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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, 2018

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...............

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 US$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: 2,571,929,843 Ordinary Shares

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

ý  Yes     o  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).

ý  Yes     o  No

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

Large accelerated filer ý   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Emerging 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


Table of Contents


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page

 

PART I

   

ITEM 1

 

IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

  1

ITEM 2

 

OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

  1

ITEM 3

 

KEY INFORMATION

  1

ITEM 4

 

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

  61

ITEM 4A.

 

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

  121

ITEM 5

 

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

  121

ITEM 6

 

DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

  167

ITEM 7

 

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

  187

ITEM 8

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  207

ITEM 9

 

THE OFFER AND LISTING

  210

ITEM 10

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  212

ITEM 11

 

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

  220

ITEM 12

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

  221

 

PART II

 
 

ITEM 13

 

DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

  224

ITEM 14

 

MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

  224

ITEM 15

 

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

  224

ITEM 16A.

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

  225

ITEM 16B.

 

CODE OF ETHICS

  225

ITEM 16C.

 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

  225

ITEM 16D.

 

EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEE

  225

ITEM 16E.

 

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

  225

ITEM 16F.

 

CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

  226

ITEM 16G.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

  226

ITEM 16H.

 

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

  227

 

PART III

 
 

ITEM 17

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 

  228

ITEM 18

 

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 

  228

ITEM 19

 

EXHIBITS. 

  228

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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:

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       Our reporting currency is the Renminbi. This annual report contains translations of Renminbi and Hong Kong dollar amounts into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations of Renminbi and Hong Kong dollars into U.S. dollars were made at RMB6.2726 to US$1.00 and HK$7.8484 to US$1.00, the respective exchange rates on March 30, 2018 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. We make no representation that the Renminbi, Hong Kong dollar or U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this annual report could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars, Renminbi or Hong Kong dollars, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all. On July 20, 2018, the noon buying rate for Renminbi and Hong Kong dollars was RMB6.7659 to US$1.00 and HK$7.8491 to US$1.00, respectively.

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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 or markets 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 industry or 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.

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PART I

ITEM 1    IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

       Not Applicable.

ITEM 2    OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

       Not Applicable.

ITEM 3    KEY INFORMATION

A.    Selected Financial Data

       The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended March 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. Our selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 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.

       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,  
 
  2014   2015   2016   2017   2018  
 
  RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$  
 
  (in millions, except per share data)
 

Revenue

    52,504     76,204     101,143     158,273     250,266     39,898  

Cost of revenue

    (13,369 )   (23,834 )   (34,355 )   (59,483 )   (107,044 )   (17,065 )

Product development expenses

    (5,093 )   (10,658 )   (13,788 )   (17,060 )   (22,754 )   (3,628 )

Sales and marketing expenses

    (4,545 )   (8,513 )   (11,307 )   (16,314 )   (27,299 )   (4,352 )

General and administrative expenses

    (4,218 )   (7,800 )   (9,205 )   (12,239 )   (16,241 )   (2,589 )

Amortization of intangible assets

    (315 )   (2,089 )   (2,931 )   (5,122 )   (7,120 )   (1,135 )

Impairment of goodwill

    (44 )   (175 )   (455 )       (494 )   (79 )

Income from operations

    24,920     23,135     29,102     48,055     69,314     11,050  

Interest and investment income, net

    1,648     9,455     52,254     8,559     30,495     4,862  

Interest expense

    (2,195 )   (2,750 )   (1,946 )   (2,671 )   (3,566 )   (568 )

Other income, net

    2,429     2,486     2,058     6,086     4,160     663  

Income before income tax and share of results of equity investees

    26,802     32,326     81,468     60,029     100,403     16,007  

Income tax expenses

    (3,196 )   (6,416 )   (8,449 )   (13,776 )   (18,199 )   (2,901 )

Share of results of equity investees

    (203 )   (1,590 )   (1,730 )   (5,027 )   (20,792 )   (3,315 )

Net income

    23,403     24,320     71,289     41,226     61,412     9,791  

Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

    (88 )   (59 )   171     2,449     2,681     427  

Net income attributable to Alibaba Group Holding Limited

    23,315     24,261     71,460     43,675     64,093     10,218  

Accretion of convertible preference shares (1) and mezzanine equity

    (31 )   (15 )           (108 )   (17 )

Dividends accrued on convertible preference shares (1)

    (208 )   (97 )              
 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

    23,076     24,149     71,460     43,675     63,985     10,201  

Earnings per share/ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders:

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Basic

    10.61     10.33     29.07     17.52     25.06     4.00  

Diluted

    10.00     9.70     27.89     16.97     24.51     3.91  

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

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Basic

    2,175     2,337     2,458     2,493     2,553        

Diluted

    2,332     2,500     2,562     2,573     2,610        

Supplemental information: (2)

   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Adjusted EBITDA

    30,731     40,753     52,340     74,456     105,792     16,866  

Adjusted EBITA

    29,392     38,427     48,570     69,172     97,003     15,465  

Non-GAAP net income

    28,263     34,876     42,791     57,871     83,214     13,266  

Non-GAAP diluted EPS

    12.08     13.93     16.77     23.44     32.86     5.24  

Free cash flow

    32,269     48,121     51,279     68,790     99,362     15,841  

(1)
Upon the completion of our initial public offering in September 2014, all of our then outstanding convertible preference shares were converted into ordinary shares.
(2)
See "Non-GAAP Measures" below.

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Non-GAAP Measures

       We use adjusted 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 adjusted 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 certain income or expenses that we include in income from operations, net income and diluted EPS. We believe that adjusted 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.

       Adjusted 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. These non-GAAP financial 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.

       Adjusted EBITDA 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 expense, amortization, depreciation, impairment of goodwill and (iii) an equity-settled donation expense, which 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 (iii) 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 and investments, gain or loss on deemed disposals/disposals/revaluation of investments, amortization of excess value receivable arising from the restructuring of commercial arrangements with Ant Financial, immediate recognition of unamortized professional fees and upfront fees upon early repayment/termination of bank borrowings, an equity-settled donation expense, the expenses relating to the sale of shares by existing shareholders in our initial public offering and others, as adjusted for the tax effects on non-GAAP adjustments.

       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, intangible assets and licensed copyrights (excluding acquisition of land use rights and construction in progress), and adjusted for changes in loan receivables relating to micro loans of our SME loan business (which we transferred to Ant Financial in February 2015) and others. We

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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 sets forth a reconciliation of our net income to adjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated:

 
  Year ended March 31,  
 
  2014   2015   2016   2017   2018  
 
  RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net income

    23,403     24,320     71,289     41,226     61,412     9,791  

Less: Interest and investment income, net

    (1,648 )   (9,455 )   (52,254 )   (8,559 )   (30,495 )   (4,862 )

Add: Interest expense

    2,195     2,750     1,946     2,671     3,566     568  

Less: Other income, net

    (2,429 )   (2,486 )   (2,058 )   (6,086 )   (4,160 )   (663 )

Add: Income tax expenses

    3,196     6,416     8,449     13,776     18,199     2,901  

Add: Share of results of equity investees

    203     1,590     1,730     5,027     20,792     3,315  

Income from operations

    24,920     23,135     29,102     48,055     69,314     11,050  

Add: Share-based compensation expense

    2,844     13,028     16,082     15,995     20,075     3,201  

Add: Amortization of intangible assets          

    315     2,089     2,931     5,122     7,120     1,135  

Add: Impairment of goodwill

    44     175     455         494     79  

Add: Equity-settled donation expense          

    1,269                    
 

Adjusted EBITA

    29,392     38,427     48,570     69,172     97,003     15,465  

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

    1,339     2,326     3,770     5,284     8,789     1,401  

Adjusted EBITDA

    30,731     40,753     52,340     74,456     105,792     16,866  

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

 
  Year ended March 31,  
 
  2014   2015   2016   2017   2018  
 
  RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net income

    23,403     24,320     71,289     41,226     61,412     9,791  

Add: Share-based compensation expense

    2,844     13,028     16,082     15,995     20,075     3,201  

Add: Amortization of intangible assets          

    315     2,089     2,931     5,122     7,120     1,135  

Add: Impairment of goodwill and investments

    163     1,032     2,319     2,542     20,463     3,262  

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

    (384 )   (6,715 )   (50,435 )   (7,346 )   (25,945 )   (4,137 )

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

        166     264     264     264     42  

Add: Immediate recognition of unamortized professional fees and upfront fees upon early repayment/termination of bank borrowings                                                 

    664     830             92     15  

Add: Equity-settled donation expense

    1,269                      

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

        231                  

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

    (11 )   (105 )   341     68     (267 )   (43 )

Non-GAAP net income

    28,263     34,876     42,791     57,871     83,214     13,266  

(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.

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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,  
 
  2014   2015   2016   2017   2018  
 
  RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$  
 
  (in millions, except per share data)
 

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders

    23,076     24,149     71,460     43,675     63,985     10,201  

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

    31     15                  

Add: Dividend eliminated upon assumed conversion of convertible preference shares

    208     97                  

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

                (11 )   (21 )   (3 )

Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders for computing diluted EPS

    23,315     24,261     71,460     43,664     63,964     10,198  

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

    4,860     10,556     (28,498 )   16,645     21,802     3,475  

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

    28,175     34,817     42,962     60,309     85,766     13,673  

Weighted average number of shares on a diluted basis

    2,332     2,500     2,562     2,573     2,610        

Diluted EPS (2)

    10.00     9.70     27.89     16.97     24.51     3.91  

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

    2.08     4.23     (11.12 )   6.47     8.35     1.33  

Non-GAAP diluted EPS (4)

    12.08     13.93     16.77     23.44     32.86     5.24  

(1)
See the table above regarding 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,  
 
  2014   2015   2016   2017   2018  
 
  RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$  
 
  (in millions)
 

Net cash provided by operating activities

    26,379     41,217     56,836     80,326     125,171     19,955  

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

    (3,285 )   (4,770 )   (5,438 )   (12,220 )   (25,809 )   (4,114 )

Add: Changes in loan receivables, net and others

    9,175     11,674     (119 )   684        
 

Free cash flow

    32,269     48,121     51,279     68,790     99,362     15,841  

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Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

 
  As of March 31,  
 
  2014   2015   2016   2017   2018  
 
  RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$  
 
  (in millions)
 

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments

    43,632     122,341     111,518     146,747     205,395     32,745  

Investment securities and investments in equity investees (1)

    22,131     52,146     125,031     155,874     182,707     29,128  

Property and equipment, net

    5,581     9,139     13,629     20,206     66,489     10,600  

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

    13,699     48,508     87,015     139,528     189,614     30,228  

Total assets

    111,549     255,434     364,245     506,812     717,124     114,326  

Current bank borrowings

    1,100     1,990     4,304     5,948     6,028     961  

Secured borrowings

    9,264                      

Non-current bank borrowings

    30,711     1,609     1,871     30,959     34,153     5,445  

Unsecured senior notes (2)

        48,994     51,391     54,825     85,372     13,610  

Total liabilities

    70,731     97,363     114,356     182,691     277,685     44,270  

Convertible preference shares (3)

    10,284                      

Total Alibaba Group Holding Limited shareholders' equity

    29,338     145,439     216,987     278,799     365,822     58,320  

Total equity (4)

    30,417     157,413     249,539     321,129     436,438     69,578  

(1)
Includes both current and non-current investment securities and investments 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 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

Annual active consumers

       The table below sets forth the number of annual active consumers on our China retail marketplaces for the periods indicated:

 
  Twelve months ended  
 
  Jun 30,
2016
  Sep 30,
2016
  Dec 31,
2016
  Mar 31,
2017
  Jun 30,
2017
  Sep 30,
2017
  Dec 31,
2017
  Mar 31,
2018
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Annual active consumers

    434     439     443     454     466     488     515     552  

Mobile MAUs

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

 
  The month ended  
 
  Jun 30,
2016
  Sep 30,
2016
  Dec 31,
2016
  Mar 31,
2017
  Jun 30,
2017
  Sep 30,
2017
  Dec 31,
2017
  Mar 31,
2018
 
 
  (in millions)
 

Mobile MAUs

    427     450     493     507     529     549     580     617  

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GMV

       The table below sets forth the GMV, in respect of our China retail marketplaces for the periods indicated:

 
  Year ended  
 
  Mar 31, 2016   Mar 31, 2017   Mar 31, 2018  
 
  (in billions of RMB)
 

GMV

                   

Taobao Marketplace GMV

    1,877     2,202     2,689  

Tmall GMV

    1,215     1,565     2,131  

Total GMV

    3,092     3,767     4,820  

Exchange 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 RMB6.2726 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on March 30, 2018 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 July 20, 2018, the noon buying rate was RMB6.7659 to US$1.00.

       The following table sets forth, for the periods 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)
 

2014

    6.2046     6.1704     6.2591     6.0402  

2015

    6.4778     6.2869     6.4896     6.1870  

2016

    6.9430     6.6549     6.9580     6.4480  

2017

    6.5063     6.7350     6.9575     6.4773  

2018

                         

January

    6.2841     6.4233     6.5263     6.2841  

February

    6.3280     6.3183     6.3471     6.2649  

March

    6.2726     6.3174     6.3565     6.2685  

April

    6.3325     6.2967     6.3340     6.2655  

May

    6.4096     6.3701     6.4175     6.3325  

June

    6.6171     6.4651     6.6235     6.3850  

July (through July 20, 2018)

    6.7659     6.6775     6.7701     6.6123  

(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.

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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, results of operations and prospects.

       We have established a strong brand name and reputation for our ecosystem. Any loss of trust in our ecosystem or platforms could harm our reputation and the value of our brand and result in consumers, merchants, brands and other participants reducing their activity level in our ecosystem, which could materially reduce our revenue and profitability. Our ability to maintain our position as a trusted platform is based in large part upon:

    the quality, breadth and functionality of products, services and functions and the quality, variety and appeal of content available through our marketplaces and platforms, and offered by the merchants, developers, logistics providers, service providers and other participants in our ecosystem;

    the reliability and integrity of our platforms as well as the commitment to high levels of service, reliability and integrity by our company and the merchants, developers, logistics providers, service providers and other participants in our ecosystem;

    the safety, security and integrity of the data on our systems, as well as the effectiveness and security of the procedures and systems we have in place to maintain, and the commitment of the other participants in our ecosystem to maintaining, the security and privacy of data generated on our marketplaces and platforms;

    the effectiveness and perceived fairness of rules governing our marketplaces and other platforms and 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.

Sustained investment 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 business and our revenue also continued to increase in recent years. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our growth at these levels, or at all. As we continue to invest in our business and make strategic acquisitions and investments, such as in logistics, our New Retail initiatives, our global expansion and our digital media and entertainment business, we expect our margins to decrease. From fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2018, adjusted EBITDA margin declined from 47% to 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 or invest in businesses that have lower margins, 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 current net income growth rates or our margins.

       We continue to increase our spending and investment in our business to support our future growth, including:

    expanding our core commerce offerings, including our New Retail initiatives, our cross-border and international businesses and Tmall Supermarket, as well as enhancing user experience;

    strengthening our logistics network and enhancing our logistics capabilities;

    researching and developing new technologies and improving our technological infrastructure and cloud computing capacity;

    developing and acquiring content for our digital media and entertainment business; and

    incubating new innovation initiatives.

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       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 in the short term and potentially for longer periods. For example, sustained investments in our New Retail initiatives, such as Intime and Hema fresh food store chain, as well as our logistics network and logistics capabilities, will increase our costs and expenses, including significant operating expenses, capital expenditure and related amortization costs. As we develop our New Retail business, we may also be perceived to be competing with other participants in our ecosystem, such as certain merchants and retailers, which may negatively affect our relationships with them. Moreover, many of our business initiatives emphasize expanding our user base and enhancing user experience, rather than initially prioritizing monetization or profitability.

       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. We may make such strategic investments and acquisitions in a range of areas either directly related to one or more of our businesses, or the infrastructure, technology, services or products that support our businesses and ecosystem. Our strategic investments and acquisitions are important to our overall business but may adversely affect our future financial results, at least in the short term. For example, acquisition of businesses with lower margins or which are loss-making, such as our acquisition of a controlling stake in Cainiao Network and our recent acquisition of Ele.me, will negatively affect our margins and net income. The performance of minority investments we have made and may continue to make may also adversely affect our net income. There is no assurance that we will be able to realize the expected benefits of synergies and growth opportunities in connection with these investments and acquisitions.

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

       We have experienced significant growth in revenue and in our business in recent years. Our ability to continue to generate and grow our revenue depends on a number of factors. If our services do not generate the rate of return we expect or offer prices that are competitive to alternatives, merchants, brands and marketers may reduce their spending on the 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, cloud computing business, digital media and entertainment business, as well as the businesses we have acquired or which we consolidate. We are exploring and will continue to explore in the future new business initiatives, including in industries in which we have limited or no experience, as well as new business models, which may be untested. In particular, New Retail, which we believe will be an important driver of our future growth, involves a new model of commerce. We may encounter difficulties or setbacks in the execution of our New Retail strategy, and it may not generate the expected returns in the timeframe we anticipate, or at all.

       In addition, developing new businesses and initiatives requires significant investments of time and resources, and may present new and difficult technological, operational and legal challenges, as well as subject us to additional regulatory risks. For example, the expansion of our digital media and entertainment business requires substantial and long-term investment in high quality content, which may take an extended period of time to produce. Due to changes in industry trends, regulatory requirements and the business environment, we may be unable to produce or license quality content on commercially reasonable terms or at all, fail to attract, acquire and retain users, paying subscribers and marketers on our digital media and entertainment platforms, fail to expand or maintain our market share or anticipate or keep up with changes in user preferences, user behavior and technological developments, or fail to gain access to content distribution channels. We also face significant challenges in attracting brands and marketers and monetizing our digital media and entertainment content, such as that we offer through Youku. In addition, we may face challenges in expanding and operating our logistics network and cooperating with third-party logistics service providers, and we may be unable to continue to enhance our logistics data technology, or fail to expand our logistics capacity quickly enough to meet increasing demand and improve user experience. Expanding our logistics network will also require us to increase our employee count and

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acquire more facilities, which will have attendant costs and risks, such as potential labor disputes and compliance costs and risks. In addition, as we expand the scope of our business operations, we are entering new business areas in which we have limited or no experience. We will face challenges in providing new services, including new compliance requirements and additional liabilities. For example, as we expand our direct sale businesses, such as Intime, Tmall Imports and Hema, and service offerings to enterprises, such as our cloud business, we will face new and increased challenges and risks relating to inventory procurement and management, accounts receivable and related potential impairment charges, as well as new and heightened regulatory requirements and increased liabilities specific to these new businesses, such as those relating to customs, quarantine and consumer protection. In order to continue expanding and offer products and services in new areas or markets, we may have to invest significant financial and human resources for an extended period of time, and may fail to achieve the strategic goals or financial returns that we expect, or at all. As we focus on the above efforts, we may miss out on other investments and growth opportunities.

       We may also fail to identify or anticipate industry trends and competitive conditions or fail to allocate sufficient resources to new growth areas. In addition, our overall or segment 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 industry, as well as changes in government policies or general economic conditions.

       In addition, although our revenue grew at a faster rate in fiscal year 2018 than fiscal year 2017, as our revenue grows to a higher base level, our revenue growth rate may slow in the future. Furthermore, due to the size and scale we have achieved to date, our user base may not continue to grow as quickly as prior periods, or at all.

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, principally from established Chinese Internet companies, such as Tencent, and their respective affiliates, as well as global and regional e-commerce players, other service providers in cloud computing and digital media and entertainment areas. We mainly 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;

    attract and retain merchants, brands and retailers 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;

    attract and retain businesses of different sizes across various industries based on the effectiveness of our cloud service offerings to help them enhance operating efficiency and realize their digital transformation ambitions;

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

    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;

    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

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      computing services, one-stop solutions, data processing capability, 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;

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

    identify, bid for, and execute strategic investments, which may involve bidding wars resulting in higher prices and other terms that are less favorable to us; and

    attract and retain customers and merchants through subsidized programs or promotions, which may result in additional costs and expenses.

       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 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;

    our ability to innovate and develop new technologies;

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

    our ability to adapt to new international and cross-border markets in a cost-effective manner;

    our ability to benefit from new business initiatives;

    alliances, acquisitions or consolidations within the Internet industry that may result in stronger competitors; and

    changes in the regulatory environment in the markets we operate, including implementation of regulatory restrictions on our ability to operate in overseas markets or relaxation of restrictions on foreign players' ability to offer products and services in China.

       If we are not able to compete effectively, the level of economic activity and user engagement on our platforms may decrease significantly and the use of products and services we offer may not grow as fast as we expect, or at all, 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 among 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:

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

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

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

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    attract and retain merchants and brands of all sizes;

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

    further enhance the attractiveness of our platforms;

    arrange secure and trusted payment settlement and escrow services;

    address user concerns with respect to data security and privacy measures on our platforms and of our systems, products and services;

    improve our logistics data platform and coordinate fulfillment and delivery services with third-party logistics service providers;

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

    maintain the quality of our customer service; and

    continue adapting to the changing demands of the market.

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

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:

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

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

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

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

    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 related to share-based incentives;

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

    the continued challenges of an ever-changing business environment;

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

    the increasing need to develop expertise in new areas of business, such as New Retail and expansion of our logistics network services, that affect 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 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 — including user-generated content — and changing customer demands and trends. Furthermore, our competitors are constantly developing innovations in Internet search, online marketing, communications, social networking, entertainment, logistics and other services, on both mobile devices and personal computers, to enhance users' online experience. As a result, we continue to invest significant resources in our infrastructure, research and development and other areas in order to enhance our technology and our existing products and services as well as to explore new growth strategies and introduce new high quality products and services to attract more participants to our platforms. Our investments in innovations and new technologies, which may be significant, may not increase our competitiveness or generate financial returns in the short term, or at all, and we may not be successful in adopting and implementing new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, or AI. 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 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. Even if we timely innovate and adopt changes in our strategies and plans, we may nevertheless fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such changes or even generate lower levels of revenue as a result.

       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 significant challenges involved in growing 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. For example, as Cainiao Network continues to expand, it will also face challenges relating to increases in its labor force as well as issues involved in acquiring land use rights to grow its network. 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, integrate and effectively manage new employees to address the requirements from new businesses such as the New Retail initiatives and the expansion of Cainiao Network. In addition, the challenges involved in expanding our businesses require our existing employees to handle new and expanded responsibilities and duties. If our new hires or existing employees perform poorly or if we are unsuccessful in hiring, training, managing and integrating new employees or retraining and expanding the roles of our existing 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 continuing expansion and growth of our operations and workforce, we will need to continue to improve our personnel management, 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

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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, from time to time, we may 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 discussing or negotiating a range of these types of transactions. These transactions involve significant challenges and risks, including:

    difficulties in and significant and unanticipated additional costs and expenses resulting from integrating into our business operations, corporate structure and culture the large number of personnel, operations, products, services, technology, internal controls and financial reporting of companies we acquire;

    disruption of our ongoing business, distraction of and significant time and attention required from our management and employees and increase of our expenses;

    departure of skilled professionals and proven management teams of acquired businesses, as well as the loss of established client relationships of the businesses we invest in or acquire, which may adversely affect the growth of the acquired businesses;

    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, both in China and in other countries we currently operate in or may expand into;

    actual or alleged misconduct or non-compliance by us or any company we acquire or invest in (or by its affiliates), including those relating to various regulated areas, such as food safety and online game operation, whether before, during or after our acquisition or investment, which may lead to negative publicity, litigation, government inquiries, investigations or actions 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;

    negative impacts on our cash and credit profile from loans to or guarantees for the benefit of equity investees;

    actual or 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, in the event that the market value of our investment has been significantly lower than its carrying value for an extended period of time, such as the significant impairment charge we made in connection with our investment in Alibaba Pictures in fiscal year 2018;

    regulatory hurdles including in relation to requirements, filings and approvals under the anti-monopoly and competition laws, rules and regulations of China and other jurisdictions in connection with any proposed

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      investments and acquisitions, as well as regulatory uncertainties, heightened restrictions on and regulatory scrutiny of investments and acquisitions in other jurisdictions, on national security grounds or otherwise, for example, by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, and by the NDRC with regard to outbound investment by companies based in China, and increased and conflicting regulatory compliance requirements;

    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

    challenges in maintaining or growing our acquired businesses, or achieving the expected benefits of synergies and growth opportunities in connection with these acquisitions and investments, including our acquisition of Youku and a controlling stake in Lazada, privatization of Intime, acquisition of a controlling stake in Cainiao Network, investment in Sun Art and recent acquisition of Ele.me.

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

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, Russia and the European Union, we will face risks associated with expanding into markets in which we have limited or no experience, in which we may be less well-known or have less local resources and in which we may need to localize our business practices, culture and operations. 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. We may also face protectionist policies that could, among other things, hinder our ability to execute our business strategies and put us at a competitive disadvantage relative to domestic companies in other jurisdictions. The expansion of our international and cross-border businesses will also expose us to risks inherent in operating businesses globally, including:

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

    lack of acceptance of our product and service offerings;

    challenges and increased expenses associated with staffing and managing international and cross-border operations and managing a multi-national organization;

    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;

    restrictions on foreign companies' ability to invest in or acquire companies in certain jurisdictions;

    restrictions and regulations on the development, import and export of certain technologies, particularly as we seek to establish and operate research and development centers abroad;

    heightened restrictions and barriers on the transfer of data between different jurisdictions;

    differing and potentially adverse tax consequences or the imposition of new taxes targeted at cross-border commerce, and related compliance obligations;

    the need for increased resources to manage regulatory compliance across our international businesses in multiple jurisdictions with different and sometimes conflicting requirements;

    challenges caused by distance, language, business customs and cultural differences;

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    operational challenges and compliance costs related to investing or conducting business in less developed countries and regions where legal systems and business practices are less established and involve greater uncertainties;

    compliance with privacy laws and data security laws, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR;

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

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

    exchange rate fluctuations; and

    political instability and general economic or political conditions in particular countries or regions, including territorial or trade disputes, war and terrorism.

       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. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Tax Regulations."

Changes in international trade policies and international barriers to trade, or the emergence of a trade war, may have an adverse effect on our business and expansion plans.

       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 the financial and economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which we operate, as well as our international and cross-border operations, our financial condition and results of operations. The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has advocated greater restrictions on trade generally and significant increases on tariffs on certain goods imported into the United States, particularly from China and has recently taken steps toward restricting trade in certain goods. For example, in March 2018, the United States began to enforce a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminium imports. In addition, on June 15, 2018, President Trump announced that the United States would impose a 25% tariff on certain Chinese exports, valued at approximately US$34 billion, to be implemented beginning July 6, 2018. President Trump further stated on June 22, 2018 that the United States would impose additional 10% tariffs on another US$200 billion worth of Chinese imports if China retaliates against the U.S. tariffs announced on June 15. On July 20, 2018, President Trump indicated a willingness to have the United States impose tariffs on substantially all U.S. imports from China, valued at approximately US$500 billion in 2017. The current U.S. administration has also created uncertainty with respect to, among other things, existing and proposed trade agreements, free trade generally, and potential significant increases on tariffs on goods imported into the U.S., particularly from Mexico, Canada and China. It is possible that further measures will be announced.

       Changes to U.S. laws or policies (as described above or otherwise) may impact the supply chain strategies of, as well as the pace of outsourcing by, U.S. customers in the future, including the possibility of such customers' insourcing programs that were previously outsourced. This could have an adverse impact on Chinese manufacturing, which would in turn affect the demand for and activity levels on our commerce marketplaces. In addition, trade restrictions, regulatory sanctions or other restrictions, including on the basis of national security

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grounds, placed on suppliers, merchants or technology partners could have an adverse effect on our ability to engage in cooperative ventures, expand our business and execute our strategy.

       In addition, China and other countries have retaliated in response to new trade policies, treaties and tariffs implemented by the United States. For example, in response to the United States' tariff plan on steel and aluminium, China announced planned tariffs on various goods imported from the United States, including a 15% tariff on U.S. steel pipes, fresh fruit and wine, and a 25% tariff on pork and recycled aluminium. Further, China has announced plans to introduce tariffs on goods imported from the United States in response to the additional U.S. tariffs of June 15, 2018. Such policy retaliations could ultimately result in further trade policy responses by the United States and other countries, and result in an escalation leading to a trade war, which would have an adverse effect on manufacturing levels, trade levels and industries, including logistics, retail sales and other businesses and services that rely on trade, commerce and manufacturing. Any such escalation in trade tensions or a trade war, or news and rumors of the escalation of a potential trade war, could affect activity levels within our ecosystem and have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and trading price of our ADSs.

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

       Our business, including our marketplaces, cloud computing, entertainment and logistics businesses, generates and processes a large quantity of personal, transaction, demographic and behavioral data. Our privacy policies concerning the collection, use and disclosure of personal data are posted on our websites. We face risks inherent in handling and protecting large volumes of data, especially consumer data. In particular, we face a number of challenges relating to data from transactions and other activities on our 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;

    addressing concerns, challenges, negative publicity and litigation related to data privacy, collection, use and actual or perceived sharing (including sharing among our own businesses, with business partners or regulators), safety, security and other factors that may arise from our existing businesses or new businesses and technology, such as new forms of data (e.g., biometric data, location information and other demographic information) collected from our New Retail businesses, food delivery and other local services, IoT services and cloud services; and

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

       Recently, there have been reports of a number of incidents relating to data security and unauthorized use of user data by high-profile Internet and technology companies and their business partners. If our user data is improperly used or disclosed, whether by unauthorized third-parties or by our company, subsidiaries, investee companies or other ecosystem participants, it could result in a loss of users, advertisers and other ecosystem participants, loss of confidence or trust in out platforms, litigation, regulatory investigations, penalties or actions against us, significantly damage our reputation, and have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our ADSs, our business and prospects.

       Pursuant to our data sharing agreement with Ant Financial and Alipay, which sets forth data security and confidentiality protocols, and subject to relevant legal requirements and limitations, we have agreed to a broad sharing of depersonalized data with Ant Financial through a data sharing platform that we own and operate, subject to compliance with relevant law. Koubei and Alibaba Pictures have also entered into agreements with us to participate in the data sharing platform, subject to certain limits. As permitted by our privacy policies and user agreements, we also grant expressly limited access to specified data on our data platform to certain other participants in our ecosystem that provide services to merchants and consumers, such as retail operating partners,

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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. 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. Any such event could also attract negative publicity from media outlets, privacy advocates, our competitors or others and could adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.

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, 2018, approximately 70% of the 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:

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

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

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

    breach of users' privacy and concerns over the use and security of information collected from customers and any related negative publicity relating thereto;

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

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

    negative news about and social media coverage on Alipay, its business, its products and service offerings or matters relating to Alipay's data security and privacy; and

    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 users' 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

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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 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."

       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 and Alipay, which provides us with preferential terms, and would possibly 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, over which Jack Ma effectively controls a majority of the voting interests. If conflicts that could arise between us and Alipay or Ant Financial are not resolved in our favor, our ecosystem, business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

       Although we rely on Alipay to conduct substantially all of the payment processing and all of the escrow services on our marketplaces and we have agreed to acquire a 33% equity interest in Ant Financial, we do not, and will not upon completion of the acquisition, have any control over Alipay. Alipay provides payment services to us on preferential terms pursuant to our long-term commercial agreement with Ant Financial and Alipay. Following the 2011 divestment and subsequent equity holding restructuring related to Ant Financial, an entity wholly owned by Jack Ma, our executive chairman, became the general partner of Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership, or Junhan, and Junao Equity Investment Partnership, or Junao, each a PRC limited partnership, which are two major equity holders of Alipay's parent, Ant Financial. Accordingly, Jack has an economic interest in Ant Financial and is able to exercise the voting power of the equity interest in Ant Financial held by Junhan and Junao. We understand that through the exercise of this voting power, Jack continues to control a majority of the voting interests in Ant Financial.

       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, would act in our interest. If Alipay were required by regulators to modify the commercial agreement under certain circumstances, Alipay may not have sufficient funds to adequately compensate us for the impact of the adjustment. 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 also provides other financial services to participants in our ecosystem, including wealth management, financing (including consumer financing) and insurance, and may provide additional services in the future. Other conflicts of interest between us, on the one hand, and Alipay and Ant Financial, on the other hand, may arise relating to commercial or strategic opportunities or initiatives. Although we and Ant Financial have each agreed to certain non-competition undertakings, Ant Financial may provide services to our competitors from time to time and we cannot assure you that Ant Financial 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.

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       In addition, we grant share-based awards to employees of Ant Financial, and Junhan grants share-based awards tied to the value of Ant Financial to our employees, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ant Financial grants RSU awards to our employees. The provision of awards to our employees tied to the value of Ant Financial is intended to enhance our strategic and financial relationship with Ant Financial. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions — Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial and its Subsidiaries — Equity-based Award Arrangements." The share-based awards granted by Junhan and the Ant Financial subsidiary 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) and Ant Financial could be in a position to propose and promote further share-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 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 and overlapping user base, events that negatively affect Ant Financial 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, 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 is subject to complex and evolving domestic and international laws and regulation regarding privacy and data protection. Many of these laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation and could result in claims, changes to our business practices, penalties, increased cost of operations, or declines in user growth or engagement, or otherwise affect our business.

       Regulatory authorities in China and around the world have implemented and are considering a number of further legislative and regulatory proposals concerning data protection, including measures to ensure that encryption of users' data does not hinder law enforcement agencies' access to that data. In addition, the interpretation and application of consumer and data protection laws in China and elsewhere are often uncertain and in flux. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our data practices.

       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 covers various types of national security including technology security and information 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. For example, certain of our businesses or technology infrastructure may be designated by PRC regulators as critical information infrastructure, which will be subject to heightened regulation. 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

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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.

       As we expand our operations into international markets, we will be subject to additional laws in other jurisdictions where we operate and where our merchants, 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. In addition, such laws, rules and regulations may restrict the transfer of data across jurisdictions, which could impose additional and substantial operational, administrative and compliance burdens on us, and may also restrict our business activities and expansion plans, as well as impede our data-driven business strategies. Complying with laws and regulations for an increasing number of jurisdictions could require significant resources and costs. Our continued 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 GDPR, which came into effect on May 25, 2018, present increased challenges and risks in relation to policies and procedures relating to data collection, storage, transfer, disclosure, protection and privacy, and will impose significant penalties for non-compliance, including for example, penalties calculated as a percentage of global revenue under the GDPR. We anticipate that in addition to our internal personnel systems, the compliance requirements of the GDPR will affect a significant number of our businesses, including AliExpress, Alibaba Cloud, Alibaba.com, as well as certain aspects of other businesses such as UC Browser, Taobao Marketplace and our Fliggy business.

       Any failure, or perceived failure, by us to comply with the above and other regulatory requirements or privacy protection-related laws, rules and regulations could result in reputational damages or proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities, consumers or others. These proceedings or actions could subject us to significant penalties and negative publicity, require us to change our business practices, increase our costs and severely disrupt our business, hinder our global expansion or negatively affect the trading price of our ADSs.

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

       We are constantly upgrading our platforms to provide increased scale, improved performance, additional built-in functionality (including functionality related to security) and additional capacity. Adopting new products and maintaining and upgrading our technology infrastructure, including our data centers, cloud operating systems, big data analytics platform and logistics data platform, require significant investments of time and resources, including adding new hardware, updating software and recruiting and training new engineering personnel. Any failure to maintain and improve our technology infrastructure could result in unanticipated system disruptions, slower response times, impaired user experience and delays in reporting accurate operating and financial information, which may be further deteriorated during certain time periods, such as on or around Singles Day or other promotional events, when user activity and transactions are significantly high on our marketplaces. 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 operations and prospects, as well as our reputation, could be materially and adversely affected.

       In addition, our technology infrastructure and services, including our cloud product and service offerings, incorporate third-party-developed software, systems and technologies, as well as hardware purchased or commissioned from outside and overseas suppliers. As our technology infrastructure and services expand and become increasingly complex, we face increasingly serious risks to the performance and security of our technology infrastructure and services that may be caused by these third-party-developed components, including risks relating to incompatibilities among these components, service failures or delays or back-end procedures on hardware and

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software. Finally, in order to ensure that our technology infrastructure can be comprehensively and rapidly upgraded, we need to constantly enhance our technology. Otherwise, we face the risk of our technology infrastructure becoming unstable and susceptible to security breaches, which we may be unable to identify or rectify rapidly and effectively. Such instability or susceptibility could create serious challenges to the security and uninterrupted operation of our platforms and services, which would materially and adversely affect our business and reputation.

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

       Our business depends on the performance, reliability and security of the telecommunications and 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-owned telecommunication operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of the 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 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.

       Moreover, if the security of domain names is compromised, we will be unable to use such domain names in our business operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations and brand image. If we fail to implement adequate encryption of data transmitted through the networks of the telecommunications and Internet operators we rely upon, there is a risk that such telecommunications and Internet operators or their business partners may misappropriate our data, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations and reputation.

Our ecosystem could be disrupted by network interruptions.

       Our ecosystem depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications systems. System interruptions and delays may prevent us from efficiently processing the large volume of transactions on our marketplaces. In addition, a large number of merchants and customers 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, consumer information and other data that enables merchants and customers 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 have experienced, and may experience in the future, system interruptions and delays that made websites and services (such as cloud services and payment services) temporarily unavailable or slow to respond. Although we have prepared for contingencies through redundancy measures and disaster recovery plans and also carry business interruption insurance, these preparations and insurance coverage may not be sufficient. Despite any precautions we may take, the occurrence of a natural

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disaster, such as an earthquake, flood or fire, or other unanticipated problems at our facilities or the facilities of Ant Financial and other participants in our ecosystem, including power outages, system failures, telecommunications delays or failures, construction accidents, break-ins to information technology systems, computer viruses or human errors, could result in delays in or temporary outages of our platforms or services, 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 merchants, logistics service providers and other participants in our ecosystem and subject us to liability, heightened regulatory scrutiny and increased costs, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If third-party logistics service providers used by our merchants fail to provide reliable logistics services, or the logistics data 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.

       Our merchants use third-party logistics service providers to fulfill and deliver their orders. Cainiao Network cooperates with a number of third-party logistics service providers to help merchants on our platforms fulfill orders and deliver their products to consumers. Cainiao Network operates a logistics data platform that links our information system and those of logistics service providers. Interruptions to or failures in these third-parties' logistics services, or in Cainiao Network's logistics data platform, could prevent the timely or proper delivery of products to 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 service providers, such as inclement weather, natural disasters, accidents, transportation disruptions, including special or temporary restrictions or closings of facilities or transportation networks due to regulatory or political reasons, or labor unrest or shortages. These logistics services could also be affected or interrupted by business disputes, industry consolidation, insolvency or government shut-downs. The merchants on our marketplaces may not be able to find alternative logistics service providers to provide logistics 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 data platform operated by Cainiao Network were to fail for any reason, the logistics service providers would be severely hindered from or unable to connect with our 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 in our ecosystem fail to provide reliable or satisfactory services, our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

       Ant Financial and a number of other third-party participants, including retail operating partners, logistics service providers, mobile app developers, ISVs, cloud developers, marketing affiliates and various professional service providers, provide services to users on our platforms, including merchants, brands, consumers and users of our cloud computing services. To the extent these service providers are unable to provide satisfactory services to our users on commercially acceptable terms or at all or if we fail to retain existing or attract new quality service providers to our platforms, our ability to retain, attract or engage 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 in 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, for example, the leak or negligent use of data, unauthorized use of our brand names, the handling, transport and delivery of prohibited or restricted content or items 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.

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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, particularly in new business areas we are expanding into such as New Retail. 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. 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.

       As our business develops and evolves, it may become difficult for us to continue to retain these employees. A number of our employees, including many members of management, may choose to 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 capable 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. Our various incentive initiatives may not be sufficient to retain our management and employees. 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.

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. Although we have operating subsidiaries in various countries and regions, our operations in China currently contribute a majority of our revenue. 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 impacts resulting from developments in international relations and trade policies, political and regulatory changes 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 compared to prior years. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China's GDP growth rate was 6.9% in 2015, which slowed to 6.7% in 2016 and recovered to 6.9% in 2017. There have also been concerns about the relationships among China and other Asian countries, the relationship between China and the United States, as well as the relationship between the United States and certain Asian countries such as North Korea, which may result in or intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial, regional security and trade disputes. Any disruptions or 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.

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Security breaches and attacks against our systems and network, and any potentially resulting breach or failure to otherwise protect personal, 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 and enhance security measures against breaches to our systems and network, optimize technologies and continue to innovate, our cybersecurity measures may not detect, prevent or control all attempts to compromise our systems, including distributed denial-of-service attacks, viruses, Trojan horses, malicious software, break-ins, phishing attacks, third-party manipulation, security breaches, employee misconduct or negligence or other attacks, risks, data leakage and similar disruptions that may jeopardize the security of data 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, breaches and data leakage, although to date no attack, breach or data leakage 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 cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks may target us, our merchants, consumers, users, customers or other participants, or the communication infrastructure on which we depend. We do not carry cybersecurity insurance. 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 may not be able to complete our acquisition of an equity ownership interest in Ant Financial.

       Pursuant to the amendment to the 2014 SAPA that we entered into in February 2018 (as amended, the 2018 SAPA Amendment), we have agreed to acquire a 33% equity interest in Ant Financial. The closing of this transaction is subject to the receipt of the necessary PRC regulatory approvals and the satisfaction of other conditions.

       If Ant Financial does not receive the required PRC regulatory approvals mentioned above, we will not be able to complete the acquisition of the equity ownership interest in Ant Financial, and we would fail to benefit from any appreciation in its equity value beyond the date of a qualified IPO of Ant Financial or Alipay. Our inability to reap the benefits of any appreciation in equity value of Ant Financial, including in connection with a qualified IPO of Ant Financial or Alipay, could represent a significant missed opportunity that is beyond our control.

       In addition, the 2018 SAPA provides that if Ant Financial's intended equity issuance to us is not completed for any reason, we will unwind the 2018 SAPA Amendment and restore the 2014 SAPA and other related agreements. As a result, we may incur additional costs to unwind the 2018 SAPA Amendment and be subject to significant negative publicity, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, as well as the trading price of our ADSs. Pursuant to the 2014 SAPA, in the event of a qualified IPO of Ant Financial or Alipay, if the equity issuance has not been completed or is subsequently unwound, we would be entitled, at our election, to receive a one-time payment equal to the 37.5% of the total equity value of Ant Financial immediately prior to the qualified IPO. If we elect to receive this one-time payment, it is possible that Ant Financial will not have sufficient funds to make 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 and its Subsidiaries — 2014 Restructuring of Our Relationship with Ant Financial and Alipay and 2014 Amendments."

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

       Tax legislation on the digital economy is still developing. Governments, both in China and in other jurisdictions, may promulgate or strengthen the implementation of tax regulations that impose obligations on e-commerce companies, which could increase the costs to consumers and merchants and make our platforms less competitive in these jurisdictions. Governments may require operators of marketplaces, such as our company, to assist in the enforcement of tax registration requirements and the collection of taxes with respect to the revenue or profit generated by merchants from transactions conducted on their platforms. 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 other tax regulations, including the payment and withholding obligations against our merchants. As a result of more stringent tax compliance requirements and liabilities, we may lose existing merchants and potential merchants might not be willing to open storefronts on our marketplaces, which could in turn negatively affect us. Stricter tax enforcement by tax authorities may also reduce the activities by merchants on our platforms and result in liability to us. For example, as a result of stricter enforcement on VAT and 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, lawsuits and negative publicity claiming that items listed and content available on our marketplaces and websites are pirated, counterfeit or illegal.

       We have been the subject in the past, and may continue to be the subject in the future, of allegations that items offered, sold or made available through our online marketplaces by third parties or that content we make available through other services, such as our online video and music platforms or through our smart devices, infringe third-party copyrights, trademarks and patents or other intellectual property rights. Although we have adopted measures to proactively verify the 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.

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       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 of products or content carried out by third parties through our online marketplaces. We have also acquired certain companies, such as Youku, Lazada and Ele.me, that 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 that are subject to similar disputes.

       In addition, we have been and may continue to be subject to significant negative publicity in China and other countries based on similar claims and allegations. For example, in December 2016 and January 2018, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, or USTR, again identified Taobao Marketplace as a "notorious market" after having removed Taobao from such list in 2012. The USTR may continue to identify Taobao Marketplace as a notorious market, and there is no assurance that the USTR will not identify our other businesses as notorious markets in the future. In addition, government authorities have in the past accused, and may in the future accuse, us of perceived problems and failures of our platforms, including alleged failures to crack down on the sale of counterfeit goods and other alleged illegal activities on our China retail marketplaces. As a result of any such claims or accusations by government authorities, by industry watchdog organizations, by brand and intellectual property rights holders or by enterprises, there may be a public perception that counterfeit or pirated items are commonplace on our marketplaces or that we delay the process of removing these items. This perception, even if factually incorrect, and existing or new litigation and regulatory pressure or action related to intellectual property rights protection could damage our reputation with consumers, harm our business, diminish the value of our brand name and negatively affect trading price of our 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 consumers who may not have received the goods that they had purchased, complaints from merchants who have not received payment for the goods that a consumer had contracted to purchase, as well as other types of actual and alleged fraudulent activities. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Transaction Platform Safety Programs" for more details about the measures we have adopted against fraudulent activities. Although we have implemented various measures to detect and reduce the occurrence of fraudulent activities on our marketplaces, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective in combating fraudulent transactions or improving overall satisfaction among our merchants, consumers and other participants. Additional measures that we take to address fraud could also negatively affect the attractiveness of our marketplaces to consumers or merchants. In addition, merchants on our marketplaces contribute to a fund to provide consumer protection guarantees. If our merchants do not perform their obligations under these programs, we may use funds that have been deposited by merchants in a consumer protection fund to compensate consumers. If the amounts in the fund are not sufficient, we may choose to compensate consumers for 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 merchants for any amounts we incur, there is no assurance that we would be able to collect from our merchants.

       In addition to fraudulent transactions with legitimate consumers, 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, an activity sometimes referred to as "brushing." This activity may harm other merchants by enabling the perpetrating merchant to be favored over legitimate merchants, and may harm consumers by deceiving them into believing that a merchant is more reliable or trusted than the merchant actually is.

       Moreover, illegal, fraudulent or collusive activities by our employees could also subject us to liability or negative publicity. We have discovered cases in which certain of our employees had accepted payments from merchants or other service providers in order to receive preferential treatment on our marketplaces. Although we dismiss the employees responsible for these incidents and have implemented internal controls and policies with regard to the review and approval of merchant accounts, sales activities and other relevant matters, we cannot

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assure you that our controls and policies will prevent fraud or illegal activity by our employees or that similar incidents will not occur in the future. Any illegal, fraudulent or collusive activity could severely damage our brand and reputation as an operator of trusted marketplaces, which could drive users and consumers away from our marketplaces, and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       Government authorities, industry watchdog organizations or other third-parties may issue reports or engage in other forms of public communications concerning alleged fraudulent or deceptive conduct on our platform. Negative publicity and user sentiment generated as a result of such reports or allegations could severely diminish consumer confidence in and use of our services, reduce our ability to attract new or retain current merchants, 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 an 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 ecosystem participants. Heightened regulatory and public concern over consumer protection, including consumer data and privacy 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 increasing scope of our overall business operations, including our acquisition of a controlling stake in Cainiao Network. 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 partnership with the International Olympic Committee, our investment in Sun Art, our recent acquisition of the remaining equity interest in Ele.me, our recent agreement to acquire a 33% equity interest in Ant Financial, our recent agreement to acquire a minority interest in Focus Media, and other initiatives to implement our New Retail strategy and expand into international markets, may also subject us to increased media exposure and public scrutiny in Hong Kong, China and internationally. Moreover, as our business expands and grows 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 that 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 are subject to a broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

       The industries in which we and Ant Financial operate in the PRC and other countries, including online and mobile commerce and payments, financial services, cloud computing and digital media and entertainment and other online content offerings, are highly regulated. We are required to obtain licenses, permits, approvals and qualifications for many of our businesses, such as those relating to content production and distribution (including

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news and audio/video programs, either as stand-alone businesses or as integrated services on our platforms), food, healthcare and safety.

       As we and Ant Financial 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. They have imposed, and may continue to impose, requirements relating to, among other things, new and additional licenses, permits and approvals or governance or ownership structures on us, Ant Financial and our users. For example, the third draft of the E-commerce Law was published for solicitation of public comment in June 2018. The draft E-commerce Law proposes a series of requirements on e-commerce operators including e-commerce platform operators, merchants operating on the platform and the individuals and entities carrying out business online. Under the draft E-commerce Law, e-commerce platform operators are required to establish a credit evaluation system and publish the credit evaluation rules, and provide consumers with methods to evaluate products sold or services provided on the platform. In addition, e-commerce platform operators who fail to take necessary actions when they know or should have known that merchants on the platform infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the products or services provided by merchants on the platform do not meet personal and property security requirements, or otherwise infringe upon consumers' legitimate rights, will be required to assume joint liability with the merchants. With respect to the products or services affecting consumers' health and safety, e-commerce platform operators will be held jointly liable with merchants on their platforms if they fail to review the qualifications of merchants or fail to safeguard the interests of consumers. Certain third-party platforms, although offering products and services competing with our marketplaces, may not be deemed as e-commerce operators and may be subject to less stringent requirements with respect to merchant regulation and consumer protection. The platform governance measures we adopt in response to the enhanced regulatory requirements may lead to our loss of merchants to those platforms.

       These and other laws, rules and regulations and their application could result in additional regulatory requirements applicable to us or Ant Financial, or take a direction that is adverse to our or Ant Financial's 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 or maintain them could lead to suspension or termination of, substantial fines upon or other regulatory actions against the affected business, which 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 legislation or regulation of this kind could also severely disrupt and constrain our business and the payment services used on our marketplaces.

       We have from time to time been subject, and are likely again in the future to be subject, to PRC and foreign government inquiries and investigations, including those relating to website content, alleged third-party intellectual property infringement, cybersecurity and privacy laws, 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, user privacy 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 continue 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 businesses 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

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contracts we have entered into, loss of business and revenue, liability for breach of contracts with third parties, 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, which through Alipay provides the substantial majority of the payment processing services on our marketplaces as well as other financial and value-added services, such as wealth management, financing and insurance, 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. 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 "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation Applicable to Alipay." These laws, rules and regulations are highly complex, constantly evolving and could change or be reinterpreted to be burdensome, difficult or impossible for Ant Financial to comply with.

       As Ant Financial expands into international markets, it will increasingly become subject to additional 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 these markets. In addition, Alipay or its affiliates are required to maintain payment business licenses in the PRC and are also required to obtain and maintain other applicable payment, money transmitter or other related licenses and approvals in other countries or regions where they operate. In certain jurisdictions where Alipay currently does not have the required licenses, Alipay provides payment processing and escrow services through third-party service providers. If Alipay or its 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 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 or violating content restrictions under 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 digital media and entertainment business, search business, online reading platform, news feed features and Internet of Things, or IoT, devices infringe upon their intellectual property rights or are provided beyond the authorized scope. 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. We have also acquired businesses, such as Youku, 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 and our smart speakers, 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 these 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 these 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

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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, 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 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's or our other websites or on our Tmall set-top boxes, smart speakers and smart televisions, were deemed by the PRC government to violate any content restrictions, we would not be able to continue to display these 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 of 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 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 safety, including 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 and Hema, 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 the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, formerly known as the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC, or its local branches any violation of applicable laws, regulations or SAMR 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 who 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.

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       As our business expands outside of China, we may also face increasing scrutiny from consumer protection regulators and activists, 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 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, as well as our services and devices that generate or host content, 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, 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 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 potentially high-value litigation outside China relating principally to third-party and principal intellectual property infringement claims, contract disputes involving merchants and consumers on our 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 through the addition of new businesses, we have encountered and may face an increasing number and a wider variety of these claims, including those brought against us pursuant to anti-monopoly or unfair competitions laws or 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 to our ecosystem are located. These laws, rules and regulations may vary in their scope and overseas laws and regulations may impose requirements which are more stringent than, or which conflict with, those in China. We have acquired and may acquire companies that have been 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. In addition, in connection with litigation or regulatory proceedings we may be subject to in various jurisdictions, we may be prohibited by laws, regulations or government authorities in one jurisdiction from complying with subpoenas, orders or other requests from courts or regulators of other jurisdictions, including those relating to data held in or with respect to persons in such jurisdictions. Our failure or inability to comply with such

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subpoenas, orders or requests could subject us to fines, penalties or other legal liability, which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations and the trading price of our ADSs.

       As publicly-listed companies, we and certain of our subsidiaries face additional exposure to claims and lawsuits inside and outside China. We will need to defend against these lawsuits, including any appeals 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 of 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 financial condition, 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 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 early 2016, the SEC informed us that it had initiated 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 prior practice of 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 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 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 be concluded. 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 litigation, investigation or proceeding 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.

Our reputation 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 and complaints about our company and our products and services that could damage our reputation and materially deter consumers from making purchases on our marketplaces. In addition, competitors have used, and may continue to use, methods such as lodging complaints with regulators, initiating frivolous and nuisance lawsuits, and other forms of attack litigation and "lawfare" that attempt to harm our reputation, hinder our operations, force us to expend resources on responding to and defending against such claims, and otherwise gain a competitive advantage over us by means of litigious and accusatory behavior. Our ability to respond on share price-sensitive information to our competitors' misleading marketing efforts, including lawfare, 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 results of operations fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter which may make it difficult to predict our future performance.

       Our results of operations is generally characterized by seasonal fluctuations due to various reasons, including seasonal buying patterns and economic cyclical changes, as well as promotions on our marketplaces. Historically,

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the fourth quarter of each calendar year generally contributes the largest portion of our annual revenues due to a number of factors, such as 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. 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 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. 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. The performance of our equity investees and of major 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 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 growth in the past may have masked the seasonality that might otherwise be apparent in our results of operations. As the rate of growth of our 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 fluctuate significantly.

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. In addition, as our business expands and we increase our aquisition of and management of content, we expect to incur greater costs to acquire, license and enforce our rights to content.

       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 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, the 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 any 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.

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

       The U.S. government imposes broad economic and trade restrictions on dealings with certain countries and regions, including the Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria, or the Sanctioned Countries, and numerous individuals and entities, including those designated as having engaged in activities relating to terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, the rough diamond trade, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or human rights violations, or the Sanctioned Persons. Additionally, the U.S. government also imposes more targeted sanctions on certain dealings with countries such as Russia, among others. The U.S. government has also imposed targeted sanctions on certain dealings with the Government of Venezuela and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. Recently, the U.S. government has expanded or suggested that it will expand economic sanctions concerning Iran, North Korea and Russia and there is risk of further enhanced economic sanctions concerning those geographies. It is not, however, possible to predict with a reasonable degree of certainty how the regulatory environment concerning U.S. economic sanctions may develop. The United Nations, the European Union, or the EU, the United Kingdom, or the UK, and other countries also impose economic and trade restrictions, including on certain Sanctioned Countries and Sanctioned Persons. We do not have employees or operations in any of the Sanctioned Countries, and, although our websites are open and available worldwide, we do not actively solicit business from the Sanctioned Countries or Sanctioned Persons.

       As a Cayman Islands company, we are generally not required to comply with U.S., UK, and EU sanctions to the same extent as U.S., UK or EU entities. However, our U.S., UK, and EU subsidiaries, our employees who are U.S. persons or UK or EU nationals, activities in the U.S., UK, or EU, activities involving U.S.-origin goods, technology or services, and certain conduct or dealings involving Iran and North Korea, among other activities, are subject to applicable sanctions requirements. In the case of Alibaba.com, our aggregate cash revenue from members in these Sanctioned Countries in fiscal year 2018 accounted for a negligible portion of our total revenue. In the case of AliExpress and our China retail marketplaces, an insignificant percentage of orders have been placed by consumers from the Sanctioned Countries, with an aggregate GMV settled of approximately US$7.4 million in the twelve months ended March 31, 2018 through transactions conducted voluntarily among merchants and consumers on our marketplaces. As all transaction fees on AliExpress and our China retail marketplaces are paid by merchants, primarily based in China, we do not earn any fees or commission from consumers in Sanctioned 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 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. Accordingly, as a result of activities on our marketplaces involving users based in the Sanctioned Countries, certain investors may not wish to invest in us, certain financial institutions may not wish to lend or extend credit and may divest their investment in, or seek early repayment of loans made to us, and certain financial institutions and other businesses with which we partner or may partner may seek to avoid business relationships with us. These divestment initiatives may negatively impact our reputation, business and results of operations, and may materially and adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.

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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.

       As of March 31, 2018, we had US$13.7 billion in aggregate principal amount of unsecured senior notes outstanding. We have also entered into a five-year term loan facility of US$4.0 billion, which has been fully drawn down. 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. Under the terms of our unsecured senior notes and credit facilities 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 facilities 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, offshore incorporated companies directly or indirectly controlled by individual PRC residents are required to complete filings before the launch of any offshore debt issuance with a term of one year or more in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The filing procedure takes time which may result in our missing the best market windows for debt issuances in the future. In addition, incurring indebtedness would subject us to increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financial 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 certain of our offshore credit facilities are based on a spread over LIBOR. As a result, the interest expenses associated with such 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, 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 all types of risks we 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 product liability insurance, nor do we maintain key-man life insurance. This potentially insufficient coverage could expose us 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

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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 insurance policy on a timely basis, or at all. If we incur any loss that is not covered by our 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 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. These 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 disease epidemics, since this could require us or our business partners to quarantine some or all of these 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 consumers, merchants or other participants were affected by 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, Altaba, 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, Altaba, 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 Altaba 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 Altaba, 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 diluted basis or we materially breach the voting agreement.

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       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 association are amended to provide otherwise by a vote of shareholders representing at least 95% of shares that 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 Altaba 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, 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 shares underlying vested and unvested awards). See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — A. Directors and Senior Management — Alibaba Partnership."

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

       The nomination and appointment rights of the Alibaba Partnership limit 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, our 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 a business combination, if it may adversely affect the right of the Alibaba Partnership to nominate or appoint a simple majority of our board of directors, including the protective provisions for such right under our articles of association, shall be approved upon vote of shareholders representing at least 95% of the votes in person or by proxy present at a shareholders meeting; 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.

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SoftBank owns approximately 29.0% of our outstanding ordinary shares and its interests may differ from those of our other shareholders.

       As of March 31, 2018, SoftBank owned approximately 29.0% 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 Altaba, Jack and Joe have agreed to vote their shares (including shares for which they have voting power) in favor of the SoftBank director nominees at each annual general shareholders meeting in which the 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 Transactions — Transactions and Agreements with SoftBank and Altaba — 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, which would materially and adversely affect our business, financial results and the trading price of our ADSs.

       Foreign ownership of certain types of Internet businesses, such as Internet information services, is subject to restrictions under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. The principal regulations governing foreign investment in our business in China include the Guidance Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment, or the Foreign Investment Catalogue, the latest version of which came into effect on July 28, 2017, the latest amendment of which is to become effective as of July 28, 2018, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. Under these laws and regulations, foreign investors are generally not permitted to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunication service provider. Any 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. There still exist uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of such notice by authorities.

       While the significant majority of our revenue was generated by our wholly-foreign owned enterprises in fiscal year 2018, we provide Internet information services in China, which are critical to our business, through a number of PRC incorporated variable interest entities. Contractual arrangements between us and the variable interest entities and their equity holders 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. We are in the process of enhancing the structure of our variable interest entities. See "—We are in the process of enhancing the structure of some of our variable interest entities, and its completion is subject to uncertainties."

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       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, except that the pledges of the partnership interests will not be deemed validly created security interests until they are registered. See "— We are in the process of enhancing the structure of our variable interest entities, and the timing of its completion is subject to uncertainties" and "Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure." 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.

       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 these violations or failures, including revoking the business and operating licenses of our PRC subsidiaries or the variable interest entities, 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.

We are in the process of enhancing the structure of some of our variable interest entities, and its completion is subject to uncertainties.

       In order to further improve our control over our material variable interest entities, reduce key man risks associated with having certain individuals be the equity holders of the material variable interest entities, and address the uncertainty resulting from any potential disputes between us and the individual equity holders of the material variable interest entities that may arise, we are in the process of enhancing the structure of our material variable interest entities and certain other variable interest entities, or the VIE Structure Enhancement.

       Prior to the completion of the VIE Structure Enhancement, the variable interest entities were owned, or are owned, by a few PRC citizens who are our founders or employees or by PRC entities owned by these PRC citizens. After completion of the VIE Structure Enhancement, those variable interest entities will be directly owned by PRC limited liability companies that are indirectly held by selected members of the Alibaba Partnership or our management who are PRC citizens through PRC limited partnerships jointly established by such individuals. We will enter into contractual arrangements, which are substantially similar to the contractual arrangements we have historically used for our VIEs, with the above-mentioned multiple layers of legal entities and variable interest entity interest holders. The contractual arrangements, both before and after the VIE Structure Enhancement, give us effective control over each of those variable interest entities and enable us to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits arising from those variable interest entities as well as consolidate the financial results of those

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variable interest entities in our results of operations. Please also see "Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure."

       After completion of the VIE Structure Enhancement, PRC limited liability companies and limited partnerships will become the variable interest entity equity holders, and those PRC limited liability companies and limited partnerships will enter into contractual arrangements with us, including the equity pledge agreements. With respect to the VIE Structure Enhancement that has been completed as of the date of this Annual Report, we have completed the equity pledges in connection with the variable interest entity. However, as there are no implementing rules for the registration of the pledges of the partnership interests, we have not been able to register the pledges of the partnership interests of the LLPs. Those pledges will not be deemed validly created security interests under the PRC Property Rights Law until they are registered. Until the equity pledges are registered, we may not be able to successfully enforce these pledges, and will not be able to prevent any third party from acquiring in good faith the interests in the LLPs. While we believe the new structure is consistent with longstanding industry practice, 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. The VIE Structure Enhancement process is subject to a number of uncertainties, including registration of the transfer of the equity interests, registration of the new equity pledges, whether the local SAMR will accept the registration of pledges on partnership interests, and the receipt of required approvals of amendments to certain operating permits, including the Value-added Telecommunication Business Operation Permit, Network Culture Permit and the License for Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs through Information Network. If we are unable to successfully complete these processes involved in the VIE Structure Enhancement, we will be unable to enjoy the expected benefits, including the anticipated enhanced control over those variable interest entities, or reduced key man risks or the uncertainty resulting from any potential disputes among us and the individual equity holders of those variable interest entities as discussed above.

       For further information, See "— 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" and "Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure."

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

       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, and completed the solicitation of comments on this draft in February 2015. It was reported in early November 2017 that after considering the public comments, a draft was produced for further review. According to the State Council's 2018 Legislation Plan published in March 2018, the draft Foreign Investment Law will be submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for review in 2018. The National People's Congress Standing Committee's Legislation Work Plan for 2018 issued on April 17, 2018 also stated that the draft Foreign Investment Law will be reviewed by National People's Congress Standing Committee for the first time in December 2018. 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 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 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

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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 rights and interests of the subject entity;

    holding less than 50% of the voting rights or similar rights 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.

       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, 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 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, 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 this 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 these equity investees under the enacted Foreign Investment Law may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

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       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 entities and/or citizens under the enacted version of the Foreign Investment Law. For instance, the discussion draft of the Foreign Investment Law 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 key 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 — 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 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 in the replacement of the equity holders or there is any dispute relating to these contracts that 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 the 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 the equity shareholders and, in the case of VIEs that have started, or will start, the VIE Structure Enhancement, the limited partnerships with respect to each

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variable interest entity to secure certain obligations of such variable interest entity or its equity holders to us under the contractual arrangements. However, we have not been able to register certain of the pledges due to the absence of implementing rules for the registration of pledges of partnership interests. In addition, the enforcement of these agreements through arbitral or judicial agencies, if any, 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, with respect to the VIEs that have not completed the VIE Structure Enhancement, 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 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 these contractual arrangements. 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 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 holder or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of the assets of the variable interest entity, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business as well as constrain our growth.

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The equity holders, directors and executive officers of the variable interest entities 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, with respect to VIEs that have not completed the VIE Structure Enhancement, Jack Ma, our lead founder and executive chairman, and, with respect to VIEs that have completed or will soon complete the VIE Structure Enhancement, the relevant members of the Alibaba Partnership or our management, 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 and the other relevant individuals have 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 equity holders, directors and executive officers of the variable interest entities and as directors or employees of our company.

       We cannot assure you that these individual shareholders of our variable interest entities 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 of 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 arrangements. There is substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any of 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 adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations."

       Furthermore, a company controlled by Jack serves as one of the general partners of a PRC limited 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 and the executive 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 in April 2015 to finance the repayment by Simon of the principal and interest under the above financing. We entered into these arrangements to strengthen our strategic business arrangements with Wasu to pursue our strategy of expanding entertainment offerings to consumers. See "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 will act in our interest given his ability to control one of the general partners of the PRC limited partnership invested in Wasu, nor can we assure you that he will not breach his obligations to us as our director, including obligations not to compete with us. In addition, the interests of Mr. Shi, as an independent third-party, may not coincide with those of Jack, or with our interests in pursuing our entertainment strategy. If any 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 benefit from 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 our secured interests could be costly and time-consuming and would be subject to the uncertainties in the PRC legal system.

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The contractual arrangements with our variable interest entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities. Any pricing adjustment of a related party transaction 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.

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.

       Although we have operating subsidiaries located in various countries and regions, our operations in China currently contribute the large majority of our revenue. 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 four 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 operations 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. 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.

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       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 four 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 these 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.

       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 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 the anti-monopoly enforcement agency, 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 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 the SAMR merger control review. As a result of our size, many of the transactions we may undertake could be subject to SAMR merger review. Complying with the requirements of the relevant regulations to complete these transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including approval from SAMR, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete these transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

       According to the Regulations on Enterprise Outbound Investment newly issued by the NDRC in December 2017 which came into effect on March 1, 2018, we may also need to report to the NDRC relevant information on overseas investments with an amount of US$300 million or more in non-sensitive areas, and even get the NDRC's approval for our overseas investments in sensitive areas, if any, before the closing of such acquisitions. Accordingly, these new regulations may restrict our ability to make investments in some regions and industries overseas, and may subject any proposed investments to heightened scrutiny, including after the investment has been made.

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       Our ability to carry out our investment and acquisition strategy may be materially and adversely affected by the regulatory authorities' 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.

Anti-monopoly and unfair competition claims against us may result in our being subject to fines as well as constraints on our business.

       The PRC anti-monopoly enforcement agencies have in recent years strengthened enforcement under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law, including levying significant fines, with respect to concentration of undertakings and cartel activity, mergers and acquisitions, as well as abusive behavior by companies with market dominance. In March 2018, the SAMR was formed as a new governmental agency to take over, among other things, the anti-monopoly enforcement functions from the relevant departments under the Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM, the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC, and the SAIC, respectively. We expect that the SAMR will continue to strengthen enforcement in the above areas.

       The PRC Anti-Monopoly Law also provides a private right of action for competitors, business partners or customers 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 hinder our business operations and improve their competitive position, regardless of the merits of their claims.

       From time to time, we have received and expect to continue to 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 could 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 prices of our ADSs. These constraints could include forced termination of any agreements or arrangements that are determined by governmental authorities 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 decrease the popularity of our marketplaces, products and services among merchants, consumers and other participants, and cause our revenue and net income to decrease materially. Given the scale and rapid expansion of our business, we may be subject to greater scrutiny, which could in turn increase the likelihood that we will face regulatory action, which could result in fines or restrictions on our business as well as negative publicity and adversely affect our reputation and the trading price of our ADSs.

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

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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. 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 pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, we have periodically filed and updated the above-mentioned foreign exchange registration 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 the beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. On February 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 designated domestic banks, instead of SAFE. The designated domestic banks 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 participants in the plans, us or our overseas and PRC 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. In the meantime, our directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC 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, and who have been granted restricted shares, options or restricted share units, or RSUs, by us or our overseas listed subsidiaries may follow 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, to apply for the foreign exchange registration. According to those regulations, employees, directors 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 may be a PRC subsidiary of the 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 their ability to make payment under the relevant equity incentive plans or receive dividends or sales proceeds related thereto in foreign currencies, or our ability to contribute additional capital into our domestic subsidiaries in China and limit our domestic subsidiaries' 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 who are PRC citizens

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or who are non-PRC residents residing in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to limited exceptions.

       In addition, the State Administration of 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.

We rely to a significant extent on dividends, loans and other distributions on equity paid by our principal operating subsidiaries in China.

       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 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 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, 2018, these restricted net assets totalled RMB77.9 billion (US$12.4 billion).

Pay-for-performance services are considered, in part, to constitute Internet advertisement, which subjects us to other laws, rules and regulations as well as additional obligations.

       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 through Internet media in any form including paid-for search results. See "Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Regulation — Regulation of Advertising Services."

       Since the Internet Advertising Measures came into effect recently, there exist substantial uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation in practice by various government authorities. We derive a significant amount of our revenue from pay-for-performance, or P4P, services and other related services. Our P4P services and other related services may be considered to, in part, constitute Internet advertisement. We may face increased scrutiny from the tax authorities and may incur additional taxes in connection with our P4P and other related 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. 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

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paid-for search results to be obviously distinguished from organic search results so that consumers will not misunderstand the nature of these search results. Therefore, we are obligated to distinguish from others the merchants who purchase the above-mentioned P4P and related services or the relevant listings by these merchants. Complying with these requirements, including any penalties or fines for any failure to comply, may significantly reduce the attractiveness of our platforms and increase our costs and could have a 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 approval of the content of the advertisement and filing with the local authorities. Pursuant to the Internet Advertising Measures, we are required to take steps to monitor the content of advertisements displayed on our platforms. This requires 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 these laws, rules and regulations, including fines or any other penalties 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. If 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 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, subject to any reduction set forth in applicable

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tax treaties. Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of shares of a resident enterprise by these investors is also subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 10%, subject to any 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, may be treated as income derived from sources within the PRC and 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 these 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 if we or any of our subsidiaries established outside China are considered a PRC resident enterprise, whether 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 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 these 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.

       Chinese companies operating in the high-technology and software industry that meet 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 tax rate for a calendar year is 10%. The key software enterprise qualification is subject to an annual assessment.

       A number of our China operating entities enjoy these preferential tax treatments. 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.

       On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 7, which has been further amended by the Announcement on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Enterprise Income Tax at Source on Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Bulletin 37, issued by the State Administration of Taxation on October 17, 2017. Pursuant to these bulletins, 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 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 this indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax.

       According to Bulletin 7 as amended, "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

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the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise directly or indirectly derives from PRC taxable assets; whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect investment in China or if its income mainly derives from 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 model and organizational structure; the foreign income tax liabilities arising from the indirect transfer of PRC taxable assets; the substitutability of the transaction by direct transfer of PRC taxable assets; and the 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 the shares were acquired from a transaction through a public stock exchange.

       There are uncertainties as to the application of Bulletin 7 and Bulletin 37. 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 the transferees may be subject to 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 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 Bulletin 7, our income tax costs associated with 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 convertible under the "current account," which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but requires 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.

       Since 2016, PRC governmental authorities have imposed more stringent restrictions on outbound capital flows, including heightened scrutiny over "irrational" overseas investments for certain industries, as well as over four kinds of "abnormal" offshore investments, which are:

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

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    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

    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." In addition, the Outbound Investment Sensitive Industry Catalogue (2018) lists certain sensitive industries that are subject to NDRC pre-approval requirements prior to remitting investment funds offshore, which subjects us to increased approval requirements and restrictions with respect to our overseas investment activity. Since a significant amount of our PRC revenue is 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, make investments, service any debt we may incur outside of China or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.

Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses to us.

       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. For instance, in August 2015, the People's Bank of China, or PBOC, changed the way it calculates the mid-point price of Renminbi 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 2016 and 2017, the value of the Renminbi depreciated approximately 7.2% and appreciated 6.3% against the U.S. dollar, respectively. From the end of 2017 through the end of June 2018, the value of the Renminbi depreciated by approximately 1.7% against the 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.

       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 the majority 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. Any significant fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi may materially and 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 or 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. 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. From time to time we enter into hedging activities with regard to exchange rate risk. We cannot assure you that our hedging activities will successfully mitigate these risks adequately or at all, and in addition hedging activities may result in greater volatility in our financial results.

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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.

       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 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.

Restrictions on the direct production of 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 related 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.

       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 alternate support arrangements for the audit of our operations in China. If our auditor, or an affiliate of that firm, were unable to address issues related to the production of documents, 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. A 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. This 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.

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Risks Related to Our ADSs

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

       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 2018 were US$206.20 and US$106.76, respectively. In addition, the performance and 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;

    announcements about our earnings that are not in line with analyst expectations;

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

    changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;

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

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

    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;

    litigation and regulatory allegations or proceedings that involve us;

    changes in pricing we or our competitors adopt;

    conditions in our industries;

    additions to or departures of our management;

    actual or perceived general economic and business conditions and trends in China and globally, as some investors or analysts may invest in or value our ADSs based on the economic performance of the Chinese economy, which may not be correlated to our financial performance;

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

    release or expiry of transfer restrictions on our outstanding ordinary shares or ADSs;

    sales or perceived potential sales or other dispositions of existing or additional ordinary shares or ADSs or other equity or equity-linked securities, including by Altaba and our other principal shareholders, our directors, officers and other affiliates, which could depress the trading price of our ADSs; and

    the creation by our major shareholders of vehicles that hold our ordinary shares.

       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

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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.

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, 2018, we had 2,571,929,843 ordinary shares outstanding, and 1,571,612,109 of our ordinary shares were represented by ADSs. All of our ordinary shares represented by ADSs were freely transferable by persons other than our affiliates without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act. The ordinary shares held by our affiliates and other shareholders are also available for sale, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act, under sales plans adopted pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 or otherwise.

       On June 7, 2018, Altaba, one of our principal shareholders, announced a tender offer to purchase up to 195,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for consideration consisting of our ADSs and cash value based on the volume-weighted average price of our ADSs. The tender offer expires on August 8, 2018. If Altaba, or any vehicles that have been created or may be created to hold our shares, among other assets, takes any further to divest itself of all or a portion of its holdings in our ordinary shares in the form of ADSs in the public market, including through periodic small-scale sales, this could cause the price of our ADSs to decline significantly.

       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. 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.

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, holders of our ADSs 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 holders of our ADSs 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 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, holders of our ADSs may be afforded less protection than they would under the Exchange Act rules applicable to domestic U.S. companies.

We may in the future 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.

       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 and may not ultimately conduct such an offering and listing. 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 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 (including holders of ADSs) 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 (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 duties 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 duties 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 a 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.

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 these 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 these 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 these payments or 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 the 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.

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, adverse United States federal income tax consequences to our shareholders that are United States 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."

ITEM 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, include 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 Taobao Marketplace and 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 certain PRC subsidiaries relating to Taobao Marketplace and Tmall.

    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 Taobao Marketplace.

    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 Tmall.

    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, including Youku.

       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

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is +86-571-8502-2088. 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 is www.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.

Share Repurchase Program

       On May 18, 2017, we announced the adoption of a 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 program replaced, and cancelled the remaining amount under our share repurchase program announced in 2015. See "Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers."

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 customer needs and solving their problems — whether those customers are consumers, merchants or enterprises — ultimately will lead to the best outcome for our business. We have developed a large ecosystem that enables participants to create and share value on our platforms. Our decisions are guided by how they serve our mission over the 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.

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

       Work @ Alibaba.     We empower our customers with the fundamental infrastructure for commerce and new 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.

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       Our six values are:

    Customer First  — The interests of our community of consumers, merchants and enterprises must be our first priority.

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

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

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

    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 for granted as we encourage our people to "work happily and live seriously."

Company Overview

       To fulfill our mission "to make it easy to do business anywhere," we enable businesses to transform the way they market, sell, operate and improve their efficiencies. We provide the technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help merchants, brands and other businesses to leverage the power of new technology to engage with their users and customers and operate in a more efficient way.

       Our businesses are comprised of core commerce, cloud computing, digital media and entertainment, and innovation initiatives. In addition, Ant Financial, a company in which we have agreed to acquire a 33% equity stake, provides payment and financial services to consumers and merchants on our platforms. An ecosystem has developed around our platforms and businesses that consists of consumers, merchants, brands, retailers, other businesses, third-party service providers and strategic alliance partners.

Core Commerce

    Retail Commerce

       Retail commerce in China.     According to Analysys, we are the largest retail commerce business in the world in terms of GMV in the twelve months ended March 31, 2018. We operate Taobao Marketplace, China's largest mobile commerce destination, and Tmall, China's largest third-party platform for brands and retailers, in each case in terms of GMV in 2017, according to Analysys. In fiscal year 2018, we generated approximately 71% of our revenue from our retail commerce business in China.

       We have introduced New Retail initiatives to transform the retail landscape and reengineer the fundamentals of retail operations. New Retail represents the convergence of online and offline retail by leveraging digitized operating systems, in-store technology, supply chain systems, consumer insights and mobile ecosystem to provide a seamless experience for consumers.

       Retail commerce — cross-border and global.     Lazada operates a leading e-commerce platform across Southeast Asia with local language websites and mobile apps in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. AliExpress, one of our global retail marketplaces, enables consumers from around the world to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors primarily in China. Tmall Global is a platform for overseas brands and retailers to reach Chinese consumers.

    Wholesale Commerce

       Wholesale commerce in China.     1688.com, China's largest integrated domestic wholesale marketplace in 2017 by revenue, according to Analysys, connects wholesale buyers and sellers in a wide range of categories. A

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significant number of merchants on our China retail marketplaces source their inventory on 1688.com. Lingshoutong, a digital retail sourcing platform, allows local mom-and-pop shops to directly source products from a broad selection of brands at competitive prices.

       Wholesale commerce — cross-border and global.     We operate Alibaba.com, China's largest integrated international online wholesale marketplace in 2017 by revenue, according to Analysys. As of March 31, 2018, buyers on Alibaba.com were located in over 190 countries.

    Logistics Services

       Cainiao Network operates a logistics data platform and a nationwide fulfillment network that leverages the capacity and capabilities of logistics partners to offer domestic and international one-stop-shop logistics services and supply chain management solutions, fulfilling various logistics needs of merchants and consumers at scale, serving our ecosystem and beyond. It uses data insights and technology to improve efficiency across the logistics value chain, including providing real-time access to data for merchants to better manage their inventory and warehousing and for consumers to track their orders, and leveraging data to optimize the delivery routes used by express courier companies.

    Consumer Services

       We use mobile and online technology to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and convenience of consumer services for both service providers and their customers. We have applied this technology to a range of areas, including food ordering and delivery, local services and online travel booking.

Cloud Computing

       Alibaba Cloud offers a complete suite of cloud services, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform, and IoT services, serving our ecosystem and beyond. Alibaba Cloud is China's largest provider of public cloud services by revenue in 2017, including PaaS services and IaaS services, according to IDC (Source: IDC Semiannual Public Cloud Services Tracker, 2017). Alibaba Cloud was also the world's third largest IaaS service provider by revenue in 2017, according to Gartner (Source: Market Share Analysis: IAAS and IUS, Worldwide, 2017, Colleen Graham et al, June 28, 2018). Alibaba Cloud has more than one million paying customers.

Digital Media and Entertainment

       Digital media and entertainment is a key piece of our Live@Alibaba vision and a natural extension of our strategy to capture consumption beyond our core commerce business. Insights we gain from our retail commerce business and our proprietary data technology enable us to deliver relevant digital media and entertainment content to consumers. This synergy delivers a superior entertainment experience, increases customer loyalty and return on investment for advertisers, and improves monetization for content providers across the ecosystem.

       Youku and UC Browser serve as our two key distribution platforms for digital media and entertainment content. These key distribution platforms and our content platforms, including news feeds, games, literature and music, allow users to discover and consume content as well as interact with each other.

Innovation Initiatives

       We continue to develop new service offerings to meet the needs of our customers and expand the reach of our ecosystem. For example, AutoNavi provides digital map, navigation and real-time traffic information to users in China. Its digital map big data technology also empowers our businesses and third-party mobile apps. Our Internet of Things (IoT) initiative is focused on developing a wide range of IoT technologies, including platform-as-a-service (PaaS), microchip design and development frameworks, operating systems and cloud

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computing, for use in transportation, homes, mobile devices, public facilities and industrial applications, among other uses, to provide innovative solutions that improve efficiency and accuracy and enhance economic benefit.

Our Ecosystem

       An ecosystem has developed around our platforms and businesses that consists of consumers, merchants, brands, retailers, other businesses, third-party service providers and strategic alliance partners. At the nexus of this ecosystem are our technology platform, our marketplace rules and the role we play in connecting these participants to make it possible for them to discover, engage and transact with each other and manage their businesses anytime and anywhere. Much of our effort, time and energy is spent on initiatives that are for the greater good of the ecosystem and on balancing the interests of its participants. We feel a strong responsibility for the continued development of the ecosystem and we take ownership in this development. Accordingly, we refer to this as "our ecosystem." Our ecosystem has strong self-reinforcing network effects benefitting its various participants, who are in turn invested in our ecosystem's growth and success.

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       The following chart sets forth the key businesses and services provided by us and selected major investee companies and cooperation partners.

GRAPHIC


*
Indicates entities that we do not consolidate in our financial statements as of the date of this annual report.

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Our Strategies

       We aim to strengthen and expand our ecosystem in order to achieve long-term growth by:

    increasing active consumers and improving consumer experience and our wallet share through geographic expansion, new product and service categories, as well as by leveraging our data capabilities to better identify, analyze and serve their needs through personalization across channels;

    expanding product and service offerings to consumers beyond physical goods, including entertainment, healthcare, travel 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;

    applying data and cloud computing technologies in everything we do for our customers and for ourselves and creating value for merchants, brands, retail operators and other businesses in our ecosystem through online and offline integration, marketing and distribution, retail space reinvention and operational efficiency improvement driven by big data and world-class technology;

    continuing to be an innovator in products and technology as well as an enabler of new business models and more efficient value chains for traditional industries that are facing challenges from digital disruption.

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

Globalization

       We are globalizing a number of our businesses. We aim to address each of the three pillars of cross-border commerce as follows:

    From the world to China.   Our China retail marketplaces provide 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 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 around 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.   Through Lazada we operate an e-commerce platform across Southeast Asia, an important region for our globalization strategy. More broadly, we aim to create a free, innovative and inclusive international trading environment by promoting public-private dialogues and sharing best business practices. Our Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) initiative was officially included in the 2016 G20 Leaders' Communique Hangzhou Summit and is now internationally recognized. In March 2017, we launched the first eWTP pilot program, the Malaysia Digital Free Trade Zone.

Rural Expansion

       As of December 31, 2017, 576 million people in China resided in rural areas, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Geographic and infrastructural limitations highly restrict their access to goods and services. We have established operations that give rural residents greater access to a broader variety of high quality goods and services through our Rural Taobao program. At the same time, we provide farmers with easier access to urban consumers which enables them to earn more for their agricultural products.

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Big Data and Cloud Computing

       We believe our world is rapidly transitioning from an information technology, or IT, economy to a data technology, or DT, economy. Traditionally unstructured, undiscovered and underutilized data can now be captured, activated and leveraged as a new source of intelligence that supports business growth and decisions. In the future, with cloud computing as a cost-saving public service, and data as a value-enhancing resource, we believe that new technology will play a fundamental role in social and commercial interactions. While maintaining a strong commitment to data security and privacy, we will continue to implement our data strategy through the application of artificial intelligence to all aspects of our business and to invest in our cloud computing platform to support our own businesses and those of third parties.

Our Businesses

Core Commerce

       Our core commerce business is comprised of the following businesses:

    Retail commerce in China;

    Retail commerce — cross-border and global;

    Wholesale commerce in China;

    Wholesale commerce — cross-border and global;

    Logistics services; and

    Consumer services.

    Retail Commerce in China

       Our retail commerce business in China, empowered by our commerce technologies and services, is primarily comprised of Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, Rural Taobao, New Retail initiatives and Alibaba Health. Together, they have become an important part of the everyday life of Chinese consumers, as evidenced by the 552 million annual active consumers we had in the twelve months ended March 31, 2018.

       Our retail commerce businesses in China offer the following value propositions to consumers:

    Broad selection.   We offer a comprehensive selection of products and services. Our China retail marketplaces had over 1.5 billion listings as of March 31, 2018.

    Convenience.   As our technology and innovation gradually eliminate the boundaries between online and offline commerce, consumers increasingly enjoy a seamless experience anytime, anywhere.

    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 on Taobao or Tmall based on whether the product matches its description, the merchant's service level and delivery timeliness. Consumer feedback is factored into the search algorithm that determines the merchant's ranking on the search results pages of our China retail marketplaces.

    Authentic products.   Consumers can expect products purchased from our China retail marketplaces to be protected by merchant quality ratings, clear refund and return policies and the Alipay escrow system. These

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      protections are especially valuable in lower-tier cities and rural villages where it has been difficult to distribute and purchase authentic branded products.

       As a result of our broad value propositions to consumers, we have seen increased engagement over time. The 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, 2018, consumers who have been with us for approximately five years placed an average of 132 orders in 23 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 27 orders in 6 product categories with average spending of approximately RMB3,000 in terms of GMV. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2018, the average annual active consumer on our China retail marketplaces placed 90 orders in 16 product categories with average spending of approximately RMB9,000 in terms of GMV.

       With data and technology, we are committed to enabling merchants, brands and retailers by delivering the following value propositions:

    Customer engagement, acquisition and retention.   In March 2018, the various mobile apps that consumers use to access our China retail marketplaces had 617 million mobile MAUs. In addition, the 552 million annual active consumers for the twelve months ended March 31, 2018 represent an unparalleled amount of purchasing power. Consumers come to our platforms with strong commercial intent, which drives high conversion rates and return on investment (ROI) for merchants, brands and retailers. The consumer behavior data from our platforms enable merchants, brands and retailers to more effectively attract, engage, acquire and retain their customers, through campaign testing, targeted marketing and a personalized user interface.

    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 stories. Brands are increasingly recognizing us as the top marketing platform, where the life-time value of customers can be built to benefit their businesses both online and offline.

    Efficient operations.   Merchants, brands and retailers use our commerce technologies and services to improve their sales channels, marketing, supply chain management and logistics, as well as our cloud computing services to lower their technology costs.

    New consumer experience.   We offer mobile and enterprise technology to enable merchants, brands and retailers to offer a seamless online and in-store shopping experience. These solutions integrate online and offline inventory, membership and services that enable them 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.

    Consumer 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 to 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. We focus heavily on protecting the privacy and security of consumer-derived data. The consumer insights provided by these actions are unique to our platforms and are not easy for merchants to obtain anywhere else.

    Taobao Marketplace

       Taobao means "search for treasure" in Chinese. Through the website at www.taobao.com and the Taobao App, Taobao Marketplace is positioned as the starting point and destination portal for the shopping journey. Consumers come to Taobao Marketplace 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 each other and their favorite merchants and brands. With a broad offering of interactive features such as live broadcast, groups and short videos, Taobao Marketplace has become an established social commerce platform.

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       Taobao Marketplace provides a top-level traffic funnel that directs users to the various marketplaces, channels and features within our ecosystem. For example, a search result on Taobao Marketplace 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 users access Taobao Marketplace through mobile devices. Below is a visual presentation of various features of the Taobao App:


Taobao App — Homepage

Taobao App offers a unique social commerce experience through highly relevant content,
personalized shopping recommendations and opportunities for social engagements

GRAPHIC

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Taobao App — Personalized Shopping Experience

Consumers see different content based on relevancy to them

GRAPHIC

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Taobao App — Rich and Engaging Content for Consumers

Consumers come to Taobao App to discover new trends and browse for ideas

GRAPHIC

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Taobao App — Enabling Merchants to Engage with Consumers

Taobao App offers features like social media, live video streaming and storefront chat
groups which allow merchants to engage with consumers beyond their storefronts

GRAPHIC

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Taobao App — Enable Massive Consumer Base to Interact with One Another

Interest-based interactive platform for consumers to share shopping experiences,
interact with one another and answer each other's questions

GRAPHIC

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       Taobao Marketplace is also the entry point to verticals, such as second-hand auctions, and online travel booking, which may also be accessed through their own independent mobile apps.

       Merchants on Taobao Marketplace are primarily individuals and small businesses. Merchants can create storefronts and listings on Taobao Marketplace free of charge. The escrow payment services provided by Alipay are free of charge to consumers and merchants unless payment is funded through a credit product such as a credit card, in which case Alipay charges a fee to the merchant based on the related bank fees charged to Alipay. Taobao Marketplace merchants can purchase P4P and display marketing services to direct traffic to their storefronts. In addition, merchants can acquire additional traffic from third-party marketing affiliates. Taobao Marketplace merchants can also pay for advanced storefront software that helps to upgrade, decorate and manage their online storefronts.

    Tmall

       Tmall caters to 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. We have positioned Tmall as a trusted platform for consumers in China and overseas to buy both homegrown and international branded products as well as products not available in traditional retail outlets. According to Analysys, Tmall was the largest B2C platform in China in terms of GMV in 2017. We believe Tmall was also the largest and fastest-growing B2C platform for physical merchandise in China in the twelve months ended March 31, 2018.

       In 2009, Tmall pioneered November 11, known as "Singles Day" in China, as an annual shopping festival. 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, 2017, our China retail marketplaces and AliExpress generated GMV of RMB168.2 billion (US$25.3 billion) settled 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, accompanied by full control over their own branding and merchandising. As of March 31, 2018, there were over 150,000 brands on Tmall, including 76% of the consumer brands ranked in the Forbes Top 100 World's Most Valuable Brands for 2018. Because of the presence of a large number of global brands and the stringent standards required for merchants to join and 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 and customer engagement. Major international brands that have physical operations in China are well represented on Tmall. In addition, Tmall Global, an extension of Tmall, addresses the increasing demand from Chinese consumers for international products and brands that do not have physical operations in China.

       Brands and retailers turn to Tmall not only for its broad user base, but also for its data insights and technology that enable them to digitize their operations, engage, acquire and retain consumers, build brand recognition, innovate on products, manage their supply chains and enhance their operational efficiency.

       We also seek to build our mind-share among consumers to position Tmall as the premier shopping 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. We have strengthened consumer recognition of Tmall's value proposition in consumer electronics and home appliances through promotional events and strategic partnerships.

       Like Taobao Marketplace merchants, Tmall merchants have access to P4P and display marketing services and storefront software, which they can use to fully customize their storefronts right down to the software code.

    Rural Taobao

       As of December 31, 2017, 576 million people in China resided in rural areas, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Geographic and infrastructural limitations highly constrain consumption and

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commerce in rural areas, 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, which had established service centers in over 26,000 villages as of March 31, 2018, to give rural residents greater access to goods and services and the ability to sell what they produce to urban consumers.

       Villagers can place orders at service stations, and the goods, such as consumer goods, electronic appliances and agricultural supplies, ordered online are delivered to county-level service centers and then distributed by local couriers to service stations in the villages for pick up. Our Rural Taobao program also helps rural Chinese villages to create a production economy by enabling rural residents and businesses to sell high quality agricultural products to urban consumers.

       Through our Rural Taobao program, 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 life, and to brands and retailers who wish to extend their reach by accessing China's vast rural population.

    New Retail initiatives

       We have introduced New Retail initiatives to transform the retail landscape and reengineer the fundamentals of retail operations. New Retail represents the convergence of online and offline retail by leveraging digitized operating systems, in-store technology, supply chain systems, consumer insights and the mobile ecosystem to provide a seamless experience for consumers. We believe the lack of real-time consumer insights is one of the key issues facing China's traditional retail sector today. Through consumer insights and technology, our New Retail initiatives focus on enabling traditional retailer partners to reinvigorate their businesses by digitalizing their operations and increasing their catchment area online and offline, thereby improving sales productivity. We are also empowering retailers with our new technology to significantly improve operating efficiency and allow them to react to consumer demands on a real-time basis.

       Our New Retail initiatives consist of creating new and transforming old business models, through organic incubation and strategic investments and alliances. We started with the transformation of the FMCG category and launched a comprehensive New Retail pilot model by establishing Hema ( GRAPHIC ). Hema is a premium fresh food store chain that innovatively uses its physical retail spaces to simultaneously function as storefronts, including for in-store dining, and warehouse for online orders. Its proprietary fulfillment system enables 30-minute delivery to customers living within a three-kilometer radius of a Hema store. Hema offers a mobile app that allows consumers to search products and place orders while browsing the store. To improve consumer experience, transaction data is used to personalize recommendations, while geographic data helps to plan the most efficient delivery routes. Hema is also shortening the sourcing process and increasing supply chain transparency and visibility through data technology. We believe that additional New Retail formats can be rolled out in other categories in the future.

       At the current initial stage, we are developing this New Retail model as our own business initiative, and expect to make it available as a platform to our ecosystem participants in the future. For example, in November 2017, we invested in and formed a strategic alliance with Sun Art, the number one hypermarket chain in China in 2017 by retail value sales, according to Euromonitor International Ltd, to explore New Retail opportunities in China's food retail sector. We have started to equip Sun Art with our proprietary technology and know-how to implement its digital transformation.

       Aside from the FMCG sector, we are also pursuing other New Retail initiatives. For example, in the clothing and accessories retail sector, we have acquired Intime Retail, a leading department store chain in China with a focus on prime shopping locations, to transform the traditional retail sector. Intime Retail has established a leading position in Zhejiang province and secured strategic footholds in Beijing and other provinces. In electronics, Tmall has collaborated with Suning to introduce a range of experimental New Retail business model initiatives.

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    Alibaba Health

       Alibaba Health is our flagship vehicle for bringing innovative solutions to the healthcare industry. It sells healthcare products, provides e-commerce platform services, operates product tracking platforms and develops intelligent medicine and health management services.

    Branding and Monetization Platforms

    Alimama

       Alimama is our monetization platform. Using data technology, this platform matches the marketing demands of merchants and brands with the media resources on our own platforms and third-party properties, and enables us to monetize our core commerce and digital media and entertainment businesses. The platform supports P4P marketing services 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. The relevance and comprehensiveness of data based on commercial activity and user activity in our ecosystem provide a unique advantage for Alimama to target the most relevant information to users.

       Alimama also has an affiliate marketing program that places marketing displays on third-party websites and apps, thereby enabling marketers, if they so choose, to extend their marketing and promotional reach to properties and users beyond our own marketplaces. Our affiliate marketing program not only provides additional traffic to our core commerce platforms, but also generates revenue to us.

       Alimama operates the Taobao Ad Network and Exchange, or TANX, one of the largest real-time online bidding 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.

    Marketing for Brands

       Drawing on our big data capabilities, we have developed a Uni Marketing approach that digitizes consumer-brand relationships and empowers brands to build robust relationships with consumers throughout their lifecycles in our ecosystem. We aim to help brands reach consumers by leveraging our marketplaces, Youku, UC Browser, strategic partners in our ecosystem, as well as other major third-party Internet properties in China. We intend to become the key partner 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.

    Commerce technologies and services

       We provide commerce technologies and services to enable merchants and brands on Taobao marketplace and Tmall to enhance their online and offline operational capabilities. Through our commerce technologies, innovative services and data capabilities, merchants and brands can acquire, retain and further deepen their engagement with

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consumers in an efficient and effective manner, thereby enhancing the merchants' and brands' loyalty to our platforms. These commerce technologies and services include two key components:

    Core Operations Control Panel

       We provide an integrated online control panel that allows merchants to conduct core operations through a unified interface. It offers essential business tools, such as an operations dashboard and direct messaging, access to business software marketplace and access to a wide range of offline services such as fashion modeling and photography, among others.

       Merchants on our China retail marketplaces use this control panel to conduct day-to-day operations, such as managing stores and product listings, fulfilling orders, managing inventory and transactions, conducting sales and marketing activities, servicing customers, managing procurement process, interacting and collaborating with other businesses and seeking credit financing provided by Ant Financial.

    Big Data Support and Engagement Platform

       Equipped with our "intelligent store" solution, designed to improve offline operations, brands on our secure cloud-based data insights platform have access to a sophisticated databank and analytics services that consolidate online and offline data and help brands gain insights into each stage of the consumer journey and provide a personalized online and offline shopping experience for consumers.

    Retail Commerce — Cross-border and global

       Our retail commerce — cross-border and global businesses include Lazada, AliExpress, Tmall Global and certain other initiatives. In the twelve months ended March 31, 2018, Lazada and AliExpress had more than 90 million annual active consumers.

    Lazada

       Lazada operates a leading e-commerce platform across Southeast Asia, with local language websites and mobile apps in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Lazada offers merchants and brands a one-stop marketplace solution to access consumers in these six countries. Lazada also sells products on its platform directly via its own retail operations. In addition, it has an extensive in-house logistics operation, which is supported by our highly scalable warehouse management system, to ensure quick and reliable order fulfilment.

    AliExpress

       AliExpress is a global marketplace targeting consumers from around the world and enabling them to buy directly from manufacturers and distributors primarily in China. In addition to the global English-language site, AliExpress operates sixteen local language sites, including sites in Russian, Portuguese, 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, Spain and France.

    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. Tmall Global includes Tmall Imports, which is an important part of our New Retail initiatives. According to Analysys, for fiscal year 2018, Tmall Global was the number one import e-commerce platform in China based on transaction value.

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    Other Initiatives

       In January 2017, we and the International Olympic Committee launched a historic long-term partnership that will last through 2028. Joining The Olympic Partner (TOP) worldwide sponsorship program, Alibaba has become the official "E-Commerce Services" Partner and "Cloud Services" Partner and a founding partner of the Olympic Channel through the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

    Wholesale Commerce in China

    1688.com China domestic wholesale marketplace

       1688.com, China's largest integrated domestic wholesale marketplace in 2017 by revenue, according to Analysys, connects wholesale buyers and sellers in China who trade in apparel, general merchandise, home decoration and furnishing materials, electronics, shoes, packaging materials and food and beverages, among others. A significant number of merchants on our China retail marketplaces source their inventory on 1688.com. Listing items on 1688.com is free. Sellers may purchase a China TrustPass membership for an annual subscription fee to reach customers, provide quotations and transact on the marketplace. Paying members may also pay for additional services, such as premium data analytics and upgraded storefront management tools, as well as customer management services. As of March 31, 2018, 1688.com had over 887,000 paying members.

    Lingshoutong retail sourcing platform

       Lingshoutong, a digital sourcing platform, allows local mom-and-pop shops in China to directly source products from a broad selection of brands at competitive prices. The platform allows these shop owners to increase their sales opportunities and lower operating costs. The brand partners distributing through Lingshoutong benefit from deeper distribution channels, especially in lower tier cities in China where the retail network is less developed.

    Wholesale Commerce — Cross-border and global

       Alibaba.com is China's largest integrated international online wholesale marketplace in 2017 by revenue, according to Analysys. Sellers on Alibaba.com may purchase an annual Gold Supplier membership to reach customers, provide quotations and transact on the marketplace. Sellers may also purchase an upgraded membership package to receive value-added services such as upgraded storefront management tools and P4P services. Buyers on Alibaba.com were located in over 190 countries as of March 31, 2018. 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, trade financing and logistics services. As of March 31, 2018 Alibaba.com had over 164,000 paying members.

    Logistics Services

       Through Cainiao Network, we are committed to further strengthening the capabilities of our global logistics network. Our logistics vision is to be able to fulfill consumer orders within 24 hours in China and within 72 hours anywhere else in the world. To fulfill this vision, Cainiao Network adopts a platform approach to establish a nationwide fulfillment network that leverages the capacities and capabilities of logistics partners to offer domestic and international one-stop-shop logistics services and supply chain management solutions, fulfilling various logistics needs of merchants and consumers at scale.

    Platform approach

       As of March 31, 2018, Cainiao Network's 15 strategic express courier partners employed over 1.9 million delivery personnel in more than 700 cities and 31 provinces in China, according to data provided by them. Collectively they operated more than 200,000 hubs and sorting stations. During fiscal year 2018, Cainiao Network

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and its logistics partners enabled the delivery of 20.6 billion packages that originated from our China retail marketplaces.

    Scalable fulfillment network

       The vast geographical area of China and wide distribution of Chinese consumers and merchants require a large and distributed logistics infrastructure. Cainiao Network has established a scalable, nationwide fulfillment network that consists of fulfillment hubs at key strategic locations, package sorting and distribution centers, and last mile stations, which are owned, leased or partnered with logistics data providers. The fulfillment network is connected by Cainiao Network's proprietary logistics data platform. This network facilitates the execution of our New Retail strategy. With this nationwide fulfillment network, medium and large merchants can place inventory across multiple locations in advance based on sales forecasts to optimize supply chain efficiency and provide fast delivery to consumers.

    Data technology capabilities

       Cainiao Network uses data insights and technology to improve efficiency across the logistics value chain. Powered by large-scale computing and machine learning capabilities, Cainiao Network's e-shipping label and value-added services optimize delivery routes and improve efficiency for express delivery couriers, leading to more accurate and speedy delivery to consumers.

    Comprehensive logistics solutions

       Leveraging its platform approach and data technology capabilities, Cainiao Network provides solutions to meet various logistics needs. Internationally, Cainiao Network provides cross-border fulfillment solutions to merchants on Tmall Global and AliExpress. In rural areas, Cainiao Network arranges the delivery from county level Rural Taobao stations to villages. In urban areas, Cainiao Network provides smart last-mile solutions, such as self-pickup by consumers from stations around urban communities and on college campuses, as well as package shipping.

    Consumer Services

       Our consumer services platforms consist of:

       Ele.me.     Ele.me ( GRAPHIC ) (which means "Are you hungry?" in Chinese), a leading on-demand delivery and local services platform in China, enables consumers to use the Ele.me mobile delivery app to order meals, snacks and beverages online. Through a delivery network of direct-managed and agent-managed personnel, the company's service covered over 670 cities in China as of March 31, 2018. Under a cooperation agreement, Ele.me fulfills food orders generated from the Taobao App and Alipay App.

       Koubei.     Koubei, our equity investee and one of the leading local services platforms in China, generates traffic to restaurants and other local service providers by offering consumers a "closed loop" experience, from content discovery to finding the store to claiming discounts to payments.

       Fliggy.     Fliggy, a leading online travel platform in China, provides comprehensive reservation services for airline tickets, accommodation, train tickets, car rental, package tour and destination attractions. Fliggy enhances user experience through data technology that enables partnered hotels to identify travelers with good credit and provide travel privileges such as zero-deposit hotel booking, express check-out and automatic post-stay billing.

Cloud Computing

       Alibaba Cloud is China's largest provider of public cloud services by revenue in 2017, including PaaS services and IaaS services, according to IDC (Source: IDC Semiannual Public Cloud Services Tracker, 2017), and world's third largest IaaS service provider by revenue in 2017, according to Gartner (Source: Market Share Analysis: IaaS and IUS, Worldwide, 2017, Colleen Graham et al, June 28, 2018). The technologies that power Alibaba Cloud

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grew out of our own need to operate the massive scale and complexity of our core commerce business, including related payments and logistics elements. In 2009, we founded Alibaba Cloud to make these technologies available to third-party customers.

       Alibaba Cloud offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and IoT services. Products that differentiate Alibaba Cloud from our domestic peers include proprietary security and middleware products, large scale computing services and analytic capabilities supported by our big data platform. These products enable customers to quickly build IT infrastructure services on-line without on-premises work. We also operate data centers in a number of countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Japan, the United States and others.

       As a major part of our partnership with the International Olympic Committee, we unveiled Alibaba Cloud ET Sports Brain, built on Alibaba Cloud's high-performance infrastructure of world-class data centers, network virtualization services and market-leading security services, which integrate data intelligence and machine learning to re-define engagement between fans, organizers, venues and athletes.

       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 2016, 2017 and 2018." Furthermore, in fiscal year 2018, cloud computing revenue from related parties only contributed approximately 9% of our total cloud computing revenue.

Digital Media and Entertainment

       Our digital media and entertainment business leverages our deep data insights to serve the broader interests of consumers through two key distribution platforms, Youku and UC Browser, and through diverse content platforms that provide movies, TV drama series, online dramas, variety shows, news feeds, games, literature and music, among other areas.

    Key Distribution Platforms

    Youku

       Youku is the third largest online video platform in China based on MAUs in March 2018, according to QuestMobile. It enables users to search, view and share high-quality video content quickly and easily across multiple devices. The Youku brand is among the most recognized online video brands in China.

       Insights we gain from our retail commerce business and our proprietary data technology enable Youku to deliver relevant digital media and entertainment content to its users. At the same time, Youku helps drive customer loyalty to our core commerce business in the form of complementary content offerings for users. For example, a loyalty program member of our core commerce business can purchase a Youku membership at a preferential rate or be rewarded a membership free of charge. Youku is also the exclusive online video platform to live stream major events of our core commerce business such as the Countdown Gala Celebration for the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, which is supported by interactive features to drive consumer engagement.

    UC Browser

       UC Browser is one of the top three mobile browsers in the world and the number two mobile browser in India and Indonesia by page view market share in March 2018, according to StatCounter (http://gs.statcounter.com).

    Key Content Platforms

       We offer a diverse range of digital media and entertainment content using a sustainable production and acquisition approach. First, we provide self-produced content. We also jointly produce content through

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arrangements with studios and directors that commission them to produce and distribute some or all of their content exclusively on our platforms. Third, we acquire rights to display content on our digital media and entertainment platforms pursuant to licensing agreements with rights holders. Last, we offer an open-platform on which user-generated content and professionally-generated content are generated and distributed. Our digital media and entertainment offerings include online videos, movies, news feeds, games, literature, music and sports.

       We offer content from Alibaba Pictures, which is principally engaged in the production, promotion and distribution of entertainment content, serving consumers, studios, and cinema operators. Alibaba Games is a platform dedicated to the development, distribution and operation of mobile games. Alibaba Literature is our platform for distributing literature online, and it offers content for use in derivative works or tie-in entertainment. Our music platform provides music streaming and digital music online publishing services, as well as enabling the discovery and support of independent musicians.

Innovation Initiatives

    AutoNavi

       AutoNavi is the largest provider of mobile digital map, navigation and real-time traffic information in China by MAUs in December 2017, according to Questmobile. In addition to 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 digital mapping technology, powered by big data. It also empowers major platforms and infrastructural service providers in our ecosystem including our China retail marketplaces, Cainiao Network and Alipay.

    DingTalk

       DingTalk, our proprietary enterprise communication and collaboration platform, provides a unified interface for communications in different forms (including text messages, photo, voice, video and e-mail), workflow management and collaboration among team members and enterprises of various sizes. DingTalk's open platform also attracts ISVs to develop third-party enterprise applications or business services that are seamlessly integrated with DingTalk.

    Tmall Genie

       Tmall Genie, our AI-powered voice assistant, helps consumers to shop, order local services, search for information, control smart appliances and play interactive content, including educational stories and music for children.

Ant Financial — Financial Technology Services

       Ant Financial, an unconsolidated related party, is a technology company focused on providing inclusive financial services to small and micro enterprises and consumers in China and across the world through sustained technological innovation and cooperation with financial institutions. It primarily operates a digital payment services business as well as financial technology platform services for wealth management, micro financing, insurance and other areas.

    Digital payment service

       Ant Financial operates Alipay, a leading global third-party mobile payment platform. Through Alipay, Ant Financial provides digital payment processing services predominantly to online and offline merchants and consumers globally. This provides Alipay with deep insights into the needs of merchants and consumers, which allow it to continuously expand use cases and increase user mindshare, and thereby become a comprehensive platform and entry point for payment, lifestyle and innovative financial services. Alipay provides digital payment and escrow services for transactions on Taobao Marketplace, Tmall, 1688.com and a number of our other platforms and charges a fee based on a certain percentage of the payment amount processed. During fiscal year 2018, Alipay, together with its global JV partners, served approximately 870 million annual active users all over the world.

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    Financial technology platform services

       Ant Financial's financial technology services platform is a comprehensive and open platform where users can access and purchase a wide variety of wealth management, micro financing and insurance products and related services. The vast majority of such financial products are provided by third-party financial institutions. Ant Financial's platform primarily serves three sectors in China:

    Wealth management.   Financial institutions, including fund management companies and insurance companies, offer money market funds, fixed income products, debt and equity securities funds, as well as other wealth management products through Ant Financial' wealth management platform. The platform also distributes money market funds under the name of Yu'ebao.

    Micro-financing.   Banks and lenders offer credit services mainly to small and micro enterprises through Ant Financial's micro-financing platform, and also offer small-amount, short-term consumer credit services to consumers. Leveraging its deep user insights and technology capabilities, Ant Financial provides its partners with relevant technology services, thereby assisting financial institutions to serve more micro and small enterprise customers, reduce their credit risk and enhance user experience.

    Insurance.   Ant Financial partners with insurance companies to provide innovative insurance products, including goods return freight insurance and account security insurance, thereby meeting the potential insurance needs inherent to the new Internet economy. Through its insurance platform, Ant Financial also helps insurance company partners to continuously engage in product innovation and customer engagement.

       Apart from satisfying the needs of Chinese consumers and small and micro enterprises, Ant Financial continues to pursue its globalization strategy. Ant Financial cooperates with overseas strategic partners to launch local e-wallets in major developing countries using experience and innovative technology developed in China. It also offers inclusive digital payment and financial technology services to local consumers and small and micro enterprises.

       For additional details on our commercial relationship with Ant Financial and Alipay, see "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions Agreements and Transactions Related to Ant Financial and its Subsidiaries."

Customer Service for China Retail Marketplaces

       Our customer service representatives serve consumers and merchants on our marketplaces through telephone hotlines, real-time instant messaging and online inquiry systems. In addition, merchants on our platforms serve their customers with commerce technologies and services we provide. Based on big data analytics, we provide numerous methods to facilitate the resolution of disputes. Aside from disputes referred to our customer service representatives for resolution and disputes handled automatically by our system, consumers may also choose adjudication by a large panel of experienced consumers and merchants.

       With certain exceptions, consumers on our China retail marketplaces may return the purchased goods within seven days from receipt. Alipay's escrow payment services ensure efficient refunds. In addition, for qualified consumers with good credit history, we may accelerate refund procedure by making the refund payment upon the buyer's submission of a refund application and proof of shipment for the returned 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

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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 deduct consumer protection funds 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.

       The consumer protection fund amounts are displayed on each merchant's information page. 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. 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 fundamental to our business. We are committed to protecting intellectual property rights and eliminating counterfeit merchandise and fictitious activities. Infringement of intellectual property, both online and offline, is an industry-wide issue globally. By working with rights holders, trade associations and governments around the world, we have made significant progress in combating the issue of intellectual property rights infringement. As of March 31, 2018, there were over 150,000 brands on Tmall, including 76% of the consumer brands ranked in the Forbes Top 100 World's Most Valuable Brands for 2018, a demonstration of the trust such brands 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. At the same time, we are committed to partnering with brands, rights holders and law enforcement authorities both online and offline to monitor product authenticity and protect intellectual property across our platforms. 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. 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.

       By leveraging our advanced technologies, as well as engaging in close collaboration with stakeholders, including rights holders, trade associations and governments, we have implemented the following best practices:

    Notice and take down system.   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 simplified takedown program pursuant to which we expedite claims and simplify the notification procedure. We collaborate with rights holders to proactively identify suspicious listings, giving them an opportunity to review these listings and submit takedown requests.

    Proactive monitoring (identification and take down) powered by big data.   We utilize our proprietary algorithms to proactively detect the presence of suspicious goods. We also have developed the capability to perform real-time scanning of suspicious product specifications during a merchant's listing creation process, which helps us prevent merchants from uploading infringing content. For example, we employ Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and logo recognition technologies 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

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      capable of constantly improving through machine learning. Our ability to quickly and efficiently monitor and remove problematic products is constantly improving as more and more brands and rights holders contribute information about their intellectual property to our systems.

    Offline enforcement.   We also 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.

    Alibaba Anti-Counterfeiting Alliance (AACA)

       In January 2017, we established the AACA to encourage collaboration among industry participants in the promotion of intellectual property rights protection. Famous global consumer brands, such as 3M, Amway, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, Mars, Procter & Gamble and Spalding, participate in the AACA as founding members and today the membership has expanded to 105 brands in 12 industries, including consumer goods, automotives and pharmaceuticals.

       The AACA is committed to using Internet technology and data to combat IP infringement. The goal is to encourage rights holders, e-commerce platforms, and law enforcement agencies to work collaboratively to protect intellectual property rights through increased communication and the exchange of information. The AACA shares best practices among the members and engages in joint media outreach to educate the public and consumers about the damage counterfeit products cause, including with respect to health, the environment and safety.

       The AACA has established an Advisory Board aimed at creating an efficient channel for rights holders to provide feedback on significant IP enforcement-related strategies and policies, and acts as a leading industry forum to discuss new trends in online IP infringement activities, litigation and platform practices.

    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;

    enabling consumers and merchants to report suspicious transactions;

    maintaining a "blacklist" of merchants who have previously been involved in fictitious transactions; and

    collaborating with law enforcement authorities to combat fictitious activities by merchants and websites that enable fictitious activity.

    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, based on the severity of the violation, through a number of means including: permanently banning merchants from opening accounts on our platforms, closing down storefronts, limiting merchants' ability to add listings, imposing restrictions on 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, improving user experience, and enabling innovation. Our world-class proprietary technology supports peak order volumes of up to hundreds of thousands per second,

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delivers tens of billions of online marketing impressions per day, and enables millions of merchants, brands 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, 2018, we employed over 24,000 research and development personnel. Members of our research and development personnel play key roles in various international standardization organizations in areas such as e-commerce, security and IoT. In addition, we are also active in open source communities. In October 2017, we announced the launch of the DAMO Academy, a global research program in cutting-edge technology that aims to integrate science with industry and speed up information exchange between them. It encourages a collaborative environment where scientific discoveries can be more rapidly applied to real-life problems.

       Key components of our technology include those described below:

    Technology Infrastructure

       Our data centers utilize leading technologies in distributed structure, innovative cooling techniques, distributed power technology 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 scalability and stable redundancy.

    Cloud Operating System

       Aspara, our cloud computing operating system, 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 new technology era.

    Big Data Analytics Platform

       We have developed a distributed data analytics platform that can efficiently handle the 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

       We believe we are one of the few companies in the world with a proprietary, distributed deep learning platform that has access to consumer insights across diverse businesses involving a rich variety of consumer experiences. As a result, we believe we are in a unique position to develop large-scale commercial use of artificial intelligence, or AI. We have applied various AI technologies across our ecosystem to enhance the consumer experience. These enhancements include personalized search results and shopping recommendations empowered by deep learning and data analytics, speech recognition and image analysis technology adopted in search functions, and intelligent customer service. In addition, our AI capabilities enable us to introduce innovative products, such as Tmall Genie, our AI-powered voice assistant.

    Internet of Things

       We are engaged in the development of a wide range of IoT technologies, such as PaaS, microchip design and development framework, operating systems and cloud computing capabilities for transportation, home, mobile, public and industrial applications. Our IoT PaaS and data allow hardware to work in more application scenarios and solutions as well as for applications to have more hardware options.

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    Security

       We have established a comprehensive situational awareness and risk management security infrastructure that spans across our entire network, covering our systems, apps, data, services and individual end users. Our back-end security system handles hundreds of millions of instances of malicious attacks each day to provide effective security for our commerce and cloud platforms.

Sales and Marketing

       As Taobao Marketplace is China's largest mobile commerce destination with an exceptionally wide range of product offerings and Tmall is China's largest third-party platform for brands and retailers, we have wide consumer recognition of our brand and enjoy significant organic traffic through word-of-mouth. We believe 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. In addition, we also use other marketing initiatives to promote our platforms. In January 2017, we and the International Olympic Committee launched a historic long-term partnership that will last through the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, and during the most recent fiscal year, we increased our marketing efforts, such as a highly coordinated marketing and promotional campaigns on Tmall for the Singles' Day Global Shopping Festival, to expand the user base of our China retail commerce business. We expect to continue our marketing activities in the future. We also expect to enhance our monetization capability through leveraging our data technologies to develop and offer more personalized and innovative services, so as to improve customer experience and wallet share. Further, our major business segments and other elements in our ecosystem provide synergetic advantages and create cross-promotional opportunities. For example, the large number of consumers on our marketplaces attracts a large number of merchants who become customers for our online marketing services.

Socially Responsible Mindset

       At Alibaba, we believe acting in a socially responsible way is part of our business model. Since our founding, we have been highly committed to supporting and participating in charitable and socially responsible projects that align with our core values and mission, and to establishing a technology-driven charitable ecosystem to extend the benefits of our technological capabilities to the community at large.

       Our major corporate social responsibility achievements and initiatives include:

    Creating Job Opportunities

       The breadth of our ecosystem and the range of different types of service providers needed within it create substantial 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. AliResearch, our research division, estimates that our China retail marketplaces had contributed to the creation of over 36 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 new technology, 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 2018, approximately half of the annual active sellers on our China retail marketplaces were female.

    Supporting Rural Development in China

       As we expand to rural areas in China, we have created opportunities for rural residents to improve their standard of living by helping them sell agricultural produce to urban consumers and providing them with greater access to more varieties of high quality goods and services through online shopping. As of March 31, 2018, our

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Rural Taobao program had established service centers in over 26,000 villages in China, approximately 8,000 of which were in state-designated impoverished counties.

    Poverty Relief Programs

       We are committed to contributing to China's poverty relief initiatives. Apart from using our own resources, we also leverage our platform's reach to maximize our influence and our technological capabilities to increase the efficiency of these initiatives.

       In December 2017, we announced plans to launch a RMB10 billion Alibaba Poverty Relief Program, as part of our ongoing efforts to promote positive social change and combat poverty in China. The program focuses on education, rural commerce advancement, empowering women, healthcare and environmental sustainability. The program will primarily be funded by donations from us and the partners in the Alibaba Partnership.

       We also provide health insurance funded by donations collected on our platforms to cover major illnesses to breadwinners in impoverished households in selected provinces. As part of this initiative, we use our technology to enable insurers to accept and verify insurance applications online and donors to track the use of their donations. These measures help to reduce the operating costs of insurance companies, allowing a greater portion of the donations to be used to pay out insurance claims. As of March 31, 2018, we have raised approximately RMB38 million and provided health insurance to 810,000 families in 10 impoverished counties.

       Taobao University offers e-commerce classes to entrepreneurs and rural villager. Taobao University offers online courses in approximately 98.9% of state-designated impoverished counties. In fiscal year 2018, over 210,000 students from 823 state-designated impoverished counties took approximately 2,300 online courses on Taobao University.

    Contributing to Environmental Sustainability

       We work with enterprises and users to implement environmentally sustainable business models across various sectors, such as manufacturing, retail, logistics and cloud computing. Our cloud computing business not only helps enterprises reduce their need for computing hardware, its technology is also built on the idea of environment sustainability. For example, we launched a data center featuring an innovative cooling system that uses lake water to cut energy costs. Furthermore, Cainiao Network and other major Chinese express courier companies formed the Cainiao Green Alliance to promote green logistics initiatives, including "green packaging," that utilizes biologically degradable courier bags, tape-free boxes and package recycling bins, and "green warehouses," which have installed solar panels. Cainiao Network has also developed a packaging optimization algorithm, which on average reduces the use of packaging materials by approximately 15%, and was used in over 250 million delivery boxes and courier bags in fiscal year 2018.

    Charitable Contributions and Public Service

       We have always encouraged the active participation in public service by our company and our employees. Since 2010, we have established a special fund 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. In fiscal year 2018, we and the Alibaba Foundation made approximately RMB230 million (US$37 million) in donations. Since September 2015, we have encouraged our employees to perform a minimum of three hours of public service every year.

       We also leverage our ecosystem to extend the reach of our charitable initiatives and encourage merchants, consumers and other ecosystem participants to engage in public service. For instance, to support the United Nation's annual September 5 International Day of Charity, we initiated multiple public charity activities that attracted over 270 million instances of participation.

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       Charitable organizations can also set up storefronts on our marketplaces to raise funds and engage with volunteers. Merchants can designate a percentage of their sales proceeds generated on our platforms to go to charitable organizations. Consumers can contribute to charitable causes by purchasing public interest products, participating in charity auctions hosted on our platforms or directly making donations. Through our platforms, we supported over 1.7 million merchants and over 360 million users to donate to domestic and overseas charitable projects and enabled charitable organizations to raise approximately RMB320 million (US$51 million) in donations in fiscal year 2018, which benefited approximately 3.3 million disadvantaged people.

       Furthermore, our "Reunion" platform connects our and our partners' mobile apps to help locate missing children across China. Since its initial launch in mid 2016 and up to March 31, 2018, this platform has helped law enforcement authorities successfully locate 2,777 missing children, reflecting a 97.6% success rate. The "Reunion" platform has received international attention. To support the global effort on child protection, we hosted a global leadership conference in 2018 to share the technology and thinking behind our "Reunion" platform with organization from over 20 countries.

Competition

       We face competition principally from established Chinese Internet companies, such as Tencent, and their respective affiliates, global and regional e-commerce players, cloud computing service providers, such as Amazon, and digital media and entertainment providers. These competitors generate significant traffic and have established brand recognition, significant technological capabilities and significant financial resources. 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. 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, Brands, Retailers and other Businesses  — We compete to attract and retain merchants, brands and retailers 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. In addition, we compete to attract and retain businesses of different sizes across various industries based on the effectiveness of our cloud service offerings to help them enhance operating efficiency and realize their digitization transformation ambitions.

    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 and to provide services for all participants in our ecosystem.

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, 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."

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 promotions.

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       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 operating activities 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. Moreover, as our fixed costs and expenses, such as payroll and benefits, bandwidth and location fees, grow at a relatively stable rate compared to our revenue growth, we will enjoy increased operating leverage in seasonally strong quarters, but will face significant margin pressure in seasonally weak quarters.

Regulation

       We operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. We and our key service provider, Ant Financial, are subject to a variety of PRC and foreign laws, rules and regulations across a number of aspects of our business. As we have expanded our operations to other countries, we have become increasingly subject to applicable regulations in these jurisdictions. This section primarily summarizes the principal PRC laws, rules and regulations relevant to our business and operations, because the PRC remains the country where we conduct the substantial majority of our business and generate the substantial majority of our revenues. Other jurisdictions where we conduct business have their own laws and regulations that cover many of the areas covered by PRC laws and regulations, but their focus, specifics and approaches may differ considerably. 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 are subject to a broad range of laws and regulations, and future laws and regulations may impose additional requirements and other obligations 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 Foreign Investment Catalogue, the latest version of which came into effect on July 28, 2017, was promulgated by the MOFCOM and the National Development and Reform Commission, with the latest amendment to become effective as of July 28, 2018, and governs investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors. The recently amended Foreign Investment Catalogue includes two categories, i.e., "Category of Industries Encouraged for Foreign Investment" and "Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access," or the "Negative List." Industries not listed in the Foreign Investment Catalogue are generally deemed "permitted" for foreign investment. The Negative List expands the scope of industries for which foreign investment is permitted by reducing the number of industries that fall within the Negative List where foreign

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investment is prohibited or restrictions on the shareholding percentage or requirements on the composition of board or senior management still exist. However, industries such as value-added telecommunication services, including Internet information services, remain 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, and Zhejiang Cainiao Supply Chain Co., Ltd. is also registered in China and mainly engaged in logistics services and supply chain solutions, all of which fall into the encouraged or permitted category under the latest Foreign Investment Catalogue. These three significant subsidiaries have obtained all material approvals required for their business operations. The Foreign Investment 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 Foreign Investment 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 completed the solicitation of comments on this discussion draft in February 2015. The National People's Congress Standing Committee's Legislation Work Plan for 2018 issued on April 17, 2018 mentioned that Foreign Investment Law will be reviewed by the National People's Congress Standing Committee for the first time in December 2018, 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's online video businesses, are classified as value-added telecommunications services. The Administrative Measures for Telecommunications Business Operating License, promulgated by the MIIT in December 2001 and most recently amended in September 2017, set forth more specific provisions regarding the types of licenses required to operate value-added telecommunications services, the qualifications and procedures for obtaining such licenses and the administration and supervision of such licenses.

       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

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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 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).

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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 SAMR, formerly 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 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 SAMR 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 of China 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 had issued a number of guidelines and implementing rules aimed at adding greater specificity to these regulations. The relevant governmental authorities continue 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 Drug Administration, formerly known as 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. On September 20, 2017, the State Council decided to extend the transition period for cross-border e-commerce retail import regulations to the end of 2018, during which period cross-border e-commerce retail import goods were to be temporarily regulated as personal items in ten pilot cities. Further,

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according to a December 7, 2017 statement by the Ministry of Commerce, starting on January 1, 2018, the transitional period policy will be extended to 15 pilot cities.

Regulation of Mobile Applications

       On June 28, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration of China 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 Tourism 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

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service providers established after Circular 56 was issued. These policies have been reflected in the Application Procedure for Audio/Video Program Transmission License.

       On March 17, 2010, the SARFT issued the Internet Audio/Video Program Services Categories (Provisional), or the Provisional Categories, which were amended on March 10, 2017. The amended Provisional Categories classified Internet audio/video programs into four categories, which are further divided into seventeen sub-categories.

       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 (which was recently split into the State Administration of Radio and Television, or SART, and the State Administration of News and Publication in March 2018) 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

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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.

       On March 16, 2018, the GAPPRFT promulgated the Notice on Further Regulating the Transmission of Internet Audio/Video Programs, which requires that, among other things, audio/video platforms must: (i) not re-edit, re-dub, re-caption or otherwise ridicule classic works, radio and television programs, or original Internet audio/video programs without authorization, (ii) not broadcast clips and trailers of audio/video programs without due approval or those already sanctioned by the GAPPRFT, (iii) not transmit re-edited programs which unfairly distort the original content, (iv) strictly monitor the adapted content uploaded by platform users and not provide transmission channels for illicit content, and (v) immediately take down unauthorized content upon receipt of complaints from copyright owners, radio and television stations, or film and television production institutions. Pursuant to this notice, online audio/video programs may not cooperate with entities that illegally conduct Internet audio/video program services without approval, including accepting sponsorship or endorsement from such entities.

    Regulations on Internet Publication

       The SARFT is responsible for nationwide supervision and administration of publishing activities in China. On February 4, 2016, the GAPPRFT, the SARFT's predecessor, 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 includes:

    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.

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       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 citizen 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.

    Regulations on Internet Drug Information Service

       The State Food and Drug Administration, or the SFDA, the predecessor of the State Drug Administration, promulgated the Administrative Measures on Internet Drug Information Service in July 2004 and further amended the same in November 2017. Since the promulgation of the Administrative Measures on Internet Drug Information Service, the SFDA had issued certain implementing rules and notices aimed at adding specificity to these regulations. 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 State Drug Administration.

    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

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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, the predecessor of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, promulgated the Internet Culture Administration Tentative Measures, or the Internet Culture Measures, which was most recently amended in December 2017. The Internet Culture Measures require ICP operators engaging in "Internet culture activities" to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 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 12, 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 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 December 25, 2001, the State Council promulgated the Regulations for the Administration of Films, or the Film Regulations, which became effective on February 1, 2002. 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 Express Delivery Services

       The PRC Postal Law, which took effect in October 2009 and was most recently amended in 2015, sets forth the fundamental rules on the establishment and operation of an express delivery company. According to the Postal Law, an enterprise that operates and provides express delivery services is required to obtain a Courier Service Operation Permit. Pursuant to the Postal Law, "delivery" refers to delivery of correspondence, parcels, printed

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materials and other items to specific individuals or entities according to the names and addresses on the envelopes or packages, including mail acceptance, sorting, transportation, delivery, and "express delivery" refers to rapid mail "delivery" within a specified time limit. The above-mentioned requirements are also provided for in the Administrative Measures for Express Delivery Market, which were promulgated by the Ministry of Transport in January 2013 and became effective in March 2013.

       The PRC Postal Law also requires that a company operating express delivery services must apply for and obtain the Courier Service Operation Permit prior to applying for its business license. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures on Courier Service Operation Permits, which was promulgated by the Ministry of Transport in June 2015, any entity engaging in express delivery services is required to obtain a Courier Service Operation Permit from the State Post Bureau or its local counterpart and is subject to their supervision and regulation. The express delivery business must be operated within the permitted scope and the valid term of the Courier Service Operation Permit.

       On March 2, 2018, the State Council promulgated the Provisional Regulations for Express Delivery, or the Provisional Regulations, which came into effect on May 1, 2018. The Provisional Regulations reiterate that a company operating express delivery services must obtain the Courier Service Operation Permit and sets forth specific rules and security requirements for express delivery operations.

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 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.

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       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 of China 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 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;

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    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 of China completed the solicitation of comments on the draft Cross-Border Transfer Measures in May 2017 but has not promulgated the final measures.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 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

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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 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

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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. The Regulation on the Protection of the Right to Communicate Works to the Public over Information Networks, which was most recently amended on January 30, 2013, provides specific rules on fair use, statutory license, and a safe harbor for use of copyrights and copyright management technology and specifies the liabilities of various entities for violations, including copyright holders, libraries and Internet service providers.

       Trademark.     Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law of the PRC and related rules and regulations. Trademarks are registered with the State Intellectual Property Office, formerly 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 names are protected under the Administrative Measures on Internet Domain Names promulgated by the MIIT on August 24, 2017 and effective as of November 1, 2017. 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

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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.

       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 in April 2009 and most recently amended in December 2017. Circular 82 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

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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."

       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.

       Bulletin 7 was issued by the State Administration of Taxation on February 3, 2015 and most recently amended pursuant to Bulletin 37, which was issued by the State Administration of Taxation on October 17, 2017 and became effective as of December 1, 2017. Pursuant to Bulletin 7, 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 attri