the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB. However, because we have substantial operations within the People's Republic of China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections


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without the approval of the Chinese government authorities, our auditor and its audit work is not currently inspected fully by the PCAOB.

       Inspections of other auditors conducted by the PCAOB outside of China have at times identified deficiencies in those auditors' audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditor's audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, shareholders may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections, and may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.

Proceedings instituted byRestrictions on the SEC against five PRC-based accounting firms, including the affiliatedirect production of our independent registered public accounting firm,audit work papers to foreign regulators could result in our financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

       In late 2012, the SEC commenced administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 against the mainland Chinese affiliates of the "big four" accounting firms, including the affiliate of our auditor, and also against Dahua, the former BDO affiliate in China. The Rule 102(e) proceedings initiated by the SEC relaterelated to the failure of these firms to produce documents, including audit work papers, in response to the request of the SEC pursuant to Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as the auditors located in China are not in a position lawfully to produce documents directly to the SEC because of restrictions under PRC law and specific directives issued by the CSRC. The issues raised by the proceedings are not specific to the Chinese affiliate of our auditor or to us, but potentially affect equally all PCAOB-registered audit firms based in China and all businesses based in China (or with substantial operations in China) with securities listed in the United States. In addition, auditors based outside of China are subject to similar restrictions under PRC law and CSRC directives in respect of audit work that is carried out in China which supports the audit opinions issued on financial statements of entities with substantial China operations.


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       In January 2014, the administrative judge reached an initial decision that the China-based affiliates of the "big four" accounting firms should be barred from practicing before the SEC for a period of six months. In February 2014, the accounting firms filed a petition for review of the initial decision.       In February 2015, each of the "big four" accounting firms agreed to a censure and to pay a fine to the SEC to settle the dispute with the SEC. The settlement stays the current proceeding for four years, during which time the firms are required to follow detailed procedures to seek to provide the SEC with access to Chinese firms' audit documents via the CSRC. If a firm does not follow the procedures, the SEC would impose penalties such as suspensions, or commence a new, expedited administrative proceeding against the non-compliant firm or it could restart the administrative proceeding against all four firms. In addition, the limitations imposed by the PRC on the production of workpapers reflecting audit work performed in the PRC could likewise result in the imposition of penalties on our independent registered accounting firm by the PCAOB or the SEC, such as suspensions of our audit firm's ability to practice before the SEC.

       If our independent registered public accounting firm, or the affiliate of our independent registered public accounting firm, were denied, even temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC, we would need to consider with our Hong Kong based auditor the alternate support arrangements they would need in theirfor the audit of our operations in China. If our auditor, were unable to have alternate support or otherwisean affiliate of that firm, were unable to address issues related to the production of documents, pursuant to Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and we were unable to timely find another independent registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such aA determination of this type could ultimately lead to delisting of our ADSs from the New York Stock Exchange or deregistration from the SEC, or both. Moreover, any negative news about the proceedings against these audit firms may adversely affect investor confidence in companies with substantial mainland China based operations listed in the U.S. All theseThis would materially and adversely affect the market price of our ADSs and substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ADSs in the United States.

Risks Related to our ADSOur ADSs

The trading pricesprice of our ADSs has been and is likely to continue to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to our shareholders.

       The trading price of our ADSs has been and is likely to continue to be volatile and could fluctuate widely in response to a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. For example, the high and low sale prices of our ADSs in fiscal year 2017 were US$110.45 and US$73.30, respectively. In addition, the performance and


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fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States may affect the volatility in the price of and trading volumes for our ADSs. Some of these companies have experienced significant volatility, including significant price declines after their initial public offerings. The trading performances of these PRC companies' securities at the time of or after their offerings may affect the overall investor sentiment towards other PRC companies listed in the United States and consequently may impact the trading performance of our ADSs. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our ADSs may be highly volatile for specific business reasons, including:

    •
    variations in our results of operations;

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    announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations, the risk of which is enhanced because it is our policy not to give guidance on earnings;expectations;

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    publication of operating or industry metrics such as GMV, by third parties, including government statistical agencies, that differ from expectations of industry or financial analysts;

    •
    changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;

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    announcements made by us or our competitors of new product and service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

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    press and other reports, whether or not true, about our business;

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    negative reports published by short sellers, regardless of their veracity or materiality to our company;

    •
    changes or developments in the PRC or global regulatory environment;

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    litigation and regulatory allegations or actions or negative publicity against us, regardless of their veracity;proceedings that involve us;

    •
    changes in pricing made by uswe or our competitors;competitors adopt;

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    conditions in the online retail market;our industries;

    •
    additions to or departures of our management;

•
actual or perceived general economic and business conditions and trends in China and globally;

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    •
    fluctuations of exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar;

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    release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding ordinary shares or ADSs;

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    sales or perceived potential sales or other disposition of existing or additional ordinary shares or ADSs or other equity or equity-linked securities, including as a result of Yahoo's proposed spin-off ofby our ordinary shares that it holds;principal shareholders, directors officers and other affiliates; and

    •
    the creation of vehicles that hold our ordinary shares, such as Yahoo's proposed spin-offincluding by Yahoo, which has completed the sale of our ordinary shares that it holds;

    •
    changes or developments in the PRC or global regulatory environment; and

    •
    the outcome of proceedings recently instituted by the SEC against five PRC-based accounting firms, including the affiliate of our independent registered public accounting firm.its core Internet business to Verizon Communications Inc.

       Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and trading price of our ADSs. In addition, the stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies and industries. These fluctuations may include a so-called "bubble market" in which investors temporarily raise the price of the stocks of companies in certain industries, such as the e-commerce industry, to unsustainable levels. These market fluctuations may significantly affect the trading price of our ADSs. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities, shareholders have often instituted securities class action litigation against that company. We have been named as a defendant in certain purported shareholder class action lawsuits described in "Item 8. Financial Information — A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal and Administrative Proceedings." The litigation process may utilize a material portion of our cash resources and divert management's attention from the day-to-day operations of our company, all of which could harm our business. If adversely determined, the class action suits may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.


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Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our ADSs, ordinary shares or other equity or equity-linked securities in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline significantly.

       Sales of our ADSs, ordinary shares or other equity or equity-linked securities in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ADSs to decline significantly. As of March 31, 2015,2017, we had 2,495,499,0362,529,364,189 ordinary shares outstanding, including 831,246,794and 1,251,592,493 of our ordinary shares were represented by ADSs. All of our ordinary shares represented by ADSs. A substantial majorityADSs were freely transferable by persons other than our affiliates without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act of our then-outstanding1933, or the Securities Act. The ordinary shares that have not been converted to ADSsheld by our affiliates are subject to lock-up agreements with various release dates. By September 2015, all these ordinary shares will no longer be subject to any lock-up arrangement and may be freely converted into ADSs from time to time. The remaining ordinary shares will bealso available for sale, upon the expiration of the applicable lock-up periods, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. AnyAct, under sales plans adopted pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 or all of these shares may be released prior to the expiration of the applicable lock-up period at the discretion of one of the designated representatives. To the extent shares are released before the expiration of the applicable lock-up period and sold into the market, the market price of our ADSs could decline significantly.otherwise.

       Certain major holders of our ordinary shares will have the right to cause us to register under the Securities Act the sale of their shares, subject to the applicable lock-up periods.shares. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in ADSs representing these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the form of ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline significantly.

If securities or industry analysts do notcease to publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.

       It is our policy not to offer guidance on earnings.       The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our ADSs or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs


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would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our ADSs to decline significantly.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to and we will, rely on exemptions from certain New York Stock Exchange corporate governance standards applicable to domestic U.S. issuers. This may afford less protection to holders of our ordinary shares and the ADSs.

       We are exempted from certain corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange by virtue of being a foreign private issuer. We are required to provide a brief description of the significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the corporate governance practices required to be followed by domestic U.S. companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The standards applicable to us are considerably different than the standards applied to domestic U.S. issuers. For instance, we are not required to:

    •
    have a majority of the board be independent (although all of the members of the audit committee must be independent under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act);

    •
    have a compensation committee or a nominating or corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors;

    •
    have regularly scheduled executive sessions for non-management directors; or

    •
    have executive sessions of solely independent directors each year.

       We have relied on and intend to continue to rely on some of these exemptions. As a result, our shareholders may not be provided with the benefits of certain corporate governance requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.


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As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain disclosure requirements under the Exchange Act, which may afford less protection to our shareholders than they would enjoy if we were a domestic U.S. company.

       As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements under the Exchange Act.Act and the rules relating to selective disclosure of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD. In addition, our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit and recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We are also not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as domestic U.S. companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act. As a result, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would under the Exchange Act rules applicable to domestic U.S. companies.

If and when permitted by law, we may conduct a public offering and listing of our shares in China, which may result in increased regulatory scrutiny and compliance costs as well as increased fluctuations in the prices of our ordinary shares and ADSs listed in overseas markets.

       Although not currently allowed under PRC law, if and when permitted by law, we may conduct a public offering and/or listing of our shares on a stock exchange in China in the future. We have not set a specific timetable or decided on any specific form for an offering in China. The precise timing of the offering and/or listing of our shares in China would depend on a number of factors, including relevant regulatory developments and market conditions. If we complete a public offering or listing in China, we would become subject to the applicable laws, rules and regulations governing public companies listed in China, in addition to the various laws, rules and regulations that we are subject to in the United States as a reporting company. The listing and trading of our securities in multiple jurisdictions and multiple markets may lead to increased compliance costs for us, and we may face the risk of significant intervention by regulatory authorities in these jurisdictions and markets.

       In addition, under current PRC laws, rules and regulations, our ordinary shares will not be interchangeable or fungible with any shares we may decide to list on a PRC stock exchange, and there is no trading or settlement between these markets in the United States and mainland China. Furthermore, these two markets have different trading characteristics and investor bases, including different levels of retail and institutional participation. As a


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result of these differences, the trading prices of our ADSs, accounting for the share-to-ADS ratio, may not be the same as the trading prices of any shares we may decide to list on a PRC stock exchange. The issuance of a separate class of shares and fluctuations in its trading price may also lead to increased volatility in, and may otherwise materially decrease, the prices of our ordinary shares and ADSs.

Our shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests, and their ability to protect their rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and most of our directors and substantially all of our executive officers reside outside the United States.

       We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands and conduct substantially all of our operations in China through our wholly-foreign owned enterprises and the variable interest entities. Most of our directors and substantially all of our executive officers reside outside the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for our shareholders to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the Cayman Islands or in China in the event that they believe that their rights have been infringed under the securities laws of the United States or otherwise. Even if shareholders are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and China may render them unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States or China, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will generally recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits.


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       Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and by the Companies Law (2013(2016 Revision) and common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against us and our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilitiesduties of our directors are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which provides persuasive, but not binding, authority in a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilitiesduties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides significantly less protection to investors. In addition, shareholders in Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in U.S. federal courts.

       In addition, our articles of association provide that in the event that any shareholder initiates or asserts any claim or counterclaim against us, or joins, offers substantial assistance to or has a direct financial interest in any claim or counterclaim against us, and does not obtain a judgment on the merits in which the initiating or asserting party prevails, then the shareholder will be obligated to reimburse us for all fees, costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, all reasonable attorneys' fees and other litigation expenses) that we may incur in connection with sucha claim or counterclaim. These fees, costs and expenses that may be shifted to a shareholder under this provision are potentially significant and this fee-shifting provision is not limited to specific types of actions, but is rather potentially applicable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

       Our fee-shifting provision may dissuade or discourage our shareholders (and their attorneys) from initiating lawsuits or claims against us or may impact the fees, contingency or otherwise, required by attorneys to represent our shareholders. Fee-shifting provisions such as ours are relatively new and untested. We cannot assure you that we will or will not invoke our fee-shifting provision in any particular dispute, or that we will be successful in obtaining fees if we choose to invoke the provision.

       As a result of the foregoing, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our management, our directors or our major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.


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The voting rights of holders of our ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement.

       Holders of our ADSs may exercise their voting rights with respect to the ordinary shares underlying their ADSs only in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Upon receipt of voting instructions from them in the manner set forth in the deposit agreement, the depositary for our ADSs will endeavor to vote their underlying ordinary shares in accordance with these instructions. Under our articles of association, the minimum notice period required for convening a general meeting is ten days. When a general meeting is convened, holders of our ADSs may not receive sufficient notice of a shareholders' meeting to permit them to withdraw their ordinary shares to allow them to cast their votes with respect to any specific matter at the meeting. In addition, the depositary and its agents may not be able to send voting instructions to holders of our ADSs or carry out their voting instructions in a timely manner. We will make all reasonable efforts to cause the depositary to extend voting rights to holders of our ADSs in a timely manner, but they may not receive the voting materials in time to ensure that they can instruct the depositary to vote the ordinary shares underlying their ADSs. Furthermore, the depositary and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. As a result, holders of our ADSs may not be able to exercise their rights to vote and they may lack recourse if the ordinary shares underlying their ADSs are not voted as they requested.


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The depositary for our ADSs will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our ordinary shares underlying the ADSs if holders of suchthese ADSs do not vote at shareholders' meetings, except in limited circumstances, which could adversely affect the interests of holders of our ADSs.

       Under the deposit agreement for our ADSs, the depositary will give us a discretionary proxy to vote the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs at shareholders' meetings if holders of suchthese ADSs do not give voting instructions to the depositary, unless:

    •
    we have failed to timely provide the depositary with our notice of meeting and related voting materials;

    •
    we have instructed the depositary that we do not wish a discretionary proxy to be given;

    •
    we have informed the depositary that there is substantial opposition as to a matter to be voted on at the meeting;

    •
    a matter to be voted on at the meeting would have a material adverse impact on shareholders; or

    •
    voting at the meeting is made on a show of hands.

       The effect of this discretionary proxy is that, if holders of our ADSs fail to give voting instructions to the depositary, they cannot prevent our ordinary shares underlying their ADSs from being voted, absent the situations described above, and it may make it more difficult for shareholders to influence our management. Holders of our ordinary shares are not subject to this discretionary proxy.

Holders of our ADSs may be subject to limitations on transfer of their ADSs.

       ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deems it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.

Holders of our ADSs may not receive distributions on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to them.

       The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay holders of our ADSs the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian for our ADSs receives on our ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. Holders of our ADSs will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of our ordinary shares that their ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible for making suchthese payments or


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distributions if it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, it would be unlawful to make a distribution to a holder of ADSs if it consists of securities that require registration under the Securities Act but that are not properly registered or distributed pursuant to an applicable exemption from registration. The depositary is not responsible for making a distribution available to any holders of ADSs if any government approval or registration required for suchthe distribution cannot be obtained after reasonable efforts made by the depositary. We have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of our ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of our ADSs. This means that holders of our ADSs may not receive the distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available. These restrictions may materially reduce the value of the ADSs.

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and distract our management.

       As a public company, we are required to comply with various regulatory and reporting requirements, including those required by the SEC. Complying with these reporting and other regulatory requirements is time-consuming and costly to us, either or both of which could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These requirements may place a strain on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual and current reports with respect to our business and financial performance. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. These requirements and our efforts to comply with these requirements may divert management's attention from other business concerns and we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

There could be adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States investors if we were or were to become a passive foreign investment company.

       While we do not believe we are or will become a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, there can be no assurance that we were not a PFIC in the past and will not become a PFIC in the future. The determination of whether or not we are a PFIC is made on an annual basis and will depend on the composition of our income and


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assets from time to time. Specifically, we will be classified as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes if either: (1) 75% or more of our gross income in a taxable year is passive income, or (2) the average percentage of our assets by value in a taxable year which produce or are held for the production of passive income (which includes cash) is at least 50%. The calculation of the value of our assets will be based, in part, on the quarterly market value of our ADSs, which is subject to change. See "Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Passive Foreign Investment Company."

       Although we do not believe we were or will become a PFIC, it is not entirely clear how the contractual arrangements between us and our variable interest entities will be treated for purposes of the PFIC rules. If it were determined that we do not own the stock of our variable interest entities for United States federal income tax purposes (for instance, because the relevant PRC authorities do not respect these arrangements), we may be treated as a PFIC. See "Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Passive Foreign Investment Company."

       If we were or were to become a PFIC, such characterization could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to our shareholders that are United States investors.investors could result. For example, if we are a PFIC, our United States investors will become subject to increased tax liabilities under United States federal income tax laws and regulations and will become subject to burdensome reporting requirements. We cannot assure you that we were not or will not become a PFIC for any taxable year. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors concerning United States federal income tax consequence on the application of the PFIC rules. See "Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Passive Foreign Investment Company."


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ITEM 4.4    INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A.    History and Development of the Company

       Alibaba Group Holding Limited is a Cayman Islands holding company established under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands (as amended) on June 28, 1999, and we conduct our business in China through our subsidiaries and variable interest entities. Our ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "BABA."

       Our significant subsidiaries, as that term is defined under Section 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act, consist ofinclude the following entities:

    •
    Taobao Holding Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands, which is our wholly-owned subsidiary and the indirect holding company of the PRC subsidiaries relating to our Taobao Marketplace and Tmall platform.Tmall.

    •
    Taobao China Holding Limited, a Hong Kong limited liability company, which is the direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Taobao Holding Limited and the direct holding company of the PRC subsidiaries relating to our Taobao Marketplace and Tmall platform and operating entity for the overseas business of our Taobao Marketplace and Tmall Global.

    •
    Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the PRC, which is an indirect subsidiary of Taobao Holding Limited and a wholly-foreign owned enterprise, and provides software and technology services for our Taobao Marketplace.

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    Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the PRC, which is an indirect subsidiary of Taobao Holding Limited and a wholly-foreign owned enterprise, and provides software and technology services for our Tmall platform.Tmall.

    •
    Alibaba.com Limited, an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands, which is our wholly-owned subsidiary and the indirect holding company of the PRC subsidiaries relating to our Alibaba.com, 1688.com and AliExpress businesses.AliExpress.

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    Alibaba.com Investment Holding Limited, a company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, which is the direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba.com Limited and a lower level holding company of the PRC subsidiaries relating to our Alibaba.com, 1688.com and AliExpress businesses.AliExpress.

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    Alibaba Investment Limited, a company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, which is our wholly-owned subsidiary and the principal holding company for our strategic investments.investments, including Youku Tudou.

       The principal executive offices of our main operations are located at 969 West Wen Yi Road, Yu Hang District, Hangzhou 311121, People's Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86-571-8502-2077. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Trident Trust Company (Cayman) Limited, Fourth Floor, One Capital Place, P.O. Box 847, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Corporation Service Company located at 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 210, New York, New York 10036. Our corporate website iswww.alibabagroup.com.

       We have a demonstrated track record of successful organic business creation. In addition to organic growth, we have made, or have entered into agreements to make strategic investments, acquisitions and alliances that are intended to increase our product and service offerings and expand our capabilities. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities" for more information.

Initial Public OfferingShare Repurchase Program

       On August 12, 2015, we announced the implementation of a share repurchase program in an aggregate amount of up to US$4.0 billion over a period of two years, or the 2015 Share Repurchase Program. We have repurchased ADSs representing our ordinary shares on the open market under purchase plans adopted to implement the 2015 Share Repurchase Program. In addition, Jack Ma, our executive chairman, and Joe Tsai, our executive vice chairman, have jointly entered into our plans as affiliated purchasers. On May 18, 2017, we announced the adoption of a new share repurchase program in an aggregate amount of up to US$6.0 billion over a period of two years, or the 2017 Share Repurchase Program. The new program replaced, and cancelled the remaining amount under, the 2015 Share Repurchase Program. See "Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers."

       In September 2014,June 2016, we completed our initial public offering,also repurchased shares from SoftBank in which wea privately negotiated transaction. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and certain selling shareholders offeredRelated Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and sold an aggregateAgreements with SoftBank and Yahoo — Our Repurchase of 368,122,000 ordinary shares in the form of ADSs. We received approximately US$10 billion in proceeds before expenses. Our ADSs are listed on the NYSE under the symbol "BABA.Ordinary Shares from Yahoo and SoftBank."


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B.    Business Overview

Our Mission

       Our mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere.

       Our founders started our company to champion small businesses, in the belief that the Internet would level the playing field by enabling small enterprises to leverage innovation and technology to grow and compete more effectively in the domestic and global economies. We believe that concentrating on customers'customer needs and solving their problems — whether those customers are buyersconsumers or sellersmerchants — ultimately will lead to the best outcome for our business. We have developed a large ecosystem for online and mobile commerce that enables participants to create and share value on our platform.platforms. Our decisions are guided by how they serve our mission over the long-term,long term, not by the pursuit of short-term gains.

Our Vision

       We aim to build the future infrastructure of commerce. We envision that our customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba, and that we will be a company that lasts at least 102 years.


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    Meet @ Alibaba. We enable hundreds of millions of commercial and social interactions among our users, between consumers and merchants, and among businesses every day.

    Work @ Alibaba. We empower our customers with the fundamental infrastructure for commerce and data technology, so that they can build businesses and create value that can be shared among our ecosystem participants.

    Live @ Alibaba. We strive to expand our products and services to become central to the everyday lives of our customers.

    102 Years. For a company that was founded in 1999, lasting at least 102 years means we will have spanned three centuries, an achievement that few companies can claim. Our culture, business models and systems are built to last, so that we can achieve sustainability in the long run.

Our Values

       Our values are fundamental to the way we operate and how we recruit, evaluate and compensate our people.

       Our six values are:

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    Customer First — The interests of our community of buyersconsumers and sellersmerchants must be our first priority.

    •
    Teamwork — We believe teamwork enables ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things.

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    Embrace Change — In this fast-changing world, we must be flexible, innovative and ready to adapt to new business conditions in order to survive.

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    Integrity — We expect our people to uphold the highest standards of honesty and to deliver on their commitments.

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    Passion — We expect our people to approach everything with fire in their belly and never give up on doing what they believe is right.

    •
    Commitment — Employees who demonstrate perseverance and excellence are richly rewarded. Nothing should be taken lightly as we encourage our people to "work happily and live seriously."

Company Overview

       We areTo fulfill our mission "to make it easy to do business anywhere," we enable businesses to transform the largest onlineway they market, sell and mobile commerce company in the world in terms of gross merchandise volume in 2014. We operate Taobao Marketplace, China's largest online shopping destination in terms of gross merchandise volume, Tmall, China's largest third-party platform for brands and retailers in terms of gross merchandise volume, and Juhuasuan, China's most popular group buying marketplace by its monthly active users,


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in each case in 2014 according to iResearch. These three marketplaces, which comprise our China retail marketplaces, generated a combined GMV of RMB2,444 billion (US$394 billion) in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015. There were 350 million active buyers on these marketplaces and over 10 million active sellers in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015. A significant portion of our customers have already transacted on our mobile platform, and we are focused on continuing to capture this opportunity. In the three months ended March 31, 2015, mobile GMV accounted for 51% of our GMV, up from 42% in the preceding three months and up from 27% in the same period in 2014. The number of mobile MAUs increased from 163 million in the month ended March 31, 2014, to 265 million in the month ended December 31, 2014 and to 289 million in the month ended March 31, 2015.

       In addition to our three China retail marketplaces, we operate Alibaba.com, China's largest global online wholesale marketplace in 2014 by revenue, according to iResearch, 1688.com, our China wholesale marketplace, and AliExpress, our global consumer marketplace.

operate. We provide the fundamental technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses to leverage the power of the Internet to establish anengage with their users and customers.

       Our businesses are comprised of core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others. Through investee affiliates, Cainiao Network and Koubei, respectively, we participate in the logistics and local services sectors. In addition, we have a profit sharing interest in Ant Financial Services, the financial services group that operates mainly through Alipay, the leading third-party online presencepayment platform in China.

Core Commerce

    Retail Commerce in China

       We are the largest retail commerce company in the world in terms of GMV in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, on the basis of publicly available comparable transaction value data for the most recent fiscal year.

       We operate Taobao Marketplace, China's largest mobile commerce destination, and conductTmall, China's largest third-party platform for brands and retailers, in each case in terms of GMV in 2016, according to iResearch. Taobao Marketplace and Tmall (including Juhuasuan), which comprise our China retail marketplaces, generated a


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combined GMV of RMB3,767 billion (US$547 billion) in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. There were 454 million annual active buyers on these marketplaces in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. In March 2017, the various mobile apps that consumers use to access our China retail marketplaces had 507 million mobile MAUs.

       In fiscal year 2017, we generated 72% of our revenue from our retail commerce business in China. The revenue on our China retail marketplaces is generated from merchants through online marketing services, commissions on transactions and fees for other online services. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 80% of this revenue through mobile devices.

    Wholesale Commerce in China

       We operate a China wholesale marketplace, 1688.com, which matches wholesale buyers and sellers in categories such as general merchandise, apparels, electronics, raw materials, industrial components and agricultural and chemical products. A significant number of merchants on our China retail marketplaces source their inventory on 1688.com.

    Retail Commerce — Cross-border and Global

       We operate AliExpress, our global retail marketplace with approximately 60 million annual active buyers from around the world in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, buying directly from manufacturers and distributors in China. Tmall Global is our platform within Tmall for overseas brands and retailers to reach Chinese consumers without the need for physical operations in China. In April 2016, we acquired a controlling stake in Lazada, which operates e-commerce platforms in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, Lazada had approximately 23 million annual active buyers.

    Wholesale Commerce — Cross-border and Global

       We operate Alibaba.com, China's largest global online wholesale marketplace in 2016 by revenue, according to iResearch. As of March 31, 2017, buyers on Alibaba.com were located in over 200 countries and regions all over the world.

Cloud Computing

       We operate Alibaba Cloud Computing, or Alibaba Cloud, China's largest provider of public cloud services in 2016 by revenue, according to IDC. The technologies that power Alibaba Cloud grew out of our own need to operate the massive scale and complexity of our core commerce business. In 2009, we founded Alibaba Cloud to make these technologies available to third-party customers. Alibaba Cloud offers a complete suite of cloud services, including elastic computing, database, storage and content delivery network (CDN), large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform. As of March 31, 2017, Alibaba Cloud had approximately 874,000 paying customers.

Digital Media and Entertainment

       Based on the strength of our relationship with consumers and businesses. Weour capability in leveraging commerce data that can be applied to serving the broader interests of consumers, we have been a leaderestablished our digital media and entertainment business, mainly through acquisitions. In 2014, we acquired UCWeb, which operates UC Browser, one of the top three mobile browsers in developing online marketplace standardsthe world and the number one mobile browser in India and Indonesia by page view market share as of May 2017, according to StatCounter (all StatCounter data quoted in this annual report available at: http://gs.statcounter.com). UCWeb also provides mobile value-added services to users including news feeds, mobile web navigation and mobile search. Shenma (GRAPHIC), its mobile search business, is the second largest mobile search engine in China as of May 2017, according to StatCounter. In April 2016, we acquired Youku Tudou, a leading multi-screen entertainment and media company in China, enabling users to search, view and share high-quality video content quickly and easily across multiple devices. Youku Tudou and UC Browser serve as


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the two key distribution platforms for our digital media and entertainment business. These businesses and our other media and entertainment-related businesses, including consumer protection programs, marketplace rules, qualification standardsnews feeds, mobile app distribution, music, sports, literature and games, provide a comprehensive digital media and entertainment ecosystem for merchantsusers to discover and buyerconsume content and seller rating systems. Givenengage and interact with each other. In March 2017, our digital media and entertainment businesses had over 500 million mobile MAUs, including overseas users.

Innovation Initiatives and Others

       We continue to develop new service offerings to find new ways to meet the scale we have been ableneeds of our customers and expand the reach of our ecosystem. For example, YunOS is our cloud-based, data and service-oriented operating system that can be used on a wide range of smart devices, including automobiles, mobile phones, TVs and set-top boxes. AutoNavi provides digital map, navigation and real-time traffic information to achieve,users in China and serves as an open platform powering mobile apps and fundamental services in our ecosystem. DingTalk, our proprietary enterprise communication and collaboration platform, unifies the critical tasks of communication and collaboration in the work place, offering text, photo, voice and video communication, collaboration features and workflow management, such as convenient attendance recording and expense approval.

       An ecosystem has developed around our platformplatforms and businesses that consists of buyers, sellers, third partyconsumers, merchants, brands, other businesses, third-party service providers and strategic alliance partners, and investee companies. Ourpartners. At the nexus of this ecosystem are our technology platform, our marketplace rules and the role we play in connecting buyers and sellers and makingthese participants to make it possible for them to do businessdiscover, engage and transact with each other and manage their businesses anytime and anywhere is at the nexus of this ecosystem.anywhere. Much of our effort, our time and our energy is spent on initiatives that are for the greater good of the ecosystem and on balancing the various participants in it.interests of its participants. We feel a strong responsibility for the continued development of the ecosystem and we take ownership forin this development. Accordingly, we refer to this as "our ecosystem."

Our ecosystem has strong self-reinforcing network effects that benefit our marketplacebenefitting its various participants, who are in turn invested in our ecosystem's growth and success. Through this ecosystem, we have transformed how commerce is conducted in


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       The following chart sets forth our key businesses, selected major investee companies and cooperative partners:

GRAPHIC

*
Entities that are not consolidated.

Our Strategies

       We believe that China and built a reputationother markets will be deeply impacted by "Five New" trends of the future: New Retail, New Manufacturing, New Finance, New Technology and New Resources. We have oriented our existing and new product and service offerings to leverage Internet technology to create business models that can adapt to and benefit from future growth opportunities.

       The consumer retail industry as a trusted partnerwhole is experiencing a radical disruption driven by digital technology. We believe "e-commerce" as we know it will be replaced by New Retail where the distinction between online and offline retail becomes obsolete. The biggest trend we see is the integration of offline and online retail for a new, reimagined retail experience, where the participantsinteractions among consumer traffic, inventory location and retail space are transformed by leveraging big data and mobile Internet technologies. For example, consumers can place orders via their mobile phones as they shop for and try out products in a physical retail store, aided by location-based recommendations. We believe we will play a critical role in this transformation by leveraging our ecosystem. For more discussion of our ecosystem, see "— Our Ecosystemconsumer scale, data and Its Participants."technological capabilities to elevate the consumer experience and improve efficiency across the entire value chain.

       We have made significant investments in proprietary technologiesaim to strengthen and infrastructureexpand our ecosystem in order to supportachieve long-term growth by:

    •
    increasing active buyers and our growing ecosystem. Our technologywallet share through geographic expansion, new product and infrastructure allow usservice categories, and improved consumer experience by leveraging our data capabilities to harness the substantial volumebetter identify, analyze and serve their needs through personalization across channels anytime and anywhere;

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    •
    expanding product and service offerings to consumers beyond physical goods, including digital entertainment, healthcare and local services;

    •
    reinventing our platforms as go-to destinations for brands to lift awareness and affinity, manage and engage with customers, expand channels and innovate on products;

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    creating value for merchants, brands, retail operators and other businesses in our ecosystem through online and offline integration, omni-channel marketing and distribution, retail space reinvention and operational efficiency improvement driven by big data generated fromand world-class technology;

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    applying data and cloud computing technologies in everything we do for our marketplacescustomers and for ourselves; and

    •
    continuing to further develop and optimize thebe an innovator in products and services offeredtechnology as well as a disrupter of business models and existing industry value chains.

       Our long-term strategic goal is to serve two billion consumers around the world and support ten million businesses to operate profitably on our platform.platforms. We have embarked on three key initiatives to achieve this strategic goal: globalization, rural expansion and big data and cloud computing.

Globalization

       Through Alipay, we offer payment and escrow services for buyers and sellers, providing security, trust and convenience to our users. We take a platform approach to shipping and delivery by working with third-party logistics service providers through a central logistics information system operated by Cainiao Logistics, our 48%-owned affiliate.

       In fiscal year 2015, we generated 78%Cross-border commerce is the focus of our revenue from ourglobalization initiative. We aim to address each of the three pillars of cross-border commerce as follows:

    •
    From the world to China.  Our China retail marketplaces whereprovide the gateway for international brands, retailers and small businesses to gain access to Chinese consumers. Through Tmall Global, overseas brands and retailers can reach Chinese consumers and build brand awareness without the need for physical operations in China. Taobao Global further facilitates cross-border commerce by helping Taobao merchants to engage Chinese consumers with a rich variety of global products that they have sourced from suppliers outside of China.

    •
    From China to the world.  Through our Alibaba.com wholesale marketplace, we facilitate global trade by connecting Chinese suppliers to importers, wholesalers and distributors across the world. On the retail front, AliExpress enables consumers worldwide to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors in China.

    •
    From the world to the world.  We operate e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia through Lazada. Our long-term vision is to build a global commerce platform that is virtual and borderless, which we refer to as the electronic World Trade Platform, or eWTP. Under eWTP, together with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, we launched a digital free trade zone, or e-hub, in Malaysia in May 2017, and we plan to create more e-hubs through public-private partnerships in different countries. These e-hubs operate as one-stop service platforms which will allow small businesses in one country to sell to consumers in another, with fast customs clearance, accessible payment and financing services and access to millionsefficient logistics. When connected together, these e-hubs will create a global network of merchants offeringe-roads that serves as the foundation of the eWTP. Through the power of the Internet, eWTP aims to build a broad spectrum of physical goods, virtual itemsmore inclusive, free and services.innovative global trading platform for SMEs and consumers. To that end, we are investing in international talent and infrastructure, and expanding our presence in key markets around the world to attract and serve international customers.

Rural Expansion

       As of MayDecember 31, 2015, there were over 1 billion product2016, 590 million people in China reside in rural areas, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Their access to goods and service listings offeredservices is highly constrained by sellers on our China retail marketplaces. Our revenue on these marketplaces is generated from merchants through online marketing services, commissions on transactionsgeographic and fees for online services.

       In additioninfrastructural limitations. We aim to our China retail and wholesale marketplaces, our major business units include our Alimama marketing technology platform, which provides us and our sellers with marketing services including valuable data insights, and Alibaba Cloud Computing, which supports our ecosystem and also provides computing servicesgive rural residents greater access to third parties. Through our mobile Internet group, which includes UCWeb and AutoNavi, we provide a broader variety of mobile value-added services.higher quality goods and services through our Rural Taobao program. At the same time, we help farmers earn more by selling agricultural products to urban consumers.


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Our Strategies

       We aim to continually grow and enhance our ecosystem and to transform how commerce is conducted in China and around the world. In the next ten years, we plan to build an ecosystem that allows consumers to buy globally and merchants to sell globally. The key elements of our strategy to grow our business include:

    Increase Active Buyers and Wallet Share

       There were 350 million active buyers on our China retail marketplaces in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, the average active buyer on our China retail marketplaces placed 58 orders, up from 50 orders in the same period in 2014 and 42 orders in the same period in 2013. We will continue to develop and market the value proposition of our retail marketplaces to attract new buyers as well as increase the wallet share of existing buyers through more frequent buying and buying across more product categories. We intend to achieve growth through customer loyalty programs, high quality customer service, marketplace security upgrades, marketing and promoting our China retail marketplaces, especially in lower tier cities and rural areas, as well as by promoting the usage of our various mobile commerce apps such as our Mobile Taobao App.

    Expand Categories and Offerings

       We believe that growth in the number of product and service categories and products and services purchased within each category contributes to higher average spending per customer and therefore increases GMV. We aim to enhance the shopping experience for consumers, increase consumer engagement and create additional opportunities for merchants by developing and promoting additional categories and offerings. For example, we have taken initiatives to launch or expand offerings in specialty categories such as groceries, offline commerce, foreclosure sales, healthcare and entertainment. In addition, we have started to offer our Tmall set-top-boxes and smart televisions powered by our YunOS that provide access to entertainment and e-commerce content. We will continue to explore ways to improve consumer satisfaction on our marketplaces so that consumers will buy across more product categories. We intend to complement organic product category expansion with strategic alliances, investments and acquisitions.

    Extend Our Mobile Leadership

       The number of mobile MAUs increased by 24 million to 289 million in the month ended March 31, 2015, from 265 million in the month ended December 31, 2014, which represents a 77% increase from 163 million in the month ended March 31, 2014. In addition, mobile GMV transacted on our China retail marketplaces accounted for 84% of total mobile retail GMV in China in the three months ended March 31, 2015, according to iResearch. In the quarter ended March 31, 2015, our mobile GMV exceeded 50% of our total GMV for the first time. We intend to extend our leadership in mobile commerce through mobile product improvements that enhance consumer experience. We intend to build upon our strength in mobile commerce to develop a broader spectrum of consumer offerings, such as location-based services, offline commerce and entertainment, in order to fulfill our vision of becoming central to the everyday lives of our customers. In addition, we have launched mobile apps for sellers to set up and manage their online storefronts and maintain relationships with their customers, thereby enhancing the loyalty among merchants toward our platform. We expect UCWeb and AutoNavi will further extend our mobile leadership. In addition to UCWeb's mobile browser, we will provide various mobile value-added services, including mobile search, app distribution and a mobile games platform. We intend to continue to invest in our mobile operating system, YunOS, to provide an integrated user experience on our mobile apps. We will also continue to look for ways to increase our mobile user base and engagement through strategic alliances, investments and acquisitions.

       By pursuing this "user first" strategy to focus on user experience enhancement and user base expansion, we believe that we will be able to drive more GMV that will provide economic benefits to our sellers and create additional monetization opportunities in the future. We will continue to gather data insights and explore ways to monetize user traffic on our mobile platform without disrupting user experience.


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    Enhance the Success of Sellers on a Broad Basis

       We aim to increase the success of a broad base of sellers on our marketplaces by increasing their exposure to relevant buyer demand and providing them with more tools such as mobile tools and data science applications to manage their relationships with customers, in order to enable a more personalized shopping experience. We offer QianniuGRAPHIC, an integrated platform for communication and productivity tools that allows sellers on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall to manage their operations more efficiently. Sellers also use WeitaoGRAPHIC, our mobile social media platform that enables sellers to provide information regarding their brands, promotions and other topics to buyers. Potential sellers can also use XiaopuGRAPHIC, a feature embedded in our mobile Taobao App, to set up and manage their new storefront on Taobao Marketplace directly via their mobile phones. We use data analytics to help sellers target consumers and increase the rate of conversion from visits to transactions. In addition, we intend to expand our marketing affiliate network to enable our sellers to reach out to a broader range of customers. Through Cainiao Logistics, we enable our logistics service partners with data and technology to help them provide quality and comprehensive logistics services to our sellers. In addition, through our Taobao University program, we offer sellers training and education to help them improve the operation of their online storefronts and marketing and sales activities.

    EnhanceBig Data and Cloud Computing Technologies

       We believe our world is rapidly transitioning from an information technology, or IT, economy to a data generated on our marketplacestechnology, or DT, economy. Traditionally unstructured, undiscovered and underutilized data can provide significant valuenow be activated and leveraged as a new fundamental energy source. From the development of personal computer, or PC, to our customersmobile, to the Internet of Things, or IoT, the explosion of data is bringing about a new era of opportunity. In the future, we believe that the Internet will play a fundamental role in social and other ecosystem participants.commercial interactions, with cloud computing as a cost-saving public service, and data as a value-enhancing resource. We will continue to implement our data strategy through the application of data intelligence, machine learning and deep learning technologies to several fields, including marketplace design, user interface, search, targeted marketing, logistics, platform security, location-based services and financial services, among others.

       We believe cloud computing will become an essential component of the infrastructure of e-commerce. In the past six years we have invested in and developed our proprietary cloud infrastructure to support our own businesses and those of third parties, including our sellers, start-up companies and enterprises. We will continue to invest heavily in our cloud computing platform to support our own businesses and those of third parties.

    Develop Cross-border Commerce Opportunities

       Our international strategy is focused on leveraging cross-border linkages to our ecosystem that enable foreign brands and merchants to access the Chinese consumer market without significant capital investments while providing Chinese manufacturers and merchants a platform to reach businesses and consumers across the world.

       Tmall Global — Chinese consumers buying goods shipped from overseas.    Through Tmall Global, an extension of the Tmall platform, we address the increasing demand for foreign brands by Chinese consumers. While major foreign brands that have physical operations in China are well-represented on Tmall, we also aim to establish Tmall Global as the premier platform for overseas brands and retailers to reach Chinese consumers without the need for physical operations in China. We will continue to develop Tmall Global as the destination for Chinese consumers to gain access to foreign brands by attracting additional brands and developing more efficient cross-border payment and logistics solutions.

       AliExpress — worldwide consumers buying Chinese products.    Through AliExpress, consumers worldwide can buy directly from manufacturers and exporters in China at attractive prices. We will continue to develop and market AliExpress globally, especially to consumers in emerging economies such as Russia, Eastern Europe and South America, where quality products from China at direct-to-consumer prices offer significant value.

       Alibaba.com — Chinese wholesale exports to the world.    Alibaba.com is a global online wholesale marketplace. We seek to expand our import/export marketplace by growing the number of paying members, as well as offering additional value-added services such as customs clearance, VAT rebate services for our exporters and cross-border logistics solutions.


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    Develop Our People

       We have a strong and deep bench of talented executives who will lead us for years to come. At the same time, we are committed to continuing to develop strong leadership from within. In addition to investing in various business initiatives, including cloud computing, logistics, big data technology and cross-border trade capabilities, and our ecosystem partners, we plan to invest in and strengthen our talent. We believe that this is needed for us to embrace the challenges of high growth, scale and complexity in executing our vision for consumers and businesses around the world to meet, work and live at Alibaba.

Our Ecosystem and Its Participants

Overview

       Buyers and sellers are at the heart of our ecosystem. Buyers and sellers discover, select and transact with each other on our platform. Third-party service providers add value to our platform through service offerings that make it easier for buyers and sellers to do business. The third-party participants in our ecosystem include a payment services provider, logistics providers, retail operational partners, marketing affiliates, independent software vendors and various professional service providers.

       We have developed key policies and procedures that maintain the health and sustainability of our marketplaces, including consumer protection programs, marketplace rules, qualification standards for merchants and buyer and seller rating systems. We have agreements, arrangements and relationships with our ecosystem participants — buyers, sellers and third-party service providers. We also have strategic alliances with and or investments in leading China Internet companies such as Weibo and Youku Tudou.

       We are invested in the success of every participant in our ecosystem and we strive to ensure that our ecosystem partners capture their fair share of the economics.

       As our ecosystem expands, new jobs are created. According to a research report authored by AliResearch, our internal research division, as of December 2014, our China retail marketplaces supported over 13 million direct and indirect job opportunities, including people working directly for online storefronts and service providers to sellers.

Value Proposition to Consumers

       The large and growing number of the consumers we serve and the increasing frequency with which they shop on our marketplaces reflect our value proposition to consumers. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, we had 350 million annual active buyers who placed an average of 58 orders during this period.

       Anything you want, anytime, anywhere.    With over 1 billion product and service listings offered by sellers on our China retail marketplaces as of May 31, 2015, consumers have access to a wide selection of products ranging from high volume items to more niche, tailored and personalized products, or so-called "long-tail" products, all through our websites and mobile apps on a 24-hour a day, 7-day a week basis.

       Delightful shopping experience.    We believe that our marketplaces deliver a delightful shopping experience to consumers. We believe that the following factors drive the consumer experience on our platform:

    Selection and value for money. With more than 10 million annual active sellers on our China retail marketplaces in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015 and over 140,000 brands on Tmall as of March 31, 2015, our marketplaces offer consumers competitive pricing across a broad range of categories.

    Personalization. Our data analytic and data management capabilities allow us to anticipate buyer needs and tailor product offering displays, matching buyers with the most relevant merchants.

    Reliability. Consumers rely on feedback on the sellers, product reviews and seller rating systems to give them the transparency and comfort they need in choosing from whom to buy.


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    Product quality and consumer protection. Our marketplace rules encourage sellers to make product quality their priority. Sellers on Tmall are required to offer consumer protection programs, such as guaranteed returns and product warranties. Sellers on Taobao Marketplace are required to offer certain consumer protection measures and may also choose to participate in additional return and warranty programs. The sellers who participate in additional consumer protection programs generally do more business on our marketplace.

    Convenient payment. The escrow services provided by Alipay on our China and International retail marketplaces are designed to make payment safe, fast and easy for consumers who use that service whether they shop on a computer or a mobile device.

    Reliable and timely delivery. The central logistics information system we provide through Cainiao Logistics enables sellers to fulfill and deliver orders in timely and reliable ways, with real-time information being provided to buyers on delivery status. Logistics service providers, such as express delivery companies, relied on this information system to fulfill and deliver an average of 24 million packages per day to consumers in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015.

Value Proposition to Sellers

       Cost-effective customer acquisition with scale.    We believe our marketplaces are the top choices for sellers, whether they are wholesalers or retailers, to establish a presence to gain access to buyer traffic. In March 2015, an average of over 100 million unique daily visitors visited our Taobao Marketplace.

       Taobao and Tmall have become synonymous with online and mobile shopping in China. Consumers come to our online or mobile platform with strong commercial intent, which drives high conversion rates for merchants. In addition, we provide sellers with data analytics that enable them to more effectively target their offerings and marketing efforts to increase the rate they convert shoppers to buyers. Accordingly, we believe our marketplaces to be an effective and cost-efficient way to acquire online customers in China.

       In addition, sellers can extend their consumer reach through our ecosystem of marketing affiliates. Taobao Affiliate Network, one of the leading marketing affiliate networks in China, enables merchants to generate incremental traffic from third-party affiliates to their storefronts and product listings. For example, Weibo, a leading social media platform in China in which we have an equity investment, offers merchants a marketing medium for messages and alerts such as new products and special promotions with a reach of 198 million monthly active users during March 2015, according to Weibo's public announcement.

       Brand building and promotions.    Many retailers have successfully built brand awareness and run brand promotions on our retail marketplaces. Because we do not compete with merchants who sell on our marketplaces, brands and retailers embrace Tmall as a platform to distinguish their own brand identities and build brand awareness and image. Through real-time interactions with consumers who have commercial intent, Tmall enables retailers to run special promotions and targeted marketing campaigns utilizing data and interactive media in ways that cannot be achieved through traditional media or social networking platforms.

       Infrastructure support for sellers.    Sellers not only build their storefronts and product catalogues on our marketplaces; they also rely on our platform for a range of essential support services to operate their businesses. These include Web-based and mobile interfaces to manage listings, orders and customer relationships, as well as cloud computing services for their enterprise resource planning, or ERP, and client relationship management, or CRM, systems. Through Cainiao Logistics, we provide sellers with performance analytics on their logistics service providers, including delivery performance, customer satisfaction ratings and complaint statistics. Sellers can place shipment orders with our partner logistics providers directly through the Cainiao Logistics platform. Through the shipment ordering systems, we aim to enable sellers to improve the buyer shopping experience by providing performance analytics and tools such as shipment fee calculators.

       Direct sourcing for merchants.    We enable merchants to source products through 1688.com, our domestic wholesale marketplace. Retail merchants have access to a transaction system developed by us to efficiently connect and transact with sellers on 1688.com. By connecting wholesalers and manufacturers with merchants on our retail


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marketplaces, we make it possible for producers to shorten the distribution chain and for retail merchants to have access to a more cost-effective direct sourcing channel.

       Financing for sellers.    We offer Ant Financial Services' financing products to certain sellers on our marketplaces. We believe that these financing products can be structured and distributed in a more cost-effective way because through our data sharing agreement with Ant Financial Services, Ant Financial Services is able to use data from our marketplaces to make informed marketing, credit and risk management decisions.

Value Proposition to Third-party Service Providers

       Marketing affiliates.    We believe Taobao Affiliate Network is one of the largest affiliate marketing networks in China based on revenue shared with affiliates. Taobao Affiliate Network is powered by Alimama, our proprietary online marketing technology platform. Through this platform, sellers place marketing displays on our marketing affiliates' websites and mobile apps, and sellers pay us a performance-based marketing fee primarily based on cost-per-click, or CPC, and cost-per-sale, or CPS, models. A significant portion of the marketing fees is shared with the participating affiliates.

       Logistics service providers.    Our scale and the data generated from transactions on our marketplaces enable us to work closely with our logistics service providers — including warehouse operators, line haul services providers and express delivery services — to improve the quality of their services. Through Cainiao Logistics, we provide real-time information to our logistics service providers, including key operating metrics such as distribution center utilization rates, route planning data and order volume forecasts. This information allows our logistics service providers to operate more efficiently by optimizing their warehouse, transport and people resources to effectively meet consumer demand.

       We collaborate with logistics service providers to develop solutions that are tailored for product categories that require special handling, such as perishables, frozen items, large appliances, home improvement products and furniture. This creates additional business opportunities for our logistics service providers.

       Retail operational partners.    As more brands and retailers expand into e-commerce, they look to outsource certain functions to third parties who have experience conducting business on online and mobile commerce platforms. These functions include product planning, supply chain management, inventory storage and fulfillment, marketing and storefront management, customer relationship management and customer service.

       Independent software vendors, or ISVs.    ISVs provide software tools as well as systems integration services to sellers. Our China retail marketplaces provide open application programming interfaces, or APIs, for ISVs to develop and distribute services for merchants to customize their storefronts. In addition, ISVs that provide systems integration services help merchants manage their ERP and CRM systems that are hosted on our cloud computing platform.

       Professional services.    The large scale of economic activity on our marketplaces has spawned a number of specialized professional services being offered to merchants. These include, among others, photography specialists, models for clothing and accessories, customer service agents, Internet marketing consultants and professional buying agents.


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Our Businesses

Our MarketplacesCore Commerce

       The following table summarizes the key marketplaces we operate:

Marketplace
Year of launchDescription
Key metrics

Taobao Marketplace
    (www.taobao.com)
Tmall
    (www.tmall.com)
Juhuasuan
    (www.juhuasuan.com)
1688.com
    (www.1688.com)
AliExpress
    (www.aliexpress.com)
Alibaba.com
    (www.alibaba.com)

2003

2008

2010

1999

2010

1999		China online shopping destination

China brands and retail platform

China group buying marketplace

China wholesale marketplace

Global consumer marketplace

Global wholesale marketplace		GRAPHIC
GMV:(1)(2) RMB2,444 billion
Annual active buyers:(2) 350 million
Annual active sellers:(2) more than 10 million

Paying members:(3) over 830,000

GMV settled through Alipay:(2) US$4.3 billion

Paying members:(3) over 136,000
(1)
GMV generated from traffic through JuhuasuanOur core commerce business is recorded as eithercomprised of platforms operating in four areas: retail commerce in China; wholesale commerce in China; retail commerce — cross-border and global; and wholesale commerce — cross-border and global.

    Retail Commerce in China

       Our retail commerce business in China is comprised of Taobao Marketplace, GMVTmall (including Juhuasuan) and Rural Taobao, empowered by our commerce technologies and services. Our China retail marketplaces have become an important part of the everyday life of Chinese online consumers. According to CNNIC, 467 million Chinese Internet users have experienced online shopping in 2016, out of a total of 731 million Internet users at the end of 2016. Our high penetration rate of China's online shopping population is evidenced by the 443 million annual active buyers we had in the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

       We believe consumers enjoy spending time on our China retail marketplaces because of the following value propositions:

    •
    Broad selection.  Our China retail marketplaces had over 1.5 billion listings as of March 31, 2017, presenting a comprehensive selection of products and services to consumers.

    •
    Convenience.  Because of its 24/7 availability, its seamless user experience and its ability to blur the lines between online and offline commerce, especially on mobile, users are rapidly adopting Internet shopping. Through Cainiao Network and its logistics partners, consumers from cities to rural areas enjoy predictable and speedy delivery services.

    •
    Engaging, personalized experience.  Our Taobao App and Tmall App provide consumers a unique social commerce experience through highly relevant content, personalized shopping recommendations and opportunities for social engagement.

    •
    Value for money.  Our marketplace business model ensures that merchants offer competitive prices to consumers.

    •
    Merchant quality.  Consumers can rate a merchant after completion of a transaction based on whether the product matches its description, the merchant's service level and delivery timeliness. These customer feedbacks contribute to the detailed service rating, or Tmall GMV dependingDSR, which is displayed on whichthe merchant's storefront and is factored into the search algorithm that determines its ranking on search results pages.

    •
    Authentic products.  Consumers can expect products purchased from our China retail marketplaces to be protected by merchant quality ratings, clear return policies and the Alipay escrow system. These protections

Table of these two marketplacesContents

      are especially valuable in lower-tier cities and rural villages where it has been difficult to distribute authentic branded products.

       As a result of our broad value propositions to consumers, we have seen increased engagement over time, as the transaction is completed.

(2)
longer consumers have been with us, the larger numbers of orders they tend to place, across a more diverse range of product categories, and the more they tend to spend on our China retail marketplaces. For example, in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015.
(3)
As2017, consumers who have been with us for approximately five years placed an average of 123 orders in 24 product categories with average spending of approximately RMB12,000 in terms of GMV, whereas consumers who have been with us for approximately one year placed an average of 38 orders in 9 product categories with average spending of approximately RMB3,000 in terms of GMV. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015.2017, the average annual active buyer on our China retail marketplaces placed 85 orders in 17 product categories with average spending of approximately RMB8,000 in terms of GMV.

       With data and technology, we are committed to enabling merchants, brands and retailers by delivering the following value propositions:

    •
    Customer acquisition, retention and engagement.  In March 2017, the various mobile apps that consumers use to access our China retail marketplaces had 507 million mobile MAUs. Consumers come to our platforms with strong commercial intent, which drives high conversion rates and effective return on investment (ROI) for merchants and brands. The consumer behavior data from our platforms enable merchants and brands to acquire, retain and engage their customers effectively, through campaign testing, targeted marketing and a personalized user interface.

    Manufacturers and retailers in China and rest of the world increasingly recognize that e-commerce is essential for survival and growth. As merchants and retailers turn to online channels for distribution in China, our China retail marketplaces have become part of every conversation. The 454 million annual active buyers for the twelve months ended March 31, 2017 represent an unparalleled amount of purchasing power.

    •
    Brand identity.  Brands use their Tmall storefronts to distinguish their own brands and build brand proposition and awareness. They leverage the multi-media capabilities of our platforms, such as social media, videos and dynamic graphics, to tell their unique brand story. Brands, such as Oreo and Budweiser, are increasingly recognizing the power of our China retail marketplaces as top marketing platforms, where the life-time value of customers can be built to benefit their businesses both online and offline. For example, Oreo used its Tmall storefront to host an interactive marketing campaign that allowed its customers to personalize cookie packaging with the aim of strengthening brand loyalty levels.

    •
    Efficient operations.  In addition to customer-facing storefronts and product catalogues, merchants use our commerce technologies and services to improve their planning, marketing and sales activities, as well as our cloud computing services to lower their technology costs.

    •
    Omni-channel opportunities.  We offer omni-channel products and services to enable merchants, brands and offline retailers to offer a seamless online and in-store shopping experience to consumers and improve their efficiency across their value chain. These solutions integrate online and offline inventory, membership and services that enable retailers to fulfill online orders with store based inventories (store pick-up or delivery from the nearest store) and allow consumers to purchase products unavailable in stores.

    •
    Data insights.  Consumers come to our China retail marketplaces to browse for ideas, look for new trends, receive merchant and product updates, compare products, share shopping experiences and be entertained. Consumer actions on our platforms, such as searching, browsing, reading news feeds, bookmarking and adding products to shopping carts, generate valuable data about user intentions. The data insights provided by these actions are unique to our platforms and are not easy for merchants to obtain anywhere else.

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           A description of the various aspects of our China commerce retail business follows.

      Taobao Marketplace

           We launched Taobao Marketplace in 2003 as a free platform for buyers to explore and discover products and sellers to establish a low-cost online presence. Taobao means "search for treasure" in ChineseChinese. Through the website at www.taobao.com and has become synonymousthe Taobao App, Taobao Marketplace is positioned as the starting point and destination portal for the shopping journey. Consumers come to Taobao Marketplace, a commerce-oriented social platform, to enjoy an engaging, personalized shopping experience, optimized by our big data analytics. Through highly relevant and engaging content and real-time updates from merchants, consumers can learn about products and new trends. They can also interact with online shopping. Accordingeach other and their favorite merchants and brands on Taobao Marketplace.

           Taobao Marketplace provides a top-level traffic funnel that directs users to iResearch,the various marketplaces, channels and features within our China retail marketplaces. For example, a search result on Taobao was the number one C2C marketplace in termsMarketplace displays listings not only from Taobao Marketplace merchants but also from Tmall merchants, thereby generating traffic for Tmall.

           Taobao Marketplace reaches a vast consumer base, including consumers from large cities and beyond. The substantial majority of gross merchandise volume in China in 2014. Users mayusers access Taobao Marketplace anytime, anywhere through a mobile device. Below is a visual presentation of various components of the Taobao website, our Mobile App:


    Taobao App — Homepage

    Starting point and our mobile-optimized website. Our Mobile destination portal for mobile commerce

    GRAPHIC


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    Taobao App has been the most popular mobile commerce app in China from August 2012— Search

    Search results are personalized and customized for different users

    GRAPHIC


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    Taobao App — Good Find

    Shopping recommendations based on consumer activities on our platforms and user profiles

    GRAPHIC


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    Taobao App — Taobao Headlines

    Personalized third-party news feeds for consumers to April 2015 (the most recent monthdiscover new trends and browse for which such data is available) in termsideas

    GRAPHIC


    Table of mobile MAUs, accordingContents


    Taobao App — Weitao (GRAPHIC )

    Social media platform for merchants to iResearch. engage and interact with consumers

    GRAPHIC


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    Taobao Marketplace had an average of over 100 million unique daily visitors in March 2015. With the large number of daily visitors, Taobao Marketplace acts as a starting pointApp — Your Advice Please

    Interest-based interactive platform for buyersconsumers to explore, discovershare shopping experiences, interact with one another and use our marketplaces and services. For example, Taobao Marketplace drives significant organic traffic to Tmall, lowering customer acquisition costs across our marketplaces.answer each other's questions

    GRAPHIC

           Taobao Marketplace is openalso the entry point to everyone. Sellersverticals such as online travel booking, operated under the Fliggy name, or Feizhu (GRAPHIC) in Chinese, meaning "flying pig" (formerly known as Alitrip), and second-hand auctions, operated under the Xianyu (GRAPHIC) name, both of which can also be accessed through their own independent mobile app. Fliggy offers a comprehensive selection of domestic and international airline tickets, train and bus tickets, hotel bookings, vacation packages and tourist attraction tickets through online travel agencies and direct travel service providers. Xianyu users trade second-hand items using the Xianyu mobile app which offers location-based information about products and merchant rating reviews.

           Merchants on Taobao Marketplace are primarily individuals and small businesses. Anyone selling on Taobao Marketplace must verify their identity, pass an online examination on Taobao Marketplace rules and execute an honor code pledge. Through individual online storefronts, sellers list their products and services and complete transactions with buyers. In addition to serving buyers and sellers in large cities, Taobao Marketplace also benefits buyers and sellers from lower tier cities. During the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, 219 million active buyers, or approximately 63% of all active buyers on our China retail marketplaces, were located outside of tier 1 and tier 2 cities.

    The creation of storefronts and listings areby merchants on Taobao Marketplace is free of charge to sellers.charge. The escrow payment services provided by Alipay are free of charge to buyersconsumers and sellersmerchants unless payment is funded through a credit product such as a credit card, in which case Alipay charges a fee to the sellermerchant based on the related bank fees charged to Alipay. We generate revenue on Taobao Marketplace from sellers whomerchants can purchase P4P and display marketing services to direct traffic to their storefronts either on Taobao Marketplace, Tmall or Juhuasuan.storefronts. In addition, we alsomerchants can acquire additional traffic for our marketplaces from third-party marketing affiliate websites. Weaffiliates. Taobao Marketplace merchants can also generate subscription fee revenue from


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    sellers who pay for ouradvanced storefront software including a suite of toolsthat helps to upgrade, decorate and manage their online storefronts.

      Tmall

           We launched Tmall in 2008 as an online platform featuring brands and retailers with each seller having a uniquely identifiable online storefront. Users may access Tmall anytime, anywhere through the Tmall website and the mobile apps and mobile-optimized websites provided by Taobao Marketplace and Tmall. According to iResearch, Tmall is the largest brands and retail platform in China in terms of GMV in 2014, including direct sales companies and platform operators.

    Tmall caters to online and mobile consumers looking for branded products and a premium shopping experience. A large number of international and Chinese brands and retailers have established storefronts on Tmall. According to iResearch, Tmall is the largest B2C platform in China in terms of GMV in 2016. It is positioned as a trusted platform for consumers to buy both homegrown and international branded products andas well as products that are not available in traditional retail outlets.


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           In 2009, Tmall pioneered November 11, known as "Singles Day" in China, as an annual promotional shopping day. Singles Day has become the most important shopping event in China and we believe it generated the highest one-day retail sales volume in the world: on November 11, 2016, our China and international retail marketplaces generated GMV of RMB120.7 billion (US$17.5 billion) settled through Alipay within a 24-hour period, reflecting the strength of our infrastructure and the scale of the entire Alibaba ecosystem.

           Tmall is the partner of choice for brands. Brands and retailers operate their own stores on the Tmall platform with unique brand identities and look and feel, enabling sellers toaccompanied by full control over their own branding and merchandising. Merchants on Tmall and Taobao Marketplace can customize their storefronts right down to the software code, without much constraint. As of March 31, 2015,2017, there were over 140,000100,000 brands on Tmall. Because of the presence of a large number of global brands and the stringent requirements for merchants to operate on Tmall, a presence on Tmall has become a validation of quality, allowing merchants to take advantage of our significant traffic to extend and build brand awareness.

           In 2009, Tmall pioneered November 11, known as "Singles Day"awareness and customer engagement. Major international brands that have physical operations in China, such as Apple, Zara, Bose, Estée Lauder, P&G and Unilever, are well represented on Tmall. And Tmall Global, an annualextension of Tmall, addresses the increasing demand from Chinese consumers for international products and brands that don't have presences in China.

           Brands and retailers turn to Tmall not only for its broad user base, but also for its services and tools for customer acquisition, retention and engagement and to enhance the efficiency of their operations. For example, Tmall provides one-stop branding and promotion services through different properties such as Juhuasuan. Juhuasuan is a sales and marketing platform for flash sales where Tmall and Taobao Marketplace merchants can acquire new customers and raise brand awareness through special discounts and promotional events.

           We also seek to build our mind-share among consumers to position Tmall as the premier shopping day.destination for everyday items, highlighting value and convenience. For example, through Tmall Supermarket, we offer consumers frequently purchased products, such as FMCG, in densely populated top-tier cities, where consumers can enjoy same-day delivery and next-day delivery coordinated through the warehouse and delivery partners of Cainiao Network. In consumer electronics, we have leveraged Singles Day was establishedto strengthen consumer recognition of Tmall's value proposition through exclusive promotions of high value items such as an annual promotional eventmobile phones, as well as high quality delivery, installation and after-sale services on Tmall to reward consumershome appliances, such as television sets, kitchen appliances, refrigerators and washing machines, through discounts. On November 11, 2014, our Chinapartners Ri Ri Shun (GRAPHIC), or RRS, and international retail marketplaces generated GMV of RMB57 billion (US$9 billion) settled through Alipay within a 24-hour period. 43% of total GMV settled through Alipay on that day was attributable to mobile.Suning.

           In 2014, we launched Tmall Global, which is a platform for international brands to offer products directly to consumers in China. Tmall Global offers Chinese consumers access to branded products sourced and fulfilled directly from overseas. In addition, consumers may directly settle payments with the international merchant in Renminbi through Alipay's international settlement services.

           International brands that set up storefrontsMerchants on Tmall Global benefit from the exposure to the hundreds of millions of visitors on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall, enabling them to establish their brand awareness in China without the need for a physical presence in China. International merchants can register and set up a storefront with Tmall Global with, among other things, registered trademarks from jurisdictions of their home countries. Foreign brands on Tmall Global primarily consist of brands from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdoms, France, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. For example, we are cooperating with major hypermarkets around the world, including Costco from the U.S., Countdown from New Zealand, Lottemart and e-Mart from South Korea, RT-Mart from Taiwan, Fresta from Japan and King Power from Thailand, to bring even more imported goods to Chinese consumers.

           Sellers on Tmall and Tmall Global pay commissions based on a pre-determined percentage of GMV for transactions settled through Alipaytransaction value that varies by product category, and typically rangesranging from 0.3%0.4% to 5%5.0%. Tmall sellersmerchants also pay an annual upfront service fee, up to 100% of which may be refunded depending on sales volume achieved by the sellermerchant within each year. Sellers also pay a security depositLike Taobao Marketplace merchants, Tmall merchants have access to back-stop potential claims under our consumer protection programs.P4P and display marketing services, third-party marketing affiliates and storefront software.

      Juhuasuan Group Buying MarketplaceRural Taobao

           Launched in 2010, Juhuasuan was the most popular online group buying marketplaceAs of December 31, 2016, 590 million people in China based on its monthly active usersresided in 2014,rural areas, according to iResearch. Juhuasuanthe National Bureau of Statistics of China. Consumption in the rural areas is highly constrained by geographic and infrastructural limitations, as the cost of distribution to geographically dispersed and remote locations is prohibitively high. We aim to increase the level of consumption and commerce in rural China through our Rural Taobao program. We have established service centers in over 26,500 villages as of March 31, 2017, to give rural residents greater access to goods and services and the ability to sell what they make to the cities.

           Villagers can place orders at service centers, and the goods, such as consumer goods, electronic appliances and agricultural supplies, ordered online are delivered to county-level stations and then distributed by local couriers to service centers in the villages for pick up. Coordinated by Cainiao Network, almost all packages can be delivered from the county-level station to a standalone marketplace that operatesvillage service center the next day.

           Our Rural Taobao program also helps rural Chinese villages to create a distinct websiteproduction economy by enabling rural residents and businesses to sell high quality agricultural products to urban consumers. For example, the Rural Taobao team worked together with its own brand identity among consumers. Juhuasuan is another avenue for sellers' marketing spending to help them generate more saleslocal government, enterprises and acquire additional traffic. All merchants that purchase promotional slots on Juhuasuan are Taobao Marketplace and Tmall merchants, and transactions from traffic originated on Juhuasuan are completed on the merchants' storefronts on Taobao Marketplace or Tmall. Accordingly, GMVkiwifruit farmers in Mei County, a county at


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    generated from traffic through Juhuasuan is recorded as eitherthe foot of Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi province, to upgrade the planting, sorting and storage standards and technology to produce high quality kiwifruits targeting urban consumers. As a result, more than 40 metric tons of kiwifruits were sold during a 3-day period in the 2017 Ali Chinese New Year Shopping Festival, helping the region establish its reputation for quality kiwifruits.

           Through our Rural Taobao Marketplace GMV or Tmall GMV depending on whichprogram, we are pioneering a two-way distribution infrastructure to connect commerce between cities and rural areas in China. We believe Rural Taobao brings significant benefits to rural residents by improving their quality of these two marketplaces the transaction is completed on.

           Juhuasuan offers quality productslife, and to brands and retailers who wish to extend their reach by aggregating demand from numerous consumers. Juhuasuan offers distinct group buying channels featuring branded and private label products, products made to custom specifications and offline commerce.

           Sellers on Juhuasuan pay a placement fee for promotional slots for a specified period and a commission based on a pre-determined percentage of GMV settled through Alipay, which varies by product category.accessing China's vast rural population.

      Emerging Offline Consumption OpportunitiesCommerce technologies and services

           In 2010 we started offering Taobao Local Service,We have made substantial investments to enable merchants and brands to operate at the next level of efficiency through our commerce technologies and services, including online software tools and a diverse array of essential services. We enable merchants and brands to acquire, retain and engage with consumers and operate more efficiently, which helps to enhance merchants and brands' loyalty to our platforms. These commerce technologies and services include two key components:

      Management Control Panels

             Core operations control panel.    We provide an integrated online and mobile platformcontrol panel that allows merchants to conduct their core operations through a unified interface. Through this control panel, merchants can access online software tools and a wide range of services in product planning, marketing, fashion modeling and photography, supply chain management and fulfillment, among others.

             Merchants on our China retail marketplaces use this control panel to conduct day-to-day operations, such as managing their stores and product listings, fulfilling orders, managing their inventory and transactions, conducting sales and marketing activities, servicing their customers, interacting and collaborating with other businesses and seeking credit financing services provided by Ant Financial Services.

             Big data control panel.    We provide an integrated online control panel that allows merchants and brands to utilize big data to manage their customer relationships, formulate business strategies and manage their private data bank.

        •
        Customer relationship management.  We provide merchants the capability to tag and manage visitors to their online storefronts, fans who are following their stores, and loyal customers by attributes such as demographic characteristics and shopping preferences. This capability enables the store owners to analyze and test the effectiveness of campaigns and to provide a personalized storefront and shopping experience for each visitor.

        •
        Private data bank and business strategy center.  We offer a secured cloud data insight platform with a sophisticated private data bank and analytic services such as industry trend analysis, customer data aggregation, brand marketing and product cycle management services, to help merchants and brands formulate business strategies and make timely, informed decisions.

      Consumer Engagement Interfaces

             We provide a suite of tools that assist storefront owners on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall in managing their storefronts, free of charge. Advanced versions of our storefront management software with upgraded functionalities, such as dynamic data-enabled personalized interfaces, AI-assisted storefront design, and multi-media content support, are available for a subscription fee.

             In addition to managing storefronts and editing product listings, these tools also allow storefront owners to manage their content across every digital channel on our platforms to deliver a comprehensive consumer experience. These digital channels include product listing displays, instant messaging interfaces with customers


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      and multi-media news feeds on the Taobao App and Tmall App which allow consumers to discover services offeredfollow the latest news and videos posted by local merchants and that offers a channelbrands.

             The tools also allow storefront owners to plan, approve and implement sales and marketing activities on their storefronts to further engage consumers, such as offering limited time discounts or free gifts for traditional offline service providers. Taobao Local Services may be accessed through both personal computerscertain customers, cross-selling related products and our mobile apps. Other Taobao Local Services include Alitrip and online movie ticketing. In April 2015, we delivered a non-binding proposal to Alibaba Pictures for a possible business injection of our online movie ticketing business and financing and investment platform for the production of movies and other media content into Alibaba Pictures. In June 2015, we announced that we will establish a joint venture under the brand name Koubei with Ant Financial Services, aimed at capturing opportunities within China's local services market, with an initial focus on the food and beverage market. We will transfer our food ordering and delivery business that we currently operate under the Taodiandian brand to this joint venture. Ant Financial Services will transfer to this joint venture its offline merchant resources.distributing coupons.

        Wholesale Commerce in China

        1688.com China domestic wholesale marketplace

             1688.com is a leadingour online wholesale marketplace that connects buyers and sellers in China. 1688.com offers membership packages for sellers to establish an online presence to market relevant product information to wholesale buyers involved in domesticChina who trade in China. We have extended our business model to create a transaction platform on 1688.com to help wholesalers transact with buyersgeneral merchandise, apparel, electronics, raw materials, industrial components, and the majorityagricultural and chemical products, among others. A significant number of buyers are merchants on our China retail marketplaces. The majority of sellersmarketplaces source their inventory on 1688.com. Listing items on 1688.com are Chinese wholesalers, suppliers or distributors. 1688.com also acts as a wholesale channel for merchants doing business on our retail marketplaces to source products from domestic wholesalers.

             Sellers may join 1688.com and list their products foris free. Sellers may purchase a China TrustPass membership that allows wholesalersfor an annual subscription fee to host premium storefronts with access to basic data-analyticdata analytics applications and upgraded storefront management tools. SellersPaying members may also pay for additional services, such as premium data analytics and online marketing services such as P4P marketing servicesservices. As of March 31, 2017, 1688.com had over 961,000 paying members.

        Retail Commerce — Cross-border and keyword bidding.Global

          AliExpress

               We launched AliExpress in 2010. Thisis a global consumer marketplace enablestargeting consumers from around the world to buy directly from wholesalersmanufacturers and manufacturersdistributors in China. On AliExpress, consumers have access to a wide variety of products.

        In addition to the global English-language site, AliExpress operates fifteensixteen local language sites, in countries likeincluding Russian, Spanish and French. Consumers can access the marketplace through its websites or the AliExpress App. Top consumer markets where AliExpress is popular are Russia, the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, Spain, France and France. Sellers primarily consistthe United Kingdom. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, AliExpress had approximately 60 million annual active buyers and generated GMV of small and medium-sized businesses located in China.US$10.1 billion.

               SellersMerchants on AliExpress pay a transaction commission, at a fixed rate, which is typically 5% to 8% of GMV for transactions settled through Alipay.transaction value. We also generate revenue on AliExpress from sellersmerchants who participate in the third-party marketing affiliate program for this marketplace.and those who purchase P4P marketing services. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015,2017, AliExpress generated US$6.6 billion in GMV, US$4.37.2 billion of which was settledtransaction value.

          Tmall Global

               Through Tmall Global, an extension of Tmall, we address the increasing Chinese consumer demand for international products and brands. Tmall Global is the premier platform for overseas brands and retailers to reach Chinese consumers, build brand awareness and gain valuable consumer insights in forming their overall China strategy, without the need for physical operations in China. For example, Costco, Macy's, Chemist Warehouse, Victoria's Secret, LG Household & Health Care and Matsumoto Kiyoshi have storefronts on Tmall Global.

          Lazada

               We acquired a controlling stake in Lazada, a leading operator of e-commerce platforms across Southeast Asia, in April 2016. Lazada operates e-commerce platforms in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with local language websites and mobile apps in each of the six markets. Lazada offers third-party brands and merchants a marketplace solution with simple and direct access to consumers in these six countries through Alipay.one retail channel as well as quick and reliable delivery. Lazada also sells products owned by its retail operations. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, Lazada had approximately 23 million annual active buyers.


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          Other Initiatives

               In January 2017, we and the International Olympic Committee launched a historic long-term partnership through 2028. Joining The Olympic Partner (TOP) worldwide sponsorship program, Alibaba has become the official "E-Commerce Services" Partner and "Cloud Services" Partner. Alibaba's contributions to the Olympic Movement will include:

          •
          the creation of a global e-commerce platform for Olympic stakeholders to engage and connect with fans seeking official Olympic licensed products manufactured by the Olympic parties' official licensees, and selected sports products, on a worldwide basis;

          •
          leveraging Alibaba's leading digital media technologies and know-how to develop and customize the Olympic Channel for a Chinese audience; and

          •
          provision of cloud computing infrastructure and services.

          Wholesale Commerce — Cross-border and Global

          Alibaba.com global trade marketplace

               Alibaba.com was our first online commerce platform, launched in 1999. Alibaba.com is a leading English language wholesale platform focused on supporting global trade, which was China's largest global online wholesale marketplace by revenue in 2014, according to iResearch.

        for global trade. Sellers on Alibaba.com may pay for an annual Gold Supplier membership to host a premium storefront with product listings on the marketplace. Sellers may also purchase an upgraded membership package to receive value addedvalue-added services such as upgraded storefront management tools and P4P marketing services, higher rankings from keyword search, custom clearance, VAT refund and other import/export business solutions.services. Buyers on Alibaba.com arewere located in numerousover 200 countries and regions all over the world.world as of March 31, 2017. Buyers are typically trade agents, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturers and SMEs engaged in the import and export business. Alibaba.com also offers its members and other SMEs import/export supply chain services, including customs clearance, VAT refund, trade financing and logistics services. As of March 31, 2017 Alibaba.com had over 141,000 paying members.

        Cloud Computing

               Alibaba Cloud is China's largest provider of public cloud services in 2016 by revenue, according to IDC. The technologies that power Alibaba Cloud grew out of our own need to operate the massive scale and complexity of our core commerce business. In 2009, we founded Alibaba Cloud to make these technologies available for third-party customers.

               Alibaba Cloud offers a complete suite of cloud services, including elastic computing, database, storage and content delivery network (CDN), large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform. Products that differentiate Alibaba Cloud from our domestic peers include proprietary security and middleware products, large scale computing services and analytic capabilities provided by our big data platform. These products enable customers to build IT infrastructure quickly on-line without having to work on-premises.

               We offer our cloud computing services to all types of businesses, including merchants doing business trade agents,on our marketplaces, start-ups, corporations and wholesalers, retailersgovernment organizations. We charge fees that are primarily based on time and manufacturing companies.usage. As of March 31, 2017, Alibaba Cloud had approximately 874,000 paying customers. Customers, including China Railway and Weibo, use our elastic computing services, security and AI capabilities for data storage, transmission and analysis. Customers, such as Sinopec and CITIC Group, also use our middleware services to upgrade their application infrastructures. Media and entertainment platforms, including China Central Television and Mango TV, use our content delivery networks for their live and on-demand video business. China Post and Ele.me use our big data solutions to improve efficiency. In 2016, we expanded our cloud computing services to Japan, Korea, Germany, the Middle East and Australia markets, to provide customers worldwide with greater access to our diverse offerings, including elastic computing, data storage and analytics services and cloud security services.


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               As a major part of our partnership with the International Olympic Committee, Alibaba Cloud will provide cloud computing infrastructure and services, including big data analytics, to empower the Olympic Games to operate more efficiently, effectively and securely.

               Our cloud computing segment information is presented after elimination of inter-company transactions. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects — A. Operating Results — Segment Information for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016 and 2017." Furthermore, in fiscal year 2017, cloud computing revenue from related parties only contributed 9% of our total cloud computing revenue.

        Digital Media and Entertainment

               Leveraging our deep consumer insights to serve the broader interests of consumers, we have developed an emerging business in digital media and entertainment through (i) two key distribution platforms, Youku Tudou and UC Browser, and (ii) diverse content platforms that provide TV dramas, variety shows, news feeds, movies, music, sports and live events. In March 2017, our digital media and entertainment businesses had over 500 million mobile MAUs, including overseas users.

          Key Distribution Platforms

          Youku Tudou

               Youku Tudou, a leading multi-screen entertainment and media company in China, enables users to search, view and share high-quality video content quickly and easily across multiple devices. The Youku Tudou brand is among the most recognized online video brands in China.

          Marketing ServicesUC Browser

               UC Browser is one of the top three mobile browsers in the world and the number one mobile browser in India and Indonesia by page view market share as of May 2017, according to StatCounter.

          Key Content Platforms

               We offer a diverse range of digital media and entertainment content using a sustainable production and acquisition approach that includes self-produced content, jointly produced content and licensed content. First, we provide self-produced content, including both user-generated content, or UGC, and professionally-generated content, or PGC. We also jointly produce content through arrangements with studios and directors that commit them to produce and distribute some or all of their content exclusively for our platforms. Lastly, we also acquire rights to display content on Our Marketplacesour digital media and entertainment platforms pursuant to licensing agreements with rights holders.

          UC Headlines — News feeds

               UC Headlines is a consumer data-driven news feed platform that aims to provide users with quality targeted news information and participatory media content, such as blogs and community media, and provide marketers with targeted online marketing services. In March 2017, UC Headlines had over 200 million mobile MAUs, including overseas users.

          Shenma

               Shenma, UCWeb's mobile search business, is the second largest mobile search engine in China as of May 2017, according to StatCounter.


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          Movies

               Alibaba Pictures, our equity method investee, is principally engaged in the operation of an Internet-powered integrated platform that spans entertainment content promotion and distribution, serving consumers, studios, and cinema operators. As of March 31, 2017, we hold an approximately 49.5% equity interest in Alibaba Pictures.

          Mobile app distribution

               We operate various mobile app distribution platforms for users to download and install Android-based and YunOS-based mobile apps, providing data-driven recommendation services and traffic to quality mobile apps.

          Other content platforms

               Our other digital media and entertainment offerings include music, games, sports, and literature platforms. Our music platforms provide music streaming services, online music publishing services and an online entertainment platform. Alibaba Games operates a game publishing platform for Android-based mobile games. Alibaba Sports offers content including sporting events and e-sports contests. Our mobile digital reading platform allows authors to publish their literary work to a wide audience.

        Innovation Initiatives and Others

          YunOS

               YunOS is a cloud-based, data and service-oriented operating system for all kinds of smart devices. It is a highly scalable and compatible system that can be used on a wide range of IoT devices, including automobiles, mobile phones, TVs and set-top boxes. With advanced technologies and sophisticated features such as a system level H5/Web service, a dynamic linking service, a unified data platform, and a multi-level security framework, YunOS enables developers to deliver better scenario-driven Internet services and user experience to our customers. YunOS provides the connection between cloud-based applications and hardware devices, with a focus on the data needs of users.

          AutoNavi

               AutoNavi is a leading provider of digital map, navigation and real-time traffic information in China. Besides providing these services to end users directly, AutoNavi also operates a leading open platform in China that powers many major mobile apps in different industries such as food delivery, ride service, taxi-hailing and social networking with its location-based services. It also provides fundamental services to major platforms in our ecosystem including our China retail marketplaces, Cainiao Network and Alipay.

          DingTalk

               DingTalk is our proprietary enterprise communication and collaboration platform that enables text, photo, voice and video communication, workflow management and collaboration among team members and enterprises of various sizes. It also offers a low-cost and secured Internet telephone service. With a built-in enterprise directory, users can easily initiate text chats or voice and video conference calls as well as secured group chats with members of their organization. DingTalk unifies the critical tasks of communication and collaboration in the work place. For instance, DingTalk enables enterprises to conveniently record attendance in the workplace and at external meetings. In addition, as a fully integrated communications app, DingTalk supports HR, travel and expense approvals.

        Branding and Monetization Platforms

          Uni Marketing for Brands

               We have developed a system that we call Uni Identity to track users across different properties and devices. For example, we are able to identify a user watching a Youku Tudou video on a PC as the same user shopping on


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        our Taobao App. Our Uni Identity system takes disparate data and attributes the data to a single user, which enables us to provide marketers with valuable insights into user behavior and preferences. Uni Identity enables brands to interact with consumers in the right place at the right time with the right content.

               Drawing on Uni Identity and our big data capabilities, we have developed a Uni Marketing approach that empowers brands to build robust relationship with consumers throughout their lifecycles in our ecosystem. Our Uni Marketing methodology tracks brand-consumer relationships through each critical stage, from awareness to interest to purchase to loyalty. Consumer data is generated, aggregated, analyzed and reactivated in brands' individualized databases. This data guides brands and marketing agencies across each phase of the brand-consumer relationship, providing insights into strategy, communication planning and ad-serving. Our data-driven Uni Marketing approach effectively and efficiently promotes brand lift, sales generation and customer loyalty.

               Uni Marketing aims to capture consumer brand building touch points across internet media, including our marketplaces, Youku Tudou, UC Web, strategic partners in our ecosystem such as Weibo, as well as other major third-party internet properties in China. We intend to become the key destination for brand building by creating an open, inclusive and transparent platform where brands and marketing agencies are able to design, execute, track and optimize their brand building activities using our data and tools.

          Alimama

               Alimama is our marketing technology platform Alimama, offers sellersthat provides the publisher-side serving and demand-side functionalities for merchants and brands to place various marketing formats on our marketplaces and other third-party properties. The platform supports P4P marketing service andbased on keyword search rankings or display marketing in fixed positions that are bid on through auctions, as well as cost per thousand impression (CPM)-based, time-based marketing formats, or individual campaigns at fixed cost, through the display of photos, graphics and videos.

               The ranking of P4P search results on our core commerce platforms is based upon proprietary algorithms that take into account the bid price of keywords, the popularity of an item or merchant, customer feedback ranking of merchants and quality of product displays. For display marketing, the Alimama platform serves marketing messages based on data from our ecosystem, including transactions on our core commerce platforms, payment data from Ant Financial Services, logistics data from Cainiao Network, user navigation and behavioral data from our core commerce platforms and media and entertainment properties, as well as demographic and location-based data. The relevance and comprehensiveness of data based on commercial activities and user activities around our ecosystem provide a powerful and unique advantage for bothAlimama to target the most relevant information to the most relevant users.

               The Alimama technology platform supports marketing delivered through personal computercomputers and mobile devices. Using our auction orUnder Alimama's bidding system, sellers place P4P and display marketing services on our websites and the websites of third parties that are part of our Taobao Affiliate Network. The ultimate placement of the online marketing services on our websites or those of third-party marketing affiliates is based upon the results of our proprietary algorithms that incorporate specific attributes or information, such as demographic and geographic information, to place the services for the sellers in a way that will enhance their return on marketing expenditure. Merchants may choose to opt out of online marketing services offered by third-party marketing affiliates so that any services they bid for on our systems will be for services that appear only on our websites. In addition, under our current bidding system, merchantsmarketers may set a different biddinghigher or lower bid price for mobile marketing than the bid price for marketing on personal computers. Alimama also has an affiliate marketing program to place marketing displays on third-party websites and mobile apps, thereby enabling marketers, if merchantsthey so choose, to opt inextend their marketing and promotional reach to usingproperties and users beyond our online marketing services on mobile devices.

               Through the Taobao Affiliate Network, whichown marketplaces. We believe we believe is one ofhave the largest online marketing affiliate networksnetwork in China in terms of revenue shared with third-party website properties and mobile apps. Our affiliate marketing affiliates, we also offer the Taobaoke Program, which connects sellersprogram not only provides additional traffic to our affiliate marketing partners for marketing displays on the affiliate partners' websites.core commerce platforms, but also generates revenue to us. Under the Taobaoke Program, sellersprogram, merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall can generate additional traffic and transactions from third-party websites and mobile apps, and the marketers pay us commissions based on a percentage of GMV for transactions settled through Alipaytransaction value sourced from users sourced fromthese third-party marketing affiliates. AWe share a significant portion of that commission is shared with our third-party affiliate marketing partners.

               In addition, sellers may pay placement fees to purchase promotional slots on our Juhuasuan marketplace for a specified period.

               P4P marketing, display marketing and Juhuasuan placement services on our websites are generally available only to merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall. P4P marketing and display marketing on third-party marketing affiliates' websites are available to both merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall as well as to other third parties.

               TANX.    We operateAlimama operates the Taobao Ad Network and Exchange, or TANX, one of the earliest and is one of the largest real-time bidding online advertisingmarketing exchanges in China. Powered by Alibaba Cloud Computing,TANX helps publishers to monetize their media inventories both on web properties and mobile apps. TANX automates the buying and selling of billions of advertisingmarketing impressions on a daily basis by third parties. TANX enables more transparent pricing of advertising inventory, which improves online marketers' return on investment.basis. Participants on TANX include publishers, merchantsmarketers and demand side platforms.platforms operated by agencies.


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          UCWeb Mobile Marketing System

               Our mobile search engine, Shenma (GRAPHIC), monetizes through a keyword bidding system that enables marketers to reach users who search for information related to their products or services. We engage third-party distributors to sell some of our mobile marketing services to marketers. UC Browser monetizes primarily through time-based display marketing where marketers place icons that link to their web pages or apps in UC Browser. Its news feeds feature UC Headlines enables marketers to place marketing messages in news feeds on cost-per-click (CPC) basis or impressions on time basis. Our mobile marketing platform enables marketers to launch targeted marketing for apps, games, web pages and services on mobile media including UC Browser, UC Headlines and third-party media partners, leveraging our deep consumer insights.

          Youku Tudou Advertising System

               TANX is an open marketplace and is not limited solely to merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall. It is also available to other third parties wishing to purchaseYouku Tudou monetizes primarily through brand advertising. Its online advertising services availableinclude in-video, display, sponsorship and other forms of advertisements. In-video advertisements appear at certain times during the playback of a video. These video advertisements can be pre-roll, post-roll, mid-roll or static advertisements. Display advertisements can be delivered alongside a video and may take the form of graphical banners or text hyperlinks. Other forms of advertisements include product placements in the TANX inventory.web video series produced in-house, sponsored live events or viral videos produced in-house. Youku Tudou's advertising solutions present brand advertisers with attractive opportunities to combine the visual impact and engagement of traditional television-like multimedia formats with the interactivity and precise targeting capabilities of the Internet.

        Other Major Elements of our Ecosystem

               Data Management Platform.Logistics — Cainiao Network

               Cainiao Network is a joint venture that we formed in May 2013 with other shareholders who are engaged in logistics, retail, and real estate, including four major express courier companies in China. Cainiao Network does not deliver packages itself. It operates a logistics data platform that leverages the capacity and capabilities of logistics partners to fulfill transactions between merchants and consumers at a large scale. Cainiao Network uses data insights and technology to improve efficiency across the logistics value chain. The proprietary data platform provides real-time access to data for merchants to better manage their inventory and warehousing and for consumers to track their orders. In addition, Cainiao Network's data platform helps logistics service providers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services, such as leveraging data to optimize the delivery routes used by express courier companies.

               Cainiao Network provides two major types of services — delivery data and technology solutions and domestic fulfilment solutions.

          •
          Delivery data and technology solutions We also offer aare value-added services that link merchants to logistics service providers and to consumers, provide real-time order tracking information and enhance logistics efficiency. Merchants select the services of particular logistics service providers that rely on Cainiao Network's proprietary data management platform for accuracy of delivery information and optimization of delivery routes. Under the delivery data and technology solutions model, merchants assume the responsibility for order fulfillment out of their warehouses (usually one centralized location per merchant), and they pay for express courier companies to pick up, transport and sort packages and make last-mile deliveries to the end consumers nationwide. This model does not require Cainiao Network to invest in capital intensive warehouses, transport or DMP, connectedlast-mile assets. Currently the vast majority of packages from our China retail marketplaces are fulfilled and delivered under this model.

          Through its platform approach, Cainiao Network integrates the resources of logistics service providers to TANX. Our DMP allows participants on TANXbuild out the logistics ecosystem. As of March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network's fifteen strategic express courier partners employed over 1,800,000 delivery personnel in more than 600 cities and 31 provinces in China, according to evaluatedata provided by them. Collectively they operated more than 180,000 hubs and select online advertising inventory using both behavioral data they provide us as well as data from browsing behavior and shopping history. By customizing and tagging attributessorting stations.


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        of consumers, participants on TANX are able to evaluate online advertising inventory more precisely and reach their targeted audiences more efficiently.

            Tools and Enablers

                 Tools and Enablers for Buyers on Our Marketplaces.    Our tools for buyers enable them to navigate and search our marketplaces, complete transactions efficiently and provide input on their buying experience. Through our proprietary algorithm, we offer search functions on all of our web pages, mobile apps and many of our marketing affiliates' websites and apps to provide a highly relevant search experience, making it easy for buyers to find products and services within our marketplaces. We also use our proprietary algorithm that takes into account the context of the search to provide a highly relevant search experience. When a buyer conducts a search on Taobao Marketplace, the results include storefront and product listings across both Taobao Marketplace and Tmall to better meet the buyer's needs and provide the most relevant results. We also offer a feedback system on our marketplaces. After a transaction is completed, a buyer can rate a seller based on various criteria, including whether the received product matches its description, a seller's service level and delivery timeliness. These criteria form the basis of the detailed service rating, or DSR. Aggregate DSR scores for each seller over the past six months are displayed prominently on a storefront. DSR scores also affect a seller's ranking on search results pages.

                 Tools and Enablers for Sellers on Our Marketplaces.    Our tools for sellers help them improve their online storefronts, manage their businesses and make their operations more efficient. These tools include:

            •
            Storefront management.  We offer a suite of tools that assist sellers on Taobao Marketplace in upgrading, decorating and managing their storefronts under the WangpuGRAPHIC

            application which is available for a subscription fee. For smaller sellers, we provide Wangpu for free. We also offer a free feature called XiaopuGRAPHIC

            in our mobile Taobao App that allows sellers to set up and manage their storefronts directly using their mobile phones.

            •
            Communication.  We offer AliwangwangGRAPHIC

            and WangxinGRAPHIC

            , instant messengers that support text, audio and video communication on personal computers and mobile phones that facilitate open communication between buyers and sellers.

            •
            Productivity management.  We also offer QianniuGRAPHIC

            , an integrated platform for communication and productivity tools, which allows sellers on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall to access a number of our tools such as Wangpu, Aliwangwang and Alimama through a unified interface.

            •
            Taobao services platform.  We offer Taobao Services Platform where a large number of retail operational partners, ISVs and professional services providers provide a variety of services to our sellers, including product planning, supply chain management, inventory storage and fulfillment, marketing promotion, fashion modeling, storefront management and CRM services, software tools and system integration services. To maintain and monitor the quality of services provided in our ecosystem, we set specific standards that our third-party service providers must meet in order to be eligible to offer services on the Taobao Services Platform.

          Cloud Computing and Internet Infrastructure

                 Alibaba Cloud Computing supports our e-commerce ecosystem by providing a distributed computing infrastructure to handle the large volume of traffic and data generated on our online marketplaces. Our cloud computing infrastructure serves our own platform, our affiliated companies and Alipay, and provides cloud computing services to our sellers and other third parties. Our cloud computing platform offers a complete suite of service offerings, including elastic computing, database services and storage and large scale computing services. We are developing and enhancing a mobile operating system, YunOS, for mobile devices, the Internet of things and set-top boxes, which will be integrated into our cloud computing offerings.

                 We offer our cloud computing services to our sellers, start-ups, enterprises and other third parties for a fee primarily based on time and usage. As of March 31, 2015, Alibaba Cloud Computing services had over


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          240,000 paying direct customers. In addition to these paying direct customers, Alibaba Cloud Computing services also have non-paying direct customers, web-hosting services customers, as well as sellers who use Alibaba Cloud Computing services indirectly through Jushita, our dedicated cloud solution platform for sellers on our China retail marketplaces. In the aggregate, Alibaba Cloud Computing services had over 1,800,000 customers as of March 31, 2015. The reliability and scalability of our cloud computing platform is evidenced, for example, by our successful processing of a peak order creation volume of 80,000 orders per second during our Singles Day promotion on November 11, 2014, when record amounts of traffic and transactions occurred.

          Others

            Mobile Internet Services

            •
            UCWeb.  UCWeb, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is China's largest mobile browser company in terms of monthly mobile active users, according to iResearch. As of May 2015, it operated the largest third-party mobile browser in India and Indonesia in terms of page view market share, according to StatCounter (data available at: http://gs.statcounter.com). UCWeb also provides various mobile value-added services, including mobile search, app distribution and a mobile games platform.

            •
            AutoNavi.  AutoNavi, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is one of China's leading providers in digital map, navigation and location-based services.

            Entertainment

                 We are establishing an Internet-based entertainment ecosystem for domestic households through three businesses:

            •
            Over-the-top Services.  We offer over-the-top services such as the delivery of a variety of video content over the Internet through set-top boxes developed by us and set-top boxes and smart televisions developed by third parties powered by YunOS.

            •
            Music.  We operate online music platforms, XiamiGRAPHIC

            and TiantiandongtingGRAPHIC

            , that offer music streaming services through websites and mobile apps.

            •
            Alibaba Pictures.  Alibaba Pictures, one of our affiliates, is a film and television program producer and distributor. It is our movie business flagship which is an important part of our entertainment ecosystem.

            Health

            •
            Alibaba Health.  Alibaba Health, one of our affiliates, is a leading operator of product identification, authentication and tracking system principally for the pharmaceutical industry in China. We intend for Alibaba Health, as an integrated information and content service provider that seeks to provide technology enabled solutions to healthcare industry participants, to be our healthcare flagship.

          Other Major Elements of Our Ecosystem

          Logistics

                 In order to meet our current and future logistics demands, we established a distributed and scalable logistics operation model that links a network of logistics service providers, sellers and buyers to our proprietary information platform, which is operated by Cainiao Logistics. We do not own the physical infrastructure but instead work with a variety of logistics service partners to ensure we can connect buyers and sellers throughout China and around the world. Our logistics platform provides real-time access to information and data for sellers to help them better manage their businesses, and for logistics service providers to help them improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services and enhance consumer experiences.

                 Cainiao Logistics is the wholly-owned subsidiary of a joint venture we formed in 2013 with five major express delivery companies in China that provide services on our China retail marketplaces, as well as firms specializing in


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          real estate development. We own a 48% equity interest in the joint venture. Together with these partners, we will continue to look for ways to develop and expand the reach of our logistics platform.

            Logistics process

                 When a customer orders a product from a seller on our marketplaces, in most cases, the seller selects a delivery company to fulfill the order. The selected delivery company is responsible for end-to-end delivery. Larger sellers that process large order volumes on a daily basis may select a number of logistics service providers to perform pick-up, warehousing, line-haul and last mile delivery. Both buyers and sellers can access tracking information online until the package is delivered. Buyers can provide feedback on the delivery companies which is then accessible to both sellers and delivery companies. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, approximately 2.1 billion packages from transactions on our China retail marketplaces were delivered within 48 hours from shipment to the end customer. Customers can choose longer delivery times at lower cost, and we estimate that the average delivery time of packages tracked by us from shipment to the end consumer was approximately 3 days.

          GRAPHIC

            Network of logistics service providers

                 We have established a network of logistics service providers through Cainiao Logistics. Cainiao Logistics has agreements with logistics service providers covering several areas, including data sharing, delivery commitments, pricing and services for specific product categories. This network allows sellers to select one of many different logistics service providers depending on their needs. The 14 strategic delivery partners working with our logistics platform have a national network and the top six of these deliveryexpress courier partners handled the delivery of the majority of packages generated onfrom our China retail marketplaces in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015.2017. We believe that orders from transactions generated on our marketplaces represented a significant portion of our deliverythese express courier partners' total delivery volumes in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015. According2017. Cainiao Network is still in an early stage of development. It has yet to monetize the majority of the value-added services it provides under the delivery data provided by themand technology solutions model.

        •
        Domestic Fulfilment Solutions are services offered to merchants, especially medium to large merchants, who require a nationwide warehousing network and supply chain management services for optimized inventory placement at multiple locations and package delivery to end consumers in a more efficient and timely manner. Cainiao Network assumes responsibility of order fulfilment and package delivery to the end consumers, for which it charges a fee. Cainiao Network collaborates with in-warehouse operation providers and uses a combination of owned and partner warehouses to fulfill orders. Cainiao Network then coordinates with line-haul and last-mile delivery service providers to complete the package delivery. To provide a high quality solution, Cainiao Network oversees the entire logistics process and promotes standardization on efficiency metrics. As of March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network's same-day or next-day delivery services covered a total of 1,029 districts and counties, more than doubled compared with the coverage as of March 31, 2015,2016. During the process, logistics partners' capabilities are also improved and upgraded through technology and data insights provided by Cainiao Network.

          In addition to enabling the fulfillment and delivery of orders that fit in standard size packages, we and Cainiao Network also partner with specialized logistics service providers for category-specific solutions where items require special handling and services. The following are examples of category-specific solutions that we and Cainiao Network have organized to enhance the consumer experience:

          •
          Large appliances.  We have entered into a joint venture with Haier Electronics to invest in its logistics subsidiary, RRS, to handle logistics services for large appliances. Partnering with RRS, Cainiao Network provides large appliances merchants with inventory planning tools, data analytics, and logistics services that enhance consumer experience through more efficient inventory placement.

          •
          Consumer electronics.  In connection with our top 14 strategicagreement to invest in Suning, one of the largest electronics retail chains in China with over 1,500 stores and over 5.8 million sq.m. of logistics warehouse and ancillary facility space as of December 31, 2016, we and Cainiao Network are cooperating with Suning to leverage their retail and logistics assets relating to warehousing and delivery capabilities, and after-sale servicing and returns of electronics products.

          •
          Tmall Supermarket.  Tmall operates a popular supermarket category that generates high frequency purchases and builds consumer mindshare for high quality fresh produce, food and FMCG products. To fulfill the logistics demand, Cainiao Network partners employed over 1,400,000with specialized players in the fresh produce supply chain, cold chain transport, warehouse operations and last-mile delivery personnelservices.

             As extensions of the two major types of services mentioned above, Cainiao Network also provides the following services to merchants and consumers on our international and China retail marketplaces, through collaboration with specialized logistics service providers:

        •
        Cross-border.  Cainiao Network provides import and export logistics services to merchants on Tmall Global, our premier platform for overseas brands and retailers, and AliExpress, our global consumer marketplace, respectively.

        •
        Rural and Urban Last Mile.  In order to enhance consumer experience and improve efficiency in more than 600 citieslast-mile delivery in both rural and urban areas, Cainiao Network has also developed technological solutions and operational standards for these settings. In rural areas, Cainiao Network coordinates the delivery from county level Rural Taobao stations to villages. In urban areas, Cainiao Network provides smart pick-up stations around urban communities and on college campuses as an alternative to delivery to end consumers' doorsteps.

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               During the twelve months ended March 31, provinces, directly controlled municipalities2017, Cainiao Network and autonomous regions in China. Collectively they operated more than 100,000 delivery stations. This network managedits logistics partners enabled the delivery of over 8.616.6 billion packages from our China retail marketplacesmarketplaces. Currently, Cainiao Network primarily derives its revenue from domestic fulfillment solutions and generates a significant portion of its revenue from providing these services to consumers in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015.Tmall Supermarket.

          Proprietary logistics information platformLogistics Data Platform

               We have developedCainiao Network operates a proprietary logistics informationdata platform. This platform operated by Cainiao Logistics, which links buyers, sellersconsumers, merchants and logistics service partnersproviders and allows them to share information on order specifics,relating to orders, delivery statusroutes and time, and user feedback. Ourfeedbacks. The logistics information systemdata platform can interface with a broad range of systems including our marketplace transaction systems, in addition to third party systems such as theAlipay's payment system, third-party transportation management systems, of the delivery companies, and the CRM, ERP and warehouse management systems of sellers. This informationmerchants. Information generated from the data platform serves many purposes for sellers, logistics service providers and buyers. For example, sellerspurposes: merchants can review the performance of delivery service providers on different routes. Logisticsroutes; logistics service providers can compare their performance against their peers. Buyerspeers; and consumers can track their purchases on their personal computers and mobile devices, which we believe is an important feature for consumers in China.


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               Our logistics platform provides the following services and benefits to consumers:

          •
          orders, receive delivery time prediction, where we estimate theinformation, and stay in touch with delivery timepersonnel.

            Recent Financing of parcels shipped by participating sellers based on our data, allowing them to provide enhanced delivery certainty for buyers;

          •
          real-time package trackingCainiao Network through our website and mobile interfaces, enabling buyers to plan for receipt of their orders;

          •
          self-service pick-up, where the buyer chooses a convenient location for pick-up from our participating network of convenience store chains, university campuses, residential property management offices, community service stations and other locations, allowing buyers to pick up packages at a time and place convenient for them; and

          •
          logistics service evaluations, where the buyer may provide feedback on the logistics service, enabling sellers and logistics service providers to improve their services.

          Future Expansion Plans

               Our logistics strategy, which employs our proprietary information platform andCainiao Network completed a networkround of logistics service providers, has proven to be a scalable, effective approach to meet the current and medium-term needsequity financing of buyers and sellers. Over the longer term, we plan to further investapproximately RMB10 billion in logistics capabilities through Cainiao Logistics, with the objectives of significantly increasing capacity, supporting the evolving needs of currentMarch 2016. Existing shareholders and new merchantsinvestors, including major sovereign wealth funds and private equity funds, participated in a broader setthe financing. We subscribed for Cainiao Network's shares on an approximately pro rata basis. As of categories, increasing cost efficiencyMarch 31, 2017, we own an approximately 47% equity interest in Cainiao Network.

        Financial Services — Ant Financial Services

               Ant Financial Services provides digital payment services and shortening average delivery times.

               Inother financial and value-added services to consumers and SMEs in China and across the world, such as payment, wealth management, lending, insurance and credit system. Ant Financial Services leverages its customer insights and technologies to help financial institutions, ISVs and other partners on its platform to enhance experience of their users and improve their risk management capabilities. During the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, the logistics system ensured the successful delivery of an average of 24 million packages per day. To support the expected growth of our ecosystem over the longer term, Cainiao Logistics has started offering end-to-end delivery solutions for larger sellers in certain product categories and developing technology and data enabled tools to improve the accuracy and efficiency of delivery such as electronic parcel forms and address database. Cainiao Logistics plans to build a network of key logistics hubs across China, including distribution centers, warehouses and other supply chain facilities. Its goal is to enable China's logistics and supply chain management industries to support the delivery of over 100 million packages per day to consumers' doorsteps anywhere in China within 24 hours of an order being placed.

               To complete this nationwide network, Cainiao Logistics has prioritized a list of key cities where key hubs will be located based on proprietary data we provide on patterns of deliveries and anticipated consumer demand, after considering a variety of factors, including macro data, such as population and GDP, e-commerce penetration rates and existing logistics infrastructure. Cainiao Logistics had acquired and intends to continue to acquire land use rights in key locations. Cainiao Logistics has also started building cross border logistics capabilities by working with logistics service providers in China and abroad.

               As the build-out of the logistics network is capital intensive, Cainiao Logistics will invest in logistics developments2017, Ant Financial Services, together with third parties who may provide passive equityPaytm and debt financing on a holding company and project-by-project basis. This capital structure for project development by Cainiao Logistics is expected to result in significant financial leverage for the 48% of equity capital that we have invested in Cainiao Logistics. Cainiao Logistics has a registered capital of RMB5,000Ascend Money, served over 630 million out of which our 48% share is RMB2,400 million.

        Paymentsannual active users globally.

               Alipay, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ant Financial Services, provides payment and escrow services for transactions on Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, 1688.com, AliExpress and certain of our other sites through contractual arrangements with us. Alipay also provides payment and escrow services to third parties in China.platforms. Alipay is the principal means by which buyers and sellers settle transactionsconsumers pay for their purchases on our China retail marketplaces. WeExcept for transactions paid with credit products such as credit cards, where Alipay charges the merchant, neither we nor Alipay charge any payment fees to merchants doing business on our platforms. Instead, we pay Alipay a fee for the payment and escrow services it provides on our marketplaces pursuant to a commercial agreement with Ant Financial Services and Alipay.

               Ant Financial Services and its partners also provide wealth management, lending, insurance, credit system and other services to merchants and consumers in our ecosystem, such as working capital loans to SMEs, consumer loans and logistics cost insurance for goods returned.

               For additional details on our commercial relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — 


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        B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries."

        Local Services

               Through investee companies, we are engaged in the online-to-offline, or O2O, local services business involving restaurants, food delivery and movie ticketing, among others.


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          Koubei Local Services Guide

               In a typical transaction on our China retail marketplaces,2015, we and Ant Financial Services set up the buyer would have various optionsjoint venture Koubei, one of the leading local services guide businesses in China. Koubei operates O2O services in conjunction with Alipay by generating demand to pay for purchases, including with the buyer's fund balance in his or her personal Alipay account, credit card or transfers from an online bank account. Personal Alipay accounts may be funded by electronic fund transfer or pre-paid cards, as well as linked directly to the buyer's credit card or bank debit card under Alipay's "express payment" function. Whether the buyer chooses to pay with the buyer's fund balance in his or her Alipay account, credit card or bank transfer, the transaction is settled through Alipay's escrow and payment processing service — funds are transferred from the buyer to Alipay's escrow account, and Alipay releases the funds from escrow to the seller only after the buyer has confirmed receipt of goods in satisfactory condition or failed to object to the release of funds within a specified time period. Buyers and sellers may also choose to settle transactions outside of Alipay through other mutually agreed upon payment method,local establishments such as cashrestaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and other offline lifestyle establishments by offering consumers a "closed loop" experience, from acquiring information on delivery.

               Inmobile to finding the twelvestore to claiming discounts to payment. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, 75% of2017, Koubei generated RMB74.7 billion (US$10.9 billion) in GMV on our China retail marketplaces was settled through Alipay's escrowAlipay with merchants.

               In January 2017, Koubei completed a US$1.1 billion equity financing led by Silver Lake, CDH Investments, Yunfeng Capital and payment processing services. On TmallPrimavera Capital. This transaction provides Koubei with a strong capital base to execute its aggressive growth strategy.

          Ele.Me Food Delivery

               In March 2016, we jointly invested with Ant Financial Services in Ele.me (GRAPHIC), a leading food delivery company in China. Consumers using the company's food delivery app can order meals, snacks and Juhuasuan, we earn commissions onlybeverages on transactions that are settled through Alipay.a mobile device. Through a delivery network of employed and outsourced personnel, the company's service covered over 1,500 districts and counties in China as of March 31, 2017. Under a cooperation agreement, Ele.me fulfills food orders generated from the Taobao App and Alipay App.

          Movie Ticketing

               Alibaba Pictures, our equity investee and the flagship unit of our movie business, operates the second largest online movie ticketing platform in China in terms of mobile MAUs in March 2017, according to QuestMobile.

        Customer Service

        Scalable customer service platform for China Retail Marketplaces

               We trust thatMerchants on our customers canplatforms serve their customers better thanwith commerce technologies and services we do, andprovide. In addition, our job is to empower them to do their job better. Our business size necessitates a highly scalable approach to customer service, and we achieve this by leveraging our ecosystem through the following methods:

          •
          We provide sellers on our marketplaces the tools that enhance their ability to directly serve buyers, including communications tools.

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          We have built a network of mostly university students who serve as part-time customer service representatives to support our online instant messaging service platform.

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          We also have a dedicated in-house team of customer service representatives focused on servingserve consumers and businessesmerchants on our marketplaces through telephone hotlines, real-time instant messaging and online inquiry systems.

        Return Our dispute resolution system's adjudication panel of experienced consumers and exchange policymerchants provides an easy way for consumers and merchants to resolve their disputes, while other more complicated disputes are referred to our customer service representatives. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, we received dispute cases representing approximately 0.03% of orders placed on our China retail marketplaces.

               With certain exceptions, consumers on our China retail marketplaces may return the purchased goods within seven days from the receipt of goods.their receipt. Alipay's payment escrow services ensure efficient refunds. In cases where the goods have already been delivered,addition, for qualified consumers with good credit history, we require our sellers to respond within 72 hours upon the receipt of a return request and the buyer is required to return the purchased goods within seven days from the purchase if the seller agrees to the return request. If the seller does not makemay accelerate refund procedure by making the refund payment within ten days fromdirectly to the date whenbuyer upon the buyer's refund application and providing of proof of shipment for the return request is made, the refund will be transferred to the buyer's Alipay account automatically out of the escrow account for the transaction after the buyer has submitted a valid package tracking number to our system. In cases where the buyer requests a return before the goods are delivered, the refund amount will be automatically transferred to the buyer's Alipay account if the seller does not respond in five days (or three days for virtual items).

        Dispute resolution

               In the case of disputes with a seller, a buyer can submit evidence through our dispute resolution system and seek compensation from the seller. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, we received dispute cases representing approximately 0.05% of annual orders placed on our China retail marketplaces. Our dispute resolution system leverages the collective experience of volunteers who have been buyers and sellers on our China retail marketplaces for at least one year to serve on an adjudication panel, which reviews cases and make


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        deliberations through an online forum. The determination of the panel is final and provides an easy way for buyers and sellers to resolve their disputes. More significant disputes are referred to our customer service representatives.goods.

        Consumer Protection and Transaction Platform Safety Programs

        Consumer Protection Program

               Consumer protection fund.       We believe every consumer has the right to safety and protection from false and misleading claims.claims and harmful products. We encourage our sellersmerchants to make product quality a priority and have set up various programs to this end such as the following:

          •
          Tmall.end. All Tmall sellersmerchants are required to contribute to and maintain a consumer protection fund for the benefit of buyers.consumers. Consumer protection fund deposit requirements vary by product category and typically range from RMB50,000RMB10,000 to RMB150,000 for standard storefronts and in some instances are higher depending on the number of brands represented.RMB500,000 per storefront. For Tmall Global sellers,merchants, the consumer protection fund deposit requirement is typically US$25,000ranges from RMB150,000 to RMB300,000 for standard storefronts. The majority of Taobao Marketplace merchants maintain individual consumer protection funds with minimum amounts ranging from RMB1,000 to RMB50,000. All Tmall merchants (including Tmall sellers) are required to sign agreements with us authorizing us to make deductions from their Alipay or designated bank accounts in the event of confirmed consumer claims.

          This requirement is in addition to the significant annual upfront service fees sellers are required to pay us to open storefronts on Tmall, which function as one of the entry barriers to low quality sellers. In order to open a storefront on Tmall, a seller must either be on our pre-approved list of brands or authorized resellers or must pass evaluation by our product category team. The prospective seller must also present a business license, tax registration certificate and trademark registration information or evidence of its authorization to sell branded products, among other evidence of legitimacy and quality. To stay on Tmall for a subsequent year, sellers are required to have met certain customer service and operating capability benchmarks in the previous year.

          •
          Taobao Marketplace.  Sellers on Taobao Marketplace are required to offer certain consumer protection measures and may also choose to participate in additional return and delivery services programs. All Taobao marketplace merchants are required to sign agreements with us authorizing us to make deductions from their Alipay accounts in the event of confirmed consumer claims. In addition, the majority of Taobao Marketplace merchantsMerchants who have failed to maintain individuala minimum amount in their consumer protection funds whose minimumare blocked from showing product listings in our search results.


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                 The consumer protection fund amounts ranged from RMB1,000 to RMB10,000.

        are displayed on each merchant's information page. As of March 31, 2017, consumer protection funds deposited in the Alipay accounts of merchants on our China retail marketplaces in aggregate totaled over RMB18 billion. Many sellersmerchants on both Tmall and Taobao Marketplace provide a larger deposit beyond the platform minimum requirement to demonstrate their confidence in the quality of their servicesthan required and products. To offer better services to consumers, some sellers make additional service commitments, such as expedited shipment, free maintenance for electronics and installation services for furniture purchases. We incentivize sellerspurchases, to set up customer protection funds by programming our search resultsdemonstrate to prioritizetheir customers their confidence in the rankingsquality of product listings for sellers who have established these funds. In addition,their services and products. If the amount in a merchant's consumer protection fund amounts are displayed on the seller's information page.

               As of March 31, 2015, our China retail marketplace sellers' consumer protection funds deposited in their respective Alipay accounts in aggregate totaled over RMB15 billion.

               If the amounts in the sellers' consumer protection funds are not sufficient,is insufficient, we may still choose to compensate buyersconsumers ourselves for suchany losses, although we are not legally obligated to do so. In addition, Alipay's escrow payment services offer consumers further protection by applying a risk-adjusted payment release schedule to merchants based on merchants' historical track records including service level, product quality and dispute rate.

               Measures againstTransaction Platform Safety Programs

               Preserving the integrity of our marketplaces is a top priority for us. We are committed to protecting intellectual property rights and eradicating counterfeit products.    Counterfeitingmerchandise and infringementfictitious activities. Infringement of intellectual property, both online and offline, are problems common to China's emerging economy asindustry-wide issues affecting brands and merchants globally. We work on these issues with rights holders, trade associations and governments around the world. As of March 31, 2017, more than 100,000 brands operate on our marketplaces, a whole.demonstration of the trust they place in the integrity of our marketplaces.

        Product Authenticity

               We are committed to offering authentic, high quality products across our platforms, including high quality overseas products on Tmall Global, grocery and FMCG products on Tmall Supermarket, and high quality pharmaceuticals on Tmall. Together with our focus on providing authentic products across our platforms, we are also fully committed to working with brands, rights holders and law enforcement authorities to monitor product authenticity and protect intellectual property both online and offline. We have called for collective efforts in the protectionfight against counterfeiting that include stronger law enforcement measures and harsher penalties for those found to be engaged in criminal activity. In addition, we also initiate civil actions against counterfeiters.

               Our product authenticity initiatives have produced effective results. As part of our commitment to allow only authentic product listings on our platforms, we employ big data and technology to proactively identify and shut down storefronts selling infringing products and remove suspect product listings. These efforts resulted in our removal of approximately 29 times more product listings than were requested by intellectual property rights holders during the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. Our offline product authenticity initiatives also have borne tangible results as we have provided law enforcement authorities with evidence to successfully track down and arrest violators of intellectual property rights andin a number of instances.

               We implement the long-running battlefollowing measures to eradicate counterfeit merchandise that may appearmonitor the authenticity of products offered on our marketplaces. To protect consumers, brand ownersplatforms and legitimate sellersfight illicit goods together with brands and to maintain the integrity of our marketplaces, we use and will continue to enhance a broad range of measures to prevent counterfeit and pirated goods from being offered and sold on our marketplaces. Our current measures include:law enforcement agencies:

          •
          identifying, issuing warningsNotice and takingtake down suspected counterfeit productssystem.  In order to safeguard our platforms and promote product authenticity we operate a rigorous notice-and-takedown system that allows rights holders to request the removal of potentially infringing listings from our marketplaces;platforms. We offer qualified rights holders a good-faith takedown program pursuant to which we process infringement takedown requests on a "good-faith" basis by expediting claims and simplifying the notification procedure. We collaborate with rights holders in proactively identifying suspicious listings, giving them an opportunity to review these listings and submit takedown requests.

          •
          Proactive monitoring (scanning and detection) powered by big data.  As part of our commitment to allow only authentic product listings on our platforms, we utilize our proprietary algorithms to proactively detect the presence of suspicious goods. As of March 2017, our algorithms had the capacity to process 100 million pieces of data per second, which enables us to conduct proactive scans on more than 10 million product listings a day. We also have developed the capability to perform real-time scanning of suspicious product

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            specifications during a merchant's listing creation process, enabling us to stop merchants from uploading infringing content. We employ Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to conduct text and logo detection on images used in product listings in order to ensure that the products offered are authentic. Our detection technology is capable of constantly improving through machine learning. Our ability to quickly and efficiently monitor and remove problematic products enhances as more and more brands and rights holders contribute information about their intellectual property to our systems. We collaborate with rights holders in this manner to protect their intellectual property.

          •
          providing an online complaint platform for brand owners to report infringements;Offline enforcement.

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          developing models to predict risk levels of sellers  We work closely with brands and product listings based on marketplace data;

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          conducting random checks by using third parties to purchase suspected counterfeit products on our marketplaces;

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          enhancing our communication with various relevant governmentlaw enforcement authorities to eradicate sourcesassist in their offline investigations against counterfeiting. With insights drawn from our data analytics, we help law enforcement authorities to identify manufacturers and dealers of counterfeit goods;

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          offering toolssuspicious goods so they can be brought to buyers to confirm authenticity of the products; andjustice.

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          proactively cooperating with local governments to support sellers to create original brands with the aim of transforming the economic structure of cities with a high concentration of sellers of counterfeit goods.

               We have also established cooperative relationships with over 1,000 major brand owners and a large number of leading industry associations in connection with intellectual property rights protectionare committed to enhance the effectiveness of our takedown procedures and other anti-counterfeiting measures.

               We continue to refine and harness technology and data at our disposal to track and trace counterfeiters who sellpromoting authentic goods on our marketplaces,platforms in order to assistcreate a safe and healthy environment for commerce.

          Alibaba Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance (AACA)

               In January 2017, we announced the establishment of the AACA together with major international brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Swarovski, and Dulux. The AACA is committed to using big data and technology to combat intellectual property infringement more effectively, efficiently and transparently.

               In April 2017, we and 30 leading global brands came together as members of the AACA for a series of meetings and constructive dialogue focused on combatting intellectual property infringement through big data and technology. With the support of big data and technology, the AACA helps rights holders, e-commerce platforms and law enforcement authoritiesagencies work together on fighting intellectual property infringement both online and offline. The AACA believes all parties must work together in tacklinga collaborative fashion with increased communication and exchange of information to halt the problem at its source. We are dedicated to continually refining and upgrading the anti-counterfeiting measures on our marketplaces. For example, in January 2015, we further tightened our standards on Taobao Marketplace to target seller accounts engaged in repeat infringement activities.production of infringing goods.

               We are firmly committed to combating counterfeitsupporting this industry-wide AACA effort through our big data and technology capabilities, and promoting ongoing industry cooperation for the establishment of a healthy and safe environment for commerce.

        Combatting Fictitious Transactions

               With respect to fictitious activities, that may occur on our marketplaces despite our best efforts because the health and integrity of our marketplaces depend on consumer trust. However, because many sellers doing business on our marketplaces depend on us for their livelihood, we have generally eschewed a "shoot-first, ask questions later" approach to handling complaints on Taobao Marketplace. When we receive complaints or allegations regarding infringement or counterfeit goods, we follow well-developed procedures to verify the nature of the complaint and the relevant facts before de-listing the items. Generally, we give sellers who have been accused of posting or selling counterfeit products up to three days to refute the allegations and provide evidence of the authenticity of the product. In April 2015, we implemented a good-faith takedown program on Taobao Marketplace that we offer to qualified rights holders. For these rights holders, we process suspected infringement takedown requests on a "good-faith" basis without requiring them to substantiate their infringement claims in advance. Currently, hundreds of brands from around the world are already part of the good-faith takedown program.

               These measures represent our evolving response to the problem of counterfeiting by sellers on our platforms, which we expect, despite our best efforts, will continue to present a challenge in the years ahead.

               Measures against fictitious transactions.    We have and will continue to invest significant resources in protecting the trust and credit system we have built on our marketplaces. We have implemented measuresMeasures to prevent, detect and reduce the occurrence of fictitious transactions on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall including:we have implemented include:

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          requiring the use of sellers'merchants' real identities to set up accounts with us;when opening accounts;

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          analyzing transaction patterns to identify anomalies;

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          offering dynamic password protection and engaging in real-time monitoring of user login behavior;

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          enabling buyersconsumers and sellersmerchants to report suspicious transactions to us;transactions;

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          maintaining a "blacklist" of sellers and buyersmerchants who have previously been involved in fictitious transactions in the past;transactions; and

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          collaborating with participants in our ecosystem such as Alipay and Cainiao LogisticsNetwork as well as industry partners and law enforcement authorities on Internet security.

        Table of ContentsPenalties

               Penalties.    If allegations of posting or selling counterfeit products have not been refuted or       We aim to protect consumers by excluding suspicious merchandise and fictitious transactions from the ranking system, credit system and transaction volume statistics. When these activities have beenare confirmed, we penalize the parties involved through a number of means including:

          •
          immediately delisting the products involved;

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          arranging for the seller to reimburse the buyer;

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          assessing penalty points against the seller or closing down storefronts, permanently banning merchants from opening any accounts on our platforms, limiting itsmerchants' ability to add listings, for a certain period;

          •
          adopting a "name and shame" policy;

          •
          imposing restrictions from on


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          participation in promotional activities on our marketplaces;

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          closing down storefronts;marketplaces, and

          •
          for Tmall sellers, confiscating placing merchants' product listings at the consumer protection security deposits paid. The seller is banned permanently from establishing another storefront on our marketplaces.

        In appropriate circumstances we also notify the relevant law enforcement and other authorities to take legal action against the offending party, includingbottom in extreme cases criminal proceedings.search ranking results.

        Our Technology

               Technology is key to our success in achieving efficiency for our business, improving the user experience, and enabling innovation. Our unrivaled proprietary technology supports peak order volumes of up to hundreds of thousands per second, delivers tens of billions of online marketing impressions per day, and enables millions of merchants and other businesses to conduct their operations efficiently and effectively. The uniqueness of our technology lies in the unparalleled large-scale application environment due to the scale of our businesses. By constantly applying our technology across our businesses, we generate knowledge and innovations that drive improvements and further technological development.

        As of March 31, 2015,2017, we employed a team of over 12,000 engineering22,000 research and data analyticdevelopment personnel. Our research and development personnel engagedplay key roles in building our technology platformvarious international standardization organizations in areas such as security, e-commerce and developing new onlineIoT. In addition, we are also active in open source communities and mobile products.have contributed over 100 open source software projects.

               Key components of our technology include:include those described below:

          Technology Infrastructure

                 Our data centers utilize leading technologies in distributed structure, natural cooling, distributed power technology, high-density liquid cooling and intelligent monitoring, and we believe we operate at the lowest power usage effectiveness, or PUE, ratio worldwide. The multi-region availability of our transaction system data centers provides scalable and stable redundancy.

          Cloud ComputingOperating Systems

               Our cloud computing platform,operating system, called Apsara, is a proprietary general purpose distributed computing platform built with proprietary technologyoperating system that enable server clusters to performprovides Alibaba Cloud customers with enhanced computing power. Apsara offerspower to support their business growth in the data technology, or DT, era. We have also developed YunOS, a suitecloud-based, data and service-oriented operating system for all kinds of smart devices. YunOS is a highly scalable and compatible system that can be used on a wide range of IoT devices, including automobiles, mobile phones, TVs and set-top boxes.

        Big Data Analytics Platform

               We have developed a distributed data analytics platform that can efficiently handle complex computing tasks of hundreds of millions of data dimensions, providing deep data insights to our businesses and our cloud services including elastic computing databasecustomers. Our big data analytics platform includes MaxCompute, an offline data storage and services,computing platform, StreamCompute, a real-time data storage and large-scalecomputing platform, and OneData, a data processing services through web-based API.integration and management system.

          Content Delivery NetworkArtificial Intelligence

               The technology underlying AliCDN,With access to a massive amount of data and our content delivery network, acceleratesinvolvement in diverse businesses involving a rich variety of consumer experiences, we believe we are in a unique position to develop the loadinglarge-scale commercial use of product photographs on web pages deliveredAI. To date, we have applied various AI technologies across our commerce platforms to usersenhance consumer experience, such as personalized search results and offers them a fast and smooth experience.

          Data Science

               Our data science technology serves various types of data-intensive computational needs, includingshopping recommendations empowered by deep learning high-volume batch processing and multi-variabledata analytics, speech recognition and multi-dimensional real-time analytics. The data mining and transaction, payment and behavioral data science capabilities are used extensivelyimage analysis technology adopted in numerous applications suchsearch functions, as search and online marketing on our marketplaces.

          Distributed Relational Database

               OceanBase, our proprietary distributed relational database management system, plays a critical role in supporting transaction processing on our marketplaces in a cost-efficient manner.

          Search and Online Marketing

               Our standard product unit, or SPU, database is built on the vast amount of items listed on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall. The comprehensive transactional and user behavior data generated on our marketplaces enable us to construct a powerful search engine that generates personalized results.well as intelligent customer service.


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               Our online marketing technology platform supports millions of online marketers and delivers tens of billions of online marketing impressions every day. Our online marketing technology enables us to continuously improve the effectiveness of our online marketing services for our sellers through the use of aggregated behavioral targeting data and analytics.

          DeepMachine Learning

               Alimama utilizes cloud-basedWe are one of the few companies in the world with a proprietary, distributed deep learning extensivelyplatform. Deep learning capabilities accelerate our innovations in areas such as image and video recognition, speech recognition, text and voice interaction and machine translation.

        Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

               We showcased our Buy+ virtual reality, or VR, shopping experience during Singles Day 2016, demonstrating the potential to enhancechange the consumer targeting efficiencyway people shop and return on investmentshow merchants and brands can reach consumers without physical stores. Consumers can enjoy an interactive shopping experience and complete transactions using VR devices.

               We also launched Tmall AR-GO for online marketershome furnishings, which allows consumers to use mobile devices to view nearly true-to-life images of our P4P marketing, display marketinghow furniture will fit in their homes. Applying the latest technology, Tmall AR-GO utilizes motion tracking, combined with life-like rendering effects and DMP service offerings. Supported by our Apsara cloud computing system, Alimama operates a cluster of servers that is capable of analyzing terabytes of data points for the modeling of tens of billions online advertising impressions.optimized 3D engines.

          Security

               We are committed to maintaininghave established a secure e-commerce ecosystem.comprehensive security infrastructure, supported by our network situational awareness and risk management system, that spans from the individual end users across our entire network, covering our systems, apps, data and services. Our back-end security system handles hundreds of millions of instances of malicious attacks each day to safeguard the security of our e-commerce and cloud platform.platforms.

        Sales and Marketing

               WeAs Taobao Marketplace is China's largest mobile commerce destination, we enjoy significant organic traffic through word-of-mouth and general awareness of our brand and platforms. Although we employ a variety of methods to attract potential sellers and buyers, registered users, paying members, online marketers and other ecosystem participants and promote our brands. Our user base has expanded primarily through word-of-mouth.

               We generateplatforms, we believe word-of-mouth, and the majorityreputation and ubiquitous awareness of our revenues through onlinebrand and platforms in China and, increasingly, abroad, provide us with the best and most cost-efficient marketing services to our sellers. As these sellers are mostly participantschannel. Further, the large number of consumers on our marketplaces attracts a large number of merchants who become customers for our online marketing services. As a result, we do not need to rely on a large sales force for our China retail marketplaces. The majority

        Corporate Social Responsibility

               We believe the best approach to corporate social responsibility is through embedding elements of social responsibility in our business model. Since our founding, we have been highly committed to sustainable corporate responsibility projects, both through charitable endeavors and by extending the benefits of our sales staff are engagedecosystem to the community at large.

               Our major achievements and initiatives in selling membership packages to registered membersthe areas of corporate social responsibility include those described below:

        Creating Job Opportunities

               The breadth of our wholesaleecosystem and the range of different types of service providers needed within it create employment opportunities. In addition to providing direct business opportunities for merchants, our ecosystem has created new opportunities for service providers in logistics, marketing, consulting, operations outsourcing, training and other online and mobile commerce professions. According to AliResearch, our research division, as of December 2016, it is estimated that our China retail marketplaces through telephonecontributed to the creation of over 33 million direct and indirect job opportunities in China, including people working directly for online storefronts, service providers to merchants and other businesses across the value chain.

               With the power of the Internet, our platforms have leveled the playing fields for businesses in many aspects, helping to foster an inclusive economy for everyone to thrive and prosper. In fiscal year 2017, approximately half


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        of the annual active sellers on our China retail marketplaces were female. In calendar year 2016, our China retail marketplaces supported the livelihoods of approximately 160,000 disabled sellers.

        Supporting Rural Development in China

               As we expand to rural areas in China and provide access to the urban consumer market, we have created opportunities for people living in rural areas to elevate their standard of living. Our Rural Taobao program gives rural residents greater access to goods and services as well as the ability to sell what they produce to the cities. In addition, communities of rural online entrepreneurs in impoverished areas have opened storefronts on our China retail marketplaces to effectively elevate their income levels. As of December 2016, AliResearch, our research division, has identified over 1,000 of these rural e-tailer villages, over 200 of which were in state- and province-designated impoverished counties.

        Charitable Donation and Participation

               Since 2010, we have earmarked 0.3% of our annual revenue to fund efforts designed to encourage environmental awareness and conservation as well as other corporate social responsibility initiatives. In 2011, we established the Alibaba Foundation, a private charity fund that focuses on supporting environmental protection in China and helping the disadvantaged, such as children born with heart defects in underdeveloped areas of China. In fiscal year 2017, we and the Alibaba Foundation made over RMB110 million (US$16 million) in donations to support more than 80 domestic and overseas charitable projects, including those hosted by the National Geographic Air and Water Conservation Fund, the Paulson Institute and the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. We have also leveraged our platforms to enable other charitable organizations to raise over RMB235 million (US$34 million) in donations in fiscal year 2017, which benefited over two million disadvantaged people.

               Since September 2015, we have encouraged our employees to perform a minimum of three hours of service activities every year. In fiscal year 2017, this program saw over 140,000 hours of social service activities performed by our employees. In addition, we recognize the immense influence of our ecosystem and leverage it to extend the reach of our charitable work. In fiscal year 2017, our platforms facilitated approximately 4.7 billion charitable participations involving over 300 million consumers and over 1.7 million merchants. We encourage our merchants, consumers and other ecosystem participants to participate in socially responsible activities. For example, charitable organizations can set up storefronts on our marketplaces to raise funds and engage with volunteers. Merchants can designate a percentage of the sales proceeds generated on our platforms to go to charitable organizations. Consumers can contribute to charitable causes by purchasing these products or participating in charity auctions hosted on our platforms.

        Selected Efforts to Address Social Problems

               In running our day-to-day business, we are at the forefront in witnessing and field sales.understanding the social problems in China. We are committed to establishing a unique charitable ecosystem that focuses on innovation and scalability. We support and promote a number of charitable and socially responsible initiatives and programs in ways that we believe are in alignment with our core values and our mission. In 2016, the Research Center for Corporate Social Responsibility of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences named us one of the top 10 charitable enterprises in China and the top charitable private enterprise in China. In the same year, we were also among the first group of Internet platforms recognized for charitable donations by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

               We believe corporate philanthropy should not be limited to charitable giving. With a view toward long-term, sustainable philanthropy, we take the approach of developing commercially viable charity projects that are


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        ingrained in products across a wide range of businesses in our ecosystem. In fiscal year 2017, we promoted 23 philanthropic products including:

          •
          the "Reunion" platform that connects our mobile apps and those of our partners to help locate missing children across China; from the implementation of the platform in mid-2016 to the end of 2016, law enforcement authorities successfully located 611 missing children based on 648 alerts broadcasted to the ecosystem of mobile users, a 94% success rate;

          •
          an anti-scamming app jointly developed with the PRC Ministry of Public Security that helps the public to report and identify scam calls and text messages;

          •
          barrier-free features of the Tmall App that enhance user experience for people with vision disabilities;

          •
          providing subsidized cloud computing services to charitable organizations; and

          •
          a new feature in the Cainiao Network App that allows users to send clothes and books for donation.

        Competition

               We face competition principally from established Chinese Internet companies, such as Tencent, Baidu and their respective affiliates, as well as from certain offline retailers and e-commerce players, including those that specialize in particular those offline retailers establishing e-commerce websites.a limited number of product categories, such as FMCG, global or regional cloud computing service providers and digital media and entertainment providers. These competitors generate significant traffic and have established brand recognition, significant technological capabilities and significant financial resources. The areas in which we compete primarily include:

          •
          BuyersConsumers — We compete to attract, engage and retain buyersconsumers based on the variety and value of products and services listed on our marketplaces, the engagement of digital media and entertainment content available on our platforms, the overall user experience of our products and convenience, online communication tools, integration with mobileservices and networking applications and tools, mobile apps and availabilitythe effectiveness of payment settlement and logistics services.our consumer protection measures.

          •
          SellersMerchants and Brands — We compete to attract and retain sellersmerchants based on ourthe size and the engagement of buyers,consumers on our platforms and the effectiveness of our products and valueservices to help them build brand awareness and engagement, acquire and retain customers, complete transactions, expand service capabilities, protect intellectual property rights and enhance operating efficiency.

          •
          Marketers — We compete to attract and retain marketers, publishers and demand side platforms operated by agencies based on the reach and engagement of our properties, the marketing services we offer, commission ratesdepth of our consumer data insights and the usefulnesseffectiveness of the services we provide including dataour branding and analytics for potential buyer targeting, cloud computing services and the availability of support services including payment settlement and logistics services.marketing solutions.

          •
          Talent — We compete for motivated and effectivecapable talent, and personnel, including engineers and product developers to build compelling apps, tools and functions for all participants in our ecosystem.

               We also face competition from major global Internet companies. However, at this time,companies, including e-commerce companies around the world. Although foreign e-commerce companies currently have a limited presence in China.China, we face significant competition from them in the areas of cross-border commerce.

               As we acquire new businesses and expand into new industries and sectors, we face competition from major players in these and other industries and sectors. In addition, as we expand our businesses and operations into an increasing number of international markets, including markets in which we have limited or no experience and in which we may be less well-known, such as Southeast Asia, India and Russia, we increasingly face competition from domestic and international players operating in these markets. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — If we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected."


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        Seasonality

               Our overall operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of a variety of factors, including seasonal factors and economic cycles that influence consumer spending as well as promotional shopping activities we conduct.

               Historically, we have experienced the highest levels of revenues in the fourth calendar quarter of each year due to a number of factors, including sellersmerchants allocating a significant portion of their online marketing budgets to the fourth calendar quarter, promotions, such as Singles Day on November 11 of each year and the impact of seasonal buying patterns in respect of certain categories such as apparel. We have also experienced lower levels of revenues in the first calendar quarter of each year due to a lower level of allocation of online marketing budgets by sellersmerchants at the beginning of the calendar year and the Chinese New Year holiday, during which time consumers generally spend less and businesses in China are generally closed. In addition, seasonal weather patterns may affect the timing of buying decisions. For example, unexpectedly long periods of warm weather could delay the purchase of heavier clothing items that have higher average selling prices, resulting in lower than expected GMV.prices. Moreover, as our business grows, we expect that our fixed costs and expenses, such as payroll and benefits, bandwidth and co-location fees, will continue to increase, which will result in operating leverage in seasonally strong quarters but can significantly pressure operating margins in seasonally weak quarters.

        Regulation

               We operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. We and our key service provider, Ant Financial Services, are subject to a variety of PRC and foreign laws, rules and regulations across a number of aspects of our business. This section summarizes the principal PRC laws, rules and regulations relevant to our business and operations. Areas in which we are subject to laws, rules and regulations outside of the PRC include data protection and privacy, consumer protection, content regulation, intellectual property, competition, cross-border trade, taxation, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption. We may also face protectionist policies and regulatory scrutiny on national security grounds in foreign countries in which we conduct business or investment activities. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We and AlipayAnt Financial Services are subject to variousa broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations on our business or otherwise that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations."

               Our online and mobile commerce businesses are classified as value-added telecommunication businesses by the PRC government. Current PRC laws, rules and regulations generally restrict foreign ownership in value-added telecommunication services. As a result, we operate our online and mobile commerce businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited through the variable interest entities, each of which is owned by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned by PRC citizens, and holds all licenses associated with these businesses.

               The applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations governing value-added telecommunication services may change in the future. We may be required to obtain additional approvals, licenses and permits and to comply with any new regulatory requirements adopted from time to time. Moreover, substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these PRC laws, rules and regulations. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations."

        Regulation of Foreign Investment

               The Guidance Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment, or the Catalogue, the latest version of which came into effect on April 10, 2015, was promulgated and newlyrecently amended by the MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission and governs investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors. The Catalogue divides industries into three categories — "encouraged," "restricted," and "prohibited" for foreign investment. Industries not listed in the Catalogue are generally deemed as falling into a fourth category, "permitted." The businesses of our significant subsidiaries in the PRC are mainly software development, technical services and consultations, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category. Such significant subsidiaries have


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        obtained all material approvals required for their business operations."permitted." However, industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, are restricted from foreign investment. Among our significant subsidiaries, Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd. are registered in China and mainly engaged in software development, technical services and consultations, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category under the latest Catalogue. These two significant subsidiaries have obtained all material approvals required for their business operations. The Catalogue does not apply to our significant subsidiaries that are registered and domiciled in Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands or the Cayman Islands, and operate outside China. The businesses of our other PRC subsidiaries — including PRC subsidiaries of our significant subsidiaries — are generally software development, technical services and consulting, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category. Industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, are generally restricted to foreign investment pursuant to the latest Catalogue amended in March 2015.Catalogue. We conduct business operations that are restricted or prohibited to foreign investment through our variable interest entities.

               In January 2015, the MOFCOM published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law, which embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. The MOFCOM has solicitedcompleted the solicitation of comments on this discussion draft, andbut substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, the final version, interpretation and implementation. For more details, see "Item 33. Key Information — Risks Related to our Corporate Structure — Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law."

               In addition, on January 12, 2017, the State Council issued the Notice on Several Measures for Expansion of Opening-up Policy and Active Use of Foreign Capital, or the Notice No. 5, which purports to relax restrictions on foreign investment in sectors including service, manufacturing and mining. Specifically, the Notice No. 5 proposes to gradually open up telecommunication, Internet, culture, education and transportation industries to foreign investors. However, there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the implementing rules and regulations of Notice No. 5.

        Regulation of Telecommunications and Internet Information Services

          Regulation of Telecommunication Services

               Under the Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC, or the Telecommunications Regulations, promulgated on September 25, 2000 by the State Council of the PRC and most recently amended in July 2014,February 2016, a telecommunication servicesservice provider in China must obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, or its provincial counterparts. The Telecommunications Regulations categorize all telecommunication services in China as either basic telecommunications services or value-added telecommunications services. Our online and mobile commerce businesses, as well as Youku Tudou's online video businesses, are classified as value-added telecommunications services.

               Foreign investment in telecommunications businesses is governed by the State Council's Administrative Rules for Foreign Investments in Telecommunications Enterprises, or the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules, issued by the State Council on December 11, 2001 and most recently amended on September 10, 2008,in February 2016, under which a foreign investor's beneficial equity ownership in an entity providing value-added telecommunications services in China is not permitted to exceed 50%. In addition, for a foreign investor to acquire any equity interest in a business providing value-added telecommunications services in China, it must demonstrate a positive track record and experience in providing suchthese services. However, according to the Notice on Lifting the Restriction to Foreign Shareholding Percentage in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (Operational E-commerce) promulgated by the MIIT on June 19, 2015, foreign investors are allowed to hold up to 100% of all equity interest in the online data processing and transaction processing business (operational e-commerce) in China, while other requirements provided by the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules shall still apply. It is unclear how this notice will be implemented and there exist high uncertainties with respect to its interpretation


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        and implementation by authorities. The MIIT's Notice Regarding Strengthening Administration of Foreign Investment in Operating Value-Added Telecommunication Businesses, or the MIIT Notice, issued on July 13, 2006 prohibits holders of these services licenses from leasing, transferring or selling their licenses in any form, or providing any resource, sites or facilities, to any foreign investors intending to conduct suchthis type of businesses in China.


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               In addition to restricting dealings with foreign investors, the MIIT Notice contains a number of detailed requirements applicable to holders of value-added telecommunications services licenses, including that license holders or their shareholders must directly own the domain names and trademarks used in their daily operations and each license holder must possess the necessary facilities for its approved business operations and maintain suchits facilities in the regions covered by its license, including maintaining its network and providing Internet security in accordance with the relevant regulatory standards. The MIIT or its provincial counterpart hascounterparts have the power to require corrective actions after it discoversthey discover any non-compliance of theby license holders, and where such license holders fail to take suchthose steps, the MIIT or its provincial counterpart hascounterparts have the power to revoke the value-added telecommunications services licenses.

               On December 28, 2016, the MIIT promulgated the Notice on Regulating Telecommunication Services Agreement Matters, or the Telecommunication Services Agreement Notice, which came into effect on February 1, 2017. According to the Telecommunication Services Agreement Notice, telecommunication service providers must require their users to present valid identification certificates and verify the users' identification information before provision of services. Telecommunication service providers are not permitted to provide services to users with unverifiable identity or who decline identity verification.

          Regulation of Internet Information Services

               As a subsector of the telecommunications industry, Internet information services are regulated by the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, or the ICP Measures, promulgated on September 25, 2000 by the State Council and amended on January 8, 2011. "Internet information services" are defined as services that provide information to online users through the Internet. Internet information servicesservice providers, also called Internet content providers, or ICPs, that provide commercial services are required to obtain an operating license from the MIIT or its provincial counterpart.

               To the extent the Internet information services provided relate to certain matters, including news, publication, education or medical and health carehealthcare (including pharmaceutical products and medical equipment), approvals must also be obtained from the relevant industry regulators in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations governing those industries.

        Regulation of Advertising Services

               The principal regulations governing advertising businesses in China are:

          •
          the Advertising Law of the PRC (2015, as amended);

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          the Advertising Administrative Regulations (1987);

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          the Implementing Rules for the Advertising Administrative Regulations (2004)on Internet Information Search Services (2016); and

          •
          the Interim Measures for Administration Rules of Foreign-investedInternet Advertising Enterprises (2008)(2016).

        These laws, rules and regulations require companies such as ours that engage in advertising activities to obtain a business license that explicitly includes advertising in the business scope from the SAIC or its local branches.

               Applicable PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations contain certain prohibitions on the content of advertisements in China (including prohibitions on misleading content, superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content involving obscenities, superstition, violence, discrimination or infringement of the public interest). Advertisements for anesthetic, psychotropic, toxic or radioactive drugs are prohibited, and the


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        dissemination of advertisements of certain other products, such as tobacco, patented products, pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, agrochemicals, foodstuff, alcohol and cosmetics, are also subject to specific restrictions and requirements.

               Advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors, including the businesses that certain of the variable interest entities operate, are required by applicable PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations to ensure that the content of the advertisements they prepare or distribute are true and in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Violation of these laws, rules and regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the SAIC or its local branches may revoke the violator's license or permit for advertising business operations. In addition, advertisers, advertising operators or advertising distributors may be subject to civil liability if they infringe the legal


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        rights and interests of third parties, such as infringement of intellectual proprietary rights, unauthorized use of a name or portrait and defamation.

               Although advertising services are no longer categorized as a prohibitedOn June 25, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration promulgated the Administrative Regulations on Internet Information Search Services, or restricted area for foreign investment, the Administration Rules of Foreign-invested Advertising Enterprises issuedInternet Search Regulations, which came into effect on August 22, 20081, 2016. According to the Internet Search Regulations, Internet search service providers must verify paid-search service customers' qualifications, limit the ratio of paid-search results on each webpage, and clearly distinguish paid-search results from natural search results.

               The Internet Advertising Measures, which were promulgated by the SAIC on July 4, 2016 and came into effect on September 1, 2016, define Internet advertising as any commercial advertising that directly or indirectly promotes goods or services through websites, webpages, Internet applications and other Internet media in the MOFCOM, require all foreign investorsforms of words, picture, audio, video or others, including promotion through emails, texts, images, video with embedded links and paid-for search results. The Internet Advertising Measures set out, among other things, the following requirements for Internet advertising enterprisesactivities:

          •
          online advertisements for prescription medicine or tobacco are not allowed, while advertisements for special commodities or services such as medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, food for special medical purposes, medical instruments, agrochemicals, veterinary medicine and other health foods must be reviewed by competent authorities before online publication;

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          Internet advertisements must be visibly marked as "advertisement," while paid-search results must be obviously distinguished from natural search results; and

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          Internet advertisements must not affect users' normal use of the Internet; "pop-up ads" must be clearly marked with a "close" sign and be closable with one click; and no deceptive means may be used to lure users into clicking on advertisements.

               According to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet information service providers must prevent those advertisements they know or should have a track record in,known to be illegal from being published through their information services. Furthermore, according to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet advertisers are responsible for the authenticity of the content of Internet advertisements, while Internet advertisement publishers and mainly engage in, advertising businesses overseas. The establishmentadvertisement agencies are required to verify the identities of a foreign-invested advertising enterprise is also subject to pre-approval byInternet advertisers and their qualifications, review the SAIC or its local branch.content of Internet advertisement, and employ inspectors who are familiar with PRC laws and regulations governing Internet advertising.


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        Regulation of Online and Mobile Commerce

               China's online and mobile commerce industry is at an early stage of development and there are few PRC laws, regulations or rules specifically regulating this industry. The SAIC adopted the Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Commodities Trading and Relevant Services on May 31, 2010 and replaced those measures with the Administrative Measures for Online Trading on January 26, 2014, which became effective on March 15, 2014. The SAIC also issued the Opinions on Strengthening the Administration of Online Group Buying Operations on March 12, 2012 to subject group buying website operators to the foregoing measures, especially those relating to marketplace platform service providers. On December 24, 2014, the MOFCOM promulgated the Provisions on the Procedures for Formulating Transaction Rules of Third Party Online Retail Platforms (Trial) to regulate the formulation, revision and enforcement of transaction rules for online retail marketplace platforms. These newly issued measures impose more stringent requirements and obligations on the online trading or service operators as well as the marketplace platform providers. For example, the marketplace platform providers are obligated to make public and file itstheir transaction rules with MOFCOM or itstheir respective provincial counterparts, examine the legal status of each third-party merchant selling products or services on the platformtheir platforms and display on a prominent location on thea merchant's web page of such merchant the information stated in the merchant's business license or a link to suchits business license, and a group buying website operatoroperators must only allow a third-party merchant with a proper business license to sell products or services on its platform.their platforms. Where the marketplace platform providers also act as online distributors, these marketplace platform providers must make a clear distinction between their online direct sales and sales of third-party merchant products on thetheir marketplace platform.platforms.

               Since the promulgation of the Administrative Measures for Online Trading, the SAIC has issued a number of guidelines and implementing rules aimed at adding greater specificity to these regulations. The SAIC continues to consider and issue guidelines and implementing rules, and we expect that there will be further development of regulation in this industry. For example, three PRC governmental authorities (the Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs and State Administration of Taxation) issued a notice on March 24, 2016 to regulate cross-border e-commerce trading which has experienced rapid growth in recent years. The New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice, which became effective on April 8, 2016, introduced the concept of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation Goods Inventory, or the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory, which are to be issued and updated by the three authorities together with other relevant authorities from time to time. Goods beyond the scope of the Cross-Border E-commerce Goods Inventory will have no tax codes and be effectively removed from cross-border e-commerce platforms. Two batches of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory have been issued on April 6, 2016 and April 15, 2016, respectively. Cosmetics imported for the first time, nutrition supplements and other special food products required to be registered with the State Food and Drug Administration are excluded from the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory and will not be able to be sold on the relevant cross-border e-commerce platforms. However, pursuant to a transition policy issued by the General Administration of Customs, goods which have been imported to or in transit to the bonded areas and special regulated areas of customs before April 8, 2016 can still be sold on the cross-border e-commerce platforms no matter whether these goods are included in the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory or not. Further, pursuant to the Notice of Relevant Matters on Implementation of New Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation Supervision and Administration Requirements, or the New Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Implementation Notice, issued by the General Administration of Customs on May 24, 2016, the implementation of certain provisions of the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice will be suspended until the expiration of a transition period, which will conclude by the end of 2017. According to the New Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Implementation Notice, the requirement of presenting customs clearance for bonded goods purchased online is suspended in ten cities, and the requirement of presenting first-time import license, registration or filing for online purchased cosmetics imported for the first time, nutrition supplements and other special food products, are suspended until the end of the transition period. Further, according to an official MOFCOM news release issued on March 17, 2017, from January 1, 2018 retail goods imported on cross-border e-commerce platforms will be temporarily treated as personal items which are not subject to stricter regulation and higher tax rates applicable to normal imported goods in 15 cross-border e-commerce trial areas.


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        Regulation of Mobile Applications

               On June 28, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Services, which came into effect as of August 1, 2016, requiring ICPs who provide information services through mobile Internet applications, or "Apps," to:

          •
          verify the real identities of registered users through mobile phone numbers or other similar channels;

          •
          establish and improve procedures for protection of user information;

          •
          establish and improve procedures for information content censorship;

          •
          ensure that users are given adequate information concerning an App, and are able to choose whether an App is installed and whether or not to use an installed App and its functions;

          •
          respect and protect intellectual property rights; and

          •
          keep records of users' log-in information for 60 days.

        If an ICP who provides information services through Apps violates these regulations, mobile application stores through which the ICP distributes its Apps may issue warnings, suspend the release of its Apps, or terminate the sale of its Apps, and/or report the violations to governmental authorities.

        Regulation of Internet Content

               The PRC government has promulgated measures relating to Internet content through various ministries and agencies, including the MIIT, the News Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication. In addition to various approval and license requirements, these measures specifically prohibit Internet activities that result in the dissemination of any content which is found to contain pornography, promote gambling or violence, instigate crimes, undermine public morality or the cultural traditions of the PRC or compromise State security or secrets. ICPs must monitor and control the information posted on their websites. If any prohibited content is found, they must remove suchthe content immediately, keep a record of it and report to the relevant authorities. If an ICP violates these measures, the PRC government may impose fines and revoke any relevant business operation licenses.

          Regulations on Broadcasting Audio/Video Programs through the Internet

               On April 13, 2005, the State Council announced Several Decisions on Investment by Non-state-owned Companies in Culture-related Business in China. These decisions encourage and support non-state-owned companies to enter certain culture-related business in China, subject to restrictions and prohibitions for investment in audio/video broadcasting, website news and certain other businesses by non-state-owned companies. These decisions authorize the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, or the SARFT, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication, or the GAPP, to adopt detailed implementing rules according to these decisions.

               On December 20, 2007, the SARFT and the MIIT jointly issued the Rules for the Administration of Internet Audio and Video Program Services, commonly known as Circular 56, which came into effect on January 31, 2008 and was amended on August 28, 2015. Among other things, Circular 56 requires all online audio/video service providers to be either wholly state-owned or state-controlled. According to relevant official answers to press questions published on the SARFT's website dated February 3, 2008, officials from the SARFT and the MIIT clarified that online audio/video service providers that already had been operating lawfully prior to the issuance of Circular 56 may re-register and continue to operate without becoming state-owned or controlled, provided that the providers have not engaged in any unlawful activities. This exemption will not be granted to online audio/video service providers established after Circular 56 was issued. These policies have been reflected in the Application Procedure for Audio/Video Program Transmission License.


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               On March 17, 2010, the SARFT issued the Internet Audio/Video Program Services Categories (Provisional), or the Provisional Categories, which classified Internet audio/video programs into four categories. Category I is only open to state-owned broadcast media companies operating in the television section, and the other three categories are open to privately held entities.

               In 2009, the SARFT released a Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content. This notice reiterated, among other things, that all movies and television shows released or published online must comply with relevant regulations on the administration of radio, film and television. In other words, these movies and television shows, whether produced in the PRC or overseas, must be pre-approved by the SARFT, and the distributors of these movies and television shows must obtain an applicable permit before releasing any of these movie or television shows. In 2012, the SARFT and the State Internet Information Office of the PRC issued a Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films. In 2014, the General Administration of Press and Publication, Radio, Film and Television, or GAPPRFT, formerly the SARFT and the GAPP, released a Supplemental Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films. This notice stresses that entities producing online audio/video content, such as Internet dramas and micro films, must obtain a permit for radio and television program production and operation, and that online audio/video content service providers should not release any Internet dramas or micro films that were produced by any entity lacking the permit. For Internet dramas or micro films produced and uploaded by individual users, the online audio/video service providers transmitting this content will be deemed responsible as the producer. Further, under this notice, online audio/video service providers can only transmit content uploaded by individuals whose identity has been verified and the content must comply with the relevant content management rules. This notice also requires that online audio/video content, include Internet drama and micro films, be filed with the relevant authorities before release.

               On October 28, 2011, the SARFT issued the Administrative and Operational Requirements for Licensed Internet TV Organizations, commonly known as Circular 181, which came into effect on the same date. Circular 181 requires that Smart TVs must be exclusively connected to a specific licensed Internet TV organization and must not have access to the public Internet or network operators' databases. Up to now, there are only seven licensed Internet TV organizations and all are state-owned companies.

               On September 2, 2014, the GAPPRFT promulgated a Notice on Further Implementing the Relevant Provisions for the Administration of Broadcasting Foreign Films and TV dramas. The notice stresses that any foreign film or TV drama must have a License for Film Publication or a TV drama Issuance License before being broadcast online, and that the annual total number of foreign films and TV dramas broadcast by a website must not exceed 30% of the total amount of domestic films and TV dramas broadcast by the relevant website in the preceding year. Furthermore, online video operators are required to report their annual plans for the import of foreign films and TV dramas to the GAPPRFT before the end of the preceding year. If the online video operators' import plans are approved, the samples, contracts, copyright certificates, plot summaries and other materials relevant to the foreign films and TV dramas are subject to further content examination before the issuance of Licenses for Film Publication or the TV drama Issuance Licenses. The notice also requires these online video operators to upload information about the foreign films and TV dramas to be broadcast to a unified platform for registration before March 31, 2015. Since April 1, 2015, unregistered foreign films and TV dramas are no longer allowed to be broadcast online.

               On April 25, 2016, the GAPPRFT promulgated the Administration Measures on Audio/Video Program Services via Special Network and Directional Transmission, or Circular 6, which came into effect on June 1, 2016 and replaced the Rules for the Administration of Broadcasting of Audio/Video Programs through the Internet and Other Information Networks, which was promulgated in July 2004. Pursuant to Circular 6, providers of audio/video program services via special network and directional transmission, including content providing, integrated broadcasting controlling and transmission and delivery, must obtain an audio/video program transmission license, with a term of three years, issued by the GAPPRFT and operate pursuant to the scope as provided in such licenses. Foreign invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in these businesses.


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          Regulations on Internet Publication

               The GAPPRFT is responsible for nationwide supervision and administration of publishing activities in China. On February 4, 2016, the GAPPRFT and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Online Publication Service Administration Rules, or the Online Publication Rules, which took effect on March 10, 2016 and replaced the Internet Publication Tentative Administrative Measures, which was promulgated in June 2002. Pursuant to the Online Publication Rules, an online publication service provider must obtain the Online Publication Service License from the GAPPRFT. The term "online publication service" is defined as the provision of online publications to the public through information networks. The term "online publications" is defined as digital works characteristic of publishing such as editing, production or processing provided to the public through information networks, and primarily include:

          •
          original digital works such as texts, pictures, maps, games, cartoons and audio-visual reading materials in the fields of literature, art, science, etc., which are of knowledge or ideology;

          •
          digital works, the content of which is the same as that which has already been published, such as books, newspapers, periodicals and electronic publications;

          •
          digital works such as online document databases formed by way of selecting, compiling or collecting the abovementioned works; and

          •
          other types of digital works determined by the GAPPRFT.

               The Online Publication Rules expressly prohibit foreign invested enterprises from providing online publication services. In addition, if an online publication service provider intends to cooperate for an online publication services project with foreign invested enterprises, overseas organizations or overseas individuals, it must report to the GAPPRFT and obtain an approval in advance. Also, an online publication service provider is prohibited from lending, leasing, selling or otherwise transferring the Online Publication Service License, or to allow any other online information service provider to provide online publication services in its name.

               Pursuant to the Online Publication Rules, book, audio-visual, electronic, newspaper or periodical publishers who intend to engage in online publication services must have:

          •
          a specific publishing platform, such as domain name and smart terminal application, for conducting online publication business;

          •
          a specific online publication service scope; and

          •
          necessary technical equipment for the provision of online publication services, with the related server and storage equipment located within the territory of the PRC.

               Other entities which intend to engage in online publication services must have:

          •
          a specific name and articles of association which is not identical to the name of any other publication service provider;

          •
          a legal representative and key responsible persons who shall be a PRC national living permanently in the PRC who has full civil capacity to act, and at least one of these legal representatives or key responsible persons must have a mid-level or higher professional qualification in the field of publication;

          •
          at least eight full-time editing and publishing staff, other than the legal representative and key responsible persons, who have professional qualifications in publishing or other relevant fields recognized by the GAPPRFT and meet the needs of the entity's scope of online publication services, among whom at least three must have mid-level or higher professional qualification;

          •
          a content review system meeting the needs of the provision of online publication services;

          •
          fixed working premises; and

          •
          other items as required by relevant laws, administrative regulations or the GAPPRFT.

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          Regulations on Internet Drug Information Service

               The State Food and Drug Administration, or the SFDA, promulgated the Administrative Measures on Internet Drug Information Service in July 2004 and certain implementing rules and notices thereafter. These measures set out regulations governing the classification, application, approval, content, qualifications and requirements for Internet drug information services. An ICP service operator that provides information regarding drugs or medical equipment must obtain an Internet Drug Information Service Qualification Certificate from the applicable provincial level counterpart of the SFDA.

          Regulations on Internet News Information Services

               Publishing and disseminating news through the Internet are highly regulated in the PRC. On November 7, 2000, the State Council Information Office, or SCIO, and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Provisional Measures for Administrating Internet Websites Carrying on the News Publication Business, or Internet News Measures. These measures require an ICP operator (other than a government authorized news unit) to obtain the approval from SCIO to publish news on its website or disseminate news through the Internet. Furthermore, any disseminated news is required to be obtained from government-approved sources based on contracts between the ICP operator and these sources. The copies of these contracts must be filed with relevant government authorities.

               On September 25, 2005, the SCIO and the MIIT jointly issued the Provisions on the Administration of Internet News Information Services, requiring Internet news information service organizations to provide services as approved by the SCIO, subject to annual inspection under the new provisions. These Provisions also provide that no foreign invested enterprise, whether jointly or wholly owned by the foreign investment, may be an Internet news information service organization, and no cooperation between Internet news information service organizations and foreign invested enterprises is allowed before the SCIO completes the security evaluation.

               On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration issued the Administrative Provisions on Internet News Information Services, or the 2017 Internet News Information Provisions, which came into effect on June 1, 2017 and redefine news information as reports and commentary on political, economic, military, diplomatic and other social and public affairs, as well as reports and commentary on emergency social events. Pursuant to the 2017 Internet News Information Provisions, the Cyberspace Administration and its local counterparts replaced the SCIO as the government department in charge of supervision and administration of internet news information. Further, an ICP operator must obtain approval from the Cyberspace Administration in order to provide Internet news information services, including through websites, applications, forums, blogs, microblogs, public accounts, instant messaging tools, and webcasts.

          Regulations on Internet Culture Activities

               On February 17, 2011, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Internet Culture Administration Tentative Measures, or the Internet Culture Measures. The Internet Culture Measures require ICP operators engaging in "Internet culture activities" to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture. The term "Internet culture activities" includes, among other things, online dissemination of Internet cultural products (such as audio-video products, gaming products, performances of plays or programs, works of art and cartoons) and the production, reproduction, importation, publication and broadcasting of Internet cultural products.

               On November 20, 2006, the Ministry of Culture issued Several Suggestions of the Ministry of Culture on the Development and Administration of the Internet Music, or the Suggestions, which became effective on November 20, 2006. The Suggestions, among other things, reiterate the requirement for an Internet service provider to obtain an Internet culture business permit to carry on any business relating to Internet music products. In addition, foreign investors are prohibited from operating Internet culture businesses. However, the laws and regulations on Internet music products are still evolving, and there have not been any provisions stipulating whether or how music video will be regulated by the Suggestions.

               On August 2, 2013, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Notice on Implementing the Administrative Measures for the Content Self-examination of Internet Culture Business Entities. According to this notice, any


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        cultural product or service shall be reviewed by the provider before being released to the public and the review process shall be done by persons who have obtained the relevant content review certificate.

               On October 23, 2015, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Notice on Further Strengthening and Improving the Content Review of Online Music, which took effect on January 1, 2016 and stipulated that ICPs shall carry out self-examination in respect of the content management of online music, which shall be regulated by the cultural administration departments in process or afterwards. According to this notice, ICP operators are required to submit their content administrative system, review procedures, and work standards to the provincial culture administrative department where they are located for filing within a prescribed period.

          Regulations on Producing Audio/Video Programs

               On July 19, 2004, the SARFT promulgated the Administrative Measures on the Production and Operation of Radio and Television Programs, effective as of August 20, 2004 and amended on August 28, 2015. These Measures provide that anyone who wishes to produce or operate radio or television programs must first obtain an operating permit for their business.

               On February 1, 2002, the State Council promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Films, or the Film Regulations, which became effective on the same day. The Film Regulations set forth the general regulatory guidelines for China's film industry and address practical issues with respect to production, censorship, distribution and screening. They also establish the SARFT as the sector's regulatory authority, and serve as the foundation for all other legislation promulgated in this area. The Film Regulations provide the framework for an industry-wide licensing system operated by the SARFT, under which separate permits (and permit application procedures) apply.

        Regulation of Internet Security

               The Decision in Relation to Protection of the Internet Security enacted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China on December 28, 2000 provides that the following activities conducted through the Internet are subject to criminal punishment:

          •
          gaining improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance;


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          •
          disseminating politically disruptive information or obscenities;

          •
          leaking State secrets;

          •
          spreading false commercial information; or

          •
          infringing intellectual property rights.

               The Administrative Measures on the Security Protection of Computer Information Network with International Connections, issued by the Ministry of Public Security on December 16, 1997 and amended on January 8, 2011, prohibit the use of the Internet in a manner that would result in the leakage of State secrets or the spread of socially destabilizing content. The Provisions on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, or the Internet Security Protection Measures, promulgated on December 13, 2005 by Ministry of Public Security require all ICPs to keep records of certain information about their users (including user registration information, log-in and log-out time, IP address, content and time of posts by users) for at least 60 days and submit the above information as required by laws and regulations. Under these measures, value-added telecommunications services license holders must regularly update information security and content control systems for their websites and must also report any public dissemination of prohibited content to local public security authorities. If a value-added telecommunications services license holder violates these measures, the Ministry of Public Security and the local security bureaus may revoke its operating license and shut down its websites.

               The Communication Network Security Protection Administrative Measures, which were promulgated by the MIIT on January 21, 2010, require that all communication network operators, including telecommunications service providers and Internet domain name service providers, divide their own communication networks into units. These communication network units shall be rated in accordance with degree of damage to national security, economic


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        operation, social order and public interest in the event a unit is damaged. Communication network operators must file the division and ratings of their communication network with MIIT or its local counterparts. If a communication network operator violates these measures, the MIIT or its local counterparts may order rectification or impose a fine up to RMB30,000 in case a violation is not duly rectified.

               Internet security in China is also regulated and restricted from a national security standpoint. On July 1, 2015, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the New National Security Law, which took effect on the same date and replaced the former National Security Law promulgated in 1993. According to the New National Security Law, the state shall ensure that the information system and data in important areas are secure and controllable. In addition, according to the New National Security Law, the state shall establish national security review and supervision institutions and mechanisms, and conduct national security reviews of key technologies and IT products and services that affect or may affect national security. There are uncertainties on how the New National Security Law will be implemented in practice.

               On November 7, 2016, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the Cybersecurity Law, which came into effect on June 1, 2017, and apply to the construction, operation, maintenance and use of networks as well as the supervision and administration of cybersecurity in China. The Cybersecurity Law defines "networks" as systems that are composed of computers or other information terminals and relevant facilities used for the purpose of collecting, storing, transmitting, exchanging and processing information in accordance with certain rules and procedures. "Network operators," who are broadly defined as owners and administrator of networks and network service providers, are subject to various security protection related obligations including:

          •
          complying with security protection obligations in accordance with tiered cybersecurity system's protection requirements, which include formulating internal security management rules and manual, appointing cybersecurity responsible personnel, adopting technical measures to prevent computer virus and cybersecurity endangering activities, adopting technical measures to monitor and record network operation status, cybersecurity events, retaining user logs for at least six months and adopting measures such as data classification, key data backup and encryption, for the purpose of securing networks from interference, vandalization, or unauthorized visit and preventing network data from leakage, theft or tampering;

          •
          verifying user's identities before signing agreements or providing services such as network access, domain name registration, landline telephone or mobile phone access, information publishing or real-time communication services;

          •
          formulating cybersecurity emergency response plans, timely handling security risks, initiating emergency response plans, taking appropriate remedial measures and reporting to regulatory authorities; and

          •
          providing technical assistance and support for public security and national security authorities for protection of national security and criminal investigations.

               According to the Cybersecurity Law, network service providers must inform users about and report to the relevant authorities any known security defects and bugs, and must provide constant security maintenance services for their products and services. Network products and service providers shall not contain or provide malware. Network service providers who do not comply with the Cybersecurity Law may be subject to fines, suspension of their businesses, shutdown of their websites, and revocation of their business licenses.

               On April 11, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration released the draft Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information and Important Data, or the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, which requires personal information and important data collected by and produced by all network operators during the course of their operations within China to be stored within China. According to the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, self-assessment by network operators or assessment by industrial regulatory authority or the national cyberspace authority under certain circumstances must be completed before transferring personal information or important data overseas.

               According to the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, personal information or important data may not be transferred overseas without consent from the concerned individual(s), or if the transfer endangers the interests of


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        individuals, the public or national security. The export of the following data shall be pre-assessed by industrial regulatory authority or the national cyberspace authority:

          •
          personal information of 500,000 individuals or more;

          •
          data with volume of 1,000 gigabytes or more;

          •
          data in relation to nuclear facilities, chemistry and biology, national defense and military, health of the population, mega project activities, ocean environment, and sensitive geographical information;

          •
          network security information involving system bugs and security protection of key information infrastructure;

          •
          personal information and important data provided by key information infrastructure operators; and

          •
          other data that may affect national security and societal public interests, and considered by the industrial administration authority or regulatory authority necessary to be subject to their assessment.

               The Cyberspace Administration will complete the solicitation of comments on the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures in May 2017, and there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to its final content and enactment timetable.

               On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration issued the Measures for Security Review of Cyber Products and Services, or the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2017. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, the following cyber products and services will be subject to cybersecurity review:

          •
          important cyber products and services purchased by networks and information systems related to national security; and

          •
          the purchase of cyber products and services by operators of critical information infrastructure in important industries and fields such as public communications and information services, energy, transportation, water resources, finance, public service and electronic administration, and other critical information infrastructure, which may affect national security.

               The Cyberspace Administration is responsible for organizing and implementing cybersecurity review, while the competent departments in key industries such as finance, telecommunications, energy and transport shall be responsible for organizing and implementing security review of cyber products and services in their respective industries or fields. There are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Cybersecurity Review Measures.

        Regulation of Privacy Protection

               Under the ICP Measures, ICPs are prohibited from producing, copying, publishing or distributing information that is humiliating or defamatory to others or that infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of others. Depending on the nature of the violation, ICPs may face criminal charges or sanctions by PRC security authorities for suchthese acts, and may be ordered to suspend temporarily their services or have their licenses revoked.

               Under the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, issued by the MIIT on December 29, 2011, ICPs are also prohibited from collecting any personal user personal information or providing any such information to third parties without the consent of athe user. The Cybersecurity Law provides an exception to the consent requirement where the information is anonymous, not personally identifiable and unrecoverable. ICPs must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of such user personal information and may only collect such information necessary for its services. ICPs are also required to properly maintain the user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of the user personal information, ICPs must take remedial measures immediately and report any material leak to the telecommunications regulatory authority.

               In addition, the Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on December 28, 2012 emphasizes the need to protect electronic


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        information that contains individual identification information and other private data. The decision requires ICPs to establish and publish policies regarding the collection and use of personal electronic information and to take necessary measures to ensure the security of the information and to prevent leakage, damage or loss. Furthermore, MIIT's Rules on Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users promulgated on July 16, 2013 contain detailed requirements on the use and collection of personal information as well as the security measures to be taken by ICPs.

               The PRC government retains the power and authority to order ICPs to provide an Internet user's personal information if sucha user posts any prohibited content or engages in any illegal activities through the Internet.

               According to the Cybersecurity Law, individuals may request that network operators make corrections to or delete their personal information in case the information is wrong or was collected or used beyond an individuals' agreement with network operators.

        Regulation of Consumer Protection

               Our online and mobile commerce business is subject to a variety of consumer protection laws, including the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, as amended and effective as of March 15, 2014, and the Administrative Measures for Online Trading, both of which have provided stringent requirements and obligations on business operators, including Internet business operators and platform service providers like us. For example, consumers are entitled to return goods purchased online, subject to certain exceptions, within seven days upon receipt of such goods for no reason. On January 6, 2017, the SAIC issued the Interim Measures for No Reason Return of Online Purchased Commodities within Seven Days, which came into effect on March 15, 2017, further clarifying the scope of consumers' rights to make returns without a reason, including exceptions, return procedures and online marketplace platform providers' responsibility to formulate seven-day no-reason return rules and related consumer protection systems, and supervise the merchants for compliance with these rules. To ensure that sellersmerchants and service providers comply with these laws and regulations, we, as platform operators, are required to implement rules governing transactions on our platform, monitor the information posted by sellersmerchants and service providers, and report any violations by such sellersmerchants or service providers to the relevant authorities. In addition, online marketplace platform providers may, pursuant to PRC consumer protection laws, be exposed to liabilities if the lawful rights and interests of consumers are infringed in connection with consumers' purchase of goods or acceptance of services on online marketplace platforms and the


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        platform service providers fail to provide consumers with the contact information of the sellermerchant or manufacturer. In addition, platform service providers may be jointly and severally liable with sellersmerchants and manufacturers if they are aware or should be aware that the sellermerchant or manufacturer is using the online platform to infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of consumers and fail to take measures necessary to prevent or stop suchthis activity.

               Failure to comply with these consumer protection laws could subject us to administrative sanctions, such as the issuance of a warning, confiscation of illegal income, imposition of a fine, an order to cease business operations, revocation of business licenses, as well as potential civil or criminal liabilities.

        Regulation of Pricing

               In China, the prices of a very small number of products and services are guided or fixed by the government. According to the Pricing Law, business operators must, as required by the government departments in charge of pricing, mark the prices explicitly and indicate the name, production origin, of production, specifications, and other related particulars clearly. Business operators may not sell products at a premium or charge any fees that are not explicitly indicated. Business operators must not commit the specified unlawful pricing activities, such as colluding with others to manipulate the market price, providing fraudulent discounted price information, using false or misleading prices to deceive consumers to transact, or conducting price discrimination against other business operators. Failure to comply with the Pricing Law or other rules or regulations on pricing may subject business operators to administrative sanctions such as warning, orders to cease unlawful activities, payment of compensation to consumers, confiscation of illegal gains, and/or fines. The business operators may be ordered to suspend business for rectification, or have their business licenses revoked if the circumstances are severe. Merchants on Tmall and


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        Taobao Marketplace undertake the primary obligation under the Pricing Law. However, in some cases, we have been and may in the future be held liable and be subject to fines or other penalties if the authorities determine that, as the platform operator, our guidance for platform-wide promotional activities resulted in unlawful pricing activities by the sellersmerchants on our platformplatforms or if the pricing information we provided for platform-wide promotional activities was determined to be untrue or misleading.

        Regulation of Intellectual Property Rights

               Patent.    Patents in the PRC are principally protected under the Patent Law of the PRC. The duration of a patent right is either 10 years or 20 years from the date of application, depending on the type of patent right.

               Copyright.    Copyright in the PRC, including copyrighted software, is principally protected under the Copyright Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.

               Trademark.    Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Trademarks are registered with the Trademark Office of the SAIC. Where registration is sought for a trademark that is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or given preliminary examination and approval for use in the same or similar category of commodities or services, the application for registration of suchthis trademark may be rejected. Trademark registrations are effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked.

               Domain names.Name.    Domain name registrations are handled through domain name service agencies established under the relevant regulations, and applicants become domain name holders upon successful registration.

        Regulation of Anti-counterfeiting

               According to the Trademark Law of the PRC, counterfeit or unauthorized production of the label of another person's registered trademark, or sale of any label that is counterfeited or produced without authorization will be deemed as an infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark. The infringing party will be ordered to cease infringement immediately, a fine may be imposed and the counterfeit goods will be confiscated. The infringing party may also be held liable for damages suffered by the owner of the intellectual property rights,


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        which will be equal to the gains obtained by the infringing party or the losses suffered by suchthe owner as a result of the infringement, including reasonable expenses incurred by suchthe owner in connection with enforcing its rights.

               Under the Tort Liability Law of the PRC, an Internet service provider may be subject to joint liability if it is aware that an Internet user is infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others through its Internet services, such as selling counterfeit products, and fails to take necessary measures to stop that activity. If an Internet service provider receives a notice from an infringed party regarding an infringement, the Internet service provider is required to take certain measures, including deleting, blocking and unlinking the infringing content, in a timely manner.

               In addition, under the Administrative Measures for Online Trading issued by the SAIC on January 26, 2014, as an operator of an online trading platform, we must adopt measures to ensure safe online transactions, protect consumers' rights and prevent trademark infringement.

        Tax Regulations

          PRC Enterprise Income Tax

               The PRC enterprise income tax, or EIT, is calculated based on the taxable income determined under the applicable EIT Law and its implementation rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008.2008 and were most recently amended on February 24, 2017. The EIT Law generally imposes a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25% on all resident enterprises in China, including foreign-invested enterprises.


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               The EIT Law and its implementation rules permit certain High and New Technologies Enterprises, or HNTEs, to enjoy a reduced 15% enterprise income tax rate subject to these HNTEs meeting certain qualification criteria. In addition, the relevant EIT laws and regulations also provide that entities recognized as Software Enterprises are able to enjoy a tax holiday consisting of a 2-year-exemption commencing from their first profitable calendar year and a 50% reduction in ordinary tax rate infor the subsequentfollowing three calendar years, while entities qualified as Key Software Enterprises can enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 10%. A number of our PRC subsidiaries and operating entities enjoy these types of preferential tax treatment. See "Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — People's Republic of China Taxation."

               Uncertainties exist with respect to how the EIT Law applies to the tax residence status of Alibaba Group and our offshore subsidiaries. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a "de facto management body" within China is considered a "resident enterprise," which means that it is treated in the same manner as a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define "de facto management body" as a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in Circular 82 issued by the State Administration of Taxation, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although Alibaba Group Holding Limited does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of Circular 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in Circular 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of Alibaba Group and our subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.

               According to Circular 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a "de facto management body" in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met:

          •
          the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC;

          •
          decisions relating to the enterprise's financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC;


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          •
          the enterprise's primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholders meeting minutes are located or maintained in the PRC; and

          •
          50% or more of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.

               We do not believe that we meet any of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. Alibaba Group Holding Limited and our offshore subsidiaries are incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, our key assets and records, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that have been deemed a PRC "resident enterprise" by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that Alibaba Group Holding Limited and our offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a "resident enterprise" for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for "de facto management body" as set forth in Circular 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body" as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income."


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               In the event that Alibaba Group Holding Limited or any of our offshore subsidiaries is considered to be a PRC resident enterprise:

          •
          Alibaba Group Holding Limited or our offshore subsidiaries, as the case may be, may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income;

          •
          dividend income that Alibaba Group Holding Limited or our offshore subsidiaries, as the case may be, received from our PRC subsidiaries may be exempt from the PRC withholding tax; and

          •
          dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident enterprises as well as gains realized by suchthese shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties, and similarly, dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident individuals, as well as gains realized by suchthese shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs, may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 20%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties.

               Under Bulletin 7 issued by the State Administration of Taxation on February 3, 2015, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under Circular 698, an "indirect transfer" of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if suchthe arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from suchan indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. According to Bulletin 7, "PRC taxable assets" include assets attributed to an establishment or a place of business in China, immoveable properties in China, and equity investments in PRC resident enterprises. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the relevant gain is to be regarded as effectively connected with the PRC establishment or a place of business and therefore included in its enterprise income tax filing, and would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties in China or to equity investments in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not effectively connected to a PRC establishment or a place of business of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the transfer payments has the withholding obligation. There is uncertainty as to the implementation details of Bulletin 7. Especially as Bulletin 7 is promulgated recently, it is not clear how it will be implemented. If Bulletin 7 was determined by the tax authorities


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        to be applicable to some of our transactions involving PRC taxable assets, our offshore subsidiaries conducting the relevant transactions might be required to spend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 7 or to establish that the relevant transactions should not be taxed under Bulletin 7, which may materially and adversely affect us. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises or other assets attributed to a PRC establishment of a non-PRC company, or immovable properties located in China owned by their non-PRC holding companies.company."

               Where the payers fail to withhold any or sufficient tax, the non-PRC residents, as the transferors, are required to declare and pay suchthe taxes to the tax authorities on their own within the statutory time limit. Failure to comply with the tax payment obligations by the non-PRC residents will result in penalties, including full payment of taxes owed, fines and default interest on those taxes.

          PRC Business Tax and Value-Added Tax

               Before August 2013 and pursuant to applicable PRC tax regulations, any entity or individual conducting business in the service industry is generally required to pay a business tax at the rate of 5% on the revenues generated from providing such services. However, if the services provided are related to technology development and transfer, suchthe business tax may be exempted subject to approval by the relevant tax authorities.

               In November 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax. In May and December 2013, and April 2014 and


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        March 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated Circular 37, Circular 106, Circular 43 and Circular 4336 to further expand the scope of services which are to be subject to Value-Added Tax, or VAT, instead of business tax. Pursuant to these tax rules, from August 1, 2013, a VAT will bewas imposed to replace the business tax in certain service industries, including technology services and advertising services, and from May 1, 2016, VAT replaced business tax in all industries, on a nationwide basis. A VAT rate of 6% applies to revenue derived from the provision of certain services. Unlike business tax, a taxpayer is allowed to offset the qualified input VAT paid on taxable purchases against the output VAT chargeable on the revenue from services provided. Accordingly, although the 6% VAT rate is higher than the previously applicable 5% business tax rate, no materially different tax cost to us has resulted nor do we expect one to result from the replacement of the business tax with a VAT on our services.

          PRC Import Tax

               Consumer goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms were originally classified as "personal baggage or postal articles" under the Notice on Pilot Bonded Area Import Pattern of Cross-Border Trade E-Commerce Services issued by PRC General Administration of Customs on March 4, 2014. A personal baggage or postal articles tax was levied on these goods before the online retailors could deliver the same to buyers. The personal baggage or postal articles tax were exempted if the payable amount was lower than RMB50. The rate of personal baggage or postal articles tax was respectively 10%, 20%, 30% and 50% for different categories of products imported. Under this tax pattern, a quota of RMB1,000 for each purchase order was imposed on online buyers, otherwise the imported goods were classified as normal goods, which are subject to value-added tax, consumption tax and tariff.

               The above-mentioned pilot bonded area import pattern of cross-border e-commerce was abolished pursuant to the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice. The goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms are now treated as normal goods rather than "personal baggage or postal articles" and subject to the usual value-added tax, consumption tax and tariff. Normally, a 17% value-added tax will be levied on most products sold on the cross-border e-commerce platform and a 15% consumption tax will be levied on high-end cosmetics, while no consumption tax will be levied on skin care products, maternity and baby care products. However, the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice provides that, if the goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms are within the quota of RMB2,000 for each purchase order or RMB20,000 per year for each buyer, the payable amount for the value-added tax and the consumption tax will be reduced to 70% of the payable tax, and the tariff will be waived.

          PRC Export Tax

               According to the Notice on the Taxation Policies for Cross-border E-Commerce Retail Export, or the E-Commerce Export Taxation Notice, which was jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation and took effect as of January 1, 2014, an e-commerce export enterprise may be exempt or refunded from consumption tax and VAT upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

          •
          it is a general VAT taxpayer, and has been granted the export tax refund/exemption eligibility;

          •
          the customs export declarations (specifically for export tax refund) for exported goods have been obtained and information thereon is consistent with the electronic information of the customs export declarations;

          •
          the foreign exchange for the exported goods is received prior to the deadline of tax refund or tax exemption; and

          •
          where the e-commerce export enterprise is a foreign trade enterprise, it must have obtained corresponding special VAT invoices, special payment statements for consumption tax (split pages) or special customs statements for payment of import VAT or consumption tax for purchase of the goods for export, and relevant information on the foregoing documents shall be consistent with that contained in the customs export declarations (specifically for export tax refunds).

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               Even if an e-commerce export enterprise does not satisfy the foregoing conditions, it may also be exempt from consumption tax and VAT if it meets the following requirements:

          •
          it has completed tax registration;

          •
          it has obtained customs export declarations for the exported goods; and

          •
          it has obtained legal and valid proof for purchase of the exported goods.

               Third-party e-commerce platforms providing transaction services for e-commerce export enterprises are not eligible for a tax refund or exemption under the E-Commerce Export Taxation Notice.

        Regulation of Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution

          Foreign Exchange Regulation

               The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of the PRC. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, may be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans or foreign currency is to be remitted into China under the capital account, such as a capital increase or foreign currency loans to our PRC subsidiaries.


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               In August 2008, SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency-registered capital into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. In addition, SAFE promulgated Circular 45 on November 9, 2011 in order to clarify the application of SAFE Circular 142. Under SAFE Circular 142 and Circular 45, the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable government authority and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises. The use of such RMB capital may not be changed without SAFE's approval, and such RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used.

               Since SAFE Circular 142 has been in place for more than five years, SAFE decided to further reform the foreign exchange administration system in order to satisfy and facilitate the business and capital operations of foreign invested enterprises, and issued the Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning the Launch of Reforming Trial of the Administration Model of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises in Certain Areas on August 4, 2014. This circular suspends the application of SAFE Circular 142 in certain areas and allows a foreign-invested enterprise registered in suchthese areas with a business scope including "investment" to use the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital for equity investments within the PRC. On April 9, 2015, SAFE released the Notice on the Reform of the Administration Method for the Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which came into force and superseded SAFE Circular 142 on June 1, 2015. Circular 19 allows foreign invested enterprises to settle their foreign exchange capital on a discretionary basis according to the actual needs of their business operation and provides the procedures for foreign invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investment. Nevertheless, Circular 19 also reiterates the principle that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Since Circular 19 was only recently promulgated, there are uncertainties on how it will be interpreted and implemented in practice.

               In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign Direct Investment, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange


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        accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration and banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Simplifying and Improving the Policies of Foreign Exchange Administration Applicable to Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Circular 13, the current foreign exchange procedures will be further simplified, and foreign exchange registrations of direct investment will be handled by the banks designated by the foreign exchange authority instead of SAFE and its branches. However, the foreign invested enterprises were still prohibited by SAFE Circular 13 to use the RMB converted from foreign currency-registered capital to extend entrustment loans, repay bank loans or inter-company loans.

               On June 19, 2016, SAFE issued the Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or Circular 16, which took effect on the same day. Compared to Circular 19, Circular 16 provides that discretionary foreign exchange settlement applies to foreign exchange capital, foreign debt offering proceeds and remitted foreign listing proceeds, and the corresponding Renminbi obtained from foreign exchange settlement are not restricted from extending loans to related parties or repaying the inter-company loans (including advances by third parties). However, since Circular 16 came into effect recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation in practice.

           ��   On January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness and Compliance Verification, or Circular 3, which took effect on the same day. Circular 3 sets out various measures, including the following:

          •
          relaxing the policy restriction on foreign exchange inflow to further enhance trade and investment facilitation, including:

          o
          expanding the scope of foreign exchange settlement for domestic foreign exchange loans,

          o
          allowing the capital repatriation for offshore financing against domestic guarantee,

          o
          facilitating the centralized management of foreign exchange funds of multinational companies, and

          o
          allowing offshore institutions within pilot free trade zones to settle foreign exchange in domestic foreign exchange accounts; and

          •
          tightening genuineness and compliance verification of cross-border transactions and cross-border capital flow, including:

          o
          improving the statistics of current account foreign currency earnings deposited offshore,

          o
          requiring banks to verify board resolutions, tax filing form, and audited financial statements before wiring foreign invested enterprises' foreign exchange distribution above US$50,000,

          o
          strengthening genuineness and compliance verification of foreign direct investments, and

          o
          implementing full scale management of offshore loans in Renminbi and foreign currencies by requiring the total amount of offshore loans be no higher than 30% of the onshore lender's equity shown on its audited financial statements of the last year.

               We typically do not need to use our offshore foreign currency to fund our PRC operations. In the event we need to do so, we will apply to obtain the relevant approvals of SAFE and other PRC government authorities as necessary.


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        necessary. Our PRC subsidiaries' distributions to their offshore parents and our cross-border foreign exchange activities are required to comply with the various requirements as described above.

          SAFE Circular 37

               SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents' Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as "SAFE Circular 75" promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents'their legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a "special purpose vehicle." SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls. On February 13, 2015, SAFE released SAFE Circular 13, under which local banks will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration, from June 1, 2015. However, since the notice came into force recently, thereThere exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by governmental authorities and banks.

               We have notified substantial beneficial owners of ordinary shares who we know are PRC residents of their filing obligation, and we have periodically filed SAFE Circular 75 reports prior to the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37, on behalf of certain employee shareholders whom we know are PRC residents. However, we may not be aware of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. In addition, we do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 may subject suchthese beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Failure to register or amend the registration may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries or receive dividends or other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries or other proceeds from disposal of our PRC subsidiaries, or we may be penalized by SAFE.

          Share Option Rulesoption rules

               Under the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control issued by the PBOC on December 25, 2006, all foreign exchange matters involved in employee share ownership plans and share option plans in which PRC citizens participate require approval from SAFE or its authorized branch. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. In addition, under the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, or the Share Option Rules, issued by SAFE on February 15, 2012, PRC residents who are granted shares or share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to (i) register with SAFE or its local branches, (ii) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas listed company or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the share incentive plans on behalf of the participants, and (iii) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers.


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          Regulation of Dividend Distributiondividend distribution

               The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividend distribution by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are the Company Law of the PRC, as amended, the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law and its implementation regulations and the Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law and its implementation regulations. Under these laws, rules and regulations, foreign-invested enterprises may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profit, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Both PRC domestic companies and wholly-foreign owned PRC enterprises are required to set aside as general reserves at least 10% of their after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of suchtheir reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.

        Labor Laws and Social Insurance

               Pursuant to the PRC Labor Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees. All employers must comply with local minimum wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the PRC Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative and criminal liability in the case of serious violations.

               In addition, according to the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Funds, employers in China must provide employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing funds.

        Anti-monopoly Law

               The PRC Anti-monopoly Law, which took effect on August 1, 2008, prohibits monopolistic conduct, such as entering into monopoly agreements, abuse of dominant market position and concentration of undertakings that have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition.

          Monopoly Agreement

               Competing business operators may not enter into monopoly agreements that eliminate or restrict competition, such as by boycotting transactions, fixing or changing the price of commodities, limiting the output of commodities, fixing the price of commodities for resale to third parties, among others, unless suchthe agreement will satisfy the exemptions under the Anti-monopoly Law, such as improving technologies, or increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of small and medium-sized undertakings.undertakings, or safeguarding legitimate interests in cross-border trade and economic cooperation with foreign counterparts. Sanctions for violations include an order to cease the relevant activities, and confiscation of illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year, or RMB500,000 if the intended monopoly agreement has not been performed).

          Abuse of Dominant Market Position

               A business operator with a dominant market position may not abuse its dominant market position to conduct acts, such as selling commodities at unfairly high prices or buying commodities at unfairly low prices, selling products at prices below cost without any justifiable cause, and refusing to trade with a trading party without any justifiable cause. Sanctions for violation of the prohibition on the abuse of dominant market position include an order to cease the relevant activities, confiscation of the illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year).

          Concentration of Undertakings

               Where a concentration of undertakings reaches the declaration threshold stipulated by the State Council, a declaration must be approved by the anti-monopoly authority before the parties implement the concentration.


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        Concentration refers to (1) a merger of undertakings; (2) acquiring control over other undertakings by acquiring


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        equities or assets; or (3) acquisition of control over, or the possibility of exercising decisive influence on, an undertaking by contract or by any other means. If business operators fail to comply with the mandatory declaration requirement, the anti-monopoly authority is empowered to terminate and/or unwind the transaction, dispose of relevant assets, shares or businesses within certain periods and impose fines of up to RMB500,000.

               See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We may become the target of anti-monopoly and unfair competition claims, which may result in our being subject to fines as well as constraints on our business."

        Anti-Terrorism Law

               The PRC Anti-Terrorism Law, which was promulgated on December 27, 2015 and came into effect on January 1, 2016, imposes obligations on telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers to provide technical interfaces and technical assistance in decryption and other efforts to public and national security authorities in terrorism prevention and investigation. Also, the Anti-Terrorism Law requires Internet service providers to implement network security and information and content monitoring systems and adopt technical security measures to prevent the dissemination of information containing terrorist or extremist content. Once content of this type is detected, Internet service providers shall cease the transmission of the information, keep the relevant records, delete the information and report to public and national security bodies. In addition, the Anti-Terrorism Law requires telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers to verify the identity of their clients, and to not provide services to anyone whose identity is unclear or who declines to verify his/her identity. However, the Anti-Terrorism Law does not further specify the required verification measures. Since the Anti-Terrorism Law was promulgated recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by governmental authorities.

        Regulation Applicable to Alipay

          Regulation of Non-financial Institution Payment Services

               According to the Administrative Measures for the Payment Services Provided by Non-financial Institutions, or the Payment Services Measures, promulgated by the PBOC on June 14, 2010 and effective as of September 1, 2010, a payment institution, a non-financial institution providing monetary transfer services as an intermediary between payees and payers, including online payment, issuance and acceptance of prepaid cards or bank cards, and other payment services specified by the PBOC, is required to obtain a payment business license. Any non- financialnon-financial institution or individual engaged in the payment business without suchthis license may be ordered to cease its payment services and be subject to administrative sanctions and even criminal liabilities. Applications for payment business licenses are examined by the local branches of the PBOC and then submitted to the PBOC for approval. The registered capital of an applicant that engages in a nationwide payment business must be at least RMB100 million, while that of an applicant engaging in a payment business within a province must be at least RMB30 million.

               A payment institution is required to conduct its business within the scope of business indicated in its payment business license, and may not undertake any business beyond that scope or outsource its payment business. No payment institution may transfer, lease or lend its payment business license.

               In addition, onOn January 20, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Guiding Opinions on the Pilot Services of Cross-Border Foreign Exchange Payment by Payment Institutions, or the Guiding Opinions, which replaced the previous guiding opinion issued by SAFE on February 1, 2013. Pursuant to the Guiding Opinions, a payment institution is required to obtain approval from the SAFE in order to engage in pilot cross-border foreign exchange payment services and may only provide cross-border foreign exchange payment services for trade in goods or trade in services with real and legitimate transaction background. The payment institution must also verify the real names and identity information of the customers involved in the cross-border transactions, maintain records of the relevant transactions and make monthly reports to the local branch of the SAFE.


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               In addition, on December 28, 2015, the PBOC promulgated the Administrative Measures for the Online Payment Business of Non-bank Payment Institutions, or the Online Payment Measures, which came into effect on July 1, 2016. The Online Payment Measures require online payment institutions to conduct "know your client" checks and implement the real name system for payment accounts. The Online Payment Measures classify online payment accounts into three categories and require online payment institutions to impose real-name based, classified management, including imposing limits on annual payment volume with respect to different categories of online payment accounts. In addition, a payment account can only be opened by a payment institution with Internet payment business license at the request of customers.

               On January 13, 2017, the PBOC issued the Notice on Matters Related to Implementation of Centralized Custody of Clients' Reserve Funds of Payment Institutions, which requires that from April 17, 2017, payment institutions transfer a portion of customer reserve funds to a specifically designated bank account upon the request of the PBOC and that no interest shall accrue upon the transferred customer reserve funds.

               We rely on Alipay to provide payment services on our marketplaces and Alipay has obtained a payment business license from the PBOC as well as approval for cross-border foreign exchange payment services from the SAFE.

          Anti-money Laundering Regulations

               The PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, which became effective on January 1, 2007, sets forth the principal anti-money laundering requirements applicable to both financial and non-financial institutions with anti-money laundering obligations, such as Alipay, including the adoption of precautionary and supervisory measures, establishment of various systems for client identification, preservation of clients' identification information and transactions records, and reports on block transactions and suspicious transactions. The Payment Services Measures also require that the payment institution follow the rules associated with anti-money laundering and comply with their anti-money laundering obligations.

               In addition, the PBOC promulgated the Administrative Measures for Payment Institutions Regarding Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing on March 5, 2012, or the Anti-money Laundering Measures, according to which the payment institution must establish and improve unified anti-money laundering internal control systems and file suchtheir systems with the local branch of the PBOC. The Anti-money Laundering


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        Measures also require the payment institution to set up an anti-money laundering department or designate an internal department to be responsible for anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing work.

               InAlipay is in the future, if Alipay expandsprocess of expanding its business internationally, and it may become subject to additional laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it chooses to operate. These regulatory regimes may be complex and require extensive time and resources to ensure compliance.

          Disclosure of Iranian Activities under Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act

               Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 added Section 13(r) to the Exchange Act. Section 13(r) requires an issuer to disclose in its annual or quarterly reports, as applicable, whether it or any of its affiliates knowingly engaged in certain activities, including, among other matters, transactions or dealings relating to the government of Iran. Disclosure is required even where the activities, transactions or dealings are conducted outside the U.S. by non-U.S. affiliates in compliance with applicable law, and whether or not the activities are sanctionable under U.S. law.

               During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp., one of our major shareholders, through one of its non-U.S. subsidiaries, provided roaming services in Iran through Telecommunications Services Company (MTN Irancell), which is or may be a government-controlled entity. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp. had no gross revenues from these services and no net profit was generated. This subsidiary also provided telecommunications services in the ordinary course of business to accounts affiliated with the Embassy of Iran in Japan. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp. estimates that


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        gross revenues and net profit generated by these services were both under US$9,400. In addition, during the year end of March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp., through one of its non-U.S. indirect subsidiaries, provided office supplies to the Embassy of Iran in Japan. SoftBank Group Corp. estimates that gross revenue and net profit generated by these services were under US$5,300 and US$1,030, respectively. These activities have been conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and they are not sanctionable under U.S. or Japanese law. Accordingly, with respect to Telecommunications Services Company (MTN Irancell), the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. intends to continue these activities. With respect to services provided to accounts affiliated with the Embassy of Iran in Japan, the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. is obligated under contract to continue these services. With respect to the provision of office supplies to the Embassy of Iran in Japan, the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. intends to continue these activities. We were not involved in, and did not receive any revenue from, any of these activities by SoftBank.

        C.    Organizational Structure

               We conduct our business operations across approximately 320630 subsidiaries and other consolidated entities. The chart below summarizes our corporate legal structure and identifies the significant subsidiaries described in "— A. History and Development of the Company," as well as our other subsidiaries and variable interest entities that are material to our business and the number of their respective subsidiaries, as of March 31, 2015:2017:

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC

        (1)
        Includes approximately 90130 subsidiaries and consolidated entities incorporated in China and approximately 130230 subsidiaries incorporated in other jurisdictions that are not illustrated in this chart.jurisdictions. In addition, the entities pictured in this chart hold, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of approximately 40160 additional subsidiaries and consolidated entities incorporated in China and approximately 40100 additional subsidiaries incorporated outside of China not pictured in the chart.
        (2)
        The principal holding company for our strategic investments, including Youku Tudou.
        (3)
        Primarily involved in the operation of Taobao Marketplace.
        (3)(4)
        Primarily involved in the operation of Tmall and Juhuasuan.
        (4)(5)
        Primarily involved in the operation of Alimama.
        (5)(6)
        Primarily involved in the operation of Alibaba.com, 1688.com and AliExpress.
        (6)(7)
        Primarily involved in the operation of cloud computing services.

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        (7)(8)
        Each of these variable interest entities is 80%-owned by Jack Ma and 20%-owned by Simon Xie, other than Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., which is 90%-owned by Jack Ma and 10%-owned by Simon Xie.

        Contractual Arrangements among Our Wholly-foreign Owned Enterprises, Variable Interest Entities and the Variable Interest Entity Equity Holders

               Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in, among other areas, value-added telecommunications services, which include the operations of Internet content providers, or ICPs, we, similar to all


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        other entities with foreign-incorporated holding company structures operating in our industry in China, operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited in the PRC through wholly-foreign owned enterprises, majority-owned entities and variable interest entities. The relevant variable interest entities, which are incorporated in the PRC and 100% owned by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned by PRC citizens, where applicable, hold the ICP licenses and other regulated licenses and operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited. Specifically, our variable interest entities that are material to our business are Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tmall Network Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Alibaba Advertising Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Ali Technology Co., Ltd. and Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. Each of these variable interest entities other than Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. is 80%-owned by Jack Ma, our lead founder, executive chairman and one of our principal shareholders, and 20%-owned by Simon Xie, one of our founders. Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. is 90%-owned by Jack Ma and 10%-owned by Simon Xie. We have entered into certain contractual arrangements, as described in more detail below, which collectively enable us to exercise effective control over the variable interest entities and realize substantially all of the economic risks and benefits arising from, the variable interest entities. As a result, we include the financial results of each of the variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP as if they were our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

               Other than the ICP licenses and other licenses and approvals for businesses in which foreign ownership is restricted or prohibited held by our variable interest entities, we hold our material assets in, and conduct our material operations through, our wholly-foreign owned and majority-owned enterprises, which primarily provide technology and other services to our customers. We generate the significant majority of our revenue directly through our wholly-foreign owned enterprises, which directly capture the profits and associated cash flow from operations without having to rely on contractual arrangements to transfer such cash flow from the variable interest entities to the wholly-foreign owned enterprises.


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               The following diagram is a simplified illustration of the ownership structure and contractual arrangements that we typically have in place for our variable interest entities:

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC

               The following is a summary of the common contractual arrangements that provide us with effective control of our material variable interest entities and that enable us to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from their operations.


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        Contracts that give us effective controlGive Us Effective Control of the variable interest entitiesVariable Interest Entities

               Loan Agreements.agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant loan agreement, the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise has granted an interest-free loan to the relevant variable interest entity equity holders, which may only be used for the purpose of a capital contribution to the relevant variable interest entity or as may be otherwise agreed by the wholly-foreign owned enterprise. The wholly-foreign owned enterprise may require acceleration of repayment at its absolute discretion. When the variable interest entity equity holders make early repayment of the outstanding amount, the wholly-foreign owned enterprise or a third partythird-party designated by it may purchase the equity interests in the variable interest entity at a price equal to the outstanding amount of the loan, subject to any applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. The variable interest entity equity holders undertake not to enter into any prohibited transactions in relation to the variable interest entity, including the transfer of any business, material assets, intellectual property rights or equity interests in the variable interest entity to any third party.third-party. The parties to the loan agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie on the one hand, and Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd., Alibaba (China) Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Alimama Technology Co., Ltd. and Alisoft (Shanghai) Co.,Zhejiang Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd., the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise on the other hand.

               Exclusive Call Option Agreements.call option agreements.    The variable interest entity equity holders have granted the wholly-foreign owned enterprise an exclusive call option to purchase their equity interest in the variable interest entity at an exercise price equal to the higher of (i) the registered capital in the variable interest entity; and (ii) the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC laws. Each relevant variable interest entity has further granted the relevant wholly-foreign owned enterprise an exclusive call option to purchase its assets at an exercise price equal to the book value of the assets or the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC law, whichever is higher. The wholly-foreign owned enterprise may nominate another entity or individual to purchase the equity interest or assets, if applicable, under the call options. Each call option is exercisable subject to the condition that applicable


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        PRC laws, rules and regulations do not prohibit completion of the transfer of the equity interest or assets pursuant to the call option. Each wholly-foreign owned enterprise is entitled to all dividends and other distributions declared by the variable interest entity, and the variable interest entity equity holders have agreed to give up their rights to receive any distributions or proceeds from the disposal of their equity interests in the variable interest entity which are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the variable interest entity, and to pay any such distributions or premium to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise. The exclusive call option agreements remain in effect until the equity interest or assets that are the subject of suchthese agreements are transferred to the wholly foreign owned enterprise. The parties to the exclusive call option agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

               Proxy Agreements.agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant Proxy Agreement,proxy agreement, each of the variable interest entity equity holders irrevocably authorizes any person designated by the wholly-foreign owned enterprise to exercise his rights as an equity holder of the variable interest entity, including the right to attend and vote at equity holders' meetings and appoint directors. The parties to the proxy agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

               Equity Pledge Agreements.pledge agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant equity pledge agreement, the relevant variable interest entity equity holders have pledged all of their interests in the equity of the variable interest entity as a continuing first priority security interest in favor of the corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise to secure the outstanding amounts advanced under the relevant loan agreements described above and to secure the performance of obligations by the variable interest entity and/or its equity holders under the other structure contracts. Each wholly-foreign owned enterprise is entitled to exercise its right to dispose of the variable interest entity equity holders' pledged interests in the equity of the variable interest entity and has priority in receiving payment by the application of proceeds from the auction or sale of suchthe pledged interests, in the event of any breach or default under the loan agreement or other structure contracts, if applicable. These equity pledge agreements remain in


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        force for the duration of the relevant loan agreement and other structure contracts. The parties to the equity pledge agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise. All of the equity pledges relating to our material variable interest entities have been registered with the relevant office of the Administration for Industry and Commerce in China.

        Contracts that enable usEnable Us to receive substantially allReceive Substantially All of the economic benefitsEconomic Benefits from the variable interest entitiesVariable Interest Entities

               Exclusive Technical Services Agreements.technical services agreements.    Each relevant variable interest entity has entered into an exclusive technical services agreement with the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise, pursuant to which the relevant wholly-foreign owned enterprise provides exclusive technical services to the variable interest entity. In exchange, the variable interest entity pays a service fee to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise which typically amount to what would be substantially all of the variable interest entity's pre-tax profit (absent the service fee), resulting in a transfer of substantially all of the profits from the variable interest entity to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

               The exclusive call option agreements described above also entitle the wholly-foreign owned enterprise to all dividends and other distributions declared by the variable interest entity and to any distributions or proceeds from the disposal by the variable interest entity equity holders of their equity interests in the variable interest entity that are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the variable interest entity.

               In the opinion of Fangda Partners, our PRC legal counsel:

          •
          the ownership structures of our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises and our material variable interest entities in China do not and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation, or rule currently in effect; and



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          •
          the contractual arrangements between our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises, our material variable interest entities and the variable interest entity equity holders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and applicable PRC laws, rules, and regulations currently in effect, and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation, or rule currently in effect.

               However, we have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel, Fangda Partners, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, rules and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our Internet-based business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the aforesaid business we engage in, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure."

        D.    Property, Plant and Equipment

               As of March 31, 2015,2017, we occupied facilities around the world with an aggregate gross floor area of office buildings owned by us totaling 421,445558,080 square meters. As of March 31, 2015, we maintained 126We maintain offices in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and 29 offices outside China.Vietnam. In addition, we maintain data centers in Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States and logistics facilities in China.States.

        ITEM 4A.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

               Not Applicable.


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        ITEM 5.5    OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

        A.    Operating Results

               The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report.report and in particular, "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview." This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this annual report. We have prepared our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our fiscal year ends on March 31 and references to fiscal years 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017 are to the fiscal years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

        A.    Operating Results

        Overview

               We areachieved significant growth and strong operating results in fiscal year 2017. Our total revenue increased by 33% from RMB76,204 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB101,143 million in fiscal year 2016, and further increased by 56% to RMB158,273 million (US$22,994 million) in fiscal year 2017. Our net income increased by 193% from RMB24,320 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB71,289 in fiscal year 2016, and decreased by 42% to RMB41,226 million (US$5,989 million) in fiscal year 2017. Our net income in fiscal year 2016 included a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the largest onlinedeconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and mobile commerce company ina gain of RMB18,603 million from the world in terms of gross merchandise volume in 2014. We operate Taobao Marketplace, China's largest online shopping destination, Tmall, China's largest third-party platform for brands and retailers, in each case in terms of gross merchandise volume, and Juhuasuan, China's most popular group buying marketplace by its monthly active users, in each case in 2014 according to iResearch. These three marketplaces, which comprise our China retail marketplaces, generated a combined GMV of RMB2,444 billion (US$394 billion) from 350 million active buyers and more than 10 million active sellers in the twelve months ended March 31, 2015. In addition to our three China retail marketplaces, we operate Alibaba.com, China's largest global wholesale marketplace in 2014 by revenue, according to iResearch, 1688.com, our China wholesale marketplace, and AliExpress, our global consumer marketplace, as well as provide cloud computing services.

               We provide the fundamental technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help businesses leverage the power of the Internet to establish an online presence and conduct commerce with consumers and businesses. We have been a leader in developing online marketplace standards in China, including consumer protection programs, marketplace rules, qualification standards for merchants, and buyer and seller rating systems. Given the scale we have been able to achieve, an ecosystem has developed around our platform that consists of buyers, sellers, third-party service providers, strategic alliance partners, and investee companies. Our platform and the role we play in connecting buyers and sellers and making it possible for them to do business anytime and anywhere is at the nexus of this ecosystem. Muchrevaluation of our effort,previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health when we obtained control over Alibaba Health in July 2015. Our non-GAAP net income, which excludes the effect of these non-recurring gains, share-based compensation and certain other items, increased by 35% from RMB42,791 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB57,871 million (US$8,408 million) in fiscal year 2017. For further information on non-GAAP financial measures we use in evaluating our timeoperating results and our energy is spent on initiatives that are for the greater good of the ecosystemfinancial and the various participants in it. We feel a strong responsibility for the continued development of the ecosystem and we take ownership for this development. Accordingly, we refer to this as "our ecosystem."

               Consumers and businesses benefit from our ecosystem because they can access products and services with a combination of selection, value, quality, convenience and customer experience that is not available elsewhere. Merchants are enabled by our tools and infrastructure to do business and flourish on our platform. Other participants in our ecosystemoperational decision-making purposes, see "Item 3. Key Information — including marketing affiliates, logistics service providers, independent software vendors and various professional service providersA. Selected Financial Data — provide valuable services to our buyer and seller customers. Our ecosystem has strong self-reinforcing network effects that benefit our marketplace participants, who are invested in our ecosystem's growth and success.Non-GAAP Measures."


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        We believe our focus on long-term strategic priorities — globalization, rural expansion, and big data and cloud computing — has laid a strong foundation for future growth.

               We have experienced significant growth across various key metrics for our China retail marketplaces:

        GRAPHICGRAPHIC

        GRAPHIC

        GRAPHIC
        (1)
        China commerce retail revenue per active buyer for each of the above periods is calculated by dividing the China commerce retail revenue for the previous 12-month period by the annual active buyers for the same 12-month period.

        (2)
        Mobile revenue per mobile MAU from China commerce retail, annualized is calculated by dividing mobile revenue from China commerce retail for the previous 12-month period by the mobile MAUs for the last month of the same period.

        GRAPHICOur Operating Segments

               Starting from fiscal year 2017, we organize and report our business in four operating segments:

          •
          GRAPHICCore commerce;

          •
          Cloud computing;

          •
          Digital media and entertainment; and

          •
          Innovation initiatives and others.

               This new presentation reflects how we manage our business to maximize efficiency in allocating resources. This presentation also provides further transparency to our various businesses that are executing different phases of growth and operating leverage trajectories.

               We present segmental information after elimination of inter-company transactions. In general, revenue, cost of revenue and operating expenses are directly attributable, and are allocated, to each segment. We allocate costs and


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        expenses that are not directly attributable to individual segments, such as those that support infrastructure across different operating segments, to different operating segments mainly on the basis of usage, revenue or headcount, depending on the nature of the relevant costs and expenses.

               In discussing the operating results of these four segments, we present each segment's revenue, income from operations and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortization ("adjusted EBITA"). We have also recently experienced significant growth in our mobile monetization on our China retail marketplaces:

        GRAPHIC

               We have achieved significant scalepresent revenue, income from operations and growth. Our total revenue increased by 52% from RMB34,517 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB52,504 million in fiscal year 2014, and further increased by 45% to RMB76,204 million (US$12,293 million) in fiscal year 2015. Our net income increased by 171% from RMB8,649 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB23,403 million in fiscal year 2014 and modestly increased by 4% to RMB24,320 million (US$3,923 million) in fiscal year 2015.

        Key Marketplaces and Servicesadjusted EBITA for prior periods for the corresponding businesses as if segment reporting had been adopted for those prior periods.

               Our marketplaces and services mainly include the following:reported segments are described below:

        Commerce Businesses       Core commerce.


        		ChinaInternational

        Retail

        		Taobao MarketplaceAliExpress

        		       Online shopping destination       Global consumer marketplace

        		Tmall Platform

        		       Brands and retail platform

        		Juhuasuan

        		       Group buying marketplace

        Wholesale

        		1688.comAlibaba.com

        		       Wholesale marketplace       Global wholesale marketplace

        Table    The core commerce segment is comprised of Contentsplatforms operating in retail and wholesale commerce in China and international commerce. China commerce retail business primarily includes Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Rural Taobao and commerce technologies and services. China commerce wholesale business includes 1688.com. International commerce retail business includes AliExpress and Lazada. International commerce wholesale business includes Alibaba.com.

        Cloud Computing and Internet Infrastructurecomputing.

            The cloud computing segment is comprised of Alibaba Cloud, Computingwhich offers a complete suite of cloud computing services, including elastic computing, database, servicesstorage and storage andcontent delivery network, or CDN, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and other service offerings for enterprises of different sizes across various industries.

               Digital media and entertainment.    The digital media and entertainment segment operates businesses through our platformsmedia properties, primarily including Youku Tudou and the platforms of companies integral to our ecosystem,UCWeb.

               Innovation initiatives and others.    The innovation initiatives and others segment includes businesses such as Alipay,YunOS, AutoNavi, DingTalk and others.

               The table below sets forth supplemental financial information of our reported segments for fiscal year 2017:

         
        		 Year ended March 31, 2017 
         
        		 Core
        commerce        		 Cloud
        computing        		 Digital media
        and
        entertainment        		 Innovation
        initiatives
        and others        		 Unallocated(1) Consolidated 
         
        		 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 
         
        		 (in millions, except percentages)
        		 

        Revenue

        		  133,880  6,663  14,733  2,997  —  158,273  22,994 

        Income (loss) from operations

        		  74,180  (1,681) (9,882) (6,798) (7,764) 48,055  6,981 

        Add: Share-based compensation expense

        		  5,994  1,201  1,454  3,017  4,329  15,995  2,324 

        Add: Amortization of intangible assets

        		  2,258  4  1,886  656  318  5,122  744 
        ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

        Adjusted EBITA

        		  82,432  (476) (6,542) (3,125) (3,117) 69,172  10,049 
        ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
        ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
        ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

        Adjusted EBITA margin

        		  62% (7)% (44)% (104)%    44%   
        (1)
        Unallocated expenses are primarily related to sellers on our marketplaces,corporate administrative costs and other third-party customers, such as start-up companies in mobile applications and Internet gamingmiscellaneous items that are not allocated to established corporations in entertainment, consumer electronics, financial services, mobile communications, healthcare and education. We also provide Internet infrastructure services, such as web hosting and domain name registration.

        Others

               Our other businesses consist primarily of our acquired businesses, mainly the mobile Internet services provided by UCWeb and AutoNavi. UCWeb is China's largest mobile browser company in terms of monthly mobile active users, according to iResearch. As of May 2015, UCWeb operated the largest third-party mobile browser in India and Indonesia in terms of page view market share, according to StatCounter (data available at: http://gs.statcounter.com). UCWeb also provides various mobile value-added services, including mobile search, app distribution and a mobile games platform. AutoNavi provides digital map, navigation and location-based services in China. Another affiliate, Alibaba Pictures, produces and distribute films and television programs. It is our movie business flagship which is an important part of our entertainment ecosystem.

        individual segments.

        Our Monetization Model

               TheWe derive revenue we generate onfrom our retail marketplaces is highly correlated to the amountfour business segments: core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others. We derive most of GMV transacted as well as to the monetization rate achieved on the GMV. Theour revenue onfrom our wholesale marketplaces is largely driven by the numbercore commerce segment, which accounted for 85% of paying members.our total revenue in fiscal year 2017, while cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others contributed 4%, 9% and 2%, respectively. We primarily derive a substantial majority of our core commerce revenue from online marketing services where sellers pay us marketing fees to acquire user traffic, commissions based on GMV for transactions settled through Alipay and membership fees. In fiscal year 2015, pay-for-performance, or P4P,services. The revenue model of our


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        online marketing services and displayis primarily performance-based or impression-based. Performance-based marketing services accounteduses clicks or transactions as the measurement unit for 48%performance. Impression-based marketing uses the number of our total revenue, while commissions and fees from memberships and value-added services accounted for 30% and 8%, respectively. As described below,impressions delivered to the user. The pricing of our marketing services are primarily performance-based, usingis typically set by market-based bidding systems so that each merchantmarketer determines the price it is willing to pay for suchthe services.

               The price a merchant isamount marketers are willing to pay for our online marketing services generally dependsis a function of their expected return on investment from our value propositions, including the merchant's expected GMV, profit margins andsales volume to be generated on our platforms, the expected lifetime value of online and offline customers acquired from suchour platforms, and the expected brand awareness and brand association, both online and offline, generated by marketing investment.on our platforms.

        Core Commerce

               Our core commerce segment is primarily comprised of our China and international commerce retail businesses and our China and international commerce wholesale businesses. The revenue we generate from our China and international commerce retail businesses is highly correlated with the number and engagement of the consumers on our platforms, and the various value propositions of branding, marketing, distribution and productivity enhancements we offer merchants and brands, through our data and technology capabilities. The revenue we generate from our China and international commerce wholesale businesses is largely driven by the number of paying members and the value of the wholesale marketplaces as distribution and marketing platforms.

               China Commerce Retail.    We generate revenue from our China commerce retail marketplaces — Taobao Marketplace, Tmall and Juhuasuan —business primarily through the monetization models described below. In fiscal year 2017, approximately 72% of the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, 75% of GMV on our China retail marketplaces was settled through Alipay. The percentage of GMV transacted on our China retail marketplaces that settles through Alipay does not vary significantly across such marketplaces. In fiscal year 2015,2017, we generated 63%68% and 35%30% of our China commerce retail marketplaces revenue from online marketing services and commissions, respectively.

          •

          Online Marketing Services.marketing services.

               Online marketing services primarily consist of:

          •
          P4P marketing services, where sellersmerchants primarily bid for keywords that match product or service listings appearing in search or browser results on a cost-per-click, or CPC, basis at prices established by our online auction system, which facilitates price discovery through a market-based bidding mechanism. P4P marketing services are provided both on our marketplaces as well as through third-party marketing affiliates; and



          •
          Display marketing services, where sellersmerchants bid for display positions on the relevant marketplaces or through our third-party marketing affiliates at fixed prices or prices established by a real-time bidding system on a cost-per-thousand impression, or CPM, basis;basis.



          For both P4P marketing and display marketing services, we generate a portion of suchour revenue through third-party marketing affiliates. Revenue from P4P and display marketing services provided through third-


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          party marketing affiliates represented 6%3%, 6%3% and 3% of our total revenue in fiscal years 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015, respectively.2017, respectively, and this revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

          •
          Taobaoke program, where sellersmerchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall pay us commissions based on a percentage of GMV for transactions settled through Alipaytransaction value generated from users sourced from third-party marketing affiliates. Commissions on Taobaoke are set by the sellersmerchants and depend on the amount the sellermerchant is willing to pay to generate incremental sales through this channel.

          A significant portion of that commission (of which only our share is recognized as our revenue) is shared with our third-party marketing affiliates;affiliates and

          we recognize the remaining portion as our revenue on a net basis. In certain situations where we are obligated to pay for website inventory costs in fixed amounts to third-party marketing affiliates, we recognize the commission revenue on a gross basis.

          •
          Placement Servicesservices, where sellersTaobao Marketplace and Tmall merchants pay placement fees to purchase promotional slots on our Juhuasuan marketplace for a specified period;period.

          •

        Commissions on Transactions.transactions.    In addition to purchasing online marketing services, sellers on Tmall and Juhuasuanmerchants also pay a commission based on a percentage of GMV for transactions settled through Alipay in the respective marketplaces.transaction value generated on Tmall (including Juhuasuan). The


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        commission percentages typically range from 0.3%0.4% to 5%5.0% depending on the product category. The commission rate we establish varies according to our estimate of the industry profit margins in specific product categories, which we believe mainly determines the amount a seller is willing to pay to generate sales or attract buyers through this channel, and our strategic considerations.categories. For example, for categories that typically have lower gross margins, such as consumer electronics, we charge a lower commission rate, whereas for categories such as apparel, and luxury goods, where gross margins are generally higher for the merchants, we charge a higher commission rate;rate.

               Storefront fees.    Our revenue from storefront fees is primarily comprised of monthly subscription fees for Wangpu (GRAPHIC), our storefront software that includes a suite of tools that assist merchants in upgrading, decorating and

        •

        		Storefront Fees. Our revenue from storefront fees is primarily comprised of monthly subscription fees for WangpuGRAPHIC, our storefront software that includes a suite of tools that assist sellers in upgrading, decorating and managing their storefronts.



        		Marketplace or platform
        Purchaser of services:
        		 Taobao Marketplace TmallJuhuasuan

        Taobao marketplace sellersMarketplace merchants

        		 •  P4P marketing fees
        •  Display marketing fees
        •  Taobaoke commissions
        •  Storefront fees
        •  Other fees*(1)        		 •  Not applicable•  Commissions
        •  PlacementJuhuasuan commissions and placement fees

        Tmall merchants

        		 

        •  P4P marketing fees
        •  Display marketing fees

        		 

        •  Commissions
        •  P4P marketing fees
        •  Display marketing fees
        •  Taobaoke commissions

        •  Commissions
        •  PlacementJuhuasuan placement fees

        *(1)
        Other fees primarily consist of lotteryonline travel commissions and online travellottery commissions. We temporarily suspended our online lottery business in late February 2015 around the same time as the other major online lottery platforms in China in response to regulatory requirements. As of the date of this annual report, there is no clear indication on how long this temporary suspension will last.

               China Commerce Wholesale.    We generate revenue from our China wholesale marketplace, — 1688.com, — primarily through:

          •
          Fees from Memberships and Value-added Services.value-added services.  Revenue from our China wholesale marketplace is primarily generated from the sale of China TrustPass memberships, which allow wholesalers to host premium storefronts, with access to basic data analytic applications, and upgraded storefront management tools, as well as from value-added services, such as premium data analytics. In fiscal year 2015, 76%2017, we generated 70% of our China commerce wholesale marketplace revenue was generated from fees from memberships and value-added services.


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          •
          Online Marketing Services.marketing services.  Revenue from online marketing services on our China wholesale marketplace is primarily derived from P4P marketing services and keyword bidding.services. In fiscal year 2015, 24%2017, 30% of our China commerce wholesale marketplace revenue was generated from online marketing services.

               Historically, 1688.com was a marketplace that enabled buyers to locate sellers and find products, and it did not enable buyers and sellers to transact with each other through the platform. We have extended our business model to create a transaction platform on 1688.com to enable wholesalers to transact with buyers, the majority of whom are merchants on our retail marketplaces. Buyers and sellers are able to conduct transactions through Alipay directly on 1688.com and have access to settlement and other services on the platform. We have not yet determined what methods we will use to monetize this transaction service.

               International Commerce Retail.    We generate revenue from our international commerce retail marketplaces,businesses, AliExpress and Lazada, primarily through:

          •
          Commissions and direct sales:  merchants pay a commission based on a percentage of the transaction value they generate on AliExpress. The commissions are typically 5% to 8% of the transaction value. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, transaction value on AliExpress was US$7.2 billion. We also generate revenue from Lazada primarily through commissions, which are 5%direct sales of GMV for transactions settled through Alipay.merchandise.

          •
          Online marketing services:  We also generate revenue on AliExpress from sellersmerchants who participate in the third-party affiliate marketing affiliate program for this marketplace. Revenue generated by the third-partyand those who purchase P4P marketing affiliate program is in addition to the 5% commission sellers pay. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2015, 65% of GMV generated on AliExpress was settled through Alipay.services.

               International Commerce Wholesale.    We generate revenue from our global wholesale marketplaces —marketplace, Alibaba.com, — primarily through:

          •
          Fees from MembershipMemberships and Value-added Services.online marketing services.  Revenue from our global wholesale marketplace is primarily generated from the sale of our Gold Supplier memberships on Alibaba.com, which allow wholesalers to host

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            premium storefronts with product listings on the marketplace, as well as value-added services, such as product showcase, custom clearance, value-added tax, or VAT, refund and other import/export business solutions. In fiscal year 2015, 85% of our global wholesale marketplace revenue was generated from fees from memberships and value-added services.

            •
            Online Marketing Services.  Revenue fromadditional online marketing services, on our global wholesale marketplace is primarily derived from P4P marketing services. In fiscal year 2015, 15%2017, 65% of our globalinternational commerce wholesale marketplace revenue was generated from memberships and online marketing services.

          •
          Value-added services.  We generate revenues from providing import/export business solutions, such as custom clearance and VAT refunds, and other value-added services, such as product showcases. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 35% of our international commerce wholesale revenue from these value-added services.

        Cloud Computing and Internet Infrastructure.

               We generate revenue from cloud computing and Internet infrastructure services primarily from the time- and usage-based provision of cloud computing services, such as elastic computing, database, servicesstorage and storage andCDN, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform, as well as from web-hosting and domain name registration.

               Others.Digital Media and Entertainment

               We generate revenue from Youku Tudou and UCWeb primarily through P4P marketing services, display marketing services and subscriptions.

        Innovation Initiatives and Others

               We generate revenue from businesses such as AutoNavi, YunOS and other services that we provide to our marketplace participants, as well as through our acquired businesses, mainly the mobile Internet services provided by UCWeb and AutoNavi.innovation initiatives. Other revenue also includes annual fees ofpayable by Ant Financial Services or its affiliates to us, calculated at 2.5% of the daily average book balance of the SME loans generated by the SME loan business that we transferred to Ant Financial Services upon the completion of the restructuring of our relationship with Ant Financial Services in early February 2015. Prior to such transfer,this sale, other revenue also included interest income generated by the SME loan business.

        Our Operating Philosophy

               Our operating philosophy is to manage our various business units to a single profit and loss, or "P&L," rather than setting compartmentalized P&L targets for each business unit. We believe placing specific financial targets, such as revenue, margin or profit, for individual businesses or managers would create barriers against cooperation, damage the network effects among our marketplaces and negatively impact the long-term profit potential of our business. We instead ask our managers to be accountable for operating metrics that reflect the health of our marketplaces and the contribution of their units to our entire business. We believe this approach is consistent with the spirit of the Alibaba Partnership as it closely aligns interests, encourages collaboration and focuses leaders on building a sustainable and thriving ecosystem.


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               We do not manage our business by allocating revenue among individual marketplaces or business units. We assess the financial performance of our business by reviewing revenues generated in the China commerce and international commerce categories and, within each category, between retail and wholesale. We cross-promote and provide services of our various marketplaces to our users. We believe this approach improves the user experience and enhances our monetization opportunities across our entire business. For example, when searching for product listings, buyers on Taobao Marketplace will also see products from Tmall merchants. In addition, Tmall merchants purchase online marketing services displayed on Taobao Marketplace. Furthermore, we do not manage the business by cross-charging for internal traffic acquisition cost between Taobao Marketplace and Tmall as we believe such cross-charge or cost allocation creates friction and discourages cooperation among business units. We believe this "cross-pollination" among marketplaces improves the buyer experience, is beneficial for our merchants and encourages and develops the network effects in our ecosystem.

        Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

               Our Ability to Create Value for Our Users and Generate Revenue.    Our ability to create value for our users and generate revenue is driven by the factors described below:

          •
          Number and Engagementengagement of Buyers and Sellers and GMV Transacted on Our Marketplaces.consumers.  BuyersConsumers are attracted to our marketplacesplatforms by the breadth of personalized content and the interactive user experience these platforms offer. Our platforms include a comprehensive selection of product and service offerings as well as engaging content, such as news feeds on our Taobao App and UC Browser, entertainment content on Youku Tudou, music and sports. Consumers enjoy an engaging social experience by interacting with each other and with merchants and brands on our platforms. We leverage our big data insights to further optimize the relevance of this rich content we provide to our users. The engagement of consumers in our ecosystem is affected by our ability to continue to enhance and expand our product and service offerings and improve user experience.

          •
          Broader value offered to merchants, brands and other businesses.  Merchants, brands and other businesses use our products and services to help them acquire and retain customers, build brand awareness and engagement, complete transactions, and enhance their operating efficiency. We offer merchants a complete suite of services and tools powered by our data insights, to help them effectively engage consumers and efficiently manage their operations. In addition, we empower businesses of different sizes across various industries through our comprehensive enterprise cloud service offerings.

          •
          Empowering data and technology.  Our ability to engage consumers and empower merchants, brands and other businesses is affected by the breadth and depth of product listings, the attractive online shopping experience and the convenient and secure payment and escrow services offered by Alipay. Sellers are attracted to our marketplaces by our strong user traffic as welldata insights, such as the accuracy of our shopping recommendations and of our targeted marketing, and our technology capabilities and infrastructure, such as cloud computing, sourcing, data and communications services we offer, which allow themour continued ability to effectively target potential buyers and operate more efficiently. The GMV transacted on our marketplaces is driven by the level of user traffic visiting our marketplaces, buyer engagement and activity on our marketplaces, the relevance of product or service listings when a user searches or browses our content and the number of product categories from which buyers purchasedevelop scalable products and services.

            Our Ability to Achieve and Increase Monetization.

          Retail marketplaces. We primarily generate our revenue from monetization modelsservices that include online marketing services, such as P4P marketing services, as well as commissions based on a percentage of GMV transacted on Tmall, Juhuasuan and AliExpress and settled through Alipay. Our ability to increase monetization is affected by a number of factors, including:

            •
            the GMV mix between Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.  An increase in the GMV contribution of Tmall as a portion of total GMV enhances our ability to increase revenue because Tmall merchants generally pay marketing service fees for their products to be displayed on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall in addition to commissions. Accordingly, for the same amount of GMV transacted on our China retail marketplaces, the average amount of revenue we generate from Tmall merchants is higher than from Taobao Marketplace merchants; and

            •
            the category mix of GMV transacted on our marketplaces.  Our ability to monetize GMV transacted on our marketplaces is relatedadapt to the profitability of various product categories to the sellerquickly evolving industry trends and the seller's ability and willingness to pay customer acquisition or sales generation costs in the form of fees for online marketing services or commissions. For example, for categories that generally have lower gross margins for the merchants, such as consumer electronics, we typically achieve lower monetization rates, whereas for categories such as apparel, where gross margins are generally higher for the merchants, we can achieve higher monetization rates.preferences.

          Monetization of our mobile platforms. The increasing use of mobile devices to access our marketplaces requires us to develop and improve mobile monetization technologies. The success of this effort will be increasingly important to the extent shopping on mobile devices displaces transactions that could have occurred on personal computers. In the quarter ended March 31, 2015, our mobile GMV exceeded 50% of our total GMV for the first time, and we expect mobile GMV as a percentage of total GMV will continue to grow, as we see increasing number of users accessing our platforms through mobile devices. Our mobile MAUs were 289 million in the month ended March 31, 2015, compared with 265 million in the month ended December 31, 2014 and 163 million in the month ended March 31, 2014. We believe that users of our mobile apps have commercial intent and that our


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          display of performance-based mobile marketing services provides useful content for users in a native format. Our current focus is on increasing mobile GMV and user engagement.

                 We are working with merchants on our marketplaces to increasingly take advantage of our mobile interfaces to drive growth in their businesses. While mobile GMV is increasing, we expect monetization rates for mobile interfaces in the near term will be lower than those we have achieved from personal computer interfaces. Over time, we expect the increasing use of mobile devices to have a positive impact on our business. We expect that our mobile monetization rates will continue to approach the rates we realize on our personal computer interfaces as:

            •
            we enhance our mobile-based marketing products for sellers;

            •
            we realize the benefits associated with the increased convenience of mobile shopping;

            •
            our sellers utilize data generated from our mobile shopping apps to provide more personalized and targeted marketing messages to buyers, including location-based promotions;

            •
            our mobile shopping apps make it easier to do business anywhere, anytime; and

            •
            payment apps developed by Alipay facilitate seamless mobile transactions.

                 The impact of growth in mobile activity is particularly significant on our China retail marketplaces. The following table sets forth information with respect to GMV, revenue and rates of monetization realized in respect of our China retail marketplaces for the periods presented:

           
          		 Three months ended 
           
          		 Jun. 30,
          2013          		 Sep. 30,
          2013          		 Dec. 31,
          2013          		 Mar. 31,
          2014          		 Jun. 30,
          2014          		 Sep. 30,
          2014          		 Dec. 31,
          2014          		 Mar. 31,
          2015          		 
           
          		 (in millions of RMB except percentages)
          		 

          China retail marketplaces:

          		                         

          GMV

          		  345,134  373,659  528,709  430,085  500,916  555,666  787,047  600,092 

          Mobile GMV

          		  41,299  54,823  104,391  118,001  164,428  199,054  326,889  303,772 

          as a percentage of GMV

          		  12%  15%  20%  27%  33%  36%  42%  51% 

          Revenue

          		  8,667  8,645  16,149  9,371  12,639  12,769  21,275  13,049 

          Mobile revenue

          		  240  332  1,171  1,162  2,454  3,719  6,420  5,247 

          as a percentage of revenue

          		  3%  4%  7%  12%  19%  29%  30%  40% 

          Monetization rate

          		  2.51%  2.31%  3.05%  2.18%  2.52%  2.30%  2.70%  2.17% 

          Mobile monetization rate

          		  0.58%  0.61%  1.12%  0.98%  1.49%  1.87%  1.96%  1.73% 

                 Over time, we have begun to increasingly monetize mobile GMV beyond commissions through the introduction of online marketing services through mobile interfaces. As a result of these monetization efforts, our mobile monetization rate began to increase significantly starting from the three months ended December 31, 2013. The mobile monetization rate of 1.73% in the three months ended March 31, 2015 increased by 77% when compared with the 0.98% in the same period in the prior year, while mobile revenue increased by 352% over the same period.

                 Wholesale Marketplaces.    Revenue on our wholesale markets — 1688.com and Alibaba.com — is primarily driven by the number of paying members, membership renewal rates and other value-added marketing services we provide to members. The number of buyers using our wholesale marketplaces will affect sellers' willingness to purchase and renew membership packages with us and to use our marketing services. We periodically review ways to increase value for our participants and create new monetization opportunities for our wholesale marketplaces. For example, going forward, we may generate revenue on 1688.com through monetization of activity on the transaction platform, although we have not yet determined what methods we will use to monetize this transaction service.

                 Perception of Merchants of the Expected Value of Marketing Spending across Periods.    On our China retail marketplaces, revenue may be viewed as the fees sellers are willing to pay to distribute and promote their products and services, build their brands and acquire more customers through our marketplaces. The willingness of a seller


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          to pay these fees is a function of the sales and profit the seller expects to generate on our marketplaces. These fees may be derived from online marketing services, commissions or from various other fee-based services. The mix of services chosen by a seller to achieve its business goals and promote its products and storefronts may shift over time. On an annual basis, revenue generally grows at a similar rate as GMV, even though the differential between GMV and revenue growth rates is more pronounced on a quarterly basis. Due to promotional events and higher consumer spending in the quarters ended June 30 and December 31, merchants are inclined to allocate more of their marketing spending during these periods to compete for and attract this consumer spending, which therefore drives revenue growth during those periods disproportionately to GMV growth and because increased demand for such services also increases pricing. Conversely, during the quarters ending September 30 and March 31, when merchants expect lower seasonal sales, they generally allocate less advertising spend and revenue growth is less pronounced than GMV growth. These trends tend to even out over any given year such that revenue growth correlates with GMV growth on an annual basis.

                 Operating Leverage of Our Marketplace Business Model.    Our business model has significant operating leverage and our ecosystem enables us to realize structural cost savings, particularly for our retail marketplace businesses.savings. For example, Taobao Marketplace drives significant traffic to Tmall as Tmall product listings also appear on Taobao Marketplace search result pages. In addition, promotional slots purchased on Juhuasuan by Taobao Marketplace and Tmall sellers also drive buyers to Taobao Marketplace and Tmall storefronts, thereby enabling sellers to introduce buyers to additional product and service offerings beyond those featured on the particular Juhuasuan promotion and drive additional user traffic. This network effect allows for lower traffic acquisition costs across our marketplaces. In addition, due toFurther, the large number of buyersconsumers on our marketplaces we are able to attractattracts a large number of sellers, which in turn provides a strong source ofmerchants, who become customers for our online marketing and storefront services. Sellers purchase marketingIn addition, the vast consumer base of our ecosystem presents cross-selling opportunities to a variety of our platforms, such as our ability to promote our digital media and entertainment services, through a self-service platformincluding Youku Tudou, to consumers on our China retail marketplaces. As a result, we do not rely on a field sales force to generate revenueThese network effects allow for lower traffic acquisition costs and provide synergies across our China retail marketplaces. Our business model also enables us to avoid the costs, risks and capital requirements associated with sourcing merchandise or holding inventory.businesses.

                 Our Investment in User Base, Technology, People and Infrastructure.    We have made, and will continue to make, significant investments in our platformplatforms and ecosystem to attract consumers and businesses,merchants, enhance user experience and expand the capabilities and scope of our marketplaces.platforms. We expect our investments will include developing and marketing new online and mobile products and services,expanding our core commerce offerings, enhancing our cloud computing business, including YunOS, an operating system for mobilecontent and user acquisition to further develop our digital media and entertainment devices,business, new innovation initiatives and developing new tools and enablers to attract additional buyers and sellers totechnologies as well as executing our marketplaces.globalization strategy. Our operating leverage and margin levels enable us to continue to invest in our people, particularly engineers, scientists and product management personnel, as well as in our underlying technology capabilities and infrastructure. In addition, as a result of our financial strength, we expect to invest in the above mentioned new and existing businesses which will lower our margins but deliver overall long-term growth.

                 Strategic Investments and Acquisitions.    We have made, and intend to continue to make, strategic investments and acquisitions to increase user acquisition and engagement, improve customer experience and expand our user baseproduct and add complementary products and technologies.service offerings. Our strategic investments and acquisitions may affect our future financial results.results, including our margins and our net income. For example, we expect that our acquisitions including UCWeb, OneTouchof Youku Tudou and AutoNavi resulteda controlling stake in an increaseLazada and our recent privatization of expenses but we do not expect theyIntime will materially increasehave a negative effect on our revenuefinancial results, at least in the short term. Moreover, we expect acquisitions of entities with lower overall margins than our margins will have the effect of lowering our margins. In addition, some of our acquisitions and investments may not be successful,successful. We have incurred impairment charges in the past and we may incur impairment charges in the future.


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          Components of Results of Operations

          Revenue

                 The following table sets forth the principal components of our revenue for the periods indicated:

           
          		 Year ended March 31, 
           
          		 2013 2014 2015 
           
          		 RMB % of
          revenue          		 RMB % of
          revenue          		 RMB US$ % of
          revenue          		 
           
          		 (in millions, except percentages)
          		 

          China commerce

          		                      

          Retail

          		  26,970  78% 42,832  82% 59,732  9,636  78%

          Wholesale

          		  2,197  6% 2,300  4% 3,205  517  4%
                          
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

          Total China commerce

          		  29,167  84% 45,132  86% 62,937  10,153  82%
                          
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

          International commerce

          		                      

          Retail

          		  392  1% 938  2% 1,768  285  3%

          Wholesale

          		  3,768  11% 3,913  7% 4,718  761  6%
                          
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

          Total international commerce

          		  4,160  12% 4,851  9% 6,486  1,046  9%
                          
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

          Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure

          		  650  2% 773  2% 1,271  205  2%

          Others

          		  540  2% 1,748  3% 5,510  889  7%
                          
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

          Total revenue

          		  34,517  100% 52,504  100% 76,204  12,293  100%
                          
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                          

          GMV

          		  1,077,169     1,677,587     2,443,721  394,212    
           
          		 Year ended March 31, 
           
          		 2015 2016 2017 
           
          		 RMB % of
          revenue          		 RMB % of
          revenue          		 RMB US$ % of
          revenue          		 
           
          		 (in millions, except percentages)
          		 

          Core commerce:

          		                      

          China commerce retail

          		  59,732  78% 80,033  79% 114,109  16,578  72%

          China commerce wholesale

          		  3,205  4% 4,288  4% 5,679  825  4%

          International commerce retail

          		  1,768  3% 2,204  2% 7,336  1,066  5%

          International commerce wholesale

          		  4,718  6% 5,425  6% 6,001  872  4%

          Others

          		  113  0% 385  0% 755  109  0%
          ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

          Total core commerce

          		  69,536  91% 92,335  91% 133,880  19,450  85%
          ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

          Cloud computing

          		  1,271  2% 3,019  3% 6,663  968  4%

          Digital media and entertainment

          		  2,191  3% 3,972  4% 14,733  2,141  9%

          Innovation initiatives and others

          		  3,206  4% 1,817  2% 2,997  435  2%
          ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

          Total

          		  76,204  100% 101,143  100% 158,273  22,994  100%
          ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
          ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

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                 We generate substantially allmost of our revenue from our retail and wholesale marketplaces.core commerce segment. We also earn revenue from services associated with our cloud computing segment, digital media and Internet infrastructure servicesentertainment segment as well as other revenue primarily consisting of revenue generated by acquired businesses, mainly the mobile Internet services provided by UCWebinnovation initiatives and AutoNavi, as well as interest income generated by the SME loan business before this business was transferred to Ant Financial Services in early February 2015 and annual fee of 2.5% of the daily average book balance of the SME loans generated by the SME loan business after such transfer. See "— Our Monetization Model." Substantially allothers segment. A substantial majority of our revenue is attributable to our businesses in China. See "— Our Monetization Model" for additional information regarding our revenue.

          Cost of Revenue

                 The principal components of our cost of revenue include: payment processing feescontent acquisition costs paid to Alipay or other financial institutions;third parties for our online media properties; logistics costs relating to fulfillment services provided to us by our affiliate Cainiao Network, primarily related to Tmall Supermarket; traffic acquisition costs paid to third-party marketing affiliates either at a fixed price or on a revenue sharing basis; payment processing fees paid to Alipay or other financial institutions; cost of inventory; expenses associated with the operation of our websites, such as bandwidth and co-location fees, and depreciation and maintenance expenses for our computers, servers, call centers and other equipment; salary, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense relating to customer service and web operation personnel and payment processing consultants; unit-volume driven rebates;rebates and subsidies mainly relating to our new business initiatives; business taxes and related surcharges; and allowance for doubtful accounts in relation to the micro loans. Due to tax reform in China that replaced the business tax withloans and VAT which is netted against revenue, business tax is no longer a significant part of cost of revenues starting from late fiscal year 2013.receivables.

          Product Development Expenses

                 Product development expenses primarily include salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our employees engaged in the development, maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure, applications, operating systems, software, databases and networks for our marketplaces, mobile products and service platforms. In addition, product development expenses include royalty fees paid to Yahoo pursuant to the Yahoo TIPLA. This royalty fee arrangement was terminated upon completion of our initial public offering in September 2014. We expense all of our product development costs as they are incurred.


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          Sales and Marketing Expenses

                 Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of online and offline advertising expenses, promotion expenses, sales commissions paid for membership acquisition for our wholesale marketplaces, and salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our employees engaged in sales and marketing functions.

          General and Administrative Expenses

                 General and administrative expenses consist mainly of salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our management and administrative employees, professional services fees, office facilities, other support overhead costs and charitable contributions. In fiscal year 2014, these expenses included an equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million relating to the grant of options to purchase 50,000,000 of our ordinary shares to a non-profit organization designated by Jack Ma and Joe Tsai. As there are no vesting conditions attached to the above share options, equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million was recognized in full. See note 9 to our consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 included elsewhere in this annual report for further information on this expense.

          Interest and Investment Income, Net

                 Interest and investment income, net consists of interest income, investment gain or loss related to our treasury management activities and gain or loss on deemed disposals, disposals and revaluation of our long term equity investments. Our interest and investment income, net becamewas more significant in fiscal year 20152016 as a result of a netdeemed disposal gain of RMB6,535RMB24,734 million (US$1,054 million) recognized with respect toarising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interests, relating primarily to the step acquisitions of UCWeb, OneTouch and AutoNavi.interest in Alibaba Health.

          Interest Expense

                 Our interest expense is comprised of interest payments and amortization of upfront fees and incidental charges primarily associated with our bank borrowings and unsecured senior notes issued in November 2014 as well as dividends paid onto refinance our redeemable preference shares, which we redeemedprevious syndicated loan arrangements and the US$4.0 billion five-year term loan facility drawn down in May 2013. Our interest expense became more significant starting from fiscal year 2013 as a result of our previous credit facilities, which were used to fund our privatization of Alibaba.com and to partially finance the repurchase of our ordinary shares from Yahoo in September 2012, and the dividends paid on the US$800 million redeemable preference shares we issued to Yahoo in September 2012. In November 2014, we refinanced our previous US$8.0 billion credit facility with the proceeds from our US$8.0 billion unsecured senior notes offering.2017. In addition, in April 2017, we obtained areplaced our US$3.0 billion revolving credit facility, in August 2014,which was not drawn, with a new US$5.15 billion revolving credit facility, which we have not yet drawn.drawn as of the date of this annual report.


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          Other Income, Net

                 Other income, net primarily consists of exchange gain or loss, royalty fees and software technology service fees paid by Alipay, as well as government grants. Exchange gain or loss, arising from our operations and treasury management activities, recognized in our income statement is largely a result of depreciation or appreciation of RMB, respectively. The amount is also partially affected by the currency movements on our hedging activities related to the portion that is deemed ineffective from an accounting perspective. Alipay pays us royalty fees and software technology service fees pursuant to an intellectual property and software technology services agreement, the terms of which, including the amount of the royalty fees and services fees, we, Ant Financial Services and Alipayas amended in August 2014.2014, or the amended Alipay IPLA. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Share and Asset Purchase Agreement — Alipay Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement" for further information on the arrangements between us and Alipay. Government grants primarily relate to grants by central and local governments in connection with our contributions to technology development and investments in local business districts. These grants may not be recurring in nature, and we recognize suchthe income when the grants are received and no further conditions need to be met.

          Income Tax Expense

                 Our income tax expense is comprised primarily of current tax expense, mainly attributable to certain profitable subsidiaries in China, and deferred tax expense, mainly including withholding tax on dividends to be distributed by our major subsidiaries operating in China.


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          Taxation

          Cayman Islands Profits TaxAutoNavi

               Under Cayman Islands law,AutoNavi is a leading provider of digital map, navigation and real-time traffic information in China. Besides providing these services to end users directly, AutoNavi also operates a leading open platform in China that powers many major mobile apps in different industries such as food delivery, ride service, taxi-hailing and social networking with its location-based services. It also provides fundamental services to major platforms in our companyecosystem including our China retail marketplaces, Cainiao Network and Alipay.

          DingTalk

               DingTalk is not subjectour proprietary enterprise communication and collaboration platform that enables text, photo, voice and video communication, workflow management and collaboration among team members and enterprises of various sizes. It also offers a low-cost and secured Internet telephone service. With a built-in enterprise directory, users can easily initiate text chats or voice and video conference calls as well as secured group chats with members of their organization. DingTalk unifies the critical tasks of communication and collaboration in the work place. For instance, DingTalk enables enterprises to income, corporation or capital gains tax,conveniently record attendance in the workplace and no withholding tax is imposed upon the payment of dividends.at external meetings. In addition, as a fully integrated communications app, DingTalk supports HR, travel and expense approvals.

        Hong Kong Profits TaxBranding and Monetization Platforms

               Our company's subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong were subject to Hong Kong profits tax rate of 16.5% in fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015.

          PRC Income TaxUni Marketing for Brands

                 Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or EIT Law, the standard enterprise income tax rate is 25%. Entities qualifying as High and New Technology Enterprises enjoy a preferential tax rate of 15%. Entities recognized as Software Enterprises are exempt from the EIT for two years beginning from their first profitable calendar year and are entitled to a 50% reduction in EIT for the following three calendar years. Furthermore, entities recognized as key software enterprises within the PRC national plan enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 10%. Certain subsidiaries received the above preferential tax treatments during calendar years 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. One of our major subsidiaries in China, Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co. Ltd., or ZTT, which is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise primarily involved in the operation of Tmall, is currently in its third profitable year and as a result is no longer exempt from paying EIT but will be subject to an EIT rate of 12.5% (or 50% of the standard statutory rate) in calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and to an EIT rate of 15% thereafter for so long as the subsidiary continues to qualify as a High and New Technology Enterprise. Primarily as a result of this change, our effective tax rate increased from 11.9% in fiscal year 2014 to 19.8% in fiscal year 2015.

          Business Tax, VAT and Other Levies

                 Our PRC subsidiaries were subject to business tax and related surcharges on the revenue earned for services provided in China. The applicable business tax rate was 5%. In our consolidated income statement, business tax and related surcharges for revenue earned from customers are recognized as cost of revenue. Effectively starting from late fiscal year 2013, our major PRC subsidiaries became subject to VAT on revenue earned for most services under a national VAT reform program which replaced the business tax regime in China. In general, the applicable VAT rate on the revenue earned for services is 6% with companies entitled to credit VAT paid on certain purchases against VAT on sales. Revenue is recognized net of VAT in our consolidated income statement.

          PRC Withholding Tax

                 Pursuant to the EIT Law, a 10% withholding tax is generally levied on dividends declared by companies in China to their non-resident enterprise investors. A lower withholding tax rate of 5% is applicable for direct foreign investors incorporated in Hong Kong with at least a 25% equity interest in the PRC company and who meet the relevant conditions or requirements pursuant to the tax arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong. As the equity holders of our major subsidiaries in China are qualified Hong Kong incorporated companies, our deferred tax liabilities for distributable earnings are calculated based on a 5% withholding tax. As of March 31, 2015, we have fully accrued the withholding tax on the earnings distributable by all of our subsidiaries in China.

          Share-based Compensation

               We have various equity incentive plans pursuantdeveloped a system that we call Uni Identity to whichtrack users across different properties and devices. For example, we are able to identify a user watching a Youku Tudou video on a PC as the employees, consultants and directors of our company, our affiliates and certain other companies are granted options or awarded RSUs to acquire our ordinary shares. We believe share-based awards are vital to attract, incentivize and retain our employees and consultants. In addition to on-hire grants for new recruits above a specific job level, we also make performance grants and promotion grantssame user shopping on an annual basis to our top performing employees. RSUs and share options granted in the above categories are generally subject to a four-year vesting schedule. Depending on the nature and the purpose of the grant, share options and RSUs generally vest 25% upon the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date or 50% upon the second anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and thereafter 25% every year.


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        Shortly before our initial public offeringTaobao App. Our Uni Identity system takes disparate data and attributes the data to a single user, which enables us to provide marketers with valuable insights into user behavior and preferences. Uni Identity enables brands to interact with consumers in September 2014,the right place at the right time with the right content.

               Drawing on Uni Identity and our big data capabilities, we granted certain RSUshave developed a Uni Marketing approach that empowers brands to build robust relationship with consumers throughout their lifecycles in our ecosystem. Our Uni Marketing methodology tracks brand-consumer relationships through each critical stage, from awareness to interest to purchase to loyalty. Consumer data is generated, aggregated, analyzed and share optionsreactivated in brands' individualized databases. This data guides brands and marketing agencies across each phase of the brand-consumer relationship, providing insights into strategy, communication planning and ad-serving. Our data-driven Uni Marketing approach effectively and efficiently promotes brand lift, sales generation and customer loyalty.

               Uni Marketing aims to capture consumer brand building touch points across internet media, including our marketplaces, Youku Tudou, UC Web, strategic partners in our ecosystem such as Weibo, as well as other major third-party internet properties in China. We intend to become the key destination for brand building by creating an open, inclusive and transparent platform where brands and marketing agencies are able to design, execute, track and optimize their brand building activities using our data and tools.

          Alimama

               Alimama is our marketing technology platform that provides the publisher-side serving and demand-side functionalities for merchants and brands to place various marketing formats on our marketplaces and other third-party properties. The platform supports P4P marketing based on keyword search rankings or display marketing in fixed positions that are bid on through auctions, as well as cost per thousand impression (CPM)-based, time-based marketing formats, or individual campaigns at fixed cost, through the display of photos, graphics and videos.

               The ranking of P4P search results on our core commerce platforms is based upon proprietary algorithms that take into account the bid price of keywords, the popularity of an item or merchant, customer feedback ranking of merchants and quality of product displays. For display marketing, the Alimama platform serves marketing messages based on data from our ecosystem, including transactions on our core commerce platforms, payment data from Ant Financial Services, logistics data from Cainiao Network, user navigation and behavioral data from our core commerce platforms and media and entertainment properties, as well as demographic and location-based data. The relevance and comprehensiveness of data based on commercial activities and user activities around our ecosystem provide a powerful and unique advantage for Alimama to target the most relevant information to the most relevant users.

               The Alimama technology platform supports marketing delivered through personal computers and mobile devices. Under Alimama's bidding system, marketers may set a higher or lower bid price for mobile marketing than the bid price for marketing on personal computers. Alimama also has an affiliate marketing program to place marketing displays on third-party websites and mobile apps, thereby enabling marketers, if they so choose, to extend their marketing and promotional reach to properties and users beyond our own marketplaces. We believe we have the largest online marketing affiliate network in China in terms of revenue shared with third-party website properties and mobile apps. Our affiliate marketing program not only provides additional traffic to our seniorcore commerce platforms, but also generates revenue to us. Under the Taobaoke program, merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall can generate additional traffic and transactions from third-party websites and mobile apps, and the marketers pay commissions based on a percentage of transaction value sourced from these third-party marketing affiliates. We share a significant portion of that commission with our third-party affiliate marketing partners.

               Alimama operates the Taobao Ad Network and Exchange, or TANX, one of the largest real-time bidding online marketing exchanges in China. TANX helps publishers to monetize their media inventories both on web properties and mobile apps. TANX automates the buying and selling of billions of marketing impressions on a daily basis. Participants on TANX include publishers, marketers and demand side platforms operated by agencies.


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          UCWeb Mobile Marketing System

               Our mobile search engine, Shenma (GRAPHIC), monetizes through a keyword bidding system that enables marketers to reach users who search for information related to their products or services. We engage third-party distributors to sell some of our mobile marketing services to marketers. UC Browser monetizes primarily through time-based display marketing where marketers place icons that link to their web pages or apps in UC Browser. Its news feeds feature UC Headlines enables marketers to place marketing messages in news feeds on cost-per-click (CPC) basis or impressions on time basis. Our mobile marketing platform enables marketers to launch targeted marketing for apps, games, web pages and services on mobile media including UC Browser, UC Headlines and third-party media partners, leveraging our deep consumer insights.

          Youku Tudou Advertising System

               Youku Tudou monetizes primarily through brand advertising. Its online advertising services include in-video, display, sponsorship and other forms of advertisements. In-video advertisements appear at certain times during the playback of a video. These video advertisements can be pre-roll, post-roll, mid-roll or static advertisements. Display advertisements can be delivered alongside a video and may take the form of graphical banners or text hyperlinks. Other forms of advertisements include product placements in the web video series produced in-house, sponsored live events or viral videos produced in-house. Youku Tudou's advertising solutions present brand advertisers with attractive opportunities to combine the visual impact and engagement of traditional television-like multimedia formats with the interactivity and precise targeting capabilities of the Internet.

        Other Major Elements of our Ecosystem

        Logistics — Cainiao Network

               Cainiao Network is a joint venture that we formed in May 2013 with other shareholders who are engaged in logistics, retail, and real estate, including four major express courier companies in China. Cainiao Network does not deliver packages itself. It operates a logistics data platform that leverages the capacity and capabilities of logistics partners to fulfill transactions between merchants and consumers at a large scale. Cainiao Network uses data insights and technology to improve efficiency across the logistics value chain. The proprietary data platform provides real-time access to data for merchants to better manage their inventory and warehousing and for consumers to track their orders. In addition, Cainiao Network's data platform helps logistics service providers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services, such as leveraging data to optimize the delivery routes used by express courier companies.

               Cainiao Network provides two major types of services — delivery data and technology solutions and domestic fulfilment solutions.

          •
          Delivery data and technology solutions are value-added services that link merchants to logistics service providers and to consumers, provide real-time order tracking information and enhance logistics efficiency. Merchants select the services of particular logistics service providers that rely on Cainiao Network's proprietary data platform for accuracy of delivery information and optimization of delivery routes. Under the delivery data and technology solutions model, merchants assume the responsibility for order fulfillment out of their warehouses (usually one centralized location per merchant), and they pay for express courier companies to pick up, transport and sort packages and make last-mile deliveries to the end consumers nationwide. This model does not require Cainiao Network to invest in capital intensive warehouses, transport or last-mile assets. Currently the vast majority of packages from our China retail marketplaces are fulfilled and delivered under this model.

          Through its platform approach, Cainiao Network integrates the resources of logistics service providers to build out the logistics ecosystem. As of March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network's fifteen strategic express courier partners employed over 1,800,000 delivery personnel in more than 600 cities and 31 provinces in China, according to data provided by them. Collectively they operated more than 180,000 hubs and sorting stations.


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            The top six of these express courier partners handled the delivery of the majority of packages from our China retail marketplaces in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. We believe that orders from transactions generated on our marketplaces represented a significant portion of these express courier partners' total delivery volumes in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. Cainiao Network is still in an early stage of development. It has yet to monetize the majority of the value-added services it provides under the delivery data and technology solutions model.

          •
          Domestic Fulfilment Solutions are services offered to merchants, especially medium to large merchants, who require a nationwide warehousing network and supply chain management team membersservices for optimized inventory placement at multiple locations and package delivery to end consumers in a more efficient and timely manner. Cainiao Network assumes responsibility of order fulfilment and package delivery to the end consumers, for which it charges a fee. Cainiao Network collaborates with in-warehouse operation providers and uses a combination of owned and partner warehouses to fulfill orders. Cainiao Network then coordinates with line-haul and last-mile delivery service providers to complete the package delivery. To provide a high quality solution, Cainiao Network oversees the entire logistics process and promotes standardization on efficiency metrics. As of March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network's same-day or next-day delivery services covered a total of 1,029 districts and counties, more than doubled compared with the coverage as of March 31, 2016. During the process, logistics partners' capabilities are also improved and upgraded through technology and data insights provided by Cainiao Network.

            In addition to enabling the fulfillment and delivery of orders that fit in standard size packages, we and Cainiao Network also partner with specialized logistics service providers for category-specific solutions where items require special handling and services. The following are examples of category-specific solutions that we and Cainiao Network have organized to enhance the consumer experience:

            •
            Large appliances.  We have entered into a joint venture with Haier Electronics to invest in its logistics subsidiary, RRS, to handle logistics services for large appliances. Partnering with RRS, Cainiao Network provides large appliances merchants with inventory planning tools, data analytics, and logistics services that enhance consumer experience through more efficient inventory placement.

            •
            Consumer electronics.  In connection with our agreement to invest in Suning, one of the largest electronics retail chains in China with over 1,500 stores and over 5.8 million sq.m. of logistics warehouse and ancillary facility space as of December 31, 2016, we and Cainiao Network are cooperating with Suning to leverage their retail and logistics assets relating to warehousing and delivery capabilities, and after-sale servicing and returns of electronics products.

            •
            Tmall Supermarket.  Tmall operates a popular supermarket category that generates high frequency purchases and builds consumer mindshare for high quality fresh produce, food and FMCG products. To fulfill the logistics demand, Cainiao Network partners with specialized players in the fresh produce supply chain, cold chain transport, warehouse operations and last-mile delivery services.

               As extensions of the two major types of services mentioned above, Cainiao Network also provides the following services to merchants and consumers on our international and China retail marketplaces, through collaboration with specialized logistics service providers:

          •
          Cross-border.  Cainiao Network provides import and export logistics services to merchants on Tmall Global, our premier platform for overseas brands and retailers, and AliExpress, our global consumer marketplace, respectively.

          •
          Rural and Urban Last Mile.  In order to enhance consumer experience and improve efficiency in last-mile delivery in both rural and urban areas, Cainiao Network has also developed technological solutions and operational standards for these settings. In rural areas, Cainiao Network coordinates the delivery from county level Rural Taobao stations to villages. In urban areas, Cainiao Network provides smart pick-up stations around urban communities and on college campuses as an alternative to delivery to end consumers' doorsteps.

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                 During the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network and its logistics partners enabled the delivery of 16.6 billion packages from our China retail marketplaces. Currently, Cainiao Network primarily derives its revenue from domestic fulfillment solutions and generates a significant portion of its revenue from providing these services to Tmall Supermarket.

            Proprietary Logistics Data Platform

                 Cainiao Network operates a proprietary logistics data platform. This platform links consumers, merchants and logistics service providers and allows them to share information relating to orders, delivery routes and time, and user feedbacks. The logistics data platform can interface with a broad range of systems including our marketplace transaction systems, Alipay's payment system, third-party transportation management systems, and the CRM, ERP and warehouse management systems of merchants. Information generated from the data platform serves many purposes: merchants can review the performance grants that were subject toof delivery service providers on different routes; logistics service providers can compare their performance against peers; and consumers can track orders, receive delivery time information, and stay in touch with delivery personnel.

            Recent Financing of Cainiao Network

                 Cainiao Network completed a six-yearround of equity financing of approximately RMB10 billion in March 2016. Existing shareholders and new investors, including major sovereign wealth funds and private equity funds, participated in the financing. We subscribed for Cainiao Network's shares on an approximately pro rata vesting schedule. We believe share-based awards arebasis. As of March 31, 2017, we own an approximately 47% equity interest in Cainiao Network.

          Financial Services — Ant Financial Services

                 Ant Financial Services provides digital payment services and other financial and value-added services to consumers and SMEs in China and across the appropriate toolworld, such as payment, wealth management, lending, insurance and credit system. Ant Financial Services leverages its customer insights and technologies to alignhelp financial institutions, ISVs and other partners on its platform to enhance experience of their users and improve their risk management capabilities. During the interests of the granteestwelve months ended March 31, 2017, Ant Financial Services, together with those of our shareholders.Paytm and Ascend Money, served over 630 million annual active users globally.

                 In addition, Junhan,Alipay, a major equity holderwholly owned subsidiary of Ant Financial Services, grantedprovides payment and escrow services for transactions on Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, 1688.com, AliExpress and certain share-based awards similarof our other platforms. Alipay is the principal means by which consumers pay for their purchases on our China retail marketplaces. Except for transactions paid with credit products such as credit cards, where Alipay charges the merchant, neither we nor Alipay charge any payment fees to share appreciation awards linkedmerchants doing business on our platforms. Instead, we pay Alipay a fee for the payment and escrow services it provides on our marketplaces pursuant to the valuation ofa commercial agreement with Ant Financial Services to most of our employees. These share-based awards have vesting schedules that are conditioned upon the fulfillment of requisite services to us, and such awards will be settled in cash by Junhan upon disposal by our employees. We have no obligation to reimburse Junhan,Alipay.

                 Ant Financial Services orand its subsidiariespartners also provide wealth management, lending, insurance, credit system and other services to merchants and consumers in our ecosystem, such as working capital loans to SMEs, consumer loans and logistics cost insurance for the cost associatedgoods returned.

                 For additional details on our commercial relationship with these awards. SeeAnt Financial Services and Alipay, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transaction —Transactions Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Equity-based Awards to Our Employees by a Related Party.Subsidiaries."

                 We recognized share-based compensation expenseLocal Services

                 Through investee companies, we are engaged in the online-to-offline, or O2O, local services business involving restaurants, food delivery and movie ticketing, among others.


          Table of RMB1,259 million, RMB2,844 millionContents

            Koubei Local Services Guide

                 In 2015, we and RMB13,028 million (US$2,102 million) in fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, representing 4%, 5% and 17% of our revenue in those respective periods. The following table sets forth an analysis of share-based compensation expense by function for the periods indicated.

           
          		 Year ended March 31, 
           
          		 2013 2014 2015 
           
          		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
           
          		 (in millions)
          		 

          Cost of revenue

          		  382  1,154  4,176  674 

          Product development expenses

          		  453  795  3,876  625 

          Sales and marketing expenses

          		  120  189  1,235  199 

          General and administrative expenses

          		  304  706  3,741  604 
                    
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

          Total

          		  1,259  2,844  13,028  2,102 
                    
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
          ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    

                 Share-based compensation expense increased significantly in fiscal year 2015 due to performance-based and retention grants of share-based awards to our employees and members of senior management prior to our initial public offering. In addition, as a result of "mark-to-market" accounting required under U.S. GAAP, the increase in share-based compensation also reflected the re-measurement charge relating to our share-based awards granted to the employees of Ant Financial Services set up the joint venture Koubei, one of the leading local services guide businesses in China. Koubei operates O2O services in conjunction with Alipay by generating demand to local establishments such as restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and share-based awards ofother offline lifestyle establishments by offering consumers a "closed loop" experience, from acquiring information on mobile to finding the store to claiming discounts to payment. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, Koubei generated RMB74.7 billion (US$10.9 billion) in GMV settled through Alipay with merchants.

                 In January 2017, Koubei completed a US$1.1 billion equity financing led by Silver Lake, CDH Investments, Yunfeng Capital and Primavera Capital. This transaction provides Koubei with a strong capital base to execute its aggressive growth strategy.

            Ele.Me Food Delivery

                 In March 2016, we jointly invested with Ant Financial Services grantedin Ele.me (GRAPHIC), a leading food delivery company in China. Consumers using the company's food delivery app can order meals, snacks and beverages on a mobile device. Through a delivery network of employed and outsourced personnel, the company's service covered over 1,500 districts and counties in China as of March 31, 2017. Under a cooperation agreement, Ele.me fulfills food orders generated from the Taobao App and Alipay App.

            Movie Ticketing

                 Alibaba Pictures, our equity investee and the flagship unit of our movie business, operates the second largest online movie ticketing platform in China in terms of mobile MAUs in March 2017, according to QuestMobile.

          Customer Service for China Retail Marketplaces

                 Merchants on our platforms serve their customers with commerce technologies and services we provide. In addition, our customer service representatives serve consumers and merchants on our marketplaces through telephone hotlines, real-time instant messaging and online inquiry systems. Our dispute resolution system's adjudication panel of experienced consumers and merchants provides an easy way for consumers and merchants to resolve their disputes, while other more complicated disputes are referred to our employeescustomer service representatives. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, we received dispute cases representing approximately 0.03% of orders placed on our China retail marketplaces.

                 With certain exceptions, consumers on our China retail marketplaces may return the purchased goods within seven days from their receipt. Alipay's payment escrow services ensure efficient refunds. In addition, for qualified consumers with good credit history, we may accelerate refund procedure by Junhan.making the refund payment directly to the buyer upon the buyer's refund application and providing of proof of shipment for the return goods.

          Consumer Protection

                 We believe every consumer has the right to protection from false and misleading claims and harmful products. We encourage our merchants to make product quality a priority and have set up various programs to this end. All Tmall merchants are required to contribute to and maintain a consumer protection fund for the benefit of consumers. Consumer protection fund deposit requirements vary by product category and typically range from RMB10,000 to RMB500,000 per storefront. For Tmall Global merchants, the consumer protection fund deposit requirement typically ranges from RMB150,000 to RMB300,000 for standard storefronts. The expense arisingmajority of Taobao Marketplace merchants maintain individual consumer protection funds with minimum amounts ranging from Ant Financial Services' share-based awards grantedRMB1,000 to our employees represents a non-cash charge that will not result in any economic costs or equity dilutionRMB50,000. All Tmall and Taobao Marketplace merchants are required to our shareholders. It is the view of Jack Ma, our executive chairman, who controls Ant Financial Services, that the grant of these equity awardssign agreements with us authorizing us to our employees will benefit us because of the strategic importance of Ant Financial Services as a payment service provider to us and our significant participationmake deductions from their Alipay accounts in the profit and value accretionevent of Ant Financial Services throughconfirmed consumer claims. Merchants who have failed to maintain a minimum amount in their consumer protection funds are blocked from showing product listings in our agreements with Ant Financial Services.

                 We expect that our share-based compensation expense will continue to be affected by the change in fair value of our shares and the quantity of awards we grant to our employees and consultants in the future. Furthermore, we expect that our share-based compensation expense will continue to increase, primarily because of the expected increase in fair value of share-based awards of Ant Financial Services. See "— Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Share-based Compensation Expense and Valuation of Our Ordinary Shares" for additional information regarding our share-based compensation expense.

          Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities

                 In addition to organic growth, we have made, or have entered into agreements to make, strategic investments, acquisitions and alliances that are intended to increase our service offerings and expand our capabilities. Thesearch results.


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          financial results       The consumer protection fund amounts are displayed on each merchant's information page. As of March 31, 2017, consumer protection funds deposited in the Alipay accounts of merchants on our China retail marketplaces in aggregate totaled over RMB18 billion. Many merchants on Tmall and Taobao Marketplace provide a larger deposit than required and make additional service commitments, such as expedited shipment, free maintenance for electronics and installation services for furniture purchases, to demonstrate to their customers their confidence in the quality of their services and products. If the amount in a merchant's consumer protection fund is insufficient, we may still choose to compensate consumers ourselves for any losses, although we are not legally obligated to do so. In addition, Alipay's escrow payment services offer consumers further protection by applying a risk-adjusted payment release schedule to merchants based on merchants' historical track records including service level, product quality and dispute rate.

          Transaction Platform Safety Programs

                 Preserving the integrity of our marketplaces is a top priority for us. We are committed to protecting intellectual property rights and eradicating counterfeit merchandise and fictitious activities. Infringement of intellectual property, both online and offline, are industry-wide issues affecting brands and merchants globally. We work on these strategic transactionsissues with rights holders, trade associations and governments around the world. As of March 31, 2017, more than 100,000 brands operate on our marketplaces, a demonstration of the trust they place in the integrity of our marketplaces.

          Product Authenticity

                 We are committed to offering authentic, high quality products across our platforms, including high quality overseas products on Tmall Global, grocery and FMCG products on Tmall Supermarket, and high quality pharmaceuticals on Tmall. Together with our focus on providing authentic products across our platforms, we are also fully committed to working with brands, rights holders and law enforcement authorities to monitor product authenticity and protect intellectual property both online and offline. We have called for collective efforts in the fight against counterfeiting that were completed are reflectedinclude stronger law enforcement measures and harsher penalties for those found to be engaged in criminal activity. In addition, we also initiate civil actions against counterfeiters.

                 Our product authenticity initiatives have produced effective results. As part of our commitment to allow only authentic product listings on our platforms, we employ big data and technology to proactively identify and shut down storefronts selling infringing products and remove suspect product listings. These efforts resulted in our operatingremoval of approximately 29 times more product listings than were requested by intellectual property rights holders during the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. Our offline product authenticity initiatives also have borne tangible results beginning with the period of their respective completion. Minority investments are accounted for under the equity method ifas we have significant influence through investmentprovided law enforcement authorities with evidence to successfully track down and arrest violators of intellectual property rights in common stock or in-substance common stock overa number of instances.

                 We implement the investees, or otherwise underfollowing measures to monitor the cost method.

                 Our investmentauthenticity of products offered on our platforms and acquisition strategy focuses on enhancing three aspects of our business:fight illicit goods together with brands and law enforcement agencies:

            •
            increasing user acquisitionNotice and engagement;take down system.  In order to safeguard our platforms and promote product authenticity we operate a rigorous notice-and-takedown system that allows rights holders to request the removal of potentially infringing listings from our platforms. We offer qualified rights holders a good-faith takedown program pursuant to which we process infringement takedown requests on a "good-faith" basis by expediting claims and simplifying the notification procedure. We collaborate with rights holders in proactively identifying suspicious listings, giving them an opportunity to review these listings and submit takedown requests.

            •
            Proactive monitoring (scanning and detection) powered by big data.  As part of our commitment to allow only authentic product listings on our platforms, we utilize our proprietary algorithms to proactively detect the presence of suspicious goods. As of March 2017, our algorithms had the capacity to process 100 million pieces of data per second, which enables us to conduct proactive scans on more than 10 million product listings a day. We also have developed the capability to perform real-time scanning of suspicious product

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              specifications during a merchant's listing creation process, enabling us to stop merchants from uploading infringing content. We employ Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to conduct text and logo detection on images used in product listings in order to ensure that the products offered are authentic. Our detection technology is capable of constantly improving customer experience;through machine learning. Our ability to quickly and efficiently monitor and remove problematic products enhances as more and more brands and rights holders contribute information about their intellectual property to our systems. We collaborate with rights holders in this manner to protect their intellectual property.

            •
            Offline enforcement.  We work closely with brands and law enforcement authorities to assist in their offline investigations against counterfeiting. With insights drawn from our data analytics, we help law enforcement authorities to identify manufacturers and dealers of suspicious goods so they can be brought to justice.

                 We are committed to promoting authentic goods on our platforms in order to create a safe and healthy environment for commerce.

            Alibaba Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance (AACA)

                 In January 2017, we announced the establishment of the AACA together with major international brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Swarovski, and Dulux. The AACA is committed to using big data and technology to combat intellectual property infringement more effectively, efficiently and transparently.

                 In April 2017, we and 30 leading global brands came together as members of the AACA for a series of meetings and constructive dialogue focused on combatting intellectual property infringement through big data and technology. With the support of big data and technology, the AACA helps rights holders, e-commerce platforms and law enforcement agencies work together on fighting intellectual property infringement both online and offline. The AACA believes all parties must work together in a collaborative fashion with increased communication and exchange of information to halt the production of infringing goods.

                 We are committed to supporting this industry-wide AACA effort through our big data and technology capabilities, and promoting ongoing industry cooperation for the establishment of a healthy and safe environment for commerce.

          Combatting Fictitious Transactions

                 With respect to fictitious activities, we have and will continue to invest significant resources in protecting the trust and credit system we have built on our marketplaces. Measures to prevent, detect and reduce the occurrence of fictitious transactions on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall we have implemented include:

            •
            requiring the use of merchants' real identities when opening accounts;

            •
            analyzing transaction patterns to identify anomalies;

            •
            offering dynamic password protection and engaging in real-time monitoring of user login behavior;

            •
            enabling consumers and merchants to report suspicious transactions;

            •
            maintaining a "blacklist" of merchants who have previously been involved in fictitious transactions; and

            •
            expandingcollaborating with participants in our ecosystem such as Alipay and Cainiao Network as well as industry partners and law enforcement authorities on Internet security.

          Penalties

                 We aim to protect consumers by excluding suspicious merchandise and fictitious transactions from the ranking system, credit system and transaction volume statistics. When these activities are confirmed, we penalize the parties involved through a number of means including: closing down storefronts, permanently banning merchants from opening any accounts on our platforms, limiting merchants' ability to add listings, imposing restrictions on


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          participation in promotional activities on our marketplaces, and placing merchants' product listings at the bottom in search ranking results.

          Our Technology

                 Technology is key to our success in achieving efficiency for our business, improving the user experience, and enabling innovation. Our unrivaled proprietary technology supports peak order volumes of up to hundreds of thousands per second, delivers tens of billions of online marketing impressions per day, and enables millions of merchants and other businesses to conduct their operations efficiently and effectively. The uniqueness of our technology lies in the unparalleled large-scale application environment due to the scale of our businesses. By constantly applying our technology across our businesses, we generate knowledge and innovations that drive improvements and further technological development.

                 As of March 31, 2017, we employed a team of over 22,000 research and development personnel. Our research and development personnel play key roles in various international standardization organizations in areas such as security, e-commerce and IoT. In addition, we are also active in open source communities and have contributed over 100 open source software projects.

                 Key components of our technology include those described below:

          Technology Infrastructure

                 Our data centers utilize leading technologies in distributed structure, natural cooling, distributed power technology, high-density liquid cooling and intelligent monitoring, and we believe we operate at the lowest power usage effectiveness, or PUE, ratio worldwide. The multi-region availability of our transaction system data centers provides scalable and stable redundancy.

          Cloud Operating Systems

                 Our cloud computing operating system, called Apsara, is a proprietary general purpose distributed computing operating system that provides Alibaba Cloud customers with enhanced computing power to support their business growth in the data technology, or DT, era. We have also developed YunOS, a cloud-based, data and service-oriented operating system for all kinds of smart devices. YunOS is a highly scalable and compatible system that can be used on a wide range of IoT devices, including automobiles, mobile phones, TVs and set-top boxes.

          Big Data Analytics Platform

                 We have developed a distributed data analytics platform that can efficiently handle complex computing tasks of hundreds of millions of data dimensions, providing deep data insights to our businesses and our cloud computing customers. Our big data analytics platform includes MaxCompute, an offline data storage and computing platform, StreamCompute, a real-time data storage and computing platform, and OneData, a data integration and management system.

          Artificial Intelligence

                 With access to a massive amount of data and our involvement in diverse businesses involving a rich variety of consumer experiences, we believe we are in a unique position to develop the large-scale commercial use of AI. To date, we have applied various AI technologies across our commerce platforms to enhance consumer experience, such as personalized search results and shopping recommendations empowered by deep learning and data analytics, speech recognition and image analysis technology adopted in search functions, as well as intelligent customer service.


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          Machine Learning

                 We are one of the few companies in the world with a proprietary, distributed deep learning platform. Deep learning capabilities accelerate our innovations in areas such as image and video recognition, speech recognition, text and voice interaction and machine translation.

          Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

                 We showcased our Buy+ virtual reality, or VR, shopping experience during Singles Day 2016, demonstrating the potential to change the way people shop and how merchants and brands can reach consumers without physical stores. Consumers can enjoy an interactive shopping experience and complete transactions using VR devices.

                 We also launched Tmall AR-GO for home furnishings, which allows consumers to use mobile devices to view nearly true-to-life images of how furniture will fit in their homes. Applying the latest technology, Tmall AR-GO utilizes motion tracking, combined with life-like rendering effects and optimized 3D engines.

          Security

                 We have established a comprehensive security infrastructure, supported by our network situational awareness and risk management system, that spans from the individual end users across our entire network, covering our systems, apps, data and services. Our back-end security system handles hundreds of millions of instances of malicious attacks each day to safeguard the security of our e-commerce and cloud platforms.

          Sales and Marketing

                 As Taobao Marketplace is China's largest mobile commerce destination, we enjoy significant organic traffic through word-of-mouth and general awareness of our brand and platforms. Although we employ a variety of methods to promote our platforms, we believe word-of-mouth, and the reputation and ubiquitous awareness of our brand and platforms in China and, increasingly, abroad, provide us with the best and most cost-efficient marketing channel. Further, the large number of consumers on our marketplaces attracts a large number of merchants who become customers for our online marketing services. As a result, we do not rely on a large sales force for our China retail marketplaces.

          Corporate Social Responsibility

                 We believe the best approach to corporate social responsibility is through embedding elements of social responsibility in our business model. Since our founding, we have been highly committed to sustainable corporate responsibility projects, both through charitable endeavors and by extending the benefits of our ecosystem to the community at large.

                 Our major achievements and initiatives in the areas of corporate social responsibility include those described below:

          Creating Job Opportunities

                 The breadth of our ecosystem and the range of different types of service providers needed within it create employment opportunities. In addition to providing direct business opportunities for merchants, our ecosystem has created new opportunities for service providers in logistics, marketing, consulting, operations outsourcing, training and other online and mobile commerce professions. According to AliResearch, our research division, as of December 2016, it is estimated that our China retail marketplaces contributed to the creation of over 33 million direct and indirect job opportunities in China, including people working directly for online storefronts, service providers to merchants and other businesses across the value chain.

                 With the power of the Internet, our platforms have leveled the playing fields for businesses in many aspects, helping to foster an inclusive economy for everyone to thrive and prosper. In fiscal year 2017, approximately half


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          of the annual active sellers on our China retail marketplaces were female. In calendar year 2016, our China retail marketplaces supported the livelihoods of approximately 160,000 disabled sellers.

          Supporting Rural Development in China

                 As we expand to rural areas in China and provide access to the urban consumer market, we have created opportunities for people living in rural areas to elevate their standard of living. Our Rural Taobao program gives rural residents greater access to goods and services as well as the ability to sell what they produce to the cities. In addition, communities of rural online entrepreneurs in impoverished areas have opened storefronts on our China retail marketplaces to effectively elevate their income levels. As of December 2016, AliResearch, our research division, has identified over 1,000 of these rural e-tailer villages, over 200 of which were in state- and province-designated impoverished counties.

          Charitable Donation and Participation

                 Since 2010, we have earmarked 0.3% of our annual revenue to fund efforts designed to encourage environmental awareness and conservation as well as other corporate social responsibility initiatives. In 2011, we established the Alibaba Foundation, a private charity fund that focuses on supporting environmental protection in China and helping the disadvantaged, such as children born with heart defects in underdeveloped areas of China. In fiscal year 2017, we and the Alibaba Foundation made over RMB110 million (US$16 million) in donations to support more than 80 domestic and overseas charitable projects, including those hosted by the National Geographic Air and Water Conservation Fund, the Paulson Institute and the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. We have also leveraged our platforms to enable other charitable organizations to raise over RMB235 million (US$34 million) in donations in fiscal year 2017, which benefited over two million disadvantaged people.

                 Since September 2015, we have encouraged our employees to perform a minimum of three hours of service activities every year. In fiscal year 2017, this program saw over 140,000 hours of social service activities performed by our employees. In addition, we recognize the immense influence of our ecosystem and leverage it to extend the reach of our charitable work. In fiscal year 2017, our platforms facilitated approximately 4.7 billion charitable participations involving over 300 million consumers and over 1.7 million merchants. We encourage our merchants, consumers and other ecosystem participants to participate in socially responsible activities. For example, charitable organizations can set up storefronts on our marketplaces to raise funds and engage with volunteers. Merchants can designate a percentage of the sales proceeds generated on our platforms to go to charitable organizations. Consumers can contribute to charitable causes by purchasing these products or participating in charity auctions hosted on our platforms.

          Selected Efforts to Address Social Problems

                 In running our day-to-day business, we are at the forefront in witnessing and understanding the social problems in China. We are committed to establishing a unique charitable ecosystem that focuses on innovation and scalability. We support and promote a number of charitable and socially responsible initiatives and programs in ways that we believe are in alignment with our core values and our mission. In 2016, the Research Center for Corporate Social Responsibility of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences named us one of the top 10 charitable enterprises in China and the top charitable private enterprise in China. In the same year, we were also among the first group of Internet platforms recognized for charitable donations by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

                 We believe corporate philanthropy should not be limited to charitable giving. With a view toward long-term, sustainable philanthropy, we take the approach of developing commercially viable charity projects that are


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          ingrained in products across a wide range of businesses in our ecosystem. In fiscal year 2017, we promoted 23 philanthropic products including:

            •
            the "Reunion" platform that connects our mobile apps and those of our partners to help locate missing children across China; from the implementation of the platform in mid-2016 to the end of 2016, law enforcement authorities successfully located 611 missing children based on 648 alerts broadcasted to the ecosystem of mobile users, a 94% success rate;

            •
            an anti-scamming app jointly developed with the PRC Ministry of Public Security that helps the public to report and identify scam calls and text messages;

            •
            barrier-free features of the Tmall App that enhance user experience for people with vision disabilities;

            •
            providing subsidized cloud computing services to charitable organizations; and

            •
            a new feature in the Cainiao Network App that allows users to send clothes and books for donation.

          Competition

                 We face competition principally from established Chinese Internet companies, such as Tencent, Baidu and their respective affiliates, as well as from certain offline retailers and e-commerce players, including those that specialize in a limited number of product categories, such as FMCG, global or regional cloud computing service providers and digital media and entertainment providers. These competitors generate significant traffic and have established brand recognition, significant technological capabilities and significant financial resources. The areas in which we compete primarily include:

            •
            Consumers — We compete to attract, engage and retain consumers based on the variety and value of products and services listed on our marketplaces, the engagement of digital media and entertainment content available on our platforms, the overall user experience of our products and services.services and the effectiveness of our consumer protection measures.

            •
            Merchants and Brands — We compete to attract and retain merchants based on the size and the engagement of consumers on our platforms and the effectiveness of our products and services to help them build brand awareness and engagement, acquire and retain customers, complete transactions, expand service capabilities, protect intellectual property rights and enhance operating efficiency.

            •
            Marketers — We compete to attract and retain marketers, publishers and demand side platforms operated by agencies based on the reach and engagement of our properties, the depth of our consumer data insights and the effectiveness of our branding and marketing solutions.

            •
            Talent — We compete for motivated and capable talent, including engineers and product developers to build compelling apps, tools and functions for all participants in our ecosystem.

          In doing so,       We also face competition from major global Internet companies, including e-commerce companies around the world. Although foreign e-commerce companies currently have a limited presence in China, we aim to remain focused on our mission to make it easy to do business anywhere and realize our vision that our customers will "meet, work and live @ Alibaba."face significant competition from them in the areas of cross-border commerce.

                 Consistent withAs we acquire new businesses and expand into new industries and sectors, we face competition from major players in these and other industries and sectors. In addition, as we expand our goal to deliver sustainable, long-term growth,businesses and operations into an increasing number of international markets, including markets in which we take a deliberatehave limited or no experience and staged approach to our corporate development strategy. In some cases,in which we may begin with an initial minority investment followed by business cooperation. Where the business results, cooperationbe less well-known, such as Southeast Asia, India and the overall relationship established with the management of the investee company fit with our ongoing business strategy,Russia, we may increase our investment or acquire the investee companyincreasingly face competition from domestic and international players operating in full. Examples of this type of approach include our investments in UCWeb, AutoNavi, and Weibo Corporation, or Weibo, where the period from initial investment to eventual acquisition or increase in investment spanned more than one fiscal year. Our investment approach also involves supporting entrepreneurs to innovate and develop leading products and technologies.

                 We have funded our strategic acquisitions and investments primarily from cash generated from our operations and through debt and equity financing. Going forward, we expect to fund additional investments through cash generated from our operations and through debt and equity financing. Our recently completed acquisitions, including UCWeb, OneTouch and AutoNavi, resulted in an increase of approximately 7,300 additional employees but we do not expect they will materially increase our revenue in the short term. In addition, because we did not consolidate the expenses attributable to these additional employees for the full fiscal year 2015, we expect that such expenses will increase for the next fiscal year, when such expenses would have been consolidated for the full year. Moreover, we expect that acquisitions of entities with lower overall margins than our margins will have the effect of lowering our margins. Although we expect our margins to be negatively affected by acquisitions of target companies with lower margins, we do not expect our investment activities to have any significant negative impact on our liquidity or operations. However, there can be no assurance that our future financial results would not be materially and adversely affected if our strategic investments and acquisitions are not successful.markets. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — Increased investments inIf we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected."


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          Seasonality

                 Our overall operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of a variety of factors, including seasonal factors and economic cycles that influence consumer spending as well as promotional shopping activities we conduct.

                 Historically, we have experienced the highest levels of revenues in the fourth calendar quarter of each year due to a number of factors, including merchants allocating a significant portion of their online marketing budgets to the fourth calendar quarter, promotions, such as Singles Day on November 11 of each year and the impact of seasonal buying patterns in respect of certain categories such as apparel. We have also experienced lower levels of revenues in the first calendar quarter of each year due to a lower level of allocation of online marketing budgets by merchants at the beginning of the calendar year and the Chinese New Year holiday, during which time consumers generally spend less and businesses in China are generally closed. In addition, seasonal weather patterns may negatively affect the timing of buying decisions. For example, unexpectedly long periods of warm weather could delay the purchase of heavier clothing items that have higher average selling prices. Moreover, as our margins"business grows, we expect that our fixed costs and expenses, such as payroll and benefits, bandwidth and co-location fees, will continue to increase, which will result in operating leverage in seasonally strong quarters but can significantly pressure operating margins in seasonally weak quarters.

          Regulation

                 We operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. We and our key service provider, Ant Financial Services, are subject to a variety of PRC and foreign laws, rules and regulations across a number of aspects of our business. This section summarizes the principal PRC laws, rules and regulations relevant to our business and operations. Areas in which we are subject to laws, rules and regulations outside of the PRC include data protection and privacy, consumer protection, content regulation, intellectual property, competition, cross-border trade, taxation, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption. We may also face protectionist policies and regulatory scrutiny on national security grounds in foreign countries in which we conduct business or investment activities. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We and Ant Financial Services are subject to a broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations on our business or otherwise that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations."

                 Our online and mobile commerce businesses are classified as value-added telecommunication businesses by the PRC government. Current PRC laws, rules and regulations generally restrict foreign ownership in value-added telecommunication services. As a result, we operate our online and mobile commerce businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited through variable interest entities, each of which is owned by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned by PRC citizens, and holds all licenses associated with these businesses.

                 The applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations governing value-added telecommunication services may change in the future. We may be required to obtain additional approvals, licenses and permits and to comply with any new regulatory requirements adopted from time to time. Moreover, substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these PRC laws, rules and regulations. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations."

          Regulation of Foreign Investment

                 The Guidance Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment, or the Catalogue, the latest version of which came into effect on April 10, 2015, was promulgated and recently amended by the MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission and governs investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors. The Catalogue divides industries into three categories — "encouraged," "restricted," and "prohibited" for foreign investment. Industries not listed in the Catalogue are generally deemed as falling into a fourth category,


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          "permitted." However, industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, are restricted from foreign investment. Among our significant subsidiaries, Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd. are registered in China and mainly engaged in software development, technical services and consultations, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category under the latest Catalogue. These two significant subsidiaries have obtained all material approvals required for their business operations. The Catalogue does not apply to our significant subsidiaries that are registered and domiciled in Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands or the Cayman Islands, and operate outside China. The businesses of our other PRC subsidiaries — including PRC subsidiaries of our significant subsidiaries — are generally software development, technical services and consulting, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category. Industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, are generally restricted to foreign investment pursuant to the latest Catalogue. We conduct business operations that are restricted or prohibited to foreign investment through our variable interest entities.

                 In January 2015, the MOFCOM published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law, which embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. The MOFCOM has completed the solicitation of comments on this discussion draft, but substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, the final version, interpretation and implementation. For more details, see "Item 3. Key Information — Risks Related to our Corporate Structure — Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law."

                 In addition, on January 12, 2017, the State Council issued the Notice on Several Measures for Expansion of Opening-up Policy and Active Use of Foreign Capital, or the Notice No. 5, which purports to relax restrictions on foreign investment in sectors including service, manufacturing and mining. Specifically, the Notice No. 5 proposes to gradually open up telecommunication, Internet, culture, education and transportation industries to foreign investors. However, there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the implementing rules and regulations of Notice No. 5.

          Regulation of Telecommunications and Internet Information Services

            Regulation of Telecommunication Services

                 Under the Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC, or the Telecommunications Regulations, promulgated on September 25, 2000 by the State Council of the PRC and most recently amended in February 2016, a telecommunication service provider in China must obtain an operating license from the MIIT, or its provincial counterparts. The Telecommunications Regulations categorize all telecommunication services in China as either basic telecommunications services or value-added telecommunications services. Our online and mobile commerce businesses, as well as Youku Tudou's online video businesses, are classified as value-added telecommunications services.

                 Foreign investment in telecommunications businesses is governed by the State Council's Administrative Rules for Foreign Investments in Telecommunications Enterprises, or the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules, issued by the State Council on December 11, 2001 and most recently amended in February 2016, under which a foreign investor's beneficial equity ownership in an entity providing value-added telecommunications services in China is not permitted to exceed 50%. In addition, for a foreign investor to acquire any equity interest in a business providing value-added telecommunications services in China, it must demonstrate a positive track record and experience in providing these services. However, according to the Notice on Lifting the Restriction to Foreign Shareholding Percentage in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (Operational E-commerce) promulgated by the MIIT on June 19, 2015, foreign investors are allowed to hold up to 100% of all equity interest in the online data processing and transaction processing business (operational e-commerce) in China, while other requirements provided by the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules shall still apply. It is unclear how this notice will be implemented and there exist high uncertainties with respect to its interpretation


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          and implementation by authorities. The MIIT's Notice Regarding Strengthening Administration of Foreign Investment in Operating Value-Added Telecommunication Businesses, or the MIIT Notice, issued on July 13, 2006 prohibits holders of these services licenses from leasing, transferring or selling their licenses in any form, or providing any resource, sites or facilities, to any foreign investors intending to conduct this type of businesses in China.

                 In addition to restricting dealings with foreign investors, the MIIT Notice contains a number of detailed requirements applicable to holders of value-added telecommunications services licenses, including that license holders or their shareholders must directly own the domain names and trademarks used in their daily operations and each license holder must possess the necessary facilities for its approved business operations and maintain its facilities in the regions covered by its license, including maintaining its network and providing Internet security in accordance with the relevant regulatory standards. The MIIT or its provincial counterparts have the power to require corrective actions after they discover any non-compliance by license holders, and where license holders fail to take those steps, the MIIT or its provincial counterparts have the power to revoke the value-added telecommunications services licenses.

                 On December 28, 2016, the MIIT promulgated the Notice on Regulating Telecommunication Services Agreement Matters, or the Telecommunication Services Agreement Notice, which came into effect on February 1, 2017. According to the Telecommunication Services Agreement Notice, telecommunication service providers must require their users to present valid identification certificates and verify the users' identification information before provision of services. Telecommunication service providers are not permitted to provide services to users with unverifiable identity or who decline identity verification.

            Regulation of Internet Information Services

                 As a subsector of the telecommunications industry, Internet information services are regulated by the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, or the ICP Measures, promulgated on September 25, 2000 by the State Council and amended on January 8, 2011. "Internet information services" are defined as services that provide information to online users through the Internet. Internet information service providers, also called Internet content providers, or ICPs, that provide commercial services are required to obtain an operating license from the MIIT or its provincial counterpart.

                 To the extent the Internet information services provided relate to certain matters, including news, publication, education or medical and healthcare (including pharmaceutical products and medical equipment), approvals must also be obtained from the relevant industry regulators in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations governing those industries.

          Regulation of Advertising Services

                 The principal regulations governing advertising businesses in China are:

            •
            the Advertising Law of the PRC (2015, as amended);

            •
            the Advertising Administrative Regulations (1987);

            •
            the Regulations on Internet Information Search Services (2016); and

            •
            the Interim Measures for Administration of Internet Advertising (2016).

          These laws, rules and regulations require companies such as ours that engage in advertising activities to obtain a business license that explicitly includes advertising in the business scope from the SAIC or its local branches.

                 Applicable PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations contain certain prohibitions on the content of advertisements in China (including prohibitions on misleading content, superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content involving obscenities, superstition, violence, discrimination or infringement of the public interest). Advertisements for anesthetic, psychotropic, toxic or radioactive drugs are prohibited, and the


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          dissemination of advertisements of certain other products, such as tobacco, patented products, pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, agrochemicals, foodstuff, alcohol and cosmetics, are also subject to specific restrictions and requirements.

                 Advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors, including the businesses that certain of the variable interest entities operate, are required by applicable PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations to ensure that the content of the advertisements they prepare or distribute are true and in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Violation of these laws, rules and regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the SAIC or its local branches may revoke the violator's license or permit for advertising business operations. In addition, advertisers, advertising operators or advertising distributors may be subject to civil liability if they infringe the legal rights and interests of third parties, such as infringement of intellectual proprietary rights, unauthorized use of a name or portrait and defamation.

                 On June 25, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration promulgated the Administrative Regulations on Internet Information Search Services, or the Internet Search Regulations, which came into effect on August 1, 2016. According to the Internet Search Regulations, Internet search service providers must verify paid-search service customers' qualifications, limit the ratio of paid-search results on each webpage, and clearly distinguish paid-search results from natural search results.

                 The Internet Advertising Measures, which were promulgated by the SAIC on July 4, 2016 and came into effect on September 1, 2016, define Internet advertising as any commercial advertising that directly or indirectly promotes goods or services through websites, webpages, Internet applications and other Internet media in the forms of words, picture, audio, video or others, including promotion through emails, texts, images, video with embedded links and paid-for search results. The Internet Advertising Measures set out, among other things, the following requirements for Internet advertising activities:

            •
            online advertisements for prescription medicine or tobacco are not allowed, while advertisements for special commodities or services such as medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, food for special medical purposes, medical instruments, agrochemicals, veterinary medicine and other health foods must be reviewed by competent authorities before online publication;

            •
            Internet advertisements must be visibly marked as "advertisement," while paid-search results must be obviously distinguished from natural search results; and

            •
            Internet advertisements must not affect users' normal use of the Internet; "pop-up ads" must be clearly marked with a "close" sign and be closable with one click; and no deceptive means may be used to lure users into clicking on advertisements.

                 According to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet information service providers must prevent those advertisements they know or should have known to be illegal from being published through their information services. Furthermore, according to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet advertisers are responsible for the authenticity of the content of Internet advertisements, while Internet advertisement publishers and advertisement agencies are required to verify the identities of Internet advertisers and their qualifications, review the content of Internet advertisement, and employ inspectors who are familiar with PRC laws and regulations governing Internet advertising.


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          Regulation of Online and Mobile Commerce

                 China's online and mobile commerce industry is at an early stage of development and there are few PRC laws, regulations or rules specifically regulating this industry. The SAIC adopted the Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Commodities Trading and Relevant Services on May 31, 2010 and replaced those measures with the Administrative Measures for Online Trading on January 26, 2014, which became effective on March 15, 2014. On December 24, 2014, the MOFCOM promulgated the Provisions on the Procedures for Formulating Transaction Rules of Third Party Online Retail Platforms (Trial) to regulate the formulation, revision and enforcement of transaction rules for online retail marketplace platforms. These measures impose more stringent requirements and obligations on online trading or service operators as well as marketplace platform providers. For example, marketplace platform providers are obligated to make public and file their transaction rules with MOFCOM or their respective provincial counterparts, examine the legal status of each third-party merchant selling products or services on their platforms and display on a prominent location on a merchant's web page the information stated in the merchant's business license or a link to its business license, and group buying website operators must only allow a third-party merchant with a proper business license to sell products or services on their platforms. Where marketplace platform providers also act as online distributors, these marketplace platform providers must make a clear distinction between their online direct sales and sales of third-party merchant products on their marketplace platforms.

                 Since the promulgation of the Administrative Measures for Online Trading, the SAIC has issued a number of guidelines and implementing rules aimed at adding greater specificity to these regulations. The SAIC continues to consider and issue guidelines and implementing rules, and we expect that there will be further development of regulation in this industry. For example, three PRC governmental authorities (the Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs and State Administration of Taxation) issued a notice on March 24, 2016 to regulate cross-border e-commerce trading which has experienced rapid growth in recent years. The New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice, which became effective on April 8, 2016, introduced the concept of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation Goods Inventory, or the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory, which are to be issued and updated by the three authorities together with other relevant authorities from time to time. Goods beyond the scope of the Cross-Border E-commerce Goods Inventory will have no tax codes and be effectively removed from cross-border e-commerce platforms. Two batches of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory have been issued on April 6, 2016 and April 15, 2016, respectively. Cosmetics imported for the first time, nutrition supplements and other special food products required to be registered with the State Food and Drug Administration are excluded from the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory and will not be able to be sold on the relevant cross-border e-commerce platforms. However, pursuant to a transition policy issued by the General Administration of Customs, goods which have been imported to or in transit to the bonded areas and special regulated areas of customs before April 8, 2016 can still be sold on the cross-border e-commerce platforms no matter whether these goods are included in the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory or not. Further, pursuant to the Notice of Relevant Matters on Implementation of New Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation Supervision and Administration Requirements, or the New Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Implementation Notice, issued by the General Administration of Customs on May 24, 2016, the implementation of certain provisions of the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice will be suspended until the expiration of a transition period, which will conclude by the end of 2017. According to the New Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Implementation Notice, the requirement of presenting customs clearance for bonded goods purchased online is suspended in ten cities, and the requirement of presenting first-time import license, registration or filing for online purchased cosmetics imported for the first time, nutrition supplements and other special food products, are suspended until the end of the transition period. Further, according to an official MOFCOM news release issued on March 17, 2017, from January 1, 2018 retail goods imported on cross-border e-commerce platforms will be temporarily treated as personal items which are not subject to stricter regulation and higher tax rates applicable to normal imported goods in 15 cross-border e-commerce trial areas.


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          Regulation of Mobile Applications

                 On June 28, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Services, which came into effect as of August 1, 2016, requiring ICPs who provide information services through mobile Internet applications, or "Apps," to:

            •
            verify the real identities of registered users through mobile phone numbers or other similar channels;

            •
            establish and improve procedures for protection of user information;

            •
            establish and improve procedures for information content censorship;

            •
            ensure that users are given adequate information concerning an App, and are able to choose whether an App is installed and whether or not to use an installed App and its functions;

            •
            respect and protect intellectual property rights; and

            •
            keep records of users' log-in information for 60 days.

          If an ICP who provides information services through Apps violates these regulations, mobile application stores through which the ICP distributes its Apps may issue warnings, suspend the release of its Apps, or terminate the sale of its Apps, and/or report the violations to governmental authorities.

          Regulation of Internet Content

                 The PRC government has promulgated measures relating to Internet content through various ministries and agencies, including the MIIT, the News Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication. In addition to various approval and license requirements, these measures specifically prohibit Internet activities that result in the dissemination of any content which is found to contain pornography, promote gambling or violence, instigate crimes, undermine public morality or the cultural traditions of the PRC or compromise State security or secrets. ICPs must monitor and control the information posted on their websites. If any prohibited content is found, they must remove the content immediately, keep a record of it and report to the relevant authorities. If an ICP violates these measures, the PRC government may impose fines and revoke any relevant business operation licenses.

            Regulations on Broadcasting Audio/Video Programs through the Internet

                 On April 13, 2005, the State Council announced Several Decisions on Investment by Non-state-owned Companies in Culture-related Business in China. These decisions encourage and support non-state-owned companies to enter certain culture-related business in China, subject to restrictions and prohibitions for investment in audio/video broadcasting, website news and certain other businesses by non-state-owned companies. These decisions authorize the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, or the SARFT, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication, or the GAPP, to adopt detailed implementing rules according to these decisions.

                 On December 20, 2007, the SARFT and the MIIT jointly issued the Rules for the Administration of Internet Audio and Video Program Services, commonly known as Circular 56, which came into effect on January 31, 2008 and was amended on August 28, 2015. Among other things, Circular 56 requires all online audio/video service providers to be either wholly state-owned or state-controlled. According to relevant official answers to press questions published on the SARFT's website dated February 3, 2008, officials from the SARFT and the MIIT clarified that online audio/video service providers that already had been operating lawfully prior to the issuance of Circular 56 may re-register and continue to operate without becoming state-owned or controlled, provided that the providers have not engaged in any unlawful activities. This exemption will not be granted to online audio/video service providers established after Circular 56 was issued. These policies have been reflected in the Application Procedure for Audio/Video Program Transmission License.


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                 On March 17, 2010, the SARFT issued the Internet Audio/Video Program Services Categories (Provisional), or the Provisional Categories, which classified Internet audio/video programs into four categories. Category I is only open to state-owned broadcast media companies operating in the television section, and the other three categories are open to privately held entities.

                 In 2009, the SARFT released a Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content. This notice reiterated, among other things, that all movies and television shows released or published online must comply with relevant regulations on the administration of radio, film and television. In other words, these movies and television shows, whether produced in the PRC or overseas, must be pre-approved by the SARFT, and the distributors of these movies and television shows must obtain an applicable permit before releasing any of these movie or television shows. In 2012, the SARFT and the State Internet Information Office of the PRC issued a Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films. In 2014, the General Administration of Press and Publication, Radio, Film and Television, or GAPPRFT, formerly the SARFT and the GAPP, released a Supplemental Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films. This notice stresses that entities producing online audio/video content, such as Internet dramas and micro films, must obtain a permit for radio and television program production and operation, and that online audio/video content service providers should not release any Internet dramas or micro films that were produced by any entity lacking the permit. For Internet dramas or micro films produced and uploaded by individual users, the online audio/video service providers transmitting this content will be deemed responsible as the producer. Further, under this notice, online audio/video service providers can only transmit content uploaded by individuals whose identity has been verified and the content must comply with the relevant content management rules. This notice also requires that online audio/video content, include Internet drama and micro films, be filed with the relevant authorities before release.

                 On October 28, 2011, the SARFT issued the Administrative and Operational Requirements for Licensed Internet TV Organizations, commonly known as Circular 181, which came into effect on the same date. Circular 181 requires that Smart TVs must be exclusively connected to a specific licensed Internet TV organization and must not have access to the public Internet or network operators' databases. Up to now, there are only seven licensed Internet TV organizations and all are state-owned companies.

                 On September 2, 2014, the GAPPRFT promulgated a Notice on Further Implementing the Relevant Provisions for the Administration of Broadcasting Foreign Films and TV dramas. The notice stresses that any foreign film or TV drama must have a License for Film Publication or a TV drama Issuance License before being broadcast online, and that the annual total number of foreign films and TV dramas broadcast by a website must not exceed 30% of the total amount of domestic films and TV dramas broadcast by the relevant website in the preceding year. Furthermore, online video operators are required to report their annual plans for the import of foreign films and TV dramas to the GAPPRFT before the end of the preceding year. If the online video operators' import plans are approved, the samples, contracts, copyright certificates, plot summaries and other materials relevant to the foreign films and TV dramas are subject to further content examination before the issuance of Licenses for Film Publication or the TV drama Issuance Licenses. The notice also requires these online video operators to upload information about the foreign films and TV dramas to be broadcast to a unified platform for registration before March 31, 2015. Since April 1, 2015, unregistered foreign films and TV dramas are no longer allowed to be broadcast online.

                 On April 25, 2016, the GAPPRFT promulgated the Administration Measures on Audio/Video Program Services via Special Network and Directional Transmission, or Circular 6, which came into effect on June 1, 2016 and replaced the Rules for the Administration of Broadcasting of Audio/Video Programs through the Internet and Other Information Networks, which was promulgated in July 2004. Pursuant to Circular 6, providers of audio/video program services via special network and directional transmission, including content providing, integrated broadcasting controlling and transmission and delivery, must obtain an audio/video program transmission license, with a term of three years, issued by the GAPPRFT and operate pursuant to the scope as provided in such licenses. Foreign invested enterprises are not allowed to engage in these businesses.


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            Regulations on Internet Publication

                 The GAPPRFT is responsible for nationwide supervision and administration of publishing activities in China. On February 4, 2016, the GAPPRFT and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Online Publication Service Administration Rules, or the Online Publication Rules, which took effect on March 10, 2016 and replaced the Internet Publication Tentative Administrative Measures, which was promulgated in June 2002. Pursuant to the Online Publication Rules, an online publication service provider must obtain the Online Publication Service License from the GAPPRFT. The term "online publication service" is defined as the provision of online publications to the public through information networks. The term "online publications" is defined as digital works characteristic of publishing such as editing, production or processing provided to the public through information networks, and primarily include:

            •
            original digital works such as texts, pictures, maps, games, cartoons and audio-visual reading materials in the fields of literature, art, science, etc., which are of knowledge or ideology;

            •
            digital works, the content of which is the same as that which has already been published, such as books, newspapers, periodicals and electronic publications;

            •
            digital works such as online document databases formed by way of selecting, compiling or collecting the abovementioned works; and

            •
            other types of digital works determined by the GAPPRFT.

                 The Online Publication Rules expressly prohibit foreign invested enterprises from providing online publication services. In addition, if an online publication service provider intends to cooperate for an online publication services project with foreign invested enterprises, overseas organizations or overseas individuals, it must report to the GAPPRFT and obtain an approval in advance. Also, an online publication service provider is prohibited from lending, leasing, selling or otherwise transferring the Online Publication Service License, or to allow any other online information service provider to provide online publication services in its name.

                 Pursuant to the Online Publication Rules, book, audio-visual, electronic, newspaper or periodical publishers who intend to engage in online publication services must have:

            •
            a specific publishing platform, such as domain name and smart terminal application, for conducting online publication business;

            •
            a specific online publication service scope; and

            •
            necessary technical equipment for the provision of online publication services, with the related server and storage equipment located within the territory of the PRC.

                 Other entities which intend to engage in online publication services must have:

            •
            a specific name and articles of association which is not identical to the name of any other publication service provider;

            •
            a legal representative and key responsible persons who shall be a PRC national living permanently in the PRC who has full civil capacity to act, and at least one of these legal representatives or key responsible persons must have a mid-level or higher professional qualification in the field of publication;

            •
            at least eight full-time editing and publishing staff, other than the legal representative and key responsible persons, who have professional qualifications in publishing or other relevant fields recognized by the GAPPRFT and meet the needs of the entity's scope of online publication services, among whom at least three must have mid-level or higher professional qualification;

            •
            a content review system meeting the needs of the provision of online publication services;

            •
            fixed working premises; and

            •
            other items as required by relevant laws, administrative regulations or the GAPPRFT.

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            Regulations on Internet Drug Information Service

                 The State Food and Drug Administration, or the SFDA, promulgated the Administrative Measures on Internet Drug Information Service in July 2004 and certain implementing rules and notices thereafter. These measures set out regulations governing the classification, application, approval, content, qualifications and requirements for Internet drug information services. An ICP service operator that provides information regarding drugs or medical equipment must obtain an Internet Drug Information Service Qualification Certificate from the applicable provincial level counterpart of the SFDA.

            Regulations on Internet News Information Services

                 Publishing and disseminating news through the Internet are highly regulated in the PRC. On November 7, 2000, the State Council Information Office, or SCIO, and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Provisional Measures for Administrating Internet Websites Carrying on the News Publication Business, or Internet News Measures. These measures require an ICP operator (other than a government authorized news unit) to obtain the approval from SCIO to publish news on its website or disseminate news through the Internet. Furthermore, any disseminated news is required to be obtained from government-approved sources based on contracts between the ICP operator and these sources. The copies of these contracts must be filed with relevant government authorities.

                 On September 25, 2005, the SCIO and the MIIT jointly issued the Provisions on the Administration of Internet News Information Services, requiring Internet news information service organizations to provide services as approved by the SCIO, subject to annual inspection under the new provisions. These Provisions also provide that no foreign invested enterprise, whether jointly or wholly owned by the foreign investment, may be an Internet news information service organization, and no cooperation between Internet news information service organizations and foreign invested enterprises is allowed before the SCIO completes the security evaluation.

                 On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration issued the Administrative Provisions on Internet News Information Services, or the 2017 Internet News Information Provisions, which came into effect on June 1, 2017 and redefine news information as reports and commentary on political, economic, military, diplomatic and other social and public affairs, as well as reports and commentary on emergency social events. Pursuant to the 2017 Internet News Information Provisions, the Cyberspace Administration and its local counterparts replaced the SCIO as the government department in charge of supervision and administration of internet news information. Further, an ICP operator must obtain approval from the Cyberspace Administration in order to provide Internet news information services, including through websites, applications, forums, blogs, microblogs, public accounts, instant messaging tools, and webcasts.

            Regulations on Internet Culture Activities

                 On February 17, 2011, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Internet Culture Administration Tentative Measures, or the Internet Culture Measures. The Internet Culture Measures require ICP operators engaging in "Internet culture activities" to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture. The term "Internet culture activities" includes, among other things, online dissemination of Internet cultural products (such as audio-video products, gaming products, performances of plays or programs, works of art and cartoons) and the production, reproduction, importation, publication and broadcasting of Internet cultural products.

                 On November 20, 2006, the Ministry of Culture issued Several Suggestions of the Ministry of Culture on the Development and Administration of the Internet Music, or the Suggestions, which became effective on November 20, 2006. The Suggestions, among other things, reiterate the requirement for an Internet service provider to obtain an Internet culture business permit to carry on any business relating to Internet music products. In addition, foreign investors are prohibited from operating Internet culture businesses. However, the laws and regulations on Internet music products are still evolving, and there have not been any provisions stipulating whether or how music video will be regulated by the Suggestions.

                 On August 2, 2013, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Notice on Implementing the Administrative Measures for the Content Self-examination of Internet Culture Business Entities. According to this notice, any


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          cultural product or service shall be reviewed by the provider before being released to the public and the review process shall be done by persons who have obtained the relevant content review certificate.

                 On October 23, 2015, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Notice on Further Strengthening and Improving the Content Review of Online Music, which took effect on January 1, 2016 and stipulated that ICPs shall carry out self-examination in respect of the content management of online music, which shall be regulated by the cultural administration departments in process or afterwards. According to this notice, ICP operators are required to submit their content administrative system, review procedures, and work standards to the provincial culture administrative department where they are located for filing within a prescribed period.

            Regulations on Producing Audio/Video Programs

                 On July 19, 2004, the SARFT promulgated the Administrative Measures on the Production and Operation of Radio and Television Programs, effective as of August 20, 2004 and amended on August 28, 2015. These Measures provide that anyone who wishes to produce or operate radio or television programs must first obtain an operating permit for their business.

                 On February 1, 2002, the State Council promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Films, or the Film Regulations, which became effective on the same day. The Film Regulations set forth the general regulatory guidelines for China's film industry and address practical issues with respect to production, censorship, distribution and screening. They also establish the SARFT as the sector's regulatory authority, and serve as the foundation for all other legislation promulgated in this area. The Film Regulations provide the framework for an industry-wide licensing system operated by the SARFT, under which separate permits (and permit application procedures) apply.

          Regulation of Internet Security

                 The Decision in Relation to Protection of the Internet Security enacted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China on December 28, 2000 provides that the following activities conducted through the Internet are subject to criminal punishment:

            •
            gaining improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance;

            •
            disseminating politically disruptive information or obscenities;

            •
            leaking State secrets;

            •
            spreading false commercial information; or

            •
            infringing intellectual property rights.

                 The Administrative Measures on the Security Protection of Computer Information Network with International Connections, issued by the Ministry of Public Security on December 16, 1997 and amended on January 8, 2011, prohibit the use of the Internet in a manner that would result in the leakage of State secrets or the spread of socially destabilizing content. The Provisions on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, or the Internet Security Protection Measures, promulgated on December 13, 2005 by Ministry of Public Security require all ICPs to keep records of certain information about their users (including user registration information, log-in and log-out time, IP address, content and time of posts by users) for at least 60 days and submit the above information as required by laws and regulations. Under these measures, value-added telecommunications services license holders must regularly update information security and content control systems for their websites and must also report any public dissemination of prohibited content to local public security authorities. If a value-added telecommunications services license holder violates these measures, the Ministry of Public Security and the local security bureaus may revoke its operating license and shut down its websites.

                 The Communication Network Security Protection Administrative Measures, which were promulgated by the MIIT on January 21, 2010, require that all communication network operators, including telecommunications service providers and Internet domain name service providers, divide their own communication networks into units. These communication network units shall be rated in accordance with degree of damage to national security, economic


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          operation, social order and public interest in the event a unit is damaged. Communication network operators must file the division and ratings of their communication network with MIIT or its local counterparts. If a communication network operator violates these measures, the MIIT or its local counterparts may order rectification or impose a fine up to RMB30,000 in case a violation is not duly rectified.

                 Internet security in China is also regulated and restricted from a national security standpoint. On July 1, 2015, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the New National Security Law, which took effect on the same date and replaced the former National Security Law promulgated in 1993. According to the New National Security Law, the state shall ensure that the information system and data in important areas are secure and controllable. In addition, according to the New National Security Law, the state shall establish national security review and supervision institutions and mechanisms, and conduct national security reviews of key technologies and IT products and services that affect or may affect national security. There are uncertainties on how the New National Security Law will be implemented in practice.

                 On November 7, 2016, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the Cybersecurity Law, which came into effect on June 1, 2017, and apply to the construction, operation, maintenance and use of networks as well as the supervision and administration of cybersecurity in China. The Cybersecurity Law defines "networks" as systems that are composed of computers or other information terminals and relevant facilities used for the purpose of collecting, storing, transmitting, exchanging and processing information in accordance with certain rules and procedures. "Network operators," who are broadly defined as owners and administrator of networks and network service providers, are subject to various security protection related obligations including:

            •
            complying with security protection obligations in accordance with tiered cybersecurity system's protection requirements, which include formulating internal security management rules and manual, appointing cybersecurity responsible personnel, adopting technical measures to prevent computer virus and cybersecurity endangering activities, adopting technical measures to monitor and record network operation status, cybersecurity events, retaining user logs for at least six months and adopting measures such as data classification, key data backup and encryption, for the purpose of securing networks from interference, vandalization, or unauthorized visit and preventing network data from leakage, theft or tampering;

            •
            verifying user's identities before signing agreements or providing services such as network access, domain name registration, landline telephone or mobile phone access, information publishing or real-time communication services;

            •
            formulating cybersecurity emergency response plans, timely handling security risks, initiating emergency response plans, taking appropriate remedial measures and reporting to regulatory authorities; and

            •
            providing technical assistance and support for public security and national security authorities for protection of national security and criminal investigations.

                 According to the Cybersecurity Law, network service providers must inform users about and report to the relevant authorities any known security defects and bugs, and must provide constant security maintenance services for their products and services. Network products and service providers shall not contain or provide malware. Network service providers who do not comply with the Cybersecurity Law may be subject to fines, suspension of their businesses, shutdown of their websites, and revocation of their business licenses.

                 On April 11, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration released the draft Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information and Important Data, or the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, which requires personal information and important data collected by and produced by all network operators during the course of their operations within China to be stored within China. According to the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, self-assessment by network operators or assessment by industrial regulatory authority or the national cyberspace authority under certain circumstances must be completed before transferring personal information or important data overseas.

                 According to the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, personal information or important data may not be transferred overseas without consent from the concerned individual(s), or if the transfer endangers the interests of


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          individuals, the public or national security. The export of the following data shall be pre-assessed by industrial regulatory authority or the national cyberspace authority:

            •
            personal information of 500,000 individuals or more;

            •
            data with volume of 1,000 gigabytes or more;

            •
            data in relation to nuclear facilities, chemistry and biology, national defense and military, health of the population, mega project activities, ocean environment, and sensitive geographical information;

            •
            network security information involving system bugs and security protection of key information infrastructure;

            •
            personal information and important data provided by key information infrastructure operators; and

            •
            other data that may affect national security and societal public interests, and considered by the industrial administration authority or regulatory authority necessary to be subject to their assessment.

                 The Cyberspace Administration will complete the solicitation of comments on the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures in May 2017, and there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to its final content and enactment timetable.

                 On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration issued the Measures for Security Review of Cyber Products and Services, or the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2017. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, the following cyber products and services will be subject to cybersecurity review:

            •
            important cyber products and services purchased by networks and information systems related to national security; and

            •
            the purchase of cyber products and services by operators of critical information infrastructure in important industries and fields such as public communications and information services, energy, transportation, water resources, finance, public service and electronic administration, and other critical information infrastructure, which may affect national security.

                 The Cyberspace Administration is responsible for organizing and implementing cybersecurity review, while the competent departments in key industries such as finance, telecommunications, energy and transport shall be responsible for organizing and implementing security review of cyber products and services in their respective industries or fields. There are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Cybersecurity Review Measures.

          Regulation of Privacy Protection

                 Under the ICP Measures, ICPs are prohibited from producing, copying, publishing or distributing information that is humiliating or defamatory to others or that infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of others. Depending on the nature of the violation, ICPs may face criminal charges or sanctions by PRC security authorities for these acts, and may be ordered to suspend temporarily their services or have their licenses revoked.

                 Under the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, issued by the MIIT on December 29, 2011, ICPs are also prohibited from collecting any personal user information or providing any information to third parties without the consent of the user. The Cybersecurity Law provides an exception to the consent requirement where the information is anonymous, not personally identifiable and unrecoverable. ICPs must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of user personal information and may only collect information necessary for its services. ICPs are also required to properly maintain the user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of the user personal information, ICPs must take remedial measures immediately and report any material leak to the telecommunications regulatory authority.

                 In addition, the Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on December 28, 2012 emphasizes the need to protect electronic


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          information that contains individual identification information and other private data. The decision requires ICPs to establish and publish policies regarding the collection and use of personal electronic information and to take necessary measures to ensure the security of the information and to prevent leakage, damage or loss. Furthermore, MIIT's Rules on Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users promulgated on July 16, 2013 contain detailed requirements on the use and collection of personal information as well as the security measures to be taken by ICPs.

                 The PRC government retains the power and authority to order ICPs to provide an Internet user's personal information if a user posts any prohibited content or engages in any illegal activities through the Internet.

                 According to the Cybersecurity Law, individuals may request that network operators make corrections to or delete their personal information in case the information is wrong or was collected or used beyond an individuals' agreement with network operators.

          Regulation of Consumer Protection

                 Our online and mobile commerce business is subject to a variety of consumer protection laws, including the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, as amended and effective as of March 15, 2014, and the Administrative Measures for Online Trading, both of which have provided stringent requirements and obligations on business operators, including Internet business operators and platform service providers like us. For example, consumers are entitled to return goods purchased online, subject to certain exceptions, within seven days upon receipt of goods for no reason. On January 6, 2017, the SAIC issued the Interim Measures for No Reason Return of Online Purchased Commodities within Seven Days, which came into effect on March 15, 2017, further clarifying the scope of consumers' rights to make returns without a reason, including exceptions, return procedures and online marketplace platform providers' responsibility to formulate seven-day no-reason return rules and related consumer protection systems, and supervise the merchants for compliance with these rules. To ensure that merchants and service providers comply with these laws and regulations, we, as platform operators, are required to implement rules governing transactions on our platform, monitor the information posted by merchants and service providers, and report any violations by merchants or service providers to the relevant authorities. In addition, online marketplace platform providers may, pursuant to PRC consumer protection laws, be exposed to liabilities if the lawful rights and interests of consumers are infringed in connection with consumers' purchase of goods or acceptance of services on online marketplace platforms and the platform service providers fail to provide consumers with the contact information of the merchant or manufacturer. In addition, platform service providers may be jointly and severally liable with merchants and manufacturers if they are aware or should be aware that the merchant or manufacturer is using the online platform to infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of consumers and fail to take measures necessary to prevent or stop this activity.

                 Failure to comply with these consumer protection laws could subject us to administrative sanctions, such as the issuance of a warning, confiscation of illegal income, imposition of a fine, an order to cease business operations, revocation of business licenses, as well as potential civil or criminal liabilities.

          Regulation of Pricing

                 In China, the prices of a very small number of products and services are guided or fixed by the government. According to the Pricing Law, business operators must, as required by the government departments in charge of pricing, mark the prices explicitly and indicate the name, production origin, specifications, and other related particulars clearly. Business operators may not sell products at a premium or charge any fees that are not explicitly indicated. Business operators must not commit the specified unlawful pricing activities, such as colluding with others to manipulate the market price, providing fraudulent discounted price information, using false or misleading prices to deceive consumers to transact, or conducting price discrimination against other business operators. Failure to comply with the Pricing Law or other rules or regulations on pricing may subject business operators to administrative sanctions such as warning, orders to cease unlawful activities, payment of compensation to consumers, confiscation of illegal gains, and/or fines. The business operators may be ordered to suspend business for rectification, or have their business licenses revoked if the circumstances are severe. Merchants on Tmall and


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          Taobao Marketplace undertake the primary obligation under the Pricing Law. However, in some cases, we have been and may in the future be held liable and be subject to fines or other penalties if the authorities determine that, as the platform operator, our guidance for platform-wide promotional activities resulted in unlawful pricing activities by the merchants on our platforms or if the pricing information we provided for platform-wide promotional activities was determined to be untrue or misleading.

          Regulation of Intellectual Property Rights

                 Patent.    Patents in the PRC are principally protected under the Patent Law of the PRC. The duration of a patent right is either 10 years or 20 years from the date of application, depending on the type of patent right.

                 Copyright.    Copyright in the PRC, including copyrighted software, is principally protected under the Copyright Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.

                 Trademark.    Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Trademarks are registered with the Trademark Office of the SAIC. Where registration is sought for a trademark that is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or given preliminary examination and approval for use in the same or similar category of commodities or services, the application for registration of this trademark may be rejected. Trademark registrations are effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked.

                 Domain Name.    Domain name registrations are handled through domain name service agencies established under the relevant regulations, and applicants become domain name holders upon successful registration.

          Regulation of Anti-counterfeiting

                 According to the Trademark Law of the PRC, counterfeit or unauthorized production of the label of another person's registered trademark, or sale of any label that is counterfeited or produced without authorization will be deemed as an infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark. The infringing party will be ordered to cease infringement immediately, a fine may be imposed and the counterfeit goods will be confiscated. The infringing party may also be held liable for damages suffered by the owner of the intellectual property rights, which will be equal to the gains obtained by the infringing party or the losses suffered by the owner as a result of the infringement, including reasonable expenses incurred by the owner in connection with enforcing its rights.

                 Under the Tort Liability Law of the PRC, an Internet service provider may be subject to joint liability if it is aware that an Internet user is infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others through its Internet services, such as selling counterfeit products, and fails to take necessary measures to stop that activity. If an Internet service provider receives a notice from an infringed party regarding an infringement, the Internet service provider is required to take certain measures, including deleting, blocking and unlinking the infringing content, in a timely manner.

                 In addition, under the Administrative Measures for Online Trading issued by the SAIC on January 26, 2014, as an operator of an online trading platform, we must adopt measures to ensure safe online transactions, protect consumers' rights and prevent trademark infringement.

          Tax Regulations

            PRC Enterprise Income Tax

                 The PRC enterprise income tax, or EIT, is calculated based on the taxable income determined under the applicable EIT Law and its implementation rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and were most recently amended on February 24, 2017. The EIT Law generally imposes a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25% on all resident enterprises in China, including foreign-invested enterprises.


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                 The EIT Law and its implementation rules permit certain High and New Technologies Enterprises, or HNTEs, to enjoy a reduced 15% enterprise income tax rate subject to these HNTEs meeting certain qualification criteria. In addition, the relevant EIT laws and regulations also provide that entities recognized as Software Enterprises are able to enjoy a tax holiday consisting of a 2-year-exemption commencing from their first profitable calendar year and a 50% reduction in ordinary tax rate for the following three calendar years, while entities qualified as Key Software Enterprises can enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 10%. A number of our PRC subsidiaries and operating entities enjoy these types of preferential tax treatment. See "Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — People's Republic of China Taxation."

                 Uncertainties exist with respect to how the EIT Law applies to the tax residence status of Alibaba Group and our offshore subsidiaries. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a "de facto management body" within China is considered a "resident enterprise," which means that it is treated in the same manner as a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define "de facto management body" as a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in Circular 82 issued by the State Administration of Taxation, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although Alibaba Group Holding Limited does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of Circular 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in Circular 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of Alibaba Group and our subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.

                 According to Circular 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a "de facto management body" in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met:

            •
            the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC;

            •
            decisions relating to the enterprise's financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC;

            •
            the enterprise's primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholders meeting minutes are located or maintained in the PRC; and

            •
            50% or more of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.

                 We do not believe that we meet any of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. Alibaba Group Holding Limited and our offshore subsidiaries are incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, our key assets and records, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that have been deemed a PRC "resident enterprise" by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that Alibaba Group Holding Limited and our offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a "resident enterprise" for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for "de facto management body" as set forth in Circular 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body" as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income."


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                 In the event that Alibaba Group Holding Limited or any of our offshore subsidiaries is considered to be a PRC resident enterprise:

            •
            Alibaba Group Holding Limited or our offshore subsidiaries, as the case may be, may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income;

            •
            dividend income that Alibaba Group Holding Limited or our offshore subsidiaries, as the case may be, received from our PRC subsidiaries may be exempt from the PRC withholding tax; and

            •
            dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident enterprises as well as gains realized by these shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties, and similarly, dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident individuals, as well as gains realized by these shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs, may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 20%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties.

                 Under Bulletin 7 issued by the State Administration of Taxation on February 3, 2015, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under Circular 698, an "indirect transfer" of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if the arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from an indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. According to Bulletin 7, "PRC taxable assets" include assets attributed to an establishment or a place of business in China, immoveable properties in China, and equity investments in PRC resident enterprises. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the relevant gain is to be regarded as effectively connected with the PRC establishment or a place of business and therefore included in its enterprise income tax filing, and would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties in China or to equity investments in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not effectively connected to a PRC establishment or a place of business of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the transfer payments has the withholding obligation. There is uncertainty as to the implementation details of Bulletin 7. If Bulletin 7 was determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to some of our transactions involving PRC taxable assets, our offshore subsidiaries conducting the relevant transactions might be required to spend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 7 or to establish that the relevant transactions should not be taxed under Bulletin 7, which may materially and adversely affect us. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises or other assets attributed to a PRC establishment of a non-PRC company."

                 Where the payers fail to withhold any or sufficient tax, the non-PRC residents, as the transferors, are required to declare and pay the taxes to the tax authorities on their own within the statutory time limit. Failure to comply with the tax payment obligations by the non-PRC residents will result in penalties, including full payment of taxes owed, and interest on those taxes.

            PRC Business Tax and Value-Added Tax

                 Before August 2013 and pursuant to applicable PRC tax regulations, any entity or individual conducting business in the service industry is generally required to pay a business tax at the rate of 5% on the revenues generated from providing services. However, if the services provided are related to technology development and transfer, the business tax may be exempted subject to approval by the relevant tax authorities.

                 In November 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax. In May and December 2013, April 2014 and


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          March 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated Circular 37, Circular 106, Circular 43 and Circular 36 to further expand the scope of services which are to be subject to Value-Added Tax, or VAT, instead of business tax. Pursuant to these tax rules, from August 1, 2013, a VAT was imposed to replace the business tax in certain service industries, including technology services and advertising services, and from May 1, 2016, VAT replaced business tax in all industries, on a nationwide basis. A VAT rate of 6% applies to revenue derived from the provision of certain services. Unlike business tax, a taxpayer is allowed to offset the qualified input VAT paid on taxable purchases against the output VAT chargeable on the revenue from services provided. Accordingly, although the 6% VAT rate is higher than the previously applicable 5% business tax rate, no materially different tax cost to us has resulted nor do we expect one to result from the replacement of the business tax with a VAT on our services.

            PRC Import Tax

                 Consumer goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms were originally classified as "personal baggage or postal articles" under the Notice on Pilot Bonded Area Import Pattern of Cross-Border Trade E-Commerce Services issued by PRC General Administration of Customs on March 4, 2014. A personal baggage or postal articles tax was levied on these goods before the online retailors could deliver the same to buyers. The personal baggage or postal articles tax were exempted if the payable amount was lower than RMB50. The rate of personal baggage or postal articles tax was respectively 10%, 20%, 30% and 50% for different categories of products imported. Under this tax pattern, a quota of RMB1,000 for each purchase order was imposed on online buyers, otherwise the imported goods were classified as normal goods, which are subject to value-added tax, consumption tax and tariff.

                 The above-mentioned pilot bonded area import pattern of cross-border e-commerce was abolished pursuant to the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice. The goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms are now treated as normal goods rather than "personal baggage or postal articles" and subject to the usual value-added tax, consumption tax and tariff. Normally, a 17% value-added tax will be levied on most products sold on the cross-border e-commerce platform and a 15% consumption tax will be levied on high-end cosmetics, while no consumption tax will be levied on skin care products, maternity and baby care products. However, the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice provides that, if the goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms are within the quota of RMB2,000 for each purchase order or RMB20,000 per year for each buyer, the payable amount for the value-added tax and the consumption tax will be reduced to 70% of the payable tax, and the tariff will be waived.

            PRC Export Tax

                 According to the Notice on the Taxation Policies for Cross-border E-Commerce Retail Export, or the E-Commerce Export Taxation Notice, which was jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation and took effect as of January 1, 2014, an e-commerce export enterprise may be exempt or refunded from consumption tax and VAT upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

            •
            it is a general VAT taxpayer, and has been granted the export tax refund/exemption eligibility;

            •
            the customs export declarations (specifically for export tax refund) for exported goods have been obtained and information thereon is consistent with the electronic information of the customs export declarations;

            •
            the foreign exchange for the exported goods is received prior to the deadline of tax refund or tax exemption; and

            •
            where the e-commerce export enterprise is a foreign trade enterprise, it must have obtained corresponding special VAT invoices, special payment statements for consumption tax (split pages) or special customs statements for payment of import VAT or consumption tax for purchase of the goods for export, and relevant information on the foregoing documents shall be consistent with that contained in the customs export declarations (specifically for export tax refunds).

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                 Even if an e-commerce export enterprise does not satisfy the foregoing conditions, it may also be exempt from consumption tax and VAT if it meets the following requirements:

            •
            it has completed tax registration;

            •
            it has obtained customs export declarations for the exported goods; and

            •
            it has obtained legal and valid proof for purchase of the exported goods.

                 Third-party e-commerce platforms providing transaction services for e-commerce export enterprises are not eligible for a tax refund or exemption under the E-Commerce Export Taxation Notice.

          Regulation of Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution

            Foreign Exchange Regulation

                 The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of the PRC. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, may be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans or foreign currency is to be remitted into China under the capital account, such as a capital increase or foreign currency loans to our PRC subsidiaries.

                 In August 2008, SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency-registered capital into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. In addition, SAFE promulgated Circular 45 on November 9, 2011 in order to clarify the application of SAFE Circular 142. Under SAFE Circular 142 and Circular 45, the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable government authority and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises. The use of RMB capital may not be changed without SAFE's approval, and RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used.

                 Since SAFE Circular 142 has been in place for more than five years, SAFE decided to further reform the foreign exchange administration system in order to satisfy and facilitate the business and capital operations of foreign invested enterprises, and issued the Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning the Launch of Reforming Trial of the Administration Model of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises in Certain Areas on August 4, 2014. This circular suspends the application of SAFE Circular 142 in certain areas and allows a foreign-invested enterprise registered in these areas with a business scope including "investment" to use the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital for equity investments within the PRC. On April 9, 2015, SAFE released the Notice on the Reform of the Administration Method for the Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which came into force and superseded SAFE Circular 142 on June 1, 2015. Circular 19 allows foreign invested enterprises to settle their foreign exchange capital on a discretionary basis according to the actual needs of their business operation and provides the procedures for foreign invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investment. Nevertheless, Circular 19 also reiterates the principle that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope.

                 In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign Direct Investment, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange


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          accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration and banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Simplifying and Improving the Policies of Foreign Exchange Administration Applicable to Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Circular 13, the current foreign exchange procedures will be further simplified, and foreign exchange registrations of direct investment will be handled by the banks designated by the foreign exchange authority instead of SAFE and its branches. However, the foreign invested enterprises were still prohibited by SAFE Circular 13 to use the RMB converted from foreign currency-registered capital to extend entrustment loans, repay bank loans or inter-company loans.

                 On June 19, 2016, SAFE issued the Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or Circular 16, which took effect on the same day. Compared to Circular 19, Circular 16 provides that discretionary foreign exchange settlement applies to foreign exchange capital, foreign debt offering proceeds and remitted foreign listing proceeds, and the corresponding Renminbi obtained from foreign exchange settlement are not restricted from extending loans to related parties or repaying the inter-company loans (including advances by third parties). However, since Circular 16 came into effect recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation in practice.

             ��   On January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness and Compliance Verification, or Circular 3, which took effect on the same day. Circular 3 sets out various measures, including the following:

            •
            relaxing the policy restriction on foreign exchange inflow to further enhance trade and investment facilitation, including:

            o
            expanding the scope of foreign exchange settlement for domestic foreign exchange loans,

            o
            allowing the capital repatriation for offshore financing against domestic guarantee,

            o
            facilitating the centralized management of foreign exchange funds of multinational companies, and

            o
            allowing offshore institutions within pilot free trade zones to settle foreign exchange in domestic foreign exchange accounts; and

            •
            tightening genuineness and compliance verification of cross-border transactions and cross-border capital flow, including:

            o
            improving the statistics of current account foreign currency earnings deposited offshore,

            o
            requiring banks to verify board resolutions, tax filing form, and audited financial statements before wiring foreign invested enterprises' foreign exchange distribution above US$50,000,

            o
            strengthening genuineness and compliance verification of foreign direct investments, and

            o
            implementing full scale management of offshore loans in Renminbi and foreign currencies by requiring the total amount of offshore loans be no higher than 30% of the onshore lender's equity shown on its audited financial statements of the last year.

                 We typically do not need to use our offshore foreign currency to fund our PRC operations. In the event we need to do so, we will apply to obtain the relevant approvals of SAFE and other PRC government authorities as


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          necessary. Our PRC subsidiaries' distributions to their offshore parents and our cross-border foreign exchange activities are required to comply with the various requirements as described above.

            SAFE Circular 37

                 SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents' Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as "SAFE Circular 75" promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with their legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a "special purpose vehicle." SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls. On February 13, 2015, SAFE released SAFE Circular 13, under which local banks will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration, from June 1, 2015. There exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by governmental authorities and banks.

                 We have notified substantial beneficial owners of ordinary shares who we know are PRC residents of their filing obligation, and we have periodically filed SAFE Circular 75 reports prior to the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37, on behalf of certain employee shareholders whom we know are PRC residents. However, we may not be aware of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. In addition, we do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 may subject these beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Failure to register or amend the registration may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries or receive dividends or other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries or other proceeds from disposal of our PRC subsidiaries, or we may be penalized by SAFE.

            Share option rules

                 Under the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control issued by the PBOC on December 25, 2006, all foreign exchange matters involved in employee share ownership plans and share option plans in which PRC citizens participate require approval from SAFE or its authorized branch. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. In addition, under the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, or the Share Option Rules, issued by SAFE on February 15, 2012, PRC residents who are granted shares or share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to (i) register with SAFE or its local branches, (ii) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas listed company or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the share incentive plans on behalf of the participants, and (iii) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers.


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            Regulation of dividend distribution

                 The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividend distribution by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are the Company Law of the PRC, as amended, the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law and its implementation regulations and the Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law and its implementation regulations. Under these laws, rules and regulations, foreign-invested enterprises may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profit, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Both PRC domestic companies and wholly-foreign owned PRC enterprises are required to set aside as general reserves at least 10% of their after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of their reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.

          Labor Laws and Social Insurance

                 Pursuant to the PRC Labor Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees. All employers must comply with local minimum wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the PRC Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative and criminal liability in the case of serious violations.

                 In addition, according to the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Funds, employers in China must provide employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing funds.

          Anti-monopoly Law

                 The PRC Anti-monopoly Law, which took effect on August 1, 2008, prohibits monopolistic conduct, such as entering into monopoly agreements, abuse of dominant market position and concentration of undertakings that have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition.

            Monopoly Agreement

                 Competing business operators may not enter into monopoly agreements that eliminate or restrict competition, such as by boycotting transactions, fixing or changing the price of commodities, limiting the output of commodities, fixing the price of commodities for resale to third parties, among others, unless the agreement will satisfy the exemptions under the Anti-monopoly Law, such as improving technologies, increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of small and medium-sized undertakings, or safeguarding legitimate interests in cross-border trade and economic cooperation with foreign counterparts. Sanctions for violations include an order to cease the relevant activities, and confiscation of illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year, or RMB500,000 if the intended monopoly agreement has not been performed).

            Abuse of Dominant Market Position

                 A business operator with a dominant market position may not abuse its dominant market position to conduct acts, such as selling commodities at unfairly high prices or buying commodities at unfairly low prices, selling products at prices below cost without any justifiable cause, and refusing to trade with a trading party without any justifiable cause. Sanctions for violation of the prohibition on the abuse of dominant market position include an order to cease the relevant activities, confiscation of the illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year).

            Concentration of Undertakings

                 Where a concentration of undertakings reaches the declaration threshold stipulated by the State Council, a declaration must be approved by the anti-monopoly authority before the parties implement the concentration.


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          Concentration refers to (1) a merger of undertakings; (2) acquiring control over other undertakings by acquiring equities or assets; or (3) acquisition of control over, or the possibility of exercising decisive influence on, an undertaking by contract or by any other means. If business operators fail to comply with the mandatory declaration requirement, the anti-monopoly authority is empowered to terminate and/or unwind the transaction, dispose of relevant assets, shares or businesses within certain periods and impose fines of up to RMB500,000.

                 See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We may become the target of anti-monopoly and unfair competition claims, which may result in our being subject to fines as well as constraints on our business."

          Anti-Terrorism Law

                 The PRC Anti-Terrorism Law, which was promulgated on December 27, 2015 and came into effect on January 1, 2016, imposes obligations on telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers to provide technical interfaces and technical assistance in decryption and other efforts to public and national security authorities in terrorism prevention and investigation. Also, the Anti-Terrorism Law requires Internet service providers to implement network security and information and content monitoring systems and adopt technical security measures to prevent the dissemination of information containing terrorist or extremist content. Once content of this type is detected, Internet service providers shall cease the transmission of the information, keep the relevant records, delete the information and report to public and national security bodies. In addition, the Anti-Terrorism Law requires telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers to verify the identity of their clients, and to not provide services to anyone whose identity is unclear or who declines to verify his/her identity. However, the Anti-Terrorism Law does not further specify the required verification measures. Since the Anti-Terrorism Law was promulgated recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by governmental authorities.

          Regulation Applicable to Alipay

            Regulation of Non-financial Institution Payment Services

                 According to the Administrative Measures for the Payment Services Provided by Non-financial Institutions, or the Payment Services Measures, promulgated by the PBOC on June 14, 2010 and effective as of September 1, 2010, a payment institution, a non-financial institution providing monetary transfer services as an intermediary between payees and payers, including online payment, issuance and acceptance of prepaid cards or bank cards, and other payment services specified by the PBOC, is required to obtain a payment business license. Any non-financial institution or individual engaged in the payment business without this license may be ordered to cease its payment services and be subject to administrative sanctions and even criminal liabilities. Applications for payment business licenses are examined by the local branches of the PBOC and then submitted to the PBOC for approval. The registered capital of an applicant that engages in a nationwide payment business must be at least RMB100 million, while that of an applicant engaging in a payment business within a province must be at least RMB30 million.

                 A payment institution is required to conduct its business within the scope of business indicated in its payment business license, and may not undertake any business beyond that scope or outsource its payment business. No payment institution may transfer, lease or lend its payment business license.

                 On January 20, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Guiding Opinions on the Pilot Services of Cross-Border Foreign Exchange Payment by Payment Institutions, or the Guiding Opinions, which replaced the previous guiding opinion issued by SAFE on February 1, 2013. Pursuant to the Guiding Opinions, a payment institution is required to obtain approval from the SAFE in order to engage in pilot cross-border foreign exchange payment services and may only provide cross-border foreign exchange payment services for trade in goods or trade in services with real and legitimate transaction background. The payment institution must also verify the real names and identity information of the customers involved in the cross-border transactions, maintain records of the relevant transactions and make monthly reports to the local branch of the SAFE.


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                 In addition, on December 28, 2015, the PBOC promulgated the Administrative Measures for the Online Payment Business of Non-bank Payment Institutions, or the Online Payment Measures, which came into effect on July 1, 2016. The Online Payment Measures require online payment institutions to conduct "know your client" checks and implement the real name system for payment accounts. The Online Payment Measures classify online payment accounts into three categories and require online payment institutions to impose real-name based, classified management, including imposing limits on annual payment volume with respect to different categories of online payment accounts. In addition, a payment account can only be opened by a payment institution with Internet payment business license at the request of customers.

                 On January 13, 2017, the PBOC issued the Notice on Matters Related to Implementation of Centralized Custody of Clients' Reserve Funds of Payment Institutions, which requires that from April 17, 2017, payment institutions transfer a portion of customer reserve funds to a specifically designated bank account upon the request of the PBOC and that no interest shall accrue upon the transferred customer reserve funds.

                 We rely on Alipay to provide payment services on our marketplaces and Alipay has obtained a payment business license from the PBOC as well as approval for cross-border foreign exchange payment services from the SAFE.

            Anti-money Laundering Regulations

                 The PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, which became effective on January 1, 2007, sets forth the principal anti-money laundering requirements applicable to both financial and non-financial institutions with anti-money laundering obligations, such as Alipay, including the adoption of precautionary and supervisory measures, establishment of various systems for client identification, preservation of clients' identification information and transactions records, and reports on block transactions and suspicious transactions. The Payment Services Measures also require that the payment institution follow the rules associated with anti-money laundering and comply with their anti-money laundering obligations.

                 In addition, the PBOC promulgated the Administrative Measures for Payment Institutions Regarding Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing on March 5, 2012, or the Anti-money Laundering Measures, according to which the payment institution must establish and improve unified anti-money laundering internal control systems and file their systems with the local branch of the PBOC. The Anti-money Laundering Measures also require the payment institution to set up an anti-money laundering department or designate an internal department to be responsible for anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing work.

                 Alipay is in the process of expanding its business internationally, and it may become subject to additional laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it chooses to operate. These regulatory regimes may be complex and require extensive time and resources to ensure compliance.

            Disclosure of Iranian Activities under Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act

                 Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 added Section 13(r) to the Exchange Act. Section 13(r) requires an issuer to disclose in its annual or quarterly reports, as applicable, whether it or any of its affiliates knowingly engaged in certain activities, including, among other matters, transactions or dealings relating to the government of Iran. Disclosure is required even where the activities, transactions or dealings are conducted outside the U.S. by non-U.S. affiliates in compliance with applicable law, and whether or not the activities are sanctionable under U.S. law.

                 During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp., one of our major shareholders, through one of its non-U.S. subsidiaries, provided roaming services in Iran through Telecommunications Services Company (MTN Irancell), which is or may be a government-controlled entity. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp. had no gross revenues from these services and no net profit was generated. This subsidiary also provided telecommunications services in the ordinary course of business to accounts affiliated with the Embassy of Iran in Japan. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp. estimates that


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          gross revenues and net profit generated by these services were both under US$9,400. In addition, during the year end of March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp., through one of its non-U.S. indirect subsidiaries, provided office supplies to the Embassy of Iran in Japan. SoftBank Group Corp. estimates that gross revenue and net profit generated by these services were under US$5,300 and US$1,030, respectively. These activities have been conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and they are not sanctionable under U.S. or Japanese law. Accordingly, with respect to Telecommunications Services Company (MTN Irancell), the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. intends to continue these activities. With respect to services provided to accounts affiliated with the Embassy of Iran in Japan, the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. is obligated under contract to continue these services. With respect to the provision of office supplies to the Embassy of Iran in Japan, the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. intends to continue these activities. We were not involved in, and did not receive any revenue from, any of these activities by SoftBank.

          C.    Organizational Structure

                 We conduct our business operations across approximately 630 subsidiaries and other consolidated entities. The chart below summarizes our corporate legal structure and identifies the significant subsidiaries described in "— A. History and Development of the Company," as well as our other subsidiaries and variable interest entities that are material to our business and the number of their respective subsidiaries, as of March 31, 2017:

          GRAPHIC

          (1)
          Includes approximately 130 subsidiaries and consolidated entities incorporated in China and approximately 230 subsidiaries incorporated in other jurisdictions. In addition, the entities pictured in this chart hold, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of approximately 160 additional subsidiaries and consolidated entities incorporated in China and approximately 100 additional subsidiaries incorporated outside of China not pictured in the chart.
          (2)
          The principal holding company for our strategic investments, including Youku Tudou.
          (3)
          Primarily involved in the operation of Taobao Marketplace.
          (4)
          Primarily involved in the operation of Tmall and Juhuasuan.
          (5)
          Primarily involved in the operation of Alimama.
          (6)
          Primarily involved in the operation of Alibaba.com, 1688.com and AliExpress.
          (7)
          Primarily involved in the operation of cloud computing services.

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          (8)
          Each of these variable interest entities is 80%-owned by Jack Ma and 20%-owned by Simon Xie, other than Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., which is 90%-owned by Jack Ma and 10%-owned by Simon Xie.

          Contractual Arrangements among Our Wholly-foreign Owned Enterprises, Variable Interest Entities and the Variable Interest Entity Equity Holders

                 Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in, among other areas, value-added telecommunications services, which include the operations of Internet content providers, or ICPs, we, similar to all other entities with foreign-incorporated holding company structures operating in our industry in China, operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited in the PRC through wholly-foreign owned enterprises, majority-owned entities and variable interest entities. The relevant variable interest entities, which are incorporated in the PRC and 100% owned by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned by PRC citizens, where applicable, hold the ICP licenses and other regulated licenses and operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited. Specifically, our variable interest entities that are material to our business are Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tmall Network Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Alibaba Advertising Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Ali Technology Co., Ltd. and Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. Each of these variable interest entities other than Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. is 80%-owned by Jack Ma, our lead founder, executive chairman and one of our principal shareholders, and 20%-owned by Simon Xie, one of our founders. Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. is 90%-owned by Jack Ma and 10%-owned by Simon Xie. We have entered into certain contractual arrangements, as described in more detail below, which collectively enable us to exercise effective control over the variable interest entities and realize substantially all of the economic risks and benefits arising from, the variable interest entities. As a result, we include the financial results of each of the variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP as if they were our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

                 Other than the ICP licenses and other licenses and approvals for businesses in which foreign ownership is restricted or prohibited held by our variable interest entities, we hold our material assets in, and conduct our material operations through, our wholly-foreign owned and majority-owned enterprises, which primarily provide technology and other services to our customers. We generate the significant majority of our revenue directly through our wholly-foreign owned enterprises, which directly capture the profits and associated cash flow from operations without having to rely on contractual arrangements to transfer cash flow from the variable interest entities to the wholly-foreign owned enterprises.


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                 The following diagram is a simplified illustration of the ownership structure and contractual arrangements that we typically have in place for our variable interest entities:

          GRAPHIC

                 The following is a summary of the common contractual arrangements that provide us with effective control of our material variable interest entities and that enable us to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from their operations.

          Contracts that Give Us Effective Control of the Variable Interest Entities

                 Loan agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant loan agreement, the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise has granted an interest-free loan to the relevant variable interest entity equity holders, which may only be used for the purpose of a capital contribution to the relevant variable interest entity or as may be otherwise agreed by the wholly-foreign owned enterprise. The wholly-foreign owned enterprise may require acceleration of repayment at its absolute discretion. When the variable interest entity equity holders make early repayment of the outstanding amount, the wholly-foreign owned enterprise or a third-party designated by it may purchase the equity interests in the variable interest entity at a price equal to the outstanding amount of the loan, subject to any applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. The variable interest entity equity holders undertake not to enter into any prohibited transactions in relation to the variable interest entity, including the transfer of any business, material assets, intellectual property rights or equity interests in the variable interest entity to any third-party. The parties to the loan agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie on the one hand, and Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd., Alibaba (China) Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Alimama Technology Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd., the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise on the other hand.

                 Exclusive call option agreements.    The variable interest entity equity holders have granted the wholly-foreign owned enterprise an exclusive call option to purchase their equity interest in the variable interest entity at an exercise price equal to the higher of (i) the registered capital in the variable interest entity; and (ii) the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC laws. Each relevant variable interest entity has further granted the relevant wholly-foreign owned enterprise an exclusive call option to purchase its assets at an exercise price equal to the book value of the assets or the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC law, whichever is higher. The wholly-foreign owned enterprise may nominate another entity or individual to purchase the equity interest or assets, if applicable, under the call options. Each call option is exercisable subject to the condition that applicable


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          PRC laws, rules and regulations do not prohibit completion of the transfer of the equity interest or assets pursuant to the call option. Each wholly-foreign owned enterprise is entitled to all dividends and other distributions declared by the variable interest entity, and the variable interest entity equity holders have agreed to give up their rights to receive any distributions or proceeds from the disposal of their equity interests in the variable interest entity which are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the variable interest entity, and to pay any distributions or premium to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise. The exclusive call option agreements remain in effect until the equity interest or assets that are the subject of these agreements are transferred to the wholly foreign owned enterprise. The parties to the exclusive call option agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

                 Proxy agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant proxy agreement, each of the variable interest entity equity holders irrevocably authorizes any person designated by the wholly-foreign owned enterprise to exercise his rights as an equity holder of the variable interest entity, including the right to attend and vote at equity holders' meetings and appoint directors. The parties to the proxy agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

                 Equity pledge agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant equity pledge agreement, the relevant variable interest entity equity holders have pledged all of their interests in the equity of the variable interest entity as a continuing first priority security interest in favor of the corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise to secure the outstanding amounts advanced under the relevant loan agreements described above and to secure the performance of obligations by the variable interest entity and/or its equity holders under the other structure contracts. Each wholly-foreign owned enterprise is entitled to exercise its right to dispose of the variable interest entity equity holders' pledged interests in the equity of the variable interest entity and has priority in receiving payment by the application of proceeds from the auction or sale of the pledged interests, in the event of any breach or default under the loan agreement or other structure contracts, if applicable. These equity pledge agreements remain in force for the duration of the relevant loan agreement and other structure contracts. The parties to the equity pledge agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise. All of the equity pledges relating to our acquisitions, investmentsmaterial variable interest entities have been registered with the relevant office of the Administration for Industry and alliances.Commerce in China.

          Contracts that Enable Us to Receive Substantially All of the Economic Benefits from the Variable Interest Entities

                 Exclusive technical services agreements.    Each relevant variable interest entity has entered into an exclusive technical services agreement with the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise, pursuant to which the relevant wholly-foreign owned enterprise provides exclusive technical services to the variable interest entity. In exchange, the variable interest entity pays a service fee to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise which typically amount to what would be substantially all of the variable interest entity's pre-tax profit (absent the service fee), resulting in a transfer of substantially all of the profits from the variable interest entity to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

                 The exclusive call option agreements described above also entitle the wholly-foreign owned enterprise to all dividends and other distributions declared by the variable interest entity and to any distributions or proceeds from the disposal by the variable interest entity equity holders of their equity interests in the variable interest entity that are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the variable interest entity.

                 In the opinion of Fangda Partners, our PRC legal counsel:

            •
            the ownership structures of our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises and our material variable interest entities in China do not and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation, or rule currently in effect; and

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              •
              the contractual arrangements between our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises, our material variable interest entities and the variable interest entity equity holders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and applicable PRC laws, rules, and regulations currently in effect, and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation, or rule currently in effect.

                   However, we have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel, Fangda Partners, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, rules and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our Internet-based business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the aforesaid business we engage in, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure."

            D.    Property, Plant and Equipment

                   As of March 31, 2017, we occupied facilities around the world with an aggregate gross floor area of office buildings owned by us totaling 558,080 square meters. We maintain offices in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. In addition, we maintain data centers in Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

            ITEM 4A.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

                   Not Applicable.

            ITEM 5    OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

            A.    Operating Results

            The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report and in particular, "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview." This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this annual report. We have prepared our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our fiscal year ends on March 31 and references to fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017 are to the fiscal years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

            Overview

                   We achieved significant growth and strong operating results in fiscal year 2017. Our total revenue increased by 33% from RMB76,204 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB101,143 million in fiscal year 2016, and further increased by 56% to RMB158,273 million (US$22,994 million) in fiscal year 2017. Our net income increased by 193% from RMB24,320 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB71,289 in fiscal year 2016, and decreased by 42% to RMB41,226 million (US$5,989 million) in fiscal year 2017. Our net income in fiscal year 2016 included a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health when we obtained control over Alibaba Health in July 2015. Our non-GAAP net income, which excludes the effect of these non-recurring gains, share-based compensation and certain other items, increased by 35% from RMB42,791 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB57,871 million (US$8,408 million) in fiscal year 2017. For further information on non-GAAP financial measures we use in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes, see "Item 3. Key Information — A. Selected Financial Data — Non-GAAP Measures."


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            We believe our focus on long-term strategic priorities — globalization, rural expansion, and big data and cloud computing — has laid a strong foundation for future growth.

                   We have experienced significant growth across various key metrics for our China retail marketplaces:

            GRAPHICGRAPHIC

            GRAPHIC

            GRAPHIC
            (1)
            China commerce retail revenue per active buyer for each of the above periods is calculated by dividing the China commerce retail revenue for the previous 12-month period by the annual active buyers for the same 12-month period.

            (2)
            Mobile revenue per mobile MAU from China commerce retail, annualized is calculated by dividing mobile revenue from China commerce retail for the previous 12-month period by the mobile MAUs for the last month of the same period.

            Our Operating Segments

                   Starting from fiscal year 2017, we organize and report our business in four operating segments:

              •
              Core commerce;

              •
              Cloud computing;

              •
              Digital media and entertainment; and

              •
              Innovation initiatives and others.

                   This new presentation reflects how we manage our business to maximize efficiency in allocating resources. This presentation also provides further transparency to our various businesses that are executing different phases of growth and operating leverage trajectories.

                   We present segmental information after elimination of inter-company transactions. In general, revenue, cost of revenue and operating expenses are directly attributable, and are allocated, to each segment. We allocate costs and


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            expenses that are not directly attributable to individual segments, such as those that support infrastructure across different operating segments, to different operating segments mainly on the basis of usage, revenue or headcount, depending on the nature of the relevant costs and expenses.

                   In discussing the operating results of these four segments, we present each segment's revenue, income from operations and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortization ("adjusted EBITA"). We also present revenue, income from operations and adjusted EBITA for prior periods for the corresponding businesses as if segment reporting had been adopted for those prior periods.

                   Our reported segments are described below:

                   Core commerce.    The core commerce segment is comprised of platforms operating in retail and wholesale commerce in China and international commerce. China commerce retail business primarily includes Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Rural Taobao and commerce technologies and services. China commerce wholesale business includes 1688.com. International commerce retail business includes AliExpress and Lazada. International commerce wholesale business includes Alibaba.com.

                   Cloud computing.    The cloud computing segment is comprised of Alibaba Cloud, which offers a complete suite of cloud services, including elastic computing, database, storage and content delivery network, or CDN, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and other service offerings for enterprises of different sizes across various industries.

                   Digital media and entertainment.    The digital media and entertainment segment operates businesses through our media properties, primarily including Youku Tudou and UCWeb.

                   Innovation initiatives and others.    The innovation initiatives and others segment includes businesses such as YunOS, AutoNavi, DingTalk and others.

                   The table below sets forth supplemental financial information of our reported segments for fiscal year 2017:

             
            		 Year ended March 31, 2017 
             
            		 Core
            commerce            		 Cloud
            computing            		 Digital media
            and
            entertainment            		 Innovation
            initiatives
            and others            		 Unallocated(1) Consolidated 
             
            		 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 
             
            		 (in millions, except percentages)
            		 

            Revenue

            		  133,880  6,663  14,733  2,997  —  158,273  22,994 

            Income (loss) from operations

            		  74,180  (1,681) (9,882) (6,798) (7,764) 48,055  6,981 

            Add: Share-based compensation expense

            		  5,994  1,201  1,454  3,017  4,329  15,995  2,324 

            Add: Amortization of intangible assets

            		  2,258  4  1,886  656  318  5,122  744 
            ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

            Adjusted EBITA

            		  82,432  (476) (6,542) (3,125) (3,117) 69,172  10,049 
            ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
            ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

            Adjusted EBITA margin

            		  62% (7)% (44)% (104)%    44%   
            (1)
            Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative costs and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments.

            Our Monetization Model

                   We derive revenue from our four business segments: core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others. We derive most of our revenue from our core commerce segment, which accounted for 85% of our total revenue in fiscal year 2017, while cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others contributed 4%, 9% and 2%, respectively. We derive a substantial majority of our core commerce revenue from online marketing services. The revenue model of our


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            online marketing services is primarily performance-based or impression-based. Performance-based marketing uses clicks or transactions as the measurement unit for performance. Impression-based marketing uses the number of impressions delivered to the user. The pricing of our marketing services is typically set by market-based bidding systems so that each marketer determines the price it is willing to pay for the services.

                   The amount marketers are willing to pay for our online marketing services is a function of their expected return on investment from our value propositions, including the expected sales volume to be generated on our platforms, the expected lifetime value of online and offline customers acquired from our platforms, and the expected brand awareness and brand association, both online and offline, generated by marketing on our platforms.

            Core Commerce

                   Our core commerce segment is primarily comprised of our China and international commerce retail businesses and our China and international commerce wholesale businesses. The revenue we generate from our China and international commerce retail businesses is highly correlated with the number and engagement of the consumers on our platforms, and the various value propositions of branding, marketing, distribution and productivity enhancements we offer merchants and brands, through our data and technology capabilities. The revenue we generate from our China and international commerce wholesale businesses is largely driven by the number of paying members and the value of the wholesale marketplaces as distribution and marketing platforms.

                   China Commerce Retail.    We generate revenue from our China commerce retail business primarily through the monetization models described below. In fiscal year 2017, approximately 72% of the GMV on our China retail marketplaces was settled through Alipay. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 68% and 30% of our China commerce retail revenue from online marketing services and commissions, respectively.

              Online marketing services.

                   Online marketing services primarily consist of:

              •
              P4P marketing services, where merchants primarily bid for keywords that match product or service listings appearing in search or browser results on a cost-per-click, or CPC, basis at prices established by our online auction system, which facilitates price discovery through a market-based bidding mechanism. P4P marketing services are provided both on our marketplaces as well as through third-party marketing affiliates; and

              •
              Display marketing services, where merchants bid for display positions on the relevant marketplaces or through our third-party marketing affiliates at fixed prices or prices established by a bidding system on a cost-per-thousand impression, or CPM, basis.


              For both P4P marketing and display marketing services, we generate a portion of our revenue through third-party marketing affiliates. Revenue from P4P and display marketing services provided through third- party marketing affiliates represented 3%, 3% and 3% of our total revenue in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, and this revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

              •
              Taobaoke program, where merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall pay us commissions based on a percentage of transaction value generated from users sourced from third-party marketing affiliates. Commissions on Taobaoke are set by the merchants and depend on the amount the merchant is willing to pay to generate incremental sales through this channel. A significant recentportion of that commission is shared with our third-party marketing affiliates and pendingwe recognize the remaining portion as our revenue on a net basis. In certain situations where we are obligated to pay for website inventory costs in fixed amounts to third-party marketing affiliates, we recognize the commission revenue on a gross basis.

              •
              Placement services, where Taobao Marketplace and Tmall merchants pay placement fees to purchase promotional slots on Juhuasuan for a specified period.

                   Commissions on transactions.    In addition to purchasing online marketing services, merchants also pay a commission based on a percentage of transaction value generated on Tmall (including Juhuasuan). The


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            commission percentages typically range from 0.4% to 5.0% depending on the product category. The commission rate we establish varies according to our estimate of the industry profit margins in specific product categories. For example, for categories that typically have lower gross margins, such as consumer electronics, we charge a lower commission rate, whereas for categories such as apparel, where gross margins are generally higher for the merchants, we charge a higher commission rate.

                   Storefront fees.    Our revenue from storefront fees is primarily comprised of monthly subscription fees for Wangpu (GRAPHIC), our storefront software that includes a suite of tools that assist merchants in upgrading, decorating and managing their storefronts.

            Purchaser of services:
            		Taobao MarketplaceTmall

            Taobao Marketplace merchants

            		•  P4P marketing fees
            •  Display marketing fees
            •  Taobaoke commissions
            •  Storefront fees
            •  Other fees(1)            		•  Juhuasuan commissions and placement fees

            Tmall merchants

            •  P4P marketing fees
            •  Display marketing fees

            •  Commissions
            •  P4P marketing fees
            •  Display marketing fees
            •  Taobaoke commissions
            •  Juhuasuan placement fees

            (1)
            Other fees primarily consist of online travel commissions and lottery commissions. We suspended our online lottery business in late February 2015 around the same time as the other major online lottery platforms in China in response to regulatory requirements. As of the date of this annual report, there is no clear indication on how long this suspension will last.

                   China Commerce Wholesale.    We generate revenue from our China wholesale marketplace, 1688.com, primarily through:

              •
              Memberships and value-added services.  Revenue from our China wholesale marketplace is primarily from the sale of China TrustPass memberships, which allow wholesalers to host premium storefronts, with access to basic data analytic applications, and upgraded storefront management tools, as well as from value-added services, such as premium data analytics. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 70% of our China commerce wholesale revenue from memberships and value-added services.

              •
              Online marketing services.  Revenue from online marketing services on our China wholesale marketplace is primarily derived from P4P marketing services. In fiscal year 2017, 30% of our China commerce wholesale revenue was generated from online marketing services.

                   International Commerce Retail.    We generate revenue from our international commerce retail businesses, AliExpress and Lazada, primarily through:

              •
              Commissions and direct sales:  merchants pay a commission based on a percentage of the transaction value they generate on AliExpress. The commissions are typically 5% to 8% of the transaction value. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, transaction value on AliExpress was US$7.2 billion. We also generate revenue from Lazada primarily through direct sales of merchandise.

              •
              Online marketing services:  We also generate revenue on AliExpress from merchants who participate in the third-party affiliate marketing program and those who purchase P4P marketing services.

                   International Commerce Wholesale.    We generate revenue from our global wholesale marketplace, Alibaba.com, primarily through:

              •
              Memberships and online marketing services.  Revenue from our global wholesale marketplace is primarily generated from the sale of our Gold Supplier memberships on Alibaba.com, which allow wholesalers to host

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                premium storefronts with product listings on the marketplace, as well as additional online marketing services, primarily P4P marketing services. In fiscal year 2017, 65% of our international commerce wholesale revenue was generated from memberships and online marketing services.

              •
              Value-added services.  We generate revenues from providing import/export business solutions, such as custom clearance and VAT refunds, and other value-added services, such as product showcases. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 35% of our international commerce wholesale revenue from these value-added services.

            Cloud Computing

                   We generate revenue from cloud computing services primarily from the time- and usage-based provision of cloud computing services, such as elastic computing, database, storage and CDN, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform, as well as from web-hosting and domain name registration.

            Digital Media and Entertainment

                   We generate revenue from Youku Tudou and UCWeb primarily through P4P marketing services, display marketing services and subscriptions.

            Innovation Initiatives and Others

                   We generate revenue from businesses such as AutoNavi, YunOS and other innovation initiatives. Other revenue also includes annual fees payable by Ant Financial Services or its affiliates to us, calculated at 2.5% of the daily average book balance of the SME loans generated by the SME loan business we transferred to Ant Financial Services upon the completion of the restructuring of our relationship with Ant Financial Services in early February 2015. Prior to this sale, other revenue also included interest income generated by the SME loan business.

            Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

                   Our Ability to Create Value for Our Users and Generate Revenue.    Our ability to create value for our users and generate revenue is driven by the factors described below:

              •
              Number and engagement of consumers.  Consumers are attracted to our platforms by the breadth of personalized content and the interactive user experience these platforms offer. Our platforms include a comprehensive selection of product and service offerings as well as engaging content, such as news feeds on our Taobao App and UC Browser, entertainment content on Youku Tudou, music and sports. Consumers enjoy an engaging social experience by interacting with each other and with merchants and brands on our platforms. We leverage our big data insights to further optimize the relevance of this rich content we provide to our users. The engagement of consumers in our ecosystem is affected by our ability to continue to enhance and expand our product and service offerings and improve user experience.

              •
              Broader value offered to merchants, brands and other businesses.  Merchants, brands and other businesses use our products and services to help them acquire and retain customers, build brand awareness and engagement, complete transactions, and enhance their operating efficiency. We offer merchants a complete suite of services and tools powered by our data insights, to help them effectively engage consumers and efficiently manage their operations. In addition, we empower businesses of different sizes across various industries through our comprehensive enterprise cloud service offerings.

              •
              Empowering data and technology.  Our ability to engage consumers and empower merchants, brands and other businesses is affected by the breadth and depth of our data insights, such as the accuracy of our shopping recommendations and of our targeted marketing, and our technology capabilities and infrastructure, such as cloud computing, and our continued ability to develop scalable products and services that adapt to the quickly evolving industry trends and consumer preferences.

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                   Operating Leverage of Our Business Model.    Our business model has significant operating leverage and our ecosystem enables us to realize structural cost savings. For example, Taobao Marketplace drives significant traffic to Tmall as Tmall product listings also appear on Taobao Marketplace search result pages. Further, the large number of consumers on our marketplaces attracts a large number of merchants, who become customers for our online marketing and storefront services. In addition, the vast consumer base of our ecosystem presents cross-selling opportunities to a variety of our platforms, such as our ability to promote our digital media and entertainment services, including Youku Tudou, to consumers on our marketplaces. These network effects allow for lower traffic acquisition costs and provide synergies across our businesses.

                   Our Investment in User Base, Technology, People and Infrastructure.    We have made, and will continue to make, significant investments in our platforms and ecosystem to attract consumers and merchants, enhance user experience and expand the capabilities and scope of our platforms. We expect our investments will include expanding our core commerce offerings, enhancing our cloud computing business, content and user acquisition to further develop our digital media and entertainment business, new innovation initiatives and new technologies as well as executing our globalization strategy. Our operating leverage and margin levels enable us to continue to invest in our people, particularly engineers, scientists and product management personnel, as well as in our underlying technology capabilities and infrastructure. In addition, as a result of our financial strength, we expect to invest in the above mentioned new and existing businesses which will lower our margins but deliver overall long-term growth.

                   Strategic Investments and Acquisitions.    We have made, and intend to make, strategic investments and acquisitions are set forth belowto increase user acquisition and are categorized by business area. For thoseengagement, improve customer experience and expand our product and service offerings. Our strategic investments and acquisitions described belowmay affect our future financial results, including our margins and our net income. For example, we expect that our acquisitions of Youku Tudou and a controlling stake in Lazada and our recent privatization of Intime will have a negative effect on our financial results, at least in the short term. In addition, some of our acquisitions and investments may not be successful. We have incurred impairment charges in the past and may incur impairment charges in the future.

            Components of Results of Operations

            Revenue

                   The following table sets forth the principal components of our revenue for the periods indicated:

             
            		 Year ended March 31, 
             
            		 2015 2016 2017 
             
            		 RMB % of
            revenue            		 RMB % of
            revenue            		 RMB US$ % of
            revenue            		 
             
            		 (in millions, except percentages)
            		 

            Core commerce:

            		                      

            China commerce retail

            		  59,732  78% 80,033  79% 114,109  16,578  72%

            China commerce wholesale

            		  3,205  4% 4,288  4% 5,679  825  4%

            International commerce retail

            		  1,768  3% 2,204  2% 7,336  1,066  5%

            International commerce wholesale

            		  4,718  6% 5,425  6% 6,001  872  4%

            Others

            		  113  0% 385  0% 755  109  0%
            ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

            Total core commerce

            		  69,536  91% 92,335  91% 133,880  19,450  85%
            ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

            Cloud computing

            		  1,271  2% 3,019  3% 6,663  968  4%

            Digital media and entertainment

            		  2,191  3% 3,972  4% 14,733  2,141  9%

            Innovation initiatives and others

            		  3,206  4% 1,817  2% 2,997  435  2%
            ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

            Total

            		  76,204  100% 101,143  100% 158,273  22,994  100%
            ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
            ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

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                   We generate most of our revenue from our core commerce segment. We also earn revenue from services associated with our cloud computing segment, digital media and entertainment segment as well as innovation initiatives and others segment. A substantial majority of our revenue is attributable to our businesses in China. See "— Our Monetization Model" for additional information regarding our revenue.

            Cost of Revenue

                   The principal components of our cost of revenue include: content acquisition costs paid to third parties for our online media properties; logistics costs relating to fulfillment services provided to us by our affiliate Cainiao Network, primarily related to Tmall Supermarket; traffic acquisition costs paid to third-party marketing affiliates either at a fixed price or on a revenue sharing basis; payment processing fees paid to Alipay or other financial institutions; cost of inventory; expenses associated with the operation of our websites, such as bandwidth and co-location fees, and depreciation and maintenance expenses for our computers, servers, call centers and other equipment; salary, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense relating to customer service and web operation personnel and payment processing consultants; rebates and subsidies mainly relating to our new business initiatives; business taxes and related surcharges; and allowance for doubtful accounts in relation to the micro loans and VAT receivables.

            Product Development Expenses

                   Product development expenses primarily include salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our employees engaged in the development, maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure, applications, operating systems, software, databases and networks for our marketplaces, mobile products and service platforms. In addition, product development expenses include royalty fees paid to Yahoo pursuant to the Yahoo TIPLA. This royalty fee arrangement was terminated upon completion of our initial public offering in September 2014. We expense all of our product development costs as they are incurred.

            Sales and Marketing Expenses

                   Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of online and offline advertising expenses, promotion expenses, sales commissions paid for membership acquisition for our wholesale marketplaces, and salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our employees engaged in sales and marketing functions.

            General and Administrative Expenses

                   General and administrative expenses consist mainly of salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our management and administrative employees, professional services fees, office facilities, other support overhead costs and charitable contributions.

            Interest and Investment Income, Net

                   Interest and investment income, net consists of interest income, investment gain or loss related to our treasury management activities and gain or loss on deemed disposals, disposals and revaluation of our long term equity investments. Our interest and investment income, net was more significant in fiscal year 2016 as a result of a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health.

            Interest Expense

                   Our interest expense is comprised of interest payments and amortization of upfront fees and incidental charges primarily associated with our unsecured senior notes issued in November 2014 to refinance our previous syndicated loan arrangements and the US$4.0 billion five-year term loan facility drawn down in fiscal year 2017. In addition, in April 2017, we replaced our US$3.0 billion revolving credit facility, which was not drawn, with a new US$5.15 billion revolving credit facility, which we have not yet closed, there can be no assurance thatdrawn as of the closing conditions will be satisfied in a timely manner or at all.date of this annual report.


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            MobileOther Income, Net

                   UCWeb, China's largest mobile browser companyOther income, net primarily consists of exchange gain or loss, royalty fees and software technology service fees paid by Alipay, as well as government grants. Exchange gain or loss, arising from our operations and treasury management activities, recognized in termsour income statement is largely a result of monthly mobile active users, according to iResearch, which had 310 million active users globally during March 2015. Over several years through several roundsdepreciation or appreciation of investments, the last of which was completed in April 2014, we acquired 66% of the economic interests of UCWeb in the form of convertible preferred shares. In June 2014, we exchanged all the outstanding shares in UCWeb heldRMB, respectively. The amount is also partially affected by the other shareholderscurrency movements on our hedging activities related to the portion that is deemed ineffective from an accounting perspective. Alipay pays us royalty fees and software technology service fees pursuant to an intellectual property and software technology services agreement, as amended in August 2014, or the amended Alipay IPLA. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Share and Asset Purchase Agreement — Alipay Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement" for further information on the arrangements between us and Alipay. Government grants primarily relate to grants by central and local governments in connection with cash of US$458 millionour contributions to technology development and restricted sharesinvestments in local business districts. These grants may not be recurring in nature, and RSUs inwe recognize the aggregate number of 12.3 million.income when the grants are received and no further conditions need to be met.

            Income Tax Expense

                   Our income tax expense is comprised primarily of current tax expense, mainly attributable to certain profitable subsidiaries in China, and deferred tax expense, mainly including withholding tax on dividends to be distributed by our major subsidiaries operating in China.

            Taxation

            AutoNavi,

                   AutoNavi is a leading provider of digital map, content and navigation and location-based solutionsreal-time traffic information in China. Besides providing these services to end users directly, AutoNavi also operates a leading open platform in China that was previously listedpowers many major mobile apps in different industries such as food delivery, ride service, taxi-hailing and social networking with its location-based services. It also provides fundamental services to major platforms in our ecosystem including our China retail marketplaces, Cainiao Network and Alipay.

              DingTalk

                   DingTalk is our proprietary enterprise communication and collaboration platform that enables text, photo, voice and video communication, workflow management and collaboration among team members and enterprises of various sizes. It also offers a low-cost and secured Internet telephone service. With a built-in enterprise directory, users can easily initiate text chats or voice and video conference calls as well as secured group chats with members of their organization. DingTalk unifies the critical tasks of communication and collaboration in the work place. For instance, DingTalk enables enterprises to conveniently record attendance in the workplace and at external meetings. In addition, as a fully integrated communications app, DingTalk supports HR, travel and expense approvals.

            Branding and Monetization Platforms

              Uni Marketing for Brands

                   We have developed a system that we call Uni Identity to track users across different properties and devices. For example, we are able to identify a user watching a Youku Tudou video on a PC as the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Insame user shopping on


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            our Taobao App. Our Uni Identity system takes disparate data and attributes the data to a single user, which enables us to provide marketers with valuable insights into user behavior and preferences. Uni Identity enables brands to interact with consumers in the right place at the right time with the right content.

                   Drawing on Uni Identity and our big data capabilities, we have developed a Uni Marketing approach that empowers brands to build robust relationship with consumers throughout their lifecycles in our ecosystem. Our Uni Marketing methodology tracks brand-consumer relationships through each critical stage, from awareness to interest to purchase to loyalty. Consumer data is generated, aggregated, analyzed and reactivated in brands' individualized databases. This data guides brands and marketing agencies across each phase of the brand-consumer relationship, providing insights into strategy, communication planning and ad-serving. Our data-driven Uni Marketing approach effectively and efficiently promotes brand lift, sales generation and customer loyalty.

                   Uni Marketing aims to capture consumer brand building touch points across internet media, including our marketplaces, Youku Tudou, UC Web, strategic partners in our ecosystem such as Weibo, as well as other major third-party internet properties in China. We intend to become the key destination for brand building by creating an open, inclusive and transparent platform where brands and marketing agencies are able to design, execute, track and optimize their brand building activities using our data and tools.

              Alimama

                   Alimama is our marketing technology platform that provides the publisher-side serving and demand-side functionalities for merchants and brands to place various marketing formats on our marketplaces and other third-party properties. The platform supports P4P marketing based on keyword search rankings or display marketing in fixed positions that are bid on through auctions, as well as cost per thousand impression (CPM)-based, time-based marketing formats, or individual campaigns at fixed cost, through the display of photos, graphics and videos.

                   The ranking of P4P search results on our core commerce platforms is based upon proprietary algorithms that take into account the bid price of keywords, the popularity of an item or merchant, customer feedback ranking of merchants and quality of product displays. For display marketing, the Alimama platform serves marketing messages based on data from our ecosystem, including transactions on our core commerce platforms, payment data from Ant Financial Services, logistics data from Cainiao Network, user navigation and behavioral data from our core commerce platforms and media and entertainment properties, as well as demographic and location-based data. The relevance and comprehensiveness of data based on commercial activities and user activities around our ecosystem provide a powerful and unique advantage for Alimama to target the most relevant information to the most relevant users.

                   The Alimama technology platform supports marketing delivered through personal computers and mobile devices. Under Alimama's bidding system, marketers may set a higher or lower bid price for mobile marketing than the bid price for marketing on personal computers. Alimama also has an affiliate marketing program to place marketing displays on third-party websites and mobile apps, thereby enabling marketers, if they so choose, to extend their marketing and promotional reach to properties and users beyond our own marketplaces. We believe we have the largest online marketing affiliate network in China in terms of revenue shared with third-party website properties and mobile apps. Our affiliate marketing program not only provides additional traffic to our core commerce platforms, but also generates revenue to us. Under the Taobaoke program, merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall can generate additional traffic and transactions from third-party websites and mobile apps, and the marketers pay commissions based on a percentage of transaction value sourced from these third-party marketing affiliates. We share a significant portion of that commission with our third-party affiliate marketing partners.

                   Alimama operates the Taobao Ad Network and Exchange, or TANX, one of the largest real-time bidding online marketing exchanges in China. TANX helps publishers to monetize their media inventories both on web properties and mobile apps. TANX automates the buying and selling of billions of marketing impressions on a daily basis. Participants on TANX include publishers, marketers and demand side platforms operated by agencies.


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              UCWeb Mobile Marketing System

                   Our mobile search engine, Shenma (GRAPHIC), monetizes through a keyword bidding system that enables marketers to reach users who search for information related to their products or services. We engage third-party distributors to sell some of our mobile marketing services to marketers. UC Browser monetizes primarily through time-based display marketing where marketers place icons that link to their web pages or apps in UC Browser. Its news feeds feature UC Headlines enables marketers to place marketing messages in news feeds on cost-per-click (CPC) basis or impressions on time basis. Our mobile marketing platform enables marketers to launch targeted marketing for apps, games, web pages and services on mobile media including UC Browser, UC Headlines and third-party media partners, leveraging our deep consumer insights.

              Youku Tudou Advertising System

                   Youku Tudou monetizes primarily through brand advertising. Its online advertising services include in-video, display, sponsorship and other forms of advertisements. In-video advertisements appear at certain times during the playback of a video. These video advertisements can be pre-roll, post-roll, mid-roll or static advertisements. Display advertisements can be delivered alongside a video and may take the form of graphical banners or text hyperlinks. Other forms of advertisements include product placements in the web video series produced in-house, sponsored live events or viral videos produced in-house. Youku Tudou's advertising solutions present brand advertisers with attractive opportunities to combine the visual impact and engagement of traditional television-like multimedia formats with the interactivity and precise targeting capabilities of the Internet.

            Other Major Elements of our Ecosystem

            Logistics — Cainiao Network

                   Cainiao Network is a joint venture that we formed in May 2013 with other shareholders who are engaged in logistics, retail, and real estate, including four major express courier companies in China. Cainiao Network does not deliver packages itself. It operates a logistics data platform that leverages the capacity and capabilities of logistics partners to fulfill transactions between merchants and consumers at a large scale. Cainiao Network uses data insights and technology to improve efficiency across the logistics value chain. The proprietary data platform provides real-time access to data for merchants to better manage their inventory and warehousing and for consumers to track their orders. In addition, Cainiao Network's data platform helps logistics service providers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services, such as leveraging data to optimize the delivery routes used by express courier companies.

                   Cainiao Network provides two major types of services — delivery data and technology solutions and domestic fulfilment solutions.

              •
              Delivery data and technology solutions are value-added services that link merchants to logistics service providers and to consumers, provide real-time order tracking information and enhance logistics efficiency. Merchants select the services of particular logistics service providers that rely on Cainiao Network's proprietary data platform for accuracy of delivery information and optimization of delivery routes. Under the delivery data and technology solutions model, merchants assume the responsibility for order fulfillment out of their warehouses (usually one centralized location per merchant), and they pay for express courier companies to pick up, transport and sort packages and make last-mile deliveries to the end consumers nationwide. This model does not require Cainiao Network to invest in capital intensive warehouses, transport or last-mile assets. Currently the vast majority of packages from our China retail marketplaces are fulfilled and delivered under this model.

              Through its platform approach, Cainiao Network integrates the resources of logistics service providers to build out the logistics ecosystem. As of March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network's fifteen strategic express courier partners employed over 1,800,000 delivery personnel in more than 600 cities and 31 provinces in China, according to data provided by them. Collectively they operated more than 180,000 hubs and sorting stations.


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                The top six of these express courier partners handled the delivery of the majority of packages from our China retail marketplaces in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. We believe that orders from transactions generated on our marketplaces represented a significant portion of these express courier partners' total delivery volumes in the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. Cainiao Network is still in an early stage of development. It has yet to monetize the majority of the value-added services it provides under the delivery data and technology solutions model.

              •
              Domestic Fulfilment Solutions are services offered to merchants, especially medium to large merchants, who require a nationwide warehousing network and supply chain management services for optimized inventory placement at multiple locations and package delivery to end consumers in a more efficient and timely manner. Cainiao Network assumes responsibility of order fulfilment and package delivery to the end consumers, for which it charges a fee. Cainiao Network collaborates with in-warehouse operation providers and uses a combination of owned and partner warehouses to fulfill orders. Cainiao Network then coordinates with line-haul and last-mile delivery service providers to complete the package delivery. To provide a high quality solution, Cainiao Network oversees the entire logistics process and promotes standardization on efficiency metrics. As of March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network's same-day or next-day delivery services covered a total of 1,029 districts and counties, more than doubled compared with the coverage as of March 31, 2016. During the process, logistics partners' capabilities are also improved and upgraded through technology and data insights provided by Cainiao Network.

                In addition to enabling the fulfillment and delivery of orders that fit in standard size packages, we and Cainiao Network also partner with specialized logistics service providers for category-specific solutions where items require special handling and services. The following are examples of category-specific solutions that we and Cainiao Network have organized to enhance the consumer experience:

                •
                Large appliances.  We have entered into a joint venture with Haier Electronics to invest in its logistics subsidiary, RRS, to handle logistics services for large appliances. Partnering with RRS, Cainiao Network provides large appliances merchants with inventory planning tools, data analytics, and logistics services that enhance consumer experience through more efficient inventory placement.

                •
                Consumer electronics.  In connection with our agreement to invest in Suning, one of the largest electronics retail chains in China with over 1,500 stores and over 5.8 million sq.m. of logistics warehouse and ancillary facility space as of December 31, 2016, we and Cainiao Network are cooperating with Suning to leverage their retail and logistics assets relating to warehousing and delivery capabilities, and after-sale servicing and returns of electronics products.

                •
                Tmall Supermarket.  Tmall operates a popular supermarket category that generates high frequency purchases and builds consumer mindshare for high quality fresh produce, food and FMCG products. To fulfill the logistics demand, Cainiao Network partners with specialized players in the fresh produce supply chain, cold chain transport, warehouse operations and last-mile delivery services.

                   As extensions of the two major types of services mentioned above, Cainiao Network also provides the following services to merchants and consumers on our international and China retail marketplaces, through collaboration with specialized logistics service providers:

              •
              Cross-border.  Cainiao Network provides import and export logistics services to merchants on Tmall Global, our premier platform for overseas brands and retailers, and AliExpress, our global consumer marketplace, respectively.

              •
              Rural and Urban Last Mile.  In order to enhance consumer experience and improve efficiency in last-mile delivery in both rural and urban areas, Cainiao Network has also developed technological solutions and operational standards for these settings. In rural areas, Cainiao Network coordinates the delivery from county level Rural Taobao stations to villages. In urban areas, Cainiao Network provides smart pick-up stations around urban communities and on college campuses as an alternative to delivery to end consumers' doorsteps.

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                     During the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, Cainiao Network and its logistics partners enabled the delivery of 16.6 billion packages from our China retail marketplaces. Currently, Cainiao Network primarily derives its revenue from domestic fulfillment solutions and generates a significant portion of its revenue from providing these services to Tmall Supermarket.

                Proprietary Logistics Data Platform

                     Cainiao Network operates a proprietary logistics data platform. This platform links consumers, merchants and logistics service providers and allows them to share information relating to orders, delivery routes and time, and user feedbacks. The logistics data platform can interface with a broad range of systems including our marketplace transaction systems, Alipay's payment system, third-party transportation management systems, and the CRM, ERP and warehouse management systems of merchants. Information generated from the data platform serves many purposes: merchants can review the performance of delivery service providers on different routes; logistics service providers can compare their performance against peers; and consumers can track orders, receive delivery time information, and stay in touch with delivery personnel.

                Recent Financing of Cainiao Network

                     Cainiao Network completed a round of equity financing of approximately RMB10 billion in March 2016. Existing shareholders and new investors, including major sovereign wealth funds and private equity funds, participated in the financing. We subscribed for Cainiao Network's shares on an approximately pro rata basis. As of March 31, 2017, we own an approximately 47% equity interest in Cainiao Network.

              Financial Services — Ant Financial Services

                     Ant Financial Services provides digital payment services and other financial and value-added services to consumers and SMEs in China and across the world, such as payment, wealth management, lending, insurance and credit system. Ant Financial Services leverages its customer insights and technologies to help financial institutions, ISVs and other partners on its platform to enhance experience of their users and improve their risk management capabilities. During the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, Ant Financial Services, together with Paytm and Ascend Money, served over 630 million annual active users globally.

                     Alipay, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ant Financial Services, provides payment and escrow services for transactions on Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, 1688.com, AliExpress and certain of our other platforms. Alipay is the principal means by which consumers pay for their purchases on our China retail marketplaces. Except for transactions paid with credit products such as credit cards, where Alipay charges the merchant, neither we nor Alipay charge any payment fees to merchants doing business on our platforms. Instead, we pay Alipay a fee for the payment and escrow services it provides on our marketplaces pursuant to a commercial agreement with Ant Financial Services and Alipay.

                     Ant Financial Services and its partners also provide wealth management, lending, insurance, credit system and other services to merchants and consumers in our ecosystem, such as working capital loans to SMEs, consumer loans and logistics cost insurance for goods returned.

                     For additional details on our commercial relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries."

              Local Services

                     Through investee companies, we are engaged in the online-to-offline, or O2O, local services business involving restaurants, food delivery and movie ticketing, among others.


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                Koubei Local Services Guide

                     In 2015, we and Ant Financial Services set up the joint venture Koubei, one of the leading local services guide businesses in China. Koubei operates O2O services in conjunction with Alipay by generating demand to local establishments such as restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and other offline lifestyle establishments by offering consumers a "closed loop" experience, from acquiring information on mobile to finding the store to claiming discounts to payment. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, Koubei generated RMB74.7 billion (US$10.9 billion) in GMV settled through Alipay with merchants.

                     In January 2017, Koubei completed a US$1.1 billion equity financing led by Silver Lake, CDH Investments, Yunfeng Capital and Primavera Capital. This transaction provides Koubei with a strong capital base to execute its aggressive growth strategy.

                Ele.Me Food Delivery

                     In March 2016, we jointly invested with Ant Financial Services in Ele.me (GRAPHIC), a leading food delivery company in China. Consumers using the company's food delivery app can order meals, snacks and beverages on a mobile device. Through a delivery network of employed and outsourced personnel, the company's service covered over 1,500 districts and counties in China as of March 31, 2017. Under a cooperation agreement, Ele.me fulfills food orders generated from the Taobao App and Alipay App.

                Movie Ticketing

                     Alibaba Pictures, our equity investee and the flagship unit of our movie business, operates the second largest online movie ticketing platform in China in terms of mobile MAUs in March 2017, according to QuestMobile.

              Customer Service for China Retail Marketplaces

                     Merchants on our platforms serve their customers with commerce technologies and services we provide. In addition, our customer service representatives serve consumers and merchants on our marketplaces through telephone hotlines, real-time instant messaging and online inquiry systems. Our dispute resolution system's adjudication panel of experienced consumers and merchants provides an easy way for consumers and merchants to resolve their disputes, while other more complicated disputes are referred to our customer service representatives. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, we received dispute cases representing approximately 0.03% of orders placed on our China retail marketplaces.

                     With certain exceptions, consumers on our China retail marketplaces may return the purchased goods within seven days from their receipt. Alipay's payment escrow services ensure efficient refunds. In addition, for qualified consumers with good credit history, we may accelerate refund procedure by making the refund payment directly to the buyer upon the buyer's refund application and providing of proof of shipment for the return goods.

              Consumer Protection

                     We believe every consumer has the right to protection from false and misleading claims and harmful products. We encourage our merchants to make product quality a priority and have set up various programs to this end. All Tmall merchants are required to contribute to and maintain a consumer protection fund for the benefit of consumers. Consumer protection fund deposit requirements vary by product category and typically range from RMB10,000 to RMB500,000 per storefront. For Tmall Global merchants, the consumer protection fund deposit requirement typically ranges from RMB150,000 to RMB300,000 for standard storefronts. The majority of Taobao Marketplace merchants maintain individual consumer protection funds with minimum amounts ranging from RMB1,000 to RMB50,000. All Tmall and Taobao Marketplace merchants are required to sign agreements with us authorizing us to make deductions from their Alipay accounts in the event of confirmed consumer claims. Merchants who have failed to maintain a minimum amount in their consumer protection funds are blocked from showing product listings in our search results.


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                     The consumer protection fund amounts are displayed on each merchant's information page. As of March 31, 2017, consumer protection funds deposited in the Alipay accounts of merchants on our China retail marketplaces in aggregate totaled over RMB18 billion. Many merchants on Tmall and Taobao Marketplace provide a larger deposit than required and make additional service commitments, such as expedited shipment, free maintenance for electronics and installation services for furniture purchases, to demonstrate to their customers their confidence in the quality of their services and products. If the amount in a merchant's consumer protection fund is insufficient, we may still choose to compensate consumers ourselves for any losses, although we are not legally obligated to do so. In addition, Alipay's escrow payment services offer consumers further protection by applying a risk-adjusted payment release schedule to merchants based on merchants' historical track records including service level, product quality and dispute rate.

              Transaction Platform Safety Programs

                     Preserving the integrity of our marketplaces is a top priority for us. We are committed to protecting intellectual property rights and eradicating counterfeit merchandise and fictitious activities. Infringement of intellectual property, both online and offline, are industry-wide issues affecting brands and merchants globally. We work on these issues with rights holders, trade associations and governments around the world. As of March 31, 2017, more than 100,000 brands operate on our marketplaces, a demonstration of the trust they place in the integrity of our marketplaces.

              Product Authenticity

                     We are committed to offering authentic, high quality products across our platforms, including high quality overseas products on Tmall Global, grocery and FMCG products on Tmall Supermarket, and high quality pharmaceuticals on Tmall. Together with our focus on providing authentic products across our platforms, we are also fully committed to working with brands, rights holders and law enforcement authorities to monitor product authenticity and protect intellectual property both online and offline. We have called for collective efforts in the fight against counterfeiting that include stronger law enforcement measures and harsher penalties for those found to be engaged in criminal activity. In addition, we also initiate civil actions against counterfeiters.

                     Our product authenticity initiatives have produced effective results. As part of our commitment to allow only authentic product listings on our platforms, we employ big data and technology to proactively identify and shut down storefronts selling infringing products and remove suspect product listings. These efforts resulted in our removal of approximately 29 times more product listings than were requested by intellectual property rights holders during the twelve months ended March 31, 2017. Our offline product authenticity initiatives also have borne tangible results as we have provided law enforcement authorities with evidence to successfully track down and arrest violators of intellectual property rights in a number of instances.

                     We implement the following measures to monitor the authenticity of products offered on our platforms and fight illicit goods together with brands and law enforcement agencies:

                •
                Notice and take down system.  In order to safeguard our platforms and promote product authenticity we operate a rigorous notice-and-takedown system that allows rights holders to request the removal of potentially infringing listings from our platforms. We offer qualified rights holders a good-faith takedown program pursuant to which we process infringement takedown requests on a "good-faith" basis by expediting claims and simplifying the notification procedure. We collaborate with rights holders in proactively identifying suspicious listings, giving them an opportunity to review these listings and submit takedown requests.

                •
                Proactive monitoring (scanning and detection) powered by big data.  As part of our commitment to allow only authentic product listings on our platforms, we utilize our proprietary algorithms to proactively detect the presence of suspicious goods. As of March 2017, our algorithms had the capacity to process 100 million pieces of data per second, which enables us to conduct proactive scans on more than 10 million product listings a day. We also have developed the capability to perform real-time scanning of suspicious product

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                  specifications during a merchant's listing creation process, enabling us to stop merchants from uploading infringing content. We employ Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to conduct text and logo detection on images used in product listings in order to ensure that the products offered are authentic. Our detection technology is capable of constantly improving through machine learning. Our ability to quickly and efficiently monitor and remove problematic products enhances as more and more brands and rights holders contribute information about their intellectual property to our systems. We collaborate with rights holders in this manner to protect their intellectual property.

                •
                Offline enforcement.  We work closely with brands and law enforcement authorities to assist in their offline investigations against counterfeiting. With insights drawn from our data analytics, we help law enforcement authorities to identify manufacturers and dealers of suspicious goods so they can be brought to justice.

                     We are committed to promoting authentic goods on our platforms in order to create a safe and healthy environment for commerce.

                Alibaba Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance (AACA)

                     In January 2017, we announced the establishment of the AACA together with major international brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Swarovski, and Dulux. The AACA is committed to using big data and technology to combat intellectual property infringement more effectively, efficiently and transparently.

                     In April 2017, we and 30 leading global brands came together as members of the AACA for a series of meetings and constructive dialogue focused on combatting intellectual property infringement through big data and technology. With the support of big data and technology, the AACA helps rights holders, e-commerce platforms and law enforcement agencies work together on fighting intellectual property infringement both online and offline. The AACA believes all parties must work together in a collaborative fashion with increased communication and exchange of information to halt the production of infringing goods.

                     We are committed to supporting this industry-wide AACA effort through our big data and technology capabilities, and promoting ongoing industry cooperation for the establishment of a healthy and safe environment for commerce.

              Combatting Fictitious Transactions

                     With respect to fictitious activities, we have and will continue to invest significant resources in protecting the trust and credit system we have built on our marketplaces. Measures to prevent, detect and reduce the occurrence of fictitious transactions on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall we have implemented include:

                •
                requiring the use of merchants' real identities when opening accounts;

                •
                analyzing transaction patterns to identify anomalies;

                •
                offering dynamic password protection and engaging in real-time monitoring of user login behavior;

                •
                enabling consumers and merchants to report suspicious transactions;

                •
                maintaining a "blacklist" of merchants who have previously been involved in fictitious transactions; and

                •
                collaborating with participants in our ecosystem such as Alipay and Cainiao Network as well as industry partners and law enforcement authorities on Internet security.

              Penalties

                     We aim to protect consumers by excluding suspicious merchandise and fictitious transactions from the ranking system, credit system and transaction volume statistics. When these activities are confirmed, we penalize the parties involved through a number of means including: closing down storefronts, permanently banning merchants from opening any accounts on our platforms, limiting merchants' ability to add listings, imposing restrictions on


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              participation in promotional activities on our marketplaces, and placing merchants' product listings at the bottom in search ranking results.

              Our Technology

                     Technology is key to our success in achieving efficiency for our business, improving the user experience, and enabling innovation. Our unrivaled proprietary technology supports peak order volumes of up to hundreds of thousands per second, delivers tens of billions of online marketing impressions per day, and enables millions of merchants and other businesses to conduct their operations efficiently and effectively. The uniqueness of our technology lies in the unparalleled large-scale application environment due to the scale of our businesses. By constantly applying our technology across our businesses, we generate knowledge and innovations that drive improvements and further technological development.

                     As of March 31, 2017, we employed a team of over 22,000 research and development personnel. Our research and development personnel play key roles in various international standardization organizations in areas such as security, e-commerce and IoT. In addition, we are also active in open source communities and have contributed over 100 open source software projects.

                     Key components of our technology include those described below:

              Technology Infrastructure

                     Our data centers utilize leading technologies in distributed structure, natural cooling, distributed power technology, high-density liquid cooling and intelligent monitoring, and we believe we operate at the lowest power usage effectiveness, or PUE, ratio worldwide. The multi-region availability of our transaction system data centers provides scalable and stable redundancy.

              Cloud Operating Systems

                     Our cloud computing operating system, called Apsara, is a proprietary general purpose distributed computing operating system that provides Alibaba Cloud customers with enhanced computing power to support their business growth in the data technology, or DT, era. We have also developed YunOS, a cloud-based, data and service-oriented operating system for all kinds of smart devices. YunOS is a highly scalable and compatible system that can be used on a wide range of IoT devices, including automobiles, mobile phones, TVs and set-top boxes.

              Big Data Analytics Platform

                     We have developed a distributed data analytics platform that can efficiently handle complex computing tasks of hundreds of millions of data dimensions, providing deep data insights to our businesses and our cloud computing customers. Our big data analytics platform includes MaxCompute, an offline data storage and computing platform, StreamCompute, a real-time data storage and computing platform, and OneData, a data integration and management system.

              Artificial Intelligence

                     With access to a massive amount of data and our involvement in diverse businesses involving a rich variety of consumer experiences, we believe we are in a unique position to develop the large-scale commercial use of AI. To date, we have applied various AI technologies across our commerce platforms to enhance consumer experience, such as personalized search results and shopping recommendations empowered by deep learning and data analytics, speech recognition and image analysis technology adopted in search functions, as well as intelligent customer service.


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              Machine Learning

                     We are one of the few companies in the world with a proprietary, distributed deep learning platform. Deep learning capabilities accelerate our innovations in areas such as image and video recognition, speech recognition, text and voice interaction and machine translation.

              Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality

                     We showcased our Buy+ virtual reality, or VR, shopping experience during Singles Day 2016, demonstrating the potential to change the way people shop and how merchants and brands can reach consumers without physical stores. Consumers can enjoy an interactive shopping experience and complete transactions using VR devices.

                     We also launched Tmall AR-GO for home furnishings, which allows consumers to use mobile devices to view nearly true-to-life images of how furniture will fit in their homes. Applying the latest technology, Tmall AR-GO utilizes motion tracking, combined with life-like rendering effects and optimized 3D engines.

              Security

                     We have established a comprehensive security infrastructure, supported by our network situational awareness and risk management system, that spans from the individual end users across our entire network, covering our systems, apps, data and services. Our back-end security system handles hundreds of millions of instances of malicious attacks each day to safeguard the security of our e-commerce and cloud platforms.

              Sales and Marketing

                     As Taobao Marketplace is China's largest mobile commerce destination, we enjoy significant organic traffic through word-of-mouth and general awareness of our brand and platforms. Although we employ a variety of methods to promote our platforms, we believe word-of-mouth, and the reputation and ubiquitous awareness of our brand and platforms in China and, increasingly, abroad, provide us with the best and most cost-efficient marketing channel. Further, the large number of consumers on our marketplaces attracts a large number of merchants who become customers for our online marketing services. As a result, we do not rely on a large sales force for our China retail marketplaces.

              Corporate Social Responsibility

                     We believe the best approach to corporate social responsibility is through embedding elements of social responsibility in our business model. Since our founding, we have been highly committed to sustainable corporate responsibility projects, both through charitable endeavors and by extending the benefits of our ecosystem to the community at large.

                     Our major achievements and initiatives in the areas of corporate social responsibility include those described below:

              Creating Job Opportunities

                     The breadth of our ecosystem and the range of different types of service providers needed within it create employment opportunities. In addition to providing direct business opportunities for merchants, our ecosystem has created new opportunities for service providers in logistics, marketing, consulting, operations outsourcing, training and other online and mobile commerce professions. According to AliResearch, our research division, as of December 2016, it is estimated that our China retail marketplaces contributed to the creation of over 33 million direct and indirect job opportunities in China, including people working directly for online storefronts, service providers to merchants and other businesses across the value chain.

                     With the power of the Internet, our platforms have leveled the playing fields for businesses in many aspects, helping to foster an inclusive economy for everyone to thrive and prosper. In fiscal year 2017, approximately half


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              of the annual active sellers on our China retail marketplaces were female. In calendar year 2016, our China retail marketplaces supported the livelihoods of approximately 160,000 disabled sellers.

              Supporting Rural Development in China

                     As we expand to rural areas in China and provide access to the urban consumer market, we have created opportunities for people living in rural areas to elevate their standard of living. Our Rural Taobao program gives rural residents greater access to goods and services as well as the ability to sell what they produce to the cities. In addition, communities of rural online entrepreneurs in impoverished areas have opened storefronts on our China retail marketplaces to effectively elevate their income levels. As of December 2016, AliResearch, our research division, has identified over 1,000 of these rural e-tailer villages, over 200 of which were in state- and province-designated impoverished counties.

              Charitable Donation and Participation

                     Since 2010, we have earmarked 0.3% of our annual revenue to fund efforts designed to encourage environmental awareness and conservation as well as other corporate social responsibility initiatives. In 2011, we established the Alibaba Foundation, a private charity fund that focuses on supporting environmental protection in China and helping the disadvantaged, such as children born with heart defects in underdeveloped areas of China. In fiscal year 2017, we and the Alibaba Foundation made over RMB110 million (US$16 million) in donations to support more than 80 domestic and overseas charitable projects, including those hosted by the National Geographic Air and Water Conservation Fund, the Paulson Institute and the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs. We have also leveraged our platforms to enable other charitable organizations to raise over RMB235 million (US$34 million) in donations in fiscal year 2017, which benefited over two million disadvantaged people.

                     Since September 2015, we have encouraged our employees to perform a minimum of three hours of service activities every year. In fiscal year 2017, this program saw over 140,000 hours of social service activities performed by our employees. In addition, we recognize the immense influence of our ecosystem and leverage it to extend the reach of our charitable work. In fiscal year 2017, our platforms facilitated approximately 4.7 billion charitable participations involving over 300 million consumers and over 1.7 million merchants. We encourage our merchants, consumers and other ecosystem participants to participate in socially responsible activities. For example, charitable organizations can set up storefronts on our marketplaces to raise funds and engage with volunteers. Merchants can designate a percentage of the sales proceeds generated on our platforms to go to charitable organizations. Consumers can contribute to charitable causes by purchasing these products or participating in charity auctions hosted on our platforms.

              Selected Efforts to Address Social Problems

                     In running our day-to-day business, we are at the forefront in witnessing and understanding the social problems in China. We are committed to establishing a unique charitable ecosystem that focuses on innovation and scalability. We support and promote a number of charitable and socially responsible initiatives and programs in ways that we believe are in alignment with our core values and our mission. In 2016, the Research Center for Corporate Social Responsibility of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences named us one of the top 10 charitable enterprises in China and the top charitable private enterprise in China. In the same year, we were also among the first group of Internet platforms recognized for charitable donations by the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China.

                     We believe corporate philanthropy should not be limited to charitable giving. With a view toward long-term, sustainable philanthropy, we take the approach of developing commercially viable charity projects that are


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              ingrained in products across a wide range of businesses in our ecosystem. In fiscal year 2017, we promoted 23 philanthropic products including:

                •
                the "Reunion" platform that connects our mobile apps and those of our partners to help locate missing children across China; from the implementation of the platform in mid-2016 to the end of 2016, law enforcement authorities successfully located 611 missing children based on 648 alerts broadcasted to the ecosystem of mobile users, a 94% success rate;

                •
                an anti-scamming app jointly developed with the PRC Ministry of Public Security that helps the public to report and identify scam calls and text messages;

                •
                barrier-free features of the Tmall App that enhance user experience for people with vision disabilities;

                •
                providing subsidized cloud computing services to charitable organizations; and

                •
                a new feature in the Cainiao Network App that allows users to send clothes and books for donation.

              Competition

                     We face competition principally from established Chinese Internet companies, such as Tencent, Baidu and their respective affiliates, as well as from certain offline retailers and e-commerce players, including those that specialize in a limited number of product categories, such as FMCG, global or regional cloud computing service providers and digital media and entertainment providers. These competitors generate significant traffic and have established brand recognition, significant technological capabilities and significant financial resources. The areas in which we compete primarily include:

                •
                Consumers — We compete to attract, engage and retain consumers based on the variety and value of products and services listed on our marketplaces, the engagement of digital media and entertainment content available on our platforms, the overall user experience of our products and services and the effectiveness of our consumer protection measures.

                •
                Merchants and Brands — We compete to attract and retain merchants based on the size and the engagement of consumers on our platforms and the effectiveness of our products and services to help them build brand awareness and engagement, acquire and retain customers, complete transactions, expand service capabilities, protect intellectual property rights and enhance operating efficiency.

                •
                Marketers — We compete to attract and retain marketers, publishers and demand side platforms operated by agencies based on the reach and engagement of our properties, the depth of our consumer data insights and the effectiveness of our branding and marketing solutions.

                •
                Talent — We compete for motivated and capable talent, including engineers and product developers to build compelling apps, tools and functions for all participants in our ecosystem.

                     We also face competition from major global Internet companies, including e-commerce companies around the world. Although foreign e-commerce companies currently have a limited presence in China, we face significant competition from them in the areas of cross-border commerce.

                     As we acquire new businesses and expand into new industries and sectors, we face competition from major players in these and other industries and sectors. In addition, as we expand our businesses and operations into an increasing number of international markets, including markets in which we have limited or no experience and in which we may be less well-known, such as Southeast Asia, India and Russia, we increasingly face competition from domestic and international players operating in these markets. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — If we are unable to compete effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected."


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              Seasonality

                     Our overall operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter as a result of a variety of factors, including seasonal factors and economic cycles that influence consumer spending as well as promotional shopping activities we conduct.

                     Historically, we have experienced the highest levels of revenues in the fourth calendar quarter of each year due to a number of factors, including merchants allocating a significant portion of their online marketing budgets to the fourth calendar quarter, promotions, such as Singles Day on November 11 of each year and the impact of seasonal buying patterns in respect of certain categories such as apparel. We have also experienced lower levels of revenues in the first calendar quarter of each year due to a lower level of allocation of online marketing budgets by merchants at the beginning of the calendar year and the Chinese New Year holiday, during which time consumers generally spend less and businesses in China are generally closed. In addition, seasonal weather patterns may affect the timing of buying decisions. For example, unexpectedly long periods of warm weather could delay the purchase of heavier clothing items that have higher average selling prices. Moreover, as our business grows, we expect that our fixed costs and expenses, such as payroll and benefits, bandwidth and co-location fees, will continue to increase, which will result in operating leverage in seasonally strong quarters but can significantly pressure operating margins in seasonally weak quarters.

              Regulation

                     We operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. We and our key service provider, Ant Financial Services, are subject to a variety of PRC and foreign laws, rules and regulations across a number of aspects of our business. This section summarizes the principal PRC laws, rules and regulations relevant to our business and operations. Areas in which we are subject to laws, rules and regulations outside of the PRC include data protection and privacy, consumer protection, content regulation, intellectual property, competition, cross-border trade, taxation, anti-money laundering and anti-corruption. We may also face protectionist policies and regulatory scrutiny on national security grounds in foreign countries in which we conduct business or investment activities. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We and Ant Financial Services are subject to a broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations on our business or otherwise that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations."

                     Our online and mobile commerce businesses are classified as value-added telecommunication businesses by the PRC government. Current PRC laws, rules and location-basedregulations generally restrict foreign ownership in value-added telecommunication services. As a result, we operate our online and mobile commerce businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited through variable interest entities, each of which is owned by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned by PRC citizens, and holds all licenses associated with these businesses.

                     The applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations governing value-added telecommunication services may change in the future. We may be required to obtain additional approvals, licenses and permits and to comply with any new regulatory requirements adopted from time to time. Moreover, substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these PRC laws, rules and regulations. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations."

              Regulation of Foreign Investment

                     The Guidance Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment, or the Catalogue, the latest version of which came into effect on April 10, 2015, was promulgated and recently amended by the MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission and governs investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors. The Catalogue divides industries into three categories — "encouraged," "restricted," and "prohibited" for foreign investment. Industries not listed in the Catalogue are generally deemed as falling into a fourth category,


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              "permitted." However, industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, are restricted from foreign investment. Among our significant subsidiaries, Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd. are registered in China and mainly engaged in software development, technical services and consultations, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category under the latest Catalogue. These two significant subsidiaries have obtained all material approvals required for their business operations. The Catalogue does not apply to our significant subsidiaries that are registered and domiciled in Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands or the Cayman Islands, and operate outside China. The businesses of our other PRC subsidiaries — including PRC subsidiaries of our significant subsidiaries — are generally software development, technical services and consulting, which fall into the encouraged or permitted category. Industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, are generally restricted to foreign investment pursuant to the latest Catalogue. We conduct business operations that are restricted or prohibited to foreign investment through our variable interest entities.

                     In January 2015, the MOFCOM published a discussion draft of the proposed Foreign Investment Law, which embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. The MOFCOM has completed the solicitation of comments on this discussion draft, but substantial uncertainties exist with respect to its enactment timetable, the final version, interpretation and implementation. For more details, see "Item 3. Key Information — Risks Related to our Corporate Structure — Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable, interpretation and implementation of draft PRC Foreign Investment Law."

                     In addition, on January 12, 2017, the State Council issued the Notice on Several Measures for Expansion of Opening-up Policy and Active Use of Foreign Capital, or the Notice No. 5, which purports to relax restrictions on foreign investment in sectors including service, manufacturing and mining. Specifically, the Notice No. 5 proposes to gradually open up telecommunication, Internet, culture, education and transportation industries to foreign investors. However, there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the implementing rules and regulations of Notice No. 5.

              Regulation of Telecommunications and Internet Information Services

                Regulation of Telecommunication Services

                     Under the Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC, or the Telecommunications Regulations, promulgated on September 25, 2000 by the State Council of the PRC and most recently amended in February 2016, a telecommunication service provider in China must obtain an operating license from the MIIT, or its provincial counterparts. The Telecommunications Regulations categorize all telecommunication services in China as either basic telecommunications services or value-added telecommunications services. Our online and mobile commerce businesses, as well as Youku Tudou's online video businesses, are classified as value-added telecommunications services.

                     Foreign investment in telecommunications businesses is governed by the State Council's Administrative Rules for Foreign Investments in Telecommunications Enterprises, or the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules, issued by the State Council on December 11, 2001 and most recently amended in February 2016, under which a foreign investor's beneficial equity ownership in an entity providing value-added telecommunications services in China is not permitted to exceed 50%. In addition, for a foreign investor to acquire any equity interest in a business providing value-added telecommunications services in China, it must demonstrate a positive track record and experience in providing these services. However, according to the Notice on Lifting the Restriction to Foreign Shareholding Percentage in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (Operational E-commerce) promulgated by the MIIT on June 19, 2015, foreign investors are allowed to hold up to 100% of all equity interest in the online data processing and transaction processing business (operational e-commerce) in China, while other requirements provided by the Foreign Investment Telecommunications Rules shall still apply. It is unclear how this notice will be implemented and there exist high uncertainties with respect to its interpretation


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              and implementation by authorities. The MIIT's Notice Regarding Strengthening Administration of Foreign Investment in Operating Value-Added Telecommunication Businesses, or the MIIT Notice, issued on July 13, 2006 prohibits holders of these services licenses from leasing, transferring or selling their licenses in any form, or providing any resource, sites or facilities, to any foreign investors intending to conduct this type of businesses in China.

                     In addition to restricting dealings with foreign investors, the MIIT Notice contains a number of detailed requirements applicable to holders of value-added telecommunications services licenses, including that license holders or their shareholders must directly own the domain names and trademarks used in their daily operations and each license holder must possess the necessary facilities for its approved business operations and maintain its facilities in the regions covered by its license, including maintaining its network and providing Internet security in accordance with the relevant regulatory standards. The MIIT or its provincial counterparts have the power to require corrective actions after they discover any non-compliance by license holders, and where license holders fail to take those steps, the MIIT or its provincial counterparts have the power to revoke the value-added telecommunications services licenses.

                     On December 28, 2016, the MIIT promulgated the Notice on Regulating Telecommunication Services Agreement Matters, or the Telecommunication Services Agreement Notice, which came into effect on February 1, 2017. According to the Telecommunication Services Agreement Notice, telecommunication service providers must require their users to present valid identification certificates and verify the users' identification information before provision of services. Telecommunication service providers are not permitted to provide services to users with unverifiable identity or who decline identity verification.

                Regulation of Internet Information Services

                     As a subsector of the telecommunications industry, Internet information services are regulated by the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, or the ICP Measures, promulgated on September 25, 2000 by the State Council and amended on January 8, 2011. "Internet information services" are defined as services that provide information to online users through the Internet. Internet information service providers, also called Internet content providers, or ICPs, that provide commercial services are required to obtain an operating license from the MIIT or its provincial counterpart.

                     To the extent the Internet information services provided relate to certain matters, including news, publication, education or medical and healthcare (including pharmaceutical products and medical equipment), approvals must also be obtained from the relevant industry regulators in accordance with the laws, rules and regulations governing those industries.

              Regulation of Advertising Services

                     The principal regulations governing advertising businesses in China are:

                •
                the Advertising Law of the PRC (2015, as amended);

                •
                the Advertising Administrative Regulations (1987);

                •
                the Regulations on Internet Information Search Services (2016); and

                •
                the Interim Measures for Administration of Internet Advertising (2016).

              These laws, rules and regulations require companies such as ours that engage in advertising activities to obtain a business license that explicitly includes advertising in the business scope from the SAIC or its local branches.

                     Applicable PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations contain certain prohibitions on the content of advertisements in China (including prohibitions on misleading content, superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content involving obscenities, superstition, violence, discrimination or infringement of the public interest). Advertisements for anesthetic, psychotropic, toxic or radioactive drugs are prohibited, and the


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              dissemination of advertisements of certain other products, such as tobacco, patented products, pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, agrochemicals, foodstuff, alcohol and cosmetics, are also subject to specific restrictions and requirements.

                     Advertisers, advertising operators and advertising distributors, including the businesses that certain of the variable interest entities operate, are required by applicable PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations to ensure that the content of the advertisements they prepare or distribute are true and in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Violation of these laws, rules and regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the SAIC or its local branches may revoke the violator's license or permit for advertising business operations. In addition, advertisers, advertising operators or advertising distributors may be subject to civil liability if they infringe the legal rights and interests of third parties, such as infringement of intellectual proprietary rights, unauthorized use of a name or portrait and defamation.

                     On June 25, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration promulgated the Administrative Regulations on Internet Information Search Services, or the Internet Search Regulations, which came into effect on August 1, 2016. According to the Internet Search Regulations, Internet search service providers must verify paid-search service customers' qualifications, limit the ratio of paid-search results on each webpage, and clearly distinguish paid-search results from natural search results.

                     The Internet Advertising Measures, which were promulgated by the SAIC on July 4, 2016 and came into effect on September 1, 2016, define Internet advertising as any commercial advertising that directly or indirectly promotes goods or services through websites, webpages, Internet applications and other Internet media in the forms of words, picture, audio, video or others, including promotion through emails, texts, images, video with embedded links and paid-for search results. The Internet Advertising Measures set out, among other things, the following requirements for Internet advertising activities:

                •
                online advertisements for prescription medicine or tobacco are not allowed, while advertisements for special commodities or services such as medical treatment, pharmaceuticals, food for special medical purposes, medical instruments, agrochemicals, veterinary medicine and other health foods must be reviewed by competent authorities before online publication;

                •
                Internet advertisements must be visibly marked as "advertisement," while paid-search results must be obviously distinguished from natural search results; and

                •
                Internet advertisements must not affect users' normal use of the Internet; "pop-up ads" must be clearly marked with a "close" sign and be closable with one click; and no deceptive means may be used to lure users into clicking on advertisements.

                     According to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet information service providers must prevent those advertisements they know or should have known to be illegal from being published through their information services. Furthermore, according to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet advertisers are responsible for the authenticity of the content of Internet advertisements, while Internet advertisement publishers and advertisement agencies are required to verify the identities of Internet advertisers and their qualifications, review the content of Internet advertisement, and employ inspectors who are familiar with PRC laws and regulations governing Internet advertising.


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              Regulation of Online and Mobile Commerce

                     China's online and mobile commerce industry is at an early stage of development and there are few PRC laws, regulations or rules specifically regulating this industry. The SAIC adopted the Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Commodities Trading and Relevant Services on May 31, 2010 and replaced those measures with the Administrative Measures for Online Trading on January 26, 2014, which became effective on March 15, 2014. On December 24, 2014, the MOFCOM promulgated the Provisions on the Procedures for Formulating Transaction Rules of Third Party Online Retail Platforms (Trial) to regulate the formulation, revision and enforcement of transaction rules for online retail marketplace platforms. These measures impose more stringent requirements and obligations on online trading or service operators as well as marketplace platform providers. For example, marketplace platform providers are obligated to make public and file their transaction rules with MOFCOM or their respective provincial counterparts, examine the legal status of each third-party merchant selling products or services on their platforms and display on a prominent location on a merchant's web page the information stated in the merchant's business license or a link to its business license, and group buying website operators must only allow a third-party merchant with a proper business license to sell products or services on their platforms. Where marketplace platform providers also act as online distributors, these marketplace platform providers must make a clear distinction between their online direct sales and sales of third-party merchant products on their marketplace platforms.

                     Since the promulgation of the Administrative Measures for Online Trading, the SAIC has issued a number of guidelines and implementing rules aimed at adding greater specificity to these regulations. The SAIC continues to consider and issue guidelines and implementing rules, and we expect that there will be further development of regulation in this industry. For example, three PRC governmental authorities (the Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs and State Administration of Taxation) issued a notice on March 24, 2016 to regulate cross-border e-commerce trading which has experienced rapid growth in recent years. The New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice, which became effective on April 8, 2016, introduced the concept of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation Goods Inventory, or the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory, which are to be issued and updated by the three authorities together with other relevant authorities from time to time. Goods beyond the scope of the Cross-Border E-commerce Goods Inventory will have no tax codes and be effectively removed from cross-border e-commerce platforms. Two batches of the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory have been issued on April 6, 2016 and April 15, 2016, respectively. Cosmetics imported for the first time, nutrition supplements and other special food products required to be registered with the State Food and Drug Administration are excluded from the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory and will not be able to be sold on the relevant cross-border e-commerce platforms. However, pursuant to a transition policy issued by the General Administration of Customs, goods which have been imported to or in transit to the bonded areas and special regulated areas of customs before April 8, 2016 can still be sold on the cross-border e-commerce platforms no matter whether these goods are included in the Cross-Border E-Commerce Goods Inventory or not. Further, pursuant to the Notice of Relevant Matters on Implementation of New Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Importation Supervision and Administration Requirements, or the New Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Implementation Notice, issued by the General Administration of Customs on May 24, 2016, the implementation of certain provisions of the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice will be suspended until the expiration of a transition period, which will conclude by the end of 2017. According to the New Cross-Border E-Commerce Tax Implementation Notice, the requirement of presenting customs clearance for bonded goods purchased online is suspended in ten cities, and the requirement of presenting first-time import license, registration or filing for online purchased cosmetics imported for the first time, nutrition supplements and other special food products, are suspended until the end of the transition period. Further, according to an official MOFCOM news release issued on March 17, 2017, from January 1, 2018 retail goods imported on cross-border e-commerce platforms will be temporarily treated as personal items which are not subject to stricter regulation and higher tax rates applicable to normal imported goods in 15 cross-border e-commerce trial areas.


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              Regulation of Mobile Applications

                     On June 28, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Services, which came into effect as of August 1, 2016, requiring ICPs who provide information services through mobile Internet applications, or "Apps," to:

                •
                verify the real identities of registered users through mobile phone numbers or other similar channels;

                •
                establish and improve procedures for protection of user information;

                •
                establish and improve procedures for information content censorship;

                •
                ensure that users are given adequate information concerning an App, and are able to choose whether an App is installed and whether or not to use an installed App and its functions;

                •
                respect and protect intellectual property rights; and

                •
                keep records of users' log-in information for 60 days.

              If an ICP who provides information services through Apps violates these regulations, mobile application stores through which the ICP distributes its Apps may issue warnings, suspend the release of its Apps, or terminate the sale of its Apps, and/or report the violations to governmental authorities.

              Regulation of Internet Content

                     The PRC government has promulgated measures relating to Internet content through various ministries and agencies, including the MIIT, the News Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication. In addition to various approval and license requirements, these measures specifically prohibit Internet activities that result in the dissemination of any content which is found to contain pornography, promote gambling or violence, instigate crimes, undermine public morality or the cultural traditions of the PRC or compromise State security or secrets. ICPs must monitor and control the information posted on their websites. If any prohibited content is found, they must remove the content immediately, keep a record of it and report to the relevant authorities. If an ICP violates these measures, the PRC government may impose fines and revoke any relevant business operation licenses.

                Regulations on Broadcasting Audio/Video Programs through the Internet

                     On April 13, 2005, the State Council announced Several Decisions on Investment by Non-state-owned Companies in Culture-related Business in China. These decisions encourage and support non-state-owned companies to enter certain culture-related business in China, subject to restrictions and prohibitions for investment in audio/video broadcasting, website news and certain other businesses by non-state-owned companies. These decisions authorize the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, or the SARFT, the Ministry of Culture and the General Administration of Press and Publication, or the GAPP, to adopt detailed implementing rules according to these decisions.

                     On December 20, 2007, the SARFT and the MIIT jointly issued the Rules for the Administration of Internet Audio and Video Program Services, commonly known as Circular 56, which came into effect on January 31, 2008 and was amended on August 28, 2015. Among other things, Circular 56 requires all online audio/video service providers to be either wholly state-owned or state-controlled. According to relevant official answers to press questions published on the SARFT's website dated February 3, 2008, officials from the SARFT and the MIIT clarified that online audio/video service providers that already had been operating lawfully prior to the issuance of Circular 56 may re-register and continue to operate without becoming state-owned or controlled, provided that the providers have not engaged in any unlawful activities. This exemption will not be granted to online audio/video service providers established after Circular 56 was issued. These policies have been reflected in the Application Procedure for Audio/Video Program Transmission License.


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                     On March 17, 2010, the SARFT issued the Internet Audio/Video Program Services Categories (Provisional), or the Provisional Categories, which classified Internet audio/video programs into four categories. Category I is only open to state-owned broadcast media companies operating in the television section, and the other three categories are open to privately held entities.

                     In 2009, the SARFT released a Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content. This notice reiterated, among other things, that all movies and television shows released or published online must comply with relevant regulations on the administration of radio, film and television. In other words, these movies and television shows, whether produced in the PRC or overseas, must be pre-approved by the SARFT, and the distributors of these movies and television shows must obtain an applicable permit before releasing any of these movie or television shows. In 2012, the SARFT and the State Internet Information Office of the PRC issued a Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films. In 2014, the General Administration of Press and Publication, Radio, Film and Television, or GAPPRFT, formerly the SARFT and the GAPP, released a Supplemental Notice on Improving the Administration of Online Audio/Video Content Including Internet Drama and Micro Films. This notice stresses that entities producing online audio/video content, such as Internet dramas and micro films, must obtain a permit for radio and television program production and operation, and that online audio/video content service providers should not release any Internet dramas or micro films that were produced by any entity lacking the permit. For Internet dramas or micro films produced and uploaded by individual users, the online audio/video service providers transmitting this content will be deemed responsible as the producer. Further, under this notice, online audio/video service providers can only transmit content uploaded by individuals whose identity has been verified and the content must comply with the relevant content management rules. This notice also requires that online audio/video content, include Internet drama and micro films, be filed with the relevant authorities before release.

                     On October 28, 2011, the SARFT issued the Administrative and Operational Requirements for Licensed Internet TV Organizations, commonly known as Circular 181, which came into effect on the same date. Circular 181 requires that Smart TVs must be exclusively connected to a specific licensed Internet TV organization and must not have access to the public Internet or network operators' databases. Up to now, there are only seven licensed Internet TV organizations and all are state-owned companies.

                     On September 2, 2014, the GAPPRFT promulgated a Notice on Further Implementing the Relevant Provisions for the Administration of Broadcasting Foreign Films and TV dramas. The notice stresses that any foreign film or TV drama must have a License for Film Publication or a TV drama Issuance License before being broadcast online, and that the annual total number of foreign films and TV dramas broadcast by a website must not exceed 30% of the total amount of domestic films and TV dramas broadcast by the relevant website in the preceding year. Furthermore, online video operators are required to report their annual plans for the import of foreign films and TV dramas to the GAPPRFT before the end of the preceding year. If the online video operators' import plans are approved, the samples, contracts, copyright certificates, plot summaries and other materials relevant to the foreign films and TV dramas are subject to further content examination before the issuance of Licenses for Film Publication or the TV drama Issuance Licenses. The notice also requires these online video operators to upload information about the foreign films and TV dramas to be broadcast to a unified platform for registration before March 31, 2015. Since April 1, 2015, unregistered foreign films and TV dramas are no longer allowed to be broadcast online.

                     On April 25, 2016, the GAPPRFT promulgated the Administration Measures on Audio/Video Program Services via Special Network and Directional Transmission, or Circular 6, which came into effect on June 1, 2016 and replaced the Rules for the Administration of Broadcasting of Audio/Video Programs through the Internet and Other Information Networks, which was promulgated in July 2004. Pursuant to Circular 6, providers of audio/video program services via special network and directional transmission, including content providing, integrated broadcasting controlling and transmission and delivery, must obtain an audio/video program transmission license, with a term of three years, issued by the GAPPRFT and operate pursuant to the scope as provided in such licenses. Foreign invested US$294 millionenterprises are not allowed to engage in newlythese businesses.


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                Regulations on Internet Publication

                     The GAPPRFT is responsible for nationwide supervision and administration of publishing activities in China. On February 4, 2016, the GAPPRFT and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Online Publication Service Administration Rules, or the Online Publication Rules, which took effect on March 10, 2016 and replaced the Internet Publication Tentative Administrative Measures, which was promulgated in June 2002. Pursuant to the Online Publication Rules, an online publication service provider must obtain the Online Publication Service License from the GAPPRFT. The term "online publication service" is defined as the provision of online publications to the public through information networks. The term "online publications" is defined as digital works characteristic of publishing such as editing, production or processing provided to the public through information networks, and primarily include:

                •
                original digital works such as texts, pictures, maps, games, cartoons and audio-visual reading materials in the fields of literature, art, science, etc., which are of knowledge or ideology;

                •
                digital works, the content of which is the same as that which has already been published, such as books, newspapers, periodicals and electronic publications;

                •
                digital works such as online document databases formed by way of selecting, compiling or collecting the abovementioned works; and

                •
                other types of digital works determined by the GAPPRFT.

                     The Online Publication Rules expressly prohibit foreign invested enterprises from providing online publication services. In addition, if an online publication service provider intends to cooperate for an online publication services project with foreign invested enterprises, overseas organizations or overseas individuals, it must report to the GAPPRFT and obtain an approval in advance. Also, an online publication service provider is prohibited from lending, leasing, selling or otherwise transferring the Online Publication Service License, or to allow any other online information service provider to provide online publication services in its name.

                     Pursuant to the Online Publication Rules, book, audio-visual, electronic, newspaper or periodical publishers who intend to engage in online publication services must have:

                •
                a specific publishing platform, such as domain name and smart terminal application, for conducting online publication business;

                •
                a specific online publication service scope; and

                •
                necessary technical equipment for the provision of online publication services, with the related server and storage equipment located within the territory of the PRC.

                     Other entities which intend to engage in online publication services must have:

                •
                a specific name and articles of association which is not identical to the name of any other publication service provider;

                •
                a legal representative and key responsible persons who shall be a PRC national living permanently in the PRC who has full civil capacity to act, and at least one of these legal representatives or key responsible persons must have a mid-level or higher professional qualification in the field of publication;

                •
                at least eight full-time editing and publishing staff, other than the legal representative and key responsible persons, who have professional qualifications in publishing or other relevant fields recognized by the GAPPRFT and meet the needs of the entity's scope of online publication services, among whom at least three must have mid-level or higher professional qualification;

                •
                a content review system meeting the needs of the provision of online publication services;

                •
                fixed working premises; and

                •
                other items as required by relevant laws, administrative regulations or the GAPPRFT.

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                Regulations on Internet Drug Information Service

                     The State Food and Drug Administration, or the SFDA, promulgated the Administrative Measures on Internet Drug Information Service in July 2004 and certain implementing rules and notices thereafter. These measures set out regulations governing the classification, application, approval, content, qualifications and requirements for Internet drug information services. An ICP service operator that provides information regarding drugs or medical equipment must obtain an Internet Drug Information Service Qualification Certificate from the applicable provincial level counterpart of the SFDA.

                Regulations on Internet News Information Services

                     Publishing and disseminating news through the Internet are highly regulated in the PRC. On November 7, 2000, the State Council Information Office, or SCIO, and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Provisional Measures for Administrating Internet Websites Carrying on the News Publication Business, or Internet News Measures. These measures require an ICP operator (other than a government authorized news unit) to obtain the approval from SCIO to publish news on its website or disseminate news through the Internet. Furthermore, any disseminated news is required to be obtained from government-approved sources based on contracts between the ICP operator and these sources. The copies of these contracts must be filed with relevant government authorities.

                     On September 25, 2005, the SCIO and the MIIT jointly issued preferredthe Provisions on the Administration of Internet News Information Services, requiring Internet news information service organizations to provide services as approved by the SCIO, subject to annual inspection under the new provisions. These Provisions also provide that no foreign invested enterprise, whether jointly or wholly owned by the foreign investment, may be an Internet news information service organization, and no cooperation between Internet news information service organizations and foreign invested enterprises is allowed before the SCIO completes the security evaluation.

                     On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration issued the Administrative Provisions on Internet News Information Services, or the 2017 Internet News Information Provisions, which came into effect on June 1, 2017 and redefine news information as reports and commentary on political, economic, military, diplomatic and other social and public affairs, as well as reports and commentary on emergency social events. Pursuant to the 2017 Internet News Information Provisions, the Cyberspace Administration and its local counterparts replaced the SCIO as the government department in charge of supervision and administration of internet news information. Further, an ICP operator must obtain approval from the Cyberspace Administration in order to provide Internet news information services, including through websites, applications, forums, blogs, microblogs, public accounts, instant messaging tools, and webcasts.

                Regulations on Internet Culture Activities

                     On February 17, 2011, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Internet Culture Administration Tentative Measures, or the Internet Culture Measures. The Internet Culture Measures require ICP operators engaging in "Internet culture activities" to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture. The term "Internet culture activities" includes, among other things, online dissemination of Internet cultural products (such as audio-video products, gaming products, performances of plays or programs, works of art and cartoons) and the production, reproduction, importation, publication and broadcasting of Internet cultural products.

                     On November 20, 2006, the Ministry of Culture issued Several Suggestions of the Ministry of Culture on the Development and Administration of the Internet Music, or the Suggestions, which became effective on November 20, 2006. The Suggestions, among other things, reiterate the requirement for an Internet service provider to obtain an Internet culture business permit to carry on any business relating to Internet music products. In addition, foreign investors are prohibited from operating Internet culture businesses. However, the laws and regulations on Internet music products are still evolving, and there have not been any provisions stipulating whether or how music video will be regulated by the Suggestions.

                     On August 2, 2013, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Notice on Implementing the Administrative Measures for the Content Self-examination of Internet Culture Business Entities. According to this notice, any


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              cultural product or service shall be reviewed by the provider before being released to the public and the review process shall be done by persons who have obtained the relevant content review certificate.

                     On October 23, 2015, the Ministry of Culture promulgated the Notice on Further Strengthening and Improving the Content Review of Online Music, which took effect on January 1, 2016 and stipulated that ICPs shall carry out self-examination in respect of the content management of online music, which shall be regulated by the cultural administration departments in process or afterwards. According to this notice, ICP operators are required to submit their content administrative system, review procedures, and work standards to the provincial culture administrative department where they are located for filing within a prescribed period.

                Regulations on Producing Audio/Video Programs

                     On July 19, 2004, the SARFT promulgated the Administrative Measures on the Production and Operation of Radio and Television Programs, effective as of August 20, 2004 and amended on August 28, 2015. These Measures provide that anyone who wishes to produce or operate radio or television programs must first obtain an operating permit for their business.

                     On February 1, 2002, the State Council promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Films, or the Film Regulations, which became effective on the same day. The Film Regulations set forth the general regulatory guidelines for China's film industry and address practical issues with respect to production, censorship, distribution and screening. They also establish the SARFT as the sector's regulatory authority, and serve as the foundation for all other legislation promulgated in this area. The Film Regulations provide the framework for an industry-wide licensing system operated by the SARFT, under which separate permits (and permit application procedures) apply.

              Regulation of Internet Security

                     The Decision in Relation to Protection of the Internet Security enacted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China on December 28, 2000 provides that the following activities conducted through the Internet are subject to criminal punishment:

                •
                gaining improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance;

                •
                disseminating politically disruptive information or obscenities;

                •
                leaking State secrets;

                •
                spreading false commercial information; or

                •
                infringing intellectual property rights.

                     The Administrative Measures on the Security Protection of Computer Information Network with International Connections, issued by the Ministry of Public Security on December 16, 1997 and amended on January 8, 2011, prohibit the use of the Internet in a manner that would result in the leakage of State secrets or the spread of socially destabilizing content. The Provisions on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, or the Internet Security Protection Measures, promulgated on December 13, 2005 by Ministry of Public Security require all ICPs to keep records of certain information about their users (including user registration information, log-in and log-out time, IP address, content and time of posts by users) for at least 60 days and submit the above information as required by laws and regulations. Under these measures, value-added telecommunications services license holders must regularly update information security and content control systems for their websites and must also report any public dissemination of prohibited content to local public security authorities. If a value-added telecommunications services license holder violates these measures, the Ministry of Public Security and the local security bureaus may revoke its operating license and shut down its websites.

                     The Communication Network Security Protection Administrative Measures, which were promulgated by the MIIT on January 21, 2010, require that all communication network operators, including telecommunications service providers and Internet domain name service providers, divide their own communication networks into units. These communication network units shall be rated in accordance with degree of damage to national security, economic


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              operation, social order and public interest in the event a unit is damaged. Communication network operators must file the division and ratings of their communication network with MIIT or its local counterparts. If a communication network operator violates these measures, the MIIT or its local counterparts may order rectification or impose a fine up to RMB30,000 in case a violation is not duly rectified.

                     Internet security in China is also regulated and restricted from a national security standpoint. On July 1, 2015, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the New National Security Law, which took effect on the same date and replaced the former National Security Law promulgated in 1993. According to the New National Security Law, the state shall ensure that the information system and data in important areas are secure and controllable. In addition, according to the New National Security Law, the state shall establish national security review and supervision institutions and mechanisms, and conduct national security reviews of key technologies and IT products and services that affect or may affect national security. There are uncertainties on how the New National Security Law will be implemented in practice.

                     On November 7, 2016, the National People's Congress Standing Committee promulgated the Cybersecurity Law, which came into effect on June 1, 2017, and apply to the construction, operation, maintenance and use of networks as well as the supervision and administration of cybersecurity in China. The Cybersecurity Law defines "networks" as systems that are composed of computers or other information terminals and relevant facilities used for the purpose of collecting, storing, transmitting, exchanging and processing information in accordance with certain rules and procedures. "Network operators," who are broadly defined as owners and administrator of networks and network service providers, are subject to various security protection related obligations including:

                •
                complying with security protection obligations in accordance with tiered cybersecurity system's protection requirements, which include formulating internal security management rules and manual, appointing cybersecurity responsible personnel, adopting technical measures to prevent computer virus and cybersecurity endangering activities, adopting technical measures to monitor and record network operation status, cybersecurity events, retaining user logs for at least six months and adopting measures such as data classification, key data backup and encryption, for the purpose of securing networks from interference, vandalization, or unauthorized visit and preventing network data from leakage, theft or tampering;

                •
                verifying user's identities before signing agreements or providing services such as network access, domain name registration, landline telephone or mobile phone access, information publishing or real-time communication services;

                •
                formulating cybersecurity emergency response plans, timely handling security risks, initiating emergency response plans, taking appropriate remedial measures and reporting to regulatory authorities; and

                •
                providing technical assistance and support for public security and national security authorities for protection of national security and criminal investigations.

                     According to the Cybersecurity Law, network service providers must inform users about and report to the relevant authorities any known security defects and bugs, and must provide constant security maintenance services for their products and services. Network products and service providers shall not contain or provide malware. Network service providers who do not comply with the Cybersecurity Law may be subject to fines, suspension of their businesses, shutdown of their websites, and revocation of their business licenses.

                     On April 11, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration released the draft Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information and Important Data, or the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, which requires personal information and important data collected by and produced by all network operators during the course of their operations within China to be stored within China. According to the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, self-assessment by network operators or assessment by industrial regulatory authority or the national cyberspace authority under certain circumstances must be completed before transferring personal information or important data overseas.

                     According to the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures, personal information or important data may not be transferred overseas without consent from the concerned individual(s), or if the transfer endangers the interests of


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              individuals, the public or national security. The export of the following data shall be pre-assessed by industrial regulatory authority or the national cyberspace authority:

                •
                personal information of 500,000 individuals or more;

                •
                data with volume of 1,000 gigabytes or more;

                •
                data in relation to nuclear facilities, chemistry and biology, national defense and military, health of the population, mega project activities, ocean environment, and sensitive geographical information;

                •
                network security information involving system bugs and security protection of key information infrastructure;

                •
                personal information and important data provided by key information infrastructure operators; and

                •
                other data that may affect national security and societal public interests, and considered by the industrial administration authority or regulatory authority necessary to be subject to their assessment.

                     The Cyberspace Administration will complete the solicitation of comments on the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures in May 2017, and there are still substantial uncertainties with respect to its final content and enactment timetable.

                     On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration issued the Measures for Security Review of Cyber Products and Services, or the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2017. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, the following cyber products and services will be subject to cybersecurity review:

                •
                important cyber products and services purchased by networks and information systems related to national security; and

                •
                the purchase of cyber products and services by operators of critical information infrastructure in important industries and fields such as public communications and information services, energy, transportation, water resources, finance, public service and electronic administration, and other critical information infrastructure, which may affect national security.

                     The Cyberspace Administration is responsible for organizing and implementing cybersecurity review, while the competent departments in key industries such as finance, telecommunications, energy and transport shall be responsible for organizing and implementing security review of cyber products and services in their respective industries or fields. There are still substantial uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Cybersecurity Review Measures.

              Regulation of Privacy Protection

                     Under the ICP Measures, ICPs are prohibited from producing, copying, publishing or distributing information that is humiliating or defamatory to others or that infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of others. Depending on the nature of the violation, ICPs may face criminal charges or sanctions by PRC security authorities for these acts, and may be ordered to suspend temporarily their services or have their licenses revoked.

                     Under the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, issued by the MIIT on December 29, 2011, ICPs are also prohibited from collecting any personal user information or providing any information to third parties without the consent of the user. The Cybersecurity Law provides an exception to the consent requirement where the information is anonymous, not personally identifiable and unrecoverable. ICPs must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of user personal information and may only collect information necessary for its services. ICPs are also required to properly maintain the user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of the user personal information, ICPs must take remedial measures immediately and report any material leak to the telecommunications regulatory authority.

                     In addition, the Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on December 28, 2012 emphasizes the need to protect electronic


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              information that contains individual identification information and other private data. The decision requires ICPs to establish and publish policies regarding the collection and use of personal electronic information and to take necessary measures to ensure the security of the information and to prevent leakage, damage or loss. Furthermore, MIIT's Rules on Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users promulgated on July 16, 2013 contain detailed requirements on the use and collection of personal information as well as the security measures to be taken by ICPs.

                     The PRC government retains the power and authority to order ICPs to provide an Internet user's personal information if a user posts any prohibited content or engages in any illegal activities through the Internet.

                     According to the Cybersecurity Law, individuals may request that network operators make corrections to or delete their personal information in case the information is wrong or was collected or used beyond an individuals' agreement with network operators.

              Regulation of Consumer Protection

                     Our online and mobile commerce business is subject to a variety of consumer protection laws, including the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, as amended and effective as of March 15, 2014, and the Administrative Measures for Online Trading, both of which have provided stringent requirements and obligations on business operators, including Internet business operators and platform service providers like us. For example, consumers are entitled to return goods purchased online, subject to certain exceptions, within seven days upon receipt of goods for no reason. On January 6, 2017, the SAIC issued the Interim Measures for No Reason Return of Online Purchased Commodities within Seven Days, which came into effect on March 15, 2017, further clarifying the scope of consumers' rights to make returns without a reason, including exceptions, return procedures and online marketplace platform providers' responsibility to formulate seven-day no-reason return rules and related consumer protection systems, and supervise the merchants for compliance with these rules. To ensure that merchants and service providers comply with these laws and regulations, we, as platform operators, are required to implement rules governing transactions on our platform, monitor the information posted by merchants and service providers, and report any violations by merchants or service providers to the relevant authorities. In addition, online marketplace platform providers may, pursuant to PRC consumer protection laws, be exposed to liabilities if the lawful rights and interests of consumers are infringed in connection with consumers' purchase of goods or acceptance of services on online marketplace platforms and the platform service providers fail to provide consumers with the contact information of the merchant or manufacturer. In addition, platform service providers may be jointly and severally liable with merchants and manufacturers if they are aware or should be aware that the merchant or manufacturer is using the online platform to infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of consumers and fail to take measures necessary to prevent or stop this activity.

                     Failure to comply with these consumer protection laws could subject us to administrative sanctions, such as the issuance of a warning, confiscation of illegal income, imposition of a fine, an order to cease business operations, revocation of business licenses, as well as potential civil or criminal liabilities.

              Regulation of Pricing

                     In China, the prices of a very small number of products and services are guided or fixed by the government. According to the Pricing Law, business operators must, as required by the government departments in charge of pricing, mark the prices explicitly and indicate the name, production origin, specifications, and other related particulars clearly. Business operators may not sell products at a premium or charge any fees that are not explicitly indicated. Business operators must not commit the specified unlawful pricing activities, such as colluding with others to manipulate the market price, providing fraudulent discounted price information, using false or misleading prices to deceive consumers to transact, or conducting price discrimination against other business operators. Failure to comply with the Pricing Law or other rules or regulations on pricing may subject business operators to administrative sanctions such as warning, orders to cease unlawful activities, payment of compensation to consumers, confiscation of illegal gains, and/or fines. The business operators may be ordered to suspend business for rectification, or have their business licenses revoked if the circumstances are severe. Merchants on Tmall and


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              Taobao Marketplace undertake the primary obligation under the Pricing Law. However, in some cases, we have been and may in the future be held liable and be subject to fines or other penalties if the authorities determine that, as the platform operator, our guidance for platform-wide promotional activities resulted in unlawful pricing activities by the merchants on our platforms or if the pricing information we provided for platform-wide promotional activities was determined to be untrue or misleading.

              Regulation of Intellectual Property Rights

                     Patent.    Patents in the PRC are principally protected under the Patent Law of the PRC. The duration of a patent right is either 10 years or 20 years from the date of application, depending on the type of patent right.

                     Copyright.    Copyright in the PRC, including copyrighted software, is principally protected under the Copyright Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Under the Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.

                     Trademark.    Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Trademarks are registered with the Trademark Office of the SAIC. Where registration is sought for a trademark that is identical or similar to another trademark which has already been registered or given preliminary examination and approval for use in the same or similar category of commodities or services, the application for registration of this trademark may be rejected. Trademark registrations are effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked.

                     Domain Name.    Domain name registrations are handled through domain name service agencies established under the relevant regulations, and applicants become domain name holders upon successful registration.

              Regulation of Anti-counterfeiting

                     According to the Trademark Law of the PRC, counterfeit or unauthorized production of the label of another person's registered trademark, or sale of any label that is counterfeited or produced without authorization will be deemed as an infringement of the exclusive right to use a registered trademark. The infringing party will be ordered to cease infringement immediately, a fine may be imposed and the counterfeit goods will be confiscated. The infringing party may also be held liable for damages suffered by the owner of the intellectual property rights, which will be equal to the gains obtained by the infringing party or the losses suffered by the owner as a result of the infringement, including reasonable expenses incurred by the owner in connection with enforcing its rights.

                     Under the Tort Liability Law of the PRC, an Internet service provider may be subject to joint liability if it is aware that an Internet user is infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others through its Internet services, such as selling counterfeit products, and fails to take necessary measures to stop that activity. If an Internet service provider receives a notice from an infringed party regarding an infringement, the Internet service provider is required to take certain measures, including deleting, blocking and unlinking the infringing content, in a timely manner.

                     In addition, under the Administrative Measures for Online Trading issued by the SAIC on January 26, 2014, as an operator of an online trading platform, we must adopt measures to ensure safe online transactions, protect consumers' rights and prevent trademark infringement.

              Tax Regulations

                PRC Enterprise Income Tax

                     The PRC enterprise income tax, or EIT, is calculated based on the taxable income determined under the applicable EIT Law and its implementation rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and were most recently amended on February 24, 2017. The EIT Law generally imposes a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25% on all resident enterprises in China, including foreign-invested enterprises.


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                     The EIT Law and its implementation rules permit certain High and New Technologies Enterprises, or HNTEs, to enjoy a reduced 15% enterprise income tax rate subject to these HNTEs meeting certain qualification criteria. In addition, the relevant EIT laws and regulations also provide that entities recognized as Software Enterprises are able to enjoy a tax holiday consisting of a 2-year-exemption commencing from their first profitable calendar year and a 50% reduction in ordinary tax rate for the following three calendar years, while entities qualified as Key Software Enterprises can enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 10%. A number of our PRC subsidiaries and operating entities enjoy these types of preferential tax treatment. See "Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — People's Republic of China Taxation."

                     Uncertainties exist with respect to how the EIT Law applies to the tax residence status of Alibaba Group and our offshore subsidiaries. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a "de facto management body" within China is considered a "resident enterprise," which means that it is treated in the same manner as a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define "de facto management body" as a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in Circular 82 issued by the State Administration of Taxation, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although Alibaba Group Holding Limited does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of Circular 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in Circular 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of Alibaba Group and our subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.

                     According to Circular 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a "de facto management body" in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met:

                •
                the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC;

                •
                decisions relating to the enterprise's financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC;

                •
                the enterprise's primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholders meeting minutes are located or maintained in the PRC; and

                •
                50% or more of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.

                     We do not believe that we meet any of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. Alibaba Group Holding Limited and our offshore subsidiaries are incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, our key assets and records, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that have been deemed a PRC "resident enterprise" by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that Alibaba Group Holding Limited and our offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a "resident enterprise" for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for "de facto management body" as set forth in Circular 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body" as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income."


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                     In the event that Alibaba Group Holding Limited or any of our offshore subsidiaries is considered to be a PRC resident enterprise:

                •
                Alibaba Group Holding Limited or our offshore subsidiaries, as the case may be, may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income;

                •
                dividend income that Alibaba Group Holding Limited or our offshore subsidiaries, as the case may be, received from our PRC subsidiaries may be exempt from the PRC withholding tax; and

                •
                dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident enterprises as well as gains realized by these shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties, and similarly, dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident individuals, as well as gains realized by these shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs, may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 20%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties.

                     Under Bulletin 7 issued by the State Administration of Taxation on February 3, 2015, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under Circular 698, an "indirect transfer" of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if the arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from an indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax. According to Bulletin 7, "PRC taxable assets" include assets attributed to an establishment or a place of business in China, immoveable properties in China, and equity investments in PRC resident enterprises. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the relevant gain is to be regarded as effectively connected with the PRC establishment or a place of business and therefore included in its enterprise income tax filing, and would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties in China or to equity investments in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not effectively connected to a PRC establishment or a place of business of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the transfer payments has the withholding obligation. There is uncertainty as to the implementation details of Bulletin 7. If Bulletin 7 was determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to some of our transactions involving PRC taxable assets, our offshore subsidiaries conducting the relevant transactions might be required to spend valuable resources to comply with Bulletin 7 or to establish that the relevant transactions should not be taxed under Bulletin 7, which may materially and adversely affect us. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises or other assets attributed to a PRC establishment of a non-PRC company."

                     Where the payers fail to withhold any or sufficient tax, the non-PRC residents, as the transferors, are required to declare and pay the taxes to the tax authorities on their own within the statutory time limit. Failure to comply with the tax payment obligations by the non-PRC residents will result in penalties, including full payment of taxes owed, and interest on those taxes.

                PRC Business Tax and Value-Added Tax

                     Before August 2013 and pursuant to applicable PRC tax regulations, any entity or individual conducting business in the service industry is generally required to pay a business tax at the rate of 5% on the revenues generated from providing services. However, if the services provided are related to technology development and transfer, the business tax may be exempted subject to approval by the relevant tax authorities.

                     In November 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax. In May and December 2013, April 2014 and


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              March 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgated Circular 37, Circular 106, Circular 43 and Circular 36 to further expand the scope of services which are to be subject to Value-Added Tax, or VAT, instead of business tax. Pursuant to these tax rules, from August 1, 2013, a VAT was imposed to replace the business tax in certain service industries, including technology services and advertising services, and from May 1, 2016, VAT replaced business tax in all industries, on a nationwide basis. A VAT rate of 6% applies to revenue derived from the provision of certain services. Unlike business tax, a taxpayer is allowed to offset the qualified input VAT paid on taxable purchases against the output VAT chargeable on the revenue from services provided. Accordingly, although the 6% VAT rate is higher than the previously applicable 5% business tax rate, no materially different tax cost to us has resulted nor do we expect one to result from the replacement of the business tax with a VAT on our services.

                PRC Import Tax

                     Consumer goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms were originally classified as "personal baggage or postal articles" under the Notice on Pilot Bonded Area Import Pattern of Cross-Border Trade E-Commerce Services issued by PRC General Administration of Customs on March 4, 2014. A personal baggage or postal articles tax was levied on these goods before the online retailors could deliver the same to buyers. The personal baggage or postal articles tax were exempted if the payable amount was lower than RMB50. The rate of personal baggage or postal articles tax was respectively 10%, 20%, 30% and 50% for different categories of products imported. Under this tax pattern, a quota of RMB1,000 for each purchase order was imposed on online buyers, otherwise the imported goods were classified as normal goods, which are subject to value-added tax, consumption tax and tariff.

                     The above-mentioned pilot bonded area import pattern of cross-border e-commerce was abolished pursuant to the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice. The goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms are now treated as normal goods rather than "personal baggage or postal articles" and subject to the usual value-added tax, consumption tax and tariff. Normally, a 17% value-added tax will be levied on most products sold on the cross-border e-commerce platform and a 15% consumption tax will be levied on high-end cosmetics, while no consumption tax will be levied on skin care products, maternity and baby care products. However, the New Cross-Border E-commerce Tax Notice provides that, if the goods imported through cross-border e-commerce platforms are within the quota of RMB2,000 for each purchase order or RMB20,000 per year for each buyer, the payable amount for the value-added tax and the consumption tax will be reduced to 70% of the payable tax, and the tariff will be waived.

                PRC Export Tax

                     According to the Notice on the Taxation Policies for Cross-border E-Commerce Retail Export, or the E-Commerce Export Taxation Notice, which was jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation and took effect as of January 1, 2014, an e-commerce export enterprise may be exempt or refunded from consumption tax and VAT upon satisfaction of the following conditions:

                •
                it is a general VAT taxpayer, and has been granted the export tax refund/exemption eligibility;

                •
                the customs export declarations (specifically for export tax refund) for exported goods have been obtained and information thereon is consistent with the electronic information of the customs export declarations;

                •
                the foreign exchange for the exported goods is received prior to the deadline of tax refund or tax exemption; and

                •
                where the e-commerce export enterprise is a foreign trade enterprise, it must have obtained corresponding special VAT invoices, special payment statements for consumption tax (split pages) or special customs statements for payment of import VAT or consumption tax for purchase of the goods for export, and relevant information on the foregoing documents shall be consistent with that contained in the customs export declarations (specifically for export tax refunds).

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                     Even if an e-commerce export enterprise does not satisfy the foregoing conditions, it may also be exempt from consumption tax and VAT if it meets the following requirements:

                •
                it has completed tax registration;

                •
                it has obtained customs export declarations for the exported goods; and

                •
                it has obtained legal and valid proof for purchase of the exported goods.

                     Third-party e-commerce platforms providing transaction services for e-commerce export enterprises are not eligible for a tax refund or exemption under the E-Commerce Export Taxation Notice.

              Regulation of Foreign Exchange and Dividend Distribution

                Foreign Exchange Regulation

                     The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of the PRC. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, may be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans or foreign currency is to be remitted into China under the capital account, such as a capital increase or foreign currency loans to our PRC subsidiaries.

                     In August 2008, SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency-registered capital into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. In addition, SAFE promulgated Circular 45 on November 9, 2011 in order to clarify the application of SAFE Circular 142. Under SAFE Circular 142 and Circular 45, the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable government authority and may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of foreign-invested enterprises. The use of RMB capital may not be changed without SAFE's approval, and RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used.

                     Since SAFE Circular 142 has been in place for more than five years, SAFE decided to further reform the foreign exchange administration system in order to satisfy and facilitate the business and capital operations of foreign invested enterprises, and issued the Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning the Launch of Reforming Trial of the Administration Model of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises in Certain Areas on August 4, 2014. This circular suspends the application of SAFE Circular 142 in certain areas and allows a foreign-invested enterprise registered in these areas with a business scope including "investment" to use the RMB capital converted from foreign currency registered capital for equity investments within the PRC. On April 9, 2015, SAFE released the Notice on the Reform of the Administration Method for the Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which came into force and superseded SAFE Circular 142 on June 1, 2015. Circular 19 allows foreign invested enterprises to settle their foreign exchange capital on a discretionary basis according to the actual needs of their business operation and provides the procedures for foreign invested companies to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investment. Nevertheless, Circular 19 also reiterates the principle that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope.

                     In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign Direct Investment, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange


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              accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration and banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information provided by SAFE and its branches. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Simplifying and Improving the Policies of Foreign Exchange Administration Applicable to Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Circular 13, the current foreign exchange procedures will be further simplified, and foreign exchange registrations of direct investment will be handled by the banks designated by the foreign exchange authority instead of SAFE and its branches. However, the foreign invested enterprises were still prohibited by SAFE Circular 13 to use the RMB converted from foreign currency-registered capital to extend entrustment loans, repay bank loans or inter-company loans.

                     On June 19, 2016, SAFE issued the Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or Circular 16, which took effect on the same day. Compared to Circular 19, Circular 16 provides that discretionary foreign exchange settlement applies to foreign exchange capital, foreign debt offering proceeds and remitted foreign listing proceeds, and the corresponding Renminbi obtained from foreign exchange settlement are not restricted from extending loans to related parties or repaying the inter-company loans (including advances by third parties). However, since Circular 16 came into effect recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation in practice.

                 ��   On January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness and Compliance Verification, or Circular 3, which took effect on the same day. Circular 3 sets out various measures, including the following:

                •
                relaxing the policy restriction on foreign exchange inflow to further enhance trade and investment facilitation, including:

                o
                expanding the scope of foreign exchange settlement for domestic foreign exchange loans,

                o
                allowing the capital repatriation for offshore financing against domestic guarantee,

                o
                facilitating the centralized management of foreign exchange funds of multinational companies, and

                o
                allowing offshore institutions within pilot free trade zones to settle foreign exchange in domestic foreign exchange accounts; and

                •
                tightening genuineness and compliance verification of cross-border transactions and cross-border capital flow, including:

                o
                improving the statistics of current account foreign currency earnings deposited offshore,

                o
                requiring banks to verify board resolutions, tax filing form, and audited financial statements before wiring foreign invested enterprises' foreign exchange distribution above US$50,000,

                o
                strengthening genuineness and compliance verification of foreign direct investments, and

                o
                implementing full scale management of offshore loans in Renminbi and foreign currencies by requiring the total amount of offshore loans be no higher than 30% of the onshore lender's equity shown on its audited financial statements of the last year.

                     We typically do not need to use our offshore foreign currency to fund our PRC operations. In the event we need to do so, we will apply to obtain the relevant approvals of SAFE and other PRC government authorities as


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              necessary. Our PRC subsidiaries' distributions to their offshore parents and our cross-border foreign exchange activities are required to comply with the various requirements as described above.

                SAFE Circular 37

                     SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents' Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as "SAFE Circular 75" promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with their legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a "special purpose vehicle." SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls. On February 13, 2015, SAFE released SAFE Circular 13, under which local banks will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration, from June 1, 2015. There exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by governmental authorities and banks.

                     We have notified substantial beneficial owners of ordinary shares who we know are PRC residents of AutoNavi, representing approximately 28%their filing obligation, and we have periodically filed SAFE Circular 75 reports prior to the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37, on behalf of certain employee shareholders whom we know are PRC residents. However, we may not be aware of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. In addition, we do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 may subject these beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Failure to register or amend the registration may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries or receive dividends or other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries or other proceeds from disposal of our PRC subsidiaries, or we may be penalized by SAFE.

                Share option rules

                     Under the Administration Measures on Individual Foreign Exchange Control issued by the PBOC on December 25, 2006, all foreign exchange matters involved in employee share ownership plans and share option plans in which PRC citizens participate require approval from SAFE or its authorized branch. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in share incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies may submit applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose companies. In addition, under the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, or the Share Option Rules, issued by SAFE on February 15, 2012, PRC residents who are granted shares or share options by companies listed on overseas stock exchanges under share incentive plans are required to (i) register with SAFE or its local branches, (ii) retain a qualified PRC agent, which may be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas listed company or another qualified institution selected by the PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the share incentive plans on behalf of the participants, and (iii) retain an overseas institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of share options, purchase and sale of shares or interests and funds transfers.


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                Regulation of dividend distribution

                     The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividend distribution by foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are the Company Law of the PRC, as amended, the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law and its implementation regulations and the Chinese-foreign Equity Joint Venture Law and its implementation regulations. Under these laws, rules and regulations, foreign-invested enterprises may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profit, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Both PRC domestic companies and wholly-foreign owned PRC enterprises are required to set aside as general reserves at least 10% of their after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of their reserves reaches 50% of their registered capital. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.

              Labor Laws and Social Insurance

                     Pursuant to the PRC Labor Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees. All employers must comply with local minimum wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor Contract Law and the PRC Labor Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative and criminal liability in the case of serious violations.

                     In addition, according to the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Funds, employers in China must provide employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing funds.

              Anti-monopoly Law

                     The PRC Anti-monopoly Law, which took effect on August 1, 2008, prohibits monopolistic conduct, such as entering into monopoly agreements, abuse of dominant market position and concentration of undertakings that have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition.

                Monopoly Agreement

                     Competing business operators may not enter into monopoly agreements that eliminate or restrict competition, such as by boycotting transactions, fixing or changing the price of commodities, limiting the output of commodities, fixing the price of commodities for resale to third parties, among others, unless the agreement will satisfy the exemptions under the Anti-monopoly Law, such as improving technologies, increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of small and medium-sized undertakings, or safeguarding legitimate interests in cross-border trade and economic cooperation with foreign counterparts. Sanctions for violations include an order to cease the relevant activities, and confiscation of illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year, or RMB500,000 if the intended monopoly agreement has not been performed).

                Abuse of Dominant Market Position

                     A business operator with a dominant market position may not abuse its dominant market position to conduct acts, such as selling commodities at unfairly high prices or buying commodities at unfairly low prices, selling products at prices below cost without any justifiable cause, and refusing to trade with a trading party without any justifiable cause. Sanctions for violation of the prohibition on the abuse of dominant market position include an order to cease the relevant activities, confiscation of the illegal gains and fines (from 1% to 10% of sales revenue from the previous year).

                Concentration of Undertakings

                     Where a concentration of undertakings reaches the declaration threshold stipulated by the State Council, a declaration must be approved by the anti-monopoly authority before the parties implement the concentration.


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              Concentration refers to (1) a merger of undertakings; (2) acquiring control over other undertakings by acquiring equities or assets; or (3) acquisition of control over, or the possibility of exercising decisive influence on, an undertaking by contract or by any other means. If business operators fail to comply with the mandatory declaration requirement, the anti-monopoly authority is empowered to terminate and/or unwind the transaction, dispose of relevant assets, shares or businesses within certain periods and impose fines of up to RMB500,000.

                     See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We may become the target of anti-monopoly and unfair competition claims, which may result in our being subject to fines as well as constraints on our business."

              Anti-Terrorism Law

                     The PRC Anti-Terrorism Law, which was promulgated on December 27, 2015 and came into effect on January 1, 2016, imposes obligations on telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers to provide technical interfaces and technical assistance in decryption and other efforts to public and national security authorities in terrorism prevention and investigation. Also, the Anti-Terrorism Law requires Internet service providers to implement network security and information and content monitoring systems and adopt technical security measures to prevent the dissemination of information containing terrorist or extremist content. Once content of this type is detected, Internet service providers shall cease the transmission of the information, keep the relevant records, delete the information and report to public and national security bodies. In addition, the Anti-Terrorism Law requires telecommunication business operators and Internet service providers to verify the identity of their clients, and to not provide services to anyone whose identity is unclear or who declines to verify his/her identity. However, the Anti-Terrorism Law does not further specify the required verification measures. Since the Anti-Terrorism Law was promulgated recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation by governmental authorities.

              Regulation Applicable to Alipay

                Regulation of Non-financial Institution Payment Services

                     According to the Administrative Measures for the Payment Services Provided by Non-financial Institutions, or the Payment Services Measures, promulgated by the PBOC on June 14, 2010 and effective as of September 1, 2010, a payment institution, a non-financial institution providing monetary transfer services as an intermediary between payees and payers, including online payment, issuance and acceptance of prepaid cards or bank cards, and other payment services specified by the PBOC, is required to obtain a payment business license. Any non-financial institution or individual engaged in the payment business without this license may be ordered to cease its payment services and be subject to administrative sanctions and even criminal liabilities. Applications for payment business licenses are examined by the local branches of the PBOC and then submitted to the PBOC for approval. The registered capital of an applicant that engages in a nationwide payment business must be at least RMB100 million, while that of an applicant engaging in a payment business within a province must be at least RMB30 million.

                     A payment institution is required to conduct its business within the scope of business indicated in its payment business license, and may not undertake any business beyond that scope or outsource its payment business. No payment institution may transfer, lease or lend its payment business license.

                     On January 20, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Guiding Opinions on the Pilot Services of Cross-Border Foreign Exchange Payment by Payment Institutions, or the Guiding Opinions, which replaced the previous guiding opinion issued by SAFE on February 1, 2013. Pursuant to the Guiding Opinions, a payment institution is required to obtain approval from the SAFE in order to engage in pilot cross-border foreign exchange payment services and may only provide cross-border foreign exchange payment services for trade in goods or trade in services with real and legitimate transaction background. The payment institution must also verify the real names and identity information of the customers involved in the cross-border transactions, maintain records of the relevant transactions and make monthly reports to the local branch of the SAFE.


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                     In addition, on December 28, 2015, the PBOC promulgated the Administrative Measures for the Online Payment Business of Non-bank Payment Institutions, or the Online Payment Measures, which came into effect on July 1, 2016. The Online Payment Measures require online payment institutions to conduct "know your client" checks and implement the real name system for payment accounts. The Online Payment Measures classify online payment accounts into three categories and require online payment institutions to impose real-name based, classified management, including imposing limits on annual payment volume with respect to different categories of online payment accounts. In addition, a payment account can only be opened by a payment institution with Internet payment business license at the request of customers.

                     On January 13, 2017, the PBOC issued the Notice on Matters Related to Implementation of Centralized Custody of Clients' Reserve Funds of Payment Institutions, which requires that from April 17, 2017, payment institutions transfer a portion of customer reserve funds to a specifically designated bank account upon the request of the PBOC and that no interest shall accrue upon the transferred customer reserve funds.

                     We rely on Alipay to provide payment services on our marketplaces and Alipay has obtained a payment business license from the PBOC as well as approval for cross-border foreign exchange payment services from the SAFE.

                Anti-money Laundering Regulations

                     The PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, which became effective on January 1, 2007, sets forth the principal anti-money laundering requirements applicable to both financial and non-financial institutions with anti-money laundering obligations, such as Alipay, including the adoption of precautionary and supervisory measures, establishment of various systems for client identification, preservation of clients' identification information and transactions records, and reports on block transactions and suspicious transactions. The Payment Services Measures also require that the payment institution follow the rules associated with anti-money laundering and comply with their anti-money laundering obligations.

                     In addition, the PBOC promulgated the Administrative Measures for Payment Institutions Regarding Anti-money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing on March 5, 2012, or the Anti-money Laundering Measures, according to which the payment institution must establish and improve unified anti-money laundering internal control systems and file their systems with the local branch of the PBOC. The Anti-money Laundering Measures also require the payment institution to set up an anti-money laundering department or designate an internal department to be responsible for anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing work.

                     Alipay is in the process of expanding its business internationally, and it may become subject to additional laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it chooses to operate. These regulatory regimes may be complex and require extensive time and resources to ensure compliance.

                Disclosure of Iranian Activities under Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act

                     Section 219 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 added Section 13(r) to the Exchange Act. Section 13(r) requires an issuer to disclose in its annual or quarterly reports, as applicable, whether it or any of its totalaffiliates knowingly engaged in certain activities, including, among other matters, transactions or dealings relating to the government of Iran. Disclosure is required even where the activities, transactions or dealings are conducted outside the U.S. by non-U.S. affiliates in compliance with applicable law, and whether or not the activities are sanctionable under U.S. law.

                     During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp., one of our major shareholders, through one of its non-U.S. subsidiaries, provided roaming services in Iran through Telecommunications Services Company (MTN Irancell), which is or may be a government-controlled entity. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp. had no gross revenues from these services and no net profit was generated. This subsidiary also provided telecommunications services in the ordinary course of business to accounts affiliated with the Embassy of Iran in Japan. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp. estimates that


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              gross revenues and net profit generated by these services were both under US$9,400. In addition, during the year end of March 31, 2017, SoftBank Group Corp., through one of its non-U.S. indirect subsidiaries, provided office supplies to the Embassy of Iran in Japan. SoftBank Group Corp. estimates that gross revenue and net profit generated by these services were under US$5,300 and US$1,030, respectively. These activities have been conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and they are not sanctionable under U.S. or Japanese law. Accordingly, with respect to Telecommunications Services Company (MTN Irancell), the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. intends to continue these activities. With respect to services provided to accounts affiliated with the Embassy of Iran in Japan, the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. is obligated under contract to continue these services. With respect to the provision of office supplies to the Embassy of Iran in Japan, the relevant subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp. intends to continue these activities. We were not involved in, and did not receive any revenue from, any of these activities by SoftBank.

              C.    Organizational Structure

                     We conduct our business operations across approximately 630 subsidiaries and other consolidated entities. The chart below summarizes our corporate legal structure and identifies the significant subsidiaries described in "— A. History and Development of the Company," as well as our other subsidiaries and variable interest entities that are material to our business and the number of their respective subsidiaries, as of March 31, 2017:

              GRAPHIC

              (1)
              Includes approximately 130 subsidiaries and consolidated entities incorporated in China and approximately 230 subsidiaries incorporated in other jurisdictions. In addition, the entities pictured in this chart hold, directly and indirectly, an aggregate of approximately 160 additional subsidiaries and consolidated entities incorporated in China and approximately 100 additional subsidiaries incorporated outside of China not pictured in the chart.
              (2)
              The principal holding company for our strategic investments, including Youku Tudou.
              (3)
              Primarily involved in the operation of Taobao Marketplace.
              (4)
              Primarily involved in the operation of Tmall and Juhuasuan.
              (5)
              Primarily involved in the operation of Alimama.
              (6)
              Primarily involved in the operation of Alibaba.com, 1688.com and AliExpress.
              (7)
              Primarily involved in the operation of cloud computing services.

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              (8)
              Each of these variable interest entities is 80%-owned by Jack Ma and 20%-owned by Simon Xie, other than Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., which is 90%-owned by Jack Ma and 10%-owned by Simon Xie.

              Contractual Arrangements among Our Wholly-foreign Owned Enterprises, Variable Interest Entities and the Variable Interest Entity Equity Holders

                     Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in, among other areas, value-added telecommunications services, which include the operations of Internet content providers, or ICPs, we, similar to all other entities with foreign-incorporated holding company structures operating in our industry in China, operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited in the PRC through wholly-foreign owned enterprises, majority-owned entities and variable interest entities. The relevant variable interest entities, which are incorporated in the PRC and 100% owned by PRC citizens or by PRC entities owned by PRC citizens, where applicable, hold the ICP licenses and other regulated licenses and operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited. Specifically, our variable interest entities that are material to our business are Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tmall Network Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Alibaba Advertising Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Ali Technology Co., Ltd. and Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd. Each of these variable interest entities other than Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. is 80%-owned by Jack Ma, our lead founder, executive chairman and one of our principal shareholders, and 20%-owned by Simon Xie, one of our founders. Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd. is 90%-owned by Jack Ma and 10%-owned by Simon Xie. We have entered into certain contractual arrangements, as described in more detail below, which collectively enable us to exercise effective control over the variable interest entities and realize substantially all of the economic risks and benefits arising from, the variable interest entities. As a result, we include the financial results of each of the variable interest entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP as if they were our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

                     Other than the ICP licenses and other licenses and approvals for businesses in which foreign ownership is restricted or prohibited held by our variable interest entities, we hold our material assets in, and conduct our material operations through, our wholly-foreign owned and majority-owned enterprises, which primarily provide technology and other services to our customers. We generate the significant majority of our revenue directly through our wholly-foreign owned enterprises, which directly capture the profits and associated cash flow from operations without having to rely on contractual arrangements to transfer cash flow from the variable interest entities to the wholly-foreign owned enterprises.


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                     The following diagram is a simplified illustration of the ownership structure and contractual arrangements that we typically have in place for our variable interest entities:

              GRAPHIC

                     The following is a summary of the common contractual arrangements that provide us with effective control of our material variable interest entities and that enable us to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from their operations.

              Contracts that Give Us Effective Control of the Variable Interest Entities

                     Loan agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant loan agreement, the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise has granted an interest-free loan to the relevant variable interest entity equity holders, which may only be used for the purpose of a capital contribution to the relevant variable interest entity or as may be otherwise agreed by the wholly-foreign owned enterprise. The wholly-foreign owned enterprise may require acceleration of repayment at its absolute discretion. When the variable interest entity equity holders make early repayment of the outstanding sharesamount, the wholly-foreign owned enterprise or a third-party designated by it may purchase the equity interests in the variable interest entity at a price equal to the outstanding amount of the loan, subject to any applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. The variable interest entity equity holders undertake not to enter into any prohibited transactions in relation to the variable interest entity, including the transfer of any business, material assets, intellectual property rights or equity interests in the variable interest entity to any third-party. The parties to the loan agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie on a fully-diluted basis. In July 2014, wethe one hand, and Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd., Alibaba (China) Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Alimama Technology Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Alibaba Cloud Computing Ltd., the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise on the other hand.

                     Exclusive call option agreements.    The variable interest entity equity holders have granted the wholly-foreign owned enterprise an exclusive call option to purchase their equity interest in the variable interest entity at an exercise price equal to the higher of (i) the registered capital in the variable interest entity; and (ii) the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC laws. Each relevant variable interest entity has further granted the relevant wholly-foreign owned enterprise an exclusive call option to purchase its assets at an exercise price equal to the book value of the assets or the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC law, whichever is higher. The wholly-foreign owned enterprise may nominate another entity or individual to purchase the equity interest or assets, if applicable, under the call options. Each call option is exercisable subject to the condition that applicable


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              PRC laws, rules and regulations do not prohibit completion of the transfer of the equity interest or assets pursuant to the call option. Each wholly-foreign owned enterprise is entitled to all dividends and other distributions declared by the variable interest entity, and the variable interest entity equity holders have agreed to give up their rights to receive any distributions or proceeds from the disposal of their equity interests in the variable interest entity which are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the variable interest entity, and to pay any distributions or premium to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise. The exclusive call option agreements remain in effect until the equity interest or assets that are the subject of these agreements are transferred to the wholly foreign owned enterprise. The parties to the exclusive call option agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

                     Proxy agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant proxy agreement, each of the variable interest entity equity holders irrevocably authorizes any person designated by the wholly-foreign owned enterprise to exercise his rights as an equity holder of the variable interest entity, including the right to attend and vote at equity holders' meetings and appoint directors. The parties to the proxy agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

                     Equity pledge agreements.    Pursuant to the relevant equity pledge agreement, the relevant variable interest entity equity holders have pledged all of their interests in the equity of the variable interest entity as a continuing first priority security interest in favor of the corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise to secure the outstanding amounts advanced under the relevant loan agreements described above and to secure the performance of obligations by the variable interest entity and/or its equity holders under the other structure contracts. Each wholly-foreign owned enterprise is entitled to exercise its right to dispose of the variable interest entity equity holders' pledged interests in the equity of the variable interest entity and has priority in receiving payment by the application of proceeds from the auction or sale of the pledged interests, in the event of any breach or default under the loan agreement or other structure contracts, if applicable. These equity pledge agreements remain in force for the duration of the relevant loan agreement and other structure contracts. The parties to the equity pledge agreement for each of our material variable interest entities are Jack Ma and Simon Xie as the variable interest entity equity holders, the relevant variable interest entity and its corresponding wholly-foreign owned enterprise. All of the equity pledges relating to our material variable interest entities have been registered with the relevant office of the Administration for Industry and Commerce in China.

              Contracts that Enable Us to Receive Substantially All of the Economic Benefits from the Variable Interest Entities

                     Exclusive technical services agreements.    Each relevant variable interest entity has entered into an exclusive technical services agreement with the respective wholly-foreign owned enterprise, pursuant to which the relevant wholly-foreign owned enterprise provides exclusive technical services to the variable interest entity. In exchange, the variable interest entity pays a service fee to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise which typically amount to what would be substantially all of the variable interest entity's pre-tax profit (absent the service fee), resulting in a transfer of substantially all of the profits from the variable interest entity to the wholly-foreign owned enterprise.

                     The exclusive call option agreements described above also entitle the wholly-foreign owned enterprise to all dividends and other distributions declared by the variable interest entity and to any distributions or proceeds from the disposal by the variable interest entity equity holders of their equity interests in the variable interest entity that are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the variable interest entity.

                     In the opinion of Fangda Partners, our PRC legal counsel:

                •
                the ownership structures of our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises and our material variable interest entities in China do not and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation, or rule currently in effect; and

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                  •
                  the contractual arrangements between our material wholly-foreign owned enterprises, our material variable interest entities and the variable interest entity equity holders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and applicable PRC laws, rules, and regulations currently in effect, and will not violate any applicable PRC law, regulation, or rule currently in effect.

                       However, we have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel, Fangda Partners, that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, rules and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our Internet-based business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the aforesaid business we engage in, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure."

                D.    Property, Plant and Equipment

                       As of March 31, 2017, we occupied facilities around the world with an aggregate gross floor area of office buildings owned by us totaling 558,080 square meters. We maintain offices in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam. In addition, we maintain data centers in Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.

                ITEM 4A.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

                       Not Applicable.

                ITEM 5    OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

                A.    Operating Results

                The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report and in particular, "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview." This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this annual report. We have prepared our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our fiscal year ends on March 31 and references to fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017 are to the fiscal years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                Overview

                       We achieved significant growth and strong operating results in fiscal year 2017. Our total revenue increased by 33% from RMB76,204 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB101,143 million in fiscal year 2016, and further increased by 56% to RMB158,273 million (US$22,994 million) in fiscal year 2017. Our net income increased by 193% from RMB24,320 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB71,289 in fiscal year 2016, and decreased by 42% to RMB41,226 million (US$5,989 million) in fiscal year 2017. Our net income in fiscal year 2016 included a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health when we obtained control over Alibaba Health in July 2015. Our non-GAAP net income, which excludes the effect of these non-recurring gains, share-based compensation and certain other items, increased by 35% from RMB42,791 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB57,871 million (US$8,408 million) in fiscal year 2017. For further information on non-GAAP financial measures we use in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes, see "Item 3. Key Information — A. Selected Financial Data — Non-GAAP Measures."


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                We believe our focus on long-term strategic priorities — globalization, rural expansion, and big data and cloud computing — has laid a strong foundation for future growth.

                       We have experienced significant growth across various key metrics for our China retail marketplaces:

                GRAPHICGRAPHIC

                GRAPHIC

                GRAPHIC
                (1)
                China commerce retail revenue per active buyer for each of the above periods is calculated by dividing the China commerce retail revenue for the previous 12-month period by the annual active buyers for the same 12-month period.

                (2)
                Mobile revenue per mobile MAU from China commerce retail, annualized is calculated by dividing mobile revenue from China commerce retail for the previous 12-month period by the mobile MAUs for the last month of the same period.

                Our Operating Segments

                       Starting from fiscal year 2017, we organize and report our business in four operating segments:

                  •
                  Core commerce;

                  •
                  Cloud computing;

                  •
                  Digital media and entertainment; and

                  •
                  Innovation initiatives and others.

                       This new presentation reflects how we manage our business to maximize efficiency in allocating resources. This presentation also provides further transparency to our various businesses that are executing different phases of growth and operating leverage trajectories.

                       We present segmental information after elimination of inter-company transactions. In general, revenue, cost of revenue and operating expenses are directly attributable, and are allocated, to each segment. We allocate costs and


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                expenses that are not directly attributable to individual segments, such as those that support infrastructure across different operating segments, to different operating segments mainly on the basis of usage, revenue or headcount, depending on the nature of the relevant costs and expenses.

                       In discussing the operating results of these four segments, we present each segment's revenue, income from operations and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortization ("adjusted EBITA"). We also present revenue, income from operations and adjusted EBITA for prior periods for the corresponding businesses as if segment reporting had been adopted for those prior periods.

                       Our reported segments are described below:

                       Core commerce.    The core commerce segment is comprised of platforms operating in retail and wholesale commerce in China and international commerce. China commerce retail business primarily includes Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Rural Taobao and commerce technologies and services. China commerce wholesale business includes 1688.com. International commerce retail business includes AliExpress and Lazada. International commerce wholesale business includes Alibaba.com.

                       Cloud computing.    The cloud computing segment is comprised of Alibaba Cloud, which offers a complete suite of cloud services, including elastic computing, database, storage and content delivery network, or CDN, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and other service offerings for enterprises of different sizes across various industries.

                       Digital media and entertainment.    The digital media and entertainment segment operates businesses through our media properties, primarily including Youku Tudou and UCWeb.

                       Innovation initiatives and others.    The innovation initiatives and others segment includes businesses such as YunOS, AutoNavi, DingTalk and others.

                       The table below sets forth supplemental financial information of our reported segments for fiscal year 2017:

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 2017 
                 
                		 Core
                commerce                		 Cloud
                computing                		 Digital media
                and
                entertainment                		 Innovation
                initiatives
                and others                		 Unallocated(1) Consolidated 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  133,880  6,663  14,733  2,997  —  158,273  22,994 

                Income (loss) from operations

                		  74,180  (1,681) (9,882) (6,798) (7,764) 48,055  6,981 

                Add: Share-based compensation expense

                		  5,994  1,201  1,454  3,017  4,329  15,995  2,324 

                Add: Amortization of intangible assets

                		  2,258  4  1,886  656  318  5,122  744 
                ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA

                		  82,432  (476) (6,542) (3,125) (3,117) 69,172  10,049 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA margin

                		  62% (7)% (44)% (104)%    44%   
                (1)
                Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative costs and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments.

                Our Monetization Model

                       We derive revenue from our four business segments: core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others. We derive most of our revenue from our core commerce segment, which accounted for 85% of our total revenue in fiscal year 2017, while cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others contributed 4%, 9% and 2%, respectively. We derive a substantial majority of our core commerce revenue from online marketing services. The revenue model of our


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                online marketing services is primarily performance-based or impression-based. Performance-based marketing uses clicks or transactions as the measurement unit for performance. Impression-based marketing uses the number of impressions delivered to the user. The pricing of our marketing services is typically set by market-based bidding systems so that each marketer determines the price it is willing to pay for the services.

                       The amount marketers are willing to pay for our online marketing services is a function of their expected return on investment from our value propositions, including the expected sales volume to be generated on our platforms, the expected lifetime value of online and offline customers acquired from our platforms, and the expected brand awareness and brand association, both online and offline, generated by marketing on our platforms.

                Core Commerce

                       Our core commerce segment is primarily comprised of our China and international commerce retail businesses and our China and international commerce wholesale businesses. The revenue we generate from our China and international commerce retail businesses is highly correlated with the number and engagement of the consumers on our platforms, and the various value propositions of branding, marketing, distribution and productivity enhancements we offer merchants and brands, through our data and technology capabilities. The revenue we generate from our China and international commerce wholesale businesses is largely driven by the number of paying members and the value of the wholesale marketplaces as distribution and marketing platforms.

                       China Commerce Retail.    We generate revenue from our China commerce retail business primarily through the monetization models described below. In fiscal year 2017, approximately 72% of the GMV on our China retail marketplaces was settled through Alipay. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 68% and 30% of our China commerce retail revenue from online marketing services and commissions, respectively.

                  Online marketing services.

                       Online marketing services primarily consist of:

                  •
                  P4P marketing services, where merchants primarily bid for keywords that match product or service listings appearing in search or browser results on a cost-per-click, or CPC, basis at prices established by our online auction system, which facilitates price discovery through a market-based bidding mechanism. P4P marketing services are provided both on our marketplaces as well as through third-party marketing affiliates; and

                  •
                  Display marketing services, where merchants bid for display positions on the relevant marketplaces or through our third-party marketing affiliates at fixed prices or prices established by a bidding system on a cost-per-thousand impression, or CPM, basis.


                  For both P4P marketing and display marketing services, we generate a portion of our revenue through third-party marketing affiliates. Revenue from P4P and display marketing services provided through third- party marketing affiliates represented 3%, 3% and 3% of our total revenue in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, and this revenue is recognized on a gross basis.

                  •
                  Taobaoke program, where merchants on Taobao Marketplace and Tmall pay us commissions based on a percentage of transaction value generated from users sourced from third-party marketing affiliates. Commissions on Taobaoke are set by the merchants and depend on the amount the merchant is willing to pay to generate incremental sales through this channel. A significant portion of that commission is shared with our third-party marketing affiliates and we recognize the remaining portion as our revenue on a net basis. In certain situations where we are obligated to pay for website inventory costs in fixed amounts to third-party marketing affiliates, we recognize the commission revenue on a gross basis.

                  •
                  Placement services, where Taobao Marketplace and Tmall merchants pay placement fees to purchase promotional slots on Juhuasuan for a specified period.

                       Commissions on transactions.    In addition to purchasing online marketing services, merchants also pay a commission based on a percentage of transaction value generated on Tmall (including Juhuasuan). The


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                commission percentages typically range from 0.4% to 5.0% depending on the product category. The commission rate we establish varies according to our estimate of the industry profit margins in specific product categories. For example, for categories that typically have lower gross margins, such as consumer electronics, we charge a lower commission rate, whereas for categories such as apparel, where gross margins are generally higher for the merchants, we charge a higher commission rate.

                       Storefront fees.    Our revenue from storefront fees is primarily comprised of monthly subscription fees for Wangpu (GRAPHIC), our storefront software that includes a suite of tools that assist merchants in upgrading, decorating and managing their storefronts.

                Purchaser of services:
                		Taobao MarketplaceTmall

                Taobao Marketplace merchants

                		•  P4P marketing fees
                •  Display marketing fees
                •  Taobaoke commissions
                •  Storefront fees
                •  Other fees(1)                		•  Juhuasuan commissions and placement fees

                Tmall merchants

                •  P4P marketing fees
                •  Display marketing fees

                •  Commissions
                •  P4P marketing fees
                •  Display marketing fees
                •  Taobaoke commissions
                •  Juhuasuan placement fees

                (1)
                Other fees primarily consist of online travel commissions and lottery commissions. We suspended our online lottery business in late February 2015 around the same time as the other major online lottery platforms in China in response to regulatory requirements. As of the date of this annual report, there is no clear indication on how long this suspension will last.

                       China Commerce Wholesale.    We generate revenue from our China wholesale marketplace, 1688.com, primarily through:

                  •
                  Memberships and value-added services.  Revenue from our China wholesale marketplace is primarily from the sale of China TrustPass memberships, which allow wholesalers to host premium storefronts, with access to basic data analytic applications, and upgraded storefront management tools, as well as from value-added services, such as premium data analytics. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 70% of our China commerce wholesale revenue from memberships and value-added services.

                  •
                  Online marketing services.  Revenue from online marketing services on our China wholesale marketplace is primarily derived from P4P marketing services. In fiscal year 2017, 30% of our China commerce wholesale revenue was generated from online marketing services.

                       International Commerce Retail.    We generate revenue from our international commerce retail businesses, AliExpress and Lazada, primarily through:

                  •
                  Commissions and direct sales:  merchants pay a commission based on a percentage of the transaction value they generate on AliExpress. The commissions are typically 5% to 8% of the transaction value. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2017, transaction value on AliExpress was US$7.2 billion. We also generate revenue from Lazada primarily through direct sales of merchandise.

                  •
                  Online marketing services:  We also generate revenue on AliExpress from merchants who participate in the third-party affiliate marketing program and those who purchase P4P marketing services.

                       International Commerce Wholesale.    We generate revenue from our global wholesale marketplace, Alibaba.com, primarily through:

                  •
                  Memberships and online marketing services.  Revenue from our global wholesale marketplace is primarily generated from the sale of our Gold Supplier memberships on Alibaba.com, which allow wholesalers to host

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                    premium storefronts with product listings on the marketplace, as well as additional online marketing services, primarily P4P marketing services. In fiscal year 2017, 65% of our international commerce wholesale revenue was generated from memberships and online marketing services.

                  •
                  Value-added services.  We generate revenues from providing import/export business solutions, such as custom clearance and VAT refunds, and other value-added services, such as product showcases. In fiscal year 2017, we generated 35% of our international commerce wholesale revenue from these value-added services.

                Cloud Computing

                       We generate revenue from cloud computing services primarily from the time- and usage-based provision of cloud computing services, such as elastic computing, database, storage and CDN, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform, as well as from web-hosting and domain name registration.

                Digital Media and Entertainment

                       We generate revenue from Youku Tudou and UCWeb primarily through P4P marketing services, display marketing services and subscriptions.

                Innovation Initiatives and Others

                       We generate revenue from businesses such as AutoNavi, YunOS and other innovation initiatives. Other revenue also includes annual fees payable by Ant Financial Services or its affiliates to us, calculated at 2.5% of the daily average book balance of the SME loans generated by the SME loan business we transferred to Ant Financial Services upon the completion of the restructuring of our relationship with Ant Financial Services in early February 2015. Prior to this sale, other revenue also included interest income generated by the SME loan business.

                Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

                       Our Ability to Create Value for Our Users and Generate Revenue.    Our ability to create value for our users and generate revenue is driven by the factors described below:

                  •
                  Number and engagement of consumers.  Consumers are attracted to our platforms by the breadth of personalized content and the interactive user experience these platforms offer. Our platforms include a comprehensive selection of product and service offerings as well as engaging content, such as news feeds on our Taobao App and UC Browser, entertainment content on Youku Tudou, music and sports. Consumers enjoy an engaging social experience by interacting with each other and with merchants and brands on our platforms. We leverage our big data insights to further optimize the relevance of this rich content we provide to our users. The engagement of consumers in our ecosystem is affected by our ability to continue to enhance and expand our product and service offerings and improve user experience.

                  •
                  Broader value offered to merchants, brands and other businesses.  Merchants, brands and other businesses use our products and services to help them acquire and retain customers, build brand awareness and engagement, complete transactions, and enhance their operating efficiency. We offer merchants a complete suite of services and tools powered by our data insights, to help them effectively engage consumers and efficiently manage their operations. In addition, we empower businesses of different sizes across various industries through our comprehensive enterprise cloud service offerings.

                  •
                  Empowering data and technology.  Our ability to engage consumers and empower merchants, brands and other businesses is affected by the breadth and depth of our data insights, such as the accuracy of our shopping recommendations and of our targeted marketing, and our technology capabilities and infrastructure, such as cloud computing, and our continued ability to develop scalable products and services that adapt to the quickly evolving industry trends and consumer preferences.

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                       Operating Leverage of Our Business Model.    Our business model has significant operating leverage and our ecosystem enables us to realize structural cost savings. For example, Taobao Marketplace drives significant traffic to Tmall as Tmall product listings also appear on Taobao Marketplace search result pages. Further, the large number of consumers on our marketplaces attracts a large number of merchants, who become customers for our online marketing and storefront services. In addition, the vast consumer base of our ecosystem presents cross-selling opportunities to a variety of our platforms, such as our ability to promote our digital media and entertainment services, including Youku Tudou, to consumers on our marketplaces. These network effects allow for lower traffic acquisition costs and provide synergies across our businesses.

                       Our Investment in User Base, Technology, People and Infrastructure.    We have made, and will continue to make, significant investments in our platforms and ecosystem to attract consumers and merchants, enhance user experience and expand the capabilities and scope of our platforms. We expect our investments will include expanding our core commerce offerings, enhancing our cloud computing business, content and user acquisition to further develop our digital media and entertainment business, new innovation initiatives and new technologies as well as executing our globalization strategy. Our operating leverage and margin levels enable us to continue to invest in our people, particularly engineers, scientists and product management personnel, as well as in our underlying technology capabilities and infrastructure. In addition, as a result of our financial strength, we expect to invest in the above mentioned new and existing businesses which will lower our margins but deliver overall long-term growth.

                       Strategic Investments and Acquisitions.    We have made, and intend to make, strategic investments and acquisitions to increase user acquisition and engagement, improve customer experience and expand our product and service offerings. Our strategic investments and acquisitions may affect our future financial results, including our margins and our net income. For example, we expect that our acquisitions of Youku Tudou and a controlling stake in Lazada and our recent privatization of Intime will have a negative effect on our financial results, at least in the short term. In addition, some of our acquisitions and investments may not be successful. We have incurred impairment charges in the past and may incur impairment charges in the future.

                Components of Results of Operations

                Revenue

                       The following table sets forth the principal components of our revenue for the periods indicated:

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2015 2016 2017 
                 
                		 RMB % of
                revenue                		 RMB % of
                revenue                		 RMB US$ % of
                revenue                		 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Core commerce:

                		                      

                China commerce retail

                		  59,732  78% 80,033  79% 114,109  16,578  72%

                China commerce wholesale

                		  3,205  4% 4,288  4% 5,679  825  4%

                International commerce retail

                		  1,768  3% 2,204  2% 7,336  1,066  5%

                International commerce wholesale

                		  4,718  6% 5,425  6% 6,001  872  4%

                Others

                		  113  0% 385  0% 755  109  0%
                ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Total core commerce

                		  69,536  91% 92,335  91% 133,880  19,450  85%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Cloud computing

                		  1,271  2% 3,019  3% 6,663  968  4%

                Digital media and entertainment

                		  2,191  3% 3,972  4% 14,733  2,141  9%

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		  3,206  4% 1,817  2% 2,997  435  2%
                ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Total

                		  76,204  100% 101,143  100% 158,273  22,994  100%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

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                       We generate most of our revenue from our core commerce segment. We also earn revenue from services associated with our cloud computing segment, digital media and entertainment segment as well as innovation initiatives and others segment. A substantial majority of our revenue is attributable to our businesses in China. See "— Our Monetization Model" for additional information regarding our revenue.

                Cost of Revenue

                       The principal components of our cost of revenue include: content acquisition costs paid to third parties for our online media properties; logistics costs relating to fulfillment services provided to us by our affiliate Cainiao Network, primarily related to Tmall Supermarket; traffic acquisition costs paid to third-party marketing affiliates either at a fixed price or on a revenue sharing basis; payment processing fees paid to Alipay or other financial institutions; cost of inventory; expenses associated with the operation of our websites, such as bandwidth and co-location fees, and depreciation and maintenance expenses for our computers, servers, call centers and other equipment; salary, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense relating to customer service and web operation personnel and payment processing consultants; rebates and subsidies mainly relating to our new business initiatives; business taxes and related surcharges; and allowance for doubtful accounts in relation to the micro loans and VAT receivables.

                Product Development Expenses

                       Product development expenses primarily include salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our employees engaged in the development, maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure, applications, operating systems, software, databases and networks for our marketplaces, mobile products and service platforms. In addition, product development expenses include royalty fees paid to Yahoo pursuant to the Yahoo TIPLA. This royalty fee arrangement was terminated upon completion of our initial public offering in September 2014. We expense all of our product development costs as they are incurred.

                Sales and Marketing Expenses

                       Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of online and offline advertising expenses, promotion expenses, sales commissions paid for membership acquisition for our wholesale marketplaces, and salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our employees engaged in sales and marketing functions.

                General and Administrative Expenses

                       General and administrative expenses consist mainly of salaries, bonuses, benefits and share-based compensation expense for our management and administrative employees, professional services fees, office facilities, other support overhead costs and charitable contributions.

                Interest and Investment Income, Net

                       Interest and investment income, net consists of interest income, investment gain or loss related to our treasury management activities and gain or loss on deemed disposals, disposals and revaluation of our long term equity investments. Our interest and investment income, net was more significant in fiscal year 2016 as a result of a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health.

                Interest Expense

                       Our interest expense is comprised of interest payments and amortization of upfront fees and incidental charges primarily associated with our unsecured senior notes issued in November 2014 to refinance our previous syndicated loan arrangements and the US$4.0 billion five-year term loan facility drawn down in fiscal year 2017. In addition, in April 2017, we replaced our US$3.0 billion revolving credit facility, which was not drawn, with a new US$5.15 billion revolving credit facility, which we have not yet drawn as of the date of this annual report.


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                Other Income, Net

                       Other income, net primarily consists of exchange gain or loss, royalty fees and software technology service fees paid by Alipay, as well as government grants. Exchange gain or loss, arising from our operations and treasury management activities, recognized in our income statement is largely a result of depreciation or appreciation of RMB, respectively. The amount is also partially affected by the currency movements on our hedging activities related to the portion that is deemed ineffective from an accounting perspective. Alipay pays us royalty fees and software technology service fees pursuant to an intellectual property and software technology services agreement, as amended in August 2014, or the amended Alipay IPLA. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Share and Asset Purchase Agreement — Alipay Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement" for further information on the arrangements between us and Alipay. Government grants primarily relate to grants by central and local governments in connection with our contributions to technology development and investments in local business districts. These grants may not be recurring in nature, and we recognize the income when the grants are received and no further conditions need to be met.

                Income Tax Expense

                       Our income tax expense is comprised primarily of current tax expense, mainly attributable to certain profitable subsidiaries in China, and deferred tax expense, mainly including withholding tax on dividends to be distributed by our major subsidiaries operating in China.

                Taxation

                Cayman Islands Profits Tax

                       Under Cayman Islands law, our company is not subject to income, corporation or capital gains tax, and no withholding tax is imposed upon the payment of dividends.

                Hong Kong Profits Tax

                       Our company's subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong were subject to Hong Kong profits tax rate of 16.5% in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017.

                PRC Income Tax

                       Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or EIT Law, the standard enterprise income tax rate is 25%. Entities qualifying as High and New Technology Enterprises enjoy a preferential tax rate of 15%. Entities recognized as Software Enterprises are exempt from the EIT for two years beginning from their first profitable calendar year and are entitled to a 50% reduction in EIT for the following three calendar years. Furthermore, entities recognized as key software enterprises within the PRC national plan enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 10%.

                       Certain subsidiaries received the above preferential tax treatments during calendar years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. One of our major subsidiaries in China, Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co. Ltd., which is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise primarily involved in the operation of Tmall was subject to an EIT rate of 12.5% (or 50% of the standard statutory rate) in calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and is subject to an EIT rate of 15% thereafter for so long as the subsidiary continues to qualify as a High and New Technology Enterprise. Two of our subsidiaries in China, Taobao (China) Software Co. Ltd. and Alibaba (China) Technology Co. Ltd., which are also wholly foreign owned enterprises primarily involved in the operations of Taobao Marketplace and wholesale marketplaces respectively, were recognized as key software enterprises in calendar years of 2013, 2014 and 2015 and they were subject to an EIT rate of 10%. Key Software Enterprise status is subject to review by the relevant authorities every year and the timing of annual review and notification by the relevant authorities may vary from year to year. The annual review and notification relating to the renewal of the Key Software Enterprises status for the calendar years of 2016 and 2017 had not yet been obtained as of March 31, 2017. Accordingly Alibaba China and Taobao China


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                continued to apply an EIT rate of 15% as High and New Technology Enterprises for the accounting of taxation during these periods. The related tax adjustments in relation to the change in applicable EIT rate will be accounted for in the period prospectively in which Key Software Enterprise status is recognized.

                VAT and Other Levies

                       Our major PRC subsidiaries are subject to VAT on revenue earned for our services under a national VAT reform program. In general, the applicable VAT rate on the revenue earned for services is 6% with companies entitled to credit VAT paid on certain purchases against VAT on sales. Revenue is recognized net of VAT in our consolidated income statement.

                PRC Withholding Tax

                       Pursuant to the EIT Law, a 10% withholding tax is generally levied on dividends declared by companies in China to their non-resident enterprise investors. A lower withholding tax rate of 5% is applicable for direct foreign investors incorporated in Hong Kong with at least a 25% equity interest in the PRC company and who meet the relevant conditions or requirements pursuant to the tax arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong. As the equity holders of our major subsidiaries in China are qualified Hong Kong incorporated companies, our deferred tax liabilities for distributable earnings are calculated based on a 5% withholding tax. As of March 31, 2017, we have fully accrued the withholding tax on the earnings distributable by all of our subsidiaries in China, except for those being reserved for permanent reinvestment in China of RMB28.2 billion (US$4.1 billion).

                Share-based Compensation

                       We have various equity incentive plans pursuant to which the employees, consultants and directors of our company, our affiliates and certain other companies, such as Ant Financial Services, are granted options or awarded RSUs to acquire our ordinary shares. We believe share-based awards are vital to attract, incentivize and retain our employees and consultants. In addition to on-hire grants for new recruits above a specific job level, we also make performance grants on an annual basis and promotion grants on a semi-annual basis to our top performing employees. RSUs and share options granted in the above categories are generally subject to a four-year vesting schedule. Depending on the nature and the purpose of the grant, share options and RSUs generally vest 25% upon the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date or 50% upon the second anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and thereafter 25% every year. Starting in fiscal year 2015, RSUs and share options granted to our senior management members as performance grants were subject to a six-year pro rata vesting schedule. We believe share-based awards are the appropriate tool to align the interests of the grantees with those of our shareholders.

                       In addition, Junhan, a major equity holder of Ant Financial Services, has granted certain share-based awards similar to share appreciation awards linked to the valuation of Ant Financial Services to a significant number of our employees. These share-based awards have vesting schedules that are conditioned upon the fulfillment of requisite services to us, and the awards will be settled in cash by Junhan upon disposal by our employees. We have no obligation to reimburse Junhan, Ant Financial Services or its subsidiaries for the cost associated with these awards. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transaction — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Equity-based Award Arrangements."

                       We recognized share-based compensation expense of RMB13,028 million, RMB16,082 million and RMB15,995 million (US$2,324 million) in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, representing 17%, 16%


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                and 10% of our revenue in those respective periods. The following table sets forth an analysis of share-based compensation expense by function for the periods indicated.

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2015 2016 2017 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Cost of revenue

                		  4,176  4,003  3,893  566 

                Product development expenses

                		  3,876  5,703  5,712  830 

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		  1,235  1,963  1,772  257 

                General and administrative expenses

                		  3,741  4,413  4,618  671 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Total

                		  13,028  16,082  15,995  2,324 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                       Share-based compensation expense increased in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 as compared to fiscal year 2015 due to the increase in average fair market value of the awards granted. In addition, as a result of "mark-to-market" accounting required under U.S. GAAP, the increase in share-based compensation expense also reflected the re-measurement charge relating to our share-based awards granted to the employees of Ant Financial Services and share-based awards of Ant Financial Services granted to our employees by Junhan. The following table sets forth an analysis of share-based compensation expense by type of awards:

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2015 2016 2017 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Alibaba Group share-based awards granted to:

                		             

                — Our employees

                		  6,800  9,596  11,810  1,716 

                — Ant Financial Services employees and other consultants(1)

                		  2,263  889  1,277  186 

                Ant Financial Services share-based awards granted to our employees(1)

                		  3,788  5,506  2,188  318 

                Others

                		  177  91  720  104 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Total share-based compensation expense

                		  13,028  16,082  15,995  2,324 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                (1)
                Awards subject to mark-to-market accounting treatment.

                       The expense arising from Ant Financial Services' share-based awards granted to our employees represents a non-cash charge that will not result in any economic costs or equity dilution to our shareholders. It is the view of Jack Ma, our executive chairman, who controls Ant Financial Services, that the grant of these equity awards to our employees will benefit us because of the strategic importance of Ant Financial Services as a payment service provider to us and our significant participation in the profit and value accretion of Ant Financial Services through our agreements with Ant Financial Services.

                       We expect that our share-based compensation expense will continue to be affected by the change in fair value of our shares, our subsidiaries' share-based awards and the quantity of AutoNaviawards we grant to our employees and consultants in the future. Furthermore, our share-based compensation expense will also be affected by the anticipated increase in fair value of share-based awards of Ant Financial Services. As a result of these factors, we expect that our share-based compensation expense will likely increase. See "— Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Share-based Compensation Expense and Valuation of the Underlying Awards" for additional information regarding our share-based compensation expense.


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                Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities

                       In addition to organic growth, we have made, or have entered into agreements to make, strategic investments, acquisitions and alliances that are intended to further our strategic objectives. The financial results for these strategic transactions that were completed are reflected in our operating results beginning with the period of their respective completion. The investments in which we did not obtain control are accounted for under the equity method if we have significant influence over the investees through ainvestment in common stock or in-substance common stock, or otherwise under the cost method or accounted for as investment securities based on our accounting policies over different categories of investments and merger and acquisition activities. For the details of our accounting policies for each category of our investments, see notes 2(d), 2(s) and 2(t) to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report.

                       Our investment and acquisition strategy focuses on three objectives:

                  •
                  increasing user acquisition and engagement;

                  •
                  improving customer experience; and

                  •
                  expanding our product and service offerings.

                       We take a deliberate and staged approach to our investment and acquisition strategy. In some cases, we may begin with an initial minority investment followed by business cooperation. We have chosen to make minority investments in some circumstances instead of full acquisitions for one or more of the following reasons: (i) the investee has strong management, where we allow them to have operating independence and potential upside tied to their business in order to retain them; (ii) the investee does not fit within our core business operations but can generate strategic synergies through an equity relationship; and/or (iii) the investee demonstrates clear strategic value to us but capital or integration risk in the near term suggests a deliberate and phased-in approach. Where the business results, cooperation and the overall relationship established with the management of the investee company show increasing value to our ongoing business strategy, we may increase our investment or acquire the investee company completely. Examples of this type of approach include our investments in UCWeb, AutoNavi, Youku Tudou and Intime, where the period from initial investment to eventual acquisition spanned more than one fiscal year.

                       We have funded our strategic acquisitions and investments primarily from cash generated from our operations and through debt and equity financing. Our debt financing primarily consists of unsecured senior notes and bank borrowings. We have issued an aggregate of US$8.0 billion unsecured senior notes. We have entered into a five-year term loan facility of US$4.0 billion, which was fully drawn down as of March 31, 2017. In addition, in April 2017, we replaced our US$3.0 billion revolving credit facility, which was not drawn, with a new US$5.15 billion revolving credit facility, which we have not yet drawn. Going forward, we expect to fund additional investments through cash generated from our operations and through debt and equity financing when opportunities arise in the future. Although we expect our margins to be negatively affected by acquisitions of target companies with lower or negative margins, such as our acquisitions of Youku Tudou and a controlling stake in Lazada and our recent privatization of Intime, we do not expect our investment activities to have any significant negative impact on our liquidity or operations. We believe acquired businesses operating at a loss do not detract from the total value of our company because they bring clear strategic value to us in the long run. However, there can be no assurance that our future financial results would not be materially and adversely affected if our strategic investments and acquisitions are not successful. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — Increased investments in our business, strategic acquisitions and investments as well as our focus on long-term performance and maintaining the health of our ecosystem may negatively affect our margins and our net income" and "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We face risks relating to our acquisitions, investments and alliances."

                       Our significant recent strategic investments and acquisitions (including those that are under definitive agreement but have not closed) in fiscal year 2017 and the period through the date of this annual report are set


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                forth below. For those investments and acquisitions described below that have not yet closed, there can be no assurance that the closing conditions will be satisfied in a timely manner or at all.

                Core Commerce and New Retail

                Intime Retail (Group) Company Limited, or Intime, a leading department store operator in China that was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Pursuant to an initial investment in July 2014 and a conversion into equity of convertible debt securities in June 2016, we owned approximately 28% of the equity interest in Intime immediately before its privatization. In May 2017, we and Mr. Shen Guo Jun, the founder of Intime, completed the privatization of Intime. We paid a total mergercash consideration of approximately HK$12.6 billion (US$1.6 billion) in the privatization. Upon the completion of the privatization, we increased our shareholding in the company to approximately 74% and became the controlling shareholder. We expect Intime to support our strategy to transform conventional retail by leveraging our substantial consumer reach, rich data and technology.

                Sanjiang Shopping Club Co., or Sanjiang, one of the leading neighborhood grocery chains in Zhejiang province that is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In November 2016, we agreed to invest RMB2.1 billion (US$0.3 billion) to acquire existing ordinary shares from, and exchangeable bonds issued by, the controlling shareholder of Sanjiang, as well as to subscribe for newly issued ordinary shares, representing an approximately 35% equity interest in Sanjiang. We completed the acquisition of existing ordinary shares in January 2017, representing an approximately 9% equity interest in Sanjiang, at a consideration of RMB439 million (US$64 million). The completion of the subscription of newly issued ordinary shares and the exchangeable bonds is subject to a number of customary closing conditions. Enabled by our technology solutions, Sanjiang plans to pilot a new shopping format at its local grocery stores to enhance the shopping experience for fresh and perishable products.

                Local Services

                Koubei Holding Limited, or Koubei, a joint venture that we set up together with Ant Financial Services during fiscal year 2016. Koubei integrates the convenience aspects of mobile commerce and big data to provide consumers with information and promotional benefits from local establishments in China. We have invested a total cash amount of RMB3.0 billion and also injected certain related businesses into Koubei. In January 2017, Koubei completed a US$1,0321.1 billion equity financing through issuance of convertible preferred shares to investors led by Silver Lake, CDH Investments, Yunfeng Capital and Primavera Capital. This transaction provides Koubei with a strong capital base to execute on its aggressive growth strategy. As of the date of this annual report, we held an approximately 38% equity interest in Koubei on a fully diluted basis. Through Koubei, we participate in the local establishment sector in a "closed loop" manner, which is characterized by the "online-to-offline" interaction of users obtaining information and receiving promotional offers, mostly through a mobile device, and then visiting the physical establishment to enjoy the services while making on-location payment with Alipay.

                Rajax Holding, or Ele.me (GRAPHIC), one of the largest mobile food ordering and delivery services platforms in China, covering over 1,500 districts and counties as of March 31, 2017. In August 2016, we and Ant Financial Services completed a subscription for newly issued preferred shares in Ele.me for a total combined investment amount of US$1,250 million, of which our total investment was US$900 million. In April 2017, we and Ant Financial Services further subscribed for newly issued preferred shares in Ele.me for a total combined investment amount of US$400 million, of which our investment was US$288 million. As of the date of this annual report, our effective equity interest in Ele.me was approximately 23% on a fully-diluted basis. Ele.me complements our investment in Koubei in local services, focusing on food ordering and delivery characterized by high-frequency usage and last-mile logistics within a city.

                Xiaoju Kuaizhi Inc., or Didi Chuxing, the leading transportation network company that provides vehicles and taxis for hire in China via smartphone applications. In June 2016, we completed a US$200 million investment in the preferred shares of Didi Chuxing. As of the date of this annual report, we owned an approximately 6% equity interest in Didi Chuxing on a fully-diluted basis, for a total investment cost of US$645 million. We have a


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                cooperation agreement with Didi Chuxing relating to the adoption of navigation and map services provided by AutoNavi to the riders and drivers of Didi Chuxing's services, which is aimed at further increasing the user base and usage of AutoNavi's services.

                Digital Media and Entertainment

                Youku Tudou, Inc., or Youku Tudou, a leading multi-screen entertainment and media company in China that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In May 2014, we, through a holding company, invested US$1,090 million to purchase Class A ordinary shares of Youku Tudou, representing an effective equity interest of 16.5% on a fully diluted basis. We made this investment together with a Yunfeng Fund, which invested US$132 million for an approximately 2% equity interest on the same terms. In April 2016, we completed the privatization of Youku Tudou for total cash consideration of US$4.4 billion and Youku Tudou became our consolidated subsidiary, with a Yunfeng Fund holding an approximately 2% minority interest. Subsequent to the completion of the privatization and as a resolution to negotiations with certain former members of management and shareholders of Youku Tudou with respect to an option to purchase up to 15% of its equity, we issued our ordinary shares and RSUs to certain former members of management and shareholders in April 2017. In November 2016, we consolidated our digital media and entertainment businesses, including Youku Tudou, under a single management team to realize greater synergies within the segment and with our other businesses. Youku Tudou is a core part of our strategy to offer digital entertainment to consumers in our ecosystem, thereby strengthening user engagement and loyalty as well as enabling a new marketing channel for the merchants and brands in our ecosystem.

                       Weibo Corporation, or Weibo, a leading social media platform in China that is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. In April 2013, we entered into an agreement to form a strategic alliance with Weibo to jointly explore social commerce and develop innovative marketing solutions. In addition, we invested US$586 million to purchase preferred and ordinary shares representing an approximately 18% equity interest in Weibo on a fully-diluted basis. In connection with Weibo's initial public offering in April 2014, we acquired additional shares of Weibo for an aggregate purchase price of US$449 million pursuant to our option to increase our equity interest in Weibo to approximately 30% on a fully-diluted basis. All of the preferred shares we held in Weibo were automatically converted into ordinary shares of Weibo upon completion of Weibo's initial public offering. In September 2016, we acquired additional shares of Weibo from certain existing shareholders of Weibo for an aggregate purchase price of US$135 million. We currently hold an approximately 31% equity interest in Weibo, representing approximately 16% of its voting power. Weibo's powerful and influential social media platform increases user acquisition and engagement on our China retail marketplaces.

                       MeizuPony Media Holdings Inc., or Damai, a leading online ticketing platform for live events such as concerts and theater shows in China. In July 2014, we subscribed for preferred shares representing an approximately 32% equity interest on a fully-diluted basis in Damai for a total consideration of US$133 million. In March 2017, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Damai that we did not already own for a total consideration of US$393 million, and Damai became our wholly-owned subsidiary. Damai forms a strategic part of the value chain in our digital media and entertainment business, providing distribution and marketing opportunities for live content.

                Healthcare

                Alibaba Health Information Technology Corporation Limited, or Meizu, one of China's leading smartphone manufacturers. In February 2015, we completed an investment of US$590 million forAlibaba Health, a minority interest in Meizu.

                Offline Commerce

                Intime, a companypharmaceutical e-commerce business operator and healthcare network service provider that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock ExchangeExchange. Its principal activities consist of pharmaceutical e-commerce, a medical services network business and is primarily engaged in the businessoperation of managing and operating department stores and shopping mallsproduct tracking platforms in China. It also provides outsourced services for product categories related to Tmall's online pharmacy business pursuant to a services agreement between us and Alibaba Health. Pursuant to an agreement with a Yunfeng Fund, we currently control the holding company that holds approximately 54% of the equity interest in Alibaba Health (including a 38% effective equity interest in Alibaba Health held by the holding company that is attributable to us). In July 2014,May 2017, we completedagreed to transfer our subscriptionbusiness relating to certain regulated health food products on Tmall to Alibaba Health for an aggregate consideration of HK$3.8 billion (US$489 million), which will be paid through the issuance of approximately 1.2 billion newly issued ordinary shares representing approximately 9.9% equity interest in Intime and convertible bonds which upon conversion would increase our equity interest in Intime to approximately 26%. We paid the total purchase price of approximately HK$5,368 million upon the closing of the above-mentioned transactions. In July 2014, we established a joint venture with Intime, in which we paid approximately US$13 million for an 80.1% equity interest in the joint venture, to develop an offline commerce business in China relating to shopping malls, department stores and supermarkets.

                Koubei. In June 2015, we announced that we will establish a joint venture under the brand name Koubei with Ant Financial Services, aimed at capturing opportunities within China's local services market, with an initial focus on the food and beverage market. We will transfer our food ordering and delivery business that we currently operate under the Taodiandian brand to this joint venture. Ant Financial Services will transfer to this joint venture its offline merchant resources. In addition, Ant Financial Services and us will each invest RMB3 billion in this joint venture.

                Entertainment

                Youku Tudou, one of China's leading Internet television companies that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. In May 2014, we, through a holding company, completed an investment in Class A ordinary shares of Youku Tudou, representing an effective equity interest of 16.5% on a fully-diluted basis. The shares include newly issued Class A ordinary shares and Class A ordinary shares purchased from an existing shareholder, at a purchase price of US$1.6944 per Class A ordinary share, corresponding to US$30.50 per American depositary share. We appointed one director to Youku Tudou's board of directors and we paid the total investment amount of US$1,090 million upon the closing of the transaction.

                Alibaba Pictures (formerly known as ChinaVision), a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and primarily engaged in production and distribution of films and television programs. In June 2014, as part of our entertainment strategy, we completed an investment in newly issued ordinary shares representing approximately 60% of the issued share capital of Alibaba Pictures. We paid the total purchase price of HK$6,244 million (RMB4,955 million) upon the closing of the transaction. As part of our integration strategy, we made a number of changes at the board and operating management levels of Alibaba Pictures, including appointing a new chief executive officer with significant experience in the film industry and a chief financial officer who is a former audit partner of one of the Big Four accounting firms. In addition, we appointed our former chief risk officer as chairman of Alibaba Pictures and two new audit committee members from the financial and accounting industry. On August 14, 2014, Alibaba Pictures announced under Hong Kong Stock Exchange rules that there may be insufficient provision for impairments of certain assets and possible non-compliant accounting treatments for accounting periods prior to the completion of our investment. At the time of the acquisition, we already made certain provisions to the value of assets that we acquired with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill for the


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                purpose of our purchase price allocation in the course of preparing our consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2015. We have concluded that the provisions made are adequate based on Alibaba Pictures' announcement of the results of its investigation, and the issues referred to in Alibaba Pictures' August 14 announcement did not materially affect our overall financial position. In April 2015, we delivered a non-binding proposal for a possible business injection of our online movie ticketing business and financing and investment platform for the production of movies and other media content. There is no certainty that the possible business injection will proceed, and if it does proceed, there is no certainty on what terms the possible business injection would be implemented or that the conditions to its implementation would be satisfied. In addition, Alibaba Pictures entered into a placing agreement in relation to the placing of certain new ordinary shares. The aggregate proceeds from such placing amounted to approximately HK$12,179 million (RMB9,647 million). Our equity interest in Alibaba Pictures was diluted from 59.4% to 49.5% upon completion of this transaction in June 2015.

                Wasu, a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and engaged in the business of digital media broadcasting and distribution in China. In April 2015, Simon Xie, who is one of our founders and an equity holder in certain of our variable interest entities, was granted a financing with an aggregate principal of up to RMB6.9 billion by a major financial institution in the PRC, which was used to fund a minority investment in Wasu via a PRC limited partnership. A company controlled by Jack Ma serves as one of the general partners of the limited partnership. Yuzhu Shi, the founder, chairman and a principal shareholder of Giant Interactive, a China-based online game company that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and an entrepreneur with significant experience in and knowledge of the media industry in China, serves as the other general partner. Jack, through his control of one of the general partners, and Mr. Shi, as the other general partner and the executive partner, jointly control this PRC limited partnership. The interest of the general partner controlled by Jack in the limited partnership is limited to the return of its RMB10,000 contributed capital. We expect that these arrangements will facilitate our entering into strategic business arrangements with Wasu to enhance our entertainment strategy. The financing is secured by a pledge of Wasu shares acquired by the PRC limited partnership and a pledge of certain wealth management products we purchased. In addition, we entered into a loan agreement with a principal amount of up to RMB2.0 billion with Simon Xie in April 2015 to finance the repayment by Simon of the interest under the above-mentioned financing. Our loan to Mr. Xie will be made at an interest rate equal to SHIBOR as specified by us and is repayable in five years. The loan is secured by a pledge of Mr. Xie's limited partnership interest in the limited partnership, and will be available for draw-down starting January 1, 2016. We have entered into strategic cooperation agreements with a major shareholder of Wasu in order to enhance our capabilities and profile in the entertainment sector in China.

                Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products

                Alibaba Health (formerly known as CITIC21), a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is primarily engaged in the business of developing product identification, authentication and tracking system for pharmaceutical and medical products in China. We believe that healthcare will be an important retail marketplace category in the future. In April 2014, we completed an acquisition of newly issued ordinary shares representing an effective equity interest of approximately 38% in Alibaba Health. We paid the total purchase price of HK$932 million upon the closing of the transaction. In April 2015, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which we agreed to transfer the operations of our Tmall online pharmacy business to Alibaba Health in consideration for newly issued shares and convertible bonds of Alibaba Health. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.conditions, including approval by the independent


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                shareholders of Alibaba Health. Upon the closing of this transaction, our effective equity ownership of Alibaba Health will increase to approximately 53% (or 54.6% assuming the full conversion of the convertible bonds upon maturity) and46%. Alibaba Health is expectedthe flagship vehicle for us to becomeexecute our consolidated subsidiary.data-driven healthcare strategy.

                Logistics

                       We have made investments in a number of logistics-related companies as part of our strategy to enhance the consumer experience in our core commerce business through predictable, speedy and high quality logistics services. Below is a description of the major investments in this area in fiscal year 2017 and the period through the date of this annual report.

                Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain ManagementQingdao Goodaymart Logistics Co., Ltd. and other related businesses through our investments in Cainiao Network Technology, or RRS, a subsidiary of Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd., which we refer to as Cainiao Logistics (formerly referred to as China Smart Logistics), an operator ofor Haier, a nationwide logistics infrastructure and information system. In May 2013, we joined with other partners and logistics services businesses in China to form a joint venture to build and operate Cainiao


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                Logistics. Other equity partners in Cainiao Logistics include five major express delivery companies in China that provide services on our China retail marketplaces, as well as firms specializing in real estate development. We now own 48% of the joint venture and have subscribed for our proportionate share of the joint venture's RMB5,000 million registered capital, or RMB2,400 million. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Other Major Elements of Our Ecosystem —  Logistics."

                Haier, a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and principally engaged in the research, development, manufacture and sale of electrical appliances, especially large electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners.Exchange. In March 2014, as part of our strategy for providing better delivery and installation services to our buyersconsumers, we paid a total purchase price of electrical appliances, we completed an acquisition of ordinary shares representingHK$2,821 million to acquire a 9.9% equity interest in RRS and an approximately 2% equity interest in Haier, an acquisition of a 9.9% equity interest in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haier, which is engaged in the logistics business in China, and a subscription foras well as a convertible and exchangeable bond, which is either convertible intowe exchanged for an approximately 2.6%24% effective equity interest in Haier or exchangeable intoRRS in January 2017. In May 2017, we participated in a new financing round of RRS and paid a cash consideration of RMB340 million (US$49 million). As of the date of this annual report, we own an approximately 24%34% equity interest in RRS. Our investments in Haier and RRS have enabled our China retail marketplaces to gain a competitive advantage in the wholly-owned subsidiary of Haier engaged in logistics business in China, subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. We paid the total purchase price of HK$2,821 million upon the closinglarge home appliance category through high quality delivery, installation and after-sale services.

                YTO Express Group Co., Ltd, or YTO Express, one of the transactions.leading express courier companies in China. In May 2015, we invested RMB1,500 million in YTO Express, representing an equity interest of 12% in the company. YTO Express became listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in September 2016 as a result of a reverse takeover. Concurrent with its listing, we subscribed for newly issued shares of YTO Express for cash consideration of RMB420 million (US$61 million). As of the date of this annual report, we held an approximately 11% equity interest in YTO Express. YTO Express is one of the fifteen strategic express courier partners participating in the data platform of Cainiao Network to fulfill the logistics needs of businesses, including our core commerce business. We invested in YTO Express so that we can leverage our shareholding relationship to establish delivery service standards and new service offerings for online shopping. Once implemented and tested, these standards and offerings may be rolled out to other delivery partners of Cainiao Network, enhancing the overall consumer experience in retail commerce.

                       Singapore Post Limited, or SingPost, the national postal service provider in Singapore and a leading provider of e-commerce and logistics solutions in the Asia-Pacific region that is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. In July 2014,January 2017, we completed our subscription for newly issued ordinary shares of SingPost for cash consideration of approximately S$187 million (US$134 million), after which our equity interest in SingPost increased to approximately 14%. We also invested S$86 million (US$62 million) for a 34% equity interest in a wholly-owned subsidiary of SingPost in October 2016, which provides end-to-end e-commerce logistics and fulfillment services across the Asia-Pacific region.

                International Expansion

                Lazada Group S.A., or Lazada, a company that operates e-commerce platforms in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with local language websites and mobile apps in each of the six markets. In April 2016, we completed an acquisition of ordinarya controlling stake in Lazada for total cash consideration of US$1.0 billion. Lazada offers third-party brands and merchants a marketplace solution with simple and direct access to consumers in these six countries through one retail channel. Lazada also sells products owned by its retail operations. It has developed its own logistics infrastructure with warehouses and a last-mile delivery fleet to offer quick and reliable delivery to its customers. We intend that Lazada will be our vehicle for expansion into the Southeast Asia consumer market, including potential cross-border opportunities introducing Chinese merchants and international brands to Southeast Asian consumers.


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                One97 Communications Limited, or Paytm, the largest mobile payment platform in India in 2016 in terms of market share, according to PayNXT360. As of the date of this annual report, we owned an approximately 9% equity interest in Paytm. In March 2017, Paytm completed the spin-off of its e-commerce business, Paytm E-Commerce Private Limited, or Paytm Mall, to the shareholders of Paytm. Upon the establishment of Paytm Mall, we subscribed for an approximately 8% equity interest at par value. In March 2017, we subscribed for newly issued preferred shares in SingPost,Paytm Mall for total cash consideration of US$177 million, which consistsbrought our total equity interest in Paytm Mall to approximately 36% on a fully-diluted basis. The investments in Paytm and Paytm Mall are part of our strategy of expansion into India. Ant Financial Services is also a shareholder of both Paytm and Paytm Mall.

                Others

                AGTech Holdings Limited, or AGTech, an integrated lottery technology and services company in China that is listed on the Hong Kong Growth Enterprise Market. In August 2016, we and Ant Financial Services completed the subscription for newly issued ordinary shares and existingconvertible bonds of AGTech for a total investment amount of HK$2,388 million (US$307 million), of which our total investment is HK$1,433 million (US$184 million). Upon the completion of the transaction, AGTech became our consolidated subsidiary. In March 2017, we converted a portion of the convertible bonds into ordinary shares held in treasury by SingPost, representing approximately 10.32%of AGTech. As of the issued share capitaldate of SingPost.this annual report, we owned an approximately 55% equity interest in AGTech. We paid the total purchase price of approximately S$313 million upon the closing of the transaction.

                2014 Restructuring of Our Relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay

                       On August 12, 2014, we entered into a share and asset purchase agreement, or the 2014 SAPA, and entered into or amended certain ancillary agreements including an amendment and restatement of the Alipay IPLA. Pursuant to these agreements, we restructuredintend that AGTech will be our relationships with Ant Financial Services and its wholly-owned subsidiary Alipay, and terminated the 2011 framework agreement.

                       Pursuant to the 2014 SAPA, we sold certain equity interests and assets primarily relating to the SME loan business and related services, or the transferred business, to Ant Financial Servicesvehicle for an aggregate cash consideration of RMB3,219 million (US$519 million). In addition, we entered into software system use and service agreements with entities operating the SME loans business relating to the know-how and related intellectual property that we have agreed to sell together with the SME loan business and related services to Ant Financial Services. In calendar years 2015 to 2017, we will receive an annual fee equal to 2.5% of the average daily book balance of the micro loans made by such entities. In calendar years 2018 to 2021, we will receive an annual fee equal to the amount paid for the calendar year 2017, or collectively the SME annual fee.

                       In connection with the 2014 SAPA, we also entered into the amended Alipay IPLA, pursuant to which we license certain intellectual property and provide certain software technology services related to Alipay's current operations and the SME loan business. Under the amended Alipay IPLA, we receive royalty streams and a service fee, or collectively the profit share payments, paid at least annually, amounting to the sum of an expense reimbursement plus 37.5% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Ant Financial Services, subject to certain adjustments.

                       Pursuant to the terms of the 2014 SAPA,participating in the event of an initial public offering of Ant Financial Services or Alipay at an implied equity value exceeding US$25 billion which resultslottery business in gross proceeds of at least US$2 billion, or a qualified IPO, if our total ownership of equity interests in Ant Financial Services has not reached 33%, we would be entitled at our election to receive a one-time payment equal to 37.5% of the equity value of Ant Financial Services as determined immediately prior to such qualified IPO. There is no cap on the maximum value of such liquidity event payment. If we acquire equity interests in Ant Financial Services in an aggregate amount less than 33%, the percentage of Ant Financial Services' equity value used to calculate such liquidity event payment will be adjusted proportionately.

                       For additional details of the new and amended agreements, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries."


                Table of ContentsChina.

                Acquired Intangible Assets and Goodwill

                       When we make an acquisition, consideration that exceeds the book value of the acquired assets and liabilities is allocated to acquired intangible assets and goodwill. We have and will continue to incur amortization expenses as we amortize acquired intangible assets over their estimated useful life.life on a straight-line basis. We do not amortize our goodwill. We test intangible assets and goodwill periodically for impairment, and any such impairment may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Some of our acquisitions and investments may not be successful, and we may incur impairment charges in the future. For additional information, see "— Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates — Impairment Assessment on Goodwill and Intangible Assets" and "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We face risks relating to our acquisitions, investments and alliances."

                Key Financial Information of Selected Equity Method Investees

                       Our investments in the following companies are accounted for under the equity method. Consistent with our accounting policies for investments in equity method investees, we record our share of results of the following companies on a one quarter in arrears basis within share of results of equity investees in the consolidated income statements.

                Cainiao Network

                       In May 2013, we established a joint venture, Cainiao Network Technology Co., Ltd., a company incorporated in China, together with other parties with significant operational experience in logistics, retail and real estate in China. In March 2016, Cainiao Network Technology Co., Ltd. completed a restructuring process to establish a new holding company in the Cayman Islands, and as a result became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cainiao Network. As of March 31, 2017, we own an approximately 47% equity interest in Cainiao Network. The following table is a summary of key unaudited financial information of Cainiao Network. The financial data presented for periods prior to the restructuring process represents the unaudited financial information of Cainiao Network Technology Co., Ltd. See note 4(x) to the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report for further details.


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                Income statement data:

                 
                		 Twelve months ended
                December 31,                		 
                 
                		 2014 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  941  3,099  9,349 

                Net loss

                		  (183) (617) (2,242)

                Balance sheet data:

                 
                		 As of
                December 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Total assets

                		  5,929  20,925 

                Total liabilities

                		  1,761  7,565 

                Total equity

                		  4,168  13,360 

                       We recorded our share of the net loss of Cainiao Network of RMB90 million, RMB295 million and RMB1,056 million (US$153 million) in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. We also have commercial arrangements conducted on an arm's length basis with Cainiao Network to receive certain logistics services, primarily related to Tmall Supermarket, which are recorded in our cost of revenue. For additional details of the related party transactions with Cainiao Network, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions with Cainiao Network." Our logistics service costs paid or payable to Cainiao Network accounted for approximately 43% of its revenue for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

                Koubei

                       The following table is a summary of key unaudited financial information of Koubei:

                Income statement data:

                 
                		 From the date of
                incorporation to
                December 31,                		 Twelve months
                ended
                December 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  31  313 

                Net loss

                		  (1,735) (2,312)

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                Balance sheet data:

                 
                		 As of
                December 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Total assets

                		  1,731  3,971 

                Total liabilities

                		  445  1,068 

                Total equity

                		  1,286  2,903 

                       We recorded our share of the net loss of Koubei of RMB867 million and RMB990 million (US$144 million) in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                Alibaba Pictures

                       The following table is a summary of key unaudited financial information of Alibaba Pictures:

                Income statement data:

                 
                		 From the date of
                deconsolidation to
                December 31,                		 For the twelve
                months ended
                December 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  254  905 

                Net income/(loss)

                		  544  (976)

                Balance sheet data:

                 
                		 As of
                December 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Total assets

                		  18,976  19,563 

                Total liabilities

                		  2,782  2,431 

                Total equity

                		  16,194  17,132 

                       We recorded our share of the net income of Alibaba Pictures of RMB268 million and our share of the net loss of RMB482 million (US$70 million) in fiscal years 2016 and 2017, respectively. We also disposed of our online movie ticketing business and financing and investment platform for production of movie and other media content to Alibaba Pictures during fiscal year 2016 at a cash consideration of US$350 million (RMB2,259 million) plus certain reimbursement amounts. We recognized a disposal gain of RMB2,214 million (US$343 million) in interest and investment income, net in our audited consolidated income statement for fiscal year 2016.


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                Results of Operations

                       The following table sets out our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated:


                		 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

                		 2013 2014 2015  2015 2016 2017 

                		 RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB US$ 

                		 (in millions, except per share data)
                		  (in millions, except per share data)
                		 

                Revenue

                		                  

                China commerce

                		 29,167 45,132 62,937 10,153 

                International commerce

                		 4,160 4,851 6,486 1,046 

                Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure

                		 650 773 1,271 205 

                Others

                		 540 1,748 5,510 889 
                         

                Core commerce

                		 69,536 92,335 133,880 19,450 

                Cloud computing

                		 1,271 3,019 6,663 968 

                Digital media and entertainment

                		 2,191 3,972 14,733 2,141 

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		 3,206 1,817 2,997 435 
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Total

                		 34,517 52,504 76,204 12,293  76,204 101,143 158,273 22,994 

                Cost of revenue

                		 (9,719) (13,369) (23,834) (3,845) (23,834) (34,355) (59,483) (8,642)

                Product development expenses

                		 (3,753) (5,093) (10,658) (1,720) (10,658) (13,788) (17,060) (2,479)

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		 (3,613) (4,545) (8,513) (1,373) (8,513) (11,307) (16,314) (2,370)

                General and administrative expenses

                		 (2,889) (4,218) (7,800) (1,258) (7,800) (9,205) (12,239) (1,778)

                Amortization of intangible assets

                		 (130) (315) (2,089) (337) (2,089) (2,931) (5,122) (744)

                Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

                		 (175) (44) (175) (28)

                Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment

                		 (3,487) — — — 
                         

                Impairment of goodwill

                		 (175) (455) — —
                		 
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                Income from operations

                		 10,751 24,920 23,135 3,732  23,135 29,102 48,055 6,981 

                Interest and investment income, net

                		 39 1,648 9,455 1,525  9,455 52,254 8,559 1,244 

                Interest expense

                		 (1,572) (2,195) (2,750) (443) (2,750) (1,946) (2,671) (388)

                Other income, net

                		 894 2,429 2,486 401  2,486 2,058 6,086 884 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

                		 10,112 26,802 32,326 5,215  32,326 81,468 60,029 8,721 

                Income tax expenses

                		 (1,457) (3,196) (6,416) (1,035) (6,416) (8,449) (13,776) (2,002)

                Share of results of equity investees

                		 (6) (203) (1,590) (257) (1,590) (1,730) (5,027) (730)
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Net income

                		 8,649 23,403 24,320 3,923  24,320 71,289 41,226 5,989 

                Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

                		 (117) (88) (59) (9)
                         

                Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

                		 (59) 171 2,449 356 
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                Net income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                		 8,532 23,315 24,261 3,914  24,261 71,460 43,675 6,345 

                Accretion of convertible preference shares

                		 (17) (31) (15) (2) (15) — — — 

                Dividends accrued on convertible preference shares

                		 (111) (208) (97) (16) (97) — — —
                		 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

                		 8,404 23,076 24,149 3,896  24,149 71,460 43,675 6,345 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​
                         
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                Earnings per share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders:

                		 
                                 		 
                                 		 
                                 		 
                                 		          

                Basic

                		 3.66 10.61 10.33 1.67  10.33 29.07 17.52 2.55 

                Diluted

                		 3.57 10.00 9.70 1.56  9.70 27.89 16.97 2.47 

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                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 2017 
                 
                		 %
                		 %
                		 %
                		 
                 
                		 (as percentage of
                revenue)
                		 

                Revenue

                		          

                Core commerce

                		  91  91  85 

                Cloud computing

                		  2  3  4 

                Digital media and entertainment

                		  3  4  9 

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		  4  2  2 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Total

                		  100  100  100 

                Cost of revenue

                		  (31) (34) (38)

                Product development expenses

                		  (14) (14) (11)

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		  (11) (11) (10)

                General and administrative expenses

                		  (10) (9) (8)

                Amortization of intangible assets

                		  (3) (3) (3)

                Impairment of goodwill

                		  (1) —  —
                		 
                ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                Income from operations

                		  30  29  30 

                Interest and investment income, net

                		  13  52  6 

                Interest expense

                		  (4) (2) (2)

                Other income, net

                		  3  2  4 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

                		  42  81  38 

                Income tax expenses

                		  (8) (8) (9)

                Share of results of equity investees

                		  (2) (2) (3)
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Net income

                		  32  71  26 

                Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

                		  —  —  2 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Net income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                		  32  71  28 

                Accretion of convertible preference shares

                		  —  —  — 

                Dividends accrued on convertible preference shares

                		  —  —  —
                		 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

                		  32  71  28 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Segment Information for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016 and 2017

                       The table below sets forth certain financial information of our operating segments for the periods indicated:

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 2017 
                 
                		 Core
                commerce                		 Cloud
                computing                		 Digital media
                and
                entertainment                		 Innovation
                initiatives
                and others                		 Unallocated(1) Consolidated 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  133,880  6,663  14,733  2,997  —  158,273  22,994 

                Income (loss) from operations

                		  
                74,180                		  
                (1,681
                )                		 
                (9,882
                )                		 
                (6,798
                )                		 
                (7,764
                )                		 
                48,055                		  
                6,981                		 

                Add: Share-based compensation expense

                		  5,994  1,201  1,454  3,017  4,329  15,995  2,324 

                Add: Amortization of intangible assets

                		  2,258  4  1,886  656  318  5,122  744 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                Adjusted EBITA

                		  82,432  (476) (6,542) (3,125) (3,117) 69,172  10,049 
                ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA margin

                		  62% (7)% (44)% (104)%    44%   

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                		 Year ended March 31, 2016 
                 
                		 Core
                commerce                		 Cloud
                computing                		 Digital media
                and
                entertainment                		 Innovation
                initiatives
                and others                		 Unallocated(1) Consolidated 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  92,335  3,019  3,972  1,817  —  101,143 

                Income (loss) from operations

                		  
                51,153                		  
                (2,605
                )                		 
                (4,112
                )                		 
                (7,216
                )                		 
                (8,118
                )                		 
                29,102                		 

                Add: Share-based compensation expense

                		  6,224  1,349  981  3,092  4,436  16,082 

                Add: Amortization of intangible assets

                		  659  4  1,321  657  290  2,931 

                Add: Impairment of goodwill

                		  —  —  —  —  455  455 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA

                		  58,036  (1,252) (1,810) (3,467) (2,937) 48,570 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA margin

                		  63% (41)% (46)% (191)%    48%


                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 2015 
                 
                		 Core
                commerce                		 Cloud
                computing                		 Digital media
                and
                entertainment                		 Innovation
                initiatives
                and others                		 Unallocated(1) Consolidated 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		  69,536  1,271  2,191  3,206  —  76,204 

                Income (loss) from operations

                		  
                40,194                		  
                (1,923
                )                		 
                (2,993
                )                		 
                (5,549
                )                		 
                (6,594
                )                		 
                23,135                		 

                Add: Share-based compensation expense

                		  4,391  813  425  3,460  3,939  13,028 

                Add: Amortization of intangible assets

                		  279  20  1,107  472  211  2,089 

                Add: Impairment of goodwill

                		  —  —  —  —  175  175 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA

                		  44,864  (1,090) (1,461) (1,617) (2,269) 38,427 
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                Adjusted EBITA margin

                		  65% (86)% (67)% (50)%    50%
                (1)
                Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative costs and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments.

                Table of Contents


                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2013 2014 2015 
                 
                		 %
                		 %
                		 %
                		 
                 
                		 (as percentage of revenue)
                		 

                Revenue

                		          

                China commerce

                		  84  86  82 

                International commerce

                		  12  9  9 

                Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure

                		  2  2  2 

                Others

                		  2  3  7 
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Total

                		  100  100  100 

                Cost of revenue

                		  (28) (25) (31)

                Product development expenses

                		  (11) (10) (14)

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		  (11) (9) (11)

                General and administrative expenses

                		  (8) (8) (10)

                Amortization of intangible assets

                		  —  (1) (3)

                Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

                		  (1) —  (1)

                Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment

                		  (10) —  — 
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Income from operations

                		  31  47  30 

                Interest and investment income, net

                		  —  3  13 

                Interest expense

                		  (5) (4) (4)

                Other income, net

                		  3  5  3 
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

                		  29  51  42 

                Income tax expenses

                		  (4) (6) (8)

                Share of results of equity investees

                		  —  —  (2)
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Net income

                		  25  45  32 

                Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

                		  (1) (1) — 
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Net income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                		  24  44  32 

                Accretion of convertible preference shares

                		  —  —  — 

                Dividends accrued on convertible preference shares

                		  —  —  — 
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

                		  24  44  32 
                        
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                        

                Comparison of Fiscal Years 20142016 and 20152017

                Revenue


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2016 2017  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB US$ % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                China commerce

                		 45,132 62,937 10,153 39% 

                International commerce

                		 4,851 6,486 1,046 34% 

                Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure

                		 773 1,271 205 64% 

                Core commerce:

                		         

                China commerce retail

                		 80,033 114,109 16,578 43% 

                China commerce wholesale

                		 4,288 5,679 825 32% 

                International commerce retail

                		 2,204 7,336 1,066 233% 

                International commerce wholesale

                		 5,425 6,001 872 11% 

                Others

                		 1,748 5,510 889 215%  385 755 109 96% 
                         
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​

                Total core commerce

                		 92,335 133,880 19,450 45% 

                Cloud computing

                		 3,019 6,663 968 121% 

                Digital media and entertainment

                		 3,972 14,733 2,141 271% 

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		 1,817 2,997 435 65% 
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​

                Total revenue

                		 52,504 76,204 12,293 45%  101,143 158,273 22,994 56% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​
                ​
                         
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​

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                       Total revenue increased by 45%,56% from RMB52,504RMB101,143 million in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB76,204RMB158,273 million (US$12,29322,994 million) in fiscal year 2015.2017. The increase was mainly driven by the continued rapid growth of our China commerce retail business. Our revenue growth rate will likely declinebusiness, Alibaba Cloud as our revenue grows to higher levels.well as the consolidation of newly acquired businesses, mainly Youku Tudou and Lazada.

                Core commerce segment

                  China Commercecommerce retail business


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2016 2017  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB US$ % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		                  

                China commerce retail business

                		                  

                Online marketing services

                		 29,729 37,509 6,051 26%  52,396 77,530 11,264 48% 

                Commission

                		 12,023 21,201 3,420 76%  25,829 34,066 4,949 32% 

                Others(1)

                		 1,080 1,022 165 (5%) 1,808 2,513 365 39% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​

                		 42,832 59,732 9,636 39% 

                China commerce wholesale business

                		 2,300 3,205 517 39% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​

                Total

                		 45,132 62,937 10,153 39%  80,033 114,109 16,578 43% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​
                ​
                         
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​
                (1)
                Primarily consists of storefront fees.

                       Revenue from our China commerce retail business increased by 39%43% from RMB42,832RMB80,033 million in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB59,732RMB114,109 million (US$9,63616,578 million) in fiscal year 2015.

                       Revenue growth during this period reflected2017, primarily driven by an increase of 46%48% in GMV transactedonline marketing services revenue and an increase of 32% in commission revenue.

                       Online marketing services revenue increased by 48% from RMB52,396 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB77,530 million (US$11,264 million) in fiscal year 2017. The growth was primarily driven by our ability to deliver more relevant content to consumers through our improved data technology, which resulted in higher spending on these marketplaces, includingour marketing services by an increasing number of brands and merchants, leading to a 36%47% increase in the number of clicks attributable to our P4P marketing services, and a 1% increase in the cost-per-click paid by


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                our merchants. The growth also reflected the full effect of online marketing inventory we added in May and September 2015.

                       Commission revenue increased by 32% from RMB25,829 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB34,066 million (US$4,949 million) in fiscal year 2017, primarily driven by an increase of 29% in Tmall GMV.

                       Mobile revenue from our China commerce retail business increased by 80% from RMB50,337 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB90,731 million (US$13,182 million) in fiscal year 2017, representing 80% of our China commerce retail business revenue in fiscal year 2017, compared to 63% in fiscal year 2016. Mobile monetization rate improved to 3.04% in fiscal year 2017 from 2.51% in fiscal year 2016.

                       GMV transacted on Taobao Marketplace increased by 17% from RMB1,173RMB1,877 billion in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB1,597RMB2,202 billion (US$258320 billion) in fiscal year 20152017, and a 68% increase in GMV transacted on Tmall increased by 29% from RMB505RMB1,215 billion in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB847RMB1,565 billion (US$136227 billion) in fiscal year 2015.2017. The overall increase in total GMV transacted on these marketplaces was primarily driven by a 37% increase in the number of buyers and, to a lesser extent, by a moderate14% increase in the average level of their spending. The rapid increase in GMV transacted on Tmall in particular was attributable to thespending and a 7% increase in the number of buyers making purchases on Tmall, reflecting consumer preferences for branded products and a premium shopping experience, increases in the average level of spending of buyers and the beneficial impact of promotional events. Our monetization rate during this period decreased from 2.55% in fiscal year 2014 to 2.44% in fiscal year 2015, mainly as a result of the higher percentage of total GMV contributed by mobile GMV, which has a lower monetization rate compared to the non-mobile monetization rate.annual active buyers.

                         Mobile revenue from our China commerce retailwholesale business in fiscal year 2015 was RMB17,840 million (US$2,878 million), an increase of 514% compared to RMB2,905 million in fiscal year 2014, representing 30% of our China commerce retail business revenue in fiscal year 2015, compared to 7% in fiscal year 2014. The increase in mobile revenue from our China commerce retail business was primarily due to an increase in GMV generated on mobile devices and also to an increase in the mobile monetization rate.

                         Online marketing services revenue increased by 26% from RMB29,729 million in fiscal year 2014 to RMB37,509 million (US$6,051 million) in fiscal year 2015, reflecting GMV growth of 46% from RMB1,678 billion in fiscal year 2014 to RMB2,444 billion (US$394 billion) in fiscal year 2015. The lower growth rate of online marketing services revenue relative to the GMV growth rate reflected the ongoing shift of consumer engagement from personal computers to mobile devices, as we monetize mobile GMV at a lower rate than GMV transacted on personal computer interfaces because merchants allocated a smaller proportion of their budget to purchase online marketing services on mobile relative to the GMV generated on mobile. As a result, mobile GMV accounted for 19% and 41% of total GMV in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, respectively, while mobile revenue accounted for 7% and 30% of China commerce retail business revenue, respectively, during those periods. This lower but increasing


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                  level of mobile monetization reflected our focus on prioritizing mobile user activity and engagement over monetization and the fact that we increased our efforts to promote online marketing services for mobile interfaces beginning in the three months ended December 31, 2013. The increase in online marketing services revenue during this period was primarily driven by a 55% increase in the number of clicks attributable to our P4P marketing services. This increase was partially offset by a 21% decrease in the cost-per-click paid by our merchants, as a result of the higher percentage of total clicks generated on mobile devices, which have a lower cost-per-click compared to cost-per-click on personal computers. Our strong momentum in mobile and commitment to improving user experience may slow the growth rate of our online marketing services revenue in the near term, but we believe our approach will create significant value for both our users and our business in the longer term. To a lesser extent, our online marketing services revenue during this period was also positively impacted by an increase in the CPM of our display marketing services, which was partially offset by a decrease in the number of impressions displayed.

                         Commission revenue increased by 76% from RMB12,023 million in fiscal year 2014 to RMB21,201 million (US$3,420 million) in fiscal year 2015, primarily due to a 68% increase in GMV transacted on Tmall during the same period as well as an increase of RMB989 million in lottery commission income from Taobao marketplace, which was mainly due to significantly higher activity since the World Cup soccer competition in the summer of 2014 before we suspended our lottery business in late February 2015, around the same time as the other major online lottery platforms in China in response to regulatory requirements. The published commission rates we charge by category as well as our blended commission rate remained relatively stable over this period, and accordingly, the increase in revenue from commissions during this period was principally a result of increased GMV transacted rather than any change in the pricing of commission rates. As Tmall GMV increased at a higher rate than Taobao Marketplace GMV, commission revenue grew at a faster rate than online marketing services revenue because we charge commissions on Tmall. Commission revenue from transactions on Tmall is generated from both personal computer and mobile transactions, and accordingly the ongoing shift of consumer engagement towards mobile devices did not negatively affect commission revenue from GMV transacted on Tmall.

                       Revenue from our China commerce wholesale business increased by 39%32% from RMB2,300RMB4,288 million in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB3,205RMB5,679 million (US$517825 million) in fiscal year 2015.2017. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in paying members and an increase in average revenue from paying members and an increase in paying members.

                  International Commercecommerce retail business

                 
                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		 
                 
                		 2014 2015  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		             

                International commerce retail business

                		  938  1,768  285  88% 

                International commerce wholesale business

                		  3,913  4,718  761  21% 
                           
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                Total

                		  4,851  6,486  1,046  34% 
                           
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                           

                       Revenue from our international commerce retail business increased by 88%233% from RMB938RMB2,204 million in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB1,768RMB7,336 million (US$2851,066 million) in fiscal year 2015.2017. The main reason for this increase was primarily due to the consolidation of Lazada and an increase in GMV transacted on AliExpress, primarily from the increasing number of buyers, particularly in Russia, Brazil and the United States.AliExpress.

                  International commerce wholesale business

                       Revenue from our international commerce wholesale business increased by 21%11% from RMB3,913RMB5,425 million in fiscal year 2014,2016, of which 88%67% was from membership fees and value-added services and 12% was from online marketing services and 33% was from value-added services, to RMB4,718RMB6,001 million (US$761872 million) in fiscal year 2015,2017, of which 85%65% was from membership fees and value-addedonline marketing services and 15%35% was from online marketingvalue-added services. The increase in revenue was primarily due to growth in revenue generated by import/export related services, and to a lesser extent, to an increase in online marketing service revenue from China wholesale suppliers.

                Cloud Computing segment

                       Revenue from our cloud computing business in fiscal year 2017 was RMB6,663 million (US$968 million), an increase of 121% compared to RMB3,019 million in fiscal year 2016, primarily driven by an increase in the number of paying memberscustomers to 874,000, representing a year-over-year increase of 70%, and also an increase in average revenuetheir usage of and spending on our cloud computing services including more complex offerings, such as our content delivery network and database services.

                Digital media and entertainment segment

                       Revenue from paying members.


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                  Other Revenue

                       Other revenueour digital media and entertainment business in fiscal year 20152017 was RMB5,510RMB14,733 million (US$8892,141 million), an increase of 215%271% compared to RMB1,748RMB3,972 million in fiscal year 2014. This2016. The increase was primarily due to the consolidation of revenue from acquired businesses (mainly UCWebYouku Tudou, and AutoNavi) in a total amount of RMB2,489 million (US$402 million), andalso to an increase in interest income generatedrevenue from mobile value-added services provided by the SME loan business before this businessUCWeb, such as mobile search, news feeds and game publishing.


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                Innovation initiatives and others segment

                       Revenue from innovation initiatives and others in fiscal year 2017 was transferredRMB2,997 million (US$435 million), an increase of 65% compared to Ant Financial Services upon the completion of the restructuring of our relationship with Ant Financial ServicesRMB1,817 million in early February 2015.fiscal year 2016, primarily due to an increase in revenue from YunOS and other new initiatives.

                Cost of Revenue


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended March 31,  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2016 2017  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB US$ % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Cost of revenue

                		 13,369 23,834 3,845 78%  34,355 59,483 8,642 73%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 25% 31%      34% 38%     

                Share-based compensation expense included in cost of revenue

                		 
                4,003                		 
                3,893                		 
                566                		 
                (3
                )%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 4% 2%     

                Cost of revenue excluding share-based compensation expense

                		 
                30,352                		 
                55,590                		 
                8,076                		 
                83
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		 30% 36%     

                       Our cost of revenue increased by 78%73% from RMB13,369RMB34,355 million in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB23,834RMB59,483 million (US$3,8458,642 million) in fiscal year 2015.2017. This increase was primarily due to increases of RMB4,183 million in payroll and benefits expense mainly resulting from an increase in share-based compensation expense (an effect that we expect will continue, as discussed in "Share-based Compensation" above), an increase of RMB1,653RMB6,986 million in content acquisition costs for online media properties as a result of the consolidation of Youku Tudou, an increase of RMB4,432 million in bandwidth and co-location fees and depreciation expenses as a result of our consolidation of Youku Tudou and investments in our cloud computing business and our data platform, an increase of RMB1,487RMB3,239 million in payment processing fees resulting from an increase in GMV transacted on our retail marketplaces and an increasecosts of RMB951 million in traffic acquisition costsinventory as a result of the expansionour consolidation of Lazada, an increase of RMB3,526 million in logistics costs mainly relating to fulfillment services provided to us by our affiliate Cainiao Network, which amounted to RMB4,444 million (US$646 million), or 3% of our third-partyrevenue, in fiscal year 2017, primarily related to Tmall Supermarket. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue would have increased from 30% in fiscal year 2016 to 36% in fiscal year 2017, primarily due to an increase in content acquisition costs by Youku Tudou, cost of inventory by Lazada and logistics costs relating to fulfillment services provided to Tmall Supermarket by our affiliate marketing ecosystem.Cainiao Network, as discussed above. As we continue to invest in our business,new and acquired businesses, customer service initiatives and infrastructure, we expect our cost of revenue will increase in absolute dollar amounts and will likely increase as a percentage of revenues.

                Product Development Expenses


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended March 31,  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2016 2017  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB US$ % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Product development expenses

                		 5,093 10,658 1,720 109% 

                Product of development expenses

                		 13,788 17,060 2,479 24%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 10% 14%      14% 11%     

                Share-based compensation expense included in product development expenses

                		 
                5,703                		 
                5,712                		 
                830                		 
                0
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		 6% 4%     

                Product development expenses excluding share-based compensation expense

                		 
                8,085                		 
                11,348                		 
                1,649                		 
                40
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		 8% 7%     

                Table of Contents

                       Our product development expenses increased by 109%24% from RMB5,093RMB13,788 million in fiscal year 20142016 to RMB10,658RMB17,060 million (US$1,7202,479 million) in fiscal year 2015.2017. The increase was largely due to an increase of RMB5,465RMB2,881 million in payroll and benefits expenses. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, product development expenses as a percentage of revenue would have decreased from 8% in fiscal year 2016 to 7% in fiscal year 2017, due to operating leverage. We expect our product development expenses will increase in absolute amounts and may over time increase as a percentage of revenues.

                Sales and Marketing Expenses

                 
                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		 
                 
                		 2016 2017  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		  11,307  16,314  2,370  44%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  11% 10%      

                Share-based compensation expense included in sales and marketing expenses

                		  
                1,963                		  
                1,772                		  
                257                		  
                (10
                )%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  2% 1%      

                Sales and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation expense

                		  
                9,344                		  
                14,542                		  
                2,113                		  
                56
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		  9% 9%      

                       Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 44% from RMB11,307 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB16,314 million (US$2,370 million) in fiscal year 2017. The increase was due primarily to the consolidation of Youku Tudou and Lazada, as well as an increase in advertising and promotional spending mainly to promote our business initiatives, such as Tmall Supermarket and UCWeb during fiscal year 2017 and an increase of RMB1,222 million in payroll and benefit expenses. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue would have remained stable at 9% in fiscal year 2016 and fiscal year 2017. We expect our sales and marketing expenses will increase in absolute amounts and may increase as a percentage of revenues as we continue to invest in marketing and promotion.

                General and Administrative Expenses

                 
                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		 
                 
                		 2016 2017  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                General and administrative expenses

                		  9,205  12,239  1,778  33%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  9% 8%      

                Share-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses

                		  
                4,413                		  
                4,618                		  
                671                		  
                5
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		  4% 3%      

                General and administrative excluding share-based compensation expense

                		  
                4,792                		  
                7,621                		  
                1,107                		  
                59
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		  5% 5%      

                       Our general and administrative expenses increased by 33% from RMB9,205 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB12,239 million (US$1,778 million) in fiscal year 2017. The increase was primarily due to a significant increase of RMB1,358 million in payroll and benefits expenses, as well as an increase in depreciation and other administrative expenses. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, general and administrative


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                expenses as a percentage of revenue in fiscal year 2017 would have remained stable at 5% in both fiscal year 2016 and 2017.

                Amortization of Intangible Assets

                 
                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		 
                 
                		 2016 2017  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Amortization of intangible assets

                		  2,931  5,122  744  75%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  3% 3%      

                       Amortization of intangible assets increased by 75% from RMB2,931 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB5,122 million (US$744 million) in fiscal year 2017. This increase was due to an increase in intangible assets recognized arising from our strategic acquisitions and investments, including Youku Tudou and Lazada. As we consolidate newly acquired businesses, we expect that our amortization of intangible assets will increase in the future.

                Income from Operations and Operating Margin

                 
                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		 
                 
                		 2016 2017  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Income from operations

                		  29,102  48,055  6,981  65%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  29% 30%      

                Share-based compensation expense included in income from operations

                		  
                16,082                		  
                15,995                		  
                2,324                		  
                (1
                )%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  16% 10%      

                Income from operations excluding share-based compensation expense

                		  
                45,184                		  
                64,050                		  
                9,305                		  
                42
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		  45% 40%      

                       Our income from operations increased by 65% from RMB29,102 million, or 29% of revenue, in fiscal year 2016 to RMB48,055 million (US$6,981 million), or 30% of revenue, in fiscal year 2017. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, our operating margin would have decreased from 45% in fiscal year 2016 to 40% in fiscal year 2017, primarily attributable to our consolidation of Youku Tudou and Lazada, partially offset by operating leverage.


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                Adjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITA margin

                       Adjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITA margin by segments are set forth in the table below. See the section entitled "— Segment Information for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016 and 2017" above for a reconciliation of income from operations to adjusted EBITA.

                 
                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		 
                 
                		 2016 2017  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB % of
                Segment
                Revenue                		 RMB US$ % of
                Segment
                Revenue                		 %
                Change                		 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Core commerce

                		  58,036  63% 82,432  11,976  62% 42%

                Cloud computing

                		  (1,252) (41)% (476) (69) (7)% (62)%

                Digital media and entertainment

                		  (1,810) (46)% (6,542) (951) (44)% 261%

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		  (3,467) (191)% (3,125) (454) (104)% (10)%

                  Core commerce segment

                       Adjusted EBITA increased by 42% to RMB82,432 million (US$11,976 million) in fiscal year 2017, compared to RMB58,036 million in fiscal year 2016. Adjusted EBITA margin decreased to 62% in fiscal year 2017 from 63% in fiscal year 2016, primarily due to the consolidation of Lazada and investment in Tmall Supermarket, partially offset by operating leverage.

                  Cloud computing segment

                       Adjusted EBITA in fiscal year 2017 was a loss of RMB476 million (US$69 million), compared to a loss of RMB1,252 million in fiscal year 2016. Adjusted EBITA margin improved to negative 7% in fiscal year 2017 from negative 41% in fiscal year 2016, primarily due to robust growth in revenue and economies of scale.

                  Digital media and entertainment segment

                       Adjusted EBITA in fiscal year 2017 was a loss of RMB6,542 million (US$951 million), compared to a loss of RMB1,810 million in fiscal year 2016. Adjusted EBITA margin improved to negative 44% in fiscal year 2017 from negative 46% in fiscal year 2016, primarily due to improved margins at UCWeb driven by an increase in revenue from mobile value-added services, partially offset by the consolidation of Youku Tudou.

                  Innovation initiatives and others segment

                       Adjusted EBITA in fiscal year 2017 was a loss of RMB3,125 million (US$454 million), compared to a loss of RMB3,467 million in fiscal year 2016. Adjusted EBITA margin improved to negative 104% in fiscal year 2017 from negative 191% in fiscal year 2016, primarily due to an increase in revenue from new business initiatives.

                Interest and Investment Income, Net

                       Our net interest and investment income decreased from RMB52,254 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB8,559 million (US$1,244 million) in fiscal year 2017. Interest and investment income in fiscal year 2016 included a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures, a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health when we obtained control over Alibaba Health in July 2015, as well as gains arising from disposal of certain investments and businesses.


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                Interest Expense

                       Our interest expense increased by 37% from RMB1,946 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB2,671 million (US$388 million) in fiscal year 2017. The increase in interest expense was primarily due to an increase in average debt outstanding, including an additional US$4.0 billion five-year term loan facility drawn down in fiscal year 2017.

                Other Income, Net

                       Our other income, net increased by 196% from RMB2,058 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB6,086 million (US$884 million) in fiscal year 2017. The increase was primarily due to an increase in exchange gains and income recognized in respect of royalty fees and software technology services fees from Ant Financial, which increased from RMB1,122 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB2,086 million (US$303 million) in fiscal year 2017.

                Income Tax Expenses

                       Our income tax expenses increased by 63% from RMB8,449 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB13,776 million (US$2,002 million) in fiscal year 2017. The increase in income tax expenses was primarily due to the increase in taxable income from our operations in China. Our effective tax rate increased to 23% in fiscal year 2017 from 10% in fiscal year 2016. Profit before income tax in fiscal year 2016 included a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest in Alibaba Health, which were non-taxable, leading to a lower effective tax rate in fiscal year 2016. Excluding share-based compensation expense, impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and investments, as well as other unrealized investment gain/loss, our effective tax rate would have been 18% in fiscal year 2017, compared to 15% in fiscal year 2016, primarily due to the consolidation of Youku Tudou and Lazada, which are both loss-making.

                Share of Results of Equity Investees

                       Share of losses of equity investees in fiscal year 2017 was RMB5,027 million (US$730 million), an increase of 191% compared to RMB1,730 million in fiscal year 2016. Share of results of equity investee in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 consisted of the following:

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2016 2017 
                 
                		 RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Share of profit (loss) of equity investees:

                		          

                Koubei

                		  (867) (990) (144)

                Youku Tudou

                		  (391) —  — 

                Cainiao Network

                		  (295) (1,056) (153)

                Others

                		  62  (838) (122)

                Impairment loss

                		  —  (245) (35)

                Dilution gains (losses)

                		  827  (336) (49)

                Others

                		  (1,066) (1,562) (227)
                ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                		  (1,730) (5,027) (730)
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                       The increase in share of losses of equity investees in fiscal year 2017 compared to fiscal year 2016 was primarily due to an increase in our share of losses of Cainiao Network and other equity investees, as well as an accounting loss related to the dilution of our ownership interest in Weibo in fiscal year 2017, which resulted from Weibo's issuance of share-based compensation, as compared to accounting gains related the dilution of our ownership interests in Cainiao Network and Evergrande FC, as these investees each raised capital at a higher valuation in fiscal year 2016.


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                Net Income

                       As a result of the foregoing, our net income decreased by 42% from RMB71,289 million in fiscal year 2016 to RMB41,226 million (US$5,989 million) in fiscal year 2017.

                Comparison of Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016

                Revenue

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Core commerce

                		          

                China commerce retail

                		  59,732  80,033  34%

                China commerce wholesale

                		  3,205  4,288  34%

                International commerce retail

                		  1,768  2,204  25%

                International commerce wholesale

                		  4,718  5,425  15%

                Others

                		  113  385  241%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​

                Total core commerce

                		  69,536  92,335  33%

                Cloud computing

                		  1,271  3,019  138%

                Digital media and entertainment

                		  2,191  3,972  81%

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		  3,206  1,817  (43)%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​

                Total revenue

                		  76,204  101,143  33%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​

                       Total revenue increased by 33%, from RMB76,204 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB101,143 million in fiscal year 2016. The increase was mainly driven by the continued rapid growth of our China commerce retail business.

                Core commerce segment

                  China commerce retail business

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		          

                China commerce retail business

                		          

                Online marketing services

                		  37,509  52,396  40%

                Commission

                		  21,201  25,829  22%

                Others(1)

                		  1,022  1,808  77%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​

                Total

                		  59,732  80,033  34%
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​
                (1)
                Primarily consists of storefront fees.

                       Revenue from our China commerce retail business increased by 34% from RMB59,732 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB80,033 million in fiscal year 2016.

                       Revenue growth during this period reflected an increase of 27% in GMV transacted on our China retail marketplaces and an increase in the monetization rate. GMV transacted on Taobao Marketplace increased by 18% from RMB1,597 billion in fiscal year 2015 to RMB1,877 billion in fiscal year 2016 and GMV transacted on Tmall


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                increased by 43% from RMB847 billion in fiscal year 2015 to RMB1,215 billion in fiscal year 2016. The overall increase in total GMV transacted on these marketplaces was primarily driven by a 21% increase in the number of buyers and, to a lesser extent, by a moderate increase in the average level of their spending. The growth in GMV transacted on Tmall in particular was attributable to the increase in the number of buyers making purchases on Tmall, reflecting consumer preferences for branded products and a premium shopping experience and the beneficial impact of promotional events, and increases in the average level of spending of buyers. Our monetization rate during this period increased from 2.44% in fiscal year 2015 to 2.59% in fiscal year 2016, mainly as a result of the accelerated growth of our online marketing services revenue.

                       Online marketing services revenue increased by 40% from RMB37,509 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB52,396 million in fiscal year 2016. The growth was primarily driven by our focus on high-quality merchants and on delivering a broader value proposition to our merchants. This resulted in higher marketing spend by our merchants as we optimized online marketing efficiency and added new online marketing inventory on both mobile and PC interfaces, leading to a 44% increase in the number of clicks attributable to our P4P marketing services, and a 1% increase in the cost-per-click paid by our merchants. To a lesser extent, our online marketing services revenue during this period was also positively impacted by an increase in the CPM of our display marketing services, partially offset by a decrease in the number of impressions displayed.

                       Commission revenue increased by 22% from RMB21,201 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB25,829 million in fiscal year 2016. The lower year-over-year commission revenue growth relative to the 43% increase in GMV transacted on Tmall during the same period was mainly a result of (i) suspension of our online lottery business on Taobao Marketplace (which had a higher monetization rate than our overall monetization rate) in late February 2015 in response to regulatory requirements, (ii) a decrease in the pricing charged on Juhuasuan as an investment to acquire more high-quality merchants and (iii) impact from changes in category mix. Excluding the effect of the online lottery business, our revenue would have increased by 31% in fiscal year 2016 from fiscal year 2015. Due to the ongoing shift of user engagement toward mobile devices, categories such as virtual goods on which we charge a lower commission rate, are seeing higher growth than other categories. As a result of the above, commission revenue increased at a lower rate than the Tmall GMV.

                       Mobile revenue from our China commerce retail business increased by 182% from RMB17,840 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB50,337 million in fiscal year 2016, representing 63% of our China commerce retail business revenue in fiscal year 2016, compared to 30% in fiscal year 2015. The increase in mobile revenue from our China commerce retail business was primarily due to an increase in GMV generated and better monetization of traffic on mobile devices. Mobile monetization rate improved to 2.51% in fiscal year 2016 from 1.79% in fiscal year 2015.

                  China commerce wholesale business

                       Revenue from our China commerce wholesale business increased by 34% from RMB3,205 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB4,288 million in fiscal year 2016. The increase in revenue was due to an increase in average revenue from paying members and an increase in paying members.

                  International commerce retail business

                       Revenue from our international commerce retail business increased by 25% from RMB1,768 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB2,204 million in fiscal year 2016. The main reason for this increase was an increase in GMV transacted on AliExpress, primarily due to the increasing number of consumers, particularly in Russia, Spain, the United States and France.

                  International commerce wholesale business

                       Revenue from our international commerce wholesale business increased by 15% from RMB4,718 million in fiscal year 2015, of which 69% was from membership fees and online marketing services and 31% was from value-added services, to RMB5,425 million in fiscal year 2016, of which 67% was from membership fees and online marketing services and 33% was from value-added services. The increase in revenue was due to growth in revenue


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                generated by the import/export related services and, to a lesser extent, an increase in online marketing service revenue from China wholesale suppliers.

                Cloud computing segment

                       Revenue from our cloud computing business in fiscal year 2016 was RMB3,019 million, an increase of 138% compared to RMB1,271 million in fiscal year 2015, driven by the continued growth of our cloud computing business. The growth was primarily due to an increase in the number of paying customers and also to an increase in their usage of and spending on our cloud computing services including more complex offerings, such as our content delivery network and database services.

                Digital media and entertainment segment

                       Revenue from our digital media and entertainment business in fiscal year 2016 was RMB3,972 million, an increase of 81% compared to RMB2,191 million in fiscal year 2015. The increase was primarily due to an increase in revenue from mobile value-added services provided by UCWeb, such as mobile search, news feeds and game publishing.

                Innovation initiatives and others segment

                       Revenue from innovation initiatives and others in fiscal year 2016 was RMB1,817 million, a decrease of 43% compared to RMB3,206 million in fiscal year 2015. This result included the effect of a decrease in revenue related to the SME loan business that we transferred to Ant Financial Services in February 2015 and an increase in revenue from AutoNavi and YunOS. Revenue from AutoNavi and YunOS increased by 74% year-over-year.

                Cost of Revenue

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Cost of revenue

                		  23,834  34,355  44%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  31% 34%   

                Share-based compensation expense included in cost of revenue

                		  
                4,176                		  
                4,003                		  
                (4
                )%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  5% 4%   

                Cost of revenue excluding share-based compensation expense

                		  
                19,658                		  
                30,352                		  
                54
                %

                Percentage of revenue

                		  26% 30%   

                       Our cost of revenue increased by 44% from RMB23,834 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB34,355 million in fiscal year 2016. This increase was primarily due to an increase of RMB2,278 million in bandwidth and co-location fees and depreciation expenses as a result of our investments in our cloud computing business and our data platform, increases of RMB2,146 million in costs associated with our new business initiatives (mainly our mobile operating system, over-the-top TV services and entertainment), an increase of RMB1,865 million in traffic acquisition costs as a result of the expansion of our third-party affiliate marketing ecosystem and an increase of RMB1,564 million in logistics costs mainly relating to fulfillment services provided to us by our affiliate Cainiao Network, which amounted to RMB2,370 million, or 2% of our revenue, in fiscal year 2016, primarily related to Tmall Supermarket. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue would have increased from 26% in fiscal year 2015 to 30% in fiscal year 2016, primarily due to increase in costs associated with our new business initiatives and an increase in logistics costs, as discussed above.


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                Product Development Expenses

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Product of development expenses

                		  10,658  13,788  29%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  14% 14%   

                Share-based compensation expense included in product development expenses

                		  3,876  5,703  47%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  5% 6%   

                Product development expenses excluding share-based compensation expense

                		  6,782  8,085  19%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  9% 8%   

                       Our product development expenses increased by 29% from RMB10,658 million in fiscal year 2015 to RMB13,788 million in fiscal year 2016. The increase was largely due to an increase of RMB3,114 million in payroll and benefits expenses including share-based compensation expense (an effect that we expect will continue, as discussed in "Share-based Compensation" above), partially offset by a decrease in the royalty fee paid to Yahoo, which terminated by contract upon the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014. We expect ourWithout the effect of share-based compensation expense, product development expenses will increase in absolute amounts and may over time increase as a percentage of revenues.


                Table of Contentsrevenue would have decreased from 9% in fiscal year 2015 to 8% in fiscal year 2016 due to a decrease in royalty fees paid to Yahoo.

                Sales and Marketing Expenses


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2015 2016  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		 4,545 8,513 1,373 87%  8,513 11,307 33%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 9% 11%      11% 11%   

                Share-based compensation expense included in sales and marketing expenses

                		 1,235 1,963 59%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 2% 2%   

                Sales and marketing expenses excluding share-based compensation expense

                		 7,278 9,344 28%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 9% 9%   

                       Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 87%33% from RMB4,545RMB8,513 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB8,513RMB11,307 million (US$1,373 million) in fiscal year 2015.2016. The increase was due primarily to the consolidation of marketing expenses of acquired businesses (mainly UCWeb and AutoNavi), and also to an increase in advertising and promotional spending mainly focused on strengthening consumer connection to our Taobao and Tmall brands, especially in lowertop tier cities, as well as to promote our new businesses initiatives, (e.g., offline commerce)such as Fliggy and DingTalk, during fiscal year 2015.2016. The increase was also due to an increase in share-based compensation expense (an effect that we expect will continue, as discussed in "Share-based Compensation" above). We expect ourWithout the effect of share-based compensation expense, sales and marketing expenses will increase in absolute amounts and may increase as a percentage of revenues as we continue to investrevenue would have remained stable at 9% in marketingboth fiscal year 2015 and promotion.fiscal year 2016.


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                General and Administrative Expenses


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2015 2016  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                General and administrative expenses

                		 4,218 7,800 1,258 85%  7,800 9,205 18%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 8% 10%      10% 9%   

                Share-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses

                		 3,741 4,413 18%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 5% 4%   

                General and administrative excluding share-based compensation expense

                		 4,059 4,792 18%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 5% 5%   

                       Our general and administrative expenses increased by 85%18% from RMB4,218RMB7,800 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB7,800RMB9,205 million (US$1,258 million) in fiscal year 2015.2016. The increase was primarily due to a significant increase in share-based compensation expense (an effect that we expect will continue, as discussed in "Share-based Compensation" above). Our, as well as an increase of RMB353 million in professional services fees. Without the effect of share-based compensation expense, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue in fiscal year 2014 included a one-time equity-settled donation expense2016 would have remained stable at 5% in both fiscal year 2015 and fiscal year 2016.

                Amortization of RMB1,269Intangible Assets

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Amortization of intangible assets

                		  2,089  2,931  40%

                Percentage of revenue

                		  3% 3%   

                       Amortization of intangible assets increased by 40% from RMB2,089 million relatingin fiscal year 2015 to RMB2,931 million in fiscal year 2016. This increase was due to an increase in intangible assets recognized arising from our strategic acquisitions and investments. Because of the grantrecent major acquisitions we will consolidate, such as Youku Tudou and our controlling stake in Lazada, we expect that our amortization of options to purchase 50,000,000 of our ordinary shares to a non-profit organization. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Equity Settled Donation Relating to Our Ordinary Shares."intangible assets will increase in the future.

                Income from Operations and Operating Margin


                		 Year ended March 31,  
                		  Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 

                		 2014 2015  
                		  2015 2016  
                		 

                		 RMB RMB US$ % Change  RMB RMB % Change 

                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		  (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Income from operations

                		 24,920 23,135 3,732 (7%) 23,135 29,102 26%

                Percentage of revenue

                		 47% 30%      30% 29%   

                       Our income from operations decreasedincreased by 7%26% from RMB24,920 million in fiscal year 2014 to RMB23,135 million, (US$3,732 million) in fiscal year 2015. Although ouror 30% of revenue increased by 45% year-over-year, income from operations decreased, due primarily to a significant increase in share-based compensation expense from RMB2,844 million in fiscal year 2014 to RMB13,028 million (US$2,102 million) in fiscal year 2015 and also to other factors affecting cost and expenses as discussed above.

                       Our operating margin decreased from 47%RMB29,102 million, or 29% of revenue, in fiscal year 2014 to 30%2016. The decrease in fiscal year 2015. The decreaseour operating margin was primarily attributable to investments in new business initiatives, such as our mobile operating systems, over-the-top TV services and entertainment, and also to an increase in share-based compensation expense, which amounted to 17% and 5%logistics costs, as adiscussed above.


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                percentageAdjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITA margin

                       Adjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITA margin by segments are set forth in the table below. See the table under the heading "Segment Information for Fiscal Years 2015, 2016 and 2017" above for a reconciliation of revenueincome from operations to adjusted EBITA.

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB % of Segment
                Revenue                		 RMB % of Segment
                Revenue                		 %
                Change                		 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Core commerce

                		  44,864  65% 58,036  63% 29%

                Cloud computing

                		  (1,090) (86)% (1,252) (41)% 15%

                Digital media and entertainment

                		  (1,461) (67)% (1,810) (46)% 24%

                Innovation initiatives and others

                		  (1,617) (50)% (3,467) (191)% 114%

                  Core commerce segment

                       Adjusted EBITA increased by 29% to RMB58,036 million in fiscal year 2016, compared to RMB44,864 million in fiscal year 2015. Adjusted EBITA margin decreased to 63% in fiscal year 2016 from 65% in fiscal year 2015, andprimarily due to an increase in logistics costs related to the fulfillment services provided by Cainiao Network for Tmall Supermarket.

                  Cloud computing segment

                       Adjusted EBITA in fiscal year 2014, respectively,2016 was a loss of RMB1,252 million, compared to a loss of RMB1,090 million in fiscal year 2015. Adjusted EBITA margin improved to negative 41% in fiscal year 2016 from negative 86% in fiscal year 2015, primarily due to robust growth in revenue and economies of scale.

                  Digital media and entertainment segment

                       Adjusted EBITA in the consolidationfiscal year 2016 was a loss of acquired businesses with lower overallRMB1,810 million, compared to a loss of RMB1,461 million in fiscal year 2015. Adjusted EBITA margin improved to negative 46% in fiscal year 2016 from negative 67% in fiscal year 2015, primarily due to improved margins thanat UCWeb driven by the increase in revenue from mobile value-added services.

                  Innovation initiatives and others segment

                       Adjusted EBITA in fiscal year 2016 was a loss of RMB3,467 million, compared to a loss of RMB1,617 million in fiscal year 2015. Adjusted EBITA margin decreased to negative 191% in fiscal year 2016, compared to negative 50% in fiscal year 2015, primarily due to our margins, mainly UCWeb and AutoNavi, as well as investments in new business initiatives, such as cloud computing, entertainment,our mobile operating systemsystems and offline commerce.DingTalk.

                Interest and Investment Income, Net

                       Our net interest and investment income increased significantly from RMB1,648RMB9,455 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB9,455RMB52,254 million (US$1,525 million) in fiscal year 2015.2016. The increase was primarily due to a netnon-cash deemed disposal gain of RMB6,535RMB24,734 million (US$1,054 million) recognized with respect toarising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures, a non-cash gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interests, relating primarilyinterest in Alibaba Health when we obtained control over Alibaba Health in fiscal year 2016, as well as gains arising from disposals of certain investments and businesses. See note 4 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the step acquisitionsyears ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report for further information.


                Table of UCWeb, OneTouch and AutoNavi. The increase was also due to an increase in interest income as a result of higher cash balance during the period, which in turn was due primarily to the proceeds from our initial public offering in September 2014 and also to an increase in operating cash flow.Contents

                Interest Expense

                       Our interest expense increaseddecreased by 25%29% from RMB2,195RMB2,750 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB2,750RMB1,946 million (US$443 million) in fiscal year 2015. The increase was primarily due to an increase2016. Interest expense in average debt outstanding, with debt outstanding during fiscal year 2014 primarily reflecting a loan of US$5.0 billion drawn down under a US$8.0 billion credit facility, and debt outstanding during fiscal year 2015 primarily reflecting an additional US$3.0 billion drawn down underincluded a non-recurring charge for financing-related fees of RMB830 million as a result of the same credit facility in April 2014, which was refinanced by theearly repayment of our US$8.0 billion bank borrowings with proceeds from our issuance of US$8.0 billion senior unsecured senior notes issued in November 2014.notes.

                Other Income, Net

                       Our other income, net increaseddecreased by 2%17% from RMB2,429RMB2,486 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB2,486RMB2,058 million (US$401 million) in fiscal year 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in income recognized in respect of royalty fees and software technology services fees from Ant Financial Services, which were RMB1,122 million in fiscal year 2016, compared to RMB1,667 million in fiscal year 2015. The decrease in income recognized primarily resulted from increased marketing and promotion activities of Ant Financial Services to drive its user growth and engagement, causing a decrease in its consolidated pre-tax income.

                Income Tax Expenses

                       Our income tax expenses increased by 101%32% from RMB3,196RMB6,416 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB6,416RMB8,449 million (US$1,035 million) in fiscal year 2015. The increase was due primarily to the expiration of an EIT exemption period for one of our major subsidiaries, upon which the subsidiary is no longer exempt from paying EIT but is subject to an EIT rate of 12.5% (or 50% of the statutory EIT rate) in calendar year 2014.2016. The increase in income tax expenses was alsoprimarily due to the increase in taxable income from our operations in China. Our effective tax rate increaseddecreased to 19.8%10% in fiscal year 2016 from 20% in fiscal year 2015, from 11.9%primarily due to the non-cash gains relating to the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures and consolidation of Alibaba Health, as discussed in "Interest and Investment Income, Net" above, which are not taxable for income tax purposes. Excluding the above gains and other non-taxable or non-deductible items, our effective tax rate remains stable.

                Share of Results of Equity Investees

                       Share of losses of equity investees in fiscal year 2014, due primarily2016 was RMB1,730 million, an increase of 9% compared to the expirationRMB1,590 million in fiscal year 2015. Share of results of equity investee in fiscal year 2016 consisted of the EIT exemption as discussed above, and to thefollowing:

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		 
                 
                		 2015 2016 
                 
                		 RMB RMB 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Share of results of equity investees:

                		       

                Koubei

                		  —  (867)

                Youku Tudou

                		  (99) (391)

                Cainiao Network

                		  (90) (295)

                Others

                		  (275) 62 

                Dilution gains

                		  —  827 

                Impairment

                		  (438) — 

                Others

                		  (688) (1,066)
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                		  (1,590) (1,730)
                ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                ​​​​​​​​
                ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                       The increase in share-based compensation expense, which is not deductible for income tax purposes.share of losses of equity investees in fiscal year 2016 compared to fiscal year 2015 was primarily due to our share of losses of Koubei, Youku Tudou and Cainiao Network, partially offset by accounting gains related to dilution of our ownership interest in Cainiao Network and Evergrande FC, as these investees each raised capital at a higher valuation in fiscal year 2016. We established Koubei as a joint venture with Ant Financial Services in September 2015. Our share of Koubei's loss in fiscal year 2016 represents Koubei's high investments and promotional spending during its start-up stage. We expect our share of losses of equity investees to decrease in the future.


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                Net Income

                       As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased by 4%193% from RMB23,403RMB24,320 million in fiscal year 20142015 to RMB24,320 million (US$3,923 million) in fiscal year 2015.


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                Comparison of Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014

                Revenue

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                China commerce

                		  29,167  45,132  55% 

                International commerce

                		  4,160  4,851  17% 

                Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure

                		  650  773  19% 

                Others

                		  540  1,748  224% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Total revenue

                		  34,517  52,504  52% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         

                       Total revenue increased by 52%, from RMB34,517RMB71,289 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB52,504 million in fiscal year 2014. The increase was mainly driven by the continued rapid growth of our China commerce retail business. Our revenue growth rate will likely decline as our revenue grows to higher levels.

                  China Commerce

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		          

                China commerce retail business

                		          

                Online marketing services

                		  19,697  29,729  51% 

                Commission

                		  6,161  12,023  95% 

                Others(1)

                		  1,112  1,080  (3%)
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                		  26,970  42,832  59% 

                China commerce wholesale business

                		  2,197  2,300  5% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Total

                		  29,167  45,132  55% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         
                (1)
                Primarily consists of storefront fees.

                       Revenue from our China commerce retail business increased by 59% from RMB26,970 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB42,832 million in fiscal year 2014.

                       Revenue growth during this period occurred in the context of and reflected an increase of 56% in GMV transacted on these marketplaces, including a 42% increase in GMV transacted on Taobao Marketplace from RMB824 billion in fiscal year 2013 to RMB1,173 billion in fiscal year 2014 and a near-doubling of GMV transacted on Tmall from RMB253 billion in fiscal year 2013 to RMB505 billion in fiscal year 2014. The overall increase in total GMV transacted on these marketplaces was primarily driven by a 48% increase in the number of buyers and, to a lesser extent, by a moderate increase in the level of their spending. The rapid increase in GMV transacted on Tmall in particular was attributable to the increase in the number of buyers making purchases on Tmall, reflecting consumer preferences for branded products and a premium shopping experience, increases in the level of spending of buyers and the beneficial impact of promotional events. Revenue growth during this period was also positively affected by an increase in monetization rate from 2.50% in fiscal year 2013 to 2.55% in fiscal year 2014, reflecting the higher GMV contribution from Tmall as a portion of total GMV and accordingly higher


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                growth in commission revenue, and was partially offset by a higher proportion of mobile GMV which we are currently monetizing at a lower rate than GMV through personal computer interfaces.

                       Online marketing services revenue increased by 51% from RMB19,697 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB29,729 million in fiscal year 2014, consistent with GMV growth of 56% from RMB1,077 billion in fiscal year 2013 to RMB1,678 billion in fiscal year 2014. The slightly lower growth rate of online marketing services revenue relative to the GMV growth rate reflected the ongoing shift of consumer engagement from personal computers to mobile devices, as we monetize mobile GMV at a lower rate than GMV transacted on personal computer interfaces because merchants allocated a smaller proportion of their budget to purchase online marketing services on mobile relative to the GMV generated on mobile. As a result, mobile GMV accounted for 7% and 19% of total GMV in fiscal years 2013 and 2014, respectively, while mobile revenue accounted for 1% and 7% of China commerce retail business revenue, respectively, during those periods. This lower but increasing level of mobile monetization reflected our focus on prioritizing mobile user activity and engagement over monetization and the fact that we increased our efforts to promote online marketing services for mobile interfaces beginning in the three months ended December 31, 2013. The increase in online marketing services revenue during this period was primarily driven by a 35% increase in the number of clicks attributable to our P4P marketing services and a 15% increase in the cost-per-click paid by our merchants, reflecting increased demand from our merchants, which drove up pricing due to the bid-based nature of the mechanism used by merchants to purchase such services. To a lesser extent, our online marketing services revenue during this period was also positively impacted by an increase in the number of impressions displayed through our display marketing services.

                       Commission revenue increased by 95% from RMB6,161 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB12,023 million in fiscal year 2014, primarily due to the near-doubling of GMV transacted on Tmall during the same period. The published commission rates we charge by category as well as our blended commission rate remained relatively stable over this period, and accordingly, the increase in revenue from commissions during this period was principally a result of increased GMV transacted rather than any change in the pricing of commission rates. As Tmall GMV increased at a higher rate than Taobao Marketplace GMV, commission revenue grew at a faster rate than online marketing services revenue because we charge commissions on Tmall. Commission revenue from transactions on Tmall is generated from both personal computer and mobile transactions, and accordingly the ongoing shift of consumer engagement towards mobile devices did not negatively affect commission revenue from GMV transacted on Tmall.

                       Revenue from our China commerce wholesale business increased by 5% from RMB2,197 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB2,300 million in fiscal year 2014. The modest increase in revenue was due to a slight increase in paying members, reflecting our transition to a transaction platform that does not emphasize growing paying members.

                  International Commerce

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Revenue

                		          

                International commerce retail business

                		  392  938  139% 

                International commerce wholesale business

                		  3,768  3,913  4% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​

                Total

                		  4,160  4,851  17% 
                         
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         

                       Revenue from our international commerce retail business increased by 139% from RMB392 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB938 million in fiscal year 2014. The main reason for this increase was an increase in GMV


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                transacted on AliExpress, primarily from the increasing number of buyers, particularly in Brazil, Russia and the United States.

                       Revenue from our international commerce wholesale business increased by 4% from RMB3,768 million in fiscal year 2013, of which 90% was from membership fees and value-added services and 10% was from online marketing services, to RMB3,913 million in fiscal year 2014, of which 88% was from membership fees and value-added services and 12% was from online marketing services. The modest increase in revenue was due to a slight increase in the number of paying members reflecting the slow growth of China exports.

                Cost of Revenue

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Cost of revenue

                		  9,719  13,369  38% 

                Percentage of revenue

                		  28%  25%    

                       Our cost of revenue increased from RMB9,719 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB13,369 million in fiscal year 2014. This increase was primarily due to increases of RMB1,337 million in payroll and benefits expense mainly resulting from an increase in share-based compensation expense which primarily related to the re-measurement to fair value of share-based awards granted to Alipay employees (these awards are re-measured to fair value at each period end), an increase of RMB1,081 million in bandwidth and co-location fees mainly as a result of increased user traffic on our websites as well as depreciation expenses related to equipment acquired in anticipation of increases in user traffic, an increase of RMB864 million in payment processing fees resulting from an increase in GMV transacted on our retail marketplaces and an increase of RMB497 million in traffic acquisition costs from RMB1,582 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB2,079 million in fiscal year 2014 as a result of the expansion of our use of third-party marketing affiliate programs to drive additional user traffic to our marketplaces, partially offset by a decrease of RMB750 million in business tax resulting from the replacement of business tax with VAT, which is netted against revenue. We expect our cost of revenue will increase in absolute dollar amounts and will likely increase as a percentage of revenues as we continue to invest in our business, customer service initiatives and infrastructure.

                Product Development Expenses

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Product development expenses

                		  3,753  5,093  36% 

                Percentage of revenue

                		  11%  10%    

                       Our product development expenses increased by 36% from RMB3,753 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB5,093 million in fiscal year 2014. The increase was largely due to an increase of RMB1,135 million in payroll and benefits expenses mainly resulting from an increase in product development headcount as we continue to focus on new and existing product development, and an increase in share-based compensation expense related to increased headcount. The increase was also due to an increase of RMB156 million in the royalty fee paid to Yahoo driven by the increase in our revenue and partially offset by a decrease in the royalty fee rate pursuant to the amended Yahoo TIPLA in September 2012. Following completion of our initial public offering, we will no longer pay royalty fees to Yahoo. We expect our product development expenses will increase in absolute amounts and may over time increase as a percentage of revenues.


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                Sales and Marketing Expenses

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Sales and marketing expenses

                		  3,613  4,545  26% 

                Percentage of revenue

                		  11%  9%    

                       Our sales and marketing expenses increased by 26% from RMB3,613 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB4,545 million in fiscal year 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase in advertising and promotional spending, which included an increase of RMB165 million from RMB367 million to RMB532 million in online advertising expenses, mainly to promote our China retail marketplaces and mobile commerce. We expect our sales and marketing expenses will increase in absolute amounts and may increase as a percentage of revenues as we continue to invest in marketing and promotion.

                General and Administrative Expenses

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                General and administrative expenses

                		  2,889  4,218  46% 

                Percentage of revenue

                		  8%  8%    

                       Our general and administrative expenses increased by 46% from RMB2,889 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB4,218 million in fiscal year 2014. The increase was primarily due to a one-time equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million in fiscal year 2014 relating to the grant of options to purchase 50,000,000 of our ordinary shares to a non-profit organization designated by Jack Ma and Joe Tsai. The increase was also due to an increase of RMB145 million in professional services fees.

                Yahoo TIPLA Amendment Payment

                       We entered into the Yahoo TIPLA in October 2005, pursuant to which we pay royalty fees to Yahoo. We and Yahoo amended the then existing TIPLA in September 2012, pursuant to which we made a lump sum payment to Yahoo in the amount of US$550 million in fiscal year 2013.

                Income from Operations and Operating Margin

                 
                		 Year ended
                March 31,                		  
                		 
                 
                		 2013 2014  
                		 
                 
                		 RMB RMB % Change 
                 
                		 (in millions, except percentages)
                		 

                Income from operations

                		  10,751  24,920  132% 

                Percentage of revenue

                		  31%  47%    

                       Our income from operations increased by 132% from RMB10,751 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB24,920 million in fiscal year 2014. The increase was primarily due to the overall growth in our revenue and due to our revenue growing faster than the increases in our cost of revenue and expenses during the same period. Our income from operations in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 were affected by one-time expense items consisting of the Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment and an equity-settled donation expense, respectively.


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                       Our operating margin increased from 31% in fiscal year 2013 (taking into account the one-time Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment, which amounted to 10% as a percentage of revenue) to 47% in fiscal year 2014 (taking into account the one-time equity-settled donation expense, which amounted to 2% as a percentage of revenue). The increase was primarily attributable to increases in our revenue without a corresponding significant increase in costs as we continued to benefit from the ongoing network effects of our online marketplaces and a highly scalable business model, as well as the effects of tax reform in China that replaced the business tax with VAT.

                Interest and Investment Income, Net

                       Our net interest and investment income increased significantly from RMB39 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB1,648 million in fiscal year 2014. The increase was primarily due to an increase of RMB755 million in interest income as a result of higher interest rates and cash balances during the period, a decrease of RMB243 million in foreign exchange loss due to an exchange gain arising from a foreign currency denominated deposit held by us and an increase of RMB308 million of gain from our disposal of investments.

                Interest Expense

                       Our interest expense increased by 40% from RMB1,572 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB2,195 million in fiscal year 2014, primarily due to an increase of RMB677 million in professional fees and upfront fees in connection with the refinancing of our US$4.0 billion credit facilities and an increase of RMB122 million in bank interest expense resulting from a higher average loan amount outstanding during the period following entry into our US$8.0 billion credit facility in April 2013, of which US$5.0 billion was immediately drawn down, partially offset by a lower overall interest rate during that period. The increase was also partially offset by a decrease of RMB175 million in dividends paid on redeemable preference shares issued to Yahoo in September 2012, which we redeemed in May 2013.

                Other Income, Net

                       Our other income, net increased by 172% from RMB894 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB2,429 million in fiscal year 2014, primarily due to an increase in royalty fees and software technology service fees received from Alipay as a result of an increase in the volume of transactions processed by, and the pre-tax income of, Alipay.

                Income Tax Expenses

                       Our income tax expenses increased by 119% from RMB1,457 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB3,196 million in fiscal year 2014, primarily due to the increase in taxable profit from our operations in China. While the PRC EIT law imposes a unified enterprise income tax rate of 25% for both domestic enterprises and foreign invested enterprises, a number of our operating entities have enjoyed various tax incentives, such as the preferential tax rate of 15% granted to entities qualifying as High and New Technology Enterprises and a preferential tax rate of 10% granted to entities qualifying as key software enterprises. Our effective tax rate was 14.4% and 11.9% in fiscal year 2013 and 2014, respectively. The one-time Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment made in fiscal year 2013 did not reduce our taxable income and we were not able to use it to offset our taxable income.

                Net Income

                       As a result of the foregoing, our net income increased significantly from RMB8,649 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB23,403 million in fiscal year 2014. Net income in fiscal year 2013 was also reduced by the one-time Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment.

                Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

                       Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest mainly represents the net income of Alibaba.com attributable to its public shareholders prior to its privatization in June 2012. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest decreased by 25% from RMB117 million in fiscal year 2013 to RMB88 million in fiscal year 2014, as there was no further net income attributable to noncontrolling interests related to Alibaba.com after the completion of its privatization.


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                B.    Liquidity and Capital Resources

                Liquidity and Capital Resources

                       We fund our operations primarilyand strategic investments from cash generated from our operations.operations and through debt and equity financing. We generated RMB41,217 million, RMB56,836 million, RMB80,326 million (US$11,670 million) of cash from operating activities for fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. As of March 31, 2015,2017, we had cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of RMB108,193RMB143,736 million (US$17,45320,882 million) and RMB14,148RMB3,011 million (US$2,282437 million), respectively. Short-term investments mainly consist primarily of investments in fixed deposits with maturities between three months and one year and investments in money market funds or other investments whereby we have the intention to redeem within one year.

                       In November 2014, we issued unsecured senior notes, including floating rate and fixed rate notes, with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of US$8.0 billion. Interest on the unsecured senior notes are payable in arrears, quarterly for the floating rate notes and semiannually for the fixed-rate notes. We used the proceeds from the issuance of the unsecured senior notes to refinance our US$8.0 credit facility.previous syndicated loan arrangements in the same amount. We are not subject to any financial covenant or other significant covenants or restrictions under the unsecured senior notes. In December 2015, we completed an exchange offer to exchange our outstanding unsecured senior notes for unsecured senior notes that have been registered under the Securities Act. See note 20 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report for further information.

                       In March 2016, we signed a five-year US$3.0 billion syndicated loan agreement with a group of eight lead arrangers which was subsequently drawn down in April 2016. The loan was upsized from US$3.0 billion to US$4.0 billion in May 2016 through a general syndication and the upsized portion was subsequently drawn down in August 2016. The loan has a five-year bullet maturity and is priced at 110 basis points over LIBOR. The use of proceeds of the loan is for general corporate and working capital purposes (including funding our acquisitions).

                       In April 2017, we entered into a revolving credit facility agreement with certain financial institutions for an amount of US$5.15 billion which has not yet been drawn down, to replace our US$3.0 billion undrawn revolving credit facility. The interest rate for this credit facility is calculated based on LIBOR plus 95 basis points. This loan facility is reserved for future general corporate and working capital purposes (including funding our acquisitions).

                       As of March 31, 2017, we also had other bank borrowings of RMB9,561 million (US$1,389 million), primarily used for the construction of corporate campuses and office facilities and other working capital purposes. See note 19 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report for further information.

                       The following table sets out a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated.

                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2013 2014 2015 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Net cash provided by operating activities

                		  14,476  26,379  41,217  6,649 

                Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

                		  545  (32,997) (53,454) (8,623)

                Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

                		  (1,406) 9,364  87,497  14,114 
                 
                		 Year ended March 31, 
                 
                		 2015 2016 2017 
                 
                		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                 
                		 (in millions)
                		 

                Net cash provided by operating activities

                		  41,217  56,836  80,326  11,670 

                Net cash used in investing activities

                		  (53,454) (42,831) (78,364) (11,385)

                Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

                		  87,497  (15,846) 32,914  4,782 

                       We believe that our current levels of cash and cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for at least the next twelve months. However, we may need additional cash resources in the future if we find and wish to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, strategic cooperation or other similar actions, which may include investing in technology, our underlying technical infrastructure, including data management and analytics solutions, or related talent. If we determine that our cash requirements exceed our


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                amounts of cash on hand or if we decide to further optimize our capital structure, we may seek to issue additional debt or equity securities or obtain credit facilities or other sources of funding.

                Cash Provided by Operating Activities

                       Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 20152017 was RMB41,217RMB80,326 million (US$6,64911,670 million) and primarily consisted of net income of RMB24,320RMB41,226 million (US$3,9235,989 million), as adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital and other activities. Adjustments for non-cash items primarily included RMB15,995 million (US$2,324 million) of share-based compensation expense, RMB9,008 million (US$1,309 million) of amortization of intangible assets and licensed copyrights of video content, realized and unrealized gain of RMB5,488 million (US$797 million) related to investment securities, RMB5,284 million (US$768 million) of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and land use rights and RMB5,027 million (US$730 million) of share of results of equity investees. Changes in working capital and other activities primarily consisted of an increase of RMB5,312 million (US$772 million) in accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities as a result of the growth of our business, an increase of RMB4,698 million (US$683 million) in income tax payable and an increase of RMB4,611 million (US$670 million) in deferred revenue and customer advances, partially offset by an increase of RMB8,237 million (US$1,197 million) in prepayment, receivables and other assets.

                       Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2016 was RMB56,836 million and primarily consisted of net income of RMB71,289 million, as adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital and other activities. Adjustments for non-cash items primarily included a deemed disposal gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the deconsolidation of Alibaba Pictures, a gain of RMB18,603 million from the revaluation of our previously held equity interest related to Alibaba Health, RMB16,082 million of share-based compensation expense, RMB3,770 million of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and land use rights, RMB3,278 million of amortization of intangible assets and licensed copyrights of video content and a gain of RMB3,089 million from disposals of equity investees. Changes in working capital and other activities primarily consisted of an increase of RMB7,757 million in accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities as a result of the growth of our business and an increase of RMB2,350 million in deferred revenue and customer advances, partially offset by an increase of RMB4,504 million in prepayment, receivables and other assets.

                       Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2015 was RMB41,217 million and primarily consisted of net income of RMB24,320 million, as adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital and other activities. Adjustments for non-cash items primarily included RMB13,028 million (US$2,102 million) of share-based compensation expense, a net gain from our step acquisitions arising from revaluation of previously held equity interests totaling RMB6,535 million, (US$1,054 million), RMB2,326 million (US$375 million) of depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and land use rights, RMB2,089RMB2,173 million (US$337 million) of amortization of intangible assets and licensed copyrights of video content and RMB1,659 million (US$268 million) of deferred income taxes. Changes in working capital and other activities primarily consisted of an increase of RMB10,578RMB10,494 million (US$1,706 million) in accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities as a result of the growth of our business and an increase of RMB2,490 million (US$402 million) in merchant deposits, which relate to merchants operating on Tmall, partially offset by an increase of RMB11,674RMB14,138 million (US$1,883 million)in prepayments, receivables and other assets, as a result of the increase in loan receivables relating to the SME loan business before we transferred this business to Ant Financial Services. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — 2014 Restructuring of Our Relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay."

                       Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2014 was RMB26,379 million and primarily consisted of net income of RMB23,403 million, as adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital and other activities. Adjustment for non-cash items primarily included RMB2,844 million of share-based compensation


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                expense, RMB1,269 million of equity-settled donation expense, RMB1,466 million of deferred income taxes and RMB1,339 million of depreciation and amortization expenses. Changes in working capital and other activities primarily consisted of an increase of RMB9,175 million in loan receivables as a result of the continued growth of our SME loan business and an increase of RMB3,567 million in prepayments, receivables and other assets as a result of the growth of our business, partially offset by an increase of RMB3,992 million in accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities as a result of the growth of our business and an increase of RMB1,628 million in merchant deposits, which relate to merchants operating on Tmall.

                       Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal year 2013 was RMB14,476 million and primarily consisted of net income of RMB8,649 million, as adjusted for non-cash items and the effects of changes in working capital and other activities. Adjustment for non-cash items primarily included RMB1,259 million of share-based compensation expense and RMB805 million of depreciation and amortization expenses. Changes in working capital and other activities primarily consisted of an increase of RMB3,657 million in accrued expenses and other current liabilities as a result of the growth of our business and an increase of RMB2,338 million in merchant deposits, which relate to merchants operating on Tmall, partially offset by an increase of RMB2,828 million in loan receivables as a result of the growth of our SME loan business.

                Cash Provided by (Used in)Used in Investing Activities

                       Cash used in investing activities was RMB78,364 million (US$11,385 million) in fiscal year 2017 and was primarily attributable to RMB77,552 million (US$11,267 million) in acquisition of available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity securities and equity investments mainly held for strategic purposes, including Suning, Ele.me, Didi Chuxing, Paytm and Weibo, and cash paid for business combinations, net of cash acquired, including Youku


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                Tudou and Lazada, acquisition of equipment, intangible assets and construction in progress of RMB17,546 million (US$2,549 million) primarily in connection with the purchase of computer equipment, intangible assets and licensed copyrights of video content, as well as the continued expansion of our corporate campuses, partially offset by proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries, equity investees, available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities of RMB9,545 million (US$1,387 million) and net decrease in short-term investments of RMB5,761 million (US$836 million).

                       Cash used in investing activities was RMB42,831 million in fiscal year 2016 and was primarily attributable to RMB54,483 million in acquisition of available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity securities and equity investments mainly held for strategic purposes, including Ele.me, Koubei, Magic Leap, CMC and Cainiao Network, and cash paid for business combinations, net of cash acquired, acquisition of equipment, intangible assets and construction in progress of RMB10,845 million primarily in connection with the purchase of computer equipment and the continued expansion of our corporate campuses, partially offset by proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries, equity investees, available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities of RMB17,088 million and net decrease in short-term investments of RMB4,619 million.

                       Cash used in investing activities was RMB53,454 million (US$8,623 million) in fiscal year 2015 and was primarily attributable to RMB35,231 million (US$5,684 million) in acquisition of available-for-sale securities, held-to-maturity investment securities and equity investments mainly held for strategic purposes, including Youku Tudou, Intime, Meizu, Weibo and SingPost, RMB10,255 million (US$1,654 million) in cash paid for business combinations, net of cash acquired, including AutoNavi, UCWeb and OneTouch and acquisitions of equipment, intangible assets and construction in progress of RMB7,705 million (US$1,243 million) primarily in connection with the purchase of computer equipment and the continued expansion of our corporate campus.

                       Cash used in investing activities was RMB32,997 million in fiscal year 2014 and was primarily attributable to RMB16,468 million in equity investments mainly held for strategic purposes, including UCWeb, Weibo and AutoNavi, a net increase in short-term investments of RMB8,304 million and acquisitions of land use rights, construction in progress and other property, equipment and intangible assets of RMB4,776 million primarily in connection with the continued expansion of our corporate campuses and the purchase of computer equipment.

                       Cash provided by investing activities was RMB545 million in fiscal year 2013 and was primarily attributable to a net decrease in short-term investments of RMB2,589 million and a net decrease in restricted cash of RMB334 million. The net decrease in restricted cash was mainly attributable to the release of restricted cash of RMB1,177 million from an escrow account following the completion of the Alibaba.com privatization in June 2012 and a release of RMB1,000 million in deposits for a one-time consumer protection program offered by Tmall that we funded in fiscal year 2012, which was partially offset by the increase in restricted cash of RMB1,884 million for our debt servicing reserve account required by our US$4.0 billion credit facilities drawn in fiscal year 2013. These amounts were partially offset by payments for acquisitions of land use rights, construction in progress and other property, equipment and intangible assets of RMB2,503 million primarily in connection with the expansion of our corporate campuses and the purchase of computer equipment.

                Cash Provided by (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

                       Cash provided by financing activities was RMB32,914 million (US$4,782 million) in fiscal year 2017, and was primarily attributable to net proceeds from borrowings of RMB29,333 million (US$4,262 million) and proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares of RMB14,607 million (US$2,122 million), primarily representing shares issued to Suning, partially offset by cash used in share repurchase of RMB13,182 million (US$1,915 million). See "Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers" for further information.

                       Cash used in financing activities was RMB15,846 million in fiscal year 2016, and was primarily attributable to cash used in share repurchase of RMB19,795 million, partially offset by net proceeds from borrowings of RMB2,478 million.

                       Cash provided by financing activities was RMB87,497 million (US$14,114 million) in fiscal year 2015, and was primarily attributable to the issuance of ordinary shares of RMB61,831 million (US$9,974 million) in connection with our initial public offering in September 2014 and the additional drawdown of US$3.0 billion under our US$8.0 billion credit facilityprevious syndicated loan arrangement in April 2014, which was refinanced with the proceeds from the US$8.0 billion unsecured senior notes issued in November 2014.

                       Cash provided by financing activities was RMB9,364 million in fiscal year 2014, and was primarily attributable to a drawdown of RMB29,947 million, or US$5.0 billion, from our US$8.0 billion credit facility,


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                RMB24,788 million of which was used for the refinancing of the US$4.0 billion credit facilities drawn in fiscal year 2013 and the payment of accrued and unpaid interest, and RMB5,131 million of which was used to redeem the Yahoo preference shares and the accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, as well as a net increase of RMB7,166 million in secured borrowings underlying our transfers of micro loans to third-party financial institutions.

                       Cash used in financing activities was RMB1,406 million in fiscal year 2013 and was primarily attributable to the repurchase of our ordinary shares from Yahoo of RMB40,111 million and the privatization of Alibaba.com of RMB15,134 million. These amounts were partially offset by a drawdown of RMB24,463 million from our US$4.0 billion credit facilities, proceeds from the issuance of ordinary shares to third-party investors and through the exercise of options by our employees totaling RMB16,792 million, proceeds from the issuance of convertible preference shares issued to third-party investors of RMB10,542 million and a net increase of RMB2,098 million in secured borrowings underlying our transfers of micro loans to third-party financial institutions.

                Capital Expenditures

                       Our capital expenditures have been incurred primarily in relation to (1) the acquisition of land use rights and construction of corporate campuses and office facilities in Hangzhou, Beijing, Guangzhou and ShenzhenShenzhen; and (2) the acquisition of computer equipment relating to the operation of our websites, furniture and office equipment and leasehold improvements for our office facilities. In fiscal years 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, our capital expenditures totaled RMB2,503RMB7,705 million, RMB4,776RMB10,845 million and RMB7,705RMB17,546 million (US$1,2432,549 million), respectively.

                Holding Company Structure

                       We are a holding company with no operationsoperation other than ownership of operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong, China and elsewhere that own and operate our marketplaces and other businesses as well as a portfolio of


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                intellectual property rights. As a result, we rely on dividends and other distributions paid by our operating subsidiaries, including funds to pay dividends to our shareholders or to service our outstanding debts. If our operating subsidiaries incur additional debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict the ability of our operating subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. In addition, applicable PRC law permits payment of dividends to us by our operating subsidiaries in China only out of their net income, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Moreover, our operating subsidiaries in China are also required to set aside a portion of their net income, if any, each year to fund general reserves for appropriations until suchthis reserve has reached 50% of the related subsidiary's registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. In addition, registered share capital and capital reserve accounts are also restricted from withdrawal in the PRC, up to the amount of net assets held in each operating subsidiary. As of March 31, 2015,2017, these restricted net assets totaled RMB26,902RMB45,472 million (US$4,3406,606 million). See note 23 to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017 included elsewhere in this annual report.

                       Our holding company structure differs from some of our peers in that we hold our material assets and operations, except for ICP and other licenses for regulated activities as well as certain equity investments in restricted businesses, in our wholly-foreign owned enterprises and most of our revenue is generated directly by the wholly-foreign owned enterprises. As revenue is generated directly by our wholly-foreign owned enterprises, the wholly-foreign owned enterprises directly capture the profits and associated cash flow from operations, without having to rely on contractual arrangements to transfer such cash flow from the variable interest entities to the wholly-foreign owned enterprises. In fiscal years 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the significant majority of our revenues were generated by our wholly-foreign owned enterprises in China. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure — Our History and Corporate Structure" for a description of these contractual arrangements and the structure of our company.


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                Inflation

                       Inflation in China has not materially impacted our results of operations in recent years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year increase in the consumer price index in calendar years 2012, 20132014, 2015 and 20142016 was 2.6%2.0%, 2.6%1.4% and 2.0%, respectively. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected in the future by higher inflation rates in China.

                Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

                       Our significant accounting policies are set forth in note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amountamounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions are periodically re-evaluated by management and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions. We have identified the following accounting policies as the most critical to an understanding of our financial position and results of operations, because the application of these policies requires significant and complex management estimates, assumptions and judgment, and the reporting of materially different amounts could result if different estimates or assumptions were used or different judgments were made.

                Principles of Consolidation

                       A subsidiary is an entity in which (i) we directly or indirectly control more than 50% of the voting power; or (ii) we have the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors or to cast a majority of votes at the meetings of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee pursuant to a statute or under an agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. However, there are situations in which consolidation is required even though these usual conditions of consolidation do not apply. Generally, this occurs when an entity holds an interest in another business enterprise that was achieved through arrangements that do not involve voting interests, which results in a disproportionate relationship between the


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                entity's voting interests in, and its exposure to the economic risks and potential rewards of, the other business enterprise. This disproportionate relationship results in what is known as a variable interest, and the entity in which we have the variable interest is referred to as a "VIE." We consolidate a VIE if we are determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The primary beneficiary has both (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

                       For the entities that we invested in or are associated with but in which the usual conditions of consolidation mentioned above do not apply, we continuously reassess whether these entities possess any of the characteristic of a VIE and whether we are the primary beneficiary.

                       We consolidate our subsidiaries and the VIEs of which we are the primary beneficiary. On a periodic basis, we reconsider the initial determination of whether a legal entity is a consolidated entity upon the occurrence of certain events listed in ASC 810-10-35-4. We also continuously reconsider whether we are the primary beneficiary of our affiliated entities as facts and circumstances change.

                Recognition of Revenue

                       Revenue is principally representscomprised of online marketing services revenue, commissions on transactions, membership and storefront fees and cloud computing services revenue. Revenue comprisesrepresents the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the provision of services in ourthe ordinary course of our activities and is recorded net of VAT. Consistent with the criteria of ASC 605 "Revenue Recognition," we recognize revenue when the following four revenue recognition criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been provided, (iii) the selling price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

                       The application of various accounting principles related to the measurement and recognition of revenue requires us to make judgments and estimates. Specifically, complex arrangements with non-standard terms and conditions may require significant contract interpretation to determine the appropriate accounting treatment, including whether the deliverables specified in a multiple element arrangement should be treated as separate units of accounting. Other significant judgments include determining whether we are acting as the principal or the agent from an accounting perspective in a transaction and whether separate contracts are considered part of a single arrangement.transaction.

                       For multiple element arrangements with customers, which primarily relate to the sale of membership packages and online marketing services on our international wholesale marketplace,marketplaces and Youku Tudou's platforms, the arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to each element based on their relative fair values for revenue recognition purposes. The consideration is allocated to each element using vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of the standalone selling price for each deliverable, or if neither type of evidence is available, using management's best estimate of selling price. Significant judgment is required in assessing the fair values of these elements by considering standalone selling price and other observable data. Changes in the estimated fair values may cause the revenue recognized for each element to change but not the total amount of revenue allocated towithin a contract. We periodically re-assess the fair value of the elements as a result of changes in market conditions. These multiple element arrangements are currently not significant to our operations. Revenue recognition for P4P marketing service and display marketing on our retail marketplaces does not require our management to exercise significant judgment or estimate.

                       For other arrangements, we apply significant judgment in determining whether we are acting as the principal or agent in a transaction; we record P4P marketing services revenue and display marketing revenue generated through third-party marketing affiliate programs on a gross basis,basis; and revenue relating to the Taobaoke program generated through third-party marketing affiliate partners' websites where we do not take inventory risks on a net basis. In addition, revenue generated from certain platforms in which we operate as a primary obligor is reported on a gross basis while this revenue was insignificant for each of the periods presented. Generally, when we are primarily obligated in a transaction and are subject to inventory risk or have latitude in establishing prices, or have several but not all of these indicators,


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                we record revenue on a gross basis. We record the net amount as revenue share


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                earned if we are not primarily obligated and do not have inventory risk or latitude in establishing prices. In addition, we also assess whether separate contracts are treated as a single transaction.prices and selecting suppliers. These judgments could have significant implications on the amount of revenue recognized by us.we recognize.

                Share-based Compensation Expense and Valuation of the Underlying EquityAwards

                  Granting of share options, restricted shares and RSUs relating to our ordinary shares

                       We account for various types of share-based awards granted to the employees, consultants and directors of our company, our affiliates and certain other companies, such as Alipay,Ant Financial Services, in accordance with the authoritative guidance on share-based compensation expense. Under the fair value recognition provision of suchthis guidance, compensation for share-based awards granted, including share options, restricted shares and RSUs, is measured at the grant date, or at future vesting date in the case of consultants or other non-employee grantees, based on the fair value of the awards and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective award, on an accelerated attribution method. Therefore, inIn the case of share-based awards to non-employees, the fair value of the unvested portion is re-measured each period, with the resulting difference, if any, recognized as expense during the period the related services are rendered. Under the accelerated attribution method, each vesting installment of a graded vesting award is treated as a separate share-based award, and accordingly each vesting installment is separately measured and attributed to expense, resulting in accelerated recognition of share-based compensation expense.

                       Share-based compensation expense is recorded net of estimated forfeitures in our consolidated income statementstatements and as such is recorded for only those share-based awards that we expect to vest. We estimate the forfeiture rate based on historical forfeitures of equity awards and adjust the rate to reflect changes in facts and circumstances, if any. We revise our estimated forfeiture rate if actual forfeitures significantly differ from our initial estimates.

                       Determining the fair value of share-based awards requires significant judgment. We estimated the fair value of our share options using the Black-Scholes option-valuation model, which requires inputs such as the fair value of our ordinary shares, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, expected life and expected volatility on the following assumptions:

                  •
                  Fair value of our ordinary shares — prior to our initial public offering in September 2014, the fair value was determined based on management estimates, as discussed in the paragraphs below. Subsequent to our initial public offering, the market price of our publicly traded ADSs is used as an indicator of fair value for our ordinary shares.

                  •
                  Risk free interest rate — the risk free interest rate is based on the yields of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected life of the share options.

                  •
                  Expected dividend yield — we have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our ordinary shares and do not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, we used an expected dividend yield of zero.

                  •
                  Expected life — the expected term was estimated based on the average between the vesting period and the contractual term.

                  •
                  Expected volatility — as we have a short period of trading history for our ordinary shares, the expected volatility for our ordinary shares was estimated by taking the average historical price volatility for our industry peers based on the price fluctuations of their shares over a period equivalent to the expected term of the share options granted. Industry peers consist of several public companies in the technology industry similar in size, which are engaged in similar business sectors in China and worldwide. We intend to continue to consistently apply this process using the same or similar public companies until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of our own ordinary share price becomes available, or unless

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                  circumstances change such that the identified companies are no longer similar to us, in which case, more suitable companies whose share prices are publicly available would be utilized in the calculation.


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                         The fair value of restricted shares and RSUs is determined based on the fair value of our ordinary shares.

                         Prior to our initial public offering in September 2014, in the absence of a public trading market, the determination of the fair value of our ordinary shares by the administrators was made with reference to the price at which we had recently sold our ordinary shares to third partythird-party investors, or other representative private share sale transactions entered into on an arms-length basis known to us. If such references were not available, the valuations of our ordinary shares were determined in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, and with the assistance of an independent appraisal firm from time to time. The assumptions we use in the valuation model to determine the fair value of our ordinary shares are based on future expectations combined with management judgment, with inputs of numerous objective and subjective factors such as our operating and financial performance, expected growth rates, expected profit margins and the market performance of industry peers, to determine the fair value of our ordinary shares.peers.

                         In order to determine the fair value of our ordinary shares underlying each share-based award grant, we first determined our business enterprise value, or BEV, and then allocated the BEV to each element of our capital structure (convertible preference shares and ordinary shares) using a hybrid method comprising the probability-weighted expected return method and the option pricing method. In our case, two scenarios were assumed, namely: (i) the redemption scenario, in which the option pricing method was adopted to allocate the value between convertible preference shares and ordinary shares, and (ii) the mandatory conversion scenario, in which equity value was allocated to convertible preference shares and ordinary shares on an as-if converted basis. Increasing probability was assigned to the mandatory conversion scenario during fiscal year 2014 and the subsequent periods in light of preparations for our initial public offering.

                         Starting from JanuaryBefore April 2014, our BEV was estimated using a combination of two generally accepted approaches: the market approach using the guideline company method, or GCM, and the income approach using the discounted cash flow method, or DCF. The market approach considers valuation metrics based on trading multiples of a selected industry peer group of companies. The DCF method estimates enterprise value based on the estimated present value of future net cash flows that the business is expected to generate over a forecasted period and an estimate of the present value of cash flows beyond that period, which is referred to as terminal value. The estimated present value is calculated using a discount rate based on the guideline companies' weighted average cost of capital, which accounts for the time value of money and the appropriate degree of risks inherent in the business. The GCM and DCF methods are then weighted equally in determining our BEV.

                         In addition to the GCM and DCF methods, starting from April 2014, the market transaction method, or MTM, was also adopted. MTM considers recent transactions of secondary shares by our existing shareholders, which indicate the equity value of the underlying business being evaluated. We assigned a 50% weight to MTM and the remaining 50% weight equally to GCM and DCF.

                         Subsequent to our initial public offering in September 2014, the market price of our publicly traded ADSs is used as an indicator of fair value of our ordinary shares.

                         If the fair value of the underlying equity and any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model changes significantly, share-based compensation expense for future awards may differ materially compared with the awards granted previously.

                    Subscription offor rights to acquire our restricted shares

                         We offered selected partnersmembers of the Alibaba Partnership and they have subscribed for rights to acquire our restricted shares. TheseThe rights areoffered before 2016 were not subject to any vesting conditions and entitleentitled the holders to purchase restricted shares at a price of US$14.50 per share during a four yearfour-year period. Upon the exercise of suchthese rights, the underlying ordinary shares may not be transferred for a period of eight years from the date of subscription of the relevant rights. The rights offered in 2016 and the underlying restricted shares are subject to certain service provisions that are not related to employment, and the holders are entitled to purchase restricted


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                  relevant rights.shares at a price of US$23.00 per share over a period of ten years from the vesting commencement date. The fair value of the rights was determined by the Black-Scholes option-valuation model. AFor the rights offered before 2016, a discount for post-vesting sales restriction was applied to arrive at the estimated value of the restricted shares for the determination of the fair value of the rights. Share-basedshares. We recorded share-based compensation expense equivalent to the entire fair value of these rights less the initial subscription price was recorded in the period of subscription. For the rights offered in 2016, we will recognize share-based compensation expense equivalent to the entire fair value of these rights over the requisite service period.

                    Share-based awards relating to Ant Financial Services

                         Junhan made grants of certain share-based awards similar to share appreciation awards linked to the valuation of Ant Financial Services to mosta substantial number of our employees. The vesting of suchthese awards is conditional upon the fulfillment of requisite services to us, and suchthese awards will be settled in cash by Junhan upon their disposal by the holders. Junhan has the right to repurchase the vested awards from the holders upon an initial public offering of Ant Financial Services or the termination of the employment of the employees with us at a price to be determined based on the then fair market value of Ant Financial Services. We have no obligation to reimburse Junhan, Ant Financial Services or its subsidiaries for the cost associated with these awards. The cost relating to suchthe share-based awards is recognized by us as a shareholder contribution as the awards will ultimately be settled in cash by Junhan. The awards are accounted for asmeet the definition of a financial derivativesderivative and are initially measured at their fair value, and the related share-based compensation expense will be recognized over the requisite service period. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the awards are recorded in the consolidated income statements through the date on which the underlying awards are settled by Junhan. See note 8(d) to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report. The fair values of the underlying equity are primarily determined by reference to the BEV of Ant Financial Services which areis based on the contemporaneous valuation reports or recent financing transactions. Given that the determination of the BEV of Ant Financial Services requires the judgments and is beyond our control, the magnitude of the related accounting impact is unpredictable and may affect our consolidated income statementstatements significantly.

                         As of March 31, 2015,2017, the total unamortized share-based compensation expense related to our(i) ordinary shares of us and our subsidiaries and (ii) awards linked to the valuation of Ant Financial Services that we expect to recognize was RMB12,515RMB13,958 million or US$2,038(US$2,028 million) and RMB1,039 million (US$151 million), respectively, with a weighted-average remaining requisite service period of 2.3 years.2.1 years and 1.6 years, respectively. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from what we have anticipated, share-based compensation expense related to these awards will be different from our expectations.different. Furthermore, share-based compensation expense will be affected by changes in the fair value of our shares, as certain share-based awards were granted to non-employees where the unvested portions of the awards are re-measured at each reporting date through the vesting dates in the future. As of March 31, 2015, share-based awards granted to non-employees included 605,3402017, 347,513 outstanding share options and 6,447,715 RSUs.4,594,874 outstanding RSUs were held by non-employees, who consist primarily of employees of Ant Financial Services. In addition, share-based compensation expense will also be affected by changes in the fair value of awards granted to our employees by Junhan, which is controlled by Jack Ma. Ant Financial Services has informed us that they expect Junhan will also issue additional share-based awards to our employees from time to time in the future. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transaction — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — Ownership of Ant Financial Services and Alipay." The expenses associated with these awards will be recognized across the functions in which the award recipients are employed and may continue to be significant in future periods. These awards are similar to share appreciation awards linked to the valuation of Ant Financial Services and accounted for as financial derivatives. See note 8(d) to our consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 included elsewhere in this annual report.

                  Equity-settled Donation Expense

                         In October 2013, we granted options to acquire 50,000,000 of our ordinary shares to a non-profit organization designated by Jack Ma and Joe Tsai, subject to irrevocable instructions to designate and transfer these share options to the separate charitable trusts to be established by Jack and Joe. These share options were approved by our board of directors and the options are not subject to any vesting condition and are exercisable for a period of four years starting from the grant date. The exercise price of these options is US$25.00 per share based on a fair market value appraisal process. For each of the eight years beginning one year after the date of listing of our ordinary shares on a recognized stock exchange, the charitable trusts are permitted to sell only up to


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                  6,250,000 ordinary shares (or one-eighth of the total number of ordinary shares subject to the options) per year excluding such number of unsold ordinary shares carried forward from previous years. The fair value of the share options was determined using the Black-Scholes option valuation model, which requires inputs such as the fair value of the underlying restricted shares, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield, expected life and expected volatility. As we do not have a history of granting such options for charity purposes, the expected life was estimated to be the exercisable period of the options. To determine the fair value of the restricted shares, discounts for post-vesting sales restrictions were applied to the fair value of our ordinary shares depending on the duration of the restriction period of each particular tranche. We have determined the fair value of these options based on the methodology described above, with the assistance of an independent appraisal firm. As there are no vesting conditions attached to the above share options, equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million was recognized in full and recorded in general and administrative expenses during fiscal year 2014.

                         The considerations, assumptions and valuations of ordinary shares as well as assumptions for risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield and expected volatility used to calculate the equity-based donation expense are the same as those used in connection with our share-based awards during the corresponding period. See "— Share-based Compensation Expense and Valuation of Our Ordinary Shares."

                  Recognition of Income Taxes and Deferred Tax Assets/Liabilities

                         We are mainly subject to income tax in China, but are also subject to taxation on profit arising in or derived from the tax jurisdiction where our subsidiaries are domiciled and operate outside China. Income taxes are assessed and determined on an entity basis. There are transactions (including entitlement to preferential tax treatment and deductibility of expenses) where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain until the final tax


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                  position is confirmed by relevant tax authorities. In addition, we recognize liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on estimates of whether additional taxes could be due. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, suchthe differences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which suchthe determination is made.

                         Deferred income tax is recognized for all temporary differences, carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available in the future against which the temporary differences, the carry forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses could be utilized. Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method. The deferred tax assets recognized are mainly related to the temporary differences arising from amortization of licensed copyrights of video content and accrued expenses which are not deductible until paid under the applicable PRC tax laws. We have also recognized deferred tax liabilities on the undistributed earnings generated by our subsidiaries in China, which are subject to withholding taxes when they are remitted offshoreresolve to distribute dividends to us. As of March 31, 2015,2017, we have fully accrued the amounts accrued in deferred tax liabilities relating to such withholding tax on dividends were determined on the basis that 100%earnings distributable by all of the distributable reserves of the majorour subsidiaries operating in China, will not beexcept for those undistributed earnings that we intend to invest indefinitely reinvested in China. A changeIf our intent changes or if these funds are in fact distributed outside China, we would be required to accrue or pay the withholding tax on some or all of these undistributed earnings and our judgment as to whether we will reinvest the profits in China indefinitely will impact the deferredeffective tax liabilities torate would be provided in the future.adversely affected.

                  Fair Value Determination Related to the Accounting for Business Combinations

                         A component of our growth strategy has been to acquire and integrate complementary businesses into our ecosystem. We complete business combinations from time to time which require us to perform purchase price allocations. In order to recognize the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, mainly consisting of intangible assets and goodwill, as well as the fair value of any contingent consideration to be recognized, we use valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis and ratio analysis in comparison to comparable companies in similar industries under the income approach, market approach and cost approach. Major factors considered include historical financial results and assumptions including future growth rates, an estimate of weighted average cost of capital and the effect of expected changes in regulation. Most of the valuations of our acquired businesses have been performed by independent valuation specialists under our management's supervision. We believe that the estimated fair value assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are


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                  based on reasonable assumptions and estimates that market participants would use. However, suchthese assumptions are inherently uncertain and actual results could differ from those estimates.

                  Fair Value Determination Related to Financial Instruments Accounted for at Fair Value

                         We have a significant amount of investments and liabilities that are classified as Level 2 and Level 3 according to ASC 820 "Fair Value Measurement." The valuations for the investments and liabilities classified as Level 2 relating to financial derivatives, and interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts are provided by independent third parties such as the custodian banks. The valuationvaluations for the investments and liabilities classified as Level 3 relating to investment securities accounted for under the fair value option and contingent consideration and put liability in relation to investments and acquisitions are determined based on unobservable inputs, such as historical financial results and assumptions about future growth rates, which require significant judgment to determine the future outcome of suchthese contingencies.

                  Impairment Assessment on Goodwill and Intangible Assets

                         We test annually, or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of assets exceeds the recoverable amounts, whether goodwill and intangible assets have suffered any impairment in accordance with the accounting policy stated in note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. For the impairment assessment on goodwill, we have elected to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the two-step impairment testing of goodwill is necessary. In this assessment, we consider primary factors such as industry and market considerations, overall financial performance of the reporting unit, and other specific information related to the operations. Based on the qualitative assessment, if it is more likely than


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                  not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is performed.

                         For the quantitative assessment of goodwill impairment, we identify the reporting units and compare the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required.

                  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill.

                         For intangible assets other than licensed copyrights of video content, we perform an impairment assessment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. These assessments primarily use cash flow projections based on financial forecasts prepared by management and an estimated terminal value. The expected growth in revenues and operating margin, timing of future capital expenditures, an estimate of weighted average cost of capital and terminal growth rate are based on actual and prior year performance and market development expectations. The periods of the financial forecasts generally range from three to five years or a longer period if necessary. Judgment is required to determine key assumptions adopted in the cash flow projections and changes to key assumptions can significantly affect these cash flow projections and the results of the impairment tests.

                  Impairment Assessment on Licensed Copyrights of Video Content

                         We evaluate the program usefulness of licensed copyrights of video content pursuant to the guidance in ASC 920 "Entertainment — Broadcasters" which provides that the rights be reported at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value. When there is a change in the expected usage of licensed copyrights of video content, we estimate net realizable value of licensed copyrights of video content to determine if any impairment exists. The net realizable value of licensed copyrights of video content is determined by estimating the expected cash flows from advertising, less any direct costs, over the remaining useful lives of the licensed copyrights. We monetize our licensed copyrights with branding customers based on the different content channels available on our entertainment distribution platforms. Therefore, we estimate advertising cash flows for each category of content separately, such as movies, television series, variety shows, animations and other video content. Estimates that impact advertising cash flows include anticipated levels of demand for our advertising services and the expected selling prices of advertisements. Judgment is required to determine the key assumptions adopted in the cash flow projections and changes to key assumptions can significantly affect these cash flow projections and the results of the impairment tests.

                  Impairment Assessment on Investments in Equity Investees

                         We continually review our investments in equity investees to determine whether a decline in fair value below the carrying value is other than temporary."other-than-temporary." The primary factors that we consider include include:

                    •
                    the severity and length of time that the fair value of the investment is below its carrying value; post-balance sheet date fair value

                    •
                    the stage of development, the investment;business plan, the financial condition, the sufficiency of funding and the operating performance of the investee companies; strategic collaboration with and the prospects of the investee; investee companies;

                    •
                    the economic or technological environmentgeographic region, market and industry in which the investee operates;companies operate; and

                    •
                    other entity specific information such as recent financing rounds completed by the investee companies.companies and post balance sheet date fair value of the investment.

                         Fair value of the listed securities is subject to volatility and may be materially affected by market fluctuations. Judgment is required to determine the weighting and impact of the aforementioned factors and changes to such determination can significantly affect the results of the impairment tests.


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                         The market value of our investment in Alibaba Pictures has remained below its carrying value based on its quoted market prices since July 2015. Our original investment amount in Alibaba Pictures was RMB4,955 million, which was paid in June 2014. As a result of the placement of newly issued ordinary shares to third-party investors by Alibaba Pictures which diluted our equity interest to 49.5%, we de-consolidated the financial results of Alibaba Pictures in June 2015, and recognized a significant accounting gain of RMB24,734 million based on a revaluation of our remaining equity interest in Alibaba Pictures in accordance with ASC 810 under U.S. GAAP, together with a corresponding significant increase to the carrying value of our investment in Alibaba Pictures. As of March 31, 2017, the carrying value of our investment in Alibaba Pictures was RMB30,102 million (US$4,373 million) and the difference between the market value and the carrying value amounted to RMB14,487 million (US$2,105 million).

                         We believe the decline is temporary on the basis that:

                    •
                    Alibaba Pictures is currently in the early stage of business development in a high growth industry and has sufficient funding to execute its business plans for the foreseeable future;

                    •
                    it has been growing its business according to its business plan, more than doubling its revenue for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the prior year while reducing net loss by approximately 50% as compared to the original forecast;

                    •
                    it has established a leading position in the online movie ticketing market in China; and

                    •
                    we expect a stronger business performance by Alibaba Pictures as well as closer business collaboration with us under its newly appointed senior management.

                         We have also considered the implied market value of Alibaba Pictures with reference to price-to-earnings ratios of comparable companies and the results of a valuation conducted by an independent valuer.

                         We believe that the decline in market price of Alibaba Pictures is primarily due to its loss position and limited awareness among investors of its long term business prospects. After assessing relevant positive and negative evidence, and considering that we have both the ability and intent to hold this investment, we determined that the decline in market value against its carrying amount was not "other-than-temporary."

                  Depreciation and Amortization

                         The costs of property and equipment and intangible assets are charged ratably as depreciation and amortization expenses, respectively, over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets using the straight-line method. We periodically review changes in technology and industry conditions, asset retirement activity and residual values to determine adjustments to estimated remaining useful lives and depreciation and amortization rates. Actual economic lives may differ from estimated useful lives. Periodic reviews could result in a change in estimated useful lives and therefore depreciation and amortization expenses in future periods.

                  Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Relating to Micro LoansVAT Receivables

                         VAT receivables mainly represent receivables from relevant PRC tax authorities in relation to OneTouch's VAT refund service. We record allowances for doubtful accounts primarily on the micro loansVAT receivables according to our best estimate of the losses inherent in the outstanding portfolio of loans.VAT receivables. The loancollection periods extended by us to merchantsfor the VAT receivables generally range from 7 daysthree to 360 days.six months. We estimate the allowances by multiplying pre-determined percentages to the outstanding loanVAT receivable amounts based on the aging of the loans. GivenVAT receivables or any events that substantially all borrowers are merchants on our marketplaces, we are able tomay affect the collectability of the VAT receivables. We monitor the transaction historyaging of these merchants and other operating data accumulated on our platforms,the VAT receivables and assess the general financial healthcollectability of these borrowers.VAT receivables. Judgment is required to determine the percentages used to determine the allowance amounts and whether suchthe amounts are adequate to cover potential bad debts, and periodic reviews are performed to ensure suchthe percentages continue to reflect our best estimate of the inherent losses based on our assessment of the merchants' ability to repay the loans. The micro loans andor the allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loans balances were insignificant as of March 31, 2015 because we disposed of certain equity interests and assets primarily relating to the micro loans business and related services and upon the completioncollectability of the restructuringVAT receivables.


                  Table of our relationship with Ant Financial Services during the year ended March 31, 2015. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and its Subsidiaries — 2014 Restructuring of Our Relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay."Contents

                  Recent Accounting Pronouncements

                         In AprilMay 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Accounting Standards Update, ("ASU") 2014-08, "Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity," which provides a narrower definition of discontinued operations than under existing U.S. GAAP. ASU 2014-08 requires that only a disposal of a component of an entity, or a group of components of an entity, that represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the reporting entity's operations and financial results should be reported in the financial statements as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 also provides guidance on the financial statement presentations and disclosures of discontinued operations. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us for all new disposals of components and new classification as held for sale beginning April 1, 2015. The revised guidance will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                         In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU, 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" whichand issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance or implementation guidance between August 2015 and December 2016 within ASU 2015-04, ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-20 (collectively, including ASU 2014-09, "ASC 606"). ASC 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in "TopicASC 605 Revenue Recognition" and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance is effective retrospectively for us for the interim reporting period ending June 30, 2017, with early application not permitted. We are evaluating the existing revenue recognition policies to determine whether any contracts in the scope of the guidance will be affected by the new requirements.

                         In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, "Income Statement-Extraordinary and Unusual Items," which eliminates the concept of extraordinary and unusual items from U.S. GAAP. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us for the year end ending March 31, 20172019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2017. Early adoption2019, with early application permitted only for the annual reporting period ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. The new guidance is permitted. The revisedrequired to be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (the "full retrospective method") or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the "modified retrospective method"). We are currently evaluating whether we will notapply the full retrospective method or the modified retrospective method. We are also evaluating the existing revenue recognition policies and currently we believe that the identification of performance obligations may have a material effectan impact on our financial position, resultsthe timing and measurement of operations or cash flows.


                  Table of Contentscertain fees paid by merchants under ASC 606.

                         In FebruaryNovember 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Consolidation2015-17, "Income Taxes (Topic 810) — Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes," which amendssimplifies the criteria for determining which entities are considered VIEs, amendspresentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current on the criteria for determining if a service provider possesses a variable interest in a VIE and ends the deferral granted to investment companies for application of the VIE consolidation model.consolidated balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 20162018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2016.2018. Early adoption is permitted. The new guidance may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively or through a cumulative effect adjustment to equity asall periods presented. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the beginningadoption of this revised guidance on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. At this time, we do not expect this accounting standard update to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

                         In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities," which amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. With respect to our consolidated financial statements, the most significant impact relates to the accounting for equity investments (except for those accounted for under the equity method or those that result in the consolidation of the investee). Under the new guidance, equity investments are required to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, except for investments that do not have readily determinable fair values. The new guidance also simplifies the impairment assessment and enhances the disclosure requirements of equity investments. The new guidance is effective for us for the year of adoption.ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early applicationadoption is permitted including adoption in an interim period.only for certain provisions. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this revised guidance on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                         In April 2015,February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Simplifying2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," which requires debt issuance costs relating to a recognized debt liability to be presented in theconsolidated balance sheet asand disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 creates a direct deduction fromnew topic in ASC 842 "Leases" to replace the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistentcurrent topic in ASC 840 "Leases." ASU 2016-02 affects both lessees and lessors, although for the latter the provisions are similar to the current model, but are updated to align with debt discounts.certain changes to the lessee model and also the new revenue recognition provisions contained in ASC 606. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2020 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this revised guidance on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                         In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07, "Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting," to simplify the accounting for equity method investments, which eliminates the requirement in ASC 323 "Investments — Equity method and Joint


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                  Ventures" that an entity retroactively adopts the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The amendments require that the equity method investor adds the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor's previously held interest and adopts the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. We early adopted this new guidance prospectively in the year ended March 31, 2017.

                         In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," to simplify the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, introduction of accounting policy election on forfeitures, and the change of the threshold of share withholding by the employer for settlement of employees' tax without causing the award to be classified as a liability. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this revised guidance on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                         In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement on Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," which introduces new guidance for credit losses on instruments within its scope. The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and net investments in leases. The new guidance also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and requires entities to determine whether all or a portion of the unrealized loss on an available-for-sale debt security is a credit loss. The new guidance also indicates that entities may not use the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position as a factor in concluding whether a credit loss exists. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2021 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for us for the year ending March 31, 2020 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2020. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                         In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

                         In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory" which amends the accounting for income taxes. The new guidance requires recognition of income tax consequences of an intra-entity asset transfer, other than transfers of inventory, when the transfer occurs. For intra-entity transfers of inventory, the income tax effects will continue to be deferred until the inventory has been sold to a third party. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The new guidance is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly recorded to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                         In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests held through Related Parties That Are Under Common Control" to amend the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. When the new guidance is adopted, it is required to


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                  be applied retrospectively for us for the year end endingended March 31, 2017 and interim reporting periods during the year endingended March 31, 2017. EarlyWe are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption is permitted. The revisedof this guidance will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                         In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash," which requires the amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for us for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

                         In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business," which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for transactions for which the transaction date occurs before the issuance date or effective date of this new guidance, only when the transaction has not been reported in the financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                         In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. Step two of the goodwill impairment measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with its carrying amount. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us for the year ending March 31, 2021 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                         In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, "Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting," which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in ASC 718. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The new guidance is effective prospectively for us for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We are evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                  C.    Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.

                  Research and Development

                         We have built our core technology for our e-commerce and cloud computing businesses in-house. As of March 31, 2015,2017, we employed a team of over 12,000 engineers who work on technologies ranging from hardware, operating system optimization, distributed system, software middleware, database, machine learning22,000 research and artificial intelligence.development personnel engaged in building our technology platform and developing new online and mobile products. We recruit top and experienced talentstalent locally and oversea, and we have advanced training programs designed specifically for new campus hires.

                         In fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, our product development expenses were RMB3,753 million, RMB5,093 million and RMB10,658 million (US$1,720 million), respectively. Our product development expenses consist primarily of staff costs, share-based compensation expense and other related incidental expenses that are directly attributable to the development, maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure, applications, operating systems, software, database and network for our marketplaces, mobile products as well as transaction and service platforms. In addition, royalty fees accrued and paid to Yahoo up to the closing of our initial public offering in September 2014 were recorded as part of product development expenses. We have expensed all costs that are incurred for product development.

                  Intellectual Property

                         We believe the protection of our trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade names, trade secrets, patents and other proprietary rights is critical to our business. We rely on a combination of trademark, fair trade practice, copyright and trade secret protection laws and patent protection in China and other jurisdictions, as well as


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                  confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property and our trademarks. We also enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with all of our employees, and we rigorously control access to our proprietary technology and information. As of March 31, 2015,2017, we had 6882,832 issued patents and 1,6286,658 publicly filed patent applications in China and 8281,883 issued patents and 2,4024,082 publicly filed patent applications in various countries and jurisdictions internationally. We do not know whether any of our pending patent applications will result in the issuance of patents or whether the examination process will require us to narrow our claims.

                  D.    Trend Information

                         Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the current fiscal year that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital reserves, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.


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                  E.    Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

                         We did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements in fiscal year 2013, 2014years 2015, 2016 or 2015.2017.

                  F.     Tabular Disclosure of     Contractual Obligations

                         The following table sets forth our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of March 31, 2015:2017:


                  		 Payment due by period  Payment due by period 

                  		 Total Less than
                  1 Year                  		 1-3
                  Years                  		 3-5
                  Years                  		 More than
                  5 Years                  		  Total Less than
                  1 Year                  		 1 – 3
                  Years                  		 3 – 5
                  Years                  		 More than
                  5 Years                  		 

                  		 (in millions of RMB)
                  		  (in millions of RMB)
                  		 

                  Contractual Obligations

                  		                      

                  Short term borrowings(1)

                  		 1,990 1,990 — — — 

                  Long term borrowings(2)

                  		 1,609 — 923 686 — 

                  Unsecured senior notes(3)

                  		 49,138 — 7,985 13,820 27,333 

                  Short-term borrowings(1)

                  		 5,948 5,948 — — — 

                  Long-term borrowings(2)

                  		 3,613 — 2,688 258 667 

                  US$4.0 billion syndicated loan denominated in US$(3)

                  		 27,346 — — 27,346 — 

                  Unsecured senior notes(4)

                  		 55,123 8,957 15,503 10,336 20,327 

                  Contractual Commitments

                  		 
                                     		 
                                     		 
                                     		 
                                     		 
                                     		  
                                     		 
                                     		 
                                     		 
                                     		 
                                     		 

                  Purchase of property and equipment

                  		 1,190 1,188 2 — —  1,771 1,766 5 — — 

                  Acquisition of land use rights and construction in progress

                  		 2,181 1,353 778 50 — 

                  Construction in progress

                  		 2,838 1,378 991 469 — 

                  Leases for office facility and transportation equipment

                  		 1,056 400 496 127 33  3,289 862 1,022 571 834 

                  Investment commitments

                  		 5,364 5,364 — — — 

                  Co-location, bandwidth fees and marketing expenses

                  		 5,134 2,089 1,673 1,372 —  14,135 3,777 3,694 2,986 3,678 
                             

                  Investment commitments(5)

                  		 17,495 17,495 — — — 

                  Acquisition of license and copyrights

                  		 8,431 4,518 3,462 451 —
                  		 
                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                  Total

                  		 67,662 12,384 11,857 16,055 27,366  139,989 44,701 27,365 42,417 25,506 
                             
                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                  ​
                             
                  ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                  (1)
                  Excluding estimated interest payments of RMB43RMB48 million assuming the applicable interest rates in effect as of March 31, 2015.2017. The majority of the borrowings are subject to floating interest rates.
                  (2)
                  Excluding estimated interest payments of RMB299RMB736 million in total (RMB95(RMB168 million, RMB159RMB227 million, RMB63 million and RMB45 million over the periods of less than one year, one to three years and three to five years from April 1, 2015, respectively), assuming the applicable interest rates in effect as of March 31, 2015. Substantially all of the borrowings are subject to floating interest rates.
                  (3)
                  Excluding estimated interest payments of RMB12,435 million in total (RMB1,439 million, RMB2,838 million, RMB2,531 million and RMB5,627RMB278 million over the periods of less than one year, one to three years, three to five years and more than five years from April 1, 2015,2017, respectively), assuming the applicable interest rates in effect as of March 31, 2015.2017. Substantially all of the borrowings are subject to floating interest rates.
                  (3)
                  Excluding estimated interest payments of RMB2,338 million in total (RMB571 million, RMB1,143 million and RMB624 million over the periods of less than one year, one to three years and three to five years from April 1, 2017, respectively), assuming the applicable interest rate in effect as of March 31, 2017. The syndicated loan is subject to a floating interest rate.
                  (4)
                  Excluding estimated interest payments of RMB10,732 million in total (RMB1,581 million, RMB2,839 million, RMB2,081 million and RMB4,231 million over the periods of less than one year, one to three years, three to five years and more than five years from April 1, 2017, respectively), assuming the applicable interest rates in effect as of March 31, 2017. Aggregate principal amount of fixed rate notes and floating rate notes were US$7.7 billion and US$300 million respectively.
                  (5)
                  Including the consideration for the privatization of Intime of HK$12.6 billion, which we completed in May 2017.

                         In addition, according to our partnership arrangement with the International Olympic Committee, we will provide at least US$815 million worth of cash, cloud infrastructure services and cloud computing services, as well as marketing and media support through 2028, in connection with various Olympic initiatives, events and activities, including the Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games. As of March 31, 2017, the aggregate amount of cash to be paid and value of services to be provided in the future is approximately US$800 million.


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                  G.    Safe Harbor

                         See "Forward-Looking Statements."


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                  ITEM 6.6    DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

                  A.    Directors and Senior Management

                  Directors and Executive Officers

                         The following table sets forth certain information relating to our directors and executive officers.

                  Name
                  		 Age Position/Title

                  Jack Yun MA†à(1)

                  		  5052 Executive Chairman

                  Joseph C. TSAI †(2)

                  		  5153 Executive Vice Chairman

                  Jonathan Zhaoxi LU †(1)

                  		45Vice Chairman

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG †(1)

                  		  4345 Director and Chief Executive Officer

                  J. Michael EVANS †(2)

                  		59Director and President

                  Masayoshi SON ‡(3)

                  		  5759Director

                  Eric Xiandong JING†(2)

                  		44 Director

                  Chee Hwa TUNGà(2)

                  		  7880 Independent director

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK(2)

                  		  62Independent director

                  J. Michael EVANSà(2)

                  		5764 Independent director

                  Jerry YANGà(2)

                  		  4648 Independent director

                  Börje E. EKHOLM(2)

                  		  5354 Independent director

                  Lucy Lei PENGWan Ling MARTELLO(1)(2)

                  		  4159 Chief People OfficerIndependent director

                  Maggie Wei WU(2)

                  		  4749 Chief Financial Officer

                  Judy Wenhong TONG(1)

                  		46Chief People Officer

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG(1)

                  		43Chief Technology Officer

                  Zhenfei LIU(1)

                  		  4345 Chief Risk Officer

                  Trudy Shan DAISophie Minzhi WU(1)

                  		  3841 Chief Customer Officer

                  Timothy A. STEINERT(2)

                  		  5557 General Counsel and Secretary

                  Jianhang JIN(1)

                  		  4547 President

                  Jian WANGChris Pen-hung TUNG(1)

                  		  5247 Chairman, Technology Committee

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG(1)

                  		41President, China Retail MarketplacesChief Marketing Officer

                  Yongfu YU(1)

                  		  3840 President, Mobile InternetChairman and AlimamaChief Executive Officer, Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group

                  Simon Xiaoming HU(1)

                  		  4547 President, Alibaba Cloud Computing

                  Sophie Minzhi WUTrudy Shan DAI(1)

                  		  3940 President, Wholesale Marketplaces

                  Peng JIANGJessie Junfang ZHENG(1)

                  		  4143 President, YunOSChief Platform Governance Officer
                  †
                  Director nominated by the Alibaba Partnership.
                  ‡
                  Director nominated by SoftBank.
                  à
                  A member of the nominating and corporate governance committee.

                  For information about nomination and appointment rights to our board of directors see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Yahoo — Voting Agreement."

                  (1)
                  c/o 969 West Wen Yi Road, Yu Hang District, Hangzhou 311121, the People's Republic of China.
                  (2)
                  c/o Alibaba Group Services Limited, 26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong S.A.R.
                  (3)
                  SoftBank Group Corp., 1-9-1 Higashi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-7303, Japan.

                  Biographical Information

                         Jack Yun MA (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) is our lead founder and, since May 2013, has served as our executive chairman. From our founding in 1999 and until May 2013, Jack served as our chairman and chief executive officer. He is also the founder of the Zhejiang-based Jack Ma Foundation. Jack currently serves on the board of SoftBank Group Corp., one of our major shareholders and a Japanese corporation listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. He is also a directormember of Huayi Brothers Media Corporation, an entertainment group in China listed on The Shenzhen Stock Exchange,the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum, chairman of the Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce, as well as chairchairman of The Nature Conservancy'sthe China board of directors andEntrepreneur Club. In January 2016, he was named a director of its global board of directors. In September 2013, he joinedSustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate by the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences Foundation as a director.United Nations. Jack graduated from Hangzhou Teacher's Institute with a major in English language education.


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                         Joseph C. TSAI (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) joined our company in 1999 as a member of the Alibaba founding team and has served as our executive vice chairman since May 2013. He has been a non-executive director of Alibaba Health since September 2015. Joe previously served as our chief financial officer and has been a member of our board of directors since our formation. From 1995 to 1999, Joe worked in Hong Kong with Investor AB, the main investment vehicle of Sweden's Wallenberg family, where he was responsible for Asian private equity investments. Prior to that, he was vice president and general counsel of Rosecliff, Inc., a management buyout firm based in New York. From 1990 to 1993, Joe was an associate attorney in the tax group of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, a New York-based international law firm. Joe serves on the boards of directors of several of our investee companies. Joe is qualified to practice law in the State of New York. He received his bachelor's degree in Economics and East Asian Studies from Yale College and a juris doctor degree from Yale Law School.

                         Jonathan Zhaoxi LUDaniel Yong ZHANG (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has been our director since September 2014 and vice chairman since May 2015. Jonathan joined our company in 2000 and served as chief executive officer from May 2013 to May 2015. Mr. Lu has at different points served as the top executive officer of almost all of our key business units. He has previously served as our chief data officer and also oversaw our YunOS division. Before that, he served as chief executive officer of Alibaba.com from February 2011 until its privatization in 2012. He joined Taobao in January 2008 and served as its chief executive officer from January 2010 to June 2011. In September 2004, he led a dedicated team to establish Alipay and became Alipay's first president. From 2000 to 2004, Jonathan held several leadership roles at Alibaba.com and managed its South China sales region. Before joining Alibaba Group, Jonathan was co-founder of a network communications company. Jonathan received a graduate certificate in hotel management from Guangzhou University and a master's degree in business administration from China Europe International Business School. Since May 2014, Jonathan has served on the board of directors of Youku Tudou.

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG (GRAPHIC ) has been our chief executive officerChief Executive Officer since May 2015 and our director since September 2014. Prior to his current role, he served as our chief operating officerChief Operating Officer from September 2013 to May 2015. Daniel was appointedHe joined our company in August 2007 as Chief Financial Officer of Taobao Marketplace and served in this position until June 2011. He took on the additional role of general manager for Tmall.com in August 2008, which he served in concurrence until appointment as president of Tmall.com in June 2011 when Tmall.com became an independent platform. He was chief financial officer of Taobao from the time he joined our company in August 2007 until June 2011, and also served as general manager of Tmall during the latter three years in this period. BeforePrior to joining Alibaba, Group, Daniel served as chief financial officerChief Financial Officer of Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited, an online game developer and operator then listed on the NASDAQ, Stock Market, from August 2005 to August 2007. From 2002 to 2005, he was a senior managerexecutive of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Audit and Business Advisory Division in Shanghai, prior to which he worked in the Shanghai office of Arthur Andersen for seven years.Shanghai. Daniel is chairman of Intime and serves on the boardsboard of directors of Alibaba Health and of Haier, eachWeibo, a company listed on the SEHK. Daniel also has been serving on the board of directors of Weibo since May 2014.NYSE. Daniel received a bachelor's degree in finance from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. He is a member of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

                  Masayoshi SON has been our director since 2000 and is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Corp., a Japanese corporation listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with operations in broadband, mobile and fixed-line telecommunications, e-commerce, Internet, technology services, media and marketing, and other businesses. Mr. Son founded SoftBank Corp. in 1981. Mr. Son also serves as chairman and chief executive officer of several other SoftBank subsidiaries and affiliates, including SoftBank Mobile Corp. as well as serving as chairman of Yahoo Japan Corporation since 1996, and of Sprint Corporation since 2013. Mr. Son received a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

                  Chee Hwa TUNG (GRAPHIC ) has been our director since September 2014 and is the Vice Chairman of the Twelfth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the PRC, which is an important institution of multiparty cooperation and political consultation in the PRC. Mr. Tung is the Founding Chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, which is a non-profit organization registered in Hong Kong to promote understanding and strengthening relationships between China and the United States. Mr. Tung also serves in various public sector and advisory positions, including as a member of the J.P. Morgan International Council, the China Development Bank International Advisory Committee and the Advisory Board of the


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                  Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University. Prior to these appointments, Mr. Tung served as the First Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from July 1997 to March 2005. Mr. Tung had a successful and distinguished career in business, including serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orient Overseas (International) Limited, a SEHK-listed company with its principal business activities in container transport and logistics services on a global scale. Mr. Tung is also the chairman and chief executive officer of Our Hong Kong Foundation Limited, a non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the long-term and overall interests of Hong Kong. Mr. Tung received a bachelor's degree in science from the University of Liverpool.

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK (GRAPHIC ) previously served as an independent non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of Alibaba.com Limited, one of our subsidiaries, which was listed on the SEHK, from October 2007 to July 2012. Mr. Kwauk has been our director since September 2014 and is currently a senior consultant of Motorola Solutions (China) Co., Ltd. and serves as an independent non-executive director of Thunder Power Co. Ltd., a Taiwan company with its shares traded on Taiwan's Gre Tai Securities Market; Sinosoft Technology Group Limited, a company listed on the SEHK, of which Mr. Kwauk is also the chairman of its audit committee; and several private companies. Mr. Kwauk was a vice president of Motorola Solutions, Inc. and its director of corporate strategic finance and tax, Asia Pacific from 2003 to 2012. Mr. Kwauk served with KPMG from 1977 to 2002 and held a number of senior positions, including the general manager of KPMG's joint venture accounting firm in Beijing, the managing partner in KPMG's Shanghai office and a partner in KPMG's Hong Kong Office. He is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Kwauk received a bachelor's degree in science and a licentiate's degree in accounting from the University of British Columbia.

                         J. Michael EVANS has been our president since August 2015 and our director since September 2014. Mr. Evans served as Vice Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. from February 2008 until his retirement in December 2013. Mr. Evans served as chairman of Asia operations at Goldman Sachs from 2004 to 2013 and was the global head of Growth Markets at Goldman Sachs from January 2011 to December 2013. He also co-chaired the Business Standards Committee of Goldman Sachs from 2010 to 2013. Mr. Evans joined Goldman Sachs in 1993, became a partner of the firm in 1994 and held various leadership positions within the firm's securities business while based in New York and London, including global head of equity capital markets and global co-head of the equities division, and global co-head of the securities business. Mr. Evans is chairman of the board of Right To Play USA and a board member of City Harvest. He is also a trustee of the Asia Society and a member of the Advisory Council for the Bendheim Center for Finance at Princeton University. In August 2014, Mr. Evans joined the board of Barrick Gold Corporation. In October 2014, Mr. Evans was appointed as an independent board member of Castleton Commodities International LLC. Mr. Evans received his bachelor's degree in politics from Princeton University in 1981.

                         Masayoshi SON has been our director since 2000 and is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., a Japanese corporation listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, with operations in broadband, mobile and fixed-line telecommunications, e-commerce, Internet, technology services, media and marketing, and other businesses. Mr. Son founded SoftBank Group Corp. in 1981. Mr. Son also serves as director of several other SoftBank subsidiaries and affiliates, including serving as chairman of SoftBank Group Corp. as well as director of Yahoo Japan Corporation since 1996, and chairman of the board of Sprint Corporation since 2013. Mr. Son received a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

                  Eric Xiandong JING (GRAPHIC ) has been our director since September 2016. He is currently the chief executive officer of Ant Financial Services. Prior to his current position, Mr. Jing served as president of Ant Financial Services from June 2015 to October 2016, and chief operating officer of Ant Financial Services from October 2014 to June 2015. Prior to that, he served as Alipay's chief financial officer. Before joining Alipay in September 2009, he was senior corporate finance director and corporate finance vice president of Alibaba.com from 2007 to 2009. Previously, Mr. Jing was the chief financial officer of Guangzhou Pepsi Cola Beverage Co. from 2004 to 2006. He also held management positions in several Coca-Cola bottling companies across China. Currently, Mr. Jing also serves as a director of Hundsun Technologies, a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Mr. Jing received


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                  an MBA degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota and a bachelor's degree in economics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

                  Chee Hwa TUNG (GRAPHIC ) has been our director since September 2014 and is the Vice Chairman of the Twelfth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the PRC, which is an important institution of multiparty cooperation and political consultation in the PRC. Mr. Tung is the Founding Chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, which is a non-profit organization registered in Hong Kong to promote understanding and strengthening relationships between China and the United States. Mr. Tung also serves in various public sector and advisory positions, including as a member of the J.P. Morgan International Council, the China Development Bank International Advisory Committee and the Advisory Board of the Schwarzman Scholars Program at Tsinghua University. Prior to these appointments, Mr. Tung served as the First Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from July 1997 to March 2005. Mr. Tung had a successful and distinguished career in business, including serving as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orient Overseas (International) Limited, an SEHK-listed company with its principal business activities in container transport and logistics services on a global scale. Mr. Tung is also the chairman and director of Our Hong Kong Foundation Limited, a non-government, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the long-term and overall interests of Hong Kong. Mr. Tung received a bachelor's degree in science from the University of Liverpool.

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK (GRAPHIC ) has been our director since September 2014. He previously served as an independent non-executive director and chairman of the audit committee of Alibaba.com Limited, one of our subsidiaries, which was listed on the SEHK, from October 2007 to July 2012. Mr. Kwauk is currently a senior adviser of Motorola Solutions (China) Co., Ltd. and serves as an independent non-executive director of Sinosoft Technology Group Limited, a company listed on the SEHK, and WuXi Biologics (Cayman) Inc., a company listed on the SEHK, both of which Mr. Kwauk is also the chairman of their audit committees; and several private companies. Mr. Kwauk was a vice president of Motorola Solutions, Inc. and its director of corporate strategic finance and tax, Asia Pacific from 2003 to 2012. Mr. Kwauk served with KPMG from 1977 to 2002 and held a number of senior positions, including the general manager of KPMG's joint venture accounting firm in Beijing, the managing partner in KPMG's Shanghai office and a partner in KPMG's Hong Kong Office. He is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Kwauk received a bachelor's degree in science and a licentiate's degree in accounting from the University of British Columbia.

                  Jerry YANG (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has been our director since September 2014. Mr. Yang previously served as our director from October 2005 to January 2012. Since March 2012, Mr. Yang has served as the founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures, a venture capital firm. Mr. Yang is a co-founder of Yahoo! Inc., and served as Chief Yahoo! and as a member of its board of directors from March 1995 to January 2012. In addition, he served as Yahoo!'s Chief Executive Officer from June 2007 to January 2009. From January 1996 to January 2012, Mr. Yang served as a director of Yahoo! Japan. Mr. Yang also served as an independent director of Cisco Systems, Inc. from July 2000 to November 2012. He is currently an independent director of Workday Inc., a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and Lenovo Group Ltd., a company listed on the SEHK. He also serves as a director of various private companies and foundations. Mr. Yang received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University and currently servesserved on Stanford University's board of trustees.trustees from October 2005 to September 2015.

                         Börje E. EKHOLM has been our director since June 2015. Mr. Ekholm is currently the president and chief executive officer of Ericsson. Prior to his current position, Mr. Ekholm was head of Patricia Industries, a newly created division of Investor AB, a Swedish investment company, where he has held a variety of management positions since joining the firm in 1992. Prior to his current position, Mr. Ekholm previously served as president and chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Investor AB. Prior to becoming president and chief executive officer in 2005, Mr. Ekholm was a member of the management group of Investor AB.


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                  Previously, Mr. Ekholm worked at McKinsey & Co. Inc. Mr. Ekholm is currently the non-executive chairman of NASDAQ OMX Inc. and also serves as a directormember of Chalmers Innovation AB, Telefonaktiebolaget LMthe board of Ericsson KTH Royal Instituteand as a member of Technology,the board of trustees of the private school Choate Rosemary Hall and NASDAQ-listed Trimble Navigation Ltd.Hall. Mr. Ekholm received a master's degree in electrical engineering from KTH Royal Institute of Technology and a master's degree in business administration from INSEAD.


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                         Lucy Lei PENG (GRAPHIC )Wan Ling MARTELLO has been our director since September 2015. She is currently the executive vice president, head of zone Asia, Oceania, Sub-Saharan Africa of Nestlé S.A. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Martello was executive vice president, chief financial officer of Nestlé S.A., and joined ourthe company in 1999 as a member of our founding team and was reappointed as our chief people officer in June 2014. Lucy had served as our chief people officer for most of the time since our founding, playing a leading role in formulating our human resources strategies. In March 2013, she was appointed as chief executive officer of Ant Financial Services. From January 2010November 2011. Before joining Nestlé S.A., Ms. Martello worked at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. from 2005 to February 2013,2011 where she served as executive vice president, global e-commerce, and senior vice president and chief executivefinancial officer, Walmart International, at different times. Prior to that, Ms. Martello worked at NCH Marketing Services Inc. from 1998 to 2005 and Borden Foods Corporation from 1995 to 1998, where she held various senior management positions. Previously, Ms. Martello worked at Kraft Foods, Inc. from 1985 to 1995. Ms. Martello received a master's degree in business administration (management information systems) from the University of Alipay. Lucy graduated from Hangzhou Institute of Commerce of Zhejiang Gongshang University in 1994 withMinnesota and a bachelor's degree in business administration and taught at Zhejiangaccountancy from the University of Finance and Economics for five years after graduation.the Philippines. She is a certified public accountant in the Philippines.

                         Maggie Wei WU (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has been our chief financial officer since May 2013. Maggie served as our deputy chief financial officer from October 2011 to May 2013. Maggie joined our company in July 2007 as chief financial officer of Alibaba.com and was responsible for instituting Alibaba.com's financial systems and organization leading up to its initial public offering in Hong Kong in November of that year, as well as co- leadingco-leading the privatization of Alibaba.com in 2012. She was voted best CFO in FinanceAsia's annual poll for Asia's Best Managed Companies in 2010. Before joining our company, Maggie was an audit partner at KPMG in Beijing. In her 15 years with KPMG, she was lead audit partner for the initial public offerings and audits of several major large-cap Chinese companies listed in international capital markets and provided audit and advisory services to major multinational corporations operating in China. Maggie is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and a member of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Capital University of Economics and Business.

                         Judy Wenhong TONG (GRAPHIC ) has been our chief people officer since January 2017. She is also currently the non-executive chairwoman of Cainiao Network. Prior to her current position, from 2013 to 2016, Judy led the formation of Cainiao Network and served as chief operating officer, president and chief executive officer, overseeing the operations of the company. Between 2007 and 2013, she served as vice president and senior vice president in various departments in our company, including construction, real estate and procurement. Judy joined our company in 2000. Judy currently also serves as a board member of YTO Express Group Co., Ltd., a leading express courier company in China listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange. Judy received a bachelor's degree from Zhejiang University.

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG (GRAPHIC ) has served as our chief technology officer since April 2016. Prior to his current position, Jeff was president of China retail marketplaces from May 2015 to April 2016, and president of Taobao Marketplace and the wireless business division prior to that. He joined our company in July 2004 and has held various management positions, at different times leading Taobao Marketplace's technology infrastructure team, the B2C development team and Taobao Marketplace's product technology development team from 2004 to 2011. He served as vice president of product technology and operations of Taobao Marketplace from June 2011 to March 2012, and vice president of website and technology of Alibaba.com's China operations from March 2012 to January 2013. From January 2013 to February 2014, he oversaw Juhuasuan, local services, 1688.com, and Tmall.com. Jeff studied computer science at Zhejiang University.

                  Zhenfei LIU (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has been our chief risk officer since May 2015. Prior to his current position, Zhenfei served in various management positions since he joined us in 2006. He was head of our infrastructure services division from September 2009 to May 2015,March 2016, and concurrently served as head of our security technology division from May 2014 to May 2015. Prior to those roles, he was head of Alimama's advertising technology team. Zhenfei received his bachelor's degree in computer science from University of Science and Technology Beijing and holds a master's degree in computer science from Peking University.

                         Trudy Shan DAISophie Minzhi WU (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) joined our company in 1999 as a member of our founding team and has been our chief customer officer since June 2014.January 2017. Prior to her current position, TrudySophie served as seniorpresident of Alibaba.com and 1688.com, our international and China wholesale marketplaces. From October 2014 to February 2015, she also led the Rural Taobao team. Previously, she was vice


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                  president of Alibaba.com's supplier service division, responsible for leading her team to optimize service to China gold Supplier members and enhancing supplier quality. Sophie joined our company in November 2000 and has served in several sales management roles, including general manager of regional sales, director and vice president of human resourcesChina Gold Supplier sales, and administration of Taobao and Alibaba.com as well as our deputy chief people officer and chief people officer from 2009 to 2014. She was general manager of Alibaba.com's international operations from 2007 to 2008. Prior to that, she was vice president of human resources of China Yahoo! and the first general manager of Alibaba.com's Guangzhou branch, in charge of field and telephone sales, marketing and human resources in Guangdong Province. From 2002 to 2005, Trudy served as senior sales director of China TrustPass in Alibaba.com's China marketplace division.sales. Before joining Alibaba Group, Sophie was sales and customer manager at a technology development company wholly owned by Zhejiang University. She receivedholds a bachelor's degree in engineeringinternational trade from Hangzhou Institute of Electrical Engineering.Zhejiang University and an EMBA degree from China Europe International Business School.

                         Timothy A. STEINERT has been our general counsel since July 2007 and also serves as our secretary. From 1999 until he joined our company, Tim was a partner in the Hong Kong office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. From 1994 to 1999, he was an associate attorney at Davis Polk & Wardwell in Hong Kong and New York, and from 1989 to 1994, he was an associate attorney at Coudert Brothers in Beijing and New York. Tim is qualified to practice law in the State of New York and in Hong Kong. He received a bachelor's degree in history from Yale College and a juris doctor degree from Columbia University School of Law.

                         Jianhang JIN (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) joined our company in 1999 as a member of our founding team and was appointed the president of our company in August 2014. Prior to his current position, he served as senior vice president of corporate affairs from September 2009 to July 2014 and from March 2007 to December 2007. He also served as


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                  general manager of China Yahoo! (later Yahoo! Koubei) from January 2008 to August 2009 and was vice president of human resources and the CEO office from January 2006 to February 2007. As a founding member, he has served in a variety of other management roles at different times since our company's inception, including heading the marketing and website operations functions for one of our marketplaces. He received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Fudan University.

                         Jian WANGChris Pen-hung TUNG (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has servedjoined our company as chairman of our technology committee since May 2015.chief marketing officer in January 2016. Prior to his current position, he was the chief technologyexecutive officer of VML China, a marketing agency, from August 2012October 2010 to May 2015 andJanuary 2016. Prior to joining VML, he was at PepsiCo China from October 2004 to October 2010 where he served as our chief architect from the time he joined our company in September 2008. He also served asvice president of Alibaba Cloud Computing from its inception in September 2009 until September 2013. Before joining our company, he was assistant managing director at Microsoft Research Asia, where he had served since 1999.marketing. Prior to that, heChris worked at Zhejiang UniversityProctor & Gamble from 1995 to 1998, Gigamedia from 1998 to 2001 and L'Oréal from 2001 to 2003 in Hangzhou, China as a professor and head of the psychology department. Jian serves on the board of directors of Meizu Technology Corporation Limited.various senior management positions. He received a bachelor's degree in psychologyelectrical engineering from National Taiwan University and a Ph.Dmaster's degree in industrial engineering from Hangzhou University.

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG (GRAPHIC ) has been presidentUniversity of China retail marketplaces since May 2015. Prior to his current position, Jeff was president of Taobao Marketplace and the wireless business division. He joined our company in July 2004 and has held various management positions, at different times leading Taobao Marketplace's technology infrastructure team, the B2C development team and Taobao Marketplace's product technology development team from 2004 to 2011. He served as vice president of product technology and operations of Taobao Marketplace from June 2011 to March 2012, and vice president of website and technology of Alibaba.com's China operations from March 2012 to January 2013. From January 2013 to February 2014, he oversaw Juhuasuan, local services, 1688.com, and Tmall.com. Jeff studied computer science at Zhejiang University.Michigan, Ann Arbor.

                         Yongfu YU (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has served as president of Mobile Internet and Alimama since May 2015.2015 and chairman and chief executive officer of Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group since October 2016. He has been chairman and chief executive officer of Alibaba Pictures since December 2016. Prior to his current position, Yongfu served as president of UCWeb after he joined our company in June 2014 and president of AutoNavi from March 2015. From 2006 to June 2014, Yongfu was chairman and chief executive officer of UCWeb before it became our wholly-owned subsidiary. Prior to that, Yongfu was a vice president and associate with Legend Capital from 2001 to 2006. He also serves as an independent director and a member of the audit committee of Xunlei Limited, a NASDAQ-listed company. Yongfu received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Nankai University.

                         Simon Xiaoming HU (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) has been the president of Alibaba Cloud Computing since November 2014. Prior to his current position, Simon served in various management positions at our company and at Ant Financial Services since he joined us in June 2005. He served as chief risk officer of Ant Financial Services from November 2013 to October 2014. From July 2009 to November 2013, he was general manager of our SME loan business. Before joining our company, Simon worked in financial institutions including China Construction Bank and China Everbright Bank for over ten years. He serves as an independent director of Zhejiang Daily Media Group Co., Ltd., a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and a director of Hundsun Technologies Inc., a Company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Simon received a bachelor's degree in finance from Zhejiang University and an executive MBA degree from China Europe International Business School.


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                         Sophie Minzhi WUTrudy Shan DAI (GRAPHICGRAPHIC ) joined our company in 1999 as a member of our founding team and has served asbeen president of Alibaba.com and 1688.com, our international and China wholesale marketplaces. Sophie joinedmarketplaces since January 2017. Prior to her current position, Trudy was our company in November 2000chief customer officer from June 2014 to January 2017 and has served in several sales management roles, including general manager of regional sales, director andas senior vice president of China Gold Supplier sales,human resources and vice presidentadministration of China TrustPass sales. Later, Sophie became vice president of Alibaba.com's supplier service division, responsible for leading her teamTaobao and Alibaba.com as well as our deputy chief people officer and chief people officer from 2009 to optimize service to China Gold Supplier members and enhance supplier quality. In March 2012, she2014. She was appointed the headgeneral manager of Alibaba.com's international operations and later also took charge of 1688.com. Before joining Alibaba Group, Sophie was sales and customer manager at a technology development company wholly owned by Zhejiang University. She holds a bachelor's degree in international trade from Zhejiang University and an EMBA degree from China Europe International Business School.

                  Peng JIANG (GRAPHIC ) joined our company in 2000 and has been the president of YunOS since September 2013. Peng is responsible for overseeing various technology teams as well as the data business group, supporting Jian


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                  Wang, chairman of our technology committee. He oversaw our shared-services business from January2007 to September 2013 and served as president of Taobao Marketplace from July 2012 to January 2013.2008. Prior to that, Pengshe was vice president of Taobao's consumer business department from August 2009human resources of China Yahoo! and the first general manager of Alibaba.com's Guangzhou branch, in charge of field and telephone sales, marketing and human resources in Guangdong Province. From 2002 to July 2012. He2005, Trudy served as senior sales director of China TrustPass in various management roles in development department from 2000 to 2003, when he joined the team that later established Taobao. HeAlibaba.com's China marketplace division. She received a bachelor's degree in hydraulic engineering from Hangzhou Institute of Electrical Engineering.

                  Jessie Junfang ZHENG (GRAPHIC ) has been our chief platform governance officer since December 2015, responsible for the governance of our retail and wholesale marketplaces. She has also been our deputy chief financial officer from November 2013 to June 2016. Prior to her current position, she served as financial vice president of Alibaba.com from December 2010 to October 2013. Before joining our company, Jessie was an audit partner at KPMG. Jessie received a master'sbachelor's degree in hydraulicsaccounting from Tsinghua University.Northeastern University in China.

                  Alibaba Partnership

                         Since our founders first gathered in Jack Ma's apartment in 1999, they and our management have acted in the spirit of partnership. We view our culture as fundamental to our success and our ability to serve our customers, develop our employees and deliver long-term value to our shareholders. In July 2010, in order to preserve this spirit of partnership and to ensure the sustainability of our mission, vision and values, we decided to formalize our partnership as Lakeside Partners, named after the Lakeside Gardens residential community where Jack and our other founders started our company. We refer to the partnership as the Alibaba Partnership.

                         We believe that our partnership approach has helped us to better manage our business, with the peer nature of the partnership enabling senior managers to collaborate and override bureaucracy and hierarchy. The Alibaba Partnership currently has 3036 members comprised of 2427 members of our management fiveand nine members of management of Ant Financial Services and one member of management of Cainiao Logistics. One partner who is a member of our management is also a member of management of Ant Financial Services. The number of partners in Alibaba Partnership is not fixed and may change from time to time due to the election of new partners, the retirement of partners and the departure of partners for other reasons.

                         Our partnership is a dynamic body that rejuvenates itself through admission of new partners each year, which we believe enhances our excellence, innovation and sustainability. Unlike dual-class ownership structures that employ a high-vote class of shares to concentrate control in a few founders, our approach is designed to embody the vision of a large group of management partners. This structure is our solution for preserving the culture shaped by our founders while at the same time accounting for the fact that founders will inevitably retire from the company.

                         Consistent with our partnership approach, all partnership votes are made on a one-partner-one-vote basis.

                         The partnership is governed by a partnership agreement and operates under principles, policies and procedures that have evolved with our business and are further described below.

                  Nomination and Election of Partners

                         The Alibaba Partnership elects new partners annually after a nomination process whereby existing partners propose candidates to the partnership committee, or the partnership committee, as described below. The partnership committee reviews the nominations and determines whether the nomination of a candidate will be proposed to the entire partnership for election. Election of new partners requires the approval of at least 75% of all of the partners.


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                         To be eligible for election, a partner candidate must have demonstrated the following attributes:


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                         We believe the criteria and process of the Alibaba Partnership applicable to the election of new partners, as described above, promote accountability among the partners as well as to our customers, employees and shareholders. In order to align the interests of partners with the interests of our shareholders, we require that each partner maintain a meaningful level of equity interests in our company during such individual'shis or her tenure as a partner. Since a partner nominee must have been our employee or an employee of one of our related companies or affiliates for at least five years, as of the time he or she becomes a partner, he or she will typically already own or have been awarded a personally meaningful level of equity interest in our company through our equity incentive and share purchase plans.

                  Duties of Partners

                         The main duty of partners in their capacity as partners is to embody and promote our mission, vision and values. We expect partners to be evangelists for our mission, vision and values, both within our organization and externally to customers, business partners and other participants in our ecosystem.

                  Partnership Committee

                         The partnership committee must consist of at least five partners and is currently comprised of Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, Jonathan Lu,Daniel Zhang, Lucy Peng and Ming Zeng.Eric Jing. The partnership committee is responsible for administering partner elections and allocating the relevant portion of the annual cash bonus pool for all partner members of management, with any amounts payable to partners who are our executive officers or directors or members of the partnership committee subject to approval of the compensation committee of our board of directors. Partnership committee members serve for a term of three years and may serve multiple terms. Elections of partnership committee members are held once every three years. Prior to each election, the partnership committee will nominate a number of partners equal to the number of partnership committee members that will serve in the next partnership committee term plus three additional nominees. Each partner votes for a number of nominees equal to the number of partnership committee members that will serve in the next partnership committee term and all except the three nominees who receive the least votes from the partners are elected to the partnership committee.

                  Director Nomination and Appointment Rights

                         Pursuant to our articles of association, the Alibaba Partnership has the exclusive right to nominate andor, in limited situations, appoint up to a simple majority of the members of our board of directors.

                         The election of each director nominee of the Alibaba Partnership will be subject to the director nominee receiving a majority vote from our shareholders voting at an annual general meeting of shareholders. If an Alibaba Partnership director nominee is not elected by our shareholders or after election departs our board of directors for any reason, the Alibaba Partnership has the right to appoint a different person to serve as an interim director of the class in which the vacancy exists until our next scheduled annual general meeting of shareholders. At the next scheduled annual general meeting of shareholders, the appointed interim director or a replacement Alibaba Partnership director nominee (other than the original nominee) will stand for election for the remainder of the term of the class of directors to which the original nominee would have belonged.


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                         If at any time our board of directors consists of less than a simple majority of directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership for any reason, including because a director previously nominated by the Alibaba Partnership ceases to be a member of our board of directors or because the Alibaba Partnership had previously not exercised its right to nominate or appoint a simple majority of our board of directors, the Alibaba Partnership will be entitled (in its sole discretion and without the need for any additional shareholder action) to


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                  appoint such number of additional directors to the board as necessary to ensure that the directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership comprise a simple majority of our board of directors.

                         In determining the Alibaba Partnership director nominees who will stand for election to our board, the partnership committee will propose director nominees who will be voted on by all of the partners, and those nominees who receive a simple majority of the votes of the partners will be selected for suchthese purposes. The director nominees of the Alibaba Partnership will initially allmay be partners of the Alibaba Partnership however, we expect that in the future nominees may also includeor other qualified individuals who are not affiliated with the Alibaba Partnership.

                         The Alibaba Partnership's right to nominate or appoint up to a simple majority of our directors is conditioned on the Alibaba Partnership being governed by the partnership agreement in effect as of the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014, or as may be amended in accordance with its terms from time to time. Any amendment to the provisions of the partnership agreement relating to the purpose of the partnership, or to the manner in which the Alibaba Partnership exercises its right to nominate a simple majority of our directors, will be subject to the approval of the majority of our directors who are not nominees or appointees of the Alibaba Partnership and are "independent directors" within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. The provisions relating to nomination rights and procedures described above are incorporated in our articles of association. Pursuant to our articles of association, the Alibaba Partnership's nomination rights and related provisions of our articles of association may only be changed upon the vote of shareholders representing 95% of the votes present in person or by proxy at a general meeting of shareholders.

                         Our board of directors currently consists of teneleven members, and fourfive of these directors are Alibaba Partnership nominees. If at any time our board of directors consists of less than a simple majority of directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership for any reason — including because the Alibaba Partnership had previously not exercised its right to nominate or appoint a simple majority of our board of directors — the Alibaba Partnership will be entitled (in its sole discretion and without the need for any additional shareholder approval) to nominate or appoint such number of additional directors as necessary to ensure that the directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership comprise a simple majority of our board of directors. Accordingly, the Alibaba Partnership is entitled to nominate or appoint threetwo additional directors to our board, which would increase the total number of directors to thirteen. We have entered into a voting agreement pursuant to which both SoftBank and Yahoo will agreehave agreed to vote their shares in favor of the Alibaba Partnership director nominees at each annual general shareholders meeting so long as SoftBank owns at least 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Accordingly, for so long as SoftBank and Yahoo remain substantial shareholders, we expect the Alibaba Partnership nominees will receive a majority of votes cast at any meeting for the election of directors and will be elected as directors. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Yahoo — Voting Agreement."


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                  Current Partners

                         The following table sets forth the names, in alphabetical order by surname, and other information regarding the current partners of the Alibaba Partnership as of the date of this annual report.


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                  Name
                  		 Age Gender Year
                  Joined
                  Alibaba
                  Group                  		 Current position with Alibaba Group or
                  related/affiliated companies

                  Jingxian CAI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  38 M  2000 Principal Engineer

                  Li CHENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 M  2005 Chief Technology Officer, Ant Financial Services

                  Trudy Shan DAI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  38 F  1999 Chief Customer Officer

                  Luyuan FAN (GRAPHIC)

                  		  42 M  2007 President, Payment Business, Ant Financial Services

                  Yongxin FANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  41 M  2000 Director, Human Resources

                  Simon Xiaoming HU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  45 M  2005 President, Alibaba Cloud Computing

                  Fang JIANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  41 F  1999 Vice President, Corporate Integrity and Human Resources and Deputy Chief People Officer

                  Peng JIANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  41 M  2000 President, YunOS

                  Jianhang JIN (GRAPHIC)

                  		  45 M  1999 President

                  Eric Xiandong JING (GRAPHIC)

                  		  42 M  2007 President, Ant Financial Services

                  Zhenfei LIU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 M  2006 Chief Risk Officer

                  Jonathan Zhaoxi LU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  45 M  2000 Vice Chairman

                  Jack Yun MA (GRAPHIC)

                  		  50 M  1999 Executive Chairman

                  Xingjun NI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  37 M  2003 Principal Engineer, Ant Financial Services

                  Lucy Lei PENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  41 F  1999 Chief People Officer, Alibaba Group; Chief Executive Officer, Ant Financial Services

                  Sabrina Yijie PENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  36 F  2000 General Manager, International, Ant Financial Services

                  Xiaofeng SHAO (GRAPHIC)

                  		  49 M  2005 Senior Vice President, Director, Office of the Chairman

                  Timothy A. STEINERT

                  		  55 M  2007 General Counsel and Secretary

                  Judy Wenhong TONG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  44 F  2000 President, Cainiao Logistics

                  Joseph C. TSAI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  51 M  1999 Executive Vice Chairman

                  Jian WANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  52 M  2008 Chairman, Technology Committee

                  Shuai WANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 M  2003 Senior Vice President

                  Sophie Minzhi WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  39 F  2000 President, Wholesale Marketplaces

                  Maggie Wei WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  47 F  2007 Chief Financial Officer

                  Eddie Yongming WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 M  1999 Chairman, Alibaba Health

                  Sara Siying YU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 F  2005 Associate General Counsel, China

                  Ming ZENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  45 M  2006 Executive Vice President

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  41 M  2004 President, China Retail Marketplaces

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 M  2007 Chief Executive Officer

                  Yu ZHANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  45 F  2004 Vice President, Corporate Development
                  Name
                  		 Age Gender Year
                  Joined
                  Alibaba
                  Group                  		 Current position with Alibaba Group or
                  related/affiliated companies

                  Jingxian CAI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 M  2000 Senior Researcher

                  Li CHENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  42 M  2005 Chief Technology Officer, Ant Financial Services

                  Trudy Shan DAI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 F  1999 President, Wholesale Marketplaces

                  Luyuan FAN (GRAPHIC)

                  		  44 M  2007 Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Business, Ant Financial Services

                  Yongxin FANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 M  2000 Director, Human Resources

                  Felix Xi HU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  36 M  2007 Chief Technology Architect, Ant Financial Services

                  Simon Xiaoming HU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  47 M  2005 President, Alibaba Cloud Computing

                  Jane Fang JIANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 F  1999 Deputy Chief People Officer

                  Jianhang JIN (GRAPHIC)

                  		  47 M  1999 President

                  Eric Xiandong JING (GRAPHIC)†

                  		  44 M  2007 Chief Executive Officer, Ant Financial Services

                  Zhenfei LIU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  45 M  2006 Chief Risk Officer

                  Jack Yun MA (GRAPHIC)†

                  		  52 M  1999 Executive Chairman

                  Xingjun NI (GRAPHIC)

                  		  39 M  2003 Principal Engineer, Ant Financial Services

                  Lucy Lei PENG (GRAPHIC)†

                  		  43 F  1999 Chairman, Ant Financial Services

                  Sabrina Yijie PENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  38 F  2000 Vice President, Ant Financial Services

                  Xiaofeng SHAO (GRAPHIC)

                  		  51 M  2005 Senior Vice President, Director, Office of the Chairman

                  Timothy A. STEINERT

                  		  57 M  2007 General Counsel and Secretary

                  Lijun SUN (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 M  2002 General Manager, Rural Taobao

                  Judy Wenhong TONG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  46 F  2000 Chief People Officer, Non-executive Chairwoman of Cainiao Network

                  Joseph C. TSAI (GRAPHIC)†

                  		  53 M  1999 Executive Vice Chairman

                  Jian WANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  54 M  2008 Chairman, Technology Steering Committee

                  Shuai WANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  42 M  2003 Senior Vice President

                  Winnie Jia WEN (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 F  2007 Senior Director, Office of the Chairman

                  Sophie Minzhi WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  41 F  2000 Chief Customer Officer

                  Maggie Wei WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  49 F  2007 Chief Financial Officer

                  Eddie Yongming WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  42 M  1999 Chairman, Alibaba Health

                  Zeming WU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  36 M  2004 Principal Engineer, Tmall

                  Sara Siying YU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  42 F  2005 Associate General Counsel, China

                  Yongfu YU (GRAPHIC)

                  		  40 M  2014 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group

                  Ming ZENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  47 M  2006 Executive Vice President

                  Sam Songbai ZENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  50 M  2012 Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Ant Financial Services

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 M  2004 Chief Technology Officer

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG (GRAPHIC)†

                  		  45 M  2007 Chief Executive Officer

                  Yu ZHANG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  47 F  2004 Director, Office of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alibaba Digital Media & Entertainment Group

                  Ying ZHAO (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 F  2005 Vice President, Ant Financial Services

                  Jessie Junfang ZHENG (GRAPHIC)

                  		  43 F  2010 Chief Platform Governance Officer
                  †
                  Member of the partnership committee.

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                  Bonus Pool

                         Our board of directors, acting on the recommendation of our compensation committee, approves an annual cash bonus pool for management of our company (which in fiscal year 20152017 comprised approximately 200over 260 individuals) equal to a percentage of our adjusted pre-tax operating profits. Once the annual cash bonus pool is calculated, our compensation committee will then first determine the proportion to be allocated to the non-partner members of our management. Any remaining portion will then be available for the partner members of our management. The partnership committee will determine the allocation of the relevant portion of the annual cash bonus pool for all partner members of management, with any amounts payable to partners who are our executive officers or directors who are partners or members of the partnership committee subject to approval of the compensation committee of our board of directors. We understand that a partner's level of contribution to our business and to the promoting of our mission, vision and values will be a key factor in determining his or her allocation from the bonus pool. A portion of the annual cash bonus pool that is available to the partner members of management may, upon the recommendation of the partnership committee and approval of our compensation committee, be deferred, with the allocations of deferred payment determined by the partnership committee with any amounts payable to our executive officers or directors who are partners or members of the partnership committee subject to approval of the compensation committee of our board of directors. We understand that participation in deferred distributions, other than retirement pension payments funded out of the deferred pool, is conditioned on a partner's continued employment with us, our affiliates and/or certain companies with which we have a significant relationship, such as Ant Financial Services.

                  Retirement and Removal

                         Partners may elect to retire from the partnership at any time. All partners except continuity partners are required to retire upon reaching the age of sixty or upon termination of their qualifying employment. Continuity partners may remain partners until they elect to retire from the partnership, die or are incapacitated or are removed as partners. Either two or three partners may be designated as continuity partners at a time, with Jack and Joe serving as the initial continuity partners. Continuity partners are either designated by a retiring continuity partner or by the serving continuity partners. Any partner, including continuity partners, may be removed upon the vote of a simple majority of all partners present at a duly-called meeting of partners for violations of certain standards set forth in the partnership agreement, including failure to actively promote our mission, vision and values, fraud, gross misconduct or gross negligence. As with other partners, continuity partners must maintain the shareholding levels required by us of all partners as described below. Partners who retire from the partnership upon meeting certain age and service requirements may be designated as honorary partners by the partnership committee. Honorary partners may not act as partners, but may be entitled to allocations from the deferred portion of the annual cash bonus pool described below as retirement pension payments. Continuity partners will not be eligible to receive allocations from the annual cash bonus pool if they cease to be our employees even if they remain partners, but may be entitled to receive allocations from the deferred bonus pool if they are honorary partners.

                  Restrictive Provisions

                         Under our articles of association, in connection with any change of control, merger or sale of our company, the partners and other holders of our ordinary shares shall receive the same consideration with respect to their ordinary shares in connection with any such transaction.of these types of transactions. In addition, our articles of association provide that the Alibaba Partnership may not transfer or otherwise delegate or give a proxy to any third partythird-party with respect to its right to nominate directors, although it may elect not to exercise its rights in full. In addition, as noted above, our articles of association also provide that the amendment of certain provisions of the Alibaba Partnership agreement relating to the purpose of the partnership or the manner in which the partnership exercises its rights to nominate or appoint a majority of our board of directors will require the approval of a majority of directors who are not appointees of the Alibaba Partnership and are "independent directors" within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.


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                  Amendment of Alibaba Partnership Agreement

                         Pursuant to the partnership agreement, amendment of the partnership agreement requires the approval of 75% of the partners in attendance at a meeting of the partners at which not less than 75% of all the partners are in attendance, except that the general partner may effect certain administrative amendments. In addition, certain amendments relating to the purposes of the Alibaba Partnership or the manner in which it exercises its nomination rights with respect to our directors require the approval of a majority of our independent directors not nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership.

                  Alibaba Group Equity Interest Holding Requirements for Partners

                         Each of the partners holds his or her equity interests in our company directly as an individual or through his or her affiliates. We have entered into share retention agreements with each partner. These agreements provide that a period of three years from the date on which sucha person becomes a partner, or for 2725 of the existing partners, from January 1, 2014, and three of the existing partners, from August 26, 2014, four of the existing partners, from December 8, 2015 and four of the existing partners, from February 17, 2017, we require that each partner retain at least 60% of the equity interests (including unvested shares and shares underlying vested and unvested awards) that he or she held on the starting date of suchthe three-year period. Following the initial three-year holding period and for so long as he or she remains a partner, we require that the partner retain at least 40% of the equity interests (including unvested shares and shares underlying vested and unvested awards) that he or she held on the starting date of the initial three-year holding period. Exceptions to the holding period rules described in the share retention agreements must be approved by a majority of the independent directors.

                  B.    Compensation

                  Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers

                         For fiscal year 2015,2017, we paid and accrued aggregate fees, salaries and benefits (excluding equity-based grants) of up to approximately RMB169RMB548 million (US$80 million) to our directors and executive officers as a group and granted optionsrights to purchase an aggregate of 13,000,0001,000,000 ordinary shares and 3,801,500644,000 RSUs to our directors and executive officers.

                         The board, acting on the recommendation of our compensation committee, may determine the remuneration to be paid to non-employee directors. Employee directors will not receive any additional remuneration for serving as directors other than their remuneration as employees of us or our related entities. Pursuant to our service agreements with our directors, neither we nor our subsidiaries provide benefits to directors upon termination of employment. We do not separately set aside any amounts for pensions, retirement or other benefits for our executive officers, other than pursuant to relevant statutory requirements, and, in the case of executivesrequirements. Management members who are not PRC citizens, health and life insurance.partners of the Alibaba Partnership may receive retirement payments from the deferred portion of the annual cash bonus pool available to the Alibaba Partnership.

                         Mr. Chee Hwa Tung has indicated to us his intention to donate all cash compensation and equity-based awards he receives from us as an independent director to one or more non-profit or charitable organizations to be designated by him.

                         For information regarding equity-based grants to directors and executive officers, see "— Equity Incentive Plans."

                  Employment Agreements

                         We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. We may terminate their employment at any time, with cause, and we are not required to provide any prior notice of suchthe termination. We may also terminate their employment in circumstances prescribed under and in accordance with the requirements of applicable labor law, including notice and payment in lieu. Executive officers may terminate their employment with us at any time upon written notice. Although our employment agreements with our executive officers do not


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                  provide for severance pay, where severance pay is mandated by law, our executive officers will be entitled to such severance pay in the amount mandated by law when his or her employment is terminated. We have been advised by our PRC counsel, Fangda Partners, that we may be required to make such severance payments upon


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                  termination without cause to comply with the PRC Labor Law, the labor contract law and other relevant PRC regulations, which entitle employees to severance payments in case of early termination of "de facto employment relationships" by PRC entities without statutory cause regardless of whether there exists a written employment agreement with suchthese entities.

                         Our grant letter agreements under our equity incentive plans also contain, among other rights, restrictive covenants that enable us to terminate grants and repurchase shares at par or the exercise price paid for suchthe shares in the event of a grantee's termination for cause for breaching suchthese covenants. See "— Equity Incentive Plans" below.

                  Equity Incentive Plans

                         We have adopted the following equity incentive plans since our inception:

                         Currently, awards are only available for issuance under our 2014 Plan. If an award under the 2011 Plan terminates, expires or lapses, or is cancelled for any reason, ordinary shares subject to the award become available for the grant of a new award under the 2014 Plan. As of March 31, 2015,2017, there were:

                         Our equity incentive plans provide for the granting of incentive and non-statutory options, restricted shares, RSUs, dividend equivalents, share appreciation rights and share payments to any directors, employees, and consultants of ours, our affiliates and certain other companies, such as Alipay.Ant Financial Services. Share options and RSUs granted are generally subject to a four-year vesting schedule as determined by the administrator of the respective plans. Depending on the nature and the purpose of the grant, share options and RSUs in general vest 25% upon the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date for annual incentive awards or 50% upon the second anniversary of the vesting commencement date for on-hire awards, and thereafter 25% every year. Inyear thereafter. Starting in fiscal year 2015, certain RSUs and share options granted to members of our senior management members were subject to a six-year pro rata vesting schedule. We believe equity-based awards are vital to attract, motivate and retain our directors, employees and consultants, and those of certain of our affiliates and other companies, such as Alipay,Ant Financial Services, and are the appropriate tool to align their interests with our shareholders. Accordingly, we will continue to grant equity-based awards to the employees, consultants and directors of our company, our affiliates and certain other companies as an important part of their compensation packages.

                         In addition, our equity incentive award agreements generally provide that, in the event of a grantee's termination for cause or violation of a non-competition undertaking, we will have the right to repurchase the shares acquired by suchthe grantee, generally at par or the exercise price paid for suchthe shares.


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                         The following paragraphs summarize other key terms of our equity incentive plans.

                         Plan administration.    Subject to certain limitations, our equity incentive plans are generally administered by the compensation committee of the board (or a subcommittee thereof), or such other committee of the board to which the board has delegated power to act; provided, that in the absence of any such committee, our equity incentive plans will be administered by the board. Grants to any executive directors of the board must be approved by the disinterested directors of our board.

                         Types of awards.    The equity incentive plans provide for the granting of incentive and non-statutory options, restricted shares, restricted share units,RSUs, dividend equivalents, share appreciation rights, share payments and other rights.

                         Award agreements.    Generally, awards granted under the equity incentive plans are evidenced by an award agreement providing for the number of ordinary shares subject to the award, and the terms and conditions of the award, which must be consistent with the relevant plan.

                         Eligibility.    Any employee, consultant or director of our company, our affiliates or certain other companies, such as Alipay,Ant Financial Services, is eligible to receive grants under the equity incentive plans, but only employees of our company, our affiliates and certain other companies, such as Alipay,Ant Financial Services, are eligible to receive incentive stock options.

                         Term of awards.    The term of awards granted under our equity incentive plans are generally not to exceed ten years from the date of grant.

                         Acceleration, waiver and restrictions.    The administrator of our equity incentive plans has sole discretion in determining the terms and conditions of any award, any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restrictions regarding any award or the ordinary shares relating thereto.

                         Change in control.    If a change in control of our company occurs, the plan administrator may, in its sole discretion,discretion:

                         Amendment and Termination.termination.    Unless earlier terminated, our equity incentive plans continue in effect for a term of ten years. The board may at any time terminate or amend the 2014 Plan in any respect, including amendment of any form of any award agreement or instrument to be executed, provided, however, that to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange rules, shareholder approval of any amendment to the 2014 Plan shall be obtained in suchthe manner and to suchthe degree as required.

                  Senior Management Equity Incentive Plan

                         We adopted the Senior Management Equity Incentive Plan in 2010, pursuant to which selected management of our company subscribed for preferred shares in a special purpose vehicle, Alternate Solutions Management Limited, which holds our ordinary shares. These preferred shares, subject to a non-compete provision, are redeemable by the holders thereof for our ordinary shares upon the earlier to occur of an initial public offering of our shares (subject to statutory and contractual lock-up periods), and five years from the respective dates of


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                  issuance of the preferred shares to the participants. The maximum number of our ordinary shares redeemable upon the redemption of the preferred shares issued under this plan by the participants is 15,000,000. The underlying ordinary shares have already been issued to the special purpose vehicle and are included in our total outstanding share number. The preferred shares are subject to forfeiture if a holder engages in certain activities that compete with us.

                  Partner Capital Investment Plan

                         We adopted the Partner Capital Investment Plan in 2013 to provide partners of the Alibaba Partnership an opportunity to invest in interests in our ordinary shares in order to align further their interests with the interests of our shareholders. Pursuant to the Partner Capital Investment Plan, theeligible partners subscribed for convertible preferred shares inrights, issued by two special purpose vehicles, PCIP I Limited and PCIP II Limited. These convertible preferred shares are, for a period of up to four years from the respective dates of issuance thereof, convertible into exchangeable ordinary shares in these special purpose vehicles, which are exchangeable foracquire our ordinary shares after eight years following the respective dates of issuance of the convertible preferred shares. The convertible preference shares and the exchangeable ordinary shares of these special purpose vehiclesThese rights are subject to forfeiture if a partner engages in certain activities that compete with us.non-compete provisions, transfer restrictions, exercise restrictions and/or vesting schedules, which are longer than the vesting schedules under our equity incentive plans. The maximum number of our ordinary shares that may be acquired upon the exchange of exchangeable ordinary shares in the special purpose vehicles by the partnersunderlying these rights is 18,000,000. The underlying ordinary shares have already been issued by us to the special purpose vehicles and are included in our total outstanding share number. The Partner Capital Investment Plan permits the issuance of additional shares to the partners as the board may approve from time to time.

                  Share-based Awards Held by Our Directors and Officers

                         The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2015, the outstanding options (including unvested restricted shares related to options early exercised), RSUs and other rights held as of March 31, 2017 by our directors and executive officers, as well as by their affiliates, under the our equity incentive plans, as well as equity held through their investments in our Senior Management Equity Incentive Plan and Partner Capital Investment Plan.

                  Name
                  		 Ordinary shares
                  underlying
                  outstanding
                  options / restricted
                  shares or RSUs /
                  other rights
                  granted or
                  subscribed                  		 Exercise
                  price
                  (US$/Share)                  		 Date of grant(6) Date of expiration 

                  Jack Yun MA

                  		 390,000130,000(2)  —  June 26, 2013  June 26, 2019

                  		62,500(2)—January 27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		100,000(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024 

                  Joseph C. TSAI

                  		 1,200,000(1)  5.00  November 12, 2010  — 

                  		 195,00065,000(2)  —  June 26, 2013  June 26, 2019 

                  Jonathan Zhaoxi LU

                  		 *(1)5.00November 12, 2010—

                  		*(1)5.00March 17, 2011—

                  		*37,500(2)  —  January 24, 201327, 2016  January 24, 201927, 2024 

                  		 *(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  		*(5)56.00July 2, 2014July 2, 2022

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG

                  		*35,000(2)  —  May 11, 2012August 10, 2016  May 11, 2018August 10, 2024 

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG

                  		 *(3)  18.50  May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019 

                  		 *(4)  14.50  July 26, 2013  — 

                  		 *(5)  56.00  July 2, 2014  July 2, 2022 

                  		 *(2)  —  July 2, 2014  July 2, 2022 

                  		 Chee Hwa TUNG*(5)87.06May 10, 2015May 10, 2023

                  		 *(2)  —  September 24, 2014May 10, 2015  September 24, 2020May 10, 2023 

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK

                  		 *(2)  —  September 24, 2014January 27, 2016  September 24, 2020January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—March 17, 2016March 17, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024 

                  J. Michael EVANS

                  		 *(2)  —  September 24, 2014  September 24, 2020 

                  		*(5)79.96July 31, 2015July 31, 2023

                  		*(2)—July 31, 2015July 31, 2023

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2022

                  Masayoshi SON

                  		————

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                  Name
                  		 Ordinary shares
                  underlying
                  outstanding
                  options / restricted
                  shares or RSUs /
                  other rights
                  granted or
                  subscribed                  		 Exercise
                  price
                  (US$/Share)                  		 Date of grant(6) Date of expiration 

                  Eric Xiandong JING

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(2)—July 2, 2014July 2, 2022

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  Chee Hwa TUNG

                  		*(2)—September 24, 2014September 24, 2020

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK

                  		*(2)—September 24, 2014September 24, 2020

                  Jerry YANG

                  		 *(2)  —  September 24, 2014  September 24, 2020 

                  Lucy Lei PENGBörje E. EKHOLM

                  		*(1)5.00November 12, 2010—

                  		 *(2)  —  May 11, 2012June 1, 2015  May 11, 2018June 1, 2021 

                  Wan Ling MARTELLO

                  		*(2)—September 3, 2016September 3, 2022

                  Maggie Wei WU

                  		 *(3)  18.50  May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019 

                  		 *(4)  14.50  July 26, 2013  — 

                  		 *(2)  56.00—  July 2, 2014  July 2, 2022 

                  Maggie Wei WU

                  		 *(2)  —  January 24,27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Judy Wenhong TONG

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019

                  		*(2)—July 2, 2014July 2, 2022

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  		*(2)—July 2, 2014July 2, 2022

                  		*(5)69.54January 24,27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—January 27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Zhenfei LIU

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  		*(2)—July 2, 2014July 2, 2022

                  		*(2)—January 27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Sophie Minzhi WU

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  		*(2)—July 2, 2014July 2, 2022

                  		*(2)—January 27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Timothy A. STEINERT

                  		*(1)5.00November 12, 2010— 

                  		 *(3)  18.50  May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019 

                  		 *(4)  14.50  July 26, 2013  — 

                  		 *(2)  —  July 2, 2014  July 2, 2022 

                  Trudy Shan DAI

                  		 *(1)(2)5.00November 12, 2010  — January 27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Jianhang JIN

                  		 *(2)  —  May 11, 2012  May 11, 2018 

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  		*(2)—January 27, 2016January 27, 2024

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Chris Pen-hung TUNG

                  		*(5)67.28February 21, 2016February 21, 2022

                  		*(2)—February 21, 2016February 21, 2022

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                  Name
                  		Ordinary shares
                  underlying
                  outstanding
                  options / restricted
                  shares or RSUs /
                  other rights
                  granted or
                  subscribed                  		Exercise
                  price
                  (US$/Share)                  		Date of grant(6)Date of expiration

                  Yongfu YU

                  		*(2)—August 20, 2013August 20, 2019

                  		*(2)—November 15, 2014November 15, 2020

                  		*(2)—August 21, 2015August 21, 2021

                  		*(4)23.00May 23, 2016May 23, 2027

                  		*(2)—August 10, 2016August 10, 2024

                  Simon Xiaoming HU

                  		 *(3)  18.50  May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019 

                  		 *(4)  14.50  July 26, 2013  — 

                  		 *(2)  —  July 2, 2014  July 2, 2022 

                  Timothy A. STEINERT

                  		 *(1)(2)  5.00—  November 12, 2010January 27, 2016  —January 27, 2024 

                  		 *(2)  —  May 11, 2012August 10, 2016  May 11, 2018August 10, 2024 

                  		*(2)—November 15, 2016November 15, 2024

                  Trudy Shan DAI

                  		 *(3)  18.50  May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019 

                  		 *(4)  14.50  July 26, 2013  — 

                  		 *(2)  —  July 2, 2014  July 2, 2022 

                  Jianhang JIN

                  		 *(1)(2)  5.00—  November 12, 2010January 27, 2016  —January 27, 2024 

                  		 *(2)  —  May 3, 2011August 10, 2016  May 3, 2017

                  		*(2)—May 11, 2012May 11, 2018

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—August 10, 2024 

                  Jian WANG Jessie Junfang ZHENG

                  		*(1)5.00November 12, 2010—

                  		*(2)—May 11, 2012May 11, 2018

                  		 *(3)  18.50  May 18, 2013  May 18, 2019 

                  		 *(4)(2)  14.50—  July 26, 2013May 22, 2014  —May 22, 2020 

                  		 *(2)  —  July 2,August 21, 2014  July 2, 2022

                  Peng JIANG

                  		*(2)—May 11, 2012May 11, 2018

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—August 21, 2020 

                  		 *(2)  —  July 2, 2014August 21, 2015  July 2, 2022August 21, 2021 

                  Xiaofeng SHAO

                  		 *(1)(4)  5.0023.00  November 12, 2010May 23, 2016  —May 23, 2027 

                  		 *(2)  —  May 11, 2012August 10, 2016  May 11, 2018

                  		*(3)18.50May 18, 2013May 18, 2019

                  		*(4)14.50July 26, 2013—

                  		*(2)—July 2, 2014July 2, 2022August 10, 2024 
                  *
                  The options, RSUs and other rights to acquire ordinary shares in aggregate held by each of these directors and executive officers and their affiliates represent less than 1% of our total outstanding shares.
                  (1)
                  Represents rights under the Senior Management Equity Incentive Plan subscribed for at a subscription price of US$0.50 per preference share in 2010.
                  (2)
                  Represents RSUs.
                  (3)
                  Represents unvested restricted shares related to options early exercised.

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                  (4)
                  Represents rights under the Partner Capital Investment Plan subscribed for at US$4.00 per preference share.Plan. See note 8(c) to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017 included elsewhere in this annual report for further information.
                  (5)
                  Represents options.
                  (6)
                  Date of grant represents the original grant date of the options, RSUs and other rights held by the respective director or executive officer. Each outstanding optionOptions and RSU described in this tableRSUs granted prior to the adoption of our 2014 Plan that isare not held by a U.S. resident waswere cancelled and replaced with a new grant under the terms of the 2014 Plan (as described herein) with such terms and conditions that are substantially similar to those that applied to the cancelled awards.

                  C.    Board Practices

                  Nomination and Terms of Directors

                         Pursuant to our articles of association, our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors designated as Group I, Group II and Group III, each generally serving a three-year term unless earlier removed. The Group I directors currently consist of Joe Tsai, Michael Evans, Jonathan LuEric Jing and Börje Ekholm; the Group II directors currently consist of Daniel Zhang, Chee Hwa Tung, Jerry Yang and Jerry Yang;Wan Ling Martello; and the Group III directors currently consist of Jack Ma, Masayoshi Son and Walter Kwauk. The terms of office of the current Group I, Group II and Group III directors will expire, respectively, at our 2018 annual general meeting, 2019 annual general meeting and 2017 annual general meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the shareholders


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                  in a general meeting, our board will consist of not less than nine directors for so long as SoftBank has a director nomination right. The Alibaba Partnership has the exclusive right to nominate up to a simple majority of our board of directors, and SoftBank has the right to nominate one director for so long as SoftBank owns at least 15% of our outstanding shares. If at any time our board of directors consists of less than a simple majority of directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership for any reason, including because a director previously nominated by the Alibaba Partnership ceases to be a member of our board of directors or because the Alibaba Partnership had previously not exercised its right to nominate or appoint a simple majority of our board of directors, the Alibaba Partnership shall be entitled (in its sole discretion) to appoint such number of additional directors to the board as necessary to ensure that the directors nominated or appointed by the Alibaba Partnership comprise a simple majority of our board of directors. The remaining members of the board of directors will be nominated by the nominating and corporate governance committee of the board. Director nominees will be elected by the simple majority vote of shareholders at our annual general meeting.

                         If a director nominee is not elected by our shareholders or departs our board of directors for any reason, the party or group entitled to nominate that director has the right to appoint a different person to serve as an interim director of the class in which the vacancy exists until our next scheduled annual general meeting of shareholders. At the next scheduled annual general meeting of shareholders, the appointed interim director or a replacement director nominee (who, in the case of Alibaba Partnership nominees, cannot be the original nominee) will stand for election for the remainder of the term of the class of directors to which the original nominee would have belonged.

                         For additional information, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — A. Directors and Senior Management — Alibaba Partnership" and "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Yahoo — Voting Agreement."

                  Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance Guidelines

                         We have adopted a code of ethics, which is applicable to all of our directors, executive officers and employees. Our code of ethics is publicly available on our website.

                         In addition, our board of directors has adopted a set of corporate governance guidelines covering a variety of matters, including approval of related party transactions. Our corporate governance guidelines also provide that any adoption of a new equity incentive plan and any material amendments to suchthose plans will be subject to the approval of our non-executive directors and also provide that the director nominated by SoftBank is entitled to notices and materials for all meetings of committees of our board of directors and, by giving prior notice, may attend, observe and participate in any discussions at any committee meetings. The guidelines reflect certain guiding


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                  principles with respect to our board's structure, procedures and committees. The guidelines are not intended to change or interpret any applicable law, rule or regulation or our articles of association.

                  Duties of Directors

                         Under Cayman Islands law, all of our directors owe us fiduciary duties, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly and a duty to act in good faith and in a manner they believe to be in our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. We have the right to seek damages if a duty owed by any of our directors is breached.

                  Board Committees

                         Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our corporate governance guidelines provide that a majority of the members of our compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee will be independent directors within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. All members of


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                  our audit committee shall be independent within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and will meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act by the end of the one year transition period for companies following an initial public offering.

                  Audit Committee

                         Our audit committee currently consists of Walter Kwauk, Michael Evans, Börje Ekholm and Joe Tsai.Wan Ling Martello. Mr. Kwauk is the chairman of our audit committee. Mr. Kwauk satisfies the criteria of an audit committee financial expert as set forth under the applicable rules of the SEC. Mr. Kwauk, Mr. EvansEkholm and Mr. EkholmMs. Martello satisfy the requirements for an "independent director" within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and meet the criteria for independence set forth in Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

                         The audit committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements. Our audit committee is responsible for, among other things:


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                  Compensation Committee

                         Our compensation committee currently consists of Jerry Yang, Walter Kwauk and Joe Tsai. Mr. Yang is the chairman of our compensation committee. Mr. Yang and Mr. Kwauk satisfy the requirements for an "independent director" within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

                         Our compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:


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                    •
                    administering our equity-based compensation plans in accordance with the terms thereof; and

                    •
                    carrying out such other matters that are specifically delegated to the compensation committee by our board of directors from time to time.

                  Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

                         Our nominating and corporate governance committee currently consists of Jack Ma, Chee Hwa Tung Michael Evans and Jerry Yang. Jack is the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee. Mr. Tung Mr. Evans and Mr. Yang satisfy the "independence" requirements of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

                         Our nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:

                    •
                    selecting the board nominees (other than the director nominees to be nominated by the Alibaba Partnership and SoftBank) for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board;

                    •
                    periodically reviewing with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills, experience and diversity;

                    •
                    making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees of the board; and

                    •
                    advising the board periodically with regards to significant developments in corporate governance law and practices as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on corporate governance matters.

                  Committee Observer

                         In accordance with our articles and the voting agreement entered into among us, Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, SoftBank and Yahoo, we have agreed that the director nominated by SoftBank is entitled to receive notices and materials for all meetings of our committees and to join as an observer in meetings of the audit committee, the compensation committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee and/or our other board committees we may establish upon notice to the relevant committee.


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                  D.    Employees

                  Employees

                         As of March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, we had a total of 20,674, 22,07234,985, 36,446 and 34,98550,097 full-time employees, respectively. Substantially all of our employees are based in China.

                         The following table sets out the breakdown of our full-time employees by functions as of March 31, 2015:2017:

                  Function
                  		Number of
                  employees(1)(2)

                  Engineers

                  		12,822

                  Customer service

                  		2,858

                  Others

                  		19,305
                  ​​​​​

                  Total

                  		34,985
                  ​​​​​
                  ​​​​​
                  Function
                  		 Number of
                  employees(1)(2)                  		 % of total
                  employees(1)                  		 

                  Research and development

                  		  22,450  45% 

                  Operations and customer services

                  		  13,124  26% 

                  Sales and marketing

                  		  8,625  17% 

                  General and administrative

                  		  5,898  12% 
                  ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                  Total

                  		  50,097  100% 
                  ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                  ​​​​​​​​
                  ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                  (1)
                  The number of employees presented in this table does not include third-party consultants and contractors that we employ substantially all of whom are based in China. These consultants and contractors primarily performed work relatedfrom time to sales, research, logistical support and customer service.time.
                  (2)
                  Our total number of employees increased to 34,98550,097 as of March 31, 20152017 from 22,07236,446 as of March 31, 2014. Of the increase in employees, approximately 7,300 was2016, primarily due to the completionaddition of approximately 12,000 employees from our acquisitions including UCWeb, OneTouch, Alibaba Picturesnewly acquired businesses, mainly Lazada and AutoNavi, and a majority are engaged in engineering and data analysis.Youku Tudou.

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                         We believe that we have a good working relationship with our employees and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes.

                  E.    Share Ownership

                         For information regarding the share ownership of our directors and officers, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — A. Major Shareholders." For information as to stock options granted to our directors, executive officers and other employees, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — B. Compensation — Equity Incentive Plan.Plans."

                  ITEM 7.7    MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

                  A.    Major Shareholders

                         The following table sets forth information with respect to beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of the date of this annual reportJune 9, 2017 by:

                    •
                    each of our directors and executive officers;

                    •
                    our directors and executive officers as a group; and

                    •
                    each person known to us to beneficially own 5% and more of our ordinary shares.

                         Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and includes the power to direct the voting or the disposition of the securities or to receive the economic benefit of the ownership of the securities. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days of this annual report, including through the exercise of any option or other right and the vesting of restricted shares. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person. The calculations of percentage ownership in the table below isare based on 2,512,427,5042,561,154,020 ordinary shares outstanding as of June 23, 2015.9, 2017.

                  Name
                  		 Ordinary shares
                  beneficially owned                  		 Percent 

                  Directors and Executive Officers:

                  		       

                  Jack Yun MA(1)

                  		  178,272,449  7.0% 

                  Joseph C. TSAI(2)

                  		  65,144,622  2.5% 

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG

                  		  *  *    

                  J. Michael EVANS

                  		  *  *    

                  Masayoshi SON

                  		  —  —
                                       		 

                  Eric Xiandong JING

                  		  *  *    

                  Chee Hwa TUNG

                  		  *  *    

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK

                  		  *  *    

                  Jerry YANG

                  		  *  *    

                  Börje E. EKHOLM

                  		  *  *    

                  Wan Ling MARTELLO

                  		  —  —
                                       		 

                  Maggie Wei WU

                  		  *  *    

                  Judy Wenhong TONG

                  		  *  *    

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG

                  		  *  *    

                  Zhenfei LIU

                  		  *  *    

                  Sophie Minzhi WU

                  		  *  *    

                  Timothy A. STEINERT

                  		  *  *    

                  Jianhang JIN

                  		  *  *    

                  Chris Pen-hung TUNG

                  		  *  *    

                  Yongfu YU

                  		  *  *    

                  Simon Xiaoming HU

                  		  *  *    

                  Trudy Shan DAI

                  		  *  *    

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                  Name
                  		 Ordinary shares
                  beneficially owned                  		 Percent 

                  Directors and Executive Officers:

                  		       

                  Jack Yun MA(1)

                  		  190,670,976  7.6% 

                  Joseph C. TSAI(2)

                  		  78,412,114  3.1% 

                  Jonathan Zhaoxi LU

                  		  *  *    

                  Daniel Yong ZHANG

                  		  *  *    

                  Masayoshi SON

                  		  —  —    

                  Chee Hwa TUNG

                  		  —  —    

                  Walter Teh Ming KWAUK

                  		  *  *    

                  J. Michael EVANS

                  		  *  *    

                  Jerry YANG

                  		  *  *    

                  Börje E. EKHOLM

                  		  —  —    

                  Lucy Lei PENG

                  		  *  *    

                  Maggie Wei WU

                  		  *  *    

                  Zhenfei LIU

                  		  *  *    

                  Trudy Shan DAI

                  		  *  *    

                  Timothy A. STEINERT

                  		  *  *    

                  Jianhang JIN

                  		  *  *    

                  Jian WANG

                  		  *  *    

                  Jeff Jianfeng ZHANG

                  		  *  *    

                  Yongfu YU

                  		  *  *    

                  Simon Xiaoming HU

                  		  *  *    

                  Sophie Minzhi WU

                  		  *  *    

                  Peng JIANG

                  		  *  *    

                  All directors and executive officers as a group

                  		  328,513,072  13.1% 

                  Greater than 5% Beneficial Owners:

                  		       

                  SoftBank(3)

                  		  797,742,980  31.8% 

                  Yahoo(4)

                  		  383,565,416  15.3% 
                  Name
                  		 Ordinary shares
                  beneficially owned                  		 Percent 

                  Jessie Junfang ZHENG

                  		  *  *    

                  All directors and executive officers as a group

                  		  270,369,948  10.6% 

                  Greater than 5% Beneficial Owners:

                  		       

                  SoftBank(3)

                  		  746,998,571  29.2% 

                  Yahoo(4)

                  		  383,565,416  15.0% 

                  Notes:

                  *
                  This person beneficially owns less than 1% of our outstanding ordinary shares.
                  (1)
                  Represents (i) 2,033,177871,713 ordinary shares held directly by Jack Ma, (ii) 35,000,000 ordinary shares held by APN Ltd., a Cayman Islands company with its registered address at Fourth Floor, One Capital Place, P.O. Box 847, Grand Cayman, KY1-1103, Cayman Islands, in which Jack holds a 70% equity interest, which ordinary shares, together with Jack's equity interest in APN Ltd., have been pledged to us to support certain obligations under the 2014 SAPA, (iii) 35,000,00013,073,921 ordinary shares underlying options held by SymAsia FoundationYun Capital Limited, a non-profit organization incorporated as aBritish Virgin Islands company limited by guarantee in Singapore with its registered address at 1 Raffles Link #03-01 Singapore 039393, the transfer ofWoodbourne Hall, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, which options or underlyinghas granted Jack a revocable proxy over such shares and which is wholly-owned by The Jack Ma Philanthropic Foundation, (iv) 13,073,921 ordinary shares held by Ying Capital Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with its registered address at Woodbourne Hall, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, which has granted Jack a revocable proxy over such shares and which is entitled to direct to a charitable trust he will establish, (iv)wholly owned by The Jack Ma Philanthropic Foundation, (v) 57,367,988 ordinary shares held by JC Properties Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with its registered address at Offshore Incorporations Centre, P.O. Box 957,Woodburne Hall, Road Town Tortola, British Virgin Islands, which is wholly-owned by a trust established for the benefit of Jack'sJack and his family and (v) 61,269,811(vi) 58,884,906 ordinary shares held by JSP Investment Limited, a British Virgin Islands company with the address of P.O. Box 916, Woodbourne Hall, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, which is wholly-owned by a trust established for the benefit of Jack and his family.

                  Excludes shares held by SoftBank representing SoftBank's share ownership in excess of 30% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of the most recent record date with respect to any shareholders action and up to 121,500,000 ordinary shares held by Yahoo, over which Jack and Joe will share voting power pursuant to the voting agreement that we, Jack, Joe, SoftBank and Yahoo entered into as described in "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with Yahoo and SoftBank — Voting Agreement."

                  Jack has historically voted the ordinary shares held by the family trusts and he is deemed a beneficial owner of the ordinary shares held by the family trusts.

                  Jack does not have any pecuniary interests in the 35,000,00026,147,842 ordinary shares underlying options held by SymAsia FoundationYun Capital Limited and Ying Capital Limited.

                  Jack's business address is 969 West Yi Road, Yu Hang District, Hangzhou 311121, the People's Republic of China.


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                  (2)
                  Represents (i) 1,437,9641,588,797 ordinary shares held directly by Joe Tsai, (ii) 15,000,000 ordinary shares held by APN Ltd., in which Joe holds a 30% equity interest and serves as a director, which ordinary shares, together with Joe's equity interest in APN Ltd., have been pledged to us to support certain obligations under the 2014 SAPA, (iii) 15,000,0006,826,695 ordinary shares underlying options held by SymAsiaJoe and Clara Tsai Foundation Limited, a company incorporated under the transferlaw of the Island of Guernsey with its registered address at Helvetia Court, South Esplanade, St. Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 4EE, that has granted Joe a revocable proxy over such shares and which options or underlying ordinary sharesis wholly-owned by Joe is entitled to direct to a charitable trust he has established,and Clara Tsai Foundation, (iv) 21,905,95219,405,952 ordinary shares and 1,200,000 ordinary shares underlying preferred shares of Alternate Solutions Management Limited, in each case held by Parufam Limited, a Bahamas corporation with its registered address at Suite 200B, 2nd Floor, Centre of Commerce, One Bay Street, P.O. Box N-3944, Nassau, Bahamas, and over which, Joe, as a director of Parufam Limited, has been delegated sole voting and disposition power and (v) 21,000,00021,123,178 ordinary shares held by PMH Holding Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation with its registered address at Trident Chambers, P.O. Box 146, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and over which, Joe, as sole director of PMH Holding Limited, has voting and dispositive power and (vi) 2,868,198 ordinary shares held by MFG Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation with its registered address at Trident Chambers, P.O. Box 146, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and over which, Joe, as sole director of MFG Limited, has voting and dispositive power.

                  Excludes shares held by SoftBank representing SoftBank's share ownership in excess of 30% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of the most recent record date with respect to any shareholders action and up to 121,500,000 ordinary shares held by Yahoo, over which Joe and Jack will share voting power pursuant to the voting agreement that we, Jack, Joe, SoftBank and Yahoo have entered into as described in "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with Yahoo and SoftBank — Voting Agreement."

                  Joe does not have any pecuniary interests in the 15,000,0006,826,695 ordinary shares underlying options held by SymAsiaJoe and Clara Tsai Foundation Limited.

                  Joe's business address is c/o Alibaba Group Services Limited, 26/F Tower One, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong S.A.R.

                  (3)
                  Represents (a) 466,826,180645,934,571 ordinary shares owned by SoftBank Group Corp. with its registered office at 1-9-1 Higashi-Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-7303, Japan, (b) 15,000,000 ordinary shares owned by SBBM Corporation with its registered office at 1-9-1 Higashi-Shimbashi Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-7303, Japan and (c) 315,916,80086,064,000 ordinary shares owned by SB ChinaWest Raptor Holdings, Pte Ltd.LLC with its registered office at 20 Raffles Place, #09-01 Ocean Towers, Singapore 048620. SoftBank Corp. is a public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

                  2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, DE 19808, USA.
                  (4)
                  Represents (a) 92,626,716 ordinary shares owned by Yahoo! Inc. with its registered office at 701 First Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089, the United States and (b) 290,938,700 ordinary shares owned by Yahoo!Altaba Holdings Hong Kong Holdings Limited with its registered office at 15/F Caroline Centre, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong S.A.R. Yahoo! Inc. is a public company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

                         We have one class of ordinary shares, and each holder of our ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share.

                         As of June 23, 2015, 2,512,427,5049, 2017, 2,561,154,020 of our ordinary shares were outstanding. To our knowledge, 1,015,779,4821,296,105,131 ordinary shares, representing approximately 40.4%51% of our total outstanding shares, were held by 159109 record shareholders with registered addresses in the United States.States, including brokers and banks that hold securities in street name on behalf of their customers. The number of beneficial owners of our ADSs in the United States is likely to be much larger than the number of record holders of our ordinary shares in the United States. We are not aware of any arrangement that may at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.


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                  B.    Related Party Transactions

                  Our Related Party Transaction Policy

                         In order to prevent risks of conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest, all of our directors and employees are subject to our code of business conduct and other policies which require, among other things, that any potential transaction between us and an employee or director, their relatives and closely connected persons and certain entities in which they, their relatives or closely connected persons have an interest be approved in writing by an appropriate supervisor or compliance officer.

                         We have also adopted a related party transaction policy to which all of our directors, senior management and other key management personnel, all such person's family members of the foregoing individuals, Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries as well as the Alibaba Partnership and certain other related entities shall beare subject. This new policy is intended to supplement the procedures set forth in our code of business conduct and our other corporate governance policies and does not exempt any person from more restrictive provisions that may exist in our existing procedures and policies.


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                         This related party transaction policy provides, among other things, that, unless otherwise preapprovedpre-approved by our board of directors:

                    •
                    each related party transaction, or any material amendment or modification of a related party transaction, shall be adequately disclosed to, and reviewed and approved or ratified by, the disinterested members of our audit committee or any committee composed solely of disinterested independent directors or by the disinterested members of the board;such committee; and

                    •
                    any employment relationship or similar transaction involving our directors or senior management of our company and any related compensation shall be approved by the disinterested members of our compensation committee or recommended by the disinterested members of the compensation committee to our board for its approval.

                         Our related party transaction policy, code of business conduct and our other corporate governance policies are subject to periodic review and revision by our board.

                  Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Yahoo

                  Shareholders Agreement

                         We, SoftBank and Yahoo entered into a shareholders agreement dated October 24, 2005, as amended and restated on October 21, 2007, which was subsequently replaced and superseded by a new shareholders agreement dated September 18, 2012, or the shareholders agreement. The shareholders agreement addresses certain matters in relation to shareholder rights, corporate governance arrangements and other related obligations. The shareholders agreement, including the right of first offer, tag-along rights and preemptive rights in connection with the transfer or sale of our shares thereunder, has terminated upon the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014.

                  Voting Agreement

                         We have entered into a voting agreement with Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, SoftBank and Yahoo, which provides SoftBank with the right to nominate one director to our board of directors who will, subject to certain conditions, have the right to receive notices and materials for all meetings of our committees and to join suchthese meetings as an observer, which rights are also reflected in our memorandum and articles of association. These nomination rights will terminate when SoftBank's shareholding declines below 15% of our outstanding shares. The voting agreement also contains provisions to the effect that:

                    •
                    SoftBank agrees (i) to to:

                    o
                    vote its shares in favor of the election of the Alibaba Partnership's director nominees at each annual general shareholders meeting until SoftBank's shareholding declines below 15% of our outstanding shares, and (ii) to

                    o
                    grant the voting power of any portion of its shareholdings exceeding 30% of our outstanding ordinary shares to Jack and Joe by proxy;

                    •
                    Jack and Joe will vote their shares and any other shares over which they hold voting rights in favor of the election of the SoftBank director nominee at each annual general shareholders meeting in which the SoftBank nominee stands for election until SoftBank's shareholding declines below 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares;

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                    •
                    Yahoo agrees to:

                    •o
                    Yahoo agrees (i) to vote its shares in favor of the election of all of the Alibaba Partnership's director nominees and the SoftBank director nominee, if so standing for election, at each annual general shareholders meeting until SoftBank's shareholding declines below 15% of our outstanding shares, and (ii) to

                    o
                    grant the voting power over any shares it owns, up to 121.5 million of our ordinary shares, to Jack and Joe by proxy;


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                    •
                    Eacheach party to the voting agreement will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any other person with whom it jointly files a statement (or an amendment to a statement) on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G pursuant to the Exchange Act to become a party to the voting agreement and vote its shares in favor of SoftBank's and the Alibaba Partnership's director nominees pursuant to the foregoing; and

                    •
                    SoftBank and Yahoo will receive certain information rights in connection with the preparation of their financial statements.

                         SoftBank's and Yahoo's proxy obligations described in clause (ii) in the first bullet and the third bullet above, respectively, shall (i)(a) not apply in respect of any proposal submitted to our shareholders that may result in an issuance of shares or other equity interests of us, including securities exchangeable or convertible into shares, that would increase the amount of our then-outstanding shares by 3% or more and (ii)(b) terminate when Jack owns less than 1% of our outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis or if we materially breach the voting agreement.

                  Yahoo Technology and Intellectual Property License Agreement

                         We and Yahoo entered into a technology and intellectual property license agreement dated October 24, 2005, as amended and restated on September 18, 2012, or the Yahoo TIPLA. Under the Yahoo TIPLA, Yahoo granted to us the use of certain intellectual property. In consideration of the rights granted under the Yahoo TIPLA, we paid Yahoo a lump sum payment in the amount of US$550 million and agreed to pay Yahoo an annual royalty equal to 2% of our consolidated revenues (less certain costs) for the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2012 and 1.5% of our consolidated revenues (less certain costs) for the period from January 1, 2013 until the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014. No royalties have been payable since then. For fiscal years 2013, 2014 andyear 2015, the royalty fees amounted to RMB592 million, RMB748 million and RMB448 million (US$72 million), respectively.million.

                  Patent Sale and Assignment Agreement with Yahoo

                         We and Yahoo entered into twoa patent sale and assignment agreementsagreement in fiscal years 2014 andyear 2015, pursuant to which we acquired ownership of certain patents and patent applications for aggregate consideration of US$70 million and US$23.5 million, respectively.24 million.

                  Our Repurchase of Ordinary Shares from YahooSoftBank

                         We are party toOn June 2, 2016, we entered into a share repurchase and preference share salepurchase agreement with Yahoo dated May 20, 2012, as amended through July 14, 2014, or the Yahoo repurchase agreement. The agreement governs the terms onSoftBank, pursuant to which we have repurchased and may further repurchase from Yahoo, or cause Yahoo to sell in a qualified initial public offering, our ordinary shares. We repurchased 523,000,00027,027,027 ordinary shares from Yahoo on September 18, 2012SoftBank at a price of US$13.541474.00 per share for an aggregate considerationamount of US$7,0822 billion. Members of the Alibaba Partnership, acting collectively, also purchased 5,405,405 ordinary shares from SoftBank at the same price per share for an aggregate amount of US$400 million. Immediately following the repurchase, YahooAs of March 31, 2017, SoftBank owned 523,565,416746,998,571 ordinary shares, representing approximately 24% of our issued share capital at that time. We paid US$6,282 million of the consideration in cash and US$800 million through our issuance to Yahoo of mandatorily redeemable preference shares of our company, or the Yahoo preference shares. We negotiated the terms of the Yahoo preference shares with Yahoo on an arm's length basis. On May 16, 2013, we redeemed the Yahoo preference shares in full using funds we borrowed under our US$8 billion credit facility.

                         The Yahoo repurchase agreement was amended to provide that we are entitled to cause Yahoo either to sell 208,000,000 (prior to such amendment, 261,500,000 ordinary shares) ordinary shares to the public in our initial public offering or sell to us such number of shares using the proceeds from our initial public offering. In July 2014, the Yahoo repurchase agreement was further amended to reduce the number of ordinary shares we are entitled to cause Yahoo to sell to 140,000,000 ordinary shares. In connection with our initial public offering in September 2014, Yahoo sold 140,000,000 ADSs representing 140,000,000 of our ordinary shares. As of March 31, 2015, Yahoo owned 383,565,416 ordinary shares, representing approximately 15%29% of our then issued share capital.


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                  Investments Involving SoftBank

                         We have invested in businesses in which SoftBank is an existing shareholder or co-invested with SoftBank in other businesses. SoftBank has also invested in businesses in which we or our controlled entities are existing shareholders. For instance, in January 2015, we participated in a financing round with SoftBank in Travice Inc., the operator and developer of Kuaidi Dache, awhich in February 2015 merged into Didi Chuxing, the leading mobile taxi booking app providertransportation network company that provides vehicles and taxis for hire in China.China via smartphone applications. In June 2015, we announced that we agreed to invest in SoftBank's robotics business. In April 2017, SoftBank


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                  participated in a new round of equity financing completed by Didi Chuxing. We expect that we will continue to engage in investment activities that involve SoftBank in the future. We may continue to co-invest with SoftBank, invest in businesses in which SoftBank is already an existing investor, and may also bring SoftBank as an investor into our new businesses or businesses in which we are an existing investor.

                  Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial Services and Its Subsidiaries

                  Ownership of Ant Financial Services and Alipay

                         We originally established Alipay in December 2004 to operate our payment services business. In June 2010, the PBOC issued new regulations that required non-bank payment companies to obtain a license in order to operate in China. These regulations provided specific guidelines for license applications only for domestic PRC-owned entities. These regulations stipulated that, in order for any foreign-invested payment company to obtain a license, the scope of business, the qualifications of any foreign investor and any level of foreign ownership would be subject to future regulations to be issued, which in addition would require approval by the PRC State Council. Further, the regulations required that any payment company that failed to obtain a license must cease operations by September 1, 2011. Although Alipay was prepared to submit its license application in early 2011, at that time the PBOC had not issued any guidelines applicable to license applications for foreign-invested payment companies (and no such guidelines have been issued as of the date of this annual report). In light of the uncertainties relating to the license qualification and application process for a foreign-invested payment company, our management determined that it was necessary to restructure Alipay as a company wholly-owned by PRC nationals in order to avail Alipay of the specific licensing guidelines applicable only to domestic PRC-owned entities. Accordingly, we divested all of our interest in and control over Alipay in 2011, which resulted in deconsolidation of Alipay from our financial statements. This action enabled Alipay to obtain a payment business license in May 2011 without delay and without any detrimental impact to our China retail marketplaces or to Alipay.

                         Following the divestment of our interest in and control over Alipay, effective in the first calendar quarter of 2011, the ownership structure of Alipay's parent entity, Ant Financial Services, was changed such that Jack Ma held a substantial majority of the equity ownership interest in Ant Financial Services. The ownership structure of Ant Financial Services has subsequently been further restructured and, asrestructured. In May 2016, Ant Financial Services completed a round of equity financing of approximately US$4.5 billion. As of the date of this annual report, approximately 48.9%42.28% of its equity interests are held by Hangzhou Junhan, Equity Investment Partnership, or Junhan, a PRC limited partnership, approximately 38.7%34.15% of its equity interests are held by Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, or Junao, a PRC limited partnership, and approximately 12.4%23.57% of its equity interests are held by other shareholders.

                         The economicEconomic interests inof Ant Financial Services through Junhan are owned by Jack Ma, Simon Xie and other employees of our company and employees of Ant Financial Services. TheServices and its affiliates and investee companies. These economic interests in Junhan held by these employees are in the form of limited partnership interests and interests similar to share appreciation rights tied to potential appreciation in the value of Ant Financial Services. The economic interests in Junao are held in the form of limited partnership interests by certain members of the Alibaba Partnership.

                         We understand that it is the intention of the shareholders of Ant Financial Services that:

                    •
                    Jack Ma's direct and indirect economic interest in Ant Financial Services will be reduced over time to a percentage that does not exceed his and his affiliates' interest in our company as of the time immediately prior to the completion of our initial public offering (the percentage of our ordinary shares Jack and his affiliates beneficially owned immediately prior to the completion of our initial public offering was 8.8%) and

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                    that this reduction will be caused in a manner by which neither Jack nor any of his affiliates would receive any economic benefit. See "— Commitments of Jack Ma to Alibaba Group." We have been informed by Ant Financial Services that suchthe proposed reduction of Jack's economic interest is expected to be accomplished within three to five years from our initial public offering in September 2014 through a combination of future equity-based incentive awards to employees and dilutive issuances of equity in Ant Financial Services, among others;


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                    •
                    from time to time, additional economic interests in Ant Financial Services in the form of interests similar to share appreciation rights issued by Junhan will be transferred to employees of Ant Financial Services and our employees; and

                    •
                    Ant Financial Services will raise equity capital from investors in the future in order to finance its business expansion, with the effect that the shareholding of Junao and Junhan in Ant Financial Services will be reduced through dilution (the amount of such dilution would depend on future valuations and the amount of equity capital to be raised), but it is the intention that the combined ownership of Jack Ma, Junao and Junhan (and through them, Jack Ma) will continue to constitute a majority of the outstanding equity interests of Ant Financial Services.

                         The general partner of both Junao and Junhan is an entity 100% owned by Jack Ma. As the general partner, this entity, and therefore indirectly Jack, holds the voting rights in the two limited partnerships, while the limited partners hold a majority of the economic interests in each of Junao and Junhan. Accordingly, Jack is able to exercise the voting power of Junao and Junhan as the major shareholders of Ant Financial Services.

                  Our Relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay through August 2014

                         After the divestment of our interest in and control over Alipay, we entered into a framework agreement in July 2011, or the 2011 framework agreement, with SoftBank, Yahoo, Alipay, Ant Financial Services, Jack Ma and Joe Tsai and certain of their affiliates. At the same time, we also entered into various implementation agreements that included a commercial agreement, or the Alipay commercial agreement, an intellectual property license and software technology service agreement, or the Alipay IPLA, and a shared services agreement, which together governed our financial and commercial relationships with Ant Financial Services and Alipay.

                         As described in more detail below, we restructured our relationship with Ant Financial Services in August 2014 with the approval of our board of directors and with the agreement of SoftBank, Yahoo, Alipay, Ant Financial Services, Jack Ma and Joe Tsai and certain of their and our affiliates.

                  Alipay Commercial Agreement

                   ��     Under the Alipay commercial agreement among us, Alipay and Ant Financial Services, which agreement remains in place following the restructuring described below, Alipay provides payment processing and escrow services to us. These services enable settlement of transactions on our marketplaces through a secure payment platform and escrow process. We pay Alipay a fee for these services on terms that are preferential to us for such services.us. These preferential terms enable us, with certain exceptions, to make available basic payment processing and escrow services to buyersconsumers and sellersmerchants on our marketplaces free of charge. We believe that these services provide us with a competitive advantage that otherwise would be diminished without the preferential terms of the Alipay commercial agreement.

                         The fees that we pay Alipay are based on fee rates and actual payment volumes processed on our marketplaces. The fee rates reflect, among other things, Alipay's bank-processing costs and operating costs allocable to the services provided to us, and accordingly are subject to adjustment on an annual basis to the extent suchthese costs increase or decline. The Alipay commercial agreement provided that the directors of our company designated by SoftBank and Yahoo approve the fee rates payable by us in advance on an annual basis. In connection with the restructuring of our relationship with Ant Financial Services, the Alipay commercial agreement was amended to provide that, after the completion of our initial public offering, a special committee formed by our independent directors and


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                  the director designated by SoftBank must approve the fee rates in advance on an annual basis. The fee rates for the immediately preceding year remain in effect until such time as such annual approval by the special committee has been obtained. In fiscal years 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, we paid fees to Alipay totaling RMB1,646RMB3,853 million, RMB2,349RMB4,898 million and RMB3,853RMB5,487 million (US$622797 million), respectively, under this agreement. The Alipay commercial agreement has an initial term of 50 years, and is automatically renewable for further periods of 50 years, subject to our right to terminate at any time upon one year's prior written notice. If the Alipay commercial agreement is required by applicable regulatory authorities, including under stock exchange listing rules,


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                  to be modified in certain circumstances, a one-time payment may be payable to us by Ant Financial Services to compensate us for the impact of suchthe adjustment.

                  2014 Restructuring of Our Relationship with Ant Financial Services and Alipay

                         On August 12, 2014, we entered into a share and asset purchase agreement, or the 2014 SAPA, and entered into or amended certain ancillary agreements including an amendment and restatement of the Alipay IPLA, or the amended Alipay IPLA. Pursuant to these agreements, we restructured our relationships with Ant Financial Services and Alipay, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Alipay, and terminated the 2011 framework agreement. The restructuring contemplated by the 2014 SAPA and the ancillary agreements described below has taken effect and these agreements now govern our economic and commercial relationships with Ant Financial Services and Alipay. Under the 2014 SAPA, the arrangements are structured with the aim of securing long-term economic participation in Ant Financial Services which we believe is in the best interests of our company and all of our shareholders. The potential for long-term economic participation can come in the form of either a perpetual 37.5% profit share stream or a possible future direct equity interest as described below. We believe this restructuring will strengthen and benefit our company as well as better position us for future growth.

                  Share and Asset Purchase Agreement

                    Sale of SME Loan Business and Certain Other Assets

                         Pursuant to the 2014 SAPA, we agreed to sell certain securities and assets primarily relating to our SME loan business and other related services to Ant Financial Services, for aggregate cash consideration of RMB3,219 million, (US$519 million), which was based on a premium to the aggregate book value of the entities operating the SME loan business. The sale was completed in February 2015. In addition, pursuant to software system use and service agreements relating to the know-how and related intellectual property that we agreed to sell together with the SME loan business and related services, we will receive annual fees for a term of seven years. These fees, which will be recognized as other revenue, will be determined as follows: for calendar years 2015 to 2017, the entities operating the SME loan business will pay us an annual fee equal to 2.5% of the average daily balance of the SME loans provided by such entities; which will be recognized as other revenue,these entities, and in calendar years 2018 to 2021, these entities will pay an annual fee equal to the amount of the fees paid in the calendar year 2017. In fiscal yearyears 2015, 2016 and 2017, we received an annual feefees of RMB90 million, RMB708 million and RMB847 million (US$15123 million), respectively, from Ant Financial Services.Services and its affiliates.

                         For regulatory reasons, we retained approximately RMB1,225 million of the existing SME loan portfolio upon the completion of the transfer of the SME loan business, which will be wound down over timebusiness. These loans have been repaid as such loans are repaid.of March 31, 2017. We will not conduct any new SME loan business going forward. The remaining balance of this retained portfolio of loans amounted to RMB835 million (US$135 million) as of March 31, 2015.

                    Liquidity Event Payment

                         Under the 2014 SAPA, in the event of a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay, if our total ownership of equity interests in Ant Financial Services, if any, acquired as described under "— Potential Equity Interest" below, has not reached 33%, which we refer to as the full 33% equity interest, we would be entitled, at our election, to receive a one-time payment equal to 37.5% of the equity value, immediately prior to sucha qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services, as a whole and not just of Alipay, its subsidiary Alipay.subsidiary. If we acquire equity interests in


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                  Ant Financial Services in an aggregate amount less than the full 33% equity interest, then the percentage of Ant Financial Services' equity value used to calculate the liquidity event payment will be reduced proportionately.

                         In lieu of receiving the liquidity event payment, we may elect to receive payments under the profit sharing provision of the amended Alipay IPLA described below in perpetuity, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, including under applicable stock exchange listing rules, required to permit continuation of the profit share following a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay. If we so elect, in connection with such a qualified IPO, Ant Financial Services must use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain suchthese regulatory approvals. If such


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                  these approvals are not obtained, then Ant Financial Services will pay us the liquidity event payment described above.

                         Jack Ma and Joe Tsai contributed 35,000,000 and 15,000,000, respectively, of our ordinary shares held by them to APN Ltd., a vehicle they established to hold suchthese shares. The shares of APN Ltd., as well as the 50,000,000 ordinary shares in us held by APN Ltd., have been pledged to us to secure the liquidity event payment and certain other obligations of Ant Financial Services under the 2014 SAPA and commercial agreement, as well as the direct liability of APN Ltd. for up to US$500 million of the liquidity event payment whenever any such liquidity event payment becomes due.

                    Potential Equity Interest

                         The 2014 SAPA provides for future potential equity issuances to us by Ant Financial Services. In the event that Ant Financial Services applies for and receives certain PRC regulatory approvals in the future, Ant Financial Services will issue and we will purchase newly-issued equity interests in Ant Financial Services, up to the full 33% equity interest, or such lesser equity interest as may be permitted by the applicable regulatory approvals.

                         If we were to acquire suchthese equity interests, we will have a pre-emptive right prior to the time of a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services, in the event Ant Financial Services issues additional equity interests to third parties, that will entitle us to acquire additional equity interests in order to maintain the equity ownership percentage we hold in Ant Financial Services immediately prior to suchthese third-party issuances.

                         If the liquidity event payment described above under "— Liquidity Event Payment" has not become payable upon a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services, then our right to acquire up to the full 33% equity interest will continue after suchthe qualified IPO. However, the equity interests that we are entitled to acquire will be reduced in proportion to any dilutive issuances of equity securities by Ant Financial Services in and following suchthe qualified IPO.

                         The consideration to be paid by us to acquire any equity interest in Ant Financial Services up to the full 33% equity interest will be fully funded by payments from Ant Financial Services under the 2014 SAPA in respect of certain intellectual property and asset transfers. Similarly, in connection with our exercise of the pre-emptive right, under the amended Alipay IPLA, we will receive payments from Ant Financial Services that will effectively fund our subscription for suchthe additional equity interests up to a value of US$1.5 billion.

                         To the extent we acquire the full 33% equity interest pursuant to the provisions of the 2014 SAPA, the liquidity event payment and the profit share under the amended Alipay IPLA described in "— Alipay Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement" below, other than the payments that effectively offset the purchase price with respect to the exercise of the pre-emptive right, will automatically terminate. If we acquire less than the full 33% equity interest in Ant Financial Services pursuant to the provisions of the 2014 SAPA, the liquidity event payment amount and the profit sharing arrangement under the amended Alipay IPLA will be proportionately reduced based on the amount of equity interests acquired by us.

                         We believe that under applicable regulatory rules and practices currently in effect, the relevant PRC approvals necessary for us to own an equity interest in Ant Financial Services would not be granted. There can be no assurance that suchthese applicable regulatory rules and practices will change in the near future.


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                    Certain Restrictions on the Transfer of Ant Financial Services Equity Interests

                         Pursuant to the 2014 SAPA and amended Alipay IPLA, certain parties thereto, including in some cases our company, are subject to restrictions on the transfer of equity interests in Ant Financial Services, including:

                    •
                    prior to our acquisition of the full 33% equity interest, none of Jack Ma, Junao, Junhan, our company or Ant Financial Services may transfer any shares of Ant Financial Services that would result in Jack Ma, Junao, Junhan and our company, collectively, no longer having beneficial ownership of a majority voting interest in Ant Financial Services;

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                    •
                    prior to our acquisition of the full 33% equity interest, none of Jack Ma, Joe Tsai (if he holds any equity interest at that time), Junao, Junhan, Ant Financial Services or Alipay may transfer any equity interest in Ant Financial Services or Alipay if, to his or its knowledge, suchthe transfer would result in a non-PRC person or entity acquiring beneficial ownership of any equity interest in Ant Financial Services or Alipay;

                    •
                    following the earliest occurrence of any equity issuance by Ant Financial Services to us as described above in the first paragraph under "Share and Asset Purchase Agreement — Potential Equity Interest" and until the earlier of a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or the termination of the independent director rights provided in the 2014 SAPA, none of Jack Ma, Joe Tsai (if he holds any equity interest at that time), Junao, Junhan or Ant Financial Services may knowingly transfer any equity in Ant Financial Services to a third partythird-party who would thereby acquire more than 50% of the voting or economic rights in, or assets of, Ant Financial Services; and

                    •
                    in the event we acquire an equity interest in Ant Financial Services, any transfer of equity interests in Ant Financial Services by Junao or Junhan, on the one hand, or our company, on the other hand, will be subject to a right of first refusal by the other party.

                    Non-competition Undertakings

                         Under the 2014 SAPA, we and Ant Financial Services have each agreed to certain limitations on our respective ability to enter into or participate in the same line of business as the other party. The 2014 SAPA provides that Ant Financial Services may not engage in any business conducted by us from time to time, including businesses that we enter into after the date of the 2014 SAPA, or logical extensions thereof, and we are restricted from engaging in specified activities within the scope of business of Ant Financial Services, including the provision and distribution of credit facilities and insurance, the provision of investment management and banking services, payment transaction processing and payment clearing services, leasing, lease financing and related services, trading, dealing and brokerage with respect to foreign exchange and financial instruments, distribution of securities, commodities, funds, derivatives and other financial products and the provision of credit ratings, credit profiles and credit reports. Each party may, however, make passive investments in competing businesses below specified thresholds, in some cases after offering the investment opportunity to the other party, and we will be permitted to wind down the portion of our SME loan business that is not transferred to Ant Financial Services.

                    Corporate Governance Provisions

                         The 2014 SAPA provides that, unless not permitted in connection with a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services and subject to other conditions, we and Ant Financial Services will recommend one independent person who Ant Financial Services will nominate as a member of its board, and Jack Ma, Joe Tsai, Junhan and Junao will agree to vote the equity interests in Ant Financial Services controlled by them in favor of suchtheir nomination. Pursuant to the 2014 SAPA, we and the other parties thereto will agreeagreed on the initial independent director as promptly as practicable, and not later than 60 days, following the date of the 2014 SAPA. We andwho Ant Financial Services have subsequently agreed to extend the time period for the parties to agree on the initial independent director to November 22, 2015.nominated and appointed as a member of its board. If suchthis independent director resigns or such seat otherwise becomes vacant, so long as SoftBank owns at least 20% of our outstanding ordinary shares, and certain other conditions are satisfied,


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                  SoftBank and Jack, acting jointly, will select on our behalf the individual to be designated as a replacement director, subject to the approval of an independent committee of our board. We have agreed to form an independent committee of our board comprised of our directors who meet the independent director standards under New York Stock Exchange listing rules and who are not our officers or employees, as well as any director of our board nominated by SoftBank, to approve certain actions that we may take in connection with the 2014 SAPA and related agreements.

                    Ancillary Agreements

                         In connection with the 2014 SAPA, we also entered into the amended Alipay IPLA, a data sharing agreement, a cooperation agreement, a trademark agreement, an amended and restated shared services agreement, a cooperation agreement and the amended Alipay IPLA,a trademark agreement, each of which is described below. We also entered into a binding term sheet in respect of a technology services agreement


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                  pursuant to which we agreed to provide certain cloud computing, database service and storage, computing services and certain other services to Ant Financial Services on a cost-plus basis. We further agreed to a new form of crosslicense agreement to be entered into under the 2014 SAPA, providing for a license of certain intellectual property by Ant Financial Services to us, and by us to Ant Financial Services.

                    Alipay Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement

                         Under the terms of the Alipay IPLA, we and our subsidiaries, licensed to Alipay certain intellectual property rights and provided various software technology services to Alipay and its subsidiaries. We originally entered into the Alipay IPLA in connection with the 2011 framework agreement, and, in August 2014, we entered into the amended Alipay IPLA.

                         Under the Alipay IPLA, Alipay paid us a royalty and software technology services fee equal to the sum of an expense reimbursement plus 49.9% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Alipay and its subsidiaries until a liquidity event of Alipay or Ant Financial Services. SuchThe profit share percentage was subject to downward adjustments upon certain dilutive equity issuances by Alipay or Ant Financial Services. Under the Amended IPLA, which became effective on the date we entered into the 2014 SAPA, we will receive, in addition to a service fee, royalty streams related to Alipay and other current and future businesses of Ant Financial Services, which we refer to collectively as the profit share payments. The profit share payments will be paid at least annually and will equal the sum of an expense reimbursement plus 37.5% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Ant Financial Services on a consolidated basis (subject to certain adjustments), including not only Alipay but all of Ant Financial Services' subsidiaries. The profit share payments will be reduced in proportion to any equity issuances made to us under the 2014 SAPA.

                         In addition, if we acquire any equity interest in Ant Financial Services as described above under "Share and Asset Purchase Agreement — Potential Equity Interest," the profit share payments will be reduced in proportion to suchthe equity issuance and, at or prior to the time of suchthe equity issuance, Ant Financial Services will make a payment to us in consideration for the reduction in profit share payments, in exchange for the transfer by us to Ant Financial Services of certain intellectual property. This payment by Ant Financial Services will effectively fund our subscription for up to the full 33% equity interest. This payment will result in our acquiring equity interests in Ant Financial Services with effectively no cash impact to us, subject to applicable taxes.

                         The amended Alipay IPLA will terminate, and the remainder (if any) of the intellectual property exclusively related to the business of Ant Financial Services will be transferred to Ant Financial Services after the termination of the amended Alipay IPLA, (i) after our total equity interest ownership in Ant Financial Services has reached the full 33%, when either the full funding of funded payments under the 2014 SAPA is completed or a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay occurs; (ii) after a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay has occurred, when our total equity interest ownership in Ant Financial Services reaches the full 33%; (iii) when the liquidity event payment as described above under "Share and Asset Purchase Agreement — Liquidity Event Payment" becomes payable or (iv) upon transfer of certain intellectual property to Ant Financial Services as


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                  required by the relevant stock exchange or securities authority in order to obtain approval for a qualified IPO of either Ant Financial Services or Alipay.

                         In fiscal years 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, under the Alipay IPLA, we recognized royalty and software technology services fee income, net of costs incurred by our company, amounting RMB277to RMB1,667 million, RMB1,764RMB1,122 million and RMB1,667RMB2,086 million (US$269303 million), respectively, as other income.

                         The effect of the amended Alipay IPLA is that the base of profits of the financial services businesses that we will share has been expanded, from the pre-tax income of only Alipay to the pre-tax income of the entire Ant Financial Services, while the profit sharing percentage is reduced to align with the percentage that will be used to calculate the liquidity event payment. In addition, our participation in the profits of Ant Financial Services, subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, including under applicable stock exchange listing rules, is perpetual under the amended Alipay IPLA (unless we elect to receive the liquidity event payment under the 2014 SAPA upon a qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services or Alipay or unless we acquire the full 33% equity interest in Ant


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                  Financial Services), as opposed to automatic termination of the profit share upon a liquidity event under the 2011 framework agreement and Alipay IPLA.

                  Data Sharing Agreement

                         We and Ant Financial Services have entered into a data sharing agreement dated August 12, 2014.

                         Pursuant to the data sharing agreement, we, Ant Financial Services, and our controlled affiliates, which we refer to hereinafter as full data participants, will contribute all data collected or generated as a result of the use by users of our or their respective products or services (subject to applicable law, industry rules and contractual requirements) to a data platform that we operate and maintain, and to which all of the full data participants will have access. A data platform management committee established by us and Ant Financial Services may also approve non-controlled affiliates of us and Ant Financial Services and unaffiliated third parties to have certain access to and contribute data to the platform.platform, subject to execution of a data platform participation agreement containing the terms and restrictions on access to and use of the data sharing platform and shared data as the data management committee shall determine. No fees or other compensation are required to be paid by any of the full data participants for access to the data platform, other than the obligation for such participants to share in the costs of the operation of the data platform on a fair and reasonable basis. The data sharing agreement provides that none of the participants may reproduce any of the data on the data platform for transfer to their own servers, except that a participant may retain its own data that it has contributed to the data platform. As of the date of this annual report, Cainiao Network, Koubei and Alibaba Pictures have entered into data platform participation agreements with us.

                         The data sharing agreement initially had a minimum term of 10 years. Pursuant to the data sharing agreement, if we completed our initial public offering within five years from the date of the agreement, our board could extend the term for up to a total of 50 years. In May 2015, our board approved the extension of the term of the agreement to a total of 50 years.

                  Shared Services Used by Ant Financial Services

                         We and Ant Financial Services have entered into a shared services agreement, which was amended and restated as of August 12, 2014, in connection with the 2014 SAPA, pursuant to which we and Ant Financial Services provide certain administrative and support services to each other and our respective affiliates.

                         Ant Financial Services paid us RMB42 million, RMB46 million and RMB158 million (US$25 million) in fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively, for the services we provided to it under the agreement. We paid Ant Financial Services nil, nil and RMB58 million (US$9 million) in fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively for services Ant Financial Services provided to us under the contract.

                  Cooperation Agreement

                         We and Ant Financial Services entered into a SME loan cooperation framework agreement dated August 12, 2014, pursuant to which each party agreed to cooperate with, and provide certain services with respect to, the


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                  other party's enforcement of certain rights of suchthe other party against users of its platforms and services and with respect to the provision of certain financial services to our customers and merchants. In particular, we agreed, upon request, to close down or suspend online storefronts and restrict marketing activities on our platforms of persons defaulting on loans made by Ant Financial Services and persons in violation of Alipay rules and regulations, and to publish notices on our platforms and provide information regarding suchthese persons, in each case in a manner to be further agreed from time to time. Ant Financial Services agreed, upon request, to make loans and/or extensions of credit and related financial services available to our users, freeze and pay over to us funds in accounts of users violating our rules and regulations or agreements with us, accelerate loans and terminate credit facilities of suchthese users, restrict marketing activities on its platforms by suchthese users, and provide information regarding suchthese users, in each case in a manner to be further agreed from time to time. Neither party is required to pay any fees in consideration for the services provided by the other party, and apart from the provision of these services, there will be no other exchange of value in connection with this agreement. The cooperation agreement has an initial term of five years, with automatic renewals upon expiry for additional five yearfive-year periods. From time to time, we expect to enter into similar commercial arrangements with respect to cooperation matters and the provision of services between us and Ant Financial Services and to our respective customers.

                  Trademark Agreement

                         We and Ant Financial Services entered into a trademark agreement dated August 12, 2014, pursuant to which we granted Ant Financial Services a non-transferable, non-assignable and non-sublicensable (except to its subsidiaries) license for it and its sublicensed subsidiaries to continue to use certain trademarks and domain names


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                  based on trademarks owned by us, in connection with their payment services business and the SME loan business transferred by us to them, and in the same manner of such usesuse as of August 12, 2014, and a non-transferable, non-assignable and non-sublicensable (except to its subsidiaries) license to use such other trademarks and domain names based on trademarks owned by us, and in such manner, as we may agree to allow in the future. Pursuant to the trademark agreement, each of the parties further agreed to the rights and limitations that each would have to use the "Ali" name or prefix and the "ecommerce""e-commerce" (and its Chinese equivalent) name, prefix or logo as part of a trademark or domain name in each party's and its subsidiaries' respective businesses. Neither party is required to pay any fees under this agreement, and apart from the licenses and rights set forth in the agreement, there will be no other exchange of value in connection with this agreement.

                  Share-basedShared Services Agreement with Ant Financial Services

                         We and Ant Financial Services have entered into a shared services agreement, which was amended and restated as of August 12, 2014, in connection with the 2014 SAPA, pursuant to which we and Ant Financial Services provide certain administrative and support services to each other and our respective affiliates.

                         Ant Financial Services paid us RMB158 million, RMB670 million and RMB531 million (US$77 million) in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, for the services we provided to it under the agreement. We paid Ant Financial Services RMB58 million, RMB56 million and RMB15 million (US$2 million) in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, for services Ant Financial Services provided to us under the agreement.

                  Other Commercial Arrangements with Ant Financial Services

                         We have also entered into other commercial arrangements with Ant Financial Services, its subsidiaries and affiliates, such as online marketing services, treasury management and other services. In fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, the amounts generated and receivable from Ant Financial Services under these arrangements were nil, RMB416 million and RMB763 million (US$111 million), respectively. During the same periods, the amounts incurred and payable by us to Ant Financial Services under these arrangements were RMB248 million, RMB243 million and RMB937 million (US$136 million), respectively.

                  Investments Involving Ant Financial Services

                         We have invested in businesses in which Ant Financial Services is an existing shareholder or co-invested with Ant Financial Services in other businesses. For instance, in September 2015, we established a joint venture under the brand name Koubei with Ant Financial Services. We and Ant Financial Services injected certain related businesses into Koubei and each invested RMB3.0 billion in this joint venture. Koubei is one of the leading local services guide businesses in China. In February 2016 and March 2017, we agreed to invest US$900 million and US$400 million, respectively, in a co-investment with Ant Financial Services in Ele.me, an operator of one of the largest mobile food ordering and delivery services in China. In addition, in August 2016, we and Ant Financial Services co-invested in AGTech. Ant Financial Services is also a shareholder of both Paytm, a mobile payment platform in India, and Paytm Mall, an e-commerce platform in India, which are our investees.

                  Equity-based Award Reimbursement Arrangements

                         We grant options and RSUs relating to our ordinary shares to the employees of Ant Financial Services. As of March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, there were 6,097,651, 4,362,339 and 2,967,982 of our ordinary shares, respectively, underlying outstanding options and RSUs held by employees of Ant Financial Services.

                         We entered into agreements with Ant Financial Services in calendar years 2012 and 2013 under which we will receive a reimbursementreimbursements for options and RSUs relating to our ordinary shares granted to the employees of Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries during the period from December 14, 2011 to March 31, 2014. As of March 31, 2015, the number of such ordinary shares covered by the agreements was 7,249,277 in aggregate. Pursuant to these agreements, we will, upon vesting of suchthese options and RSUs, receive a cash reimbursement equal to their respective grant-dategrant date fair value. The amounts of these reimbursements in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017 were RMB206 million, RMB113 million and RMB30 million (US$4 million), respectively.


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                         We understand that Jack Ma, as the controlling shareholder of Ant Financial Services, believes that providing equity-related awards to our employees tied to the success of Ant Financial Services will enhance the value of our business because of the strategic importance of Alipay to our marketplaces and because, through our strategic and financial relationship with Ant Financial Services, we have a significant participation in the profits and value accretion of Ant Financial Services. In March 2014, Junhan, the general partner of which is an entity controlled by Jack Ma, made a grant of certain equity-based awards similar to share-appreciation rights linked to the valuation of Ant Financial Services to most of our employees. AnySince then, Junhan has granted similar grants of equity-based performance awards to our employees on an annual basis.

                         The grant by Junhan to our employees will beis subject to the approval ofby our audit committee. The vesting of suchthese awards is conditional upon the fulfillment of requisite service conditions to us, and suchthese awards will be settled in cash by Junhan upon


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                  disposal of suchthese awards by the holders. Junhan has the right to repurchase the vested awards from the holders upon an initial public offering of Ant Financial Services or the termination of their employment with us at a price to be determined based on the then fair market value of Ant Financial Services. Junhan's obligation to cash settle these awards will be funded by the proceeds of sales of or loans against the equity interests in Ant Financial Services that Jack contributed to Junhan. We have no obligation to reimburse Junhan, Ant Financial Services or its subsidiaries for the cost associated with these awards. For accounting purposes, we recognize the cost relating to suchthe equity-based awards granted by the shareholder through Junhan as a shareholder contribution as the awards will ultimately be settled in cash by Junhan. The awards are accounted for as financial derivatives and initially measured at their fair value, and the related expense will be recognized over the requisite service period in our consolidated income statements with a corresponding credit to additional paid-in capital. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the awards are recorded in our consolidated income statements through the date on which the underlying awards are settled by Junhan. The expenses arising from Ant Financial Services' share-based awards granted to our employees represent a non-cash charge that will not result in any economic costs or equity dilution to our shareholders.

                  Other Commercial Arrangements with       Subsequent to our initial public offering, based on the arrangements agreed to in the 2014 SAPA, we, Junhan and Ant Financial Services

                         We have also entered into other commercial arrangements withan agreement, under which we agreed to continue granting our share-based awards to employees of Ant Financial Services, and its subsidiaries, such as treasury management and other services. In fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, the amount incurred and payable by us to Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries under these arrangements was RMB23 million, RMB21 million and RMB248 million (US$40 million), respectively.

                  Joint Venture with Ant Financial Services

                         In June 2015, we announced that we will establish a joint venture under the brand name Koubei with Ant Financial Services that aims at capturing opportunities within China's local services market, with an initial focus on the food and beverage market. We will transfer our food ordering and delivery business that we currently operate under the Taodiandian brand to this joint venture. Ant Financial Services will transfer to this joint venture its offline merchant resources. In addition, weJunhan and Ant Financial Services agreed that Junhan and/or Ant Financial Services through one of its subsidiaries will each invest RMB3.0 billion incontinue granting equity-based performance awards to our employees on an annual basis. Due to the mutually beneficial nature of this joint venture.arrangement, the parties agreed that none of them has any obligation to reimburse any other party any expenses relating to the equity-based awards. This agreement has a term of three years and will be automatically renewed for another three years, unless otherwise terminated by written agreement among the parties or unilaterally by Ant Financial Services if it is required under applicable laws (including any regulatory requirements applicable to a public offer of Ant Financial Services' shares) to terminate the agreement.

                  Transactions with Alibaba Pictures

                         In June 2014, as part of our digital media and entertainment media strategy, we completed an investment of HK$6,244 million (RMB4,955 million) in newly issued ordinary shares representing approximately 60% of the issued share capital of Alibaba Pictures. In April 2015, we delivered a non-binding proposal to Alibaba Pictures for a possible business injection of our online movie ticketing business and financing and investment platform for the production of movies and other media content into Alibaba Pictures. There is no certainty that the possible business injection will proceed, and if it does proceed, there is no certainty on what terms the possible business injection would be implemented or that the conditions to its implementation would be satisfied. In addition, in June 2015, Alibaba Pictures entered into a placing agreement in relationplaced newly issued ordinary shares to the placing of certain new ordinary shares. Theunrelated third-party investors for aggregate proceeds from such placing amounted toof approximately HK$12,179 million (RMB9,647 million). Our equity interest in Alibaba Pictures was therefore diluted from 59.4% to 49.5% upon completion of this transaction also in June 2015.transaction. In December 2015, Alibaba Pictures completed its purchase of our online movie ticketing business and movie and TV series financing platform for a cash consideration of US$350 million (RMB2,259 million) plus certain reimbursement amounts.

                  TransactionsTransaction with Alibaba HealthEntity Affiliated with Our Directors and Officers

                         In April 2014, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which we agreed to acquire newly issued ordinary shares representing an effective equity interest of approximately 38% in Alibaba Health. We paid a total purchase price of HK$932 million upon the closingJack Ma, our executive chairman, Joe Tsai, our executive vice chairman, and J. Michael Evans, our president, have purchased their own aircraft for both business and personal use. The use of the transaction. In April 2015, we entered into an agreement pursuantabove-mentioned executive officers' own aircraft in connection with the performance of their duties as our employees is free of charge to which we agreed to transfer the operations of our Tmall online pharmacy business to Alibaba Health in consideration for newly issued shares and convertible bonds of Alibaba Health. The transaction is subject tous,


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                  customary closing conditions. Uponand we have agreed to assume the closingcost of this transaction, our effective equity ownership of Alibaba Health will increase to approximately 53% (or 54.6% assuming the full conversion of the convertible bonds upon maturity)maintenance, crew and Alibaba Health is expected to become our consolidated subsidiary.

                  Transaction with Entity Affiliated with Our Executive Chairman

                         We entered into an agreement dated as of March 26, 2013 whereby Jack Ma, our executive chairman, acquired our interest in a business aircraft for a cash consideration of US$49.7 million, which was the original purchase price of the aircraft. The aircraft was subsequently leased to us, free of charge, to be used mainly by Jack in connection with his duties as our executive chairman. We have also entered into a cost reimbursement agreement to reimburse the maintenance and incidental costsoperation of the aircraft at cost.where the cost is allocated for business purposes.

                  Relationship with Investment Funds Affiliated with Our Executive Chairman

                         Jack Ma currently has an indirectapproximately 40% interest, held directly and/or indirectly, in the general partners of each of three Yunfeng Capital-sponsored investment funds sponsored by Yunfeng Capital, including Yunfeng Fund, L.P.,in which was established in June 2010,he is entitled to receive a portion of carried interest proceeds, namely, Shanghai Yunfeng Equity Investment (Limited Partnership), Shanghai Yunfeng New Innovation Enterprise Equity Investment (Limited Partnership) and Smart System Investment Fund, which isL.P. Jack Ma also currently has an RMB fund establishedapproximately 26.7% indirect interest in May 2011, andthe general partner of Yunfeng Fund II, L.P. and KHL, L.P., each of which is also a Yunfeng Capital-sponsored investment fund in which he is also entitled to receive a portion of carried interest proceeds. Of the five Yunfeng Capital-sponsored funds in respect of which Jack Ma holds an interest in the general partner entities thereof and is entitled to receive carried interest proceeds, one is a U.S. dollar denominated fund, or the U.S. Dollar Fund, two are RMB denominated funds, or the RMB Funds, one is a co-investment fund of the U.S. Dollar Fund and one is a parallel fund of the U.S. Dollar Fund. We refer to these funds collectively as the Yunfeng Funds. Jack Ma also currently has a 40% interest in each of Shanghai Yunfeng Investment Management Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Yunfeng New Innovation Investment Management Co., Ltd., which had its final closing on May 15, 2014. Aare the investment advisor entities of the RMB Funds and which, together with Yunfeng Capital Limited, the investment advisor entity of the U.S. Dollar Fund, we collectively refer to as Yunfeng Capital. Jack Ma, his wife, a trust established for the benefit of his family and an entity controlled by Jack and his family haswife have committed, directly or indirectly, approximately US$264.0 million and US$426.0 million as ageneral partners and limited partner and as a general partner,partners, respectively, to Yunfengthe U.S. Dollar Fund, II, L.P., whichand approximately RMB20.0 million and approximately RMB201.1 million as general partners and limited partners, respectively, to the RMB Funds. The U.S. Dollar Fund has accepted approximately US$1.1 billion in capital commitments and the RMB Funds have accepted over US$1.0RMB5.0 billion in capital commitments.

                         Jack willhas agreed to donate all distributions of (x) carried interest proceeds he may receive by virtue of his 40% indirect interest in the general partnersrespect of the threeYunfeng Funds and (y) dividends he may receive with respect to his holdings of shares in any member of Yunfeng Capital, fundswhich we collectively refer to as the Yunfeng Distributions, to, or for the benefit of, the Alibaba Foundation.Group Charitable Fund or other entities identified by Jack that serve charitable purposes. In addition, Jack has agreed that he will not claim any deductions from his applicable income tax obligations resulting from payment of the Yunfeng Distributions to the Alibaba Group Charitable Fund or any other entity identified by Jack that serves charitable purposes. See "— Commitments of Jack Ma to Alibaba Group." We expect that, through its expertise, knowledge base and extensive network of contacts in private equity in China, Yunfeng Capital will assist us in developing a range of relevant strategic investment opportunities.

                         Yunfeng Capital hasFunds have historically, and may in the future, enter into co-investment transactions with us and third parties,parties. We have also invested in other businesses in which Yunfeng Funds are existing shareholders, such as our recent investmentsDamai, a leading online ticketing platform for live events in Youku Tudou and Alibaba Health. For example,China. In addition, in AprilMay 2014, in conjunction with our investment in Alibaba Health and on the same terms as us, Yunfeng Capital acquired an effective equity interest of approximately 16% in Alibaba Health for a total purchase price of HK$395 million. Also in April 2014, in conjunction with our investment in Youku Tudou and on the same terms as us, Yunfeng Capital agreed to invest approximately US$132 million to purchase Class A ordinary shares of Youku Tudou, representing an effective equity interest of 2.0% on a fully-diluted basis. See "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review Prospects — A. Operating Results — Recent Investment, Acquisition and Strategic Alliance Activities — Entertainment." Wewe committed US$80 million as a limited partner of Yunfeng Fund II, L.P. Through suchthrough one of our investment we have formalized an institutional relationship with Yunfeng Capital.vehicles, Alibaba Investment Limited. In addition, Yunfeng Fund, L.P. was an indirect holder of approximately 84,600 convertible preference shares purchased by an entity wholly-owned by it in September 2012, and suchthe convertible preference shares were automatically converted into our ordinary shares upon the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014.

                  Commitments of Jack Ma to Alibaba Group

                         Jack Ma, our executive chairman, has confirmed the following commitments to our board of directors in writing:

                    •
                    He intends to reduce and thereafter limit his direct and indirect economic interest in Ant Financial Services over time, to a percentage that does not exceed his and his affiliates' interest in our company immediately prior to our initial public offering and that suchthe reduction will be causedoccur in a manner by which neither Jack nor any of his affiliates would receive any economic benefit;

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                    •
                    He has entered into a deed to, and will, donate all distributions he may receive by virtue of his 40% indirect interest in the general partners of the three Yunfeng Capital fundsDistributions to, or for the benefit of, the Alibaba Foundation;Group Charitable Fund or other entities identified by him that serve charitable purposes;

                    •
                    He will not claim any deductions from his applicable income tax obligations resulting from donating his Yunfeng Distributions to the Alibaba Group Charitable Fund or any other entity identified by him that serve charitable purposes; and


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                    •
                    If required by us, while he remains an Alibaba executive, he will assume for our benefit legal ownership of investment vehicles, holding companies and variable interest entities that further our business interests in Internet, media and telecom related businesses and, in such circumstances, he will disclaim all economic benefits from suchhis ownership and enter into agreements to transfer any such benefits to us (or as we may direct) when permitted by applicable law.

                  Pledge for the Benefit of and Loan Arrangement with a Related Party

                         In May 2015, we entered into a pledge with a financial institution in the PRC in connection with certain wealth management products with an aggregate principal amount of RMB7.3 billion we invested in to secure an RMB6.9 billion financing provided by suchthis financial institution to Simon Xie, one of our founders and an equity holder in certain of our variable interest entities, to finance the minority investment by a PRC limited partnership in Wasu, a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and engaged in the business of digital media broadcasting and distribution in China. In addition, we entered into a loan agreement for a principal amount of up to RMB2.0 billion with Simon Xie in April 2015 to finance the repayment by Simon of the interest under the financing. We expect that theseThese arrangements will facilitate us entering into and strengtheningstrengthen our strategic business arrangements with Wasu to enhance our entertainment strategy. Our loan to Simon will be made at an interest rate equal to SHIBOR as specified by us from time to time and is repayable in five years. The loan is secured by a pledge of Simon's limited partnership interest in the PRC limited partnership, and will be available for draw-down starting January 1, 2016.partnership. As of March 31, 2017, the balance of this loan was RMB749 million (US$109 million). We have entered into strategic cooperation agreements with a major shareholder of Wasu in order to enhance our capabilities and influence in the entertainment sector in China. A company controlled by Jack Ma will serveserves as one of the general partners of the PRC limited partnership. Yuzhu Shi, the founder, chairman and a principal shareholder of Giant Interactive, a China-based online game company that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and who is also an entrepreneur with significant experience in and knowledge of the media industry in China, serves as the other general partner. Jack, through his control of one of the general partners, and Mr. Shi, as the other general partner and the executive partner, jointly control this PRC limited partnership. The interest of the general partner controlled by Jack in the limited partnership is limited to the return of its RMB10,000 contributed capital.

                  Equity-settled Donation Relating to Our Ordinary SharesTransactions with Cainiao Network

                         During fiscal year 2014, we granted options to acquire 50,000,000 ordinary shares of us to SymAsia Foundation, a non-profit organization designated by Jack Ma and Joe Tsai. 35,000,000 and 15,000,000 of these share options will be transferred to the separate charitable trusts to be established by Jack Ma and Joe Tsai, respectively. These share options were approved by our board of directors and the options are not subject to any vesting conditions and are exercisable for a period of four years from the grant date. The exercise price of these options is US$25.00 per share based on a fair market value appraisal process. For each of the eight years beginning one year after the date of listing of our ordinary shares on a recognized stock exchange, the charitable trusts are permitted to sell only up to 6,250,000 ordinary shares (or one-eighth of the total number of ordinary shares subject to the options) per year excluding such number of unsold ordinary shares carried forward from previous years. As there are no vesting conditions attached to the above share options, equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million was recognized in full and recorded in general and administrative expenses during fiscal year 2014.

                  Transactions with Cainiao Logistics

                         We entered into agreements with Cainiao Logistics, our equity-accounted affiliate, during fiscal year 2014, whereby2016, we disposed of twoa wholly-owned subsidiariessubsidiary to the parent of Cainiao LogisticsNetwork for cash consideration of RMB524US$33 million (US$85(RMB204 million). The gain on disposal in fiscal year 2016 was RMB3 million. The major assetsasset of the disposed subsidiariessubsidiary consisted of a land use rightsright in the PRC. The gain on disposals in fiscal year 2014 was RMB74 million (US$12 million).


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                         In addition, weWe have commercial arrangements with Cainiao LogisticsNetwork conducted on an arm's length basis to receive certain logistics services. Expenses incurred in connection with the logisticlogistics services provided by Cainiao LogisticsNetwork in fiscal yearyears 2015, 2016 and 2017 were RMB785 million, RMB2,370 million and RMB4,444 million (US$127646 million)., respectively.

                         We also have cost sharing arrangements with Cainiao Network on various administrative and cloud computing services. In connection with the services we provided, Cainiao Network paid us RMB20 million, RMB86 million and RMB152 million (US$22 million) in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                         From time to time, we also co-invest with Cainiao Network in other businesses.


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                  Transactions with Weibo

                         We entered into a strategic collaboration agreement and a marketing cooperation agreement with Weibo, one of our equity investees, during fiscal year 2014. These agreements expired in January 2016. In fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, the amounts paid to Weibo in connection with the marketing services provided by Weibo pursuant to these agreements and other commercial arrangements were RMB654 million, RMB715 million and RMB340 million (US$49 million), respectively.

                         We also have other commercial arrangements with Weibo primarily relating to the provision of cloud computing services. In connection with the services we provided, Weibo paid us RMB2 million, RMB38 million and RMB105 million (US$15 million) in fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                  Other commercial transactions with equity investees

                         Other than the transactions disclosed above, we also have commercial arrangements with certain of our equity investees and other related parties to provide and receive certain marketing, logistics, traffic acquisition, cloud computing and other services. The amounts relating to these services provided and received represent less than 1% of our revenue and total expenses, respectively, for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017. We believe that all transactions were conducted through arms-length negotiations and on terms similar to those with unrelated parties.

                  Contractual Arrangements among Our Wholly-foreign Owned Enterprises, Variable Interest Entities and the Variable Interest Entity Equity Holders

                         Chinese law restricts foreign ownership in enterprises that provide value-added telecommunications services, which includes the ICPs. As a result, we operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited in China through contractual arrangements between our wholly-foreign owned enterprises, our variable interest entities, which, where applicable, hold the ICP licenses and other regulated licenses and generally operate our Internet businesses and other businesses in which foreign investment is restricted or prohibited, and the variable interest entity equity holders. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see "Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure — Contractual Arrangements among Our Wholly-foreign Owned Enterprises, Variable Interest Entities and the Variable Interest Entity Equity Holders."

                  Indemnification Agreements

                         We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. These agreements require us to indemnify suchthese individuals, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for certain liabilities to which they may become subject as a result of their affiliation with us.

                  Employment Agreements

                         See "Item. 6 Directors, Senior Management and Employees — B. Compensation — Employment Agreements."

                  Share Options

                         See "Item. 6 Directors, Senior Management and Employees — B. Compensation — Equity Incentive Plan.Plans."

                  Private Placements

                         The following is a summary of our securities issuances since April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2015.

                  Ordinary Shares

                         On August 27, 2012, we entered into a share purchase and investor rights agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 167,741,936 ordinary shares at a subscription price of US$15.50 per share to such investors at an aggregate consideration of US$2.6 billion on September 18, 2012.

                         Pursuant to the share purchase and investor rights agreement, each of these investors also agrees with Jack Ma that it will vote its ordinary shares so acquired in a manner consistent with Jack or his designee's request at any shareholders meeting with respect to certain substantial shareholder proposals, including approving transactions or proposals, the election or removal of any director, or the amendment of any provision of our articles of association relating to the election or removal of any director or the composition or powers of our board of directors, in each case, resulting in any substantial shareholder gaining the right to change our management and/or policies. For purposes of this voting provision, "substantial shareholder" is defined to mean any shareholder (other than Jack Ma and Joe Tsai (including any entities directly or indirectly controlled by Jack Ma and/or Joe Tsai or their respective family trusts, any of their designees and any of their other affiliates (other than the company or any of its subsidiaries)) that owns, or a group of shareholders (other than Jack Ma and Joe Tsai (including any entities directly or indirectly controlled by Jack Ma and/or Joe Tsai or their respective family


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                  trusts, any of their designees and any of their other affiliates (other than the company or any of its subsidiaries)) acting in concert that own, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares either (a) at the time the substantial shareholder proposal has been publicly announced or otherwise notified to us, any of the directors or any of the holders of 3% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares or (b) on the record date of the shareholders meeting related to such substantial shareholder proposal. The voting provisions under the share purchase and investor rights agreement have terminated upon completion of our initial public offering in September 2014.

                         In connection with our June 2014 acquisition of the remaining equity interest of UCWeb, we issued an aggregate of 12.3 million restricted shares and RSUs to certain shareholders of UCWeb.

                  Convertible Preference Shares

                         On August 31, 2012 and October 15, 2012, we entered into convertible preference share purchase agreements with certain investors, pursuant to which such investors agreed to subscribe for an aggregate of 1,688,000 series A convertible preference shares in our company, or the convertible preference shares, for an aggregate consideration of US$1,688 million. The convertible preference shares were issued in two tranches of 1,338,000 and 350,000 shares on September 18, 2012 and on October 16, 2012, respectively. We used the proceeds from the first tranche to partially finance our repurchase of 523,000,000 ordinary shares in our company from Yahoo in September 2012. We used the proceeds from the second tranche for general corporate purposes. The convertible preference shares were automatically converted into an aggregate 91,243,312 of our ordinary shares at an initial conversion price US$18.50 per ordinary share concurrently with the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014.

                  Redeemable Preference Shares

                         We issued 800,000 redeemable preference shares in our company to Yahoo in September 2012 for a total consideration of US$800 million. The consideration paid for the redeemable preference shares was used by us to partially fund the repurchase of 523,000,000 ordinary shares in our company from Yahoo in September 2012. We subsequently redeemed the redeemable preference shares in May 2013 using funds borrowed under our US$8 billion credit facility. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Yahoo — Our Repurchase of Ordinary Shares from Yahoo" for more information. As the holder of the redeemable preference shares, Yahoo was entitled to cumulative, semi-annual dividends at a rate of up to 10% per annum, subject to certain adjustments tied to the credit assessment of us, with at least 3% per annum payable in cash on pre-determined dividend payment dates and the remaining amount accrued to the liquidation preference.

                  Share Options, RSUs, Restricted Shares and Other Rights Granted

                         In fiscal years 2013, 2014 and 2015, we have granted options covering an aggregate of 22,406,000 ordinary shares, 93,112,601 ordinary share subject to RSUs, and 3,274,816 restricted shares to certain employees, consultants and directors of our company, our affiliates and certain other companies, such as Alipay, under our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan and 2014 Post-IPO Equity Incentive Plan. We granted an aggregate of 1,240,412 ordinary shares subject to RSUs and 11,151,559 restricted shares in connection with certain investments and acquisitions made by us. We also granted 100,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, 5,630,369 ordinary shares subject to RSUs and 5,824,000 restricted shares to employee shareholders of certain entities we acquired for entering into non-compete covenants with us. We issued 18,000,000 ordinary shares to special purpose vehicles in July 2013 under the Partner Capital Investment Plan.

                  C.    Interests of Experts and Counsel

                         Not applicable.


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                  ITEM 8.8    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                  A.    Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

                         See "Item 18. Financial Statements."


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                  Legal and Administrative Proceedings

                         We are involved from time to time, and may in the future be involved in, litigation, claims or other disputes in the ordinary course of business regarding, among other things, contract disputes with our customers, copyright, trademark and other intellectual property infringement claims, consumer protection claims, employment related cases and other matters in the ordinary course of our and disputes between our sellersmerchants and buyers.consumers.

                           We establish balance sheet provisions relating to potential losses from litigation based on estimates of the losses. For this purpose, we classify potential losses as remote, reasonably possible or probable. We analyze potential outcomes from current and potential litigation and proceedings as loss contingencies in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our management believes that the risk of loss in connection with the proceedings discussed below is currently remote and that these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, either individually or in the aggregate. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in these matters, some of which are beyond our control, the risk of loss may become more likely and an adverse outcome of one or more of these matters could be material to our results of operations or cash flows for any particular reporting period. See note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report for more information on our provisioning policy with regard to legal and administrative proceedings.

                    Class Action Lawsuits

                      Federal Consolidated Exchange Act Actions

                           OnIn January 30, 2015, we were named as a defendant in the first of seven putative shareholder class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York, Central District of California and Northern District of California, captioned:

                      •
                      Manishkumar Khunt v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-00759-CM (filed Jan. 30, 2015)

                      •
                      Devorah Klein v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-00811-CM (filed Feb. 3, 2015)

                      •
                      Ming Huang v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-00789-PA-AJW (filed Feb. 4, 2015)

                      •
                      Claire Rand v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-00991-CM (filed Feb. 11, 2015)

                      •
                      Myrtle Chao v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-01102-PA-AJW (filed Feb. 16, 2015)

                      •
                      James and Christine Ziolkowski v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-01405-CM (filed Feb. 25, 2015)

                      •
                      Placidius O'Silva v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 15-cv-01360-HSG (filed March 24, 2015)

                    California. The actions wereoperative complaint is brought on behalf of a putative class of shareholders who acquired our American Depositary Shares from October 21, 2014 through January 28,29, 2015, inclusive. The complaints assert claims under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                           The Southern District of New York has appointed a Lead Plaintiff and Lead Counsel on behalf of the putative class pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

                           On       In June 9, 2015, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered transfer of the actions in the Central District of California to the Southern District of New York for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the four actions before that court. OnIn June 18, 2015, the Panel ordered transfer of the action pending in the Northern District of California to the Southern District of New York. The actions in the Southern District of New York were consolidated under the master caption,Christine Asia Co., Ltd. et al. v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited et al., No. 1:15-md-02631-CM (S.D.N.Y.), and related cases.

                           The complaintsSouthern District of New York appointed a Lead Plaintiff and Lead Counsel on behalf of the putative class pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act.

                           In June 2015, the Lead Plaintiff filed a consolidated amended complaint, which generally allegealleged that the registration statement and prospectus filed in connection with our initial public offering and various other public statements contained misrepresentations regarding our business operations and financial prospects, and failed to disclose, among other things, regulatory scrutiny by the SAIC prior to our initial public offering. Specifically, plaintiffs allegealleged that we should have disclosed a 2014 SAIC anti-counterfeiting initiative in the e-commerce market, a July 16, 2014 administrative guidance meeting we had with the SAIC that was later the subject of a self-described "white paper" issued and then withdrawn by the SAIC.SAIC, and the alleged impact of the sale of counterfeit goods on our financial results. Plaintiffs assertasserted claims against our company and Executive Chairman Jack Yun Ma, Executive Vice Chairman Joseph C. Tsai, then Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Zhaoxi Lu and Chief Financial Officer Maggie Wei Wu for violation of sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the United States Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5. Plaintiffs seeksought unspecified damages, attorney'sattorneys' fees and costs. The

                           In July 2015, the Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim. In June 2016, the Southern District of New York court has requiredissued an order granting Defendants' motion to dismiss without leave to amend. The order held that a consolidated amended complaint be filed onPlaintiffs failed to plead that Defendants made actionable misstatements or before June 30, 2015.

                      Regulatory Inquiry

                           On January 30, 2015, following the release of the so-called SAIC "white paper," the SEC initiated a non-public inquiry into whether any violations of the federal securities laws had occurred. The SEC advised usomissions or that Defendants acted with scienter.


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                           On July 20, 2016, Plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the existenceU.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The matter is now pending on appeal. The appeal has been fully briefed and was argued before the Second Circuit in May 2017.

                      California State Consolidated Securities Act Actions

                           In October 2015, we were named as a defendant in the first of three securities class action lawsuits filed in the Superior Court of the inquiryState of California, San Mateo County. The three actions were consolidated in October 2015, and plaintiffs filed a consolidated complaint on March 25, 2016. A fourth named plaintiff was added on February 14, 2017 with the filing of the First Amended Consolidated Complaint. The consolidated action is captionedGary Buelow, et al. v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited, et al., No. CIV-535692 (San Mateo Sup. Ct.). The consolidated action is brought on behalf of a putative class of investors who purchased Alibaba American Depositary Shares pursuant or traceable to the IPO. The complaint alleges violations of Sections 11, 12(a)(2) and 15 of the United States Securities Act of 1933.

                           The consolidated complaint names our company, Executive Chairman Jack Yun Ma, Executive Vice Chairman Joseph C. Tsai, then Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Zhaoxi Lu, Chief Financial Officer Maggie Wei Wu, Director Masayoshi Son, General Counsel and Secretary Timothy A. Steinert, and 34 separate underwriters of our initial public offering. It alleges that our company, our senior officers who signed the registration statement, and the underwriters made material misrepresentations in our initial offering materials similar to those alleged in the above federal consolidated complaint.

                           In May 2016, we filed a demurrer for failure to state a claim and lack of subject matter jurisdiction in response to the consolidated complaint. In December 2016, the Superior Court sustained the demurrer as to Sections 12(a)(2) and 15 and overruled the demurrer as to Section 11 with regard to the three original plaintiffs. In January 2017, we answered the consolidated complaint, asserting a general denial as to all allegations and setting forth affirmative defenses.

                           In September 2016, we filed a motion for summary judgment on the grounds that the three original plaintiffs lack statutory standing. In February 2017, a First Amended Consolidated Complaint was filed that added a new plaintiff to the action. In March 2017, we filed a demurrer to the First Amended Consolidated Complaint.

                           Discovery in the action is ongoing.

                    Pending SEC Inquiry

                           In early 2016, the SEC informed us that it was initiating an investigation into whether there have been any violations of the federal securities laws. The SEC has requested that we voluntarily provide it with documents and information relating to, among other things: our consolidation policies and practices (including our accounting for Cainiao Network as an equity method investee), our policies and practices applicable to related party transactions in general, and our reporting of operating data from Singles Day. We are voluntarily disclosing this SEC request for information and cooperating with the SEC and, through our legal counsel, have been providing the SEC with requested documents and information. The SEC advised us that the initiation of a request for information should not be construed as an indication by the SEC or its Staffstaff that we or any of our officers or directors had violated anyviolation of the federal securities laws. As part of its inquiry, the SEC requested that we voluntarily provide certain information. We agreed to voluntarily cooperate with the SEC and have been cooperating. The SEC's initial information request covers background facts and other information related to our interaction with the SAIC, and related matters.laws has occurred.

                      Kering Lawsuit

                           OnIn May 15, 2015, we were named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York by Gucci America Inc., Balenciaga S.A., Balenciaga America, Inc., Bottega Veneta S.A., Bottega Veneta Inc., Yves Saint Laurent America, Inc., Luxury Goods International (L.G.I.) S.A. and Kering S.A. The case is captioned Gucci America, Inc. et al. v. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. et al., No. 15 cv 03784 PKC (S.D.N.Y.). A second amended complaint was filed in September 2015. The complaint generally alleges that sellersmerchants on our marketplaces sold allegedly counterfeit or otherwise trademark infringing merchandise, purportedly with our actual or constructive knowledge, and that we purportedly supported such sellersthese merchants and this merchandise. In their original complaint, the plaintiffs assert multiple claims against our company and seek unspecified damages. In August 2016, the Court granted our motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, claims. Discovery on other claims is proceeding.


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                    Dividend Policy

                           Since our inception, we have not declared or paid any dividends on our ordinary shares. We have no present plan to pay any dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.

                           Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and may be based on a number of factors, including our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. If we pay any dividends, the depositary will pay our ADS holders to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.

                           We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. In order for us to distribute any dividends to our shareholders and ADS holders, we rely on dividends, distributedloans, and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries.operating subsidiaries in China and on remittances, including loans, from our variable interest entities in China. Dividend distributions from our PRC subsidiaries to us are subject to PRC taxes, such as withholding tax. In addition, regulations in the PRC currently permit payment of dividends of a PRC company only out of accumulated distributable after-tax profits as determined in accordance with its articles of association and the accounting standards and regulations in China. See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We rely to a significant extent on dividends, loans and other distributions on equity paid by our principal operating subsidiaries in China and on remittances, including loans, from the variable interest entities in China to fund offshore cash and financing requirements."

                    B.    Significant Changes

                           We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report.


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                    ITEM 9.9    THE OFFER AND LISTING

                    A.    Offer and Listing Details.

                           Our ADSs, each representing one of our ordinary shares, have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since September 19, 2014 under the symbol "BABA." The table below shows, for the periods indicated, the high


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                    and low market prices, based on the highest and lowest intraday sales prices, on the New York Stock Exchange for our ADSs through June 22, 2015.

                    14, 2017.

                     
                    		 Market Price(1)
                    (US$)                    		 
                     
                    		 High Low 

                    Annual highs and lows

                    		       

                    Fiscal year 2015 (from September 19, 2014)

                    		  120.00  80.03 

                    Fiscal year 2016

                    		  95.06  57.20 

                    Fiscal year 2017

                    		  110.45  73.30 

                    Quarterly highs and lows

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    Second calendar quarter 2015

                    		  95.06  77.77 

                    Third calendar quarter 2015

                    		  85.38  57.20 

                    Fourth calendar quarter 2015

                    		  86.42  58.20 

                    First calendar quarter 2016

                    		  79.84  59.25 

                    Second calendar quarter 2016

                    		  85.89  73.30 

                    Third calendar quarter 2016

                    		  109.87  77.68 

                    Fourth calendar quarter 2016

                    		  109.00  86.01 

                    First calendar quarter 2017

                    		  110.45  88.08 

                    Second calendar quarter 2017 (through June 14, 2017)

                    		  148.29  106.76 

                    Monthly highs and lows

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    December 2016

                    		  94.06  86.01 

                    January 2017

                    		  104.57  88.08 

                    February 2017

                    		  105.20  100.02 

                    March 2017

                    		  110.45  102.10 

                    April 2017

                    		  115.99  106.76 

                    May 2017

                    		  126.40  114.00 

                    June 2017 (through June 14)

                    		  148.29  122.26 
                     
                    		 Sale Price
                    (US$)                    		 
                     
                    		 High Low 

                    Annual highs and lows

                    		       

                    Fiscal year 2014 (from September 19, 2014)

                    		  119.15  81.58 

                    Quarterly highs and lows

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    Third quarter 2014 (from September 19, 2014)

                    		  93.89  87.17 

                    Fourth quarter 2014

                    		  119.15  84.95 

                    First quarter 2015

                    		  105.03  81.58 

                    Second quarter 2015 (through June 22, 2015)

                    		  93.88  79.54 

                    Monthly highs and lows

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    January 2015

                    		  105.03  89.08 

                    February 2015

                    		  90.61  84.69 

                    March 2015

                    		  86.10  81.58 

                    April 2015

                    		  86.14  81.29 

                    May 2015

                    		  93.88  79.54 

                    June 2015 (through June 22, 2015)

                    		  90.79  85.68 
                    (1)
                    Source: Bloomberg

                    B.    Plan of Distribution

                           Not applicable.

                    C.    Markets

                           Our ADSs, each representing one of our ordinary shares, have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since September 19, 2014 under the symbol "BABA."

                    D.    Selling Shareholders

                           Not applicable.

                    E.    Dilution

                           Not applicable.

                    F.     Expenses of the Issue

                           Not applicable.

                    ITEM 10.10    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                    A.    Share Capital

                           Not applicable.


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                    B.    Memorandum and Articles of Association

                           We incorporate by reference into this annual report the description of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contained in our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-195736), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on May 6, 2014. Our shareholders adopted our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association by a special resolution on September 2, 2014, and effective upon completion of our initial public offering of ordinary shares represented by our ADSs.

                    C.    Material Contracts

                           We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in "Item 4. Information on the Company"Company," "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" or elsewhere in this annual report.

                    D.    Exchange Controls

                           See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — RegulationsRegulation of Foreign Exchange.Exchange and Dividend Distribution — Foreign Exchange Regulation."

                    E.    Taxation

                           The following is a general summary of certain Cayman Islands, PRC and United States federal income tax consequences relevant to an investment in our ADSs and ordinary shares. The discussion is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal or tax advice to any particular prospective purchaser. The discussion is based on laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change or different interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. The discussion does not address U.S. state or local tax laws, or tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, the People's Republic of China and the United States. You should consult your own tax advisors with respect to the consequences of acquisition, ownership and disposition of our ADSs and ordinary shares. To the extent that this discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it is the opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our special Cayman Islands counsel. To the extent that the discussion states definitive legal conclusions under PRC tax laws and regulations, it is the opinion of Fangda Partners, our special PRC counsel.

                    Cayman Islands Taxation

                           The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty or withholding tax applicable to us or to any holder of our ADSs and ordinary shares. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within, the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands on the issue of shares by, or any transfers of shares of, Cayman Islands companies (except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands). The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.

                           Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our ADSs and ordinary shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our ADSs or ordinary shares, as the case may be, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our ADSs or ordinary shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.

                    People's Republic of China Taxation

                           We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and we gain substantial income by way of dividends from our PRC subsidiaries. The EIT Law and its implementation rules, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008 and the EIT Law being most recently amended on February 24, 2017, provide that China-sourcedChina-


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                    sourced income of foreign enterprises, such as dividends paid by a PRC


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                    subsidiary to its equity holders that are non-resident enterprises, will normally be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless any such foreign investor's jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a differentlower withholding tax rate.rate for which the foreign investor is eligible.

                           Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with a "de facto management body" within China is considered a "resident enterprise," which means that it is treated in the same manner as a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. Although the implementation rules of the EIT Law define "de facto management body" as a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise, the only official guidance for this definition currently available is set forth in Circular 82 issued by the State Administration of Taxation, which provides guidance on the determination of the tax residence status of a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise, defined as an enterprise that is incorporated under the laws of a foreign country or territory and that has a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as its primary controlling shareholder. Although Alibaba Group Holding Limited does not have a PRC enterprise or enterprise group as our primary controlling shareholder and is therefore not a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise within the meaning of Circular 82, in the absence of guidance specifically applicable to us, we have applied the guidance set forth in Circular 82 to evaluate the tax residence status of Alibaba Group Holding Limited and its subsidiaries organized outside the PRC.

                           According to Circular 82, a Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having a "de facto management body" in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met:

                      •
                      the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC;

                      •
                      decisions relating to the enterprise's financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC;

                      •
                      the enterprise's primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholders meeting minutes are located or maintained in the PRC; and

                      •
                      50% or more of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.

                           We do not believe that we meet any of the conditions outlined in the immediately preceding paragraph. Alibaba Group Holding Limited and its offshore subsidiaries are incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, our key assets and records, including the resolutions and meeting minutes of our board of directors and the resolutions and meeting minutes of our shareholders, are located and maintained outside the PRC. In addition, we are not aware of any offshore holding companies with a corporate structure similar to ours that has been deemed a PRC "resident enterprise" by the PRC tax authorities. Accordingly, we believe that Alibaba Group Holding Limited and its offshore subsidiaries should not be treated as a "resident enterprise" for PRC tax purposes if the criteria for "de facto management body" as set forth in Circular 82 were deemed applicable to us. However, as the tax residency status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body" as applicable to our offshore entities, we will continue to monitor our tax status.

                           The implementation rules of the EIT Law provide that, (i) if the enterprise that distributes dividends is domiciled in the PRC or (ii) if gains are realized from transferring equity interests of enterprises domiciled in the PRC, then suchthe dividends or capital gains are treated as China-sourced income. It is not clear how "domicile" may be interpreted under the EIT Law, and it may be interpreted as the jurisdiction where the enterprise is a tax resident. Therefore, if we are considered as a PRC tax resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders which are non-resident enterprises as well as gains realized by suchthose shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result become subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, unless any suchof the non-resident enterprise's jurisdictionenterprises' jurisdictions has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential treatment.


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                           Furthermore, if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise and the competent PRC tax authorities consider dividends we pay with respect to our shares or ADSs and the gains realized from the transfer of our shares or ADSs to be income derived from sources within the PRC, suchthe dividends and gains we pay to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-resident individuals may be subject to PRC individual income tax at a rate of 20%, unless any suchof the non-resident individuals' jurisdictionjurisdictions has a tax treaty with China that provides for a preferential tax rate or a tax exemption. It is also unclear whether, if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our shares or ADSs would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas.

                           See "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income." and "Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in the People's Republic of China — Dividends payable to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of our ADSs or ordinary shares by our foreign investors may become subject to PRC tax law.taxation."

                    Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

                           The following summary describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of the ownership of our ordinary shares and ADSs as of the date of this annual report. The discussion set forth below is applicable only to United States Holders. Except where noted, this summary deals only with ordinary shares and ADSs held as capital assets. As used herein, the term "United States Holder" means a beneficial owner of an ordinary share or ADS that is for United States federal income tax purposes:

                      •
                      an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

                      •
                      a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

                      •
                      an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

                      •
                      a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons has or have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2)if it has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

                           This summary does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws, including if you are:

                      •
                      a dealer in securities or currencies;

                      •
                      a financial institution;

                      •
                      a regulated investment company;

                      •
                      a real estate investment trust;

                      •
                      an insurance company;

                      •
                      a tax-exempt organization;

                      •
                      a person holding our ordinary shares or ADSs as part of a hedging, integrated or conversion transaction, a constructive sale or a straddle;

                      •
                      a trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities;

                      •
                      a person liable for alternative minimum tax;

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                      •
                      a person who owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of our voting stock;

                      •
                      a partnership or other pass-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes; or

                      •
                      a person whose "functional currency" is not the United StatesU.S. dollar.

                           The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date of this annual report, and suchthe relevant authorities may be replaced, revoked or modified so as to result in United States federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. In addition, this summary is based, in part, upon representations made by the depositary to us and assumes that the deposit agreement, and all other related agreements, will be performed in accordance with their terms.

                           If a partnership holds our ordinary shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our ordinary shares or ADSs, you should consult your tax advisors.

                           This summary does not contain a detailed description of all the United States federal income tax consequences to you in light of your particular circumstances and does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income, or the effects of any state, local or non-United States tax laws. If you are considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of our ordinary shares or ADSs, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the United States federal income tax consequences to you in light of your particular situation as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

                    ADSs

                           If you hold ADSs, for United States federal income tax purposes, you generally will be treated as the owner of the underlying ordinary shares that are represented by suchthe ADSs. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs will not be subject to United States federal income tax.

                    Taxation of Dividends

                           Subject to the discussion under "— Passive Foreign Investment Company" below, the gross amount of distributions on the ADSs or ordinary shares (including any amounts withheld to reflect PRC withholding taxes) will be taxable as dividends, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. SuchThe income (including withheld taxes) will be includable in your gross income as ordinary income on the day actually or constructively received by you, in the case of the ordinary shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADSs. SuchThe dividends will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations under the Code. The following discussion assumes that all dividends will be paid in U.S. dollars.

                           With respect to non-corporate United States investors, certain dividends received from a qualified foreign corporation may be subject to reduced rates of taxation. A foreign corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends received from that corporation on ordinary shares (or ADSs backed by such shares) that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. United States Treasury Department guidance indicates that our ADSs (which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange) are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Thus, we believe that dividends we pay on our ordinary shares that are represented by ADSs will meet the conditions required for the reduced tax rate. Since we do not expect that our ordinary shares will be listed on an established securities market, we do not believe that dividends that we pay on our ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs currently meet the conditions required for these reduced tax rates. There can be no assurance that our ADSs will be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in subsequent years. A qualified foreign corporation also includes a foreign corporation that is eligible for the benefits of certain income tax treaties with the United States. In the event that we were deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the EIT Law, although no assurance can be given, we might be eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC, which is


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                    hereinafter referred to as the Treaty, and if we were eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless of whether suchthe shares are represented by ADSs, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation. See "— People's Republic of China Taxation." Non-corporate United States Holders that do not meet a minimum holding period requirement during which they are not protected from the risk of loss or that elect to treat the dividend income as "investment income" pursuant to Section 163(d)(4) of the Code will not be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation regardless of our status as a qualified foreign corporation. In addition, the rate reduction will not apply to dividends if the recipient of a dividend is obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. This disallowance applies even if the minimum holding period has been met. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules given your particular circumstances.

                           Non-corporate United States Holders will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividends received from us if we are a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC in the taxable year in which suchthe dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year. See "— Passive Foreign Investment Company" below.

                           In the event that we were deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the EIT Law, you might be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid to you with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares. See "— People's Republic of China Taxation." In that case, subject to certain conditions and limitations, PRC withholding taxes on dividends would be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against your United States federal income tax liability. For purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit, dividends paid on the ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as foreign-source income and will generally constitute passive category income. However, in certain circumstances, if you have held the ADSs or ordinary shares for less than a specified minimum period during which you are not protected from risk of loss, or are obligated to make payments related to the dividends, you will not be allowed a foreign tax credit for any PRC withholding taxes imposed on dividends paid on the ADSs or ordinary shares. If you are eligible for Treaty benefits, any PRC taxes on dividends will not be creditable against your United States federal income tax liability to the extent withheld at a rate exceeding the applicable Treaty rate. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under your particular circumstances.

                           To the extent that the amount of any distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits for a taxable year, as determined under United States federal income tax principles, the distribution will first be treated as a tax-free return of capital, causing a reduction in the adjusted basis of the ADSs or ordinary shares (thereby increasing the amount of gain, or decreasing the amount of loss, to be recognized by you on a subsequent disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares), and the balance in excess of adjusted basis will be taxed as capital gain recognized on a sale or exchange, as described below under "— Taxation of Capital Gains." Consequently, suchany distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would generally not give rise to foreign source income and you would generally not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC withholding tax imposed on suchthose distributions unless suchthe credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against United States federal income tax due on other foreign source income in the appropriate category for foreign tax credit purposes. However, we do not expect to keep earnings and profits in accordance with United States federal income tax principles. Therefore, you should expect that a distribution will generally be treated as a dividend (as discussed above).

                           Distributions of ADSs, ordinary shares or rights to subscribe for ordinary shares that are received as part of a pro rata distribution to all of our shareholders generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax. Consequently, suchthese distributions generally will not give rise to foreign source income and you generally will not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC withholding tax imposed on suchthe distributions unless suchthe credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against United States federal income tax due on other foreign source income in the appropriate category for foreign tax credit purposes.


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                    Passive Foreign Investment Company

                           Based on the projected composition of our income and valuation of our assets, including goodwill, we do not expect to be a PFIC for our current taxable year, and we do not expect to become one in the future, although there can be no assurance in this regard.

                           In general, we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which:

                      •
                      at least 75% of our gross income is passive income; or

                      •
                      at least 50% of the value (determined on a quarterly basis) of our assets is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income.

                           For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents (other than royalties and rents derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and not derived from a related person). If we own at least 25% (by value) of the stock of another corporation, we will be treated, for purposes of the PFIC tests, as owning our proportionate share of the other corporation's assets and receiving our proportionate share of the other corporation's income. Although we do not expect to be a PFIC, it is not entirely clear how the contractual arrangements between us and our variable interest entities will be treated for purposes of the PFIC rules. If it were determined that we do not own the stock of our variable interest entities for United States federal income tax purposes (for instance, because the relevant PRC authorities do not respect these arrangements), we may be treated as a PFIC.

                           The determination of whether we are a PFIC is made annually. Accordingly, it is possible that we may become a PFIC in the current or any future taxable year due to changes in our asset or income composition. Because we have valued our goodwill based on the projected market value of our equity, a decrease in the price of our ADSs may also result in our becoming a PFIC. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold our ADSs or ordinary shares, you will be subject to special tax rules discussed below.

                           If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold our ADSs or ordinary shares, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any "excess distribution" received and any gain realized from a sale or other disposition, including a pledge, of ADSs or ordinary shares. Distributions received in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as excess distributions. Under these special tax rules:

                      •
                      the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares;

                      •
                      the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable year prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and

                      •
                      the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each suchrelevant year.

                           In addition, non-corporate United States Holders will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividends received from us if we are a PFIC in the taxable year in which suchthe dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year. You will generally be required to file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 if you hold our ADSs or ordinary shares in any year in which we are classified as a PFIC.

                           If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our non-United States subsidiaries was also a PFIC, a United States Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. You are urged to consult your tax advisors about the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.


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                           In certain circumstances, in lieu of being subject to the excess distribution rules discussed above, you may make an election to include gain on the stock of a PFIC as ordinary income under a mark-to-market method,


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                    provided that suchthe stock is regularly traded on a qualified exchange. Under current law, the mark-to-market election may be available to United States Holders of ADSs if the ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which constitutes a qualified exchange, and are "regularly traded" for purposes of the mark-to-market election (for which no assurance can be given). It should also be noted that it is intended that only the ADSs and not the ordinary shares will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Consequently, if you are a United States Holder of ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs, you generally will not be eligible to make a mark-to-market election if we are or were to become a PFIC.

                           If you make an effective mark-to-market election, you will include in each year that we are a PFIC as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of your ADSs at the end of the year over your adjusted tax basis in the ADSs. You will be entitled to deduct as an ordinary loss in each suchrelevant year the excess of your adjusted tax basis in the ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. If you make an effective mark-to-market election, in each year that we are a PFIC any gain you recognize upon the sale or other disposition of your ADSs will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.

                           Your adjusted tax basis in the ADSs will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the mark-to-market rules. If you make a mark-to-market election it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ADSs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or the Internal Revenue Service consents to the revocation of the election. You are urged to consult your tax advisor about the availability of the mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable in your particular circumstances.

                           Alternatively, you can sometimes avoid the rules described above by electing to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" under Section 1295 of the Code. However, this option is not available to you because we do not intend to comply with the requirements necessary to permit you to make this election.

                           You are urged to consult your tax advisors concerning the United States federal income tax consequences of holding ADSs or ordinary shares if we are considered a PFIC in any taxable year.

                    Taxation of Capital Gains

                           For United States federal income tax purposes, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale or exchange of ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized for the ADSs or ordinary shares and your tax basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares. Subject to the discussion under "— Passive Foreign Investment Company" above, suchthis gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Capital gains of individuals derived with respect to capital assets held for more than one year are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss recognized by you will generally be treated as United States source gain or loss. However, if we were treated as a PRC resident enterprise for EIT Law purposes and PRC tax were imposed on any gain, and if you are eligible for the benefits of the Treaty, you may elect to treat suchthis gain as PRC source gain under the Treaty. If you are not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or you fail to make the election to treat any gain as PRC source, then you may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC tax imposed on the disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares unless suchthe credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against tax due on other income derived from foreign sources. You will be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty if, for purposes of the Treaty, you are a resident of the United States, and you meet other requirements specified in the Treaty. Because the determination of whether you qualify for the benefits of the Treaty is fact-intensive and depends upon your particular circumstances, you are specifically urged to consult your tax advisors regarding your eligibility for the benefits of the Treaty. You are also urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the tax consequences in case any PRC tax is imposed on gain


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                    on a disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit and the election to treat any gain as PRC source, under your particular circumstances.


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                    Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

                           In general, information reporting will apply to dividends in respect of our ADSs or ordinary shares and the proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of our ADSs or ordinary shares that are paid to you within the United States (and in certain cases, outside the United States), unless you are an exempt recipient. A backup withholding tax may apply to suchthese payments if you fail to provide a taxpayer identification number or certification of other exempt status or, in the case of dividend payments, if you fail to report in full dividend and interest income.

                           Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner.

                           Under the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act of 2010, certain United States Holders are required to report information relating to ADSs or ordinary shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for ADSs or ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions), by attaching a complete Internal Revenue Service Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, with their tax return for each year in which they hold ADSs or ordinary shares. You are urged to consult your own tax advisors regarding information reporting requirements relating to your ownership of the ADSs or ordinary shares.

                    F.     Dividends and Paying Agents

                           Not applicable.

                    G.    Statement by Experts

                           Not applicable.

                    H.   Documents on Display

                           We have previously filed with the SEC our registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-195736), as amended.amended, with respect to our ordinary shares and ADSs. As allowed by the SEC, in Item 19 of this annual report, we incorporate by reference certain information we previously filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this annual report.

                           You may read and copy this annual report, including the exhibits incorporated by reference in this annual report, at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the SEC's regional offices in New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. You can also request copies of this annual report, including the exhibits incorporated by reference in this annual report, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room.

                           The SEC also maintains a website atwww.sec.gov that contains reports and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. Our annual report and some of the other information submitted by us to the SEC may be accessed through this website.

                           As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

                           In accordance with NYSE Rule 203.01, we will post this annual report on our websitewww.alibabagroup.com. In addition, we will provide hardcopies of our annual report to shareholders, including ADS holders, free of charge upon request.


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                    I.     Subsidiary Information

                           Not applicable.


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                    ITEM 11.11    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

                    Market Risks

                    Interest Rate Risk

                           Our main interest rate exposure relates to bank borrowings. In addition, one tranche of our unsecured senior notes bear interest at three-month LIBOR plus 0.520% per annum. We also have interest-bearing assets, including cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and restricted cash and loan receivables.cash. We manage our interest rate exposure with a focus on reducing our overall cost of debt and exposure to changes in interest rates. From time to time, we use derivatives, such as interest rate swaps, to manage our interest rate exposure. Approximately 90%63% of the aggregate principal amount of our bank borrowings and other debtunsecured senior notes was at fixed rates, and the remaining 10%37% was at floating rates as of March 31, 2015.2017.

                           As of March 31, 20152016 and March 31, 2014,2017, if interest rates increased/decreased by 1%, with all other variables having remained constant, and assuming the amount outstanding at March 31, 20152016, 2017, respectively, under our bank borrowings and the tranche of our unsecured senior notes that bear floating interest was outstanding for the entire respective fiscal year 2015 and the amount of bank borrowings outstanding at March 31, 2014 was outstanding for the entire fiscal year 2014,years, profit attributable to equity owners of our company would have been RMB1,202RMB1,089 million (US$194 million) and RMB365RMB1,165 million (US$169 million) higher/lower, respectively, mainly as a result of higher/lower interest income from our cash and cash equivalents and loan receivables.short-term investments.

                    Foreign Exchange Risk

                           Foreign currency risk arises from future commercial transactions, recognized assets and liabilities and net investments in foreign operations. Although we operate businesses in different countries, substantially allmost of our revenue-generating transactions, and a majority of our expense-related transactions, are denominated in Renminbi, which is the functional currency of our major operating subsidiaries and the reporting currency of our financial statements. We do not hedge against currencyFrom time to time, we enter into hedging activities with regard to exchange rate risk.

                           The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. On July 21, 2005,For instance, in August 2015, the PRC governmentPBOC changed its policythe way it calculates the mid-point price of peggingRenminbi against the U.S. dollar, requiring the market-makers who submit for reference rates to consider the previous day's closing spot rate, foreign-exchange demand and supply as well as changes in major currency rates. In 2015 and 2016, the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar peg, the Renminbi appreciated more than 20%depreciated approximately 4.4% and 7.2% against the U.S. dollar, overrespectively. From the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted andend of 2016 through the exchange rate betweenend of May 2017, the value of the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the PRC government has allowed the Renminbi to appreciate slowlyappreciated slightly by approximately 1.9% against the U.S. dollar again, and it has appreciated more than 10% since June 2010. In April 2012, the PRC government announced that it would allow greater Renminbi exchange rate fluctuation. However, it remains unclear how this announcement might be implemented.dollar. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result in greater fluctuations of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMBRenminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.

                           To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would reduce the Renminbi amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert RMBRenminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs, servicing our outstanding debts, or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would reduce the U.S. dollar amounts available to us. As of March 31, 2015, we had U.S. dollar-denominated unsecured senior notes outstanding of US$8.0 billion. If the U.S. dollar had appreciated/depreciated by 10% against the Renminbi, our interest payments as to these debt would have increased/decreased by RMB246 million (US$40 million) in fiscal year 2015.

                           As of March 31, 2015,2016, we had Renminbi-denominated cash and cash equivalents and short termshort-term investments of RMB107,089RMB82,302 million and U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents of US$2,4614,359 million. Assuming we had converted RMB107,089RMB82,302 million into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of RMB6.199RMB6.448 for US$1.00 as of


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                    March 31, 2015,2016, our total U.S. dollar cash balance would have been US$19,73617,123 million. If the Renminbi had depreciated by 10% against the U.S. dollar, our U.S. dollar cash balance would have been US$18,16615,963 million.


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                           As of March 31, 2014,2017, we had Renminbi-denominated cash and cash equivalents and short termshort-term investments of RMB43,024RMB83,467 million and U.S. dollar-denominated cash and cash equivalents of US$898,811 million. Assuming we had converted RMB43,024RMB83,467 million into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate of RMB6.2164RMB6.8832 for US$1.00 as of March 31, 2014,2017, our total U.S. dollar cash balance would have been US$7,01020,937 million. If the Renminbi had depreciated by 10% against the U.S. dollar, our U.S. dollar cash balance would have been US$6,38119,835 million.

                    Market Price Risk

                           We are exposed to market price risk primarily with respect to investment securities, to a lesser extent interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts, held by us which are reported at fair value. A substantial portion of our investment in equity investees are all held for long-term appreciation or for strategic purposes. All of these are accounted for under cost or equity method and not subject to market price risk. We are not exposed to commodity price risk.

                           The sensitivity analysis is determined based on the exposure of financial assets at fair value to market price risks related to equity and debt securities at the end of each reporting period. The securities we hold are accounted for as convertible and exchangeable bonds, trading securities or available-for-sale based on our investment intent.securities. Their changes in fair values are recorded as income for convertible and exchangeable bonds and trading securities or through equity for available-for-sale securities, respectively. If market prices of the respective instruments held by us had been 1% higher/lower as of March 31, 20152016 and March 31, 2014,2017, our investment securities would have been approximately RMB132RMB228 million (US$21 million) and RMB22RMB234 million (US$34 million) higher/lower, respectively, of which the majority of such amountsRMB56 million and RMB2 million relating to trading securities willand investment securities accounted for under the fair value option would be recognized as income or loss during the respective period.

                    ITEM 12.12    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

                    A.    Debt Securities

                           Not applicable.

                    B.    Warrants and Rights

                           Not applicable.

                    C.    Other Securities

                           Not applicable.


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                    D.    American Depositary Shares

                    Fees Paid by Our ADS Holders

                           As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary, CitiBank,Citibank, N.A.:

                    Persons depositing or withdrawing
                    shares or ADS holders must pay:
                    		 For:

                    Up to $5.00US$5.00 per 100 ADSs (or fraction thereof)

                    		 

                    •

                    Issuance of ADSs upon deposit of Shares (excluding issuances as a result of distributions of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs.
                    ADSs).

                    •

                    Delivery of ordinary shares against surrender of ADSs.

                    •

                    Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions.

                    •

                    Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs.

                    •

                    Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSsADSs.

                    Up to US$5.00 per 100 ADS per calendar year

                    		 

                    •

                    ADS services


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                           As an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary and certain taxes and governmental charges such as:

                      •
                      taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;

                      •
                      fees for the transfer and registration of ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the ordinary shares in the Cayman Islands (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of ordinary shares);

                      •
                      expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars;

                      •
                      expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities;

                      •
                      fees and expenses as are incurred by the depositary in connection with compliance with applicable exchange control regulations; and

                      •
                      fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of ordinary shares on deposit.

                           Depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.

                           The Depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., stock dividend, rights), the depositary bank charges the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary bank sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The


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                    brokers and custodians who hold their clients' ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients' accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.

                           In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.

                           Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of suchthese changes.

                    Fees and Payments from the Depositary to Us

                           Our depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to the administration and maintenance of the ADS program. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement available to us is not related to the amounts of fees the depositary collects from investors. The depositary has reimbursed us for any expenses related to the administration and maintenance of the facility in an amount of US$2511.3 million, after deduction of applicable U.S. taxes, for the year ended March 31, 2015.2017.


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                    PART II

                    ITEM 13.13    DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

                           None.

                    ITEM 14.14    MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

                           See "Item 10. Additional Information" for a description of the rights of securities holders, which remain unchanged.

                    ITEM 15.15    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

                    Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

                           We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the specified time periods and accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

                           Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, at March 31, 2015.2017. Based on that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that material information required to be disclosed in this annual reportthe reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, to them for assessment, and required disclosure is made within the time periodperiods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, ofand that information required to be disclosed in the Commission.reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

                    Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

                           This annual report does not include a report of management's assessment regardingOur management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting or an attestation reportas defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. As required by Rule 13a-15(c) of the Exchange Act, our management conducted an evaluation of our company's internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017 based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of March 31, 2017.

                           Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

                           Our independent registered public accounting firm, due to a transition period established by rulesPricewaterhouseCoopers, has audited the effectiveness of the Securities and Exchange Commission for newly public companies.our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, as stated in its report, which appears on page F-2 of this annual report.

                    Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

                           There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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                    ITEM 16A.    AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

                           Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Walter Kwauk, an independent director within the meaning of Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and a member of our audit committee, qualifies as "audit committee financial expert" as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F.

                    ITEM 16B.    CODE OF ETHICS

                           Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, executive officers and employees. We have filed our code of ethics as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form F-1 (File Number 333-195736), as amended, initially filed with the Commission on May 6, 2014. The code is also available on our official website under the investor relations section atwww.alibabagroup.com. www.alibabagroup.com.


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                    ITEM 16C.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

                           The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers, our principal external auditors, for the periods indicated. We did not pay any other fees to our auditors during the periods indicated below.


                    		 Year Ended
                    March 31,                    		  Year ended
                    March 31,                    		 

                    		 2014 2015  2016 2017 

                    		 (in thousands of RMB)
                    		  (in thousands of RMB)
                    		 

                    Audit Fees(1)

                    		 14,381 66,956  38,000 52,315 

                    Audit-related Fees(2)

                    		 1,587 5,422  5,958 3,936 

                    Tax Fees(3)

                    		 583 5,060  480 730 

                    All Other Fees(4)

                    		 — 111  967 1,023 
                         
                    ​​​​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    Total

                    		 16,551 77,549  45,405 58,004 
                         
                    ​​​​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                    ​
                         
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                    (1)
                    "Audit Fees" represents the aggregate fees billed or to be billed for each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our principal auditors for the audit of our annual financial statements issue of comfort letters in connection with our initial public offering and offering of unsecured senior notes in 2014, assistance with and review of documents filed with the SEC and other statutory and regulatory filings.
                    (2)
                    "Audit-related Fees" represents the aggregate fees billed forin each of the fiscal years listed for the assurance and related services rendered by our principal auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and not reported under "Audit Fees."
                    (3)
                    "Tax Fees" represents the aggregate fees billed forin each of the fiscal years listed for the professional tax services rendered by our principal auditors.
                    (4)
                    "All Other Fees" represents the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for services rendered by our principal auditors other than services reported under "Audit Fees," "Audit-related Fees" and "Tax Fees."

                           The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services as described above, other than those for de minimusminimis services which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit.

                    ITEM 16D.    EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEE

                           We are relying on the exemption under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A)(2) of the Exchange Act, which provides that a minority of the members of the listed issuer's audit committee may be exempt from the independence requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(ii) of Rule 10A-3 for one year from the date of effectiveness of the registration statement covering an initial public offering of securities listed by the issuer. Our audit committee currently comprises four directors of whom three are independent directors.

                           We do not believe that our reliance on the temporary exemption permitted by Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(A)(2) materially adversely affects the ability of our audit committee to act independently or to satisfy the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Our audit committee will consist solely of independent directors within one year of our initial public offering.Not applicable.

                    ITEM 16E.    PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
                    PURCHASERS

                           OurOn August 12, 2015, we announced the implementation of the 2015 Share Repurchase Program in an aggregate amount of up to US$4.0 billion over a period of two years. We have repurchased ADSs representing our ordinary shares on the open market under purchase plans adopted to implement the 2015 Share Repurchase Program. In addition, Jack Ma, our executive chairman, and Joe Tsai, our executive vice chairman, have jointly


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                    entered into our plans as affiliated purchasers. On May 18, 2017, we announced the adoption of the 2017 Share Repurchase Program in an aggregate amount of up to US$6.0 billion over a period of two years. The new program replaced, and cancelled the remaining amount under, our 2015 Share Repurchase Program.

                           On June 2, 2016, we entered into a share purchase agreement with SoftBank, pursuant to which we repurchased 27,027,027 ordinary shares from SoftBank.

                           In addition, our equity incentive award agreements generally provide that, in the event of a grantee's termination for cause or violation of a non-competition undertaking, we will have the right to repurchase the shares acquired by suchthe grantee, generally at par or the exercise price paid for suchthese shares. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — B. Compensation — Equity Incentive Plans." In addition, when an employee leaves


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                    our company, we repurchase any shares acquired by suchthe employee pursuant to early-exercised but unvested options.

                           The table below summarizes the repurchases we made in the periods indicated.

                    Month
                    		 Total Number of
                    Ordinary Shares Purchased                    		 Average Price Paid
                    Per Ordinary Share
                    (US$)                    		 

                    September 2014 (September 24 to September 30)

                    		  49,505  14.82 

                    October 2014

                    		  18,750  18.50 

                    November 2014

                    		  4,125  18.50 

                    December 2014

                    		  19,362  17.92 

                    January 2015

                    		  1,400  Par value 

                    February 2015

                    		  1,000  Par value 

                    March 2015

                    		  —  —
                    		 
                    Month
                    		 Total Number of
                    Ordinary
                    Shares
                    Purchased(1)                    		 Total Price
                    Paid(1)
                    (US$)                    		 Average Price
                    Paid Per
                    Ordinary
                    Share(2)
                    (US$)                    		 Total Number of
                    Ordinary
                    Shares
                    Purchased as
                    Part of Share
                    Repurchase
                    Program(3)                    		 Approximate
                    Dollar Value of
                    Ordinary Shares
                    that May Yet Be
                    Purchased
                    Under Share
                    Repurchase
                    Program(4)
                    (US$, in millions)                    		 

                    April, 2016

                    		  50,000  925,000  18.50  —  900 

                    May 2016

                    		  39,375  728,438  18.50  —  900 

                    June 2016

                    		  27,040,777  2,000,254,373  73.97  —  900 

                    July 2016

                    		  75,000  1,387,500  18.50  —  900 

                    August 2016

                    		  6,250  115,625  18.50  —  900 

                    September 2016

                    		  26,112  —  Par value  —  900 

                    October 2016

                    		  6,250  115,625  18.50  —  900 

                    November 2016

                    		  875  88,979  101.69  —  900 

                    December 2016

                    		  —  —  —  —  900 

                    January 2017

                    		  —  —  —  —  900 

                    February 2017

                    		  —  —  —  —  900 

                    March 2017

                    		  —  —  —  —  900 
                    (1)
                    Includes (i) 27,027,027 ordinary shares we repurchased from SoftBank in June 2016 and (ii) an aggregate of 217,612 ordinary shares, including 190,625 ordinary shares underlying unvested awards, we repurchased pursuant to our equity incentive award agreements.
                    (2)
                    Ordinary shares we repurchased pursuant to our equity incentive award agreements were generally repurchased at par or the exercise price paid by the grantee for these shares.
                    (3)
                    Includes only those ADSs representing our ordinary shares we repurchased pursuant to the 2015 Share Repurchase Program.
                    (4)
                    Our 2015 Share Repurchase Program, implemented in August 2015, authorized the repurchase in an aggregate amount of up to US$4.0 billion over a period of two years. We have utilized US$3.1 billion under the 2015 Share Repurchase Program. Our 2017 Share Repurchase Program, which was adopted in May 2017 and replaces, and cancels the remaining amount under, the 2015 Share Repurchase Program, authorized the repurchase in an aggregate amount of up to US$6.0 billion over a period of two years.

                    ITEM 16F.    CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

                           Not applicable.

                    ITEM 16G.    CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

                           We are a "foreign private issuer" (as such term is defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act), and our ADSs, each representing one ordinary share, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Under Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, New York Stock Exchange listed companies that are foreign private issuers are permitted to follow home country practice in lieu of the corporate governance provisions


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                    specified by the New York Stock Exchange with limited exceptions. The following summarizes some significant ways in which our corporate governance practices differ from those followed by domestic companies under the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange.

                           Under the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, or the NYSE Manual, U.S. domestic listed companies are required to have a majority independent board, which is not required under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands, our home country. Currently, our board of directors is composed of teneleven members, five of whom are independent directors. In addition, the NYSE Manual requires U.S. domestic listed companies to have a compensation committee and a nominating/corporate governance committee, each composed entirely of independent directors, which are not required under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands. Currently, our compensation committee is composed of three members, only two of whom are independent directors. Our nominating and corporate governance committee is composed of fourthree members, only threetwo of whom are independent directors. In addition, the NYSE Manual requires shareholder approval for certain matters, such as requiring that shareholders must be given the opportunity to vote on all equity compensation plans and material revisions to those plans, which is not required under the Cayman Islands law. We intend to comply with the requirements of Cayman Islands law only in determining whether shareholder approval is required.

                    ITEM 16H.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE.

                           Not applicable.


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                    PART III

                    ITEM 17.17    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                           We have elected to provideprovided financial statements pursuant to Item 18.

                    ITEM 18.18    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                           The following financial statements are filed as part of this annual report, together with the report of the independent auditors:

                      •
                      Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

                      •
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2014 and 2015

                      •
                      Consolidated Income Statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                      •
                      Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                      •
                      Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and 2017

                      •
                      Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                      •
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                      •
                      Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

                    ITEM 19.19    EXHIBITS.

                    Exhibit
                    Number                    		 Description of Document
                     

                    1.1*

                    		 Form of Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant as currently in effect
                     

                    2.1*

                    		 

                    2.1*Registrant's Form of Ordinary Share Certificate

                     

                    2.2†

                    		 

                    2.2†Form of Deposit Agreement between the Registrant, the depositary and holders and beneficial holders of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, including the form of American Depositary Receipt

                     

                    2.3†

                    		 

                    2.3†Form of American depositary receipt evidencing American depositary shares (included in Exhibit 2.2)

                     

                    2.4*

                    		 

                    2.4*Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant and the persons whose names are set out in Schedule I thereto, dated September 18, 2012

                     

                    2.5*

                    		 

                    2.5*Voting Agreement by and among the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc., SoftBank Corp., the Management Members as defined therein and certain other shareholders of the Registrant

                     

                    2.6

                    		 

                    2.6††Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee

                     

                    2.7

                    		 

                    2.7††First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee

                     

                    2.8

                    		 

                    2.8††Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee

                     

                    2.9

                    		 

                    2.9††Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee

                     

                    2.10

                    		 

                    2.10††Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee



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                    Exhibit
                    Number                    		 Description of Document
                     

                    2.11

                    2.11††                    		 

                    Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee

                     

                    2.12

                    		 

                    2.12††Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Bank of New York Mellon as Trustee

                     

                    2.13

                    		 

                    2.13††Form of Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 2017 (included in Exhibit 2.7)

                     

                    2.14

                    		 

                    2.14††Form of 1.625% Senior Notes Due 2017 (included in Exhibit 2.8)

                     

                    2.15

                    		 

                    2.15††Form of 2.500% Senior Notes Due 2019 (included in Exhibit 2.9)

                     

                    2.16

                    		 

                    2.16††Form of 3.125% Senior Notes Due 2021 (included in Exhibit 2.10)

                     

                    2.17

                    		 

                    2.17††Form of 3.600% Senior Notes Due 2024 (included in Exhibit 2.11)

                     

                    2.18

                    		 

                    2.18††Form of 4.500% Senior Notes Due 2034 (included in Exhibit 2.12)

                     

                    4.1*

                    		 

                    2.19†††Registration Rights Agreement dated as of November 28, 2014 between the Registrant and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
                    4.1*2011 Equity Incentive Plan of the Registrant

                     

                    4.2*

                    		 

                    4.2*Senior Management Equity Incentive Plan

                     

                    4.3*

                    		 

                    4.3*Partner Capital Investment Plan

                     

                    4.4*

                    		 

                    4.4*Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers

                     

                    4.5*

                    		 

                    4.5*Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers

                     

                    4.6*

                    		 

                    4.6*English translation of Loan Agreements entered into by and among Jack Ma, Simon Xie and Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., dated January 1, 2009, as amended on October 11, 2010 and March 13, 2013

                     

                    4.7*

                    		 

                    4.7*English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement entered into by and among Jack Ma, Simon Xie, Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., dated January 21, 2009

                     

                    4.8*

                    		 

                    4.8*English translation of Proxy Agreement entered into by and among Jack Ma, Simon Xie, Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., dated January 21, 2009

                     

                    4.9*

                    		 

                    4.9*English translation of Equity Pledge Agreements entered into by and among Jack Ma, Simon Xie, Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., dated January 21, 2009, as amended on March 13, 2013

                     

                    4.10*

                    		 

                    4.10*English translation of Exclusive Technical Services Agreement entered into by and between Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Taobao Network Co., Ltd., dated January 21, 2009

                     

                    4.11*

                    		 

                    Share Repurchase and Preference Share Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc. and Yahoo! Hong Kong Holdings Limited, dated May 20, 2012

                     

                    4.12*

                    4.11*                    		 

                    First Amendment to Share Repurchase and Preference Share Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc. and Yahoo! Hong Kong Holdings Limited, dated September 11, 2012

                    4.13*

                    Second Amendment to Share Repurchase and Preference Share Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc. and Yahoo! Hong Kong Holdings Limited, dated October 14, 2013

                    4.14*

                    Amended and Restated Technology and Intellectual Property License Agreement by and between the Registrant and Yahoo! Inc., dated September 18, 2012

                    4.15*

                    Framework Agreement by and among the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc., SoftBank Corp., Alipay.com Co., Ltd., APN Ltd., Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd., Jack Ma and Joseph C. Tsai and the Joinder Parties, dated July 29, 2011


                    Table of Contents

                    Exhibit
                    Number                    		Description of Document

                    4.16*

                    Amendment to Framework Agreement by and among the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc., SoftBank Corp., Alipay.com Co., Ltd., APN Ltd., Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd., Jack Ma and Joseph C. Tsai and the Joinder Parties, dated November 15, 2012

                    4.17*

                    Second Amendment to Framework Agreement by and among the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc., SoftBank Corp., Alipay.com Co., Ltd., APN Ltd., Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd., Jack Ma and Joseph C. Tsai and the Joinder Parties, dated May 3, 2014

                    4.18*

                    Waiver and Consent Agreement by and among the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc., SoftBank Corp., Alipay.com Co., Ltd., APN Ltd., Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd., Jack Ma and Joseph C. Tsai and the Joinder Parties, dated January 23, 2014

                    4.19*

                    Commercial Agreement by and among the Registrant, Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Alipay.com Co., Ltd., dated July 29, 2011

                     

                    4.20*

                    		 

                    4.12*Amendment to Commercial Agreement by and among the Registrant, Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Alipay.com Co., Ltd., dated December 14, 2011

                     

                    4.21*

                    		 

                    Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement by and between the Registrant and Alipay.com Co., Ltd., dated July 29, 2011

                     

                    4.22*

                    4.13††                    		 

                    Share Subscription and Purchase Agreement among Ali WB Investment Holding Limited, SINA Corporation and Weibo Corporation, dated April 29, 2013

                    4.23*

                    Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Alibaba Investment Limited, Ali ET Investment Holding Limited and AutoNavi Holdings Limited, dated April 11, 2014

                    4.24*

                    Voting Agreement by and among Alibaba Investment Limited, Ali ET Investment Holding Limited and Shareholders Listed thereto, dated April 11, 2014

                    4.25

                    English Translation of Loan Agreement between Simon Xie and Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., dated April 22, 2015

                     

                    4.26*

                    		 

                    Investment Agreement by and among Youku Tudou Inc., 1Look Holdings Ltd., Ali YK Investment Holding Limited and, solely for the purposes of Section 11.4, 11.5 and 11.16 therein, the Registrant, dated April 28, 2014

                     

                    4.27*

                    4.14*                    		 

                    Investor Rights Agreement by and among Youku Tudou Inc., Ali YK Investment Holding Limited and solely for the purposes of Section 7.1 and 7.2 and Article VIII therein, the Registrant and YF Venus Ltd, dated April 28, 2014

                    4.28*

                    Shareholders Agreement by and among Ali YK Investment Holding Limited and each of the persons listed on Exhibit A thereto, dated April 28, 2014

                    4.29*

                    Amended and Restated Share Purchase and Shareholders Agreement by and among Ali YK Investment Holding Limited, YF Venus Ltd and Alibaba Investment Limited, dated May 21, 2014

                    4.30*

                    Share Purchase Agreement by and among Ali UC Investment Holding Limited, the Management and the Selling Shareholders as defined therein, dated May 28, 2014

                    4.31*

                    Schedules of Material Differences of Contractual Arrangements of Material Variable Interest Entities of the Registrant

                     

                    4.32*


                    		 

                    Table of Contents

                    Exhibit
                    Number                    		Description of Document
                    4.15*Share and Asset Purchase Agreement by and among the Registrant, Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd., Yahoo! Inc., SoftBank Corp. and the other Parties named therein, dated August 12, 2014

                     

                    4.33*

                    		 

                    4.16*Second Amendment to Commercial Agreement by and among the Registrant, Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Zhejiang Alibaba E-Commerce Co., Ltd.) and Alipay.com Co., Ltd., dated August 12, 2014


                    Table of Contents

                    Exhibit
                    Number                    		Description of Document
                     

                    4.34*

                    		 

                    4.17*Amended and Restated Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement by and among the Registrant, Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. and Alipay.com Co.,  Ltd., dated August 12, 2014

                     

                    4.35*

                    		 

                    4.18*Data Sharing Agreement by and between the Registrant and Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd., dated August 12, 2014

                     

                    4.36*

                    		 

                    4.19*English Translation of Software System Use and Service Agreement between Alibaba (China) Co., Ltd. and Chongqing Alibaba Small Loan Co. Ltd., dated August 12, 2014

                     

                    4.37*

                    		 

                    US$3,000,000,000 Facility Agreement between the Registrant and other parties named therein, dated August 20, 2014

                     

                    4.38*

                    4.20*                    		 

                    Form of 2014 Post-IPO Equity Incentive Plan

                     

                    4.39*

                    		 

                    Third Amendment to Share Repurchase and Preference Share Sale Agreement by and between the Registrant, Yahoo! Inc. and Yahoo! Hong Kong Holdings Limited, dated July 14, 2014

                     

                    4.40*

                    4.21*                    		 

                    Form of Share Retention Agreement between the Registrant and certain members of management

                     

                    4.41

                    		 

                    4.22††English Translation of Pledge Agreement between ICBC Credit Suisse Investment Management Co., Ltd. and Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., dated May 28, 2015

                     

                    4.42

                    		 

                    4.23†††English translation of Share Subscription Agreement between Suning Commerce Group Co., Ltd. And Taobao (China) Software Co., Ltd., dated August 9, 2015
                    4.24†††Investment Agreement by and between Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Suning Commerce Group Co., Ltd., dated August 9, 2015
                    4.25†††Share Subscription Agreement between Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd., dated September 7, 2015
                    4.26††††Agreement and Plan of Merger among Ali YK Investment Holding Limited, Ali YK Subsidiary Holding Limited, Youku Tudou Inc. and Alibaba Investment Limited, dated November 6, 2015
                    4.27††††US$3,000,000,000 Facility Agreement between the Registrant and other parties named therein, dated March 9, 2016
                    4.28††††Syndication and Amendment Agreement, dated May 3, 2016, in respect of a US$3,000,000,000 Facility Agreement dated March 9, 2016
                    4.29††††Amended and Restated Investment Agreement by and between Alibaba Group Holding Limited and Suning Commerce Group Co., Ltd., dated August 9, 2015 and amended and restated as of May 19, 2016
                    4.30Share Purchase Agreement among Alibaba Health Information Technology Limited, Ali JK Investment Holding Limitbetween the Registrant and SB China Holdings Pte Ltd, acting through its branch in the United Kingdom named as SB China Holdings Pte Ltd UK, dated May 31, 2016
                    4.31US$5,150,000,000 Facility Agreement between the Registrant and other parties named therein, dated April 8, 2015

                    7, 2017
                     

                    8.1

                    		 

                    8.1Significant Subsidiaries and Consolidated Entities of the Registrant

                     

                    11.1*

                    		 

                    11.1*Code of Ethics of the Registrant

                     

                    12.1

                    		 

                    12.1Principal Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

                     

                    12.2

                    		 

                    12.2Principal Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

                     

                    13.1**

                    		 

                    13.1**Principal Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

                     

                    13.2**

                    		 

                    13.2**Principal Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

                     

                    15.1


                    		 

                    Table of Contents

                    Exhibit
                    Number                    		Description of Document
                    15.1Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers — Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

                     

                    15.2

                    		 

                    15.2Consent of Fangda Partners

                     

                    15.3

                    		 

                    15.3Consent of Maples and Calder

                    (Hong Kong) LLP
                     

                    101.INS

                    		 

                    XBRL Instance Document

                     

                    101.SCH

                    101.INS                    		 

                    XBRL Instance Document

                    101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

                     

                    101.CAL

                    		 

                    101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

                     

                    101.DEF

                    		 

                    101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

                     

                    101.LAB

                    		 

                    101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

                     

                    101.PRE

                    		 

                    101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

                    *
                    Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-195736), initially filed on May 6, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
                    †
                    Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-198401), dated August 27, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
                    ††
                    Previously filed with our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended on March 31, 2015 (File No. 001-36614), filed on June 25, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
                    †††
                    Previously filed with the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-266575), initially filed on August 26, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference.
                    ††††
                    Previously filed with our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended on March 31, 2016 (File No. 001-36614), filed on May 24, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference.
                    **
                    Furnished with this annual report on Form 20-F

                    Table of Contents


                    SIGNATURES

                           The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.


                     
                     
                    Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                     
                     
                     
                     
                     

                     
                     
                     
                     
                     

                     
                     
                    By:
                     
                    /s/ DANIEL YONG ZHANG
                    Name:    Daniel Yong Zhang
                    Title:      Chief Executive Officer

                    Date: June 25, 201515, 2017


                    Table of Contents



                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED

                    INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                     
                    		 Page

                    Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

                    		 
                    F-2

                    Consolidated Income Statements for the Years Ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                    		 
                    F-3

                    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                    		 
                    F-4

                    Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 20142016 and 20152017

                    		 
                    F-5

                    Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                    		 
                    F-7

                    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017

                    		 
                    F-10

                    Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

                    		 
                    F-13

                    Table of Contents


                    Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

                    To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Alibaba Group Holding Limited:

                    In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated income statements, consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Alibaba Group Holding Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") at March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 20152017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. TheseAlso in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, based on criteria established inInternal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, are the responsibilityfor maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the Company's management.effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 15. Our responsibility is to express an opinionopinions on these financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.audits (which were integrated audits in 2016 and 2017). We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the auditaudits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includesmisstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.opinions.

                    A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

                    Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

                    /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers

                    PricewaterhouseCoopers
                    Hong Kong, June 25, 201515, 2017


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS


                    		  
                    		 Year ended March 31,   
                    		 Year ended March 31, 

                    		  
                    		 2013 2014 2015   
                    		 2015 2016 2017 

                    		  
                    		 RMB RMB RMB US$   
                    		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(ag))
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(a))
                    		 

                    		  
                    		 (in millions, except per share data)
                    		   
                    		 (in millions, except per share data)
                    		 

                    		 Notes
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  Notes
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    Revenue

                    		 5 34,517 52,504 76,204 12,293  5, 22 76,204 101,143 158,273 22,994 

                    Cost of revenue

                    		 22 (9,719) (13,369) (23,834) (3,845) 22 (23,834) (34,355) (59,483) (8,642)

                    Product development expenses

                    		 22 (3,753) (5,093) (10,658) (1,720) 22 (10,658) (13,788) (17,060) (2,479)

                    Sales and marketing expenses

                    		   (3,613) (4,545) (8,513) (1,373) 22 (8,513) (11,307) (16,314) (2,370)

                    General and administrative expenses

                    		 9, 22 (2,889) (4,218) (7,800) (1,258) 22 (7,800) (9,205) (12,239) (1,778)

                    Amortization of intangible assets

                    		 16 (130) (315) (2,089) (337) 15 (2,089) (2,931) (5,122) (744)

                    Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

                    		 16, 17 (175) (44) (175) (28)

                    Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment

                    		 4(d), 22 (3,487) — — — 
                               

                    Impairment of goodwill

                    		 16 (175) (455) — —
                    		 
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    Income from operations

                    		   10,751 24,920 23,135 3,732    23,135 29,102 48,055 6,981 

                    Interest and investment income, net

                    		   39 1,648 9,455 1,525    9,455 52,254 8,559 1,244 

                    Interest expense

                    		   (1,572) (2,195) (2,750) (443)   (2,750) (1,946) (2,671) (388)

                    Other income, net

                    		 6, 22 894 2,429 2,486 401  6, 22 2,486 2,058 6,086 884 
                               
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

                    		   10,112 26,802 32,326 5,215    32,326 81,468 60,029 8,721 

                    Income tax expenses

                    		 7 (1,457) (3,196) (6,416) (1,035) 7 (6,416) (8,449) (13,776) (2,002)

                    Share of results of equity investees

                    		 14 (6) (203) (1,590) (257) 13 (1,590) (1,730) (5,027) (730)
                               
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Net income

                    		   8,649 23,403 24,320 3,923    24,320 71,289 41,226 5,989 

                    Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

                    		   (117) (88) (59) (9)
                               

                    Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

                    		   (59) 171 2,449 356 
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Net income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                    		   8,532 23,315 24,261 3,914    24,261 71,460 43,675 6,345 

                    Accretion of Convertible Preference Shares

                    		 4(d) (17) (31) (15) (2) 21 (15) — — — 

                    Dividends accrued on Convertible Preference Shares

                    		 4(d) (111) (208) (97) (16) 21 (97) — — —
                    		 
                               
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

                    		   8,404 23,076 24,149 3,896    24,149 71,460 43,675 6,345 
                               
                    ​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Earnings per share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders

                    		 10          9         

                    Basic

                    		   3.66 10.61 10.33 1.67    10.33 29.07 17.52 2.55 

                    Diluted

                    		   3.57 10.00 9.70 1.56    9.70 27.89 16.97 2.47 

                    Weighted average number of share/ADS used in computing earnings per share/ADS (million share)

                    		 

                    10

                    		         

                    Weighted average number of shares/ADSs used in computing earnings per share/ADS (million shares)

                    		 

                    9

                    		         

                    Basic

                    		   2,294 2,175 2,337 2,337    2,337 2,458 2,493   

                    Diluted

                    		   2,389 2,332 2,500 2,500    2,500 2,562 2,573   

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

                     
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                     
                    		 2015 2016 2017 
                     
                    		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                     
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(a))
                    		 
                     
                    		 (in millions)
                    		 

                    Net income

                    		  24,320  71,289  41,226  5,989 
                    ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Other comprehensive income:

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    - Foreign currency translation:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized gains (losses)

                    		  52  312  (2,191) (318)

                    Less: reclassification adjustment for losses recorded in net income           

                    		  —  21  44  6 
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Net change

                    		  52  333  (2,147) (312)
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    - Available-for-sale securities:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized gains

                    		  3,089  2,278  8,911  1,295 

                    Less: reclassification adjustment for gains recorded in net income          

                    		  —  (422) (5,764) (838)

                    Less: tax effect

                    		  —  (488) (1,042) (151)
                    ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Net change

                    		  3,089  1,368  2,105  306 
                    ​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    - Share of other comprehensive income of equity method investees

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized gains

                    		  13  65  780  113 
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    - Interest rate swaps under hedge accounting:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized (losses) gains

                    		  (36) —  433  63 
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    - Forward exchange contracts under hedge accounting:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized (losses) gains

                    		  —  (168) 169  25 
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Other comprehensive income

                    		  3,118  1,598  1,340  195 
                    ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Total comprehensive income

                    		  27,438  72,887  42,566  6,184 

                    Less: total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

                    		  (56) 102  389  57 
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Total comprehensive income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                    		  27,382  72,989  42,955  6,241 
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                     
                    		  
                    		 As of March 31, 
                     
                    		  
                    		 2016 2017 
                     
                    		  
                    		 RMB RMB US$ 
                     
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(a))
                    		 
                     
                    		  
                    		 (in millions)
                    		 
                     
                    		 Notes
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    Assets

                    		            

                    Current assets:

                    		            

                    Cash and cash equivalents

                    		 2(p)  106,818  143,736  20,882 

                    Short-term investments

                    		 2(q)  4,700  3,011  437 

                    Restricted cash and escrow receivables

                    		 10  1,346  2,655  386 

                    Investment securities

                    		 11  4,178  4,054  589 

                    Prepayments, receivables and other assets

                    		 12  16,993  29,060  4,222 
                    ​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Total current assets

                    		    134,035  182,516  26,516 

                    Investment securities

                    		 11  29,392  31,452  4,569 

                    Prepayments, receivables and other assets

                    		 12  5,837  8,051  1,169 

                    Investment in equity investees

                    		 13  91,461  120,368  17,487 

                    Property and equipment, net

                    		 14  13,629  20,206  2,936 

                    Land use rights, net

                    		 2(v)  2,876  4,691  682 

                    Intangible assets, net

                    		 15  5,370  14,108  2,050 

                    Goodwill

                    		 16  81,645  125,420  18,221 
                    ​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Total assets

                    		    364,245  506,812  73,630 
                    ​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholders' equity

                    		 

                     

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    Current liabilities:

                    		            

                    Current bank borrowings

                    		 19  4,304  5,948  864 

                    Current unsecured senior notes

                    		 20  —  8,949  1,300 

                    Income tax payable

                    		    2,790  6,125  890 

                    Escrow money payable

                    		 10  —  2,322  337 

                    Accrued expenses, accounts payable and other liabilities

                    		 18  27,334  47,186  6,855 

                    Merchant deposits

                    		 2(ac)  7,314  8,189  1,190 

                    Deferred revenue and customer advances

                    		 17  10,297  15,052  2,187 
                    ​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Total current liabilities

                    		    52,039  93,771  13,623 

                    Deferred revenue

                    		 17  418  641  93 

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		 7  6,471  10,154  1,475 

                    Non-current bank borrowings

                    		 19  1,871  30,959  4,498 

                    Non-current unsecured senior notes

                    		 20  51,391  45,876  6,665 

                    Other liabilities

                    		 18  2,166  1,290  188 
                    ​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Total liabilities

                    		    114,356  182,691  26,542 
                    ​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                       

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

                     
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                     
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                     
                    		 RMB RMB RMB US$ 
                     
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(ag))
                    		 
                     
                    		 (in millions)
                    		 

                    Net income

                    		  8,649  23,403  24,320  3,923 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                              

                    Other comprehensive income:

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    - Foreign currency translation:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized gains

                    		  455  538  52  9 

                    Less: reclassification adjustment for gains recorded in net income

                    		  —  (14) —  — 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Net change

                    		  455  524  52  9 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    - Available-for-sale investment securities:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized (losses) gains

                    		  (9) 306  3,102  500 

                    Less: reclassification adjustment for gains recorded in net income

                    		  —  (13) —  — 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Net change

                    		  (9) 293  3,102  500 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    - Interest rate swaps under hedge accounting:

                    		             

                    Change in unrealized gains (losses)

                    		  —  36  (36) (6)
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Other comprehensive income

                    		  446  853  3,118  503 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Total comprehensive income

                    		  9,095  24,256  27,438  4,426 

                    Less: total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

                    		  (117) (90) (56) (9)
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Total comprehensive income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

                    		  8,978  24,166  27,382  4,417 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                              

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                     
                    		  
                    		 As of March 31, 
                     
                    		  
                    		 2014 2015 
                     
                    		  
                    		 RMB RMB US$ 
                     
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(ag))
                    		 
                     
                    		  
                    		 (in millions)
                    		 
                     
                    		 Notes
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    Assets

                    		            

                    Current assets:

                    		            

                    Cash and cash equivalents

                    		    33,045  108,193  17,453 

                    Short-term investments

                    		 2(q)  10,587  14,148  2,282 

                    Restricted cash and escrow receivables

                    		 11  4,921  2,297  371 

                    Loan receivables, net

                    		 2(r)  13,159  835  135 

                    Investment securities

                    		 12  1,442  3,658  590 

                    Prepayments, receivables and other assets

                    		 13  4,679  12,978  2,094 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Total current assets

                    		    67,833  142,109  22,925 

                    Investment securities

                    		 

                    12

                    		  
                    3,023                    		  
                    14,611                    		  
                    2,357                    		 

                    Prepayments, receivables and other assets

                    		 13  2,087  4,085  659 

                    Investment in equity investees

                    		 14  17,666  33,877  5,465 

                    Property and equipment, net

                    		 15  5,581  9,139  1,474 

                    Land use rights

                    		 2(t)  1,660  3,105  501 

                    Intangible assets

                    		 16  1,906  6,575  1,061 

                    Goodwill

                    		 17  11,793  41,933  6,764 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Total assets

                    		    111,549  255,434  41,206 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                              

                    Liabilities, Mezzanine Equity and Shareholders' Equity

                    		 

                     

                    		  
                                         		  
                                         		  
                                         		 

                    Current liabilities:

                    		            

                    Current bank borrowings

                    		 20  1,100  1,990  321 

                    Secured borrowings

                    		 2(r)  9,264  —  — 

                    Income tax payable

                    		    1,267  2,733  441 

                    Escrow money payable

                    		 11  2,659  —  — 

                    Accrued expenses, accounts payable and other liabilities

                    		 19  11,887  19,834  3,199 

                    Merchant deposits

                    		 2(aa)  4,711  7,201  1,162 

                    Deferred revenue and customer advances

                    		 18  6,496  7,914  1,277 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Total current liabilities

                    		    37,384  39,672  6,400 

                    Deferred revenue

                    		 

                    18

                    		  
                    428                    		  
                    445                    		  
                    72                    		 

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		 7  2,136  4,493  725 

                    Non-current bank borrowings

                    		 20  30,711  1,609  260 

                    Unsecured senior notes

                    		 21  —  48,994  7,903 

                    Other liabilities

                    		 19  72  2,150  347 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    Total liabilities

                    		    70,731  97,363  15,707 
                              
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (CONTINUED)


                    		  
                    		 As of March 31,   
                    		 As of March 31, 

                    		  
                    		 2014 2015   
                    		 2016 2017 

                    		  
                    		 RMB RMB US$   
                    		 RMB RMB US$ 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(ag))
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(a))
                    		 

                    		  
                    		 (in millions)
                    		   
                    		 (in millions)
                    		 

                    		 Notes
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  Notes
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    Commitments and contingencies

                    		 24, 25 — — —  24, 25 — — — 

                    Mezzanine equity:

                    		 

                     

                    		 
                                         		 
                                         		 
                                         		 

                    Convertible Preference Shares, US$0.000025 par value; 2,600,000 shares authorized; 1,688,000 and nil shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively; liquidation value of RMB10,284 million and nil as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively

                    		 4(d) 10,284 — — 

                    Others

                    		   117 658 106 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​

                    Total mezzanine equity

                    		   10,401 658 106 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​

                    Mezzanine equity

                    		   
                    350                    		 
                    2,992                    		 
                    434                    		 

                    Alibaba Group Holding Limited shareholders' equity:

                    		          

                     

                    		 
                                         		 
                                         		 
                                         		 

                    Ordinary shares, US$0.000025 par value; 2,797,400,000 and 4,000,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively; 2,226,810,660 and 2,495,499,036 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively

                    		   1 1 — 

                    Ordinary shares, US$0.000025 par value; 4,000,000,000 shares authorized as of March 31, 2016 and 2017; 2,473,927,859 and 2,529,364,189 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively

                    		   1 1 — 

                    Additional paid-in capital

                    		   27,043 117,142 18,897    132,206 164,585 23,911 

                    Treasury shares at cost

                    		 2(ad) — — — 

                    Treasury shares, at cost

                    		 2(af) — (2,823) (410)

                    Restructuring reserve

                    		 4(b) — (1,152) (186) 4(b) (888) (624) (91)

                    Subscription receivables

                    		 2(ae) (540) (411) (66) 2(ag) (172) (63) (9)

                    Statutory reserves

                    		 2(af) 2,474 2,715 438  2(ah) 3,244 4,080 593 

                    Accumulated other comprehensive income

                    		                  

                    Cumulative translation adjustments

                    		   (1,144) (1,095) (177)   (1,050) (3,618) (526)

                    Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investment securities, interest rate swaps and others

                    		   321 3,397 549 

                    Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, interest rate swaps and others

                    		   4,894 8,703 1,264 

                    Retained earnings

                    		   1,183 24,842 4,007    78,752 108,558 15,772 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    Total Alibaba Group Holding Limited shareholders' equity

                    		   29,338 145,439 23,462    216,987 278,799 40,504 

                    Noncontrolling interests

                    		   1,079 11,974 1,931    32,552 42,330 6,150 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Total equity

                    		   30,417 157,413 25,393    249,539 321,129 46,654 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

                    Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and equity

                    		   111,549 255,434 41,206    364,245 506,812 73,630 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                    ​
                             
                    ​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

                       

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Accumulated other
                    comprehensive income (loss)                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Accumulated other
                    comprehensive income (loss)                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Unrealized
                    gain (loss) on
                    available-for-
                    sale investment
                    securities,
                    interest rate swaps
                    and others                    		  
                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity
                    (deficits)                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Unrealized
                    gains (losses) on
                    available-for-sale
                    securities, interest
                    rate swaps and
                    others                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Ordinary shares  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Retained
                    earnings
                    (Accumulated
                    deficits)                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Additional
                    paid-in
                    capital                    		 Treasury
                    shares                    		 Subscription
                    receivables                    		 Statutory
                    reserves                    		 Cumulative
                    translation
                    adjustments                    		 Unrealized
                    gain (loss) on
                    available-for-
                    sale investment
                    securities,
                    interest rate swaps
                    and others                    		  Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity
                    (deficits)                    		 Ordinary shares  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Share AmountTotal Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity
                    (deficits)                    		 Additional
                    paid-in
                    capital                    		 Treasury
                    shares                    		 Restructuring
                    reserve
                    (Note 4(b))                    		 Subscription
                    receivables                    		 Statutory
                    reserves                    		 Cumulative
                    translation
                    adjustments                    		 Noncontrolling
                    interests                    		 Total
                    equity                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		 

                    		  
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 Share AmountTotal Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity

                    		 
                    (in millions, except share data)
                    		  
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB

                    Balance as of April 1, 2012

                    		 2,506,952,201 1 20,778 — (819) 1,096 (2,121) 1 12,552 31,488 2,895 34,383 

                    		 
                    (in millions, except share data)

                    Balance as of April 1, 2014

                    		 2,226,810,660 1 27,043 — — (540) 2,474 (1,144) 321 1,183 29,338 1,079 30,417 

                    Foreign currency translation adjustment

                    		 — — — — 3 — 455 — — 458 — 458  — — — — — — — 49 10 — 59 (7) 52 

                    Net change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale investment securities

                    		 — — — — — — — (9) — (9) — (9)

                    Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

                    		 — — — — — — — — 3,089 — 3,089 — 3,089 

                    Change in fair value of interest rate swaps under hedge accounting

                    		 — — — — — — — — (36) — (36) — (36)

                    Share of other comprehensive income of equity method investees

                    		 — — — — — — — — 13 — 13 — 13 

                    Net income for the year

                    		 — — — — — — — — 8,532 8,532 117 8,649  — — — — — — — — — 24,261 24,261 63 24,324 

                    Deconsolidation of a subsidiary

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — (60) (60)

                    Acquisition of shares of consolidated subsidiaries

                    		 1,446,505 — (13,105) — — — — — — (13,105) (2,768) (15,873)

                    Disposals of partial interest in subsidiaries

                    		 — — 1 — — — — — — 1 10 11 

                    Liquidation and deconsolidation of subsidiaries

                    		 — — — — — — (26) — — 26 — (378) (378)

                    Acquisition of subsidiaries

                    		 — — 39 — — — — — — 39 294 333  8,876,755 — 3,782 — — — — — — — 3,782 10,897 14,679 

                    Issuance of ordinary shares

                    		 167,741,936 — 16,434 — — — — — — 16,434 — 16,434 

                    Exercise of share options and vesting of early exercised options and RSUs, including repayment of related employee loans

                    		 23,582,277 — 469 — (75) — — — — 394 — 394  20,240,334 — 516 — — 160 — — — — 676 — 676 

                    Repurchase and retirement of ordinary shares

                    		 (524,502,180) — (3,923) — 39 — — — (41,334) (45,218) — (45,218) (892,859) — (13) — — 6 — — — (249) (256) — (256)

                    Deemed disposals of partial interest in subsidiaries arising from exercise or vesting of share-based awards

                    		 — — (7) — — — — — — — (7) 17 10 

                    Repurchase from, net of subscription, by noncontrolling interest for Partner Capital Investment Plan (Note 8(c))

                    		 — — — — — (37) — — — — (37) (86) (123)

                    Redemption of treasury shares granted for Senior Management Share Incentive Scheme

                    		 — — 15 — — — — — — — 15 (15) — 

                    Capital injection from noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — 174 174 

                    Amortization of compensation cost

                    		 — — 1,090 — — — — — — 1,090 49 1,139  — — 12,659 — — — — — — — 12,659 291 12,950 

                    Issuance of ordinary shares — initial public offering

                    		 149,220,834 — 61,536 — — — — — — — 61,536 — 61,536 

                    Excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of the commercial arrangements with Ant Financial Services and related amortization (Note 4(b))

                    		 — — 1,318 — (1,152) — — — — — 166 — 166 

                    Conversion of convertible preferred shares

                    		 91,243,312 — 10,293 — — — — — — — 10,293 — 10,293 

                    Accretion to convertible preferred shareholders

                    		 — — (17) — — — — — — (17) — (17) — — — — — — — — — (15) (15) — (15)

                    Dividend to convertible preferred shareholders

                    		 — — (111) — — — — — — (111) — (111) — — — — — — — — — (97) (97) — (97)

                    Dividend declared by a consolidated subsidiary to noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — (61) (61)

                    Appropriation to statutory reserves

                    		 — — — — — 241 — — (241) — — —  — — — — — — 267 — — (267) — — —
                    		 
                                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Balance as of March 31, 2013

                    		 2,175,220,739 1 21,655 — (852) 1,337 (1,666) (8) (20,491) (24) 537 513 
                                             

                    Balance as of March 31, 2015

                    		 2,495,499,036 1 117,142 — (1,152) (411) 2,715 (1,095) 3,397 24,842 145,439 11,974 157,413 
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                    ​
                                             
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)


                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Accumulated other
                    comprehensive income (loss)                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Accumulated other
                    comprehensive income (loss)                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Unrealized
                    gain (loss) on
                    available-for-
                    sale investment
                    securities,
                    interest rate swaps
                    and others                    		  
                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity
                    (deficits)                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Unrealized
                    gains (losses) on
                    available-for-sale
                    securities, interest
                    rate swaps and
                    others                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Ordinary shares  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Retained
                    earnings
                    (Accumulated
                    deficits)                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Additional
                    paid-in
                    capital                    		 Treasury
                    shares                    		 Subscription
                    receivables                    		 Statutory
                    reserves                    		 Cumulative
                    translation
                    adjustments                    		 Unrealized
                    gain (loss) on
                    available-for-
                    sale investment
                    securities,
                    interest rate swaps
                    and others                    		  Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity
                    (deficits)                    		 Ordinary shares  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Share AmountTotal Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity
                    (deficits)                    		 Additional
                    paid-in
                    capital                    		 Treasury
                    shares                    		 Restructuring
                    reserve
                    (Note 4(b))                    		 Subscription
                    receivables                    		 Statutory
                    reserves                    		 Cumulative
                    translation
                    adjustments                    		 Noncontrolling
                    interests                    		 Total
                    equity                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		 

                    		  
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 Share AmountTotal Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity

                    		 
                    (in millions, except share data)
                    		  
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB

                    Balance as of April 1, 2013

                    		 2,175,220,739 1 21,655 — (852) 1,337 (1,666) (8) (20,491) (24) 537 513 

                    		 
                    (in millions, except share data)

                    Balance as of April 1, 2015

                    		 2,495,499,036 1 117,142 — (1,152) (411) 2,715 (1,095) 3,397 24,842 145,439 11,974 157,413 

                    Foreign currency translation adjustment

                    		 — — — — 16 — 536 — — 552 2 554  — — — — — (16) — 24 232 — 240 56 296 

                    Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale investment securities

                    		 — — — — — — — 293 — 293 — 293 

                    Change in fair value of interest rate swaps under hedge accounting

                    		 — — — — — — — 36 — 36 — 36 

                    Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

                    		 — — — — — — — — 1,368 — 1,368 — 1,368 

                    Change in fair value of forward exchange contracts under hedge accounting

                    		 — — — — — — — — (168) — (168) — (168)

                    Share of other comprehensive income of equity method investees

                    		 — — — — — — — — 65 — 65 — 65 

                    Net income for the year

                    		 — — — — — — — — 23,315 23,315 88 23,403  — — — — — — — — — 71,460 71,460 (158) 71,302 

                    Deconsolidation of subsidiaries

                    		 — — — — — — (14) — — (14) — (14) — — — — — — — 21 — — 21 (10,849) (10,828)

                    Acquisition of shares of a consolidated subsidiary

                    		 — — (7) — — — — — — (7) (2) (9)

                    Acquisition of subsidiaries

                    		 828,299 — 276 — — — — — — 276 — 276  — — — — — — — — — — — 31,409 31,409 

                    Issuance of ordinary shares for Partner Capital Investment Plan (Note 8(c))

                    		 18,000,000 — — — — — — — — — 442 442 

                    Exercise of share options and vesting of early exercised options and RSUs, including repayment of related employee loans

                    		 30,880,761 — 700 — (12) — — — — 688 — 688  25,016,386 — 519 — — 255 — — — — 774 — 774 

                    Repurchase and retirement of ordinary shares

                    		 (3,943,139) — (32) — 308 — — — (504) (228) — (228) (46,587,563) — (2,774) — — — — — — (17,021) (19,795) — (19,795)

                    Acquisition of additional shares of a consolidated subsidiary

                    		 — — (30) — — — — — — — (30) — (30)

                    Redemption of treasury shares granted for Senior Management Share Incentive Scheme

                    		 — — 13 — — — — — — — 13 (13) — 

                    Capital injection from noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — 56 56 

                    Amortization of compensation cost

                    		 — — 2,784 — — — — — — 2,784 12 2,796  — — 16,434 — — — — — — — 16,434 80 16,514 

                    Equity-settled donation

                    		 — — 1,269 — — — — — — 1,269 — 1,269 

                    Issuance of ordinary shares in relation to investment in equity investees and others

                    		 5,824,000 — 637 — — — — — — 637 — 637 

                    Accretion to convertible preferred shareholders

                    		 — — (31) — — — — — — (31) — (31)

                    Dividend to convertible preferred shareholders

                    		 — — (208) — — — — — — (208) — (208)

                    Tax benefits from share-based awards

                    		 — — 725 — — — — — — — 725 — 725 

                    Amortization of excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of the commercial arrangements with Ant Financial Services (Note 4(b)) and others

                    		 — — 177 — 264 — — — — — 441 — 441 

                    Dividend declared by a consolidated subsidiary to noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — (3) (3)

                    Appropriation to statutory reserves

                    		 — — — — — 1,137 — — (1,137) — — —  — — — — — — 529 — — (529) — — —
                    		 
                                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Balance as of March 31, 2014

                    		 2,226,810,660 1 27,043 — (540) 2,474 (1,144) 321 1,183 29,338 1,079 30,417 
                                             

                    Balance as of March 31, 2016

                    		 2,473,927,859 1 132,206 — (888) (172) 3,244 (1,050) 4,894 78,752 216,987 32,552 249,539 
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                    ​
                                             
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents

                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED)


                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Accumulated other
                    comprehensive income (loss)                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Accumulated other
                    comprehensive income (loss)                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Unrealized
                    gain (loss) on
                    available-for-
                    sale investment
                    securities,
                    interest rate
                    swaps
                    and others                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Unrealized
                    gains (losses) on
                    available-for-sale
                    securities, interest
                    rate swaps and
                    others                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		  
                    		  
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Ordinary shares  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  Ordinary shares  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 

                    		 Additional
                    paid-in
                    capital                    		 Treasury
                    shares                    		 Restructuring
                    reserve
                    (Note 4(b))                    		 Subscription
                    receivables                    		 Statutory
                    reserves                    		 Cumulative
                    translation
                    adjustments                    		 Noncontrolling
                    interests                    		 Total
                    equity                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		  Additional
                    paid-in
                    capital                    		 Treasury
                    shares                    		 Restructuring
                    reserve
                    (Note 4(b))                    		 Subscription
                    receivables                    		 Statutory
                    reserves                    		 Cumulative
                    translation
                    adjustments                    		 Noncontrolling
                    interests                    		 Total
                    equity                    		 Total Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		 

                    		 Share AmountTotal Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity                    		 Share AmountTotal Alibaba
                    Group Holding
                    Limited
                    shareholders'
                    equity

                    		  
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		  
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB
                    		 RMB

                    		 
                    (in millions, except share data)
                    		 
                    (in millions, except share data)

                    Balance as of April 1, 2014

                    		 2,226,810,660 1 27,043 — — (540) 2,474 (1,144) 321 1,183 29,338 1,079 30,417

                    Balance as of April 1, 2016

                    		 2,473,927,859 1 132,206 — (888) (172) 3,244 (1,050) 4,894 78,752 216,987 32,552 249,539 

                    Foreign currency translation adjustment

                    		 — — — — — — — 49 10 — 59 (7) 52  — — — — — (17) — (2,612) 322 — (2,307) 99 (2,208)

                    Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale investment securities

                    		 — — — — — — — — 3,102 — 3,102 — 3,102 

                    Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

                    		 — — — — — — — — 2,105 — 2,105 — 2,105 

                    Share of additional paid-in capital and other comprehensive income of equity method investees

                    		 — — 1,419 — — — — — 780 — 2,199 — 2,199 

                    Change in fair value of forward exchange contracts under hedge accounting

                    		 — — — — — — — — 169 — 169 — 169 

                    Change in fair value of interest rate swaps under hedge accounting

                    		 — — — — — — — — (36) — (36) — (36) — — — — — — — — 433 — 433 — 433 

                    Net income for the year

                    		 — — — — — — — — — 24,261 24,261 63 24,324  — — — — — — — — — 43,675 43,675 (488) 43,187 

                    Liquidation and deconsolidation of subsidiaries

                    		 — — — — — — (26) — — 26 — (378) (378)

                    Deconsolidation of subsidiaries

                    		 — — — — — — — 44 — — 44 — 44 

                    Acquisition of subsidiaries

                    		 8,876,755 — 3,782 — — — — — — — 3,782 10,897 14,679  — — — — — — — — — — — 9,209 9,209 

                    Exercise of share options and vesting of early exercised options and RSUs, including repayment of related employee loans

                    		 20,240,334 — 516 — — 160 — — — — 676 — 676  56,165,655 — 575 — — 126 — — — — 701 — 701 

                    Repurchase and retirement of ordinary shares

                    		 (892,859) — (13) — — 6 — — — (249) (256) — (256) (27,054,014) — (149) — — — — — — (13,033) (13,182) — (13,182)

                    Acquisition of additional shares of consolidated subsidiaries

                    		 — — 110 — — — — — — — 110 (450) (340)

                    Deemed disposals of partial interest in subsidiaries arising from exercise or vesting of share-based awards

                    		 — — (7) — — — — — — — (7) 17 10  — — 100 — — — — — — — 100 (58) 42 

                    Repurchase from, net of subscription, by noncontrolling interest for Partner Capital Investment Plan (Note 8(c))

                    		 — — — — — (37) — — — — (37) (86) (123)

                    Redemption of treasury shares granted for Senior Management Share Incentive Scheme

                    		 — — 15 — — — — — — — 15 (15) —  — — 13 — — — — — — — 13 (13) — 

                    Capital injection from noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — 174 174  — — — — — — — — — — — 1,079 1,079 

                    Amortization of compensation cost

                    		 — — 12,659 — — — — — — — 12,659 291 12,950  — — 15,610 — — — — — — — 15,610 487 16,097 

                    Issuance of Ordinary Shares — initial public offer

                    		 149,220,834 — 61,536 — — — — — — — 61,536 — 61,536 

                    Excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of the commercial arrangements with Ant Financial Services and related amortization (Note 4(b))

                    		 — — 1,318 — (1,152) — — — — — 166 — 166 

                    Conversion of convertible preferred shares

                    		 91,243,312 — 10,293 — — — — — — — 10,293 — 10,293 

                    Accretion to convertible preferred shareholders

                    		 — — — — — — — — — (15) (15) — (15)

                    Dividend to convertible preferred shareholders

                    		 — — — — — — — — — (97) (97) — (97)

                    Dividend declared by a consolidated subsidiary to noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — (61) (61)

                    Tax benefits from share-based awards

                    		 — — 689 — — — — — — — 689 — 689 

                    Issuance of ordinary shares (Note 4(w))

                    		 26,324,689 — 14,012 (2,823) — — — — — — 11,189 — 11,189 

                    Amortization of excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of the commercial arrangements with Ant Financial Services (Note 4(b)) and others

                    		 — — — — 264 — — — — — 264 — 264 

                    Exercise of right of subscription by noncontrolling interest for Partner Capital Investment Plan (Note 8(c))

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — 100 100 

                    Dividend declared by consolidated subsidiaries to noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — — — — — — — — — — (187) (187)

                    Appropriation to statutory reserves

                    		 — — — — — — 267 — — (267) — — —  — — — — — — 836 — — (836) — — —
                    		 
                                               
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Balance as of March 31, 2015

                    		 2,495,499,036 1 117,142 — (1,152) (411) 2,715 (1,095) 3,397 24,842 145,439 11,974 157,413 
                                               

                    Balance as of March 31, 2017

                    		 2,529,364,189 1 164,585 (2,823) (624) (63) 4,080 (3,618) 8,703 108,558 278,799 42,330 321,129 
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                    ​
                                               
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS


                    		 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

                    		 2013 2014 2015  2015 2016 2017 

                    		 RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB US$ 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(ag))
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(a))
                    		 

                    		 (in millions)
                    		  (in millions)
                    		 

                    Cash flows from operating activities:

                    		                  

                    Net income

                    		 8,649 23,403 24,320 3,923  24,320 71,289 41,226 5,989 

                    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                    		                  

                    Revaluation of previously held equity interest related to step acquisitions

                    		 — — (6,535) (1,054)

                    (Gain) Loss on disposals of equity investees

                    		 (68) 3 (128) (21)

                    Revaluation of previously held equity interest

                    		 (6,535) (18,603) (770) (112)

                    Gain on disposals of equity investees

                    		 (128) (3,089) (536) (78)

                    Realized and unrealized gain related to investment securities

                    		 (80) (90) (178) (29) (178) (906) (5,488) (797)

                    Change in fair value of other assets and liabilities

                    		 245 21 521 84  102 84 (759) (110)

                    Gain on disposals of other subsidiaries

                    		 (8) (387) (307) (50)

                    (Gain) Loss on disposals of subsidiaries

                    		 (307) (26,913) 35 5 

                    Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and land use rights

                    		 805 1,339 2,326 375  2,326 3,770 5,284 768 

                    Amortization of intangible assets

                    		 130 315 2,089 337 

                    Amortization of intangible assets and licensed copyrights of video content

                    		 2,173 3,278 9,008 1,309 

                    Tax benefits from share-based awards

                    		 — (1,120) (1,369) (199)

                    Share-based compensation expense

                    		 1,259 2,844 13,028 2,102  13,028 16,082 15,995 2,324 

                    Equity-settled donation expense

                    		 — 1,269 — — 

                    Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

                    		 175 44 175 28 

                    Loss (Gain) on disposals of property and equipment

                    		 3 — (13) (2)

                    Impairment of cost method equity investees and investment securities

                    		 419 1,864 2,298 334 

                    Impairment of goodwill and licensed copyrights of video content

                    		 175 455 857 124 

                    (Gain) Loss on disposals of property and equipment

                    		 (13) (11) 34 5 

                    Amortization of restructuring reserve (Note 4(b))

                    		 — — 166 27  166 264 264 38 

                    Share of results of equity investees

                    		 6 203 1,590 257  1,590 1,730 5,027 730 

                    Deferred income taxes

                    		 104 1,466 1,659 268  1,659 1,226 281 41 

                    Allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loans

                    		 120 442 650 105 

                    Allowance for doubtful accounts

                    		 861 483 1,680 244 

                    Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and disposals:

                    		                  

                    Restricted cash and escrow receivables

                    		 (974) (1,329) (851) (137)

                    Loan receivables

                    		 (2,828) (9,175) (11,674) (1,883)

                    Escrow receivables

                    		 (851) — (2,528) (367)

                    Prepayments, receivables and other assets

                    		 (354) (3,567) (2,253) (363) (14,138) (4,504) (8,237) (1,197)

                    Income tax payable

                    		 (116) 1,008 1,410 227  1,410 1,237 4,698 683 

                    Escrow money payable

                    		 976 1,344 837 135  837 — 2,528 367 

                    Accrued expenses, accounts payable and other liabilities

                    		 3,657 3,992 10,578 1,706  10,494 7,757 5,312 772 

                    Merchant deposits

                    		 2,338 1,628 2,490 402  2,490 113 875 127 

                    Deferred revenue and customer advances

                    		 437 1,606 1,317 212  1,317 2,350 4,611 670 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Net cash provided by operating activities

                    		 14,476 26,379 41,217 6,649  41,217 56,836 80,326 11,670 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Cash flows from investing activities:

                    		          
                                         		 
                                         		 
                                         		 
                                         		 

                    Decrease (Increase) in short-term investments, net

                    		 2,589 (8,304) (1,113) (179)

                    (Increase) Decrease in short-term investments, net

                    		 (1,113) 4,619 5,761 836 

                    Decrease in restricted cash

                    		 334 199 1,139 184  1,139 746 452 66 

                    Increase in trading investment securities, net

                    		 (12) (147) (16) (3)

                    Acquisitions of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities

                    		 (60) (2,972) (11,801) (1,904)

                    Disposals of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities

                    		 26 372 939 151 

                    (Increase) Decrease in trading securities, net

                    		 (16) 9 1,229 179 

                    Payments for settlement of forward contracts

                    		 — — (256) (37)

                    Acquisitions of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities

                    		 (11,801) (15,363) (4,669) (679)

                    Disposals of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities

                    		 939 2,177 4,354 633 

                    Acquisitions of equity investees

                    		 (23,430) (37,625) (39,429) (5,728)

                    Disposals of equity investees

                    		 99 10,021 4,941 718 

                    Acquisitions of:

                    		                  

                    Land use rights and construction in progress

                    		 (1,457) (1,491) (2,935) (474) (2,935) (5,407) (5,326) (774)

                    Other property, equipment and intangible assets

                    		 (1,046) (3,285) (4,770) (769)

                    Disposals of property and equipment

                    		 301 — — — 

                    Other property and equipment, intangible assets and licensed copyrights of video content

                    		 (4,770) (5,438) (12,220) (1,775)

                    Cash paid for business combinations, net of cash acquired

                    		 (52) (732) (10,255) (1,654) (10,255) (1,495) (33,454) (4,860)

                    Deconsolidation and disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash proceeds

                    		 551 (46) (1,271) (205)

                    Deconsolidation and disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash proceeds (Notes 4(b) and (j))

                    		 (1,271) 4,890 250 36 

                    Loans to employees, net of repayments

                    		 (344) (212) (40) (6) (40) 35 3 —
                    		 

                    Acquisitions of equity investees

                    		 (452) (16,468) (23,430) (3,780)

                    Disposals of equity investees

                    		 167 89 99 16 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

                    		 545 (32,997) (53,454) (8,623)
                             

                    Net cash used in investing activities

                    		 (53,454) (42,831) (78,364) (11,385)
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                       

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)


                    		 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

                    		 2013 2014 2015  2015 2016 2017 

                    		 RMB RMB RMB US$  RMB RMB RMB US$ 

                    		  
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(ag))
                    		   
                    		  
                    		  
                    		 (Note 2(a))
                    		 

                    		 (in millions)
                    		  (in millions)
                    		 

                    Cash flows from financing activities:

                    		                  

                    Issuance of ordinary shares, including repayment of loan and interest receivable on employee loans for the exercise of ordinary shares

                    		 16,792 1,638 61,831 9,974  61,831 693 14,607 2,122 

                    Repurchase of ordinary shares

                    		 (40,111) (157) (270) (44) (270) (19,795) (13,182) (1,915)

                    Issuance (Repurchase) of ordinary shares for Partner Capital Investment Plan (Note 8(c))

                    		 — 442 (123) (20)

                    Issuance of Convertible Preference Shares, net of direct incidental fees incurred

                    		 10,542 — — — 

                    Payment of dividend on Convertible Preference Shares

                    		 (103) (208) (104) (17)

                    Redemption of Redeemable Preference Shares

                    		 — (5,131) — — 

                    Payment for privatization of Alibaba.com Limited

                    		 (15,134) — — — 

                    Acquisition of the remaining noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary

                    		 (335) (9) — — 

                    (Repurchase) Subscription of rights for Partner Capital Investment Plan (Note 8(c))

                    		 (123) — 87 13 

                    Payment of dividend on Convertible Preference Shares (Note 21)

                    		 (104) — — — 

                    Dividend paid by a consolidated subsidiary to noncontrolling interests

                    		 — — (61) (10) (61) (3) (163) (24)

                    Capital Injection from noncontrolling interest

                    		 — — 174 28 

                    Deemed disposals of partial interest in subsidiaries, net of related costs

                    		 11 — 6 1 

                    Capital injection from noncontrolling interest

                    		 174 56 1,501 218 

                    Proceeds from deemed disposals of partial interest in subsidiaries, net of related costs

                    		 6 — 42 6 

                    Tax benefits from share-based awards

                    		 — 725 689 100 

                    Proceeds from secured borrowings relating to micro loans

                    		 8,705 53,195 88,422 14,264  88,422 — — — 

                    Repayment of secured borrowings relating to micro loans

                    		 (6,607) (46,029) (82,269) (13,271) (82,269) — — — 

                    Proceeds from current bank borrowings

                    		 2,439 681 25,804 4,163  25,804 28,208 68,296 9,922 

                    Repayment of current bank borrowings

                    		 (2,584) (423) (24,734) (3,990) (24,734) (26,349) (67,169) (9,758)

                    Proceeds from non-current bank borrowings

                    		 24,979 30,153 19,602 3,162  19,602 765 28,381 4,123 

                    Repayment of non-current bank borrowings

                    		 — (24,788) (49,538) (7,991) (49,538) (146) (175) (25)

                    Proceeds from unsecured senior notes

                    		 — — 48,757 7,865  48,757 — — —
                    		 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​

                    Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

                    		 (1,406) 9,364 87,497 14,114 
                             

                    Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

                    		 87,497 (15,846) 32,914 4,782 
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

                    		 (76) (97) (112) (18) (112) 466 2,042 296 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Increase in cash and cash equivalents

                    		 13,539 2,649 75,148 12,122 

                    Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

                    		 75,148 (1,375) 36,918 5,363 

                    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

                    		 16,857 30,396 33,045 5,331  33,045 108,193 106,818 15,519 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​

                    Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

                    		 30,396 33,045 108,193 17,453  108,193 106,818 143,736 20,882 
                             
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                    ​
                             
                    ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​

                       

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)

                    Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                    Payment of income taxes

                           Income tax paid was RMB1,469RMB3,458 million, RMB722RMB6,465 million and RMB3,458RMB9,652 million, for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                    Payment of interest

                           Interest paid was RMB912RMB956 million, RMB1,220RMB1,560 million and RMB956RMB2,465 million for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                    Business combinations:combinations


                    		 Year ended March 31,  Year ended March 31, 

                    		 2013 2014 2015  2015 2016 2017 

                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		  (in millions of RMB)
                    		 

                    Cash paid for business combinations

                    		 (100) (767) (16,291) (16,291) (3,055) (41,836)

                    Cash acquired in business combinations

                    		 48 35 6,036  6,036 1,560 8,382 
                           
                    ​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                    		 (52) (732) (10,255)
                            (10,255) (1,495) (33,454)
                    ​​​​​​​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                    ​
                           
                    ​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​

                    Major non-cash transactions:Restructuring of equity investments

                           During the year ended March 31, 2013,2016, RMB6,202 million included in both acquisitions and disposals of equity investees under investing activities were related to the restructuring of certain equity investments, including Cainiao Network (Note 4(x)) and others, to establish new holding companies. The Company completedwithdrew the Initial Repurchase for a total consideration of RMB44.9 billion (US$7.1 billion), of which RMB5.1 billion (US$800 million) was settled byinvestments in such underlying equity investees and the issuance ofproceeds from the Redeemable Preference Shares to Yahoo (Note 4(d)).

                           During the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company entered into certain non-compete agreements with certain key individualswithdrawals were reinvested in exchange for restricted shares, restricted share units and options underlying 400,000 and 7,195,581 ordinary shares of the Company, respectively.full in their new holding companies established.

                       

                    The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    1.     Organization and principal activities

                      Alibaba Group Holding Limited (the "Company," and where appropriate, the term "Company" also refers to its subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities ("VIEs") as a whole), was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on June 28, 1999. The Company is a holding company and conducts its businesses primarily through its subsidiaries and variable interest entities ("VIEs").consolidated VIEs. The Company is principally engaged in onlineprovides the fundamental technology infrastructure and mobile commerce through products, servicesmarketing reach to help merchants, brands and technology that enableother businesses to operate efficientlyleverage the power of the Internet to engage with their users and extend their reach to sell to consumers and businessescustomers in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC" or "China") and internationally. Major shareholders of the Company include SoftBank Group Corp. (formerly known as SoftBank Corp.) ("SoftBank") and Yahoo! Inc. ("Yahoo").

                      The Company provideshas four operating and reportable segments, namely core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives and others. The Company's core commerce segment is comprised of platforms operating in retail and wholesale marketplaces available through both personal computer and mobile interfacescommerce in the PRCChina and internationally. Retail marketplaces and servicescommerce in China operated by the Company includeprimarily includes (i) the China online shoppingmobile commerce destination ("Taobao Marketplace"); and (ii) the China third-party platform for brands and retail platformretailers ("Tmall"); (iii) the China group buying site that offers quality products by aggregating demand from consumers mainly through limited time discounted sales ("Juhuasuan"); (including Juhuasuan and (iv) the global consumer marketplace targeting consumers around the world ("AliExpress")Tmall Global). Wholesale marketplacescommerce in China operated by the Company includeincludes the online China domestic wholesale marketplace ("1688.com") and. International retail commerce operated by the online business-to-businessCompany includes (i) the global marketplace that focuses on global trade among businessestargeting consumers from around the world to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors in China ("AliExpress") and (ii) the e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia ("Lazada") (Note 4(g)). International wholesale commerce operated by the Company includes the wholesale marketplace for global trade ("Alibaba.com"). In addition, the Company

                      The Company's cloud computing segment is comprised of Alibaba Cloud Computing, a provider of public cloud services which offers a complete suite of cloud computing services, including elastic computing, database, servicesstorage and storage andcontent delivery network, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform for customers in different sizes across various industries.

                      The Company's digital media and entertainment segment operates businesses through the Company's own platformsmedia properties, primarily including Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)) and UCWeb (Note 4(k)).

                      The Company's innovation initiatives and others segment includes businesses such as the platforms ofYunOS operating system, AutoNavi (Note 4(i)), DingTalk enterprise messaging and others.

                      The Company also participates in the Company's related companieslogistics and for use by sellers on the marketplaceslocal services sectors through investments in Cainiao Network (Note 4(x)) and other third-party customers ("Alibaba Cloud Computing"Koubei (Note 4(ac))., respectively. In addition, the Company has a profit sharing interest in Ant Financial Services (Note 4(b)), the financial services group that operates Alipay.com Co., Ltd. ("Alipay"), a third-party online payment platform in China. The Company makes available online payment processing services ("Payment Services") on its marketplaces through an arrangement with Alipay.com Co., Ltd. ("Alipay"), the entity operating the Payment Services. The Company derives substantially all of its revenue from the PRC.Alipay.

                      Alibaba.com Limited, a subsidiary of the Company which operates Alibaba.com, 1688.com and AliExpress, was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on November 6, 2007. On June 20, 2012, the privatization of Alibaba.com Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement under Section 86 of the Cayman Islands Companies Law was approved and accordingly the listing of the shares of Alibaba.com Limited on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was withdrawn (Note 4(c)). Following the privatization, Alibaba.com Limited became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies

                    (a)   Basis of presentation

                      The accompanying consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").

                      Translations of balances in the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive income and consolidated statement of cash flows from Renminbi ("RMB") into the United States Dollar ("US$") as of and for the year ended March 31, 2017 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.8832, representing the exchange rate set


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (a)   Basis of presentation (Continued)

                      forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on March 31, 2017. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on March 31, 2017, or at any other rate.

                    (b)   Use of estimates

                      The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (c)   Consolidation

                      The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, including the wholly-foreign owned enterprises ("WFOEs"), and VIEs for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All transactions and balances among the Company, its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs have been eliminated upon consolidation. The results of subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs acquired or disposed of during the year are recorded in the consolidated income statements from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.

                      A subsidiary is an entity in which (i) the Company directly or indirectly controls more than 50% of the voting power; or (ii) the Company has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee pursuant to a statute or under an agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. A VIE entity is required to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity if the nominee equity holders in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties.

                      To comply with the PRC laws, rules and regulations that restrictlegal restrictions on foreign ownership of companies that operate Internet content and other restricted businesses, the Company operates its websites and engages in such restricted services in the PRC through certain PRC domestic companies, whose equity interests are held by certain management members or founders of the Company. The registered capital of these PRC domestic companies was funded by the Company through loans extended to certain management members or founders of the Company. The Company has entered into certain exclusive technical services agreements with these PRC domestic companies, which entitle it to receive a majority of their residual returns and make it obligatory for the Company to absorb a majority of the risk of losses from their activities. In addition, the Company has entered into certain agreements with those management members or founders, including loan agreements that require them to contribute registered capital to those PRC domestic companies, exclusive call option agreements to acquire the equity interests in these companies when permitted by the PRC laws, rules and regulations, equity pledge agreements of the equity interests held by those management members or founders, and proxy agreements


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (c)   Consolidation (Continued)

                      that irrevocably authorize individuals designated by the Company to exercise the equity owner's rights over these PRC domestic companies.

                      Details of the typical VIE structure of the Company's significant consolidated VIEs, primarily domestic companies associated with the operations ofsuch as Taobao Marketplace, Tmall (including Juhuasuan and Tmall Global), 1688.com, AliExpress, 1688.com, Alibaba.com and Alibaba Cloud Computing, are set forth below:

                      (i)
                      Contracts that give the Company power to direct the activitieseffective control of VIEs that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance

                        Loan agreements

                        Pursuant to the relevant loan agreements, the respective WFOEs have granted interest-free loans to the relevant nomineeVIE equity holders, of the VIEs, which may only be used for the purpose of capital contributions to the relevant VIEs or as may be otherwise agreed by the WFOEs. The WFOEs may require acceleration of repayment at their absolute discretion. When the nomineeVIE equity holders of the VIEs make early repayment of the outstanding amount, the WFOEs or a third party designated by the


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                        WFOEs may purchase the equity interests in the VIEs at a price equal to the outstanding amount of the loan, subject to any applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. The nomineeVIE equity holders of VIEs undertake not to enter into any prohibited transactions in relation to the VIEs, including the transfer of any business, material assets, intellectual property rights or equity interests in the VIEs to any third party.

                        Exclusive call option agreements

                        The nomineeVIE equity holders of the VIEs have granted the WFOEs exclusive call options to purchase their equity interest in the VIEs at an exercise price equal to the higher of (i) the registered capital in the VIEs; and (ii) the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC laws. Each relevant VIE has further granted the relevant WFOE an exclusive call option to purchase its assets at an exercise price equal to the book value of the assets or the minimum price as permitted by applicable PRC laws, whichever is higher. The WFOEs may nominate another entity or individual to purchase the equity interest or assets, if applicable, under the call options. Each call option is exercisable subject to the condition that applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations do not prohibit completion of the transfer of the equity interest or assets pursuant to the call option. Each WFOE is entitled to all dividends and other distributions declared by the VIE, and the nomineeVIE equity holders of VIE have agreed to give up their rights to receive any distributions or proceeds from the disposal of their equity interests in the VIE which are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the VIE, and to pay any such distributions or premium to the WFOE. The exclusive call option agreements remain in effect until the equity interest or assets that are the subject of such agreements are transferred to the WFOEs.

                        Proxy agreements

                        Pursuant to the relevant proxy agreements, each of the nomineeVIE equity holders of the VIEs irrevocably authorizes any person designated by the WFOEs to exercise his rights as an equity holder of the VIEs, including the right to attend and vote at equity holderholders' meetings and appoint directors.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (c)   Consolidation (Continued)

                        Equity pledge agreements

                        Pursuant to the relevant equity pledge agreements, the relevant nomineeVIE equity holders of the VIEs have pledged all of their interests in the equity of the VIEs as a continuing first priority security interest in favor of the corresponding WFOEs to secure the outstanding amounts advanced under the relevant loan agreements described above and to secure the performance of obligations by the VIEs and/or the nominee equity holders of the VIEs under the other structure contracts. Each WFOE is entitled to exercise its right to dispose of the VIE equity holders' pledged interests in the equity of the VIE and has priority in receiving payment by the application of proceeds from the auction or sale of such pledged interests, in the event of any breach or default under the loan agreement or other structure contracts, if applicable. These equity pledge agreements remain in force for the duration of the relevant loan agreement and other structure contracts. These equity pledges have been registered with the relevant office of the Administrations for Industry and Commerce in the PRC.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      (ii)
                      Contracts that enable the Company to receive benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs or to absorb lossessubstantially all of the VIEs that could be significant toeconomic benefits from the VIEs

                        Exclusive technical services agreements

                        Each relevant VIE has entered into an exclusive technical services agreement with the respective WFOE, pursuant to which the relevant WFOE provides exclusive technical services to the VIE. In exchange, the VIE pays a service fee to the WFOE which typically constitutesamount to what would be substantially all of the VIE's pre-tax profit, resulting in a transfer of substantially all of the profits from the VIE to the WFOE.

                        Other arrangements

                        The exclusive call option agreements described above also enable the Company to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the VIEs by typically entitling the WFOEs to all dividends and other distributions declared by the VIEs and to any distributions or proceeds from the disposal by the nomineeVIE equity holders of the VIEs of their equity interests in the VIEs that are in excess of the original registered capital that they contributed to the VIEs.

                      Based on these contractual agreements, the Company believes that the PRC domestic companies as described above should be considered as VIEs because the nominee equity holders do not have significant equity at risk nor do they have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest andinterest. Given that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these PRC domestic companies. Accordingly,companies, the Company believes that these VIEs should be consolidated based on the structure as described above.

                      The following financial information of the VIEs in the PRC was recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements:

                      
                    		 As of March 31, 
                      
                    		 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments

                    		  1,367  2,272 
                     

                    Amounts due from Ant Financial Services

                    		  3  2,741 
                     

                    Loan receivables

                    		  13,159  835 
                     

                    Investment in equity investees and securities

                    		  240  4,018 
                     

                    Property and equipment and intangible assets

                    		  1,089  1,353 
                     

                    Total assets

                    		  18,874  13,811 
                     

                    Secured borrowings

                    		  9,264  — 
                     

                    Amounts due to WFOEs and other non-VIEs group companies

                    		  4,801  7,741 
                     

                    Total liabilities

                    		  17,446  11,420 

                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (c)   Consolidation (Continued)

                      The following financial information of the consolidated VIEs in the PRC was recorded in the accompanying consolidated financial statements:

                      
                    		 As of March 31, 
                      
                    		 2016 2017 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments

                    		  3,978  7,586 
                     

                    Investment in equity investees and securities

                    		  11,605  17,371 
                     

                    Accounts receivable, net of allowance

                    		  681  3,301 
                     

                    Amounts due from non-VIE subsidiaries of the Company

                    		  511  1,400 
                     

                    Prepayment for licensed copyrights of video content

                    		  —  1,469 
                     

                    Property and equipment and intangible assets

                    		  1,218  4,738 
                     

                    Others

                    		  1,753  2,926 
                     

                    Total assets

                    		  19,746  38,791 
                     

                    Amounts due to non-VIE subsidiaries of the Company

                    		  
                    12,372                    		  
                    25,317                    		 
                     

                    Accruals for purchase of licensed copyrights of video content

                    		  —  2,244 
                     

                    Accrued expenses, account payable and other liabilities

                    		  2,624  7,545 
                     

                    Deferred revenue and customer advances

                    		  1,806  3,338 
                     

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		  219  1,481 
                     

                    Total liabilities

                    		  17,021  39,925 

                     

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Revenue (i)

                    		  3,088  6,170  10,457 
                     

                    Net (loss) profit (i)

                    		  (325) (587) 659 
                     

                    Net cash used in operating activities

                    		  (134) (2,642) (7,343)
                     

                    Net cash used in investing activities

                    		  (555) (1,337) (5,502)
                     

                    Net cash provided by financing activities

                    		  812  4,157  13,018 
                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2015 2016 2017 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Revenue (i)

                    		  10,457  8,558  24,712 
                     

                    Net income (loss) (i)

                    		  659  35  (4,688)
                     

                    Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

                    		  (7,343) 1,224  3,220 
                     

                    Net cash used in investing activities

                    		  (5,502) (7,160) (2,557)
                     

                    Net cash provided by financing activities

                    		  13,018  6,494  2,688 
                      (i)
                      RevenuesRevenue and net income (loss) earned and net loss incurred by the consolidated VIEs are primarily from mobile media and entertainment services, cloud computing services as well as the businesses of providing display marketing on the Company's retail marketplaces cloud computing and Internet infrastructure services, as well as micro loan services to small and medium sized enterprises before the completion of the restructuring of Payment Services during the year ended March 31, 2015 (Note 4(b)).
                      others.

                      The consolidated VIEs did not have any material related party transactions except for those transacted with WFOEsnon-VIE subsidiaries of the Company which were eliminated in these consolidated financial statements.
                      Such related party transactions are disclosed in Note 22 or elsewhere in these consolidated financial statements.

                      Under the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs, the Company has the power to direct activities of the consolidated VIEs and can have assets transferred out of the consolidated VIEs under its control. Therefore, the Company considers that there is no asset in any of the consolidated VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the consolidated VIEs, except for registered capital and PRC statutory reserves. As all consolidated VIEs are incorporated as limited liability companies under the PRC Company Law of the PRC, creditors of the consolidated VIEs do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company for any of the liabilities of the consolidated VIEs.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (c)   Consolidation (Continued)

                      Currently there is no contractual arrangement which requires the Company to provide additional financial support to the consolidated VIEs. However, as the Company conducts its businesses primarily based on the licenses and approvals held by its consolidated VIEs, the Company has provided and will continue to provide financial support to the consolidated VIEs considering the business requirements of the consolidated VIEs, as well as the Company's own business objectives in the future.

                      Unrecognized revenue-producing assets held by the consolidated VIEs include certain Internet content provision and other licenses, domain names and trademarks. The Internet content provision and other licenses are required under relevant PRC laws, rules and regulations for the operation of Internet businesses in the PRC, and therefore are integral to the Company's operations. The Internet content provision licenses require that core PRC trademark registrations and domain names are held by the consolidated VIEs that provide the relevant services.

                    (d)  Business combinations and noncontrolling interests

                      The Company accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 805 "Business Combinations" ("ASC 805").Combinations." The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the acquisition date fair values of the assets transferred and liabilities incurred by the Company to the sellers and equity instruments issued. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets and liabilities acquired or assumed are measured separately at their fair values as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      noncontrolling interests. The excess of (i) the total costs of acquisition, fair value of the noncontrolling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated income statements. During the measurement period, which can be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the consolidated statements of operations.income statements.

                      In a business combination achieved in stages, the Company re-measures the previously held equity interest in the acquiree immediately before obtaining control at its acquisition-date fair value and the re-measurement gain or loss, if any, is recognized in the consolidated income statements.

                      When there is a change in ownership interests or a change in contractual arrangements that results in a loss of control of a subsidiary or consolidated VIE, the Company deconsolidates the subsidiary or consolidated VIE from the date control is lost. Any retained noncontrolling investment in the former subsidiary or consolidated VIE is measured at fair value and is included in the calculation of the gain or loss upon deconsolidation of the subsidiary or consolidated VIE.

                      For the Company's majority-owned subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, a noncontrolling interest is recognized to reflect the portion of their equity which is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the Company. When the noncontrolling interest is contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of a conditional event, which is not solely within the control of the Company, the noncontrolling interest is classified as mezzanine equity. The Company accretes changes in the redemption value over the period from the date that it becomes probable


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (d)  Business combinations and noncontrolling interests (Continued)

                      that the mezzanine equity will become redeemable to the earliest redemption date using the effective interest method. Consolidated net income (loss) on the consolidated income statements includes the net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests and mezzanine equity holders when applicable. Net income (loss) attributable to mezzanine equity holders is included in net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests on the consolidated income statements, while it is excluded from the consolidated statements of changes in shareholders' equity. During the year ended March 31, 2017, net loss attributable to mezzanine equity holders amounted to RMB1,961 million. The cumulative results of operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, along with adjustments for share-based compensation expense arising from outstanding share-based awards relating to subsidiaries' shares, are also recorded as noncontrolling interests in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Cash flows related to transactions with noncontrolling interests are presented under financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows.

                    (e)   Segment reporting

                      Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker,decision maker (the "CODM"), which is a strategic committee comprised of certain members of the Company's management team. In the respective periods presented,Historically, the Company had one single operating and reportable segment, namely the provision of online and mobile commerce and related services. AlthoughStarting from the online and mobile commerce and related services consist of different business unitsyear ended March 31, 2017, the Company implemented operational changes in how the CODM manages the businesses of the Company information provided to the chief operating decision-maker is at the revenue levelmaximize efficiency in allocating resources and assessing performance. Consequently, the Company does not allocatepresents four operating costs or assets across business units,and reportable segments as the chief operating decision-maker does not use such information to allocate resources or evaluate the performance of the business units. Details of the Company's revenue are set out in Note 5. AsNotes 1 and 26 to reflect the Company's long-lived assets are substantially all located in the PRC and substantially all of the Company's revenue is derived from within the PRC, no geographical information is presented.change.

                    (f)   Foreign currency translation

                      The functional currency of the Company is the United States Dollar ("US$") and reporting currency of the Company is Renminbi ("RMB").RMB. The Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs with operations in the PRC, Hong Kong, the United States and other jurisdictions generally use their respective local currencies as their functional currencies. The financial statements of the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, other than the subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs with the functional currency of RMB, are translated into RMB using the exchange rate as of the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and the average daily exchange rate for the yeareach month for income and expense items. Translation gains


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss as a component of shareholders' equity.

                      In the financial statements of the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are measured and recorded in the functional currency using the exchange rate in effect at the date of the transaction. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. All gains and losses arising from foreign currency transactions are recorded in the determination of netconsolidated income or lossstatements during the year in which they occur.

                    (g)   Revenue recognition

                      Revenue is principally representscomprised of online marketing services revenue, commissions on transactions, membership and storefront fees and cloud computing services revenue. Revenue comprisesrepresents the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the provision of services in the ordinary course of the Company's


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (g)   Revenue recognition (Continued)

                      activities and is recorded net of value-added tax ("VAT"). Consistent with the criteria of ASC 605 "Revenue Recognition" ("ASC 605"), the Company recognizes revenue when the following four revenue recognition criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been provided, (iii) the selling price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

                      Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables are divided into separate units of accounting. The arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to each element based on their relative fair values for revenue recognition purposes. The consideration is allocated to each element using vendor-specific objective evidence or third-party evidence of the standalone selling price for each deliverable, or if neither type of evidence is available, using management's best estimate of selling price. Revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables primarily relate to the sale of membership packages and online marketing services on the international wholesale marketplace,marketplaces and Youku Tudou's platforms, which are not materialsignificant to the Company's total revenue.

                      In accordance with ASC 605, the Company evaluates whether it is appropriate to record the gross amount of product sales and related costs or the net amount earned as commissions. When the Company is primarily obligated in a transaction, is subject to inventory risk, has latitude in establishing prices and selecting suppliers, or has several but not all of these indicators, revenue is recorded on a gross basis. When the Company is not the primary obligor, does not bear the inventory risk and does not have the ability to establish the price, revenue is recorded on a net basis.

                      When services are exchanged or swapped for other services, the exchange is regarded as a revenue-generating transaction unless such exchange was made for services of a similar nature and value, which is not regarded as a revenue-generating transaction. The revenue is measured at the fair value of the services received, adjusted by the amount of any cash or cash equivalents transferred. When the fair value of the services received cannot be measured reliably, the revenue is measured at the fair value of the services provided in a barter transaction, by reference to non-barter transactions involving similar services, adjusted by the amount of any cash or cash equivalents transferred. The amount of revenue recognized for barter transactions was insignificantnot material for each of the periods presented.


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      Revenue recognition policies for each type of service are analyzed as follows:

                      Online marketing services revenue

                      The Company receives service fees from merchants on the retail and wholesale marketplaces for pay for performance ("P4P") marketing services, display marketing, and placement services and Taobaoke program on the Company's marketplaces and certain third party marketing affiliates' websites. In addition, the Company receives services fees from marketers for P4P marketing services and display marketing on UCWeb mobile media. Furthermore, the Company receives service fees from marketers for display marketing on Youku Tudou's platforms.

                      P4P marketing services allow merchants and marketers to bid for keywords that match product or service listings appearing in search or browser results on the Company's marketplaces. Merchantsmarketplaces and UCWeb mobile media. In general, merchants and marketers prepay for P4P marketing services and the related revenue is recognized when a user clicks their product or service listings. The positioning of such listings and the price for such positioning are determined through an online auction system, which facilitates price discovery through a market-based mechanism.

                      Display marketing allows merchants and marketers to place advertisements in particular areas of a web page of the Company's marketplaces and UCWeb mobile media, at fixed prices or prices established by a real-time bidding system, in particular formats and over particular periods of time. DisplayIn general, merchants and marketers


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (g)   Revenue recognition (Continued)

                      need to prepay for display marketing and revenue is generally recognized ratably over the period in which the advertisement is displayed or when an advertisement appears on pages clicked or viewed by users,users.

                      Display marketing also allows marketers to place advertisements on Youku Tudou's platforms in different formats, including video, banners, links, logos, and only if collection ofbuttons. Advertising contracts are signed to establish the resulting receivablefixed price and advertising services to be provided. Revenue is probable.recognized ratably over the performance period.

                      In delivery of these online marketing services, the Company, through the third-party marketing affiliate program, also places the P4P marketing services content of the participating merchants on third-party websites in the forms of picture or text links through contextual relevance technology to match merchants' marketing content to the textual content of the third-party website and the users' attributes based on the Company's systems and algorithms. When such links on third-party websites are clicked, users are diverted to a landing page of the Company's marketplaces where listings of the participating merchant as well as similar products or services of other merchants are presented. These other merchants may include those also participating in the online marketing services through the third-party marketing affiliate program or those only purchasing online marketing services on the Company's own marketplaces, as well as, in some cases, those who do not purchase online marketing services at all. Revenue is only recognized when such users further click on the P4P marketing content on such landing pages. In limited cases, the Company may embed a search box for one of its marketplaces on such third-party websites, and when a keyword is input into the search box, the user will be diverted to the Company's website where search results are presented and revenue can be generated through a similar mechanism. For third-party marketing affiliates with whom the Company has an arrangement to share such revenue, traffic acquisition cost is also recognized at the same time if the P4P marketing content on the landing page clicked by the users is from merchants participating in the third-party marketing affiliate program. The Company places display marketing content on third-party websites in a similar manner. Substantially allA substantial portion of online marketing services revenue generated through the third-party marketing affiliate program represented P4P marketing services revenue for each of the years presented. P4P marketing serviceservices revenue as well as display marketing revenue generated on the Company's marketplaces or through the third-party marketing affiliate program are recorded on a gross basis principally because the Company is the primary obligor to the merchants in the arrangements.

                      The Company receives placement services fees from merchants on promotional slots for a specified period on the Company's Juhuasuan marketplace and recognizes those fees as revenue when the underlying promotional services are provided.


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      In addition, the Company offers the Taobaoke program which generates commissions from merchants for transactions completed and settled through Alipay and completed by buyersconsumers sourced from certain third party marketing affiliates' websites. A significant portion of such commission is shared with the third party marketing affiliates and theThe Company's portion of commission revenue generated through third party marketing affiliates' websites is recognized at the time when the underlying transaction is completed and is recorded on a net basis principally because the Company is not the primary obligor as it does not have latitude in establishing prices or does not have inventory risk. Such commissions earned byIn certain occasions where the Company are typically determined using ais obligated to pay for website inventory costs in fixed percentageamounts to third-party marketing affiliates regardless of whether commission revenue is generated from these marketing affiliates or where the Company is the primary obligor of the fee in the arrangement.arrangement, such commission revenue is recorded on a gross basis.


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (g)   Revenue recognition (Continued)

                      Commissions on transactions

                      The Company earns commissions from merchants when transactions are completed and settled through Alipay on certain retail marketplaces of the Company. Such commissions are generally determined as a percentage based on the value of merchandise being sold by the merchants. Revenue related to commissions is recognized in the consolidated income statements at the time when the underlying transaction is completed.

                      Membership and storefront fees

                      The Company earns membership revenue from wholesale sellers in respect of the sale of membership packages and subscriptions which allow them to host premium storefronts on the Company's wholesale marketplaces.marketplaces, and from customers in respect of the sale of membership packages which allow them to access premium content on Youku Tudou's paid content platforms. The Company also earns revenue from merchants who subscribe to Wangpu, the Company's storefront software that includes a suite of tools that assist sellersmerchants in upgrading, decorating and managing their storefronts on retail marketplaces. These service fees are paid in advance for a specific contracted service period. All these fees are initially deferred when received and revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the respective service contracts as the services are provided.

                      Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure revenue

                      The Company earns revenue from cloud computing and Internet infrastructurerevenue from the provision of services such as elastic computing, database, servicesstorage and storage andcontent delivery network, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform, as well as web hostingfrom web-hosting and domain name registration. Revenue is recognized at the time when the services are provided or ratably over the term of the service contracts as appropriate.

                      Interest and other income

                      Interest income on micro loans (Note 2(r)) is recognized as other revenue using the effective interest rate method which is reviewed and adjusted periodically based on changes in estimated cash flows. The Company disposed of certain equity interests and assets primarily relating to the micro loan business and related services and ceased to generate interest income on micro loans upon the completion of the restructuring of Payment Services during the year ended March 31, 2015 (Note 4(b)). Other interest income is recognized on a time-proportion basis using the effective interest method, and is classified as "interestinterest and investment income"income, net in the consolidated income statements. Other than the above, receipts of fees in respect of all other incidental services provided by the Company, including mobile value-added services, are recognized when services are delivered and the amounts relating to such incidental services are not material to the Company's total revenue.

                    (h)  Cost of revenue

                      Cost of revenue consists primarily of staff costs and share-based compensation expense, content costs and expenses, payment processing fees associated with the operation of the Company's websites, such as bandwidth and co-location fees, depreciation and maintenance costs for computers, servers, call centers and other


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (h)  Cost of revenue (Continued)

                      Cost of revenue consists primarily of staff costs and share-based compensation expense, payment processing fees, expenses associated with the operation of the Company's websites, such as bandwidth and co-location fees, depreciation and maintenance costs for computers, servers, call centers and other equipment, traffic acquisition costs, unit-volume driven rebates, allowance for doubtful accounts in relation to the micro loanslogistics costs and other related incidental expenses that are directly attributable to the Company's principal operations. Following recent reforms of PRC tax laws, business tax is gradually being replaced by VAT, which is recorded as a reduction of revenue, starting from the year ended March 31, 2013.

                    (i)   Product development expenses

                      Product development expenses consist primarily of staff costs and share-based compensation expense and other related incidental expenses that are directly attributable to the development, maintenance and enhancement of the infrastructure, applications, operating systems, software, database and network for the Company's marketplaces, mobile products, transaction and service platforms as well as transaction and serviceentertainment distribution platforms. In addition, royalty fees accrued and paid to Yahoo up to the closing of the Company's initial public offering in September 2014 arewere recorded as part of product development expenses (Note 4(d) and 22).

                      The Company expenses all costs that are incurred in connection with the planning and implementation phases of development and costs that are associated with repair or maintenance of the existing websites or the development of software and website content. Costs incurred in the development phase are capitalized and amortized over the estimated product life. However, since the inception of the Company, the amount of costs qualifying for capitalization has been insignificant and as a result, all website and software development costs have been expensed as incurred.

                    (j)   Sales and marketing expenses

                      Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of online and offline advertising expenses, promotion expenses, sales commissions, staff costs and share-based compensation expense and other related incidental expenses that are incurred directly to attract or retain buyersconsumers and sellersmerchants for the Company's marketplaces.marketplaces, mobile products, transaction and service platforms as well as entertainment distribution platforms.

                      The Company expenses the costs of producing advertisements at the time production occurs, and expenses the costs of delivering advertisements in the period in which the advertising space or airtime is used. Advertising and promotional expenses totaled RMB1,312RMB4,090 million, RMB2,022RMB5,524 million and RMB4,090RMB8,799 million during the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                    (k)   Share-based compensation

                      Share-based awards granted to the Company's employees are measured at fair value on grant date and share-based compensation expense is recognized (i) immediately at the grant date if no vesting conditions are required, or (ii) using the accelerated attribution method, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period. The fair value of share options is determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model and the fair value of restricted shares and restricted share units ("RSUs") is determined with reference to the fair value of the underlying shares. Share-based awards granted to non-employees are initially measured at fair value on the grant date and re-measured at each reporting date through the vesting date. Such value is recognized as expense over the respective service period, net of estimated forfeitures. Share-based


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      compensation expense, when recognized, is charged to the consolidated income statements with the corresponding entry to additional paid-in capital, liability or noncontrolling interests as disclosed in Note 2(d).


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (k)   Share-based compensation (Continued)

                      At each date of measurement, the Company reviews internal and external sources of information to assist in the estimation of various attributes to determine the fair value of the share-based awards granted by the Company, including but not limited to the fair value of the underlying shares, expected life, expected volatility and expected forfeiture rates. As the Company was a private company prior to its initial public offering (Note 4(a)), the sources utilized to determine those attributes at the date of measurement arewere subjective in nature and requirerequired the Company to use judgment in applying such information to the share valuation models. The Company iswas required to consider many factors and makemade certain assumptions during this assessment. If any of the assumptions used to determine the fair value of the share-based awards changes significantly, share-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current reporting period.

                    (l)   Other employee benefits

                      The Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs in the PRC participate in a government-mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan pursuant to which certain retirement, medical and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. The relevant labor regulations require the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs in the PRC to pay the local labor and social welfare authorities monthly contributions at a stated contribution rate based on the monthly basic compensation of qualified employees. The relevant local labor and social welfare authorities are responsible for meeting all retirement benefits obligations and the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs in the PRC have no further commitments beyond their monthly contributions. The contributions to the plan are expensed as incurred. During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, contributions to such plan amounting to RMB816RMB1,601 million, RMB974RMB2,094 million and RMB1,601RMB2,710 million, respectively, were charged to the consolidated income statements.

                      The Company also makes payments to other defined contribution plans for the benefit of employees employed by subsidiaries outside of the PRC. Amounts contributed during the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017 were insignificant.

                    (m) Income taxes

                      The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method, under which deferred income taxes are recognized for future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowance is provided on deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that the asset will not be realizable in the foreseeable future.

                      Deferred taxes are also recognized on the undistributed earnings of subsidiaries, which are presumed to be transferred to the parent company and are subject to withholding taxes, unless there is sufficient evidence to show that the subsidiary has invested or will invest the undistributed earnings indefinitely or that the earnings will be remitted in a tax-free liquidation.


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      The Company adopts ASC 740-10-25740 "Income Taxes" which prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. It also


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (m) Income taxes (Continued)

                      provides guidance on derecognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods and income tax disclosures. The Company did not have significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions or any unrecognized liabilities, interest or penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefit as of and for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015.2017.

                    (n)  Government grants

                      For government grants that are non-operating in nature and with no further conditions to be met, the amounts are recognized as income in other income, net when received.upon receipt. For government grants that contain certain operating conditions, the amounts are recorded as liabilities when received,upon receipt, and are recognized in the consolidated income statements as a reduction of the related costs for which the grants are intended to compensate when the conditions are met.

                    (o)   Operating leasesLeases

                      Leases whereare classified as either capital or operating leases. Leases that transfer substantially all the rewardsbenefits and risks ofincidental to the ownership of assets remain withare accounted for as capital leases as if there was an acquisition of an asset and incurrence of an obligation at the lessorinception of the lease. All other leases are accounted for as operating leases. Rentals applicable to such operating leases wherein rental payments are charged torecognized in the consolidated income statements on a straight-line basis over the lease term.terms. The Company had no significant capital leases for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

                    (p)  Cash and cash equivalents

                      The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents of the Company primarily represent bank deposits, fixed deposits with maturities less than three months and investments in money market funds. As of March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, the Company had certain amounts of cash held in accounts managed by Alipay in connection with the provision of online and mobile commerce and related services for a total amount of RMB1,294RMB786 million and RMB1,443RMB991 million, respectively, which have been classified as cash and cash equivalents on the consolidated balance sheets.

                    (q)  Short-term investments

                      Short-term investments consist primarily of investments in fixed deposits with maturities between three months and one year and investments in fixed depositsmoney market funds or other investments whereby the Company has the intention to redeem such fixed deposits or other investments within one year. As of March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, the fixed deposits that were recorded as short-term investments amounted to RMB6,017RMB97 million and RMB11,462RMB1,075 million, respectively. As of the same dates, the Company had certain amounts of short-term investments held in accounts managed by Alipay for a total amount of RMB300RMB2,564 million and RMB1,185RMB982 million, respectively.

                    (r)   LoanVAT receivables and secured borrowings

                      LoanVAT receivables consist primarilymainly represent the advance settlement of micro loans extendedrelevant VAT refund amounts provided by OneTouch (Note 4(l)) to small and medium size enterprises that are merchants on the Company's marketplaces.its customers prior to receiving such VAT refund from tax authorities. Such amounts are recorded at the principal amount less allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loans, and include accrued interest receivable as of the balance sheet date. Allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loans represents the Company's best estimate of the


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (r)   VAT receivables (Continued)

                      are recorded at the claimed refund amount less allowance for doubtful accounts relating to VAT receivables, and include accrued interest receivable as of the balance sheet date. Allowance for doubtful accounts relating to VAT receivables represent the Company's best estimate of the losses inherent in the outstanding portfolio of loans.VAT receivables. The loancollection periods extended by the Companyrelated to the merchantsVAT receivables generally range from 7 daysthree to 360 days.six months. Judgment is required to determine the allowance amounts and whether such amounts are adequate to cover potential bad debts, and periodic reviews are performed to ensure such amounts continue to reflect the best estimate of the losses inherent in the outstanding portfolio of debts. As ofFor the years ended March 31, 2014,2015, 2016 and 2017, allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loans amountedVAT receivables amounting to RMB622 million.nil, RMB474 million and RMB1,321 million were recorded in cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements, respectively. The Company disposed of certain equity interests and assets primarily relating to the micro loan business and related services and upon the completion of the restructuring of Payment Services during the year ended March 31, 2015 (Note 4(b)), accordingly the balances of micro loans and allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loans became insignificant as of March 31, 2015.for VAT receivables were recorded within the Company's core commerce segment. For the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the charge-offs and recoveries in relation to the allowance for doubtful accounts relating to micro loansVAT receivables were also insignificant.

                      The Company has entered into arrangements with certain third party financial institutions under which the Company has transferred the legal titles or economic benefits in certain loan receivables in exchange for cash proceeds. The Company continues to provide management, administration and collection services on the transferred loan receivables and is subject to certain provisions which require the Company to absorb a portion of the losses incurred in the outstanding portfolio of loan receivables in the event of default. The Company is considered to have retained control over the transferred loan receivables due to the existence of such provisions, and accordingly such loan receivables did not meet the requirements for asset derecognition. Accordingly, the Company recognizes such loan receivables as pledged assets, and the proceeds received from the transfers are recognized as secured borrowings. Such pledged assets recorded in loan receivables amounted to RMB10,217 million and nil as of March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

                    (s)   Investment securities

                      The classification of investment securities is based on the Company's intent, which is re-evaluated at each balance sheet date,periodically, with respect to those securities. Investment securities classified as trading securities, comprising of listed equity securities and financial derivatives such as warrants and equity swaps used as market access products to invest in listed equity securities in the PRC, are carried at fair value with realized or unrealized gains and losses recorded in the consolidated income statements. The securities that the Company has positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and stated at amortized cost. The maturities of the held-to-maturity securities held by the Company generally range from one to ten years. Other investment securities classified as available-for-sale are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of shareholders' equity. Realized gains and losses and provision for decline in value judged to be other than temporary,other-than-temporary, if any, are recognized in the consolidated income statements. In computing realized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, the Company determines cost based on amounts paid, including direct costs such as commissions to acquire the security, using the average cost method. Other than the above, the Company has appliedelected the fair value option for certain investments including convertible and exchangeable bonds subscribed during the years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015.subscribed. Such fair value option permits the irrevocable fair value option election on an instrument-by-instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument. The convertible bondsinvestments accounted for under the fair value option isare carried at fair value with realized or unrealized gains and losses recorded in the consolidated income statements.

                      Interest income from investment securities is recognized using the effective interest rate method which is reviewed and adjusted periodically based on changes in estimated cash flows. Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive the payment is established.

                    (t)   Investment in equity investees

                      Equity investments represent the Company's investments in privately held companies and listed securities. The Company applies the equity method to account for an equity investment in common stock or in-substance common stock, according to ASC 323 "Investment — Equity Method and Joint Ventures," over which it has significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (t)   Investment in equity investees (Continued)

                      adjusted periodically based on changesAn investment in estimated cash flows. Dividendin-substance common stock is an investment in an entity that has risk and reward characteristics that are substantially similar to that entity's common stock. The Company considers subordination, risks and rewards of ownership and obligation to transfer value when determining whether an investment in an entity is substantially similar to an investment in that entity's common stock.

                      Under the equity method, the Company's share of the post-acquisition profits or losses of the equity investee is recognized in the consolidated income statements and its share of post-acquisition movements in accumulated other comprehensive income is recognized whenin shareholders' equity. The Company records its share of the right to receiveresults of such equity investees on a one quarter in arrears basis. The excess of the paymentcarrying amount of the investment over the underlying equity in net assets of the equity investee represents goodwill and intangible assets acquired. When the Company's share of losses in the equity investee equals or exceeds its interest in the equity investee, the Company does not recognize further losses, unless the Company has incurred obligations or made payments or guarantees on behalf of the equity investee.

                      For other equity investments that are not considered as debt securities or equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and over which the Company neither has significant influence nor control through investment in common stock or in-substance common stock, the cost method is established.used.

                    (t)   Land use rights

                      Land use rights represent lease prepaymentsUnder the cost method, the Company carries the investment at cost and recognizes income to the local Bureauextent of Land and Resources. Land use rights are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. Amortization is provided to write offdividends received from the cost of lease prepayments on a straight-line basis over the perioddistribution of the right which is 40 - 70 years.equity investee's post-acquisition profits.

                    (u)  Property and equipment

                      Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization lessand any provision required for impairment in value. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method with no residual value based on the estimated useful lives of the various classes of assets, which range as follows:

                     

                    Computer equipment and software

                    		 3 -– 5 years
                     

                    Furniture, office and transportation equipment

                    		 3 -– 5 years
                     

                    Buildings

                    		 20 -– 50 years
                     

                    Leasehold improvements

                    		 shorter of remaining lease period or estimated useful life

                      Construction in progress represents buildings and related premises under construction, which is stated at actual construction cost less any impairment loss. Construction in progress is transferred to the respective category of property and equipment when completed and ready for its intended use.

                      Costs of repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred and asset improvements are capitalized. The cost and related accumulated depreciation and amortization of assets disposed of or retired are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in the consolidated income statements.

                    (v)   Land use rights

                      Land use rights represent lease prepayments to the local government authorities. Land use rights are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. Amortization is provided to write off the cost of lease prepayments on a straight-line basis over the period of the right which is 40 – 70 years.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (w)  Intangible assets other than licensed copyrights of video content

                      Intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions are recognized as assets separate from goodwill if they satisfy either the "contractual-legal" or "separability" criterion. Purchased intangible assets and intangible assets arising from the acquisitions of subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs are recognized and measured at fair value upon acquisition. Separately identifiable intangible assets that have determinable lives continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method as follows:

                    User base and customer relationships1 – 6 years
                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names3 – 20 years
                    Developed technology and patents2 – 5 years
                    Non-compete agreementsover the contracted term from 2 – 6 years

                    (x)   Licensed copyrights of video content

                      Licensed copyrights related to titles to movies, television series, variety shows, animations and other video content acquired from external parties are carried at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value. The terms of the licenses for professionally produced content vary depending on the type of content and producers, but the terms for movies and television serial dramas typically range from six months to ten years. Licensed copyrights of video content are presented on the consolidated balance sheets as current assets under prepayments, receivables and other assets and non-current assets under intangible assets, net, based on estimated time of usage. Licensed copyrights of video content are generally amortized using an accelerated method based on historical viewership consumption patterns. Estimates of the consumption patterns for licensed copyrights of video content are reviewed periodically and revised, if necessary. Amortization expenses in connection with the licensed copyrights of video content of RMB84 million, RMB347 million and RMB3,886 million were recorded in cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The amortization expenses for the licensed copyrights of video content were recorded within the Company's digital media and entertainment segment.

                      On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates the program usefulness of its licensed copyrights of video content pursuant to the guidance in ASC 920 "Entertainment — Broadcasters" which provides that such rights be reported at the lower of unamortized cost or estimated net realizable value. When there is a change in the expected usage of licensed copyrights of video content, the Company estimates net realizable value of licensed copyrights of video content to determine if any impairment exists. The net realizable value of licensed copyrights of video content is determined by estimating the expected cash flows from advertising, less any direct costs, over the remaining useful lives of such licensed copyrights. The Company estimates advertising cash flows for each category of content separately. Estimates that impact advertising cash flows include anticipated levels of demand for the Company's advertising services and the expected selling prices of the Company's advertisements on the entertainment distribution platforms. Impairment charges in connection with the licensed copyrights of video content of nil, nil and RMB857 million were recorded in cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The impairment charges for the licensed copyrights of video content were recorded within the Company's digital media and entertainment segment.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (y)   Goodwill

                      Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed offrom the acquired entity as a result of the Company's acquisitions of interests in its subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. Goodwill is not amortized but is tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. The Company first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. In the qualitative assessment, the Company considers primary factors such as industry and market considerations, overall financial performance of the reporting unit, and other specific information related to the operations. Based on the qualitative assessment, if it is more likely than not that the fair value of each reporting unit is less than the carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is performed.

                      In performing the two-step quantitative impairment test, the first step compares the fair values of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of each reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit's goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. This allocation process is only performed for the purposes of evaluating goodwill impairment and does not result in an entry to adjust the value of any assets or liabilities. Application of a goodwill impairment test requires significant management judgment, including the identification of reporting units, assigningallocation of assets, liabilities and goodwill to reporting units, and determiningdetermination of the fair value of each reporting unit.

                    (w)  Intangible assets

                      Intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions are recognized as assets separate from goodwill if they satisfy either the "contractual-legal" or "separability" criterion. Purchased intangible assets and intangible assets arising from the acquisitions of subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries are recognized and measured at fair value upon acquisition. Separately identifiable intangible assets that have determinable lives continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method as follows:

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		2 - 6 years

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		3 - 12 years

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		2 - 5 years

                    Non-compete agreements

                    		over the contracted term from 2 - 6 years

                      Separately identifiable intangible assets to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted future cash flows resulting from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Measurement of any impairment loss for identifiable intangible assets is based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the asset.

                    (x)(z)   Impairment of long-lived assets other than goodwill and licensed copyrights of video content

                      The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to the future undiscounted net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. No impairment of long-lived assets other than investment in equity investees intangible assets and goodwillinvestment securities was recognized for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015.2017.

                    (y)   Investment in equity investees

                      Equity investments represent the Company's investments in privately held companies(aa) Derivatives and listed securities. The Company applies the equity method to account for an equity investment, in common stock or in-substance common stock, according to ASC 323 "Investment — Equity Method and Joint Ventures," over which it has significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                      An investment in in-substance common stock is an investment in an entity that has risk and reward characteristics that are substantially similar to that entity's common stock. The Company considers subordination, risks and rewards of ownership and obligation to transfer value when determining whether an investment in an entity is substantially similar to an investment in that entity's common stock.

                      For other equity investments that are not considered as debt securities or equity securities that have readily determinable fair values and over which the Company neither has significant influence nor control through investment in common stock or in-substance common stock, the cost method is used.

                      Under the equity method, the Company's share of the post-acquisition profits or losses of the equity investee is recognized in the consolidated income statements and its share of post-acquisition movements in accumulated other comprehensive income is recognized in shareholders' equity. The Company records its share of the results of such equity investees on a one quarter in arrears basis. The excess of the carrying amount of the investment over the underlying equity in net assets of the equity investee represents goodwill and intangible assets acquired. When the Company's share of losses in the equity investee equals or exceeds its interest in the equity investee, the Company does not recognize further losses, unless the Company has incurred obligations or made payments or guarantees on behalf of the equity investee.

                      Under the cost method, the Company carries the investment at cost and recognizes income to the extent of dividends received from the distribution of the equity investee's post-acquisition profits.

                      The Company continually reviews its investments in equity investees to determine whether a decline in fair value below the carrying value is other than temporary. The primary factors the Company considers in its determination are the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below the Company's carrying value; the financial condition, operating performance and the prospects of the equity investee; and other company specific information such as recent financing rounds. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, the carrying value of the equity investee is written down to fair value. Impairment charges in connection with the cost method investments of RMB245 million, RMB119 million and RMB419 million were recorded in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Impairment charges in connection with the equity method investments of nil, nil and RMB438 million were recorded in share of results of equity investees in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively (Note 14).

                    (z)   Interest rate swapshedging

                      In accordance with ASC 815 "Derivatives and Hedging," all contracts that meet the definition of a derivative should be recognized on the consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities and recorded at fair value. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swapsderivatives are either recognized periodically in the consolidated income statements or in other comprehensive income depending on the use of the interest rate swapsderivatives and whether it qualifiesthey qualify for hedge accounting and isare so designated.

                      Interest rate swaps designated as hedging instruments to hedge against the cash flows attributable to recognized assets or liabilities or forecast payments may qualify as cash flow hedges, fair value hedges or net investment hedges. During

                      To qualify for hedge accounting, the year ended March 31, 2014,hedge relationship is designated and formally documented at inception, detailing the Company entered into interest rate swaps contracts to swap floating interest payments related to certain borrowingsparticular risk management objective and strategy for fixed interest payments tothe hedge (which includes the interest rate risk associated with certainitem and


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (aa) Derivatives and hedging (Continued)

                      risk that is being hedged), the derivative that is being used and how hedge effectiveness is being assessed. A derivative has to be effective in accomplishing the objective of offsetting either changes in fair value or cash flows for the risk being hedged. The effectiveness of the hedging relationship is evaluated on a prospective and retrospective basis using qualitative and quantitative measures of correlation. Qualitative methods may include comparison of critical terms of the derivative to those of the hedged item. Quantitative methods include a comparison of the changes in the fair value or discounted cash flow of the hedging instrument to that of the hedged item. A hedging relationship is considered effective if the results of the hedging instrument are within a ratio of 80% to 125% of the results of the hedged item.

                      Interest rate swaps

                      Interest rate swaps designated as hedging instruments to hedge against the cash flows attributable to recognized assets or liabilities or forecasted payments may qualify as cash flow hedges. The Company entered into interest rate swap contracts to swap floating interest payments related to certain borrowings for fixed interest payments to hedge the interest rate risk associated with certain forecasted payments and obligations. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in interest and investment income, (loss),net in the consolidated income statements. Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income shall be reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings.

                      A loss of RMB43 million, nil and nil was recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The loss recognized for the year ended March 31, 2015 was related to the ineffective portion of the changes in fair value of the interest rate swaps that were designated and qualified as cash flow hedges. Upon the termination of interest rate swap contracts, the hedging instruments were derecognized from the consolidated balance sheets and accumulated other comprehensive income, and a loss of RMB59 million, nil and nil was recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                      Forward exchange contracts

                      Forward exchange contracts designated as hedging instruments to hedge against the future changes in currency exposure of net investments in foreign operations may qualify as net investment hedges. During the years ended March 31, 2016 and 2017, the Company entered into forward exchange contracts to hedge the foreign currency risk associated with investments in net assets of certain subsidiaries with operations in the PRC of which the functional currency is RMB. The effective portion of the changes in fair value of the forward exchange contracts that are designated and qualify as net investment hedges is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income to offset the cumulative translation adjustments related to those subsidiaries. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion, which is measured based on changes in forward exchange rates, is recognized immediately in other income, net in the consolidated income statements. Amounts accumulated are removed from accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized in the consolidated income statements inupon disposal of those subsidiaries. Once the periods whenhedge becomes ineffective, hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (aa) Derivatives and hedging (Continued)

                      As of March 31, 2016 and 2017, forward exchange contracts with fair value of US$40 million (RMB257 million) and US$3 million (RMB20 million) were designated as hedging instruments and qualified as net investment hedges, respectively. During the underlying hedged transactions (interest payments) affect the consolidated income statements. Upon the termination of the interest rate swaps contracts during the yearyears ended March 31, 2015,2016 and 2017, the hedging instruments were derecognized from the consolidated balance sheets and accumulated other comprehensive income was recorded in interest and investment income, net resultingCompany recognized a loss of RMB59US$46 million (RMB298 million) and US$5 million (RMB35 million) in other income, net in the consolidated income statements, respectively, which was the aggregate of (i) the changes in fair value of the forward exchange contracts not qualified for hedge accounting and (ii) the year ended March 31, 2015.ineffective portion of the changes in fair value of the forward exchange contracts that are designated and qualify as net investment hedges.

                      Changes in the fair value of interest rate swapsthe derivatives not qualified for hedge accounting are reported in the consolidated income statements. The estimated fair value of interest rate swapsthe derivatives is determined at discrete points in time based on the relevant market information. These estimates are calculated with reference to the market rates using industry standard valuation techniques. Upon the termination

                    (ab) Bank borrowing and unsecured senior notes

                      Bank borrowings and unsecured senior notes are recognized initially at fair value, net of upfront fees, debt discounts or premiums and other incidental fees. Upfront fees, debt discount or premium and other incidental fees are recorded as a reduction of the proceeds received and the related accretion is recorded as interest rate swaps contracts duringexpense in the consolidated income statements over the estimated term of the facilities using the effective interest method. In the year ended March 31, 2015,2017, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2015-03, "Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," which was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"). ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs relating to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the consolidated balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Before the adoption of ASU 2015-03, debt issuance costs incurred which were directly attributable to debt issuance were capitalized and amortized over the estimated term of the facilities using the effective interest rate swaps not qualified for hedge accounting were derecognized frommethod.

                      As a result of the adoption of ASU 2015-03, the Company revised the presentation to report certain debt issuance costs recorded under prepayments, receivables and other assets as a deduction to unsecured senior notes on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value changeconsolidated balance sheet as of the interest rate swaps not qualified for hedge accounting held by the CompanyMarch 31, 2016 was nil, gainretrospectively adjusted, which resulted in reductions to current prepayments, receivables and other assets of RMB102RMB35 million, non-current prepayments, receivables and other assets of RMB170 million and lossnon-current unsecured senior notes of RMB43 million forRMB205 million. These reclassifications had no effect on the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014reported results of operations, net assets and 2015, respectively and such amounts were recorded in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements.statements of cash flows.

                    (aa)(ac) Merchant deposits

                      The Company collects deposits representing an annual upfront service fee from merchants on Tmall atand AliExpress before the beginning of each calendar year. These deposits are initially recorded as a liability by the Company. Such deposits are refundable to a merchant depending on the level of sales volume that is generated by that merchant on Tmall and AliExpress during the period. If the transaction volume target is not met at the end of each calendar year, the relevant deposits will bebecome non-refundable and such portion of the deposits is recognized as revenue in the consolidated income statements.


                    (ab)Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (ad) Deferred revenue and customer advances

                      Deferred revenue and customer advances represent service fees received from customers that relate to services to be provided in the future. Deferred revenue, mainly relating to membership, and storefront fees and cloud computing service revenue, is stated at the amount of service fees received less the amount previously recognized as revenue upon the provision of the respective services over the terms of the respective service contracts.

                    (ac) Bank borrowing(ae) Commitments and unsecured senior notescontingencies

                      Bank borrowingIn the normal course of business, the Company is subject to contingencies, such as legal proceedings and unsecured senior notesclaims arising out of its business, that cover a wide range of matters. Liabilities for such contingencies are recognized initially at fair value, netrecorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of upfront fees, debt discounts or premiums. Debt issuance costs incurredthe liability can be reasonably estimated.

                      Certain conditions may exist as of the date the consolidated financial statements are issued, which are directly attributablemay result in a loss to the debt issuanceCompany, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. The Company assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves an exercise of judgment. In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are capitalizedpending against the Company or unasserted claims that may result in such proceedings, the Company, in consultation with its legal counsel, evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

                      If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a material loss has been incurred and amortized overthe amount of the liability can be estimated, then the estimated termliability would be accrued in the consolidated financial statements. If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable, but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the facilities using the effective interest method. Upfront fees, debt discount or premium are recorded as a reductioncontingent liability, together with an estimate of the proceeds received and the related accretion is recorded as interest expense in the income statements over the estimated termrange of the facilities usingreasonably possible loss, if determinable and material, would be disclosed.

                      Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the effective interest method.nature of the guarantee would be disclosed.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (ad)(af) Treasury shares

                      The Company accounts for treasury shares using the cost method. Under this method, the cost incurred to purchase the shares is recorded in the treasury shares account on the consolidated balance sheets. At retirement, the ordinary shares account is charged only for the aggregate par value of the shares. The excess of the acquisition cost of treasury shares over the aggregate par value is allocated between additional paid-in capital (up to the amount credited to the additional paid-in capital upon original issuance of the shares) and retained earnings. The treasury shares account includes 33,000,00024,393,569 and 28,245,66220,789,596 ordinary shares issued at par to wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company for the purpose of certain equity investment plans for management which were issued at par value, as of March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                      The Company applies the treasury stock method for the accounting of the reciprocal relationship in which an equity method investee holds ordinary shares of the Company (Note 4(w)). The treasury shares account includes nil and 5,262,306 ordinary shares representing the Company's share of an equity method investee's investment in the Company as of March 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively.


                    (ae)

                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    2.     Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)

                    (ag) Subscription receivables

                      The Company made available loans to certain employees of the Company and its related companies in order to finance their exercise of share options and subscription for ordinary shares of the Company (Note 13)12). The participants of all such loans have pledged the ownership of their ordinary shares or restricted shares as security for these loans. The Company also had arrangements with its related companies such that the Company will receive cash reimbursements from its related companies upon the vesting of options and RSUs underlying the Company's ordinary shares granted to their employees. For accounting purposes, loans and reimbursements outstanding with respect to the exercise of vested options and share subscription are recorded as subscription receivables in equity. Further, unvested options that were exercised are recorded as other current liabilities and they are transferred to equity upon vesting.

                    (af)(ah) Statutory reserves

                      In accordance with the relevant regulations and their articles of association, subsidiaries of the Company incorporated in the PRC are required to allocate at least 10% of their after-tax profit determined based on the PRC accounting standards and regulations to the general reserve until such reserve has reached 50% of the relevant subsidiary's registered capital. Appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus fund are at the discretion of the respective board of directors of the subsidiaries. These reserves can only be used for specific purposes and are not transferable to the Company in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends. During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, appropriations to the general reserve amounted to RMB241RMB267 million, RMB1,137RMB529 million and RMB267RMB836 million, respectively. No appropriations to the enterprise expansion fund and staff welfare and bonus fund have been made by the Company.

                    (ag) Convenience translation(ai)  Reclassification of comparative figures

                      TranslationsOther than the reclassification of balancescomparative figures relating to the adoption of ASU 2015-03 as discussed in Note 2(ab), the consolidated balance sheet, consolidated income statement, consolidated statement of comprehensive incomeCompany has reclassified certain comparative figures, including revenue and statement of cash flows from RMB into US$ as ofgoodwill information within Notes 5 and for16, to conform to the way that the Company's CODM internally manages and monitors segment performance during the year ended March 31, 2015 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.1990, representing the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on March 31, 2015. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on March 31, 2015, or at any other rate.2017.

                    3.     Recent accounting pronouncements

                      In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-08, "Reporting of Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity," which provides a narrower definition of discontinued operations than under existing U.S. GAAP. ASU


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    3.     Recent accounting pronouncements (Continued)

                      2014-08 requires that only a disposal of a component of an entity, or a group of components of an entity, that represents a strategic shift that has, or will have, a major effect on the reporting entity's operations and financial results should be reported in the financial statements as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 also provides guidance on the financial statement presentations and disclosures of discontinued operations. The new guidance is effective prospectively for the Company for all new disposals of components and new classification as held for sale beginning April 1, 2015. The revised guidance will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                      In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)" whichand issued subsequent amendments to the initial guidance or implementation guidance between August 2015 and December 2016 within ASU 2015-04, ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-12 and ASU 2016-20 (collectively, including ASU 2014-09, "ASC 606"). ASC 606 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in "TopicASC 605 Revenue Recognition" and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance is effective retrospectively for the Company for the interim reporting period ending June 30, 2017, with early application not permitted. The Company is evaluating the existing revenue recognition policies to determine whether any contracts in the scope of the guidance will be affected by the new requirements.

                      In January 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-01, "Income Statement-Extraordinary and Unusual Items," which eliminates the concept of extraordinary and unusual items from U.S. GAAP. The new guidance is effective prospectively for the Company for the year end ending March 31, 20172019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2017. Early adoption2019, with early application permitted only for the annual reporting period ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. The new guidance is permitted.required to be applied either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (the "full retrospective method") or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the "modified retrospective method"). The revised guidanceCompany is currently evaluating whether it will notapply the full retrospective method or the modified retrospective method. The Company is also evaluating the existing


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    3.     Recent accounting pronouncements (Continued)

                      revenue recognition policies and currently the Company believes that the identification of performance obligations may have a material effectan impact on the Company's financial position, resultstiming and measurement of operations or cash flows.certain fees paid by merchants under ASC 606.

                      In FebruaryNovember 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02, "Consolidation2015-17, "Income Taxes (Topic 810) — Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis,740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes," which amendssimplifies the criteria for determining which entities are considered VIEs, amendspresentation of deferred income taxes by requiring deferred tax assets and liabilities be classified as non-current on the criteria for determining if a service provider possesses a variable interest in a VIE and ends the deferral granted to investment companies for application of the VIE consolidation model.consolidated balance sheet. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 20162018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2016.2018. Early adoption is permitted. The new guidance may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax assets and liabilities or retrospectively or through a cumulative effect adjustment to equity asall periods presented. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the beginningadoption of this revised guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. At this time, the Company does not expect this accounting standard update to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

                      In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, "Financial Instruments — Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities," which amends various aspects of the recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure for financial instruments. With respect to the Company's consolidated financial statements, the most significant impact relates to the accounting for equity investments (except for those accounted for under the equity method or those that result in the consolidation of the investee). Under the new guidance, equity investments are required to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income, except for investments that do not have readily determinable fair values. The new guidance also simplifies the impairment assessment and enhances the disclosure requirements of equity investments. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year of adoption.ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early applicationadoption is permitted including adoption in an interim period.only for certain provisions. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this revised guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                      In April 2015,February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, "Simplifying2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs," which requires debt issuance costs relating to a recognized debt liability to be presented in theconsolidated balance sheet asand disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 creates a direct deduction fromnew topic in ASC 842 "Leases" to replace the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistentcurrent topic in ASC 840 "Leases." ASU 2016-02 affects both lessees and lessors, although for the latter the provisions are similar to the current model, but are updated to align with debt discounts.certain changes to the lessee model and also the new revenue recognition provisions contained in ASC 606. The new guidance is effective retrospectively for the Company for the year end ending March 31, 20172020 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2017.2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this revised guidance will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                      In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07, "Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting," to simplify the accounting for equity method investments, which eliminates the requirement in ASC 323 "Investments — Equity method and Joint Ventures" that an entity retroactively adopts the equity method of accounting if an investment qualifies for use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership or degree of influence. The amendments require that the equity method investor adds the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investor's previously held interest and adopts the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 2015
                    2017

                    3.     Recent accounting pronouncements (Continued)

                      during the year ending March 31, 2018. The Company early adopted this new guidance prospectively in the year ended March 31, 2017.

                      In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, "Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting," to simplify the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, introduction of accounting policy election on forfeitures, and the change of the threshold of share withholding by the employer for settlement of employees' tax without causing the award to be classified as a liability. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this revised guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

                      In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, "Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement on Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," which introduces new guidance for credit losses on instruments within its scope. The new guidance introduces an approach based on expected losses to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade and other receivables, held-to-maturity debt securities, loans and net investments in leases. The new guidance also modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities and requires entities to determine whether all or a portion of the unrealized loss on an available-for-sale debt security is a credit loss. The new guidance also indicates that entities may not use the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position as a factor in concluding whether a credit loss exists. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2021 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2020 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2020. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                      In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments." The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows.

                      In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory" which amends the accounting for income taxes. The new guidance requires recognition of income tax consequences of an intra-entity asset transfer, other than transfers of inventory, when the transfer occurs. For intra-entity transfers of inventory, the income tax effects will continue to be deferred until the inventory has been sold to a third party. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The new guidance is required to be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly recorded to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    3.     Recent accounting pronouncements (Continued)

                      In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-17, "Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests held through Related Parties That Are Under Common Control" to amend the consolidation guidance on how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a VIE should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that VIE. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2018 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. When the new guidance is adopted, it is required to be applied retrospectively for the Company for the year ended March 31, 2017 and interim reporting periods during the year ended March 31, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                      In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash," which requires the amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows.

                      In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business," which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The new guidance is effective prospectively for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for transactions for which the transaction date occurs before the issuance date or effective date of this new guidance, only when the transaction has not been reported in the financial statements that have been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                      In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment," which simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. Step two of the goodwill impairment measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit's goodwill with its carrying amount. The new guidance is effective prospectively for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2021 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2021. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company is evaluating the effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                      In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, "Compensation — Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting," which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in ASC 718. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The new guidance is effective prospectively for the Company for the year ending March 31, 2019 and interim reporting periods during the year ending March 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    3.     Recent accounting pronouncements (Continued)

                      effects, if any, of the adoption of this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments

                      Equity transactions

                    (a)   Initial public offering

                      On September 24, 2014, the Company completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol of "BABA." The Company offered 123,076,931 American Depositary Shares, or ADS, and other selling shareholders, including Yahoo, among others, offered an aggregate of 197,029,169 ADSs. Each ADS represents one ordinary share and was sold to the public at US$68.00 per ADS. On the same date of the initial public offering, the underwriters exercised in full the option to purchase an additional 26,143,903 ADSs and 21,871,997 ADSs at US$68.00 per ADS from the Company and certain other selling shareholders, respectively. Net proceeds raised by the Company from the initial public offering amounted to US$10.0 billion after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.

                      Restructuring transactions

                    (b)   Restructuring of Payment Services

                      Restructuring of Payment Services in 2011

                      Pursuant to the regulations issued by the People's Bank of China (the "PBOC"), non-bank payment companies were required to obtain a license in order to operate a payment business in the PRC. These regulations provided specific guidelines for license applications only for domestic PRC-owned entities. These regulations stipulated that, in order for any foreign-invested payment company to obtain a license, the scope of business, the qualifications of any foreign investor and any level of foreign ownership would be subject to future regulations to be issued, which in addition would require approval by the PRC State Council. Further, the regulations required that any payment company that failed to obtain a license must cease operations by September 1, 2011. Although Alipay was prepared to submit its license application in early 2011, at that time the PBOC had not issued any guidelines applicable to license applications for foreign-invested payment companies. In light of the uncertainties relating to the license qualification and application process for a foreign-invested payment company, the Company's management determined that it was necessary to restructure Alipay as a company wholly-owned by PRC nationals in order to avail Alipay of the specific licensing guidelines applicable only to domestic PRC-owned entities. Accordingly, the Company divested all of its interest in and control over Alipay, which resulted in deconsolidation of Alipay from the consolidated financial statements.

                      As part of the restructuring, the loan extended for the funding of paid-in capital of Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Company, Ltd. (formerly known as Zhejiang Alibaba E-CommerceGroup Co., Ltd.) ("Ant Financial Services") that held the equity interests of Alipay was repaid by the management members in full to the Company. Certain agreements entered into between the Company and Ant Financial Services, such as the loan agreement, the pledge agreement for the same equity interests held by certain management members of the Company, the option agreement to acquire the equity interests in Ant Financial Services when permitted by the PRC laws, among others (the "Agreements"), which allowed the Company to control Ant Financial Services, were also terminated.


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (b)   Restructuring of Payment Services (Continued)

                      Following the restructuring during the year ended March 31, 2011, the Company has not consolidated or equity accounted for the entities engaging in Payment Services because the Company has no direct and indirect investment in and does not control or have significant influence over Ant Financial Services, Alipay and their subsidiaries.

                      During the year ended March 31, 2012, the Company entered into the following commercial arrangements, among others, with APN Ltd., a company owned by two directors of the Company, Yahoo, SoftBank, Alipay,


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      Ant Financial Services, and Ant Financial Services'sServices' equity holders, setting out the mechanism for the future collaboration among the relevant parties relating to the Payment Services:

                      (i)
                      Framework Agreement

                        Pursuant to the terms of the Framework Agreement, the Company will receive from Ant Financial Services an amount equal to 37.5% of the equity value of Alipay less US$500 million, (RMB3,100 million), being the face value of the Promissory Note payable, upon a Liquidity Event as defined in thisthe agreement (the "Liquidity Payment"). Under no circumstances will the amount of the Liquidity Payment plus US$500 million be less than US$2.0 billion (RMB12.4 billion) or more than US$6.0 billion, (RMB37.2 billion), subject to certain increases and additional payments if a Liquidity Event does not occur by the sixth anniversary of the agreement. If a Liquidity Event does not occur by the tenth anniversary of this agreement, the Company will have a right to demand Ant Financial Services and Alipay to effect a Liquidity Event as soon as practicable, provided that the equity value or enterprise value of Alipay at such time exceeds US$1.0 billion (RMB6.2 billion).billion. If the Liquidity Event is demanded by the Company, the minimum amount of US$2.0 billion (RMB12.4 billion) described above will not apply to the Liquidity Payment, unless the Liquidity Event is effected by means of a transfer of more than 37.5% of the securities of Alipay. Upon payment of the Liquidity Payment, certain assets and intellectual property related to the operations of Payment Services, which were retained by the Company (the "Retained Business Assets"), will be transferred to Alipay.

                        "Liquidity Event" means the earliest to occur of: (a) a qualified initial public offering of Alipay; (b) a transfer of 37.5% or more of the securities of Alipay; or (c) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Alipay.

                        In addition, the Company received a non-interest bearing promissory note (the "Promissory Note") in the principal amount of US$500 million (RMB3,100 million) with a seven-year maturity from APN Ltd. The Promissory Note was secured by a pledge of 50 million ordinary shares of the Company, which were contributed by two directors of the Company to APN Ltd. The Promissory Note formed part of the consideration for the transfer of the Retained Business Assets upon the Liquidity Event and the Promissory Note was payable upon the earlier of the occurrence of the Liquidity Event or December 14, 2018. The Framework Agreement was subsequently amended and pursuant to the terms of the amendment, the Promissory Note was cancelled and the amount of the Liquidity Payment which the Company would be entitled to receive in the event of a Liquidity Event was increased by US$500 million, the principal amount of the cancelled Promissory Note.

                      (ii)
                      Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement ("IPLA")

                        Under the terms of this agreement, the Company licenses certain intellectual property and provides certain software technology services to Alipay in exchange for a royalty fee and software technology


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (b)   Restructuring of Payment Services (Continued)

                        services fee in an amount equal to the costs incurred by the Company in providing the software technology services plus 49.9% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Alipay and its subsidiaries, subject to downward adjustments upon certain dilutive equity issuances by Ant Financial Services or Alipay, but in no case below 30.0%30%. If Alipay incurs a pre-tax loss, the fee that the Company would charge Alipay would equal the costs incurred by the Company in providing the software technology services. This agreement will terminate at the earlier of (a) the payment of the Liquidity Payment, and (b) such time


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                        when termination may be required by applicable regulatory authorities in connection with a qualified initial public offering by Alipay.

                      (iii)
                      Commercial Agreement

                        Under the terms of this agreement, the Company receives payment processing services from Alipay, the fee rate for which is subject to review and approval by the Company's independent committee which is comprised of the director nominated by SoftBank and the independent directors designated by Yahoo and SoftBankof the Company, on an annual basis (the "Payment Processing Fee"). This agreement has an initial term of fifty years and shall be renewable thereafter. If the commercial agreement is required by applicable regulatory authorities to be modified in certain circumstances, a one-time payment may be payable to the Company by Ant Financial Services as compensation for the impact of such adjustment. Expenses in connection with the Payment Processing Fee of RMB1,646RMB3,853 million, RMB2,349RMB4,898 million and RMB3,853RMB5,487 million were recorded in cost of revenue in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively (Note 22).

                        All closing conditions attached to the Framework Agreement and related supplemental arrangements were fulfilled in December 2011.

                      Restructuring of Payment Services in 2014

                      The Framework Agreement and related supplemental arrangements were terminated in August 2014 upon the restructuring of the commercial agreements with Payment Services when the Company entered into a share and asset purchase agreement (the "SAPA""2014 SAPA") with Ant Financial Services, the other parties to the Framework Agreement entered into in 2011, Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership ("Junhan") and Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, a PRC limited partnership in which the interests in which are held by certain members of the Alibaba Partnership.

                      Pursuant to the 2014 SAPA, the Company agreed to sell, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, certain equity interests and assets primarily relating tosold the micro loan business and related services (the "Transferred Business") to Ant Financial Services for aggregate cash consideration of RMB3,219 million. In addition, the Company entered into software system use and service agreements with Ant Financial Services relating to the know-howknow how and related intellectual property that the Company has agreed to sell together with the micro loan business and related services.services (Note 22). In calendar years 2015 to 2017, the Company received or will receive an annual fee equal to 2.5% of the average daily book balance of the micro loans managed by Ant Financial Services. In calendar years 2018 to 2021, the Company will receive an annual fee equal to the amount paid for the calendar year 2017 (together with the fees received in calendar years 2015 to 2017, the "SME Annual Fee"). The SME Annual Fee of RMB90 million, wasRMB708 million and RMB847 million were recorded in other revenue in the consolidated financial statements for the yearyears ended March 31, 2015.2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (b)   Restructuring of Payment Services (Continued)

                      In connection with the 2014 SAPA, the Company also entered into an amendment and restatement of the Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement (the "Amendedamended intellectual property license agreement with Alipay ("amended Alipay IPLA"), pursuant to which the Company licenses certain intellectual property and provides certain software technology services related to Alipay's current operationsAlipay and the Transferred Business. Under the Amendedamended Alipay IPLA, the Company will receive royalty streams and a service fee (collectively, the "Amended IPLA"Profit Share Payments") which will be paid at least annually, amounting to the sum of an expense reimbursement plus 37.5% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Ant Financial Services, subject to certain adjustments. In addition, if the Company acquires any


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      equity interest in Ant Financial Services, the Company will transfer an agreed portion of the underlying intellectual property to Ant Financial Services at the time of such equity issuance. At the same time, the Amended IPLAProfit Share Payments will also be reduced in proportion to such equity issuances made to the Company.

                      Income in connection with the royalty fee and software technology services fee under IPLAthe Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement and the Amended IPLAProfit Share Payments, net of costs incurred by the Company, of RMB277RMB1,667 million, RMB1,764RMB1,122 million and RMB1,667RMB2,086 million waswere recorded in other income, net in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively (Note 22).

                      Pursuant to the terms of the 2014 SAPA, in the event of an initial public offering of Ant Financial Services or Alipay at an implied equity value exceeding US$2525.0 billion which results in gross proceeds of at least US$22.0 billion (a "Qualified IPO"), if the Company's total ownership of equity interests in Ant Financial Services has not reached 33%, the Company would be entitled at its election to receive a one-time payment equal to 37.5% of the equity value of Ant Financial Services as determined immediately prior to such Qualified IPO. There is no cap on the maximum value of such liquidity event payment. If the Company acquires equity interests in Ant Financial Services in an aggregate amount less than 33%, the percentage of Ant Financial Services'sServices' equity value used to calculate such liquidity event payment will be reduced proportionately.

                      In lieu of receiving such liquidity event payment, the Company may elect to continue to receive the Amended IPLAProfit Share Payments in perpetuity, subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals. In connection with a Qualified IPO and if the Company so elects, Ant Financial Services must use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the required approvals for continued payments under the Amendedamended Alipay IPLA. If such approvals are not obtained, Ant Financial Services will pay the liquidity event payment as described above to the Company.

                      The 2014 SAPA provides for future potential equity issuances to the Company by Ant Financial Services. In the event that Ant Financial Services applies for and receives certain PRC regulatory approvals in the future, Ant Financial Services will issue and the Company will purchase up to 33% of newly issued equity interests in Ant Financial Services, up to a 33% equity interest, or such lesser equity interest as may be permitted by the regulatory approvals. If the liquidity event payment described above has not become payable upon a Qualified IPO of Ant Financial Services, the Company's right to acquire equity interests up to the full 33% equity interest will continue after such Qualified IPO. However, the maximum equity interest that the Company is entitled to acquire will be reduced in proportion to any dilutive equity issuances by Ant Financial Services in and following such Qualified IPO. If the Company acquires an equity interest in Ant Financial Services pursuant to this arrangement which is below 33%, the liquidity event payment amount and the profit sharing arrangement


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (b)   Restructuring of Payment Services (Continued)

                      under the Amendedamended Alipay IPLA will be proportionately reduced based on the amount of equity interests acquired by the Company.

                      Concurrently with the 2014 SAPA, the Company entered into other ancillary agreements, including a data sharing agreement, an SME loan cooperation agreement, a trademark agreement, and an amended and restated shared services agreement. The Company also entered into a binding term sheet in respect of a technology services agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide certain cloud computing, database service and storage, large-scale computing services and certain other services to Ant Financial Services on a cost-plus basis. In addition, the existing Alipay Commercial Agreement will continue as currently in effect.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      The terms of the 2014 SAPA, the Amendedamended Alipay IPLA and other ancillary agreements took effect immediately upon their execution in August 2014. The transfer of the Transferred Business was completed in February 2015, and a gain on disposal of RMB306 million was recorded in interest and investment income, net ofin the consolidated financial statementsincome statement for the year ended March 31, 2015. Certain assets and liabilities, such as restricted cash and escrow receivables of RMB3,495 million, loan receivables, net of RMB23,363 million, secured borrowings of RMB15,417 million and escrow money payable of RMB3,495 million were derecognized from the consolidated balance sheet of the Company upon the completion of the transfer of the Transferred Business.

                      For accounting purposes, the fair value of the restructured arrangement exceeded the fair value of the pre-existing arrangement with Ant Financial Services by RMB1.3 billion. As Ant Financial Services is controlled by a director and major shareholder of the Company, the excess value provided to the Company in this related party transaction is accounted for as an equity contribution by the shareholder as restructuring reserve in the statement of changes in shareholders' equity. Given the nature of this transaction, the corresponding asset representing the excess value receivable by the Company is accounted for as a deduction from equity and amortized as an expense in the consolidated income statements over the expected term of the restructured arrangement which is estimated to be 5 years. The amortization of the excess value of RMB166 million, wasRMB264 million and RMB264 million were recorded in the other income, net ofin the consolidated income statementstatements for the yearyears ended March 31, 2015.2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Furthermore, the Company accounts for the Amended IPLAProfit Share Payments and the SME Annual Fee in the periods when the services are provided, where such payments are expected to approximate the estimated fair values of the services provided.

                      Mergers and acquisitions

                    (c)   PrivatizationAcquisition of Alibaba.com LimitedPony Media Holdings Inc. ("Damai")

                      In May 2012,March 2017, the proposal to privatize Alibaba.com Limited by wayCompany completed an acquisition of a scheme of arrangement under Section 86all of the Cayman Islands Companies Law was approved by a sufficient majority of the independent shareholders of Alibaba.com Limited. As part of the privatization, allissued and outstanding shares of Alibaba.com Limited, other than those held byDamai that the Company were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of HK$13.50 per share,did not already own for a total amountcash consideration of RMB15.1 billion. On June 20, 2012,US$393 million (RMB2,711 million). Yunfeng, which is comprised of certain investment funds of which the scheme of arrangement was approved and the listingexecutive chairman of the sharesCompany has equity interests in Alibaba.com Limitedthe general partners of such funds, was one of the shareholders of Damai. Prior to this transaction, Damai was an equity investee in which the Company held an approximately 32% equity interest on a fully diluted basis. The investment was accounted for under the Hong Kong Stock Exchangecost method. Damai is a leading online ticketing platform for live events such as concerts and theater shows in the PRC.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (c)   Acquisition of Pony Media Holdings Inc. ("Damai") (Continued)

                      The allocation of the purchase price as of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:


                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Net assets acquired

                    		100

                    Amortizable intangible assets (i)

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		684

                    Non-compete agreements

                    		271

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		267

                    Goodwill

                    		2,693

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		16

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		(202)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​

                    Total

                    		3,829
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​



                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Total purchase price comprised of:

                    - cash consideration

                    		2,711

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		1,118
                    ​​​​​ ​

                    Total

                    		3,829
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding ten years and a weighted-average amortization period of 7.4 years.

                      A gain of RMB201 million was withdrawn. The rationale forrecognized in relation to the privatization was to enable Alibaba.com Limited to enhance and realign its strategies with a focus on longer term benefits to its business. Further, all outstanding share-based awardsrevaluation of previously held equity interest relating to sharesthe step acquisition of Alibaba.com Limited were cancelledDamai in exchange for an agreement to make a cash payment to the holders of the awards. The Company offered HK$13.50 for each RSUinterest and restricted share and an amount equal to HK$13.50 minus the relevant exercise price for each share option. The agreement provided that the cash payment to former holders of such awards would be made by the Companyinvestment income, net in accordance with the pre-existing vesting schedules for the original grants of the awards. As of March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Company had commitments to pay RMB384 million, RMB133 million and RMB34 million, respectively, upon vesting of such cancelled share-based awards, of which RMB238 million, RMB87 million and RMB25 million was accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, respectively. Duringincome statement for the year ended March 31, 2013,2017. The fair value of the incremental share-based compensation expensepreviously held equity interest was determined using an income approach. As Damai is a private company, the fair value of RMB64 million was recognizedthe previously held equity interest is estimated based on significant inputs that market participants would consider, which mainly include revenue growth rate, operating margin, discount rate and other factors that may affect such fair value estimation.

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its user reach and engagement. The Company believes Damai will form a strategic part of the value chain in the consolidated income statement in connection with the modification with respectCompany's digital media and entertainment business. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the cash settlementsynergies expected from the combined operations of the vested awards. Following the privatization, Alibaba.com Limited became a wholly-owned subsidiary ofDamai and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry in the PRC.

                    (d)  Acquisition of AGTech Holdings Limited ("AGTech")

                      In August 2016, an investment vehicle which resultedis 60% owned by the Company and 40% owned by Ant Financial Services, completed an acquisition of newly issued ordinary shares of AGTech for a cash consideration of Hong Kong Dollar ("HK$") 1,675 million (RMB1,436 million), representing an approximately 49% equity interest in a reductionAGTech. AGTech is an integrated lottery technology and services company in noncontrolling interest of RMB2,636 million.the PRC that is listed


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (d)  RepurchaseAcquisition of Ordinary Shares from YahooAGTech Holdings Limited ("AGTech") (Continued)

                      on the Hong Kong Growth Enterprise Market. In September 2012,addition, the Companyinvestment vehicle completed the repurchase of 523 millionsubscription for convertible bonds, which are convertible into ordinary shares from Yahooof AGTech, for a total considerationpurchase price of US$7.1 billion (RMB44.9 billion) (the "Initial Repurchase")HK$713 million (RMB611 million). OutA portion of the convertible bonds with a total consideration, US$6.3 billion (RMB39.8 billion) was paid in cash and the balance was settled in preferenceprincipal amount of HK$205 million (RMB176 million) were converted into ordinary shares of AGTech upon closing of the Company with a liquidation preference amount of US$800 million (RMB5.1 billion) (the "Redeemable Preference Shares")acquisition. Consequently, the investment vehicle's equity interest in AGTech increased to approximately 53%. The shares repurchased from Yahoo were subsequently retired byCompany obtained control over AGTech through its control over the Company during the year ended March 31, 2013. Further, the repurchase agreement, as amended, provided that uponinvestment vehicle and AGTech became a qualified initial public offering of the Company meeting certain specified criteria (a "Qualified IPO of the Company"), Yahoo must sell or transfer, at the Company's election, up to 140 million ordinary shares either in the Qualified IPO of the Company or to the Company at the initial public offering price per share in the Qualified IPO of the Company less certain specified fees and commissions. In connection with the Company's initial public offering in September 2014, Yahoo sold 140 million ADSs representing 140 million ordinary sharesconsolidated subsidiary of the Company.

                      The holdersallocation of the Redeemable Preference Shares were entitled to cumulative, semi-annual dividends at a ratetotal purchase price of up to 10% per annum, subject to certain adjustments tied toHK$1,880 million (RMB1,612 million), representing the credit assessmentcost of acquisition for the newly issued ordinary shares and the partial conversion of the Company, with at least 3% per annum payable in cash on pre-determined dividend payment dates andconvertible bonds by the remaining amount accrued to the liquidation preference. The Redeemable Preference Shares were redeemable at an amount equal to the liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends at the Company's option at any time, and were mandatorily redeemable at the earlierinvestment vehicle, as of the tenth anniversarydate of acquisition is summarized as follows:


                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Net assets acquired (i)

                    		1,638

                    Amortizable intangible assets (ii)

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		414

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		44

                    Non-compete agreements

                    		38

                    Others

                    		33

                    Goodwill

                    		7,782

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		4

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		(86)

                    Noncontrolling interests (iii)

                    		(8,255)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​

                    Total

                    		1,612
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Net assets include the cash consideration of RMB1,612 million.

                      (ii)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods and a weighted-average amortization period of 3.0 years.

                      (iii)
                      Fair value of the closing date of their issuance or the occurrence of certain specified events. The Redeemable Preference Shares had no voting rights and are not convertible into ordinary shares. For accounting purposes, the Redeemable Preference Shares were classified as liabilities because they are mandatorily redeemable by the Company. Dividendsnoncontrolling interests is estimated based on the Redeemable Preference Shares amounting to RMB271 million and RMB96 million for the years ended March 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively, were recognized as interest expense in the consolidated income statements and credited to accrued expenses, accounts payable and other current liabilities on the balance sheets. The Redeemable Preference Shares were subsequently redeemed in May 2013.

                      Concurrent with the closingmarket price of the Initial Repurchase, the Company and Yahoo amended the existing Technology and Intellectual Property Licensing Agreement ("TIPLA"), pursuant to which the Company made a lump sum payment in the amount of US$550 million (RMB3,487 million) to Yahoo. Under the amended agreement, the existing royalty payment arrangement now continues until the fourth anniversary of the effective date of the amendment, unless a Qualified IPO of the Company is consummated at an earlier date which would terminate the royalty payment arrangement upon the consummation of a Qualified IPO of the Company. The lump sum payment of US$550 million (RMB3,487 million) was recognized as an expense in full immediately.

                      The Initial Repurchase and the lump sum royalty payment described above were financed by the Redeemable Preference Shares as well as by (i) the issuance of ordinary shares of AGTech as of the acquisition date.

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. The Company believes that AGTech will serve as its vehicle for participating in the online lottery business in the PRC. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of AGTech and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience surrounding lottery related businesses in the PRC.

                      In March 2017, an additional portion of the convertible bonds with a total proceedsprincipal amount of US$2.6 billion (RMB16.4 billion); (ii) the issuance of convertible preferenceHK$175 million (RMB155 million) was converted into ordinary shares of AGTech. Accordingly, the Company withinvestment vehicle's equity interest in AGTech increased to approximately 55%. The conversion was accounted for as a liquidation preferencereduction of US$1.7 billion (RMB10.7 billion) (the "Convertible Preference Shares"), net of issuance cost of RMB157 million; (iii) certain loan facilities obtained by the Company; and (iv) existing cash of the Company.noncontrolling interest.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (e)   Acquisition of South China Morning Post and other media businesses ("SCMP")

                      In April 2016, the Company acquired the business of South China Morning Post, the premier English newspaper in Hong Kong. Apart from the flagship South China Morning Post, the Company also acquired the recruitment, outdoor media, events and conferences, education and digital media businesses in the same transaction. The total cash consideration of HK$2,134 million (RMB1,780 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction. These acquired businesses became wholly-owned by the Company after the completion of the transaction.

                      The allocation of the total purchase price as of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:


                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Net assets acquired

                    		800

                    Amortizable intangible assets (i)

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		378

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		166

                    Licenses and copyrights

                    		5

                    Others

                    		10

                    Goodwill

                    		529

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		1

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		(109)
                    ​​​​​ ​

                    Total

                    		1,780
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods and a weighted-average amortization period of 3.0 years.

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. By combining the heritage and editorial excellence of SCMP with the Company's digital expertise, the Company intended to provide comprehensive and insightful news and analysis of the big stories in Hong Kong and the PRC so as to expand the readership globally through digital distribution and allow easier access to content. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of SCMP and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience in the provision and distribution of content to reach global audience.

                    (f)   Acquisition of Youku Tudou Inc. ("Youku Tudou")

                      In May 2014, the Company completed an acquisition of ordinary shares representing an effective equity interest of 16.5% on a fully-diluted basis in Youku Tudou. Youku Tudou, a company that was previously listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is a leading multi-screen entertainment and media company in the PRC. The cash consideration of US$1,090 million (RMB6,723 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction. The Company made this investment on the same terms together with Yunfeng. The Company appointed one director to the board of Youku Tudou and the investment in Youku Tudou was accounted for under the equity method.

                      In April 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Youku Tudou that the Company or Yunfeng did not already own, at a purchase price of US$27.60 per ADS.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (f)   Acquisition of Youku Tudou Inc. ("Youku Tudou") (Continued)

                      Following the completion of the transaction, the Company holds an approximately 98% equity interest in Youku Tudou. As a result, Youku Tudou became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company, with Yunfeng holding an approximately 2% noncontrolling interest. The listing of the ADS of Youku Tudou on the New York Stock Exchange was withdrawn upon the closing of the transaction.

                      The total cash consideration of US$4,443 million (RMB28,724 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction. The allocation of the purchase price as of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:


                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Net assets acquired (i)

                    		5,836

                    Amortizable intangible assets (ii)

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		4,047

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		284

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		143

                    Others

                    		262

                    Goodwill

                    		26,395

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		73

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		(1,167)

                    Noncontrolling interests (iii)

                    		(773)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​

                    Total

                    		35,100
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​



                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Total purchase price comprised of:

                    - cash consideration

                    		28,724

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		6,376
                    ​​​​​ ​

                    Total

                    		35,100
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Net assets acquired primarily include cash and cash equivalents and short-term interest-bearing deposits with total balance of RMB5,857 million and licensed copyrights of video content of RMB703 million as of the date of acquisition.

                      (ii)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding 20 years and a weighted-average amortization period of 17.4 years.

                      (iii)
                      Fair value of the noncontrolling interests is estimated with reference to the purchase price of US$27.60 per ADS in the step acquisition.

                      A gain of RMB518 million in relation to the revaluation of the previously held equity interest was recorded in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2017. The fair value of the previously held equity interest was estimated with reference to the purchase price of US$27.60 per ADS in the step acquisition.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (f)   Acquisition of Youku Tudou Inc. ("Youku Tudou") (Continued)

                      The Convertible Preference Shares were redeemable atrationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. Youku Tudou is a core part of the Company's strategy to offer digital entertainment to consumers in the Company's ecosystem, thereby strengthening user engagement and loyalty as well as enabling a new marketing channel for the merchants and brands in the Company's ecosystem. Further, Youku Tudou creates additional revenue sources for the Company from advertising and membership subscriptions. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of Youku Tudou and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience in the digital entertainment business.

                      Subsequent to the completion of the transaction and as a resolution to negotiations with certain former management members and shareholders of Youku Tudou with respect to an amount equaloption to purchase up to 15% of its equity, the Company issued 1.3 million ordinary shares and 3.4 million restricted share units of the Company to certain former management members and shareholders in April 2017. The 3.4 million restricted share units contain vesting conditions pursuant to a non-compete agreement which was entered into by the Company and a former management member of Youku Tudou in April 2017.

                    (g)   Acquisition of Lazada Group S.A. ("Lazada")

                      In April 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of approximately 54% equity interest in Lazada for a total cash consideration of US$1,020 million (RMB6,607 million). Lazada operates e-commerce platforms in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with local language websites and mobile apps in each of the six markets. Lazada became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company after the completion of the transaction. In connection with the transaction, the Company entered into a put and call arrangement with certain Lazada shareholders, giving the Company the right to purchase, and the shareholders the right to sell collectively, their liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividendsremaining equity interest in Lazada at the Company's option at any time subsequent tothen fair market value during a six-month period after the first anniversary of the issue date if certain conditions were met, and were mandatorily redeemable on the fifth anniversaryclosing of the issue date unless previously redeemed. transaction.

                      The holders of the Convertible Preference Shares were entitled to semi-annual dividends at a pre-determined rate until such shares were redeemed. Such dividend rate shall be 2.0% per annum prior to the second anniversary of the issuance date, 5.0% per annum commencing on the second anniversary of the issuance date until the mandatory redemption date, and 8.0% per annum thereafter until the Convertible Preference Shares were redeemed or converted into ordinary shares. The Convertible Preference Shares were convertible at the holder's option at any time at an initial conversion pricetotal cash consideration of US$18.50 per share subject to certain adjustments, and shall be mandatorily converted concurrently with the closing of a qualified IPO as defined in the Convertible Preference Share purchase agreement. The holders of such shares had no voting rights. The Convertible Preference Shares were classified in the mezzanine section between liabilities and equity on the balance sheets due to their mandatory redemption provision. Costs incurred in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Preference Shares were recorded as a reduction of the related proceeds received, and the related accretion1,020 million (RMB6,607 million) was charged against additional paid-in capital over the period from the issuance date until the mandatory redemption date of such shares. The Convertible Preference Shares were subsequently converted into ordinary shares of the Companypaid upon the closing of the Company's initial public offering in September 2014 (Note 4(a)).transaction. The allocation of the purchase price as of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:


                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Net assets acquired

                    		2,874

                    Amortizable intangible assets (i)

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		2,014

                    Non-compete agreements

                    		959

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		292

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		79

                    Goodwill

                    		5,216

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		616

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		(1,027)

                    Noncontrolling interests (ii)

                    		(4,416)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​

                    Total

                    		6,607
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding three years and a weighted-average amortization period of 2.5 years.

                    Table of Contents

                    Mergers
                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (g)   Acquisition of Lazada Group S.A. ("Lazada") (Continued)

                      (ii)
                      Fair value of the noncontrolling interests is estimated based on the purchase price per issued share of Lazada as of the acquisition date. The noncontrolling interests is classified as mezzanine equity due to certain put and call arrangements with other Lazada shareholders.

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand into new markets internationally. Lazada offers third-party brands and merchants a marketplace solution with simple and direct access to consumers in the six countries in Southeast Asia through a single retail channel. It also sells products owned by its retail operations and has developed its own logistics infrastructure with warehouses and a last-mile delivery fleet to offer quick and reliable delivery to its customers. The Company believes that Lazada will be the vehicle for expansion into the Southeast Asia consumer market, including potential cross-border opportunities to introduce Chinese merchants and international brands to Southeast Asian consumers. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of Lazada and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience in e-commerce business in Southeast Asia.

                    (e)(h)  Acquisition of Alibaba Health Information Technology Limited ("Alibaba Health")

                      In April 2014, the Company and Yunfeng completed an acquisition of newly issued ordinary shares representing a total equity and voting interest of approximately 54% in Alibaba Health through their investments in a special purpose entity. The principal activities of Alibaba Health, a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, consist of pharmaceutical e-commerce, a medical services network business and the operation of product tracking platforms in the PRC. The Company holds a 70% equity interest in the special purpose entity and Yunfeng holds the remaining 30% equity interest. Cash consideration of HK$932 million (RMB741 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction by the Company to acquire its equity interest in the special purpose entity. Although the Company controls the board of the special purpose entity, the investment and shareholders agreement provided that the underlying shares in Alibaba Health are voted by the Company and Yunfeng separately based on their respective effective equity interest, including voting rights. The Company exercised significant influence over Alibaba Health through its effective equity and voting interest of approximately 38% in Alibaba Health, and accounted for Alibaba Health as an equity method investee.

                      In July 2015, in preparation of the transfer of the Tmall online pharmacy business operations of the Company to Alibaba Health (of which the agreement was subsequently terminated), the investment and shareholders agreement was amended under which Yunfeng agreed to irrevocably give up its separate voting rights with respect to its indirect interest in Alibaba Health at no consideration. Such control is important for the Company to execute its digital and data-driven healthcare strategy through Alibaba Health as its flagship vehicle in this sector, indirectly benefiting all shareholders including Yunfeng economically. As a result of the amendment, the Company obtained control over the entire 54% equity interest in Alibaba Health through its control over the board and majority of voting rights of the special purpose entity. Consequently, Alibaba Health became a consolidated subsidiary while the Company's effective equity interest in Alibaba Health remains at approximately 38%.

                      The equity value of Alibaba Health of HK$64,319 million (RMB50,723 million), estimated based on the market price of the issued shares of Alibaba Health listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange which was the more readily determinable fair value as of the deemed acquisition date, was used to allocate the fair value of


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (h)  Acquisition of Alibaba Health Information Technology Limited ("Alibaba Health") (Continued)

                      net assets acquired and the fair value of noncontrolling interests, and calculate the gain of RMB18,603 million. Such gain was recognized in relation to the revaluation of previously held equity interest relating to obtaining control of Alibaba Health in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2016.

                      The allocation of the equity value of Alibaba Health as of the date of the deemed acquisition is summarized as follows:


                    		Amounts

                    		(in millions of RMB)

                    Net assets acquired

                    		1,290

                    Amortizable intangible assets (i)

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		70

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		35

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		8

                    Goodwill

                    		49,320

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		19

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		(19)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​

                    Total

                    		50,723
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​

                    The equity value comprised of:

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		19,264

                    - fair value of noncontrolling interests

                    		31,459
                    ​​​​​ ​

                    Total

                    		50,723
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding three years and a weighted-average amortization period of 2.6 years.

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. This transaction will enable the Company to benefit from the focused healthcare expertise of Alibaba Health in the operation of the online pharmacy business and foster consumer trust through the sale of authentic pharmaceuticals through Alibaba Health's verification and authentication technology. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined business which will create a technology enabled solution provider to consumers and other participants in the healthcare industry in the PRC.

                      In May 2017, the Company entered into an agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to transfer its business relating to certain regulated health food products on Tmall to Alibaba Health for an aggregate consideration of HK$3.8 billion, which will be paid through the issuance of approximately 1.2 billion newly issued ordinary shares of Alibaba Health. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Upon the closing of this transaction, the Company's effective equity ownership of Alibaba Health will increase to approximately 46%.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (i)   Acquisition of AutoNavi Holdings Limited ("AutoNavi")

                      In May 2013, the Company completed an investment of newly issued ordinary shares and convertible preferred shares in AutoNavi representing a 28% equity interest on a fully-diluted basis. AutoNavi is a provider of digital map content and navigation and location based solutions in the PRC that was listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Stock Market ("Nasdaq"). The investment in convertible preferred shares of RMB1,285 million was accounted for under the cost method given that the convertible preferred shares were not considered in-substance common stock due to the existence of certain terms such as liquidation preference over ordinary shares, and the investment in ordinary shares of RMB533 million was accounted for under the equity method given the existence of significant influence.

                      In July 2014, the Company completed an acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of AutoNavi that the Company did not previouslyalready own. Following the completion of the transaction, AutoNavi became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and the listing of the ADS of AutoNavi on the Nasdaq was withdrawn.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      The total cash consideration of US$1,032 million (RMB6,348 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction. The allocation of the purchase price atas of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:

                      
                    		 Amounts 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Net assets acquired

                    		  2,236 
                     

                    Amortizable intangible assets (i)

                    		    
                     

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		1,387

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		  255 
                     

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		  249

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		1,387 
                     

                    Goodwill

                    		  4,380 
                     

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		  72 
                     

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		  (284)
                    ​​​​​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  8,295 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​
                    ​

                     

                      
                    		 Amounts 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Total purchase price comprised of:

                    		    
                     

                    - cash consideration

                    		  6,348 
                     

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  1,947 
                    ​​​​​​
                     

                    Total

                    		  8,295 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​
                    ​
                      (i)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding four years and a weighted-average amortization period of 3.0 years.

                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                      4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                      (i)   Acquisition of AutoNavi Holdings Limited ("AutoNavi") (Continued)

                        A gain of RMB284 million was recognized in relation to the revaluation of previously held equity interest relating to the step acquisition of AutoNavi in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2015. As AutoNavi was a publicly listed company prior to this step acquisition, the fair value of the previously held equity interest was estimated based onwith reference to the market price upon the completion of the transaction, with an adjustment made to remove the effect of control premium embedded in the transaction price.reflect other factors that may affect such fair value estimation.

                        The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. The Company believes the acquisition will help to develop and provide online-to-offline/offline-to-online commerce and location-based services to its mobile commerce user base. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of AutoNavi and the Company, the assembled workforce and the future development initiatives of the assembled workforce to enhance the mobile offerings of the Company beyond e-commerce.


                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                      4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      (f)(j)   Acquisition of Alibaba Pictures Group Limited (formerly known as ChinaVision Media Group Ltd.) ("Alibaba Pictures")

                        In June 2014, the Company completedacquired control of Alibaba Pictures by completing an investment in newly issued ordinary shares representing an approximately 60% equity interest in Alibaba Pictures.Pictures for a total cash consideration of HK$6,244 million (RMB4,955 million). Alibaba Pictures, is a producer of movies and television programs in the PRCcompany that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.Exchange, is principally engaged in the operation of an internet-powered integrated platform that spans entertainment content promotion and distribution, serving consumers, studios and cinema operators.

                        The total purchase price consisted of cash consideration of HK$6,244 million (RMB4,955 million) which represented a price of HK$0.50 per share. The allocation of the purchase price atas of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:

                        
                      		 Amounts 
                        
                      		 (in millions of RMB)
                      		 
                       

                      Net assets acquired (i)

                      		  5,899 
                       

                      Amortizable intangible assets (ii)

                      		    
                       

                      User base and customer relationships

                      		4

                      Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                      		  95

                      User base and customer relationships

                      		4 
                       

                      Others

                      		  38 
                       

                      Goodwill

                      		  9,759 
                       

                      Deferred tax assets

                      		  13 
                       

                      Deferred tax liabilities

                      		  (17)
                       

                      Noncontrolling interests (iii)

                      		  (10,836)
                      ​​​​​​
                       

                      Total

                      		  4,955 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​
                      ​​​​​​
                      ​​​​​
                      ​
                        (i)
                        Net assets include the cash consideration of RMB4,955 million.

                        (ii)
                        Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding three years and a weighted-average amortization period of 2.5 years.

                        (iii)
                        Given thatFair value of the trading of Alibaba Pictures shares was suspended from August 2014 onwards pendingnoncontrolling interests is estimated based on the investigation of certain non-compliant matters, the Company determined that the closing market price of HK$1.60 per sharethe ordinary shares of Alibaba Pictures as of the acquisition date may not be a reliable estimatedate.

                      Table of the fair valueContents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                      4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                      (j)   Acquisition of the noncontrolling interest and the Company recorded the noncontrolling interest at the purchase price of HK$0.50 per share in the preliminary purchase price allocation. However, subsequent to the date of resumption of trading in December 2014, the Company made a measurement period adjustment with reference to the traded market price as of the acquisition date in measuring the fair value of the noncontrolling interest based on the fact that it approximated the closing price on the date of resumption of trading in December 2014, which is reflective of the market's reaction to the non-compliant matters and the inspection results in connection therewith which existed as of the acquisition date. The adjustment to the preliminary purchase price allocation impacted goodwill, intangible assets, deferred tax assets and noncontrolling interest and are reflected in the table above.

                    Alibaba Pictures Group Limited ("Alibaba Pictures") (Continued)

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. The Company believes the acquisition will help to advance the Company's vision of making digital media and entertainment available to its customers. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of Alibaba Pictures and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience in the entertainment and media industry in the PRC.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      Subsequently inIn June 2015, Alibaba Pictures entered into a placing agreement with certain independent placing agents in relation to the placing for certainplaced newly issued ordinary shares at the placing price of HK$2.90 per share. Theto unrelated third-party investors with aggregate gross proceeds from such placing amounted to approximatelyof HK$12,179 million (RMB9,647 million). The Company's equity interest in Alibaba Pictures was therefore diluted from 59.4% to 49.5% upon completion of this transaction.the placing.

                      As a result of the dilution, the Company deconsolidated the financial results of Alibaba Pictures and accounted for its investment under the equity method. A gain of RMB24,734 million arising from the revaluation of the Company's diluted equity interest in Alibaba Pictures was recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2016. As Alibaba Pictures is a publicly listed company, the fair value of the remaining equity interest was estimated with reference to the market price upon the completion of the placing.

                      In addition, during the year ended March 31, 2016, the Company disposed of its online movie ticketing business and movie and TV series financing platform to Alibaba Pictures at a cash consideration of US$350 million (RMB2,259 million) plus certain reimbursement amounts. A disposal gain of RMB2,214 million was recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2016.

                    (g)(k)   Acquisition of UCWeb Inc. ("UCWeb")

                      In June 2014, the Company exchanged all of the issued and outstanding shares in UCWeb held by the other shareholders that the Company did not previouslyalready own. Prior to this transaction, UCWeb was an equity investee which was accounted for under the cost method and was 66% owned by the Company with a carrying amount of RMB4,394 million. UCWeb is a developer of leading mobile web browsers in the PRC.PRC, India and Indonesia.

                      The total exchange consideration consisted of 12.3 million restricted shares and RSUs of the Company and approximately US$458 million (RMB2,826 million) in cash. Out of the total exchange consideration, 3.4 million restricted shares and RSUs which is classified as equity, as well as approximately cash consideration of US$126 million (RMB777 million) to beare settled on a deferred basis. The fair value of restricted shares and RSUs approximatewas approximately US$613 million (RMB3,782 million) as of the acquisition date.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (k)   Acquisition of UCWeb Inc. ("UCWeb") (Continued)

                      The allocation of the purchase price atas of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:

                      
                    		 Amounts 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Net assets acquired (i)

                    		  1,159 
                     

                    Amortizable intangible assets (ii)

                    		    
                     

                    User base and customer relationshipsNon-compete agreements

                    		  1061,823 
                     

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		  591 
                     

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		  561 
                     

                    Non-compete agreementsUser base and customer relationships

                    		  1,823106 
                     

                    Goodwill

                    		  10,376 
                     

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		  (21)
                    ​​​​​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  14,595 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​​
                     
                    ��

                    Total purchase price comprised of:

                    		    
                     

                    - cash consideration

                    		  2,826 
                     

                    - share-based consideration

                    		  3,782 
                     

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  7,987 
                    ​​​​​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  14,595 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​
                    ​
                      (i)
                      Net assets acquired included noncontrolling interests of RMB220 million that is classified as mezzanine equity.

                      (ii)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding four years and a weighted-average amortization period of 3.4 years.

                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      A gain of RMB3,593 million was recognized in relation to the revaluation of previously held equity interest relating to the step acquisition of UCWeb in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statementsstatement for the year ended March 31, 2015. The fair value of the previously held equity interest was measureddetermined using an income approach determined by the Company.approach. As UCWeb is a private company, the fair value of the previously held equity interest is estimated based on significant inputs that market participants would consider, which mainly include revenue growth rate, operating margin, discount rate and adjustmentsother factors that may affect such fair value estimation.

                      UCWeb is an important part of the Company's ecosystem to offer mobile services to users from the PRC as well as other parts of the world, thereby strengthening user engagement as well as enabling a new marketing channel for lack of control.

                      The rationalethe merchants in the Company's ecosystem. Furthermore, UCWeb creates additional revenue sources for this transaction is to enable the Company to increase user acquisitionfrom mobile search and engagement. The Company believes the acquisition will help to provide the Company with access to mobile users.advertising and others. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of UCWeb and the Company, the assembled workforce and the future development initiatives of the assembled workforce to enhance the mobile offerings of the Company beyond e-commerce.


                    (h)Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (l)   Acquisition of Shenzhen OneTouch Business Services Ltd. ("OneTouch")

                      In May 2014, the Company completed an acquisition of all of the remaining interests of OneTouch.issued and outstanding shares in OneTouch held by the other shareholders that the Company did not already own. The total purchase price consisted of cash consideration of RMB790 million and contingent consideration with a fair value of RMB1,094 million. Prior to this transaction, the Company had previously invested in 65% interest inof OneTouch by cash consideration and contingent consideration in 2011 and OneTouch was an equity investee which was accounted for under the equity method with a carrying amount of RMB196 million. OneTouch is a provider of comprehensive export-related services tailored to the needs of small businesses in the PRC, including customs clearance, logistics, cargo insurance, currency exchange, tax refund, financing and certification.

                      The allocation of the purchase price atas of the date of acquisition is summarized as follows:

                      
                    		 Amounts 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Net assets acquired

                    		  105 
                     

                    Amortizable intangible assets (i)

                    		    
                     

                    User base and customer relationshipsNon-compete agreements

                    		  25703 
                     

                    Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                    		  196 
                     

                    User base and customer relationships

                    		25

                    Developed technology and patents

                    		  4

                    Non-compete agreements

                    		703 
                     

                    Goodwill

                    		  3,998 
                     

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		  (232)
                    ​​​​​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  4,799 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​
                    ​
                     

                    Total purchase price comprised of:

                    		    
                     

                    - cash consideration

                    		  790 
                     

                    - contingent cash consideration

                    		  1,094 
                     

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  2,915 
                    ​​​​​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  4,799 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​
                    ​
                      (i)
                      Acquired amortizable intangible assets have estimated amortization periods not exceeding five years and a weighted-average amortization period of 4.5 yearsyears.

                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                      The amount of the contingent consideration will be determined based on a formula tied to certain future operating targets of OneTouch for the year endingended March 31, 2017, which will not exceed RMB3,420 million. The fair value of the contingent consideration included in the total purchase price represents a probability-weighted outcome based on the Company's analysis of the likelihood of the various scenarios underlying this arrangement. A gain of RMB2,719 million was recognized in relation to the revaluation of previously held equity interest relating to the step acquisition of OneTouch in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statementsstatement for the year ended March 31, 2015.

                      The fair value of the previously held equity interest was measureddetermined using an income approach determined by the Company.approach. As OneTouch is a private company, the fair value of the previously held equity interest is estimated based on significant inputs that market participants would consider, which mainly include revenue growth rate, operating margin, discount rate and adjustments for lackother factors that may affect such fair value estimation.


                    Table of control.Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (l)   Acquisition of Shenzhen OneTouch Business Services Ltd. ("OneTouch") (Continued)

                      The rationale for this transaction is to enable the Company to expand its products and services. The Company believes the acquisition will help to serve the wholesale sellers on the international wholesale marketplace by adding a wide range of export-related value-added services. Goodwill arising from this acquisition was attributable to the synergies expected from the combined operations of OneTouch and the Company, the assembled workforce and their knowledge and experience surrounding export-related services to small businesses in the PRC.

                      As of March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017, the Company assessed the operating and financial targets in connection with the previous and current contingent consideration arrangements, and revised the fair value of the contingent consideration payable. As a result, the Company recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements an increase in fair value of contingent consideration of RMB22 million, RMB178RMB85 million and RMB85RMB17 million for the years ended March 31, 2015 and 2016, respectively, and a decrease in fair value of RMB671 million for the year ended March 31, 2017.

                    (m) Other acquisitions

                      Other acquisitions that constitute business combinations are summarized in the following table:

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2015 2016 2017 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Net assets

                    		  266  350  (223)
                     

                    Identifiable intangible assets

                    		  421  876  593 
                     

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		  5  —  — 
                     

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		  (95) (198) (36)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    		  597  1,028  334 
                     

                    Noncontrolling interests

                    		  (269) (10) (110)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Net identifiable assets acquired

                    		  328  1,018  224 
                     

                    Goodwill

                    		  1,806  1,403  793 
                    ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Total purchase consideration

                    		  2,134  2,421  1,017 
                     

                    Fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  (107) —  (51)
                     

                    Purchase consideration settled

                    		  (1,927) (2,360) (771)
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Contingent/deferred consideration as of year end

                    		  100  61  195 
                    ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Total purchase consideration comprised of:

                    		          
                     

                    - cash consideration

                    		  2,027  2,421  966 
                     

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  107  —  51 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  2,134  2,421  1,017 
                    ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                      A loss of RMB61 million, nil and a gain of RMB51 million in relation to the revaluation of previously held equity interest were recognized in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015, respectively.2017, respectively, for the above business combinations.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (m) Other acquisitions (Continued)

                    (i)   Other acquisitions

                      Other acquisitions that constitute business combinations are summarized in the following table:

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Net assets

                    		  540  24  266 
                     

                    Identifiable intangible assets

                    		  104  486  421 
                     

                    Deferred tax assets

                    		  —  —  5 
                     

                    Deferred tax liabilities

                    		  (23) (29) (95)
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    		  621  481  597 
                     

                    Noncontrolling interests

                    		  (294) —  (269)
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Net identifiable assets acquired

                    		  327  481  328 
                     

                    Goodwill

                    		  152  543  1,806 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total purchase consideration

                    		  479  1,024  2,134 
                     

                    Fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  (300) —  (107)
                     

                    Purchase consideration settled

                    		  (96) (731) (1,927)
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Contingent/deferred consideration as of year end

                    		  83  293  100 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             
                     

                    Total purchase consideration comprised of:

                    		          
                     

                    - cash consideration

                    		  140  843  2,027 
                     

                    - fair value of previously held equity interests

                    		  300  —  107 
                     

                    - share-based consideration

                    		  39  181  — 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total

                    		  479  1,024  2,134 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                      In addition, during the year ended March 31, 2013, the Company completed an acquisition of the remaining noncontrolling interests of a partially owned subsidiary of which the Company held 79.1% of the economic interests immediately prior to the acquisition. The total purchase price consisted of cash consideration of RMB335 million, as well as ordinary shares, the fair value of which equaled RMB141 million as of the acquisition date which was recorded as an equity transaction.

                      A loss of RMB4 million, nil and RMB61 million in relation to the revaluation of previously held equity interest was recognized in the consolidated income statement for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

                      Pro forma results of operations for the acquisitions described above have not been presented because they are not material to the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, either individually or in aggregate.

                      Equity investments and others

                    (j)(n)  Investment in Meizu Technology CorporationPaytm E-Commerce Private Limited ("Meizu"Paytm Mall")

                      In February 2015, the Company completed an investment in convertible preferred shares of Meizu representing an equity interest of approximately 29% on a fully-diluted basis. Meizu isMarch 2017, One97 Communications Limited ("Paytm"), one of the leading smartphone manufacturerslargest mobile payment platforms in India which is an equity investee of the PRC. TheCompany accounted for under the cost method, completed the spin-off of its e-commerce business, Paytm Mall, to the shareholders of Paytm. Upon the establishment of Paytm Mall, the Company, together with other shareholders of Paytm, subscribed for newly issued common shares of Paytm Mall at par value in proportion to their respective shareholding in Paytm, after which the Company obtained an approximately 8% equity interest in Paytm Mall. In March 2017, the Company subsequently subscribed for newly issued preferred shares in Paytm Mall for a total cash consideration of US$590177 million (RMB3,619(RMB1,220 million), which increased the Company's total equity interest in Paytm Mall to approximately 36% on a fully diluted basis. Ant Financial Services is also a shareholder of both Paytm and Paytm Mall.

                      The investment in the common shares of Paytm Mall is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13) given the existence of significant influence. The investment in preferred shares of Paytm Mall is not considered to be in-substance common stock given that such shares contain certain terms such as dividend and liquidation preferences over ordinary shares. As a result, the investment in preferred shares of Paytm Mall is accounted for under the cost method (Note 13).

                    (o)   Investment in Qingdao Goodaymart Logistics Co., Ltd. ("RRS")

                      In January 2017, the Company exchanged the convertible and exchangeable bond that the Company held into an approximately 24% effective equity interest in RRS. After the exchange, the equity interest in RRS held by the Company increased to 34%. RRS is primarily engaged in the logistics business in the PRC and is a subsidiary of Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd., a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and in which the Company has an approximately 2% equity interest. For accounting purpose, the investment in RRS will continue to be accounted for under the equity method after the exchange (Note 13). The fair value of the convertible and exchangeable bond on the date of exchange amounting to RMB1,225 million was recognized as the cost of the approximately 24% equity interest in RRS. Out of this amount, RMB296 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, RMB312 million was allocated to goodwill, RMB107 million was allocated to deferred tax liabilities and RMB724 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                      In May 2017, the Company participated in a new financing round of RRS and paid a cash consideration of RMB340 million. The Company's shareholding in RRS remains at approximately 34% upon the closingcompletion of such financing round.

                    (p)  Investment in Singapore Post Limited ("SingPost")

                      In July 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of ordinary shares in SingPost, which consisted of newly issued ordinary shares and existing ordinary shares held in treasury by SingPost, representing approximately 10% of the transaction. The convertible preferred shares are not considered in-substanceissued share capital of SingPost. SingPost is the national post service provider in Singapore and a


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                      common stock given that such shares contain certain terms such as dividend and liquidation preferences over ordinary shares. As a result, the investment in convertible preferred shares is accounted for under the cost method (Note 14).

                    (k)   Investment in Intime Retail (Group) Company Limited ("Intime")

                      In July 2014, the Company completed the subscription for newly issued ordinary shares representing a 9.9% equity interest in Intime. Intime is one of the leading department store operators in the PRC that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In addition, the Company completed a subscription for a convertible bond which is convertible into ordinary shares of Intime and upon conversion would increase the Company's equity interest in Intime to approximately 26%. The convertible bond has a maturity date which is the third anniversary of the issue date of the bond unless previously converted or redeemed upon the occurrence of certain redemption events, and bears an interest of 1.5% per annum on the principal amount of the bond. The total cash consideration of HK$5,368 million (RMB4,264 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction. The investment in ordinary shares in Intime is accounted for as an available-for-sale security and the investment in the convertible bond is accounted for under the fair value option (Note 12).

                    (l)(p)  Investment in Singapore Post Limited ("SingPost") (Continued)

                      In July 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of ordinary shares in SingPost, which consists of newly issued ordinary shares and existing ordinary shares held in treasury by SingPost, representing approximately 10% of the issued share capital of SingPost. SingPost is a national post service provider in Singapore and a leading provider of e-commerce logistics solutions in the Asia-Pacific region that is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange. The total purchase price of approximately Singapore Dollar ("S$") 313 million (RMB1,548 million) has beenwas paid upon the closing of the transaction. SuchIn January 2017, the Company completed the subscription for additional newly issued ordinary shares for a total purchase price of S$187 million (RMB892 million) and the Company's equity interest in SingPost was increased to approximately 14%. The total investment in SingPost is accounted for as an available-for-sale security (Note 12)11).

                      In October 2016, the Company invested S$86 million (RMB417 million) for a 34% equity interest in a wholly-owned subsidiary of SingPost, which provides end-to-end e-commerce logistics and fulfillment services across the Asia-Pacific region. The investment is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13).

                    (m)(q)  Investment in Youku Tudou Inc.Sanjiang Shopping Club Co., Ltd. ("Youku Tudou"Sanjiang")

                      In May 2014,November 2016, the Company entered into agreements to acquire existing and newly issued ordinary shares representing an approximately 32% equity interest in Sanjiang for a total cash consideration of RMB1.9 billion. In addition, the Company will also subscribe for exchangeable bonds which are exchangeable into ordinary shares of Sanjiang for a purchase price of RMB188 million. Upon the potential exchange of the exchangeable bonds, the Company's equity interest in Sanjiang would increase to approximately 35%. Sanjiang is one of the leading neighborhood grocery chains in Zhejiang province of the PRC and is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In January 2017, the Company completed ana portion of the transaction relating to the acquisition of ordinary shares from an existing shareholder, representing an effectiveapproximately 9% equity interest of 16.5% onin Sanjiang, for a fully-diluted basis in Youku Tudou. Youku Tudou, a company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, is one of the Internet television companies in the PRC. The cash consideration of US$1,090 million (RMB6,723 million) was paid and the Company appointed one director to Youku Tudou upon the closing of the transaction.RMB439 million. Such investment is accounted for under the equity method (Note 14). Out13) given the existence of significant influence. RMB290 million of the total purchase consideration, RMB918 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, RMB4,158 millionprice was allocated to goodwill, RMB230 million was allocated toamortizable intangible assets and the corresponding deferred tax liabilities and RMB1,877RMB149 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                    (n)  Investment in Alibaba Health Information Technology Limited (formerly known as CITIC 21CN Company Limited) ("Alibaba Health")

                      In April 2014,The completion of the Company completed an acquisitionsubscription of newly issued ordinary shares and the exchangeable bonds is subject to the approval by certain regulatory authorities.

                    (r)   Investment in YTO Express Group Co., Ltd. ("YTO Express")

                      YTO Express is one of the leading express courier companies in the PRC in which Yunfeng is one of its shareholders. YTO Express is also one of the strategic express courier companies participating in the data platform of Cainiao Network to fulfill the logistics needs of businesses, including the Company's core commerce business. In September 2016, YTO Express completed its reverse takeover of a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. All registered capital of YTO Express previously held by the Company was converted into newly issued ordinary shares of the listed entity of YTO Express, representing an effective equity interest of approximately 38% in Alibaba Health. Alibaba Health,10%. Concurrently, the Company subscribed for newly issued shares of YTO Express for a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is primarily engaged in the business of developing product identification, authentication and tracking system for pharmaceutical and medical products in the PRC. The cash consideration of HK$932RMB420 million (RMB741 million) was paid uponand its equity interest in YTO Express increased to approximately 11%.

                      Prior to the closingcompletion of the transaction. Suchreverse takeover, YTO Express was an equity investee accounted for under the cost method in which the Company initially acquired an ownership interest of 12% for a cash consideration of RMB1,500 million in May 2015. After the completion of the reverse takeover in September 2016, the investment in YTO Express is accounted for as an available-for-sale security (Note 11).


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                      for under the equity method (Note 14). Out of the total purchase consideration, RMB100 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, RMB157 million was allocated to goodwill, RMB25 million was allocated to deferred tax liabilities and RMB509 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                    (o)(s)   Investment in Weibo Corporation ("Weibo")

                      In April 2014, in connection with Weibo's initial public offering, the Company acquired additional shares of Weibo for an aggregate purchase price of US$449 million (RMB2,764 million) pursuant to the option to increase the equity interest by the Company in Weibo to approximately 30% on a fully-diluted basis (including the shares to be issued in connection with Weibo's initial public offering). Weibo is a social media platform in the PRC that is listed on the Nasdaq. All of the preferred shares previously held by the Company were automatically converted into ordinary shares of Weibo upon completion of Weibo's initial public offering. Prior to the transaction, Weibo was an equity investee accounted for under the cost method in which the Company initially acquired an 18% equity interest on a fully-diluted basis for a cash consideration of US$586 million (RMB3,645 million) in April 2013. After the transaction in April 2014, such investment is accounted for under the equity method (Note 14).method. Out of the total purchase consideration, which included the cash purchase price and the carrying amount of the previously held interest in Weibo, RMB1,126 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, RMB3,978 million was allocated to goodwill, RMB282 million was allocated to deferred tax liabilities and RMB1,548 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                    (p)  Investment in Haier Electronics Group Co., Ltd. ("Haier")

                      In March 2014,September 2016, the Company completed an acquisition of ordinary shares representingacquired an approximately 2%1% additional equity interest in Haier,Weibo for a company that is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, which is principally engaged in the research, development, manufacture and sale of electrical appliances, especially large electrical appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The purchase price consisted of cash consideration of HK$965US$135 million (RMB763(RMB901 million). Such investment is accounted for as an available-for-sale investment security (Note 12).

                      In addition, from certain existing shareholders of Weibo. As of March 31, 2017, the Company completed an acquisition of a 9.9%Company's equity interest in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Haier which is engagedWeibo was approximately 31%. For accounting purpose, the investment in the logistics business in the PRC, and the purchase price consisted of cash consideration of HK$540 million (RMB427 million). Such investment isWeibo will continue to be accounted for under the equity method given the existence of significant influence (Note 14)13). RMB252 millionOut of the total purchase priceconsideration of RMB901 million for this additional investment, RMB221 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, andRMB665 million was allocated to goodwill, RMB20RMB56 million was allocated to deferred tax liabilities and RMB195RMB71 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                      Furthermore, the Company completed a subscription for a convertible bond for a purchase price of HK$1,316 million (RMB1,044 million) which is either convertible into ordinary shares of Haier or exchangeable into a 24% equity interest in the logistics business of Haier, subject to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. The entire convertible bond is accounted for under the fair value option and recorded under investment securities (Note 12).


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                    4.     Significant equity transactions and acquisitions (Continued)

                    (q)(t)   Investment in Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd.Rajax Holding ("Cainiao"Ele.me")

                      In May 2013, the Company made a commitment to invest RMB2,150 million in a newly formed joint venture together with other third parties which owns Cainiao. In February 2014, the Company made a further commitment to invest an additional RMB250 million in the joint venture. Cainiao is the operator of a nationwide logistics infrastructure and information sharing system in the PRC, in which the Company owns a 48% equity interest. As of March 31, 2015, the Company invested a total amount of RMB2,400 million in Cainiao. For accounting purposes, the joint venture is accounted for under the equity method (Note 14).

                      Equity transactions and acquisitions that were not completed as of March 31, 2015

                    (r)   Establishment of a joint venture with Ant Financial Services

                      In June 2015,2016, the Company and Ant Financial Services agreed to set upcompleted a joint venture underportion of the brand name Koubeisubscription for newly issued preferred shares in Ele.me based on a total combined commitment of US$1,250 million, of which the Company's capital injection will include cashtotal commitment was US$900 million (RMB5,891 million). Ele.me is an operator of RMB3.0 billion as well as injectionone of certain businesses. The joint venture will target to capture opportunities in the locallargest mobile food ordering and delivery services market with an initial focus on the food and beverage marketplatforms in the PRC. The completion of this transaction is subject to a number of customary closing conditions.

                    (s)   Restructuring of Alibaba Health

                      In April 2015, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with Alibaba Health pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell the operations ofEle.me complements the Company's Tmall online pharmacy business to Alibaba Health. Immediately prior to the closinginvestment in Koubei (Note 4(ac)) in local services, focusing on food ordering and delivery characterized by high-frequency usage and last-mile logistics within a city.

                      The Company paid a cash consideration of this transaction, the Company owned an approximately 90% equity interest in Tmall online pharmacy business. The considerationUS$540 million (RMB3,512 million) for the saleinitial subscription in March 2016, and the remaining committed balance of US$360 million (RMB2,394 million) was settled by cash in August 2016. After the Company's interests in Tmall online pharmacy business will be satisfied at completion byinitial subscription, the issuance of certain ordinary shares and convertible bonds of Alibaba Health. The aggregate principal amount of the convertible bonds will be HK$2,160 million (RMB1,711 million). Upon the completion of the transaction, the Company's effective equity interest in Alibaba Health will be increased from approximately 38% to approximately 53%, and will be further increased to approximately 55% upon the conversion of the convertible bonds. The completion of this transaction is subject to a number of conditions including the approvalEle.me held by the shareholders of Alibaba HealthCompany was approximately 20% on a fully-diluted basis. The preferred shares are not considered in-substance common stock given that such shares contain certain terms such as dividend and liquidation preferences over ordinary shares. As a result, the listing committee ofinvestment in Ele.me is accounted for under the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

                    (t)   Investment in Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("Shiji Information")

                      In September 2014, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement Shiji Information, pursuant to which the Company agreed to invest in newly issued ordinary shares which represent a 15% ownership interest in Shiji Information. Shiji Information, a company that is listed on Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is primarily engaged in the development and sale of hotel information management system software, system integration and technical service. The total cash consideration is expected to approximate RMB2,810 million. The completion of this transaction is subject to a number of customary closing conditions.cost method (Note 13).


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (t)   Investment in Rajax Holding ("Ele.me") (Continued)

                      In April 2017, the Company and Ant Financial Services further subscribed for newly issued preferred shares in Ele.me for a total combined investment amount of US$400 million, of which the Company's investment was US$288 million. After the transaction, the Company's effective equity interest in Ele.me was approximately 23% on a fully-diluted basis.

                    (u)  Investment in Xiaoju Kuaizhi Inc. ("Didi Chuxing")

                      In June 2016, the Company completed an additional investment in preferred shares of Didi Chuxing for a cash consideration of US$200 million (RMB1,318 million), after the Company previously invested US$445 million (RMB2,729 million) through prior financing rounds. Didi Chuxing is a leading transportation network company that provides vehicles and taxis for hire in the PRC via smartphone applications. As of March 31, 2017, the equity interest in Didi Chuxing held by the Company was approximately 7% on a fully-diluted basis. Such investment is accounted for under the cost method (Note 13). In April 2017, Didi Chuxing completed a new round of equity financing, after which the Company's equity interest in Didi Chuxing decreased to approximately 6% on a fully-diluted basis.

                    (v)  Investment in Intime Retail (Group) Company Limited ("Intime")

                      In July 2014, the Company completed the subscription of 9.9% equity interest in Intime through newly issued ordinary shares in conjunction with the subscription of the convertible bond at a total consideration of HK$5,368 million (RMB4,264 million). Intime is one of the leading department store operators in the PRC that was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The investment in 9.9% equity interest in Intime was accounted for as an available-for-sale security and the investment in the convertible bond was accounted for under the fair value option and recorded under investment securities.

                      In June 2016, the Company completed the conversion of all of the convertible bond that the Company previously subscribed for into newly issued ordinary shares of Intime, at a conversion price of HK$7.13 per share. Upon the completion of the conversion, the Company's equity interest in Intime increased to approximately 28% and the investment is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13). An unrealized loss of HK$246 million (RMB208 million) related to the previously held equity interest that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income was released and recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2017. The sum of the market value of the previously held equity interest in Intime and the fair value of the convertible bonds on the date of conversion, amounting to RMB4,758 million, was recognized as the cost of investment under the equity method upon the completion of the conversion. Out of this amount, RMB250 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, RMB426 million was allocated to deferred tax liabilities and RMB4,934 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                      In May 2017, the Company and the founder of Intime completed the privatization of Intime, upon which all of the issued and outstanding shares of Intime that the Company, the founder of Intime and certain other shareholders did not own were cancelled in exchange for a payment of HK$10.00 per share in cash. The Company paid a total cash consideration of HK$12.6 billion in the privatization. Upon the completion of the privatization, the Company increased its shareholding in Intime to approximately 74% and became the controlling shareholder. The Company expects Intime to support its strategy to transform conventional retail by leveraging its substantial consumer reach, rich data and technology. Following the completion of the


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (v)  Investment in Intime Retail (Group) Company Limited ("Intime") (Continued)

                      transaction, the listing of the shares of Intime on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange was withdrawn. Upon the issuance of the consolidated financial statements, the accounting for such business combination, including the purchase price allocation and the gain or loss arising from this transaction, has not been finalized.

                    (w)  Investment in Suning Commerce Group Co., Ltd. ("Suning")

                      In May 2016, the Company completed the subscription for newly issued ordinary shares which represent a 19.99% equity interest in Suning. Suning, a company that is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is one of the largest consumer electronics retail chains in the PRC. The total cash consideration of RMB28.2 billion was paid upon the closing of the transaction. The investment in Suning is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13).

                      Concurrent with the Company's investment in Suning, Suning subscribed for approximately 26.3 million newly issued ordinary shares of the Company which represent an 1.1% equity interest in the Company for a cash consideration of US$81.51 per ordinary share. The Company's share of Suning's investment in the Company amounting to US$429 million (RMB2,823 million) was deducted from the investment cost of Suning and recognized as an issuance of treasury shares during the year ended March 31, 2017.

                      Out of the total purchase consideration, net of the amount related to the treasury shares described above, RMB5,100 million was allocated to amortizable intangible assets, RMB9,113 million was allocated to goodwill, RMB1,582 million was allocated to deferred tax liabilities and RMB12,778 million was allocated to net assets acquired.

                    (x)   Investment in Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Limited ("Cainiao Network")

                      Cainiao Network Technology Co. Ltd., a joint venture which was established by the Company together with other parties with significant operational experience in logistics, retail, and real estate in the PRC, is a logistics data platform that leverages the capacity and capabilities of a network of logistics partners to fulfill the logistics needs of businesses, including the Company's core commerce business. A total amount of RMB2,400 million was invested in the joint venture, in which the Company owned a 48% equity interest as of March 31, 2015.

                      In March 2016, Cainiao Network Technology Co. Ltd. completed a restructuring process to establish a new holding company and it became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cainiao Network. In March 2016, the Company participated in Cainiao Network's equity financing round, after which the Company's investment increased from RMB2,400 million in Cainiao Network Technology Co. Ltd. to RMB6,992 million in Cainiao Network, and the Company's equity interest in Cainiao Network was diluted to approximately 47%. A gain of RMB448 million arising from such deemed disposal was recognized in share of results of equity investees in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2016.

                      For accounting purpose, the investment in Cainiao Network is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13).


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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (y)   Investment in Magic Leap, Inc. ("Magic Leap")

                      In December 2015, the Company completed an investment in newly issued convertible preferred shares of Magic Leap, representing an approximately 10% equity interest on a fully-diluted basis. Magic Leap is a technological company that focuses on the development of augmented reality technology. The total cash consideration paid was US$430 million (RMB2,775 million). Such investment is accounted for under the cost method (Note 13).

                    (z)   Investment in CMC Holdings Limited ("CMC")

                      In December 2015, the Company completed an investment in preferred shares, representing a 21% equity interest, of CMC. CMC is a new investment platform that focuses on the media and entertainment sectors. The total cash consideration paid was US$197 million (RMB1,270 million). The preferred shares are not considered to be in-substance common stock given that such shares contain certain terms such as dividend and liquidation preferences over ordinary shares. As a result, the investment in preferred shares is accounted for under the cost method (Note 13).

                      In addition, the Company acquired a 20% equity interest in a limited partnership in the PRC which is managed by the founder of CMC. The objective of the limited partnership is consistent with that of CMC. Total cash consideration of RMB1,250 million was paid upon the closing of the transaction in December 2015. Such investment is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13).

                    (aa) Investment in Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("Shiji Information")

                      In November 2015, the Company completed an investment in newly issued ordinary shares of Shiji Information, representing an approximately 13% equity interest in Shiji Information. Shiji Information, a company that is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is primarily engaged in the development and sale of hotel information management system software, system integration and technical service. The total cash consideration of RMB2,389 million was paid upon the closing of the transaction. Such investment is accounted for as an available-for-sale security (Note 11).

                    (ab) Investment in Huayi Brothers Media Corporation ("Huayi Brothers")

                      In August 2015, the Company completed an investment in newly issued ordinary shares of Huayi Brothers, representing an approximately 4% equity interest in Huayi Brothers. Yunfeng is also one of the minority shareholders of Huayi Brothers. Huayi Brothers, a company that is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, is primarily engaged in the production of television programs and movies in the PRC. The total cash consideration of RMB1,533 million was paid upon the closing of the transaction. Such investment is accounted for as an available-for-sale security (Note 11).

                    (ac) Investment in Koubei Holding Limited ("Koubei")

                      In June 2015, the Company and Ant Financial Services set up Koubei, a joint venture in which the Company and Ant Financial Services each held a 49.6% equity interest, while an unrelated third party affiliated with a major Chinese establishments held the remaining minority equity interest. Koubei integrates the convenience aspects of mobile commerce and big data to provide consumers with information and promotional benefits from local establishments in the PRC.


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (ac) Investment in Koubei Holding Limited ("Koubei") (Continued)

                      The capital injection from the Company includes cash of RMB3.0 billion as well as the injection of certain related businesses. The injection of cash and businesses was completed as of March 31, 2016. A gain of RMB128 million which approximated the fair value of the businesses being injected, was recognized in relation to the contribution of the businesses of which the carrying amount was insignificant to Koubei, in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2016. For accounting purposes, the investment in Koubei is accounted for under the equity method (Note 13).

                      In January 2017, Koubei completed an equity financing led by Yunfeng and other investors through the issuance of newly issued convertible preferred shares. As of March 31, 2017, the Company held an approximately 38% equity interest in Koubei on a fully diluted basis.

                    (ad) Investment in wealth management products in relation to a founder's investment in Wasu Media Holding Co., Ltd. ("Wasu")

                      In April 2015, the Company entered into an arrangement with a bank in the PRC to invest in wealth management products with an aggregate principal amount of RMB7.3 billion, of which RMB420 million was early redeemed in January 2017 and the principal amount was reduced to RMB6.9 billion as of March 31, 2017. The wealth management products carry an interest rate of 5% per annum, with a maturity of five years and the return of principal and interest income on the products are guaranteed by the bank. The wealth management products have been served as collateral to the issuing bank for the issuance of a financing amounting to RMB6.9 billion to one of the founders of the Company to support his minority investment through a PRC limited partnership in Wasu, a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange which is engaged in the business of digital media broadcasting and distribution in the PRC. The financing has also been collateralized by the equity interests of Wasu held by such PRC limited partnership. The founder has also pledged his interest in the PRC limited partnership to the Company. The founder is exposed to the risks and rewards of the Wasu shares held by the PRC limited partnership. The Company does not have the power to direct the activities of the PRC limited partnership. The Company entered into strategic cooperation agreements with a major shareholder of Wasu in order to enhance the Company's capabilities and profile in the entertainment sector in the PRC. Such investment in the wealth management products is accounted for as a held-to-maturity security (Note 11).

                      In addition, the Company entered into a loan agreement for a principal amount of up to RMB2.0 billion with the founder in April 2015 to finance the repayment by the founder of the interest under the above financing. The outstanding loan balances were repayable in ten years and charged at a compound annual interest rate of 8.0%. Loan balances of nil and RMB749 million were drawn down as of March 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                    (ae) Investment in Meizu Technology Corporation Limited ("Meizu")

                      In February 2015, the Company completed an investment in convertible preferred shares of Meizu representing an equity interest of approximately 29% on a fully-diluted basis. Meizu is one of the leading smart phone manufacturers in the PRC. The total cash consideration of US$590 million (RMB3,619 million) was paid upon the closing of the transaction. The convertible preferred shares are not considered in-substance common stock given that such shares contain certain terms such as dividend and liquidation preferences over


                    Table of Contents


                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                    4.     Significant equity transactions, restructuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions and equity investments (Continued)

                    (ae) Investment in Meizu Technology Corporation Limited ("Meizu") (Continued)

                      ordinary shares. As a result, the investment in convertible preferred shares is accounted for under the cost method (Note 13).

                    5.     Revenue

                      Revenue breakdownby segment is as follows:

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    China commerce

                    		          
                     

                    Retail (i)

                    		          
                     

                    Online marketing services

                    		  19,697  29,729  37,509 
                     

                    Commission

                    		  6,161  12,023  21,201 
                     

                    Others

                    		  1,112  1,080  1,022 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    		  26,970  42,832  59,732 
                     

                    Wholesale (ii)

                    		  2,197  2,300  3,205 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total China commerce

                    		  29,167  45,132  62,937 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    International commerce

                    		          
                     

                    Retail (iii)

                    		  392  938  1,768 
                     

                    Wholesale (iv)

                    		  3,768  3,913  4,718 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total international commerce

                    		  4,160  4,851  6,486 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Cloud computing and Internet infrastructure (v)

                    		  650  773  1,271 
                     

                    Others (vi)

                    		  540  1,748  5,510 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total

                    		  34,517  52,504  76,204 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             
                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2015 2016 2017 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Core commerce:

                    		          
                     

                    China commerce retail (i)

                    		  59,732  80,033  114,109 
                     

                    China commerce wholesale (ii)

                    		  3,205  4,288  5,679 
                     

                    International commerce retail (iii)

                    		  1,768  2,204  7,336 
                     

                    International commerce wholesale (iv)

                    		  4,718  5,425  6,001 
                     

                    Others

                    		  113  385  755 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Total core commerce

                    		  69,536  92,335  133,880 
                     

                    Cloud computing (v)

                    		  1,271  3,019  6,663 
                     

                    Digital media and entertainment (vi)

                    		  2,191  3,972  14,733 
                     

                    Innovation initiatives and others (vii)

                    		  3,206  1,817  2,997 
                    ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                     

                    Total

                    		  76,204  101,143  158,273 
                    ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Revenue from China commerce retail is primarily generated from the Company's China retail marketplaces.marketplaces and includes revenue from online marketing services revenue and commissions.

                      (ii)
                      Revenue from China commerce wholesale is primarily generated from 1688.com and includes fees from memberships and value-added services and revenue from online marketing services revenue.services.

                      (iii)
                      Revenue from Internationalinternational commerce retail is primarily generated from AliExpress.AliExpress and Lazada (Note 4(g)) and includes revenue from online marketing services revenue and commissions.

                      (iv)
                      Revenue from Internationalinternational commerce wholesale is primarily generated from Alibaba.com and includes fees from memberships and value-added services and revenue from online marketing services revenue.services.

                      (v)
                      Revenue from cloud computing and Internet infrastructure is primarily generated from the provision of services, such as data storage, elastic computing, database, storage and content delivery network, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics and a machine learning platform, as well as web hostingfrom web-hosting and domain name registration.

                      (vi)
                      Revenue from digital media and entertainment is primarily generated from Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)) and UCWeb (Note 4(k)) and includes revenue from P4P marketing services and display marketing services and subscriptions.

                      (vii)
                      Revenue from innovation initiatives and others is primarily generated from businesses such as AutoNavi (Note 4(i)) and other innovation initiatives. Other revenue mainly represents interest income generated from micro loans, revenue from online marketing and other services provided by UCWeb and AutoNavi andalso includes SME Annual Fee received from Ant Financial Services.

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                    ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                    NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                    FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                    5.     Revenue (Continued)

                        Ant Financial Services and interest income generated from micro loans before the completion of the restructuring of Payment Services during the year ended March 31, 2015 (Note 4(b)).

                      Revenue by type of service is as follows:

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Online marketing services

                    		          
                     

                    P4P and display marketing

                    		  18,130  27,869  36,197 
                     

                    Other online marketing services

                    		  2,551  3,059  3,938 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total online marketing services

                    		  20,681  30,928  40,135 
                     

                    Commission

                    		  6,412  12,778  22,705 
                     

                    Membership fees and value-added services

                    		  5,086  5,135  6,431 
                     

                    Others (i)

                    		  2,338  3,663  6,933 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total

                    		  34,517  52,504  76,204 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             
                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2015 2016 2017 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Online marketing services

                    		          
                     

                    P4P and display marketing

                    		  36,197  53,185  83,581 
                     

                    Other online marketing services

                    		  3,938  3,963  5,706 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Total online marketing services

                    		  40,135  57,148  89,287 
                     

                    Commission

                    		  22,705  27,793  37,848 
                     

                    Membership fees and value-added services

                    		  6,431  7,627  10,638 
                     

                    Cloud computing services

                    		  1,271  3,019  6,663 
                     

                    Other revenue (i)

                    		  5,662  5,556  13,837 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  76,204  101,143  158,273 
                    ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Other revenue mainly represents revenue from cloud computing and Internet infrastructure, interest income generated from micro loans, revenue from online marketing and other services provided by Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)), Lazada (Note 4(g)), AutoNavi (Note 4(i)) and UCWeb and AutoNavi,(Note 4(k)), storefront fees, and SME Annual Fee received from Ant Financial Services.Services and interest income generated from micro loans before the completion of the restructuring of Payment Services during the year ended March 31, 2015 (Note 4(b)).

                    6.     Other income, net

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Royalty fee and software technology services fee charged to Ant Financial Services and Alipay (Note 22)

                    		  277  1,764  1,667 
                     

                    Government grants (i)

                    		  388  252  327 
                     

                    Amortization of the excess value in relation to the restructuring of Payment Services (Note 4(b))

                    		  —  —  (166)
                     

                    Others

                    		  229  413  658 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    Total

                    		  894  2,429  2,486 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             
                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2015 2016 2017 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Royalty fee and software technology services fee charged to Ant Financial Services and Alipay (Note 22)

                    		  1,667  1,122  2,086 
                     

                    Government grants (i)

                    		  327  401  451 
                     

                    Amortization of the excess value in relation to the restructuring of Payment Services (Note 4(b))

                    		  (166) (264) (264)
                     

                    Exchange differences

                    		  1  (563) 2,328 
                     

                    Others

                    		  657  1,362  1,485 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                     

                    Total

                    		  2,486  2,058  6,086 
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                    ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                      (i)
                      Government grants mainly represent amounts received from central and local governments in connection with the Company's investments in local business districts and contributions to technology development.

                    7.     Income tax expenses

                      Composition of income tax expenses

                      
                    		 Year ended March 31, 
                      
                    		 2013 2014 2015 
                      
                    		 (in millions of RMB)
                    		 
                     

                    Current income tax expense

                    		  1,353  1,730  4,757 
                     

                    Deferred taxation

                    		  104  1,466  1,659 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     

                    		  1,457  3,196  6,416 
                             
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                     ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                      7.     Income tax expenses (Continued)

                        Composition of income tax expenses

                        
                      		 Year ended March 31, 
                        
                      		 2015 2016 2017 
                        
                      		 (in millions of RMB)
                      		 
                       

                      Current income tax expense

                      		  4,757  7,223  13,495 
                       

                      Deferred taxation

                      		  1,659  1,226  281 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      		  6,416  8,449  13,776 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                      ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                      ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                        Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on its income or capital gains. In addition, upon payments of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax is imposed. The Company's subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong were subject to the Hong Kong profits tax rate at 16.5% for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015.2017. The Company's subsidiaries incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United StatesSingapore, Indonesia and Japanother southeast Asian countries were subject to income tax charges calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantially enacted in the countries where the Company's subsidiaries operate and generate income.

                        Current income tax expense primarily represents the provision for PRC Enterprise Income Tax ("EIT") for subsidiaries operating in the PRC.PRC and withholding tax on earnings that have been declared for distribution by PRC subsidiaries to offshore holding companies. Substantially all of the Company's income before income tax and share of results of equity investees are generated by these subsidiaries. These subsidiaries are subject to EIT on their taxable income as reported in their respective statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with the relevant tax laws, rules and regulations in the PRC.

                        Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (the "EIT Law"), the standard enterprise income tax rate for domestic enterprises and foreign invested enterprises is 25%. In addition, the EIT Law provides for, among others, a preferential tax rate of 15% for enterprises qualified as High and New Technology Enterprises. Further, certain subsidiaries were recognized as having status as a Software EnterpriseEnterprises and thereby entitled to enjoy full exemption from EIT for two years beginning with their first profitable calendar year and a 50% reduction for the subsequent three calendar years. In addition, a duly recognized Key Software Enterprise within China's national plan can enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 10%. The Key Software Enterprise status is subject to review by the relevant authorities every two years.year. The timing of the annual review and notification by the relevant authorities may vary from year to year, and the related tax adjustments in relation to the change in applicable EIT rate are accounted for in the period in which the Key Software Enterprise status is recognized.

                      The tax status of the subsidiaries of the Company with major taxable profits is described below:

                        •
                        Alibaba (China) Technology Co., Ltd. ("Alibaba China") and Taobao (China) Software Co., an entityLtd. ("Taobao China"), entities primarily engaged in the operations of the Company's wholesale marketplaces was recognizedand Taobao Marketplace, respectively, obtained the annual review and notification relating to the renewal of the Key Software Enterprises status for the taxation year of 2015 in August 2016. Accordingly, Alibaba China and Taobao China, which qualified as a High and New Technology EnterpriseEnterprises and Key Software Enterprise duringapplied an EIT rate of 15% for the taxation yearsyear of 2012, 2013 and 2014, and was thereby entitled2015, had reflected the tax adjustments to apply an EIT rate of 10% during thesefor the taxation years.

                        •
                        Taobao (China) Software Co. Ltd. ("Taobao China"), an entity primarily engagedyear of 2015 with the total adjustment amount of RMB720 million in the operationsconsolidated income statement for the year ended March 31, 2017.

                        The annual review and notification relating to the renewal of the Key Software Enterprises status for the


                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                      7.     Income tax expenses (Continued)

                          taxation year of 2016 had not yet been obtained as of March 31, 2017. Accordingly, Alibaba China and Taobao Marketplace, was recognizedChina continued to apply an EIT rate of 15% for the taxation year of 2016 as a High and New Technology Enterprise and has been recognized as a Key Software Enterprise during the taxation years of 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was thereby subject to an EIT rate of 10% during such taxation years.

                          Enterprises.

                        •
                        Zhejiang Tmall Technology Co., Ltd. ("Tmall China"), an entity primarily engaged in the operations of Tmall, was recognized as a High and New Technology Enterprise and has been granted the Software Enterprise status and iswas thereby entitled to enjoy an income tax exemption for two years beginning with its first profitable year in taxation year of 2012, and a 50% reduction for the subsequent three years starting in the taxation year of 2014. Accordingly, Tmall China was exempted from EIT during the taxation years of 2012 and 2013 and entitled to an EIT rate of 12.5% during the taxation yearyears of 2014, 2015 and 2015.2016 and 15% thereafter for so long as Tmall China continues to qualify as a High and New Technology Enterprise.

                        The financial statements did not reflect the potential tax rate adjustments that may arise from the renewal of Key Software Enterprises status by Alibaba China and Taobao China for the taxation year of 2015 because official process for review and renewal did not yet commence as of March 31, 2015. Accordingly, Alibaba China and Taobao China applied an EIT rate of 15% in the financial statements in respect of such period.


                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                      7.     Income tax expenses (Continued)

                        Most of the remaining PRC entities of the Company are subject to EIT at 25% for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015.2017.

                        Pursuant to the EIT Law, a 10% withholding tax is levied on dividends declared by PRC companies to their foreign investors. A lower withholding tax rate of 5% is applicable if direct foreign investors with at least 25% equity interest in the PRC company are incorporated in Hong Kong and meet the relevant requirements pursuant to the tax arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong. Since the equity holders of the major PRC subsidiaries of the Company are Hong Kong incorporated companies and meet the relevant requirements pursuant to the tax arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong, the Company has used 5% to provide for deferred tax liabilities on retained earnings which are anticipated to be distributed. As of March 31, 2015,2017, the amountsCompany had fully accrued in deferred tax liabilities relating tothe withholding tax on dividends were determined on the assumption that 100%earnings distributable by all of the distributable reservessubsidiaries of the majorCompany in the PRC, subsidiaries will be distributed as dividends.

                        Composition of deferred tax assets and liabilities

                        
                      		 March 31, 
                        
                      		 2014 2015 
                        
                      		 (in millions of RMB)
                      		 
                       

                      Deferred tax assets

                      		       
                       

                      Current:

                      		       
                       

                      Deferred revenue and customer advances

                      		  29  24 
                       

                      Tax losses carried forward and others (i)

                      		  283  381 
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      		  312  405 
                       

                      Less: Valuation allowance

                      		  (121) (149)
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Total deferred tax assets, current portion (Note 13)

                      		  191  256 
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Non-current:

                      		       
                       

                      Deferred revenue and customer advances

                      		  30  31 
                       

                      Property and equipment

                      		  14  14 
                       

                      Tax losses carried forward and others (i)

                      		  908  1,139 
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      		  952  1,184 
                       

                      Less: Valuation allowance

                      		  (886) (1,027)
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Total deferred tax assets, non-current portion (Note 13)

                      		  66  157 
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Total deferred tax assets

                      		  257  413 
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Deferred tax liabilities

                      		       
                       

                      Current:

                      		       
                       

                      Others

                      		  —  (17)
                       

                      Non-current:

                      		       
                       

                      Withholding tax on undistributed earnings (ii)

                      		  (2,034) (3,891)
                       

                      Identifiable intangible assets

                      		  (72) (575)
                       

                      Others

                      		  (30) (27)
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Total deferred tax liabilities, non current portion

                      		  (2,136) (4,493)
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Total deferred tax liabilities

                      		  (2,136) (4,510)
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Net deferred tax liabilities

                      		  (1,879) (4,097)
                             
                       ​​​​​​​​
                       ​​​​​​​​
                             
                        (i)
                        Others primarily represent accrued expensesexcept for those undistributed earnings that the Company intends to invest indefinitely in the PRC which are not deductible until paid under PRC tax laws.
                        (ii)
                        The related deferred tax liabilities as of March 31, 2014 and 2015 were provided on the assumption that 100% of the distributable reserves of the major PRC subsidiaries will be distributed as dividends.
                        amounted to RMB28.2 billion.


                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                      7.     Income tax expenses (Continued)

                        Composition of deferred tax assets and liabilities

                        
                      		 As of March 31, 
                        
                      		 2016 2017 
                        
                      		 (in millions of RMB)
                      		 
                       

                      Deferred tax assets

                      		       
                       

                      Current:

                      		       
                       

                      Tax losses carried forward and others (i)

                      		  782  2,010 
                       

                      Less: Valuation allowance

                      		  (331) (1,358)
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Total deferred tax assets, current portion (Note 12)

                      		  451  652 
                      ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Non-current:

                      		       
                       

                      Licensed copyrights of video content

                      		  —  574 
                       

                      Tax losses carried forward and others (i)

                      		  1,063  3,959 
                      ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                       

                      		  1,063  4,533 
                       

                      Less: Valuation allowance

                      		  (1,033) (4,147)
                      ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Total deferred tax assets, non-current portion (Note 12)

                      		  30  386 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Total deferred tax assets

                      		  481  1,038 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Deferred tax liabilities

                      		  
                                             		  
                                             		 
                       

                      Current:

                      		       
                       

                      Available-for-sale securities and others

                      		  (9) (207)
                       

                      Non-current:

                      		  
                                             		  
                                             		 
                       

                      Withholding tax on undistributed earnings (ii)

                      		  (5,452) (6,377)
                       

                      Identifiable intangible assets

                      		  (508) (2,358)
                       

                      Available-for-sale securities and others

                      		  (511) (1,419)
                      ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Total deferred tax liabilities, non-current portion

                      		  (6,471) (10,154)
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Total deferred tax liabilities

                      		  (6,480) (10,361)
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Net deferred tax liabilities

                      		  (5,999) (9,323)
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                      ​​​​​​​​​
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                        (i)
                        Others is primarily comprised of property and equipment, deferred revenue and customer advances, as well as accrued expenses which are not deductible until paid under PRC tax laws.

                        (ii)
                        The related deferred tax liabilities as of March 31, 2016 and 2017 were provided on the assumption that 100% of the distributable reserves of the major PRC subsidiaries will be distributed as dividends, except for those undistributed earnings that the Company intends to invest indefinitely in the PRC which amounted to RMB28.2 billion.

                        Valuation allowances have been provided on the deferred tax assets mainly related to the tax losses carried forward due to the uncertainty surrounding their realization. If events occur in the future that improve the certainty of realization, an adjustment to the valuation allowances will be made and consequently reduce the income tax expenses.expenses will be reduced.

                        As of March 31, 2015,2017, the accumulated tax losses of subsidiaries incorporated in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong, the United States and Japan, subject to the agreement of the relevant tax authorities, of RMB1,310RMB1,569 million, RMB984RMB1,545 million


                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                      7.     Income tax expenses (Continued)

                        and RMB7RMB1,149 million, respectively, are allowed to be carried forward to offset against future taxable profits. Such carry forward of tax losses in Hong Kong and Singapore has no time limit, while the tax losses in the United StatesIndonesia will expire, if unused, in the years ending March 31, 20192018 through 2035. The tax losses in Japan will expire, if unused, in the years ending March 31, 2019 through 2024.2022. The accumulated tax losses of subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC, subject to the agreement of the PRC tax authorities, of RMB2,311RMB7,142 million as of March 31, 20152017 will expire, if unused, in the years ending March 31, 20162018 through 2020.2022.

                        Reconciliation of the differences between the statutory EIT rate applicable to profits of the consolidated entities and the income tax expenses of the Company:

                        
                      		 Year ended March 31, 
                        
                      		 2013 2014 2015 
                        
                      		 (in millions of RMB, except per
                      share data)
                      		 
                       

                      Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

                      		  10,112  26,802  32,326 
                       

                      Income tax computed at statutory EIT rate (25%)

                      		  2,528  6,701  8,082 
                       

                      Effect of different tax rates available to different jurisdictions

                      		  79  (9) 33 
                       

                      Effect of tax holiday and preferential tax benefit on assessable profits of subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC

                      		  (3,744) (6,414) (5,881)
                       

                      Non-deductible expenses and non-taxable income, net (i)

                      		  1,806  1,657  3,368 
                       

                      Tax savings from additional deductions on certain research and development expenses available for subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC (ii)

                      		  (293) (483) (1,096)
                       

                      Withholding tax on the earnings remitted and anticipated to be remitted

                      		  863  1,445  1,898 
                       

                      Change in valuation allowance and others

                      		  218  299  12 
                               
                       ​​​​​​​​​​​
                       

                      Income tax expenses

                      		  1,457  3,196  6,416 
                               
                       ​​​​​​​​​​​
                       ​​​​​​​​​​​
                               
                       

                      Effect of tax holidays inside the PRC on basic earnings per share/ADS (RMB)

                      		  1.64  2.95  2.57 
                               
                       ​​​​​​​​​​​
                       ​​​​​​​​​​​
                               
                        
                      		 Year ended March 31, 
                        
                      		 2015 2016 2017 
                        
                      		 (in millions of RMB, except per
                      share data)
                      		 
                       

                      Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

                      		  32,326  81,468  60,029 
                       

                      Income tax computed at statutory EIT rate (25%)

                      		  8,082  20,367  15,007 
                       

                      Effect of different tax rates available to different jurisdictions

                      		  33  (869) (772)
                       

                      Effect of tax holiday and preferential tax benefit on assessable profits of subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC

                      		  (5,881) (6,680) (10,507)
                       

                      Non-deductible expenses and non-taxable income, net (i)

                      		  3,368  (4,994) 6,090 
                       

                      Tax savings from additional deductions on certain research and development expenses available for subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC (ii)

                      		  (1,096) (1,205) (1,694)
                       

                      Withholding tax on the earnings remitted and anticipated to be remitted

                      		  1,898  1,573  3,009 
                       

                      Change in valuation allowance, deduction of certain share-based compensation expense and others (iii)

                      		  12  257  2,643 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                       

                      Income tax expenses

                      		  6,416  8,449  13,776 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                      ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                       

                      Effect of tax holidays inside the PRC on basic earnings per share/ADS (RMB)

                      		  2.57  2.72  4.21 
                      ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                      ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                      ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                        (i)
                        Expenses not deductible for tax purposes and non-taxable income primarily represent investment income (loss), share-based compensation expense, equity-settled donation expense, Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment, interest expense and exchange differences and investmentdifferences. Investment income (loss) during the year ended March 31, 2016 included gains from the revaluation of the Company's remaining equity interest in Alibaba Pictures (Note 4(j)) and from the revaluation of previously held equity interest relating to the acquisition of Alibaba Health (Note 4(h)). Investment income (loss) during the year ended March 31, 2017 included gains from the revaluation of previously held equity interest relating to the acquisition of Damai (Note 4(c)) and Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)).

                        (ii)
                        This amount represents tax incentives relating to the research and development expenses of certain major operating subsidiaries in the PRC. This tax incentive enables the Company to claim an additional tax deduction amounting to 50% of the qualified research and development expenses incurred.

                        (iii)
                        This amount primarily represents valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets associated with operating losses, amortization of licensed copyrights of video content and other timing differences which may not be realized as a tax benefit.

                      Table of Contents


                      ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                      NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        8.     Share-based awards

                          Share-based awards such as incentive and non-statutory options, restricted shares, RSUs, dividend equivalent rights, share appreciation rights and share payments may be granted to any directors, employees and consultants of the Company or affiliated companies under the employee share option plans adopted in 1999, 2004, 2005, anthe share incentive plan adopted in 2007 and anthe equity incentive plan adopted in 2011, which govern the terms of the awards. In September 2014, the Company adopted a post-IPO equity incentive plan (the "2014 Plan"). Share-based awards are only available for issuance under our 2014 Plan. If an award under the previous plan terminates, expires or lapses, or is cancelled for any reason, ordinary shares subject to the award become available for the grant of a new award under the 2014 Plan. On April 1, 2015 and each anniversary thereof, an additional amount equal to the lesser of (A) 25,000,000 ordinary shares, and (B) such lesser number of ordinary shares determined by the board of directors will become available for the grant of a new award under the 2014 Plan. The 2014 Plan has a ten-year term. All shareshare-based awards granted under the 2014 Plan are subject to dilution protection should the capital structure of the Company be affected by a share split, reverse share split, share dividend or other dilutive action. The 2014 Plan has substantially similar terms as the plan adopted in 2011 and other previous plans except that (i) the 2014 Plan is administered by the compensation committee of the board (or a subcommittee thereof), or such other committee of the board to which the board has delegated power to act, or the board in the absence of any such committee, and some definitions, and (ii) certain terms are adjusted for the purposes of compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time and U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the regulations thereunder, as amended from time to time, among others.

                          The aggregate number of shares issuable under the plans adopted in 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011 and the 2014 Plan is 619,922,272 ordinary shares. As of March 31, 2015,2017, the number of shares authorized but unissued was 22,111,16929,079,770 ordinary shares.

                          Share options and RSUs granted are generally subject to a four-year vesting schedule as determined by the administrator of the plans. Under the four-year vesting schedule, depending on the nature and the purpose of the grant, share options and RSUs in general vest 25% upon the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date or 50% upon the first or second anniversary of the vesting commencement date, respectively, as definedprovided in the grant agreement, and thereafter 25% every year.year thereafter. No outstanding share options or RSUs will be exercisable or subject to vesting after the expiry of a maximum of six years from the date of grant. Starting from the year ended March 31, 2015, certain share options and RSUs granted to senior management members of the Company were subject to a six-year pro rata vesting schedule. Under the six-year vesting schedule, share options and RSUs in general vest 16.7% upon the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date. No outstanding share options or RSUs will be exercisable or subject to vesting after the expiry of a maximum of eight years from the date of grant.

                          Early exercise of share options is allowable under all the aforementioned plans; however, any unvested shares are subject to repurchase by the Company at the lower of the original exercise price or the fair market value upon termination of service contracts with the grantees.


                        Table of Contents


                        ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        8.     Share-based awards (Continued)

                        (a)   Share options relating to ordinary shares of the Company

                          A summary of changes in the share options relating to ordinary shares granted by the Company during the year ended March 31, 20152017 is as follows:

                          
                        		 Number
                        of share
                        options                        		 Weighted
                        average
                        exercise
                        price                        		 Weighted
                        average
                        remaining
                        contractual
                        life                        		 
                          
                        		  
                        		 US$
                        		 (in years)
                        		 
                         

                        Outstanding at April 1, 2014

                        		  13,345,902  13.86  4.1 
                         

                        Granted

                        		  13,788,000  56.64    
                         

                        Exercised

                        		  (5,365,112) 10.34    
                         

                        Cancelled/forfeited/expired

                        		  (429,380) 18.47    
                                  
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         

                        Outstanding at March 31, 2015 (i)

                        		  21,339,410  42.29  6.0 
                                  
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                  
                         

                        Vested and exercisable at March 31, 2015

                        		  1,293,743  8.76  2.5 
                         

                        Vested and expected to vest at March 31, 2015 (ii)

                        		  20,865,685  42.68  6.1 
                          
                        		 Number
                        of share
                        options                        		 Weighted
                        average
                        exercise
                        price                        		 Weighted
                        average
                        remaining
                        contractual
                        life                        		 
                          
                        		  
                        		 US$
                        		 (in years)
                        		 
                         

                        Outstanding at April 1, 2016

                        		  17,707,328  54.37  5.6 
                         

                        Granted

                        		  275,000  78.71    
                         

                        Exercised

                        		  (5,262,533) 41.04    
                         

                        Cancelled/forfeited/expired

                        		  (1,006,792) 42.68    
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​
                         

                        Outstanding at March 31, 2017 (i)

                        		  11,713,003  61.94  5.0 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​​
                        ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                        ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​​​
                         

                        Vested and exercisable at March 31, 2017

                        		  2,144,259  59.15  4.9 
                         

                        Vested and expected to vest at March��31, 2017 (ii)

                        		  11,347,974  61.42  5.0 
                          (i)
                          Outstanding options as of March 31, 20152017 include 4,663,8331,141,875 unvested options early exercised.

                          (ii)
                          TheShare options expected to vest share options are the result of applying the pre-vesting forfeiture rate assumptions to total outstanding share options, including early exercised options.

                          As of March 31, 2015, 605,3402016 and 2017, 384,116 and 347,513 outstanding share options were held by non-employees.non-employees, respectively. These share options are subject to re-measurement through each vesting date to determine the appropriate share-based compensationamount of the expense.

                          As of March 31, 2015,2017, the aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding options was RMB5,386RMB3,704 million. As of the same date, the aggregate intrinsic value of options that were vested and exercisable and options that were vested and expected to vest is RMB592RMB719 million and RMB5,199RMB3,629 million, respectively.

                          During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the weighted average grant date fair value of share options granted was US$5.20,23.07, US$6.1428.65 and US$23.07,22.89, respectively, and the total grant date fair value of options vested during the same years was RMB219RMB134 million, RMB123RMB602 million and RMB134RMB348 million, respectively. During the same years, the aggregate intrinsic value of share options exercised was RMB1,034RMB488 million, RMB1,698RMB556 million and RMB488RMB1,799 million, respectively.

                          Cash received from option exercises under the share option plans, including repayment of loans and interest receivable on employee loans for the exercise of vested options, for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017 was RMB362RMB313 million, RMB1,543RMB693 million and RMB313RMB287 million, respectively.


                        Table of Contents


                        ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        8.     Share-based awards (Continued)

                        (a)   Share options relating to ordinary shares of the Company (Continued)

                          The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model and the assumptions below:

                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2013 2014 2015 
                         

                        Risk-free interest rate (i)

                        		  0.67% - 0.70% 0.69% - 1.52% 1.38% - 1.99%
                         

                        Expected dividend yield (ii)

                        		  0% 0% 0%
                         

                        Expected life (years) (iii)

                        		  4.38  4.25 - 4.38  4.25 - 5.75 
                         

                        Expected volatility (iv)

                        		  41.7% - 44.9% 37.0% - 39.3% 35.04% - 40.76%
                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2015 2016 2017 
                         

                        Risk-free interest rate (i)

                        		  1.38% – 1.99% 1.24% – 1.79% 1.23% – 1.30%
                         

                        Expected dividend yield (ii)

                        		  0% 0% 0%
                         

                        Expected life (years) (iii)

                        		  4.25 – 5.75  4.25 – 5.75  4.38 
                         

                        Expected volatility (iv)

                        		  35.0% – 40.8% 33.4% – 35.7% 31.7% – 33.2%
                          (i)
                          Risk freeRisk-free interest rate is based on the yields of United States Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected life of the share options in effect at the time of grant.

                          (ii)
                          Expected dividend yield is assumed to be 0% as the Company has no history or expectation of paying a dividend on its ordinary shares.

                          (iii)
                          Expected life of share options is based on the average between the vesting period and the contractual term for each grant.

                          (iv)
                          Expected volatility is assumed based on the historical volatility of the Company's comparable companies in the period equal to the expected life of each grant.

                          As of March 31, 2015,2017, there were RMB1,401RMB566 million of unamortized compensation costs related to these outstanding share options, net of expected forfeitures and after re-measurement applicable to share options granted to non-employees. These amounts are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.02.4 years.

                          During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the Company recognized share-based compensation expense of RMB227RMB1,152 million, RMB417RMB578 million and RMB1,152RMB524 million, respectively, in connection with the above share options, net of cash reimbursement from related companies, including Ant Financial Services (Note 22).

                        (b)   Restricted shares and   RSUs relating to ordinary shares of the Company

                          A summary of the changes in the restricted shares and RSUs related to ordinary shares granted by the Company during the year ended March 31, 20152017 is as follows:

                          
                        		 Number
                        of restricted
                        shares and
                        RSUs                        		 Weighted-
                        average
                        grant-
                        date
                        fair value                        		 
                          
                        		  
                        		 US$
                        		 
                         

                        Awarded and unvested at April 1, 2014

                        		  42,767,087  17.87 
                         

                        Granted

                        		  42,787,283  62.53 
                         

                        Vested

                        		  (13,159,265) 14.47 
                         

                        Cancelled/forfeited

                        		  (4,413,935) 32.56 
                                
                         ​​​​​​​​
                         

                        Awarded and unvested at March 31, 2015

                        		  67,981,170  45.68 
                                
                         ​​​​​​​​
                         ​​​​​​​​
                                
                         

                        Expected to vest at March 31, 2015 (i)

                        		  58,397,443  45.63 
                          
                        		 Number
                        of RSUs                        		 Weighted-
                        average
                        grant date
                        fair value                        		 
                          
                        		  
                        		 US$
                        		 
                         

                        Awarded and unvested at April 1, 2016

                        		  71,836,365  59.75 
                         

                        Granted

                        		  25,796,789  82.41 
                         

                        Vested

                        		  (21,945,063) 54.74 
                         

                        Cancelled/forfeited

                        		  (6,092,372) 66.06 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​​​
                         

                        Awarded and unvested at March 31, 2017

                        		  69,595,719  69.18 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​​​
                        ​​​​​​​​​
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​​​
                         

                        Expected to vest at March 31, 2017 (i)

                        		  60,534,893  67.98 

                        Table of Contents


                        ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        8.     Share-based awards (Continued)

                        (b)   RSUs relating to ordinary shares of the Company (Continued)

                          (i)
                          Restricted shares and RSUs expected to vest are the result of applying the pre-vesting forfeiture rate assumptions to total outstanding restricted shares and RSUs.

                          As of March 31, 2015, 6,447,7152016 and 2017, 5,880,443 and 4,594,874 outstanding RSUs were granted to non-employees.non-employees, respectively. These awards are subject to re-measurement through each vesting date to determine the appropriate share-based compensationamount of the expense.

                          As of March 31, 2015,2017, there was RMB11,114were RMB12,847 million of unamortized compensation costcosts related to these outstanding restricted shares and RSUs, net of expected forfeitures and after re-measurement applicable to these awards granted to non-employees. These amounts are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.2 years, respectively.2.0 years.

                          During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the Company recognized share-based compensation expense of RMB845RMB7,767 million, RMB2,378RMB9,915 million and RMB7,767RMB12,322 million, respectively, in connection with the above restricted shares and RSUs, net of cash reimbursement from related companies, including Ant Financial Services (Note 22).

                        (c)   Partner Capital Investment Plan relating to ordinary shares of the Company

                          During the years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015,Beginning in 2013, the Company offered selected members of the Alibaba Partnership subscription rights to acquire restricted shares of the Company. TheseFor the rights offered before 2016, such rights and the underlying restricted shares are onlywere subject to a non-compete provision, but not other vesting conditions (employment or otherwise) and they entitle the holders were entitled to purchase restricted shares at a price of US$14.50 per share during a four-year period. Upon the exercise of such rights, the underlying ordinary shares may not be transferred for a period of eight years from the date of subscription of the relevant rights. For the rights offered in 2016, such rights and the underlying restricted shares were subject to certain service provisions that were not related to employment, and holders were entitled to purchase restricted shares at a price of US$23.00 per share over a period of ten years from the vesting commencement date.

                          The number of ordinary shares underlying these rights is 18,000,000 shares, of which the rights to subscribe for 5,000,00016,500,000 shares were offered and subscribed up to a management member of the Company who is holding suchMarch 31, 2017. The rights on behalf of future members of the Alibaba Partnership. In September 2014, such rights were repurchased by the Company at the original subscription price. Following the repurchase, the Company offered the rights to subscribe for 1,500,000 shares to certain new members of the Alibaba Partnership under the same terms. These rightsbefore 2016 were accounted for as a noncontrolling interest of the Company as such rights were issued by the subsidiaries and classified as equity at the subsidiary level. The rights offered in 2016 were accounted for as share options issued by the Company.

                          As of March 31, 2017, there were RMB545 million of unamortized compensation costs related to these rights. These amounts are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 4.9 years. Share-based compensation expense of RMB211 million, nil and RMB211RMB241 million was recognized in connection with these rights for the years ended March 31, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                          The fair value of each right to acquire restricted shares is estimated on the subscription date using the Black-Scholes model and the assumptions below:

                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2014 2015 
                         

                        Risk-free interest rate (i)

                        		  1.03% 1.50%
                         

                        Expected dividend yield (ii)

                        		  0% 0%
                         

                        Expected life (years) (iii)

                        		  4.00  4.00 
                         

                        Expected volatility (iv)

                        		  36.9% 38.1%
                         

                        Discount for post-vesting sale restrictions (v)

                        		  38.0% 35.0%
                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2015 2016 2017 
                         

                        Risk-free interest rate (i)

                        		  1.50% —  1.86%
                         

                        Expected dividend yield (ii)

                        		  0% —  0%
                         

                        Expected life (years) (iii)

                        		  4.00  —  8.25 
                         

                        Expected volatility (iv)

                        		  38.1% —  39.0%
                         

                        Discount for post-vesting sale restrictions (v)

                        		  35.0% —  —
                        		 
                          (i)
                          Risk freeRisk-free interest rate is based on the yields of United States Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected life of the share-based awards in effect at the time of grant.

                        Table of Contents


                        ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        8.     Share-based awards (Continued)

                        (c)   Partner Capital Investment Plan relating to ordinary shares of the Company (Continued)

                          (ii)
                          Expected dividend yield is assumed to be 0% as the Company has no history or expectation of paying a dividend on its ordinary shares.

                          (iii)
                          Expected life of the rights is based on management's estimate on timing of redemption for ordinary shares by the participants.

                          (iv)
                          Expected volatility is assumed based on the historical volatility of the Company's comparable companies in the period equal to expected life of each right.

                          (v)
                          Discount for post-vesting sale restrictions applied on the underlying ordinary shares takes into consideration the restriction on sales of eight years.

                        (d)  Share-based awards relating to Ant Financial Services

                          In March 2014, Junhan, the general partner of which is controlled indirectly by a shareholderthe executive chairman of the Company and a major equity holder of Ant Financial Services, made a grantgrants of certain share-based awards similar to share appreciation awards linked to the valuation of Ant Financial Services to mosta substantial number of the employees of the Company. The vesting of such awards is conditional upon the fulfillment of requisite service conditions to the Company, and such awards will be settled in cash by Junhan upon theirthe disposal by the holders. Junhan has the right to repurchase the vested awards from the holders upon an initial public offering of Ant Financial Services or the termination of the employment of the employees with the Company at a price to be determined based on the then fair market value of Ant Financial Services. The Company has no obligation to reimburse Junhan, Ant Financial Services or its subsidiaries for the cost associated with these awards.

                          For accounting purposes, the cost relating to such share-based awards granted by the shareholder through Junhan is recognized by the Company as a shareholder contribution as the awardawards will ultimately be settled in cash by Junhan. The award is accounted for asawards meet the definition of a financial derivative and are initially measured at itstheir fair value, andvalue. Given the nature of this transaction, the related expense will be recognized over the requisite service period in the consolidated income statements with a corresponding credit to additional paid-in capital. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the awardawards are recorded in the consolidated income statements through the date on which the underlying award isawards are settled by Junhan.

                          As of March 31, 2017, there were RMB1,039 million of unamortized compensation costs related to these outstanding share-based awards of Ant Financial Services granted by Junhan, net of expected forfeitures and after re-measurement applicable to these awards. These amounts are expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

                          During the yearyears ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Company recognized an expenseexpenses of RMB3,788 million, RMB5,506 million and RMB2,188 million in respect of the share-based awards relating to Ant Financial Services. The expenses recognized for the year ended March 31, 2014 were insignificant.Services granted by Junhan, respectively.

                        (e)   Share-based compensation expense by function

                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2013 2014 2015 
                          
                        		 (in millions of RMB)
                        		 
                         

                        Cost of revenue

                        		  382  1,154  4,176 
                         

                        Product development expenses

                        		  453  795  3,876 
                         

                        Sales and marketing expenses

                        		  120  189  1,235 
                         

                        General and administrative expenses

                        		  304  706  3,741 
                                 
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         

                        Total

                        		  1,259  2,844  13,028 
                                 
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                 

                        Table of Contents


                        ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        9.     Equity-settled donation8.     Share-based awards (Continued)

                        (e)   Share-based compensation expense by function

                          During the year ended March 31, 2014, the Company granted 50,000,000 share options to a non-profit organization designated by two members of management of the Company, subject to irrevocable instructions to designate and transfer these share options to the separate charitable trusts to be established by these two members of management of the Company. These share options were approved by the directors of the board and such options are not subject to any vesting conditions and are exercisable for a period of four years starting from the grant date. The exercise price of these options is US$25.00 per share and was determined with reference to the fair market value of the ordinary shares of the Company at the time of the grant. For each of the eight years beginning one year after the date of listing of the ordinary shares of the Company on a recognized stock exchange, the charitable trusts are permitted to sell only up to 6,250,000 ordinary shares per year excluding such number of unsold ordinary shares carried forward from previous years.

                          The fair value of each share option is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes model and the assumptions below:


                        		Year ended
                        March 31,

                        		2014

                        Risk-free interest rate (i)

                        		1.02%

                        Expected dividend yield (ii)

                        		0%

                        Expected life (years) (iii)

                        		4.00

                        Expected volatility (iv)

                        		37.2%

                        Discount for post-vesting sale restrictions (v)

                        		18.0% - 38.0%
                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2015 2016 2017 
                          
                        		 (in millions of RMB)
                        		 
                         

                        Cost of revenue

                        		  4,176  4,003  3,893 
                         

                        Product development expenses

                        		  3,876  5,703  5,712 
                         

                        Sales and marketing expenses

                        		  1,235  1,963  1,772 
                         

                        General and administrative expenses

                        		  3,741  4,413  4,618 
                        ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                         

                        Total

                        		  13,028  16,082  15,995 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                        ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                        ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                          (i)
                          Risk free interest rate is based on the yields of United States Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected life of these options at the time of grant.
                          (ii)
                          Expected dividend is assumed to be 0% as the Company has no history or expectation of paying a dividend on its ordinary shares.
                          (iii)
                          Expected life of the options is based on management's estimate on timing of exercise.
                          (iv)
                          Expected volatility is assumed based on the historical volatility of the Company's comparable companies in the period equal to expected life of the options.
                          (v)
                          Discount for post-vesting sale restrictions applied on the underlying ordinary shares takes into consideration of the restriction on sales of two to eight years.

                          As there are no vesting conditions attached to the above share options, equity-settled donation expense of RMB1,269 million was recognized in full and recorded in general and administrative expenses during the year ended March 31, 2014.

                        10.9.     Earnings per share

                          Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of outstanding ordinary shares, adjusted for outstanding ordinary shares that are subject to repurchase.

                          For the calculation of diluted earnings per share, net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for basic earnings per share is adjusted by the effect of dilutive securities, including share-based awards, under the treasury stock method. In addition, the computation of the diluted earnings per share assumes the conversion of Convertible Preference Shares (Note 21) since their issuance. Potentially dilutive securities, of which the amounts are insignificant, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share if their inclusion is anti-dilutive.


                        Table of Contents


                        ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                        NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                        FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                        10.9.     Earnings per share (Continued)

                          The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share/ADS for the following periods:

                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2013 2014 2015 
                          
                        		 (in millions of RMB, except share
                        data and per share data)
                        		 
                         

                        Numerator:

                        		          
                         

                        Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing net income per ordinary share — basic

                        		  8,404  23,076  24,149 
                         

                        Reversal of accretion of Convertible Preference Shares

                        		  17  31  15 
                         

                        Reversal of dividend of Convertible Preference Shares

                        		  111  208  97 
                                 
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         

                        Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing net income per ordinary share — diluted

                        		  8,532  23,315  24,261 
                         

                        Shares (denominator):

                        		  
                                                 		  
                                                 		  
                                                 		 
                         

                        Weighted average number of shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share — basic (million shares)

                        		  2,294  2,175  2,337 
                         

                        Adjustments for dilutive share options and RSUs (million shares)

                        		  46  66  120 
                         

                        Conversion of Convertible Preference Shares (million shares)

                        		  49  91  43 
                                 
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         

                        Weighted average number of shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share — diluted (million shares)

                        		  2,389  2,332  2,500 
                         

                        Net income per ordinary share/ADS — basic (RMB)

                        		  3.66  10.61  10.33 
                                 
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                 
                         

                        Net income per ordinary share/ADS — diluted (RMB)

                        		  3.57  10.00  9.70 
                                 
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                         ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                 
                          
                        		 Year ended March 31, 
                          
                        		 2015 2016 2017 
                          
                        		 (in millions of RMB, except share
                        data and per share data)
                        		 
                         

                        Numerator:

                        		          
                         

                        Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing net income per ordinary share — basic

                        		  24,149  71,460  43,675 
                         

                        Reversal of accretion of Convertible Preference Shares

                        		  15  —  — 
                         

                        Reversal of dividend of Convertible Preference Shares

                        		  97  —  — 
                         

                        Dilution effect arising from share-based awards issued by a subsidiary and equity investees

                        		  —  —  (11)
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                         

                        Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing net income per ordinary share — diluted

                        		  24,261  71,460  43,664 
                         

                        Shares (denominator):

                        		  
                                                 		  
                                                 		  
                                                 		 
                         

                        Weighted average number of shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share — basic (million shares)

                        		  2,337  2,458  2,493 
                         

                        Adjustments for dilutive share options and RSUs (million shares)

                        		  120  104  80 
                         

                        Conversion of Convertible Preference Shares (million shares)

                        		  43  —  —
                        		 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                         

                        Weighted average number of shares used in calculating net income per ordinary share — diluted (million shares)

                        		  2,500  2,562  2,573 
                         

                        Net income per ordinary share/ADS — basic (RMB)

                        		  10.33  29.07  17.52 
                        ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                        ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                        ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                         

                        Net income per ordinary share/ADS — diluted (RMB)

                        		  9.70  27.89  16.97 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                        ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​


                        11.10.     Restricted cash and escrow receivables

                          
                        		 As at March 31, 
                          
                        		 2014 2015 
                          
                        		 (in millions of RMB)
                        		 
                         

                        Deposits in debt service reserve account (i)

                        		  209  — 
                         

                        Money received or receivable on escrow services in connection with the provision of online and mobile commerce related services (ii)

                        		  2,659  — 
                         

                        Cash pledged for a bank in connection with its loan facilities for option exercise in favor of employees of the Company and its related companies

                        		  1,353  997 
                         

                        Cash pledged for treasury management activities

                        		  505  1,013 
                         

                        Others

                        		  195  287 
                               
                         ​​​​​​​​
                         

                        		  4,921  2,297 
                               
                         ​​​​​​​​
                         ​​​​​​​​
                               
                          
                        		 As at March 31, 
                          
                        		 2016 2017 
                          
                        		 (in millions of RMB)
                        		 
                         

                        Cash pledged for a bank in connection with its loan facilities for option exercise in favor of employees of the Company and its related companies

                        		  302  — 
                         

                        Cash pledged for treasury management activities

                        		  760  — 
                         

                        Money received or receivable on escrow services offered by AliExpress (i)

                        		  —  2,528 
                         

                        Others

                        		  284  127 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                         

                        		  1,346  2,655 
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                        ​​​​​​​​​
                        ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                          (i)
                          The amount represents deposits in a reserve account pledged in favor of the lenders in connection with certain loan facilities (Note 20).

                          (ii)
                          The amount represents customer funds held by external payment networks outside the PRC in relation to the online transaction services of AliExpress with a corresponding liability recorded under escrow money payable. Such balance together with the escrow money payable was disposed of follow the completion of the restructuring of Payment Services during the year ended March 31, 2015 (Note 4(b)).

                          Table of Contents


                          ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 2015
                          2017

                            12.11.   Investment securities and fair value disclosure

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2014 
                              
                            		 Original
                            cost                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            gains                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            losses                            		 Provision
                            for decline
                            in value                            		 Fair
                            value                            		 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		                
                             

                            Trading securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  624  105  (61) —  668 
                             

                            Financial derivatives

                            		  31  107  (4) —  134 
                             

                            Equity fund

                            		  183  18  —  —  201 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  890  299  —  —  1,189 
                             

                            Held-to-maturity investment securities

                            		  1,229  —  —  —  1,229 
                             

                            Convertible bond accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  1,044  —  —  —  1,044 
                                         
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  4,001  529  (65) —  4,465 
                                         
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                         
                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2016 
                              
                            		 Original
                            cost                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            gains                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            losses                            		 Provision
                            for decline
                            in value                            		 Fair
                            value                            		 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		                
                             

                            Trading securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  646  230  (105) —  771 
                             

                            Financial derivatives

                            		  7  171  —  —  178 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities and other treasury investments

                            		  12,701  5,940  (438) (957) 17,246 
                             

                            Held-to-maturity securities

                            		  10,760  —  —  (7) 10,753 
                             

                            Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  4,256  366  —  —  4,622 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  28,370  6,707  (543) (964) 33,570 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

                             

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2015 
                              
                            		 Original
                            cost                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            gains                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            losses                            		 Provision
                            for decline
                            in value                            		 Fair
                            value                            		 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		                
                             

                            Trading securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  619  115  (58) —  676 
                             

                            Financial derivatives

                            		  86  532  (1) —  617 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities and other treasury investments

                            		  8,261  3,822  (446) —  11,637 
                             

                            Equity fund

                            		  184  52  —  —  236 
                             

                            Held-to-maturity investment securities

                            		  1,384  —  —  —  1,384 
                             

                            Convertible bonds accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  3,983  150  (414) —  3,719 
                                         
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  14,517  4,671  (919) —  18,269 
                                         
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                         
                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2017 
                              
                            		 Original
                            cost                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            gains                            		 Gross
                            unrealized
                            losses                            		 Provision
                            for decline
                            in value                            		 Fair
                            value                            		 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		                
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		                
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  15,325  9,792  (836) (1,019) 23,262 
                             

                            Held-to-maturity securities

                            		  12,241  —  —  (180) 12,061 
                             

                            Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  183  —  —  —  183 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                             

                            		  27,749  9,792  (836) (1,199) 35,506 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              During the years ended March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, the Company completed several investments accounted for as investment securities. Details of these significant investments are summarized in Note 4.

                              During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, gross realized gaingains of RMB198RMB141 million, RMB148RMB1,012 million and RMB141RMB6,306 million and gross realized losslosses of RMB145RMB97 million, RMB160RMB410 million and RMB97RMB534 million from disposals of investment securities were recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements, respectively. During the same periods, noperiod, impairment loss waslosses of nil, RMB962 million and RMB173 million were charged in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements, respectively, as a result of other than temporaryother-than-temporary decline in valuevalues related to a listed equity security and fixed incomeheld-to-maturity securities.

                              As of March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, net unrealized gains of nil, RMB299RMB3,384 million, RMB5,502 million and RMB3,384RMB8,956 million on available-for-sale investment securities were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, respectively. For the investmentavailable-for-sale securities with unrealized loss,losses, their related aggregate fair values amounted to nilRMB4,929 million, RMB1,751 million and RMB4,929RMB4,366 million as of March 31, 20142015, 2016 and 2015.2017, respectively. The carrying amounts of investmentavailable-for-sale securities that were in a loss position over twelve months were insignificant as of the same dates.


                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                            12.11.   Investment securities and fair value disclosure (Continued)

                              The carrying amount of long-term held-to-maturity investments approximates their fair value due to the fact that the related interest rates approximate rates currently offered by financial institutions for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities.

                              Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:

                             Level 1 - Valuations based on unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets.
                             Level 2 - Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
                             Level 3 - Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants. These valuations require significant judgment.

                              Fair value of fixed deposits, corporate bonds, fixed income fundsshort-term investments and listed equity securities are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. All other financial instruments, such as derivative instruments wereand forward exchange contracts, are valued based on quoted market prices of similar instruments and other significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data. Convertible and exchangeable bonds are valued using binomial model with unobservable inputs including risk-free interest rate, expected volatility and dividend yield. Contingent consideration is valued using an expected cashflow method with unobservable inputs including the probability to achieve the operating and financial targets, which is assessed by the Company, in connection with the contingent consideration arrangements.


                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                            11.   Investment securities and fair value disclosure (Continued)

                              The following table summarizes the Company's assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy:

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2014 
                              
                            		 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		             
                             

                            Short-term investments

                            		  10,587  —  —  10,587 
                             

                            Restricted cash

                            		  4,921  —  —  4,921 
                             

                            Trading securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  668  —  —  668 
                             

                            Financial derivatives

                            		  —  134  —  134 
                             

                            Equity fund

                            		  201  —  —  201 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  1,189  —  —  1,189 
                             

                            Interest rate swaps

                            		  —  138  —  138 
                             

                            Convertible bond accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  —  —  1,044  1,044 
                                       
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  17,566  272  1,044  18,882 
                                       
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                       
                             

                            Liabilities

                            		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		 
                             

                            Contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  —  —  326  326 
                                       
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                       
                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2016 
                              
                            		 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		             
                             

                            Short-term investments

                            		  4,700  —  —  4,700 
                             

                            Restricted cash and escrow receivables

                            		  1,346  —  —  1,346 
                             

                            Trading securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  771  —  —  771 
                             

                            Financial derivatives

                            		  —  178  —  178 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  17,246  —  —  17,246 
                             

                            Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  —  —  4,622  4,622 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  24,063  178  4,622  28,863 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Liabilities

                            		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		 
                             

                            Forward exchange contracts

                            		  —  461  —  461 
                             

                            Contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  —  —  1,264  1,264 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  —  461  1,264  1,725 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​


                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2017 
                              
                            		 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		             
                             

                            Short-term investments

                            		  3,011  —  —  3,011 
                             

                            Restricted cash and escrow receivables

                            		  2,655  —  —  2,655 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  23,262  —  —  23,262 
                             

                            Investment securities accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  —  —  183  183 
                             

                            Interest rate swap contracts

                            		  —  436  —  436 
                            ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  28,928  436  183  29,547 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Liabilities

                            		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		 
                             

                            Forward exchange contracts

                            		  —  78  —  78 
                             

                            Contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  —  —  921  921 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                             

                            		  —  78  921  999 
                            ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                            12.11.   Investment securities and fair value disclosure (Continued)

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 2015 
                              
                            		 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Assets

                            		             
                             

                            Short-term investments

                            		  14,148  —  —  14,148 
                             

                            Restricted cash

                            		  2,297  —  —  2,297 
                             

                            Trading securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  676  —  —  676 
                             

                            Financial derivatives

                            		  —  617  —  617 
                             

                            Available-for-sale securities:

                            		             
                             

                            Listed equity securities

                            		  11,637  —  —  11,637 
                             

                            Equity fund

                            		  236  —  —  236 
                             

                            Convertible bond accounted for under the fair value option

                            		  —  —  3,719  3,719 
                                       
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  28,994  617  3,719  33,330 
                                       
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                       
                             

                            Liabilities

                            		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		 
                             

                            Contingent consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  —  —  1,278  1,278 
                                       
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                       

                              Convertible and exchangeable bonds accounted for under the fair value option:

                              
                            		 Amounts 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Balance at April 1, 2012 and March 31, 20132015

                            		  —
                            ​​​​​

                            Additions (Note 4(p))

                            		1,0443,719 
                             

                            IncreaseNet increase in fair value

                            		  —630 
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  273 
                            ​​​​​​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 20142016

                            		  1,044

                            Additions (Note 4(k))

                            		2,9444,622 
                             

                            Decrease in fair value

                            		  (264113)

                            Conversion or exchange (Notes 4(o) and 4(v))

                            		(4,678)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  (5)
                            169 
                            ​​​​​ ​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 20152017

                            		  3,719—
                            		 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​
                            ​​​​​
                            ​

                              Convertible bonds are valued using binomial model with unobservable inputs including risk-free interest rate, expected volatility and dividend yield.

                              Contingent consideration and put liability in relation to investments and acquisitions:

                              
                            		 Amounts 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Balance at April 1, 20122015

                            		  1041,278 
                             

                            IncreaseNet decrease in fair value

                            		  13(14)
                            ​​​​​ ​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 20132016

                            		  1171,264 
                             

                            Additions

                            		  31293 
                             

                            IncreaseNet decrease in fair value

                            		  178(642)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustment

                            		  6 
                            ​​​​​ ​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 20142017

                            		  326921 
                            ​

                            Repayment

                            ​                            		​​ (227​ )​

                            Additions (Note 4(h))

                            		1,094

                            Increase in fair value

                            		85
                            ​​​​​​

                            Balance at March 31, 2015

                            		1,278
                            ​​​​​ ​
                            ​​​​​

                              Other than contingent consideration disclosed in Note 4(l), other items included in contingent consideration as of March 31, 2016 and 2017 are individually insignificant.


                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                            13.12.   Prepayments, receivables and other assets

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2014 2015 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Current:

                            		       
                             

                            Amounts due from related companies (i)

                            		  
                            2,160                            		  
                            4,842                            		 
                             

                            VAT receivables (ii)

                            		  78  3,457 
                             

                            Accounts receivable, net of allowance

                            		  269  1,067 
                             

                            Deferred direct selling costs (iii)

                            		  810  809 
                             

                            Interest receivables

                            		  231  561 
                             

                            Prepaid cost of revenue, sales and marketing expenses and others

                            		  134  433 
                             

                            Loans and interest receivables from producers of movies and television programs

                            		  —  401 
                             

                            Deferred tax assets (Note 7)

                            		  191  256 
                             

                            Employee loans and advances (iv)

                            		  109  153 
                             

                            Advances to customers

                            		  43  128 
                             

                            Prepaid staff costs and individual income tax withholding tax

                            		  49  101 
                             

                            Deposits for the acquisition on land use rights

                            		  211  — 
                             

                            Others

                            		  394  770 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  4,679  12,978 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   
                             

                            Non-current:

                            		  
                                                         		  
                                                         		 
                             

                            Prepayment for acquisition of property and equipment

                            		  
                            1,099                            		  
                            1,883                            		 
                             

                            Employee loans (iv)

                            		  503  534 
                             

                            Prepayment for film rights, script agreements and in-production movies and TV episodes

                            		  36  375 
                             

                            Prepaid upfront fees and debt issuance costs related to long-term borrowings and unsecured senior notes

                            		  —  311 
                             

                            Deferred direct selling costs (iii)

                            		  144  149 
                             

                            Deferred tax assets (Note 7)

                            		  66  157 
                             

                            Interest rate swaps

                            		  138  — 
                             

                            Others

                            		  101  676 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  2,087  4,085 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   
                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Current:

                            		       
                             

                            VAT receivables (i)

                            		  6,589  8,810 
                             

                            Accounts receivable, net of allowance

                            		  1,209  4,388 
                             

                            Amounts due from related companies (ii)

                            		  3,236  4,131 
                             

                            Prepaid cost of revenue, sales and marketing expenses and others

                            		  1,242  3,388 
                             

                            Receivable for proceeds from disposal of investments

                            		  —  2,786 
                             

                            Deferred direct selling costs (iii)

                            		  948  1,283 
                             

                            Loan receivables, net

                            		  390  812 
                             

                            Advances to customers and merchants

                            		  435  788 
                             

                            Deferred tax assets (Note 7)

                            		  451  652 
                             

                            Interest receivables

                            		  314  447 
                             

                            Licensed copyrights of video content

                            		  —  327 
                             

                            Employee loans and advances (iv)

                            		  124  176 
                             

                            Others

                            		  2,055  1,072 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  16,993  29,060 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Non-current:

                            		       
                             

                            Prepayment for acquisition of property and equipment

                            		  4,358  4,018 
                             

                            Prepayment for licensed copyrights of video content and others

                            		  —  1,639 
                             

                            Employee loans (iv)

                            		  451  451 
                             

                            Fair value of interest rate swap contracts

                            		  —  436 
                             

                            Deferred tax assets (Note 7)

                            		  30  386 
                             

                            Deferred direct selling costs (iii)

                            		  148  114 
                             

                            Prepaid upfront fees related to long-term borrowings

                            		  184  53 
                             

                            Others

                            		  666  954 
                            ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  5,837  8,051 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                              (i)
                              Amounts due from related parties primarily represented balances arising from the transactions with Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries. The balances are unsecured, interest free and repayable within the next twelve months.

                              (ii)
                              VAT receivables as of March 31, 2015 mainly represent VAT receivable from relevant PRC tax authorities arising from OneTouch's VAT refund service. OneTouch provides advance settlement of relevant VAT refund amountamounts to its customers prior to receiving such VAT refund from tax authorities. To provide this service, OneTouch relies on short termshort-term banking facilities and takes on credit risk if OneTouch fails to recover the prepaid VAT amount.

                              (ii)
                              Amounts due from related parties primarily represent balances arising from transactions with Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries (Note 4(b) and 22). The balances are unsecured, interest free and repayable within the next twelve months.

                              (iii)
                              The Company is obligated to pay certain costs upon the receipt of membership fees from merchants or other customers, which primarily consist of sales commissions. The membership fees are initially deferred and recognized as revenue in the consolidated income statements in the period in which the services are

                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                            13.   Prepayments, receivables and other assets (Continued)

                                rendered. As such, the related costs are also initially deferred and recognized in the consolidated income statements in the same period as the related service fees are recognized.


                              Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                            12.   Prepayments, receivables and other assets (Continued)

                              (iv)
                              Employee loans mainly represent full recourse, interest-bearing share purchase, option exercise and tax loans, with a term of four to five years, to employees of the Company and its related companies in order to finance their purchase of ordinary shares, exercise of options underlying the ordinary shares as well as payment of related personal taxes. Such employee loans are pledged by the ordinary shares owned by the employees and carriedcarry interest at market rates. The balance also includes an interest-free loan program, with a term of five years, to eligible employees for purchase of their first residential properties.

                            14.13.   Investment in equity investees

                              
                            		 Cost
                            method                            		 Equity
                            method                            		 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Balance at April 1, 2012

                            		  1,316  326  1,642 
                             

                            Additions

                            		  392  190  582 
                             

                            Share of results and other comprehensive income

                            		  —  (14) (14)
                             

                            Less: disposals and transfers

                            		  (99) (306) (405)
                             

                            Less: impairment loss

                            		  (245) —  (245)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  (5) —  (5)
                                     
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 2013

                            		  1,359  196  1,555 
                             

                            Additions

                            		  12,655  3,908  16,563 
                             

                            Share of results and other comprehensive income (i)

                            		  —  (34) (34)
                             

                            Less: disposals and transfers

                            		  (262) —  (262)
                             

                            Less: impairment loss

                            		  (119) —  (119)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  (44) 7  (37)
                                     
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 2014

                            		  13,589  4,077  17,666 
                             

                            Additions

                            		  12,304  16,518  28,822 
                             

                            Share of results and other comprehensive income (i)

                            		  —  (1,148) (1,148)
                             

                            Less: disposals and transfers (ii)

                            		  (9,818) (806) (10,624)
                             

                            Less: impairment loss

                            		  (419) (438) (857)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  17  1  18 
                                     
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 2015

                            		  15,673  18,204  33,877 
                                     
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                     
                              
                            		 Cost
                            method                            		 Equity
                            method                            		 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Balance at April 1, 2015

                            		  15,673  18,204  33,877 
                             

                            Additions (i)

                            		  19,764  41,968  61,732 
                             

                            Share of results, other comprehensive income and other reserves (ii)

                            		  —  (1,296) (1,296)
                             

                            Less: disposals and transfers (iii)

                            		  (2,150) (751) (2,901)
                             

                            Less: impairment loss

                            		  (902) —  (902)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  879  72  951 
                            ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 2016

                            		  33,264  58,197  91,461 
                             

                            Additions (i)

                            		  8,860  35,154  44,014 
                             

                            Share of results, other comprehensive income and other reserves (ii)

                            		  —  (2,074) (2,074)
                             

                            Less: disposals and transfers (iii)

                            		  (6,275) (6,215) (12,490)
                             

                            Less: impairment loss

                            		  (2,125) (245) (2,370)
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  1,680  147  1,827 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Balance at March 31, 2017

                            		  35,404  84,964  120,368 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                              (i)
                              TotalAdditions during the year ended March 31, 2016 included the fair value of the retained noncontrolling investment in Alibaba Pictures which is accounted for as an equity method investee after the deconsolidation (Note 4(j)). Additions during the year ended March 31, 2017 included the investments of RRS (Note 4(o)) and Intime (Note 4(v)). The investment in RRS is accounted for as an equity method investee upon the exchange of the convertible and exchangeable bond in January 2017. The investment in Intime was accounted for as an equity method investee upon the conversion of the convertible bond in June 2016 and before the privatization of Intime in May 2017.

                              (ii)
                              Share of results, other comprehensive income and other reserves included the share of results of the equity investees, the gain or loss arising from the deemed disposal of the equity investees and other comprehensive income for the years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 excludeamortization of basis differences. The balance excluded the fair value adjustments of contingent consideration of a loss of RMB178 million and a gain of RMB68 million related to an equity investee, respectively. It also excludes an expense of RMB58 millionexpenses in connection with the share-based awards relating to ordinary shares of the Company and Ant Financial Services granted to employees of certain equity investees (Note 8(d)) granted to an equity investee by Junhan for.

                              (iii)
                              During the year ended March 31, 2015. Such awards are accounted for as2016, disposals under the cost method were primarily related to the partial disposal of the Company's investment in an equity contributionsinvestee. A gain of approximately RMB3,078 million arising from Junhansuch disposal was recognized in interest and recorded in additional paid-in capital and the corresponding expense is recordedinvestment income, net in the consolidated financial statements forincome statement. Transfers under the year ended March 31, 2015.

                              (ii)
                              Transfers during the year ended March 31, 2015equity method were primarily relaterelated to the step acquisitionsconsolidation of OneTouchAlibaba Health upon which the control was obtained by the Company (Note 4(h)), UCWeb (Note 4(g)), AutoNavi (Note 4(e)), as well as an additional investment in Weibo (Note 4(o)).

                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                            14.13.   Investment in equity investees (Continued)

                                As ofDuring the year ended March 31, 2015,2017, transfers under the cost method were primarily related to the completion of the reverse takeover of YTO Express (Note 4(r)), the step acquisition of Damai (Note 4(c)) and the completion of an initial public offering of a cost method investee. Transfers under the equity method investments with an aggregate carrying amountwere primarily related to the step acquisition of RMB13,218 million that are publicly traded have appreciated in value and the total open market values of these investments amounted to RMB24,332 million.Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)).

                                As of March 31, 2014 and 2015, the cost method investments with an aggregate carrying amount of RMB9,917 million and RMB6,046 million have appreciated in value and the Company estimated the fair value to approximate RMB14,455 million and RMB14,965 million, respectively. As of the same dates, for certain other cost method investments with carrying amounts of RMB3,672 million and RMB9,627 million, the Company identified no events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair values of the investments and determined that it is not practicable to estimate their fair values, respectively.

                              During the years ended March 31, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the Company completed several investments accounted for as equity investees. Details of the significant investments are summarized in Note 4. During

                              The Company continually reviews its investments in equity investees to determine whether a decline in fair value below the same periods,carrying value is other-than-temporary. The primary factors the Company considers in its determination include the financial condition, operating performance and the prospects of the equity investee; other company specific information such as recent financing rounds; and the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below its carrying value. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the equity investee is written down to fair value. Impairment charges in connection with the equity method investments of RMB438 million, nil and RMB245 million were recorded impairment losses on certainin share of results of equity investees in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Impairment charges in connection with the cost method investments of RMB419 million, RMB902 million and equity method investments.RMB2,125 million were recorded in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The non-recurring fair value measurements with respect to such impairment losses were individually insignificant and utilized a number of different unobservable inputs not subject to meaningful aggregation.

                            15.   Property and equipment, net

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2014 2015 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Computer equipment and software

                            		  5,675  9,829 
                             

                            Buildings and leasehold improvements

                            		  2,434  2,828 
                             

                            Construction in progress

                            		  780  1,818 
                             

                            Furniture, office and transportation equipment

                            		  272  430 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  9,161  14,905 
                             

                            Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

                            		  (3,580) (5,766)
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            Net book value

                            		  5,581  9,139 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   

                              Depreciation and amortization expenses recognized for the years endedAs of March 31, 2013, 20142017, the aggregate carrying amount and 2015 were RMB764 million, RMB1,295market value of the equity method investments that are publicly traded amounted to RMB67,767 million and RMB2,282RMB67,793 million, respectively.

                            16.   Intangible assets

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2014 2015 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Non-compete agreements

                            		  1,050  3,630 
                             

                            Developed technology and patents

                            		  1,041  3,331 
                             

                            Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                            		  768  2,007 
                             

                            User base and customer relationships

                            		  264  855 
                             

                            Copyrights and others

                            		  —  295 
                             

                            Less: accumulated amortization and impairment

                            		  (1,217) (3,543)
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            Net book value

                            		  1,906  6,575 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   

                            Table In particular, the market value of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                            16.   Intangible assets (Continued)

                              Amortization expenses for the years endedCompany's investment in Alibaba Pictures has remained below its carrying value of RMB30,102 million based on its quoted market prices since July 2015. As of March 31, 2013, 20142017, the difference between the market value of this investment and 2015the carrying value amounted to RMB130 million, RMB315 millionRMB14,487 million. For this investment, the Company further evaluated relevant positive and RMB2,089 million, respectively. Duringnegative factors, including the same periods, impairment chargesdevelopment stage and business plan of RMB18 million, nilAlibaba Pictures, comparison of actual financial performance against budget in recent years, business and nil were recognizedindustry outlook, capability of management team, collaboration with the Company, implied market value with reference to price-to-earnings ratios of comparable companies, valuation conducted by an independent valuer and geographic region, market and industry in which Alibaba Pictures operates. The Company determined that the consolidated income statements, respectively.decline in market value against its carrying amount was not other-than-temporary.

                              The estimatedAs of March 31, 2016 and 2017, the cost method investments with an aggregate amortization expenses for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter are as follows:

                              
                            		 Amounts 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            For the year ending March 31,

                            		    
                             

                            2016

                            		  2,629 
                             

                            2017

                            		  2,333 
                             

                            2018

                            		  1,186 
                             

                            2019

                            		  342 
                             

                            2020

                            		  71 
                             

                            Thereafter

                            		  14 
                                 
                             ​​​​​
                             

                            		  6,575 
                                 
                             ​​​​​
                             ​​​​​
                                 

                            17.   Goodwill

                              The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were as follows:


                            		Amounts

                            		(in millions of RMB)

                            Balance as of April 1, 2012

                            		11,436

                            Additions

                            		152

                            Deconsolidation of a subsidiary

                            		(137)

                            Impairment

                            		(157)

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		—
                            ​​​​​

                            Balance as of March 31, 2013

                            		11,294

                            Additions

                            		543

                            Impairment

                            		(44)

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		—
                            ​​​​​

                            Balance as of March 31, 2014

                            		11,793

                            Additions

                            		30,319

                            Deconsolidation of a subsidiary

                            		(4)

                            Impairment

                            		(175)

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		—
                            ​​​​​

                            Balance as of March 31, 2015

                            		41,933
                            ​​​​​
                            ​​​​​

                              Gross goodwill balances were RMB14,613RMB9,223 million and RMB44,928RMB17,273 million as of March 31, 2014have appreciated in value and 2015, respectively. Accumulated impairment losses were RMB2,820the Company estimated the fair value to be approximately RMB25,639 million and RMB2,995RMB46,351 million, asrespectively. As of the same dates.

                              In the annual impairment assessment of goodwill, the Company concluded that thedates, for certain other cost method investments with carrying amounts of respective reporting units exceeded its fair value and recorded an impairment charge of RMB157 million, RMB44RMB24,041 million and RMB175RMB18,131 million, during the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The impairment losses resulted fromCompany identified no events or changes in circumstances that may have a revision of long-term financial outlook andsignificant adverse effect on the change in business model of those reporting units. The impairment charge was determined by comparing the carrying amount of goodwill associated with that reporting unit with the implied fair value of the goodwill.investments and determined that it is not practicable to estimate their fair values, respectively.


                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                            18.13.   Investment in equity investees (Continued)

                              For the year ended March 31, 2017, equity method investments held by the Company in aggregate have met the significance criteria as defined under Rule 4-08 (g) of Regulation S-X. As such, the Company is required to present summarized financial information for all of its equity method investments as a group as follows:

                              
                            		 Year ended March 31, 
                              
                            		 2015 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Operating data:

                            		          
                             

                            Revenue

                            		  12,010  20,808  125,701 
                             

                            Cost of revenue

                            		  (9,816) (17,505) (109,790)
                             

                            Loss from operations

                            		  (1,238) (5,429) (9,071)
                             

                            Net loss

                            		  (1,269) (1,504) (6,743)


                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Balance sheet data:

                            		       
                             

                            Current assets

                            		  42,700  137,900 
                             

                            Non-current assets

                            		  33,532  122,844 
                             

                            Current liabilities

                            		  15,125  93,354 
                             

                            Non-current liabilities

                            		  537  12,375 
                             

                            Noncontrolling interests

                            		  809  7,443 

                            14.   Property and equipment, net

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Computer equipment and software

                            		  13,289  18,427 
                             

                            Buildings and leasehold improvements

                            		  6,155  10,529 
                             

                            Construction in progress

                            		  1,883  2,627 
                             

                            Furniture, office and transportation equipment

                            		  483  884 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  21,810  32,467 
                             

                            Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

                            		  (8,181) (12,261)
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Net book value

                            		  13,629  20,206 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              Depreciation and amortization expenses recognized for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 were RMB2,282 million, RMB3,699 million and RMB5,177 million, respectively.


                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                            15.   Intangible assets, net

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Non-compete agreements

                            		  4,284  5,915 
                             

                            Developed technology and patents

                            		  3,652  4,793 
                             

                            Trade names, trademarks and domain names

                            		  2,222  8,100 
                             

                            User base and customer relationships

                            		  1,234  4,169 
                             

                            Licensed copyrights of video content

                            		  787  6,087 
                             

                            Others

                            		  —  32 
                             

                            Less: accumulated amortization and impairment

                            		  (6,809) (14,988)
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Net book value

                            		  5,370  14,108 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              Amortization expenses recognized for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017 amounted to RMB2,173 million, RMB3,278 million and RMB9,008 million, respectively.

                              The estimated aggregate amortization expenses for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and thereafter are as follows:

                              
                            		 Amounts 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            For the year ending March 31,

                            		    
                             

                            2018

                            		  6,129 
                             

                            2019

                            		  2,880 
                             

                            2020

                            		  906 
                             

                            2021

                            		  429 
                             

                            2022

                            		  417 
                             

                            Thereafter

                            		  3,347 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  14,108 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​
                            ​​​​​ ​

                            16.   Goodwill

                              Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment for the years ended March 31, 2016 and 2017 were as follows:

                              
                            		 Core
                            commerce                            		 Cloud
                            computing                            		 Digital media
                            and
                            entertainment                            		 Innovation
                            initiatives and
                            others                            		 Total 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Balance as of April 1, 2015

                            		  16,297  368  20,498  4,770  41,933 
                             

                            Additions

                            		  49,926  —  797  —  50,723 
                             

                            Deconsolidation of a subsidiary (Note 4(j))

                            		  —  —  (10,556) —  (10,556)
                             

                            Impairment

                            		  —  —  (361) (94) (455)
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Balance as of March 31, 2016

                            		  66,223  368  10,378  4,676  81,645 
                             

                            Additions

                            		  13,298  —  30,110  —  43,408 
                             

                            Foreign currency translation adjustments

                            		  334  —  33  —  367 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Balance as of March 31, 2017

                            		  79,855  368  40,521  4,676  125,420 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​

                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                            16.   Goodwill (Continued)

                              Gross goodwill balances were RMB85,095 million and RMB128,870 million as of March 31, 2016 and 2017, respectively. Accumulated impairment losses were RMB3,450 million and RMB3,450 million as of the same dates, respectively.

                              In the annual goodwill impairment assessment, the Company concluded that the carrying amounts of certain reporting units exceeded their respective fair values and recorded impairment losses of RMB175 million, RMB455 million and nil during the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The impairment losses were resulted from a revision of long-term financial outlook and the change in business model of those reporting units. The impairment loss was determined by comparing the carrying amounts of goodwill associated with the reporting units with their respective implied fair values of the goodwill. The goodwill impairment is presented as an unallocated item in the segment information (Note 26) because the CODM of the Company does not consider this as part of the segment operating performance measure.

                            17.   Deferred revenue and customer advances

                              Deferred revenue and customer advances primarily represent service fees prepaid by merchants or customers for which the relevant services have not been provided. The respective balances are as follows:

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2014 2015 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Deferred revenue

                            		  4,766  5,781 
                             

                            Customer advances

                            		  2,158  2,578 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  6,924  8,359 
                             

                            Less: current portion

                            		  (6,496) (7,914)
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            Non-current portion

                            		  428  445 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   
                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Deferred revenue

                            		  7,236  9,643 
                             

                            Customer advances

                            		  3,479  6,050 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  10,715  15,693 
                             

                            Less: current portion

                            		  (10,297) (15,052)
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Non-current portion

                            		  418  641 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              All service fees received in advance are initially recorded as customer advances. These amounts are transferred to deferred revenue upon commencement of the provision of services by the Company and are recognized in the consolidated income statements in the period in which the services are provided. In general, service fees received in advance are non-refundable after such amounts are transferred to deferred revenue.


                            19.Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                            18.   Accrued expenses, accounts payable and other liabilities

                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2014 2015 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Current:

                            		       
                             

                            Accrued bonus and staff costs, including sales commission

                            		  
                            3,412                            		  
                            6,377                            		 
                             

                            Accrued cost of revenue and sales and marketing expenses

                            		  2,046  5,158 
                             

                            Other deposits received in rendering services on e-commerce marketplaces

                            		  1,156  1,391 
                             

                            Amounts due to related companies (i)

                            		  300  927 
                             

                            Liabilities arising from treasury management activities

                            		  250  776 
                             

                            Accruals for purchases of property and equipment

                            		  454  701 
                             

                            Payable due to third party marketing affiliates

                            		  649  667 
                             

                            Other taxes payable (ii)

                            		  705  635 
                             

                            Accrual for interest expense

                            		  402  535 
                             

                            Unvested share options exercised

                            		  850  518 
                             

                            Accrued donations

                            		  262  339 
                             

                            Contingent and deferred consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  443  329 
                             

                            Accrued professional services expenses

                            		  126  302 
                             

                            Others

                            		  832  1,179 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  11,887  19,834 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   
                             

                            Non-current:

                            		       
                             

                            Contingent and deferred consideration and put liability in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  
                            54                            		  
                            1,953                            		 
                             

                            Others

                            		  18  197 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             

                            		  72  2,150 
                                   
                             ​​​​​​​​
                             ​​​​​​​​
                                   
                              
                            		 As of March 31, 
                              
                            		 2016 2017 
                              
                            		 (in millions of RMB)
                            		 
                             

                            Current:

                            		       
                             

                            Accrued cost of revenue and sales and marketing expenses

                            		  
                            8,328                            		  
                            20,165                            		 
                             

                            Accrued bonus and staff costs, including sales commission

                            		  8,210  8,249 
                             

                            Accruals for purchases of property and equipment

                            		  1,248  2,554 
                             

                            Other deposits and advances received in relation to services on e-commerce marketplaces

                            		  2,021  3,023 
                             

                            Amounts due to related companies (i)

                            		  1,456  2,167 
                             

                            Contingent and deferred consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  322  2,311 
                             

                            Payable to third party marketing affiliates

                            		  1,051  1,566 
                             

                            Other taxes payable (ii)

                            		  943  1,549 
                             

                            Accrued donations

                            		  549  880 
                             

                            Accrued professional services expenses

                            		  603  709 
                             

                            Accrual for interest expense

                            		  571  445 
                             

                            Unvested share options exercised

                            		  321  146 
                             

                            Liabilities arising from treasury management activities

                            		  539  78 
                             

                            Others

                            		  1,172  3,344 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  27,334  47,186 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            Non-current:

                            		       
                             

                            Contingent and deferred consideration in relation to investments and acquisitions

                            		  
                            1,851                            		  
                            630                            		 
                             

                            Others

                            		  315  660 
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                             

                            		  2,166  1,290 
                            ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                            ​​​​​​​​​
                            ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                              (i)
                              Amounts due to related companies primarily represent balances arising from the transactions with Yahoo and the transactions with Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries.subsidiaries (Note 22). The balances are unsecured, interest free and repayable within the next twelve months.

                              (ii)
                              Other taxes payable represents business tax, value-added taxVAT and related surcharges and PRC individual income tax of employees withheld by the Company.

                            Table of Contents


                            ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                            FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                              20.19.   Bank borrowings

                                Bank borrowings are analyzed as follows:

                                
                              		 As of March 31 
                                
                              		 2014 2015 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              US$8.0 billion syndicated loan denominated in US$ (i)

                              		  30,761  — 
                               

                              Long-term other borrowings (ii)

                              		  723  1,609 
                               

                              Short-term other borrowings (iii)

                              		  1,100  1,990 
                               

                              Less: unamortized upfront fees

                              		  (773) — 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              		  31,811  3,599 
                               

                              Less: current portion

                              		  (1,100) (1,990)
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              Borrowings, non-current portion

                              		  30,711  1,609 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​
                                     
                                
                              		 As of March 31 
                                
                              		 2016 2017 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              US$4.0 billion syndicated loan denominated in US$ (i)

                              		  —  27,346 
                               

                              Long-term borrowings (ii)

                              		  1,871  3,613 
                               

                              Short-term borrowings (iii)

                              		  4,304  5,948 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              		  6,175  36,907 
                               

                              Less: current portion

                              		  (4,304) (5,948)
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              Non-current portion

                              		  1,871  30,959 
                              ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                                (i)
                                During the year ended March 31, 2014,2017, the Company completed the drawdown of a five-year US$4.0 billion denominated in U.S. dollars under an US$8.0 billion facility agreementsyndicated loan, which was entered into with certain banks whicha group of eight lead arrangers. The loan has a five-year bullet maturity and is repayablepriced at 110 basis points over a three-year period. Such amount is initially borrowed at aLIBOR. The related floating interest payments are hedged by certain interest rate swap contracts entered into by the Company. The proceeds of LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum which was amended to be LIBOR plus 1.75% per annum starting from February 2014. During the same period,loan were used for general corporate and working capital purposes (including acquisitions).

                                (ii)
                                As of March 31, 2016 and 2017, the Company completed another drawdown of US$1.0 billion denominated in U.S. dollars under the same facility agreement. The amounts are repayable over a five year period. Such amount is initially borrowed at floatinghad long-term borrowings from banks with weighted average interest rates of LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum which was amended to be LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum starting from February 2014. Such loans were collateralized by certain equity interests in the Company's major subsidiariesapproximately 4.9% and the Company maintained a debt service reserve account collateralized in favor of the lenders in connection with these facilities (Note 11). In April 2014, the unused facility amount of US$3.0 billion was drawn down. In November 2014, the Company repaid the entire US$8.0 billion syndicated loan with the proceeds from the issuance of unsecured senior notes (Note 21). The related unamortized upfront fees of RMB830 million of such syndicated loan were charged to interest expenses on the consolidated income statements upon the repayment of the syndicated loan.

                                (ii)
                                The weighted average interest rate for all long-term other borrowings for the years ended March 31, 2013, 2014 and 2015 was approximately 6.3%, 6.7% and 5.9%4.6%, respectively. Other loans are collateralized by a pledge of certain land use rights, buildings and leasehold improvements, bank deposits and construction in progress in the PRC with carrying values of RMB1,090RMB3,583 million and RMB2,216RMB6,680 million in the PRC as of March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, respectively. Such borrowings are all denominated in RMB.

                                (iii)
                                As of March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, the Company had short-term borrowings from banks which were repayable within one year or on demand and charged at interest rates ranging from 5.0%4.0% to 6.0%7.1% and 2.0%1.7% to 11.6%4.8% per annum, respectively. Such borrowings primarily consist of loansare denominated in Renminbi and U.S. dollars.RMB or US$.

                                In August 2014,April 2017, the Company entered intoreplaced its US$3.0 billion revolving credit facility, which was not drawn, with a loannew revolving credit facility agreement withprovided by certain financial institutions for an amount of US$3.05.15 billion which has not yet been drawn down. The interest rate foron any outstanding utilized amount under this new credit facility is calculated based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin. The covenants of this credit facility are substantially the same as those of the US$8.0 billion credit facility described in (i) above, except that the Company is not required to maintain a minimum level of cash in a debt service reserve account.95 basis points. This facility will primarily be usedis reserved for general corporate and working capital purposes.purposes (including acquisitions).


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                              20.   Bank borrowings (Continued)

                                As of March 31, 2015,2017, the borrowings will be due according to the following schedule:

                                
                              		 Principal amounts 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Within 1 year

                              		  1,9905,948 
                               

                              Between 1 to 2 years

                              		  2861,229 
                               

                              Between 2 to 3 years

                              		  6371,459 
                               

                              Between 3 to 4 years

                              		  471254 
                               

                              Between 4 to 5 years

                              		  21527,350 
                               

                              Beyond 5 years

                              		  667 
                              ​​​​​​
                               

                              		  3,59936,907 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​
                              ​​​​​ ​

                              21.Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                              20.   Unsecured senior notes

                                In November 2014, the Company issued unsecured senior notes included floating rate and fixed rate notes with varying maturities for an aggregate principal amount of US$8.0 billion. These notes are senior unsecured obligations which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and interest is payable in arrears, quarterly for the floating rate notes and semiannually for the fixed-rate notes, which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The proceeds from issuance of the unsecured senior notes were used to refinance the US$8.0 billion syndicated loan (Note 20).notes.

                                The following table provides a summary of the Company's unsecured senior notes as of March 31, 2015:2017:

                                
                              		 Amounts Effective
                              interest rate                              		 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		  
                              		 
                               

                              US$300 million floating rate notes due 2017

                              		  1,843  0.85%
                               

                              US$1,000 million 1.625% notes due 2017

                              		  6,136  1.73%
                               

                              US$2,250 million 2.500% notes due 2019

                              		  13,770  2.64%
                               

                              US$1,500 million 3.125% notes due 2021

                              		  9,174  3.24%
                               

                              US$2,250 million 3.600% notes due 2024

                              		  13,795  3.66%
                               

                              US$700 million 4.500% notes due 2034

                              		  4,276  4.59%
                                      
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              		  48,994    
                               

                              Unamortized discount

                              		  144    
                                      
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              Total senior unsecured notes

                              		  49,138    
                                      
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​
                                      
                                
                              		 Amounts Effective
                              interest rate                              		 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		  
                              		 
                               

                              US$300 million floating rate notes due 2017

                              		  2,066  1.69%
                               

                              US$1,000 million 1.625% notes due 2017

                              		  6,883  1.77%
                               

                              US$2,250 million 2.500% notes due 2019

                              		  15,434  2.67%
                               

                              US$1,500 million 3.125% notes due 2021

                              		  10,268  3.26%
                               

                              US$2,250 million 3.600% notes due 2024

                              		�� 15,414  3.68%
                               

                              US$700 million 4.500% notes due 2034

                              		  4,760  4.60%
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​​​
                               

                              Carrying value

                              		  54,825    
                               

                              Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs

                              		  298    
                              ​​​​ ​​​​​
                               

                              Total principal amounts of unsecured senior notes

                              		  55,123    
                               

                              Less: current portion of principal amounts of unsecured senior notes

                              		  (8,957)   
                              ​​​​​ ​​​​
                               

                              Non-current portion of principal amounts of unsecured senior notes

                              		  46,166    
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​​​
                              ​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​​​

                                The unsecured senior notes were issued at a discount amounting to US$24 million (RMB150 million). The debt issuance costs of US$39 million (RMB238 million) were presented as a direct deduction from the principal amount of the unsecured senior notes on the consolidated balance sheets. The effective interest rates for the unsecured senior unsecured notes include the interest charged on the notes as well as amortization of the debt discounts and debt issuance costs.

                                The unsecured senior unsecured notes contain covenants including, among others, limitation on liens, consolidation, merger and sale of the Company's assets. In addition, the notes rank senior in right of payment to all of the Company's existing and future indebtedness expressly subordinated in right of payment to the notes and rank at least equally in right of payment with all of the Company's existing and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness (subject to any priority rights pursuant to applicable law).

                                The proceeds from issuance of the unsecured senior notes were used in full to refinance a previous syndicated loan in the same amount. The related unamortized upfront fees of RMB830 million of such syndicated loan were charged to interest expense on the consolidated income statements upon the repayment of the syndicated loan during the year ended March 31, 2015.


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                              21.20.   Unsecured senior notes (Continued)

                                As of March 31, 2015,2017, the future principal payments for the Company's unsecured senior unsecured notes will be due according to the following schedule:

                                
                              		 Principal amounts 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Within 1 year

                              		  —8,957 
                               

                              Between 1 to 2 years

                              		  — 
                               

                              Between 2 to 3 years

                              		  7,98515,503 
                               

                              Between 3 to 4 years

                              		  — 
                               

                              Between 4 to 5 years

                              		  13,82010,336 
                               

                              Thereafter

                              		  27,33320,327 
                              ​​​​​​
                               

                              		  49,13855,123 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​
                              ​​​​​
                              ​

                                As of March 31, 2015,2017, the fair value of the Company's unsecured senior unsecured notes, based on Level 2 inputs, was US$8,0088,072 million (RMB49,184(RMB55,616 million).

                              21.   Convertible Preference Shares

                                As part of the arrangement for the repurchase of ordinary shares from Yahoo in 2012, the Company issued convertible preference shares to Yahoo with a liquidation preference of US$1.7 billion (RMB10.7 billion) (the "Convertible Preference Shares"), net of issuance cost of RMB157 million.

                                The Convertible Preference Shares were redeemable at an amount equal to their liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends at the Company's option at any time subsequent to the first anniversary of the issue date if certain conditions were met, and were mandatorily redeemable on the fifth anniversary of the issue date unless previously redeemed. The holder of the Convertible Preference Shares was entitled to semi-annual dividends at a pre-determined rate until such shares were redeemed. Such dividend rate shall be 2.0% per annum prior to the second anniversary of the issuance date, 5.0% per annum commencing on the second anniversary of the issuance date until the mandatory redemption date, and 8.0% per annum thereafter until the Convertible Preference Shares were redeemed or converted into ordinary shares. The Convertible Preference Shares were convertible at the holder's option at any time at an initial conversion price of US$18.50 per share subject to certain adjustments, and shall be mandatorily converted concurrently with the closing of a qualified IPO as defined in the Convertible Preference Share purchase agreement. The holder of such shares had no voting rights. The Convertible Preference Shares were classified in the mezzanine section between liabilities and equity on the consolidated balance sheets due to their mandatory redemption provision. Costs incurred in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Preference Shares were recorded as a reduction of the related proceeds received, and the related accretion was charged against additional paid-in capital over the period from the issuance date until the mandatory redemption date of such shares. The Convertible Preference Shares were converted into ordinary shares of the Company upon the closing of the Company's initial public offering in September 2014 (Note 4(a)).


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                              22.   Related party transactions

                                During the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, other than disclosed elsewhere, the Company had the following material related party transactions:

                                Transactions with Yahoo

                                
                              		 Year ended March 31, 
                                
                              		 2013 2014 2015 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Amount incurred or disbursed by the Company

                              		          
                               

                              Royalty fee (i)

                              		  592  748  448 
                               

                              Purchase of patents (ii)

                              		  —  430  144 
                               

                              Yahoo TIPLA amendment payment (Note 4(d))

                              		  3,487  —  —
                              		 

                              		Year ended
                              March 31,

                              		201520162017

                              		(in millions of RMB)

                              Amount incurred or disbursed by the Company

                              Royalty fee (i)

                              		448——

                              Purchase of patents (ii)

                              		144——
                                (i)
                                The Company and Yahoo entered into a Technology and Intellectual Property Licensing Agreement in October 2005 whereby Yahoo granted to the Company the use of certain intellectual property and the Company agreed to pay Yahoo a royalty fee equal to 2%, until December 31, 2012 and equal to 1.5% thereafter, of revenues recognized on a consolidated basis under U.S. GAAP, less traffic acquisition costs incurred in connection with third-party distribution partners, business tax, value-added taxVAT or similar sales tax based on revenue paid to governments. The Technology and Intellectual Property Licensing Agreement was amended during the year ended March 31, 2013 (Note 4(d)) and itarrangement was terminated upon the closing ofcompletion the Company's initial public offering in September 2014. Such royalty expense was recognized in product development expenses.

                                (ii)
                                The Company and Yahoo entered into a patent sale and assignment agreement during the yearsyear ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 pursuant to which the Company acquired ownership of certain patents for an aggregate consideration of US$70 million24 million.

                                Transactions with Ant Financial Services, Alipay, Koubei and US$24 million, respectively.their affiliates

                                
                              		 Year ended March 31, 
                                
                              		 2015 2016 2017 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Amount earned by the Company

                              		          
                               

                              Royalty fee and software technology services fee (i)

                              		  1,667  1,122  2,086 
                               

                              SME Annual Fee (ii)

                              		  90  708  847 
                               

                              Reimbursement on options and RSUs (iii)

                              		  206  113  54 
                               

                              Commission on transactions (iv)

                              		  —  246  409 
                               

                              Cloud computing revenue (iv)

                              		  —  104  264 
                               

                              Other services (iv)

                              		  158  736  621 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                               

                              		  2,121  3,029  4,281 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              Amount incurred by the Company

                              		          
                               

                              Payment processing fee (v)

                              		  3,853  4,898  5,487 
                               

                              Other services (iv)

                              		  306  299  952 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              		  4,159  5,197  6,439 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                              22.   Related party transactions (Continued)

                                Transactions with Ant Financial Services and Alipay

                                
                              		 Year ended March 31, 
                                
                              		 2013 2014 2015 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Amount earned by the Company

                              		          
                               

                              Royalty fee and software technology services fee (i)

                              		  277  1,764  1,667 
                               

                              SME Annual Fee (ii)

                              		  —  —  90 
                               

                              Reimbursement on options and RSUs (iii)

                              		  146  266  206 
                               

                              Other services (iv)

                              		  42  46  158 
                                       
                               ​​​​​​​​​​​
                               

                              		  465  2,076  2,121 
                                       
                               ​​​​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                       
                               

                              Amount incurred by the Company

                              		          
                               

                              Payment processing fee (v)

                              		  1,646  2,349  3,853 
                               

                              Other services (iv)

                              		  23  21  306 
                                       
                               ​​​​​​​​​​​
                               

                              		  1,669  2,370  4,159 
                                       
                               ​​​​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​​​​
                                       
                                (i)
                                In 2011, the Company entered into an Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement with Alipay whereby the Company licenses certain intellectual propertiesproperty and provides certain software technology services to Alipay in exchange for a royalty fee and software technology services fee in an amount equal to the costs incurred by the Company in providing the software technology services plus 49.9% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Alipay and its subsidiaries (Note 4(b)), effective from December 2011. In 2014, the Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement werewas terminated and the Company entered into the Amendedamended Alipay IPLA with Ant Financial Services. Under the Amendedamended Alipay IPLA, the Company will receivereceives the Amended IPLAProfit Share Payments amounting to the sum of an expense reimbursement plus 37.5% of the consolidated pre-tax income of Ant Financial Services, subject to certain adjustments (Note 4(b)), effective from August 2014.

                                  Royalty fee and software technology services fee under IPLAthe Intellectual Property License and Software Technology Services Agreement and the Amended IPLAProfit Share Payments were recognized as otherin consolidated income statements, net of the costs incurred for the provision of the software technology services reimbursed by Alipay of RMB218Alipay. The amounts reimbursed by Ant Financial Services to the Company were RMB486 million, RMB275RMB274 million and RMB486RMB245 million for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                                (ii)
                                The Company entered into software system use and service agreements with Ant Financial Services in 2014. In calendar years 2015 to 2017, the Company received or will receive the SME Annual Fee equal to 2.5% of the average daily book balance of the micro loans made by Ant Financial Services.Services and its affiliates. In calendar years 2018 to 2021, the Company will receive the SME Annual Fee equal to the amount paid for the calendar year 2017 (Note 4(b)).

                                (iii)
                                The Company entered into agreements with Ant Financial Services in 2012 and 2013 under which the Company will receive a reimbursement for options and RSUs relating to 7,249,277the ordinary shares granted to the employees of Ant Financial Services and its subsidiaries during the period from December 14, 2011 to March 31, 2014. Pursuant to the agreements, the Company will, upon vesting of such options and RSUs, receive a cash reimbursement equal to their respective grant date fair value. As this arrangement relates to share-based awards previously granted by the Company, the reimbursement is recognized as a reduction of share-based compensation expense.

                              Table The Company also entered into a similar agreement relating to share-based awards granted to the employees of Contents

                              Koubei and its subsidiaries, and the amounts are not material.
                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                              22.   Related party transactions (Continued)

                                (iv)
                                The Company also has other commercial arrangements, treasury management arrangements and cost sharing arrangements with Ant Financial Services, and its subsidiaries and affiliates as well as Koubei on various technical,sales and marketing, cloud computing, treasury management and other administrative services.

                                (v)
                                The Company and Alipay, among others, entered into a Commercial Agreementcommercial agreement in 2011 whereby the Company receives payment processing services in exchange for a Payment Processing Fee (Note 4(b)), which was recognized in cost of revenue.

                                As of March 31, 2013, 20142016 and 2015,2017, the Company had certain amounts of cash and short-term investments held in accounts managed by Alipay (Note 2(p) and 2 (q)2(q)). In addition, as of March 31, 2015,2016, the Company had certain assets and liabilities with a net amount of RMB1,428RMB1,517 million that are managed by a subsidiary of Ant Financial Services which primarily comprised of cash and investment securities.


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                              22.   Related party transactions (Continued)

                                Transactions with management of the Company

                                The Company entered into an agreement during the year ended March 31, 2013 whereby aCertain members of management member, through a related company acquired the interest in a business aircraft for a cash consideration of US$49.7 million (RMB312 million) which was the original purchase price of the aircraft.Company have purchased their own aircrafts for both business and personal use. The aircraft was subsequently leased to the Company, freeuse of charge, to be used mainly by the management memberthese aircrafts in connection with the performance of their duties as executive chairman. Theemployees is free of charge, and the Company has also entered into aagreed to reimburse the cost of maintenance, crew and operations of the aircraft relating to the use of these aircrafts for business purposes. Such reimbursement agreement with the related company to reimburseof the maintenance and incidental costs of the aircraft at cost and such cost was insignificant for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015.

                                During the year ended March 31, 2014, the Company granted 50,000,000 share options to a non-profit organization designated by two members of management of the Company, subject to irrevocable instructions to designate and transfer these share options to the separate charitable trusts to be established by these two members of management of the Company (Note 9).2017.

                                Transactions with Cainiao Network

                                The Company entered into agreementsan agreement with Cainiao Network during the year ended March 31, 20142016 whereby the Company disposed of twoa wholly-owned subsidiariessubsidiary to Cainiao Network for cash consideration of RMB524 million.US$33 million (RMB204 million). The major assetsasset of the disposed subsidiariessubsidiary consist of a land use rightsright in the PRC. The gain on disposalsdisposal for the year ended March 31, 20142016 amounted to RMB74RMB3 million.

                                The Company has commercial arrangements with Cainiao Network to receive certain logisticlogistics services. Expenses incurred in connection with the logisticlogistics services provided by Cainiao Network of RMB785 million, RMB2,370 million and RMB4,444 million were recorded in the consolidated income statementstatements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                                The Company also has cost sharing and other services arrangements with Cainiao Network and its subsidiaries primarily related to various administrative services and cloud computing services. In connection with these services provided by the Company, RMB20 million, RMB86 million and RMB152 million were recorded in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                                Transactions with Weibo

                                The Company entered into a strategic collaboration agreement and a marketing cooperation agreement with Weibo during the year ended March 31, 2015.2014, which expired in January 2016. Expenses incurred in connection with the marketing services provided by Weibo pursuant to these agreements and other commercial arrangements of RMB654 million, RMB715 million and RMB340 million were recorded in the cost of revenue and sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                                The Company also has other commercial arrangements with Weibo primarily related to cloud computing services. In connection with such services provided by the Company, RMB2 million, RMB38 million and RMB105 million were recorded in revenue in the consolidated income statements for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively.

                                Repurchase of ordinary shares from Softbank

                                In June 2016, the Company entered into a share purchase agreement with SoftBank, pursuant to which the Company repurchased 27,027,027 ordinary shares from SoftBank at US$74.00 per share for an aggregate consideration of approximately US$2.0 billion. Such ordinary shares were cancelled upon the completion of the transaction.


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                              22.   Related party transactions (Continued)

                                Other transactions

                                The Company's ecosystem offers different platforms on which different enterprises operate and the Company believes that all transactions on the Company's platforms are conducted on terms obtained in arms-length transactions with similar unrelated parties.

                                Other than the transactions disclosed above or elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements, the Company has commercial arrangements with SoftBank, Yahoo, its equity investees and other equity investeesrelated parties to provide and receive certain marketing, logistics, traffic acquisition, cloud computing and other services. Forservices and products. The amounts relating to these services provided and received represent less than 1% of the Company's revenue and total expenses, respectively, for the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2017.

                                In addition, the Company has made certain acquisitions and equity investments together with related parties from time to time during the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The agreements for acquisitions and equity investments were entered into by the amounts relating to these transactions were not material.parties involved and conducted on fair value basis. The significant acquisitions and equity investments together with related parties are included in Note 4.

                              23.   Restricted net assets

                                PRC laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs incorporated in the PRC only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs incorporated in the PRC are required to annually appropriate 10% of their net income to the statutory reserve prior to payment of any


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                              23.   Restricted net assets (Continued)

                                dividends, unless such reserve have reached 50% of their respective registered capital. In addition,Furthermore, registered share capital and capital reserve accounts are also restricted from withdrawal in the PRC, up to the amount of net assets held in each subsidiary and consolidated VIE. As a result of the restrictions described above and elsewhere under PRC laws and regulations, the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs incorporated in the PRC are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company in the form of dividends. Such restriction amounted to RMB26,902RMB45,472 million as of March 31, 2015.2017. Even though the Company currently does not require any such dividends, loans or advances from the PRC entities for working capital and other funding purposes, the Company may in the future require additional cash resources from them due to changes in business conditions, funding of future acquisitions and development, or merely to declare and pay dividends or distributions to its shareholders. Except for the above or disclosed elsewhere, there is no other restriction on the use of proceeds generated by the Company's subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs to satisfy any obligations of the Company.


                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                              24.   Commitments

                              (a)   Capital commitments

                                Capital expenditures contracted for are analyzed as follows:

                                
                              		 As of March 31, 
                                
                              		 2014 2015 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Contracted but not provided for:

                              		       
                               

                              Purchase of property and equipment

                              		  980  1,190 
                               

                              Construction of corporate campuses

                              		  1,562  2,181 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              		  2,542  3,371 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​
                                     
                                
                              		 As of March 31, 
                                
                              		 2016 2017 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              Contracted but not provided for:

                              		       
                               

                              Purchase of property and equipment

                              		  803  1,771 
                               

                              Construction of corporate campuses

                              		  1,688  2,838 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              		  2,491  4,609 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​

                              (b)   Operating lease commitments for office facility and transportation equipment

                                The Company has leased office premises and transportation equipment under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. These leases have varying terms and renewal rights. The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

                                
                              		 As of March 31, 
                                
                              		 2014 2015 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              No later than 1 year

                              		  198  400 
                               

                              Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

                              		  214  623 
                               

                              More than 5 years

                              		  8  33 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              Total

                              		  420  1,056 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​
                                     
                                
                              		 As of March 31, 
                                
                              		 2016 2017 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              No later than 1��year

                              		  394  862 
                               

                              Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

                              		  441  1,593 
                               

                              More than 5 years

                              		  65  834 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              Total

                              		  900  3,289 
                              ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                                For the years ended March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, the Company incurred rental expenses under operating leases of RMB251RMB322 million, RMB217RMB451 million and RMB322RMB747 million, respectively.

                              (c)   Commitments for co-location, bandwidth fees and marketing expenses

                                
                              		 As of March 31, 
                                
                              		 2016 2017 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              No later than 1 year

                              		  2,680  3,777 
                               

                              Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

                              		  4,919  6,680 
                               

                              More than 5 years

                              		  823  3,678 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              Total

                              		  8,422  14,135 
                              ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 AND 20152017

                              24.   Commitments (Continued)

                              (c)   Commitments for co-location, bandwidth fees and marketing expenses

                                
                              		 As of March 31, 
                                
                              		 2014 2015 
                                
                              		 (in millions of RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              No later than 1 year

                              		  884  2,089 
                               

                              Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

                              		  2,523  3,045 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               

                              Total

                              		  3,407  5,134 
                                     
                               ​​​​​​​​
                               ​​​​​​​​
                                     

                              (d)  Investment commitments

                                The Company was obligated to pay up to RMB12,333RMB65,597 million and RMB5,364RMB17,495 million for business combinations and the acquisition of investment securities and equity investees under various arrangements as of March 31, 20142016 and 2015,2017, respectively.

                              (e)   Other commitments

                                During The commitment balance as of March 31, 2016 primarily included the considerations for the acquisition of Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)) and the investment in Suning (Note 4(w)), both of which were completed and settled during the year ended March 31, 2015,2017. The commitment balance as of March 31, 2017 primarily includes the consideration for the privatization of Intime (Note 4(v)) and the investments in Sanjiang (Note 4(q)) and Ele.me (Note 4(t)).

                              (e)   Commitments for licensed copyrights of video content

                                The Company has entered into non-cancellable licensing agreements with third-party vendors to acquire certain licensed copyrights of video content. The future aggregate minimum payments under non-cancellable licensing agreements are as follows:

                                
                              		 As of
                              March 31,                              		 
                                
                              		 2016 2017 
                                
                              		 (in millions of
                              RMB)
                              		 
                               

                              No later than 1 year

                              		  885  4,518 
                               

                              Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

                              		  2,885  3,913 
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                               

                              Total

                              		  3,770  8,431 
                              ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​
                              ​​​​​​​​​
                              ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                              (f)   Sponsorship commitment

                                In January 2017, the Company announced its intentionentered into a framework agreement with the International Olympic Committee (the "IOC") and the United States Olympic Committee for a long-term partnership arrangement through 2028. Joining in The Olympic Partner worldwide sponsorship program, the Company has become the official "E-Commerce Services" Partner and "Cloud Services" Partner of the IOC. In addition, the Company has been granted certain marketing rights, benefits and opportunities relating to establish two not-for-profit foundationsfuture Olympic Games and related initiatives, events and activities. The Company will provide at least US$815 million worth of HK$1 billion (RMB792 million)cash, cloud infrastructure services and New Taiwan Dollar 10 billion (RMB1,983 million) to support the career and entrepreneurial aspirations of young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan, respectively. The core mission of these foundations is to help young entrepreneurs start and grow businessescloud computing services, as well as to enable them to offer productsmarketing and services onmedia support in connection with various Olympic initiatives, events and activities, including the marketplacesOlympic Games and platforms in the Alibaba ecosystem. Through these funds, young entrepreneurs can gain access to financial capital and various technical assistance as well as experience sharing to run their early start-up enterprises.Winter Olympic Games through 2028. As of March 31, 2015,2017, the Company wasaggregate amount of cash to be paid and value of services to be provided in the process of setting up the legal structures of these two foundations and the Company intends to fulfill its commitments over an extended period of time.future approximates US$800 million.

                              25.   Risks and contingencies

                                (a)
                                The Company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and considered as a foreign entity under PRC laws. Due to the restrictions on foreign investment and ownership on the business related to Internet content provision, telecom value-added services, financial services and others, the Company conducts its business through various contractual arrangements with consolidated VIEs that are generally owned and controlled by certain management members or founders of the Company. The consolidated VIEs hold the licenses and approvals that are essential for their business operations in the PRC and the Company has entered into various agreements with the consolidated VIEs and their equity holders such that the Company has

                              Table of Contents


                              ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                              FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                              25.   Risks and contingencies (Continued)

                                  the right to benefit from their licenses and approvals and generally has control of the consolidated VIEs. In the Company's opinion, the current ownership structure and the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs and their equity holders as well as the operations of the consolidated VIEs are in substantial compliance with all existing PRC laws, rules and regulations. However, there may be changes and other developments in PRC laws, rules and regulations. Accordingly, the Company gives no assurance that PRC government authorities will not take a view in the future that is contrary to the opinion of the Company. If the current ownership structure of the Company and its contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs and their equity holders were found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the Company's ability to conduct its business could be impacted and the Company may be required to restructure its ownership structure and operations in the PRC to comply with the changes in the PRC laws which may result in deconsolidation of the consolidated VIEs.


                                  Table of Contents


                                  ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                                  25.   Risks and contingencies (Continued)

                                    (b)
                                    The PRC market in which the Company operates poses certain macro-economic and regulatory risks and uncertainties. These uncertainties extend to the ability of the Company to operate or invest in online and mobile commerce or other Internet related businesses, representing the principal services provided by the Company, in the PRC. The information and technology industries are highly regulated. Restrictions are currently in place or are unclear regarding what specific segments of these industries foreign owned enterprises, like the Company, may operate. If new or more extensive restrictions were imposed on the segments in which the Company is permitted to operate, the Company could be required to sell or cease to operate or invest in some or all of its current businesses in the PRC.

                                    (c)
                                    The Company's sales, purchase and expense transactions are generally denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Company's assets and liabilities are denominated in RMB. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the PBOC. Remittances in currencies other than RMB by the Company in the PRC must be processed through the PBOC or other PRC foreign exchange regulatory bodies and require certain supporting documentation in order to effect the remittance. If such foreign exchange control system prevents the Company from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy its currency demands, the Company may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies and the Company's ability to fund its business activities that are conducted in foreign currencies could be adversely affected.

                                    (d)
                                    Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, restricted cash and investment securities. As of March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 2015,2017, substantially all of the Company's cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, restricted cash and investment securities were held by major financial institutions located worldwide, including Hong Kong and the PRC. If the banking system or the financial markets deteriorate or remainbecome volatile, the financial institutions and other issuers of financial instruments held by the Company could become insolvent and the markets for these instruments could become illiquid, in which case the Company could lose some or all of the value of its investments.

                                    (e)
                                    During the yearyears ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Company began to offeroffered a trade assurance program on the international wholesale marketplaces at no charge to the wholesale buyers and sellers. If the wholesale sellers who participate in this program do not deliver the products in their stated specifications to the wholesale buyers on schedule, the Company may compensate the wholesale buyers for their losses on behalf of the wholesale sellers up to a pre-determined amount following a review of each particular case. In turn, the Company will seek a full reimbursement from the wholesale sellers for the prepaid

                                  Table of Contents


                                  ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                                  25.   Risks and contingencies (Continued)

                                      reimbursement amount; however,amount, yet the Company is exposed to a risk over the collectability of such reimbursement from the wholesale sellers. During the yearyears ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017, the Company did not incur any material losses with respect to the compensation provided under this program. Given that the maximum compensation for each wholesale seller is the pre-determined based on their individual risk assessments by the Company based onconsidering their credit profile or other relevant information, the Company determined that the likelihood of material default on such payments are not probable and therefore no provisions have been made in relation to this program.

                                    (f)
                                    In the ordinary course of business, the Company makes strategic investments in privately held companies and listed securities to increase the service offerings and expand capabilities. The Company continually reviews its investments to determine whether a decline in fair value below the carrying value is other than temporary.other-than-temporary. The primary factors which the Company considers in its determination include the length of time that the fair value of the investment is below the Company's carrying value; post-balance sheet date fair value of the investment; the financial condition, operating performance, strategic collaboration with and the prospects of

                                  Table of Contents


                                  ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013, 2014 AND 2015

                                  25.   Risks and contingencies (Continued)

                                      the investee; the economic or technological environment in which the investee operates; and other entity specific information such as recent financing rounds completed by the investee companies. Fair value of the listed securities is subject to volatility and may be materially affected by market fluctuations. If the decline in fair value is significant and other than temporary,other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the investment is written down to its fair value and this may negatively impact the results of operations of the Company.



                                    (g)
                                    On January 30, 2015, the Company was named as a defendant in the first of seven putative shareholder class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York, Central District of California and Northern District of California. The actions were brought on behalf of a putative class of Alibaba American Depositary Receipt shareholders from October 21, 2014 through January 28, 2015, inclusive. The complaints generally allege that the registration statement and prospectus filed in connection with the Company's initial public offering contained misrepresentations regarding the Company's business operations and financial prospects, and failed to disclose, among other things, regulatory scrutiny by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (the "SAIC") prior to the initial public offering. Specifically, plaintiffs allege that the Company should have disclosed a July 16, 2014 administrative guidance meeting with the SAIC that was later the subject of a self-described "white paper" issued and then withdrawn by the SAIC. Plaintiffs assert claims against the Company and certain management members for violation of sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5. Plaintiffs seek unspecified damages, attorney's fees and costs. The Company is currently unable to estimate the possible loss or possible range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these lawsuits. An unfavorable outcome from the lawsuits, including any plaintiff's appeal of the judgment in these lawsuits, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in the future.

                                    (h)
                                    In the ordinary course of business, the Company is from time to time involved in legal proceedings and litigationlitigations relating to disputes relating to trademarks and other intellectual property, among others. There are no legal proceedings and litigations that have in the recent past had, or to the Company's knowledge, are reasonably possible to have, a material impact on the Company's financial positions, results of operations or cash flows. The Company did not accrue any material loss contingencies in this respect as of March 31, 2013, 20142015, 2016 and 20152017 as the Company did not consider an unfavorable outcome in any material respects in these legal proceedings and litigations to be probable.

                                  26.   Subsequent eventsSegment information

                                    The Company presents segment information after elimination of inter-company transactions. In April 2015, thegeneral, revenue, cost of revenue and operating expenses are directly attributable, or are allocated, to each segment. The Company entered into an arrangement withallocates costs and expenses that are not directly attributable to a bank in the PRCspecific segment, such as those that support infrastructure across different segments, to invest in wealth management products with an aggregate principal amount of RMB7.3 billion. The wealth management products carry an interest rate of 5% per annum and the return of principal and interest incomedifferent segments mainly on the productsbasis of usage, revenue or headcount, depending on the nature of the relevant costs and expenses. The Company does not allocate assets to its segments as the CODM does not evaluate the performance of segments using asset information.


                                  Table of Contents


                                  ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                                  26.   Segment information (Continued)

                                    The following tables present the summary of each segment's revenue, income from operations and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and amortization ("Adjusted EBITA") which is guaranteed by the bank. The wealth management products have been servedconsidered as collateral to the issuing banka segment operating performance measure, for the issuance of a financing amounting to RMB6.9 billion to one of the founders of the Company to support his minority investment through a PRC limited partnership in Wasu, a company listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange which is engaged in the business of digital media broadcasting and distribution in the PRC. The financing has also been collateralized by the equity interests of Wasu held by such PRC limited partnership. The founder has also pledge his interest in the PRC limited partnership to the Company. The Company entered into strategic cooperation agreements with a major shareholder of Wasu in order to enhance the Company's capabilities and profile in the entertainment sector in the PRC.

                                    In connection with the issuance of the consolidated financial statements for the yearyears ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017:

                                    
                                  		 Year ended March 31, 2015 
                                    
                                  		 Core
                                  commerce                                  		 Cloud
                                  computing                                  		 Digital media
                                  and
                                  entertainment                                  		 Innovation
                                  initiatives
                                  and others                                  		 Total
                                  segments                                  		 Unallocated (i) Consolidated 
                                    
                                  		 (in millions of RMB, except percentages)
                                  		 
                                   

                                  Revenue

                                  		  69,536  1,271  2,191  3,206  76,204  —  76,204 
                                   

                                  Income (Loss) from operations

                                  		  40,194  (1,923) (2,993) (5,549) 29,729  (6,594) 23,135 
                                   

                                  Add: share-based compensation expense

                                  		  4,391  813  425  3,460  9,089  3,939  13,028 
                                   

                                  Add: amortization of intangible assets

                                  		  279  20  1,107  472  1,878  211  2,089 
                                   

                                  Add: impairment of goodwill

                                  		  —  —  —  —  —  175  175 
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​​
                                   

                                  Adjusted EBITA (ii)

                                  		  44,864  (1,090) (1,461) (1,617) 40,696  (2,269)   
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​​​
                                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                  ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​​​​
                                   

                                  Adjusted EBITA margin

                                  		  65% (86)% (67)% (50)%         


                                    
                                  		 Year ended March 31, 2016 
                                    
                                  		 Core
                                  commerce                                  		 Cloud
                                  computing                                  		 Digital media
                                  and
                                  entertainment                                  		 Innovation
                                  initiatives
                                  and others                                  		 Total
                                  segments                                  		 Unallocated (i) Consolidated 
                                    
                                  		 (in millions of RMB, except percentages)
                                  		 
                                   

                                  Revenue

                                  		  92,335  3,019  3,972  1,817  101,143  —  101,143 
                                   

                                  Income (Loss) from operations

                                  		  51,153  (2,605) (4,112) (7,216) 37,220  (8,118) 29,102 
                                   

                                  Add: share-based compensation expense

                                  		  6,224  1,349  981  3,092  11,646  4,436  16,082 
                                   

                                  Add: amortization of intangible assets

                                  		  659  4  1,321  657  2,641  290  2,931 
                                   

                                  Add: impairment of goodwill

                                  		  —  —  —  —  —  455  455 
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​​​​
                                   

                                  Adjusted EBITA (ii)

                                  		  58,036  (1,252) (1,810) (3,467) 51,507  (2,937)   
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​​
                                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​​
                                   

                                  Adjusted EBITA margin

                                  		  63% (41)% (46)% (191)%         

                                  Table of Contents


                                  ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                                  26.   Segment information (Continued)

                                    
                                  		 Year ended March 31, 2017 
                                    
                                  		 Core
                                  commerce                                  		 Cloud
                                  computing                                  		 Digital media
                                  and
                                  entertainment                                  		 Innovation
                                  initiatives
                                  and others                                  		 Total
                                  segments                                  		 Unallocated (i) Consolidated 
                                    
                                  		 (in millions of RMB, except percentages)
                                  		 
                                   

                                  Revenue

                                  		  133,880  6,663  14,733  2,997  158,273  —  158,273 
                                   

                                  Income (Loss) from operations

                                  		  74,180  (1,681) (9,882) (6,798) 55,819  (7,764) 48,055 
                                   

                                  Add: share-based compensation expense

                                  		  5,994  1,201  1,454  3,017  11,666  4,329  15,995 
                                   

                                  Add: amortization of intangible assets

                                  		  2,258  4  1,886  656  4,804  318  5,122 
                                  ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​​​​
                                   

                                  Adjusted EBITA (ii)

                                  		  82,432  (476) (6,542) (3,125) 72,289  (3,117)   
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​​
                                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​​​ ​ ​​​​
                                   

                                  Adjusted EBITA margin

                                  		  62% (7)% (44)% (104)%         

                                    The following table presents the reconciliation from the Adjusted EBITA to the consolidated net income for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017:

                                    
                                  		 Year ended March 31, 
                                    
                                  		 2015 2016 2017 
                                    
                                  		 (in millions of RMB)
                                  		 
                                   

                                  Total Segments Adjusted EBITA

                                  		  40,696  51,507  72,289 
                                   

                                  Unallocated (i)

                                  		  (2,269) (2,937) (3,117)
                                   

                                  Share-based compensation expense

                                  		  (13,028) (16,082) (15,995)
                                   

                                  Amortization of intangible assets

                                  		  (2,089) (2,931) (5,122)
                                   

                                  Impairment of goodwill

                                  		  (175) (455) —
                                  		 
                                  ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                                   

                                  Consolidated income from operations

                                  		  23,135  29,102  48,055 
                                   

                                  Interest and investment income, net

                                  		  9,455  52,254  8,559 
                                   

                                  Interest expenses

                                  		  (2,750) (1,946) (2,671)
                                   

                                  Other income, net

                                  		  2,486  2,058  6,086 
                                   

                                  Income tax expenses

                                  		  (6,416) (8,449) (13,776)
                                   

                                  Share of results of equity investees

                                  		  (1,590) (1,730) (5,027)
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                                   

                                  Consolidated net income

                                  		  24,320  71,289  41,226 
                                  ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                  ​​​​​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​

                                  Table of Contents


                                  ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LIMITED
                                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  FOR THE YEARS ENDED MARCH 31, 2015, 2016 AND 2017

                                  26.   Segment information (Continued)

                                    The following table presents the total depreciation and amortization expenses of property and equipment and land use rights by segment for the years ended March 31, 2015, 2016 and 2017:

                                    
                                  		 Year ended March 31, 
                                    
                                  		 2015 2016 2017 
                                    
                                  		 (in millions of RMB)
                                  		 
                                   

                                  Core commerce

                                  		  1,177  1,696  2,124 
                                   

                                  Cloud computing

                                  		  596  1,116  1,438 
                                   

                                  Digital media and entertainment

                                  		  132  316  752 
                                   

                                  Innovation initiatives and others

                                  		  166  333  407 
                                   

                                  Unallocated (i)

                                  		  255  309  563 
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​​ ​
                                   

                                  Total depreciation and amortization expenses of property and equipment and land use rights

                                  		  2,326  3,770  5,284 
                                  ​​​​ ​​​ ​ ​​ ​​
                                  ​​​​​​​​​​​​
                                  ​​​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​​ ​ ​
                                    (i)
                                    Unallocated expenses are primarily related to corporate administrative costs and other miscellaneous items that are not allocated to individual segments.

                                    (ii)
                                    Adjusted EBITA represents net income before (i) interest and investment income, net, other income, net, interest expense, income tax expenses and share of results of equity investees, and (ii) certain non-cash expenses, consisting of share-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets and impairment of goodwill, which are not reflective of the Company's core operating performance.

                                    Details of the Company's revenue by segment are set out in Note 5. As substantially all of the Company's long-lived assets are located in the PRC and substantially all of the Company's revenue is derived from within the PRC, no geographical information is presented.

                                  27.   Subsequent event

                                    In May 2017, the board of directors of the Company has evaluated subsequent events through June 25, 2015,authorized the dateimplementation of a new share repurchase program for an aggregate amount of up to US$6.0 billion over a period of two years. The new program replaced, and cancelled the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.remaining amount under, the existing share repurchase program which was implemented since August 2015.