Investment in equity investees (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Investment in equity investees

Investment in equity investees

	Cost method			Equity method			Total
	(in millions of RMB)
Balance at April 1, 2015		15,673			18,204			33,877
Additions (i)		19,764			41,968			61,732
Share of results, other comprehensive income and other reserves (ii)		—			(1,296	)		(1,296	)
Less: disposals and transfers (iii)		(2,150	)		(751	)		(2,901	)
Less: impairment loss		(902	)		—			(902	)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		879			72			951
Balance at March 31, 2016		33,264			58,197			91,461
Additions (i)		8,860			35,154			44,014
Share of results, other comprehensive income and other reserves (ii)		—			(2,074	)		(2,074	)
Less: disposals and transfers (iii)		(6,275	)		(6,215	)		(12,490	)
Less: impairment loss		(2,125	)		(245	)		(2,370	)
Foreign currency translation adjustments		1,680			147			1,827
Balance at March 31, 2017		35,404			84,964			120,368

(i)	Additions during the year ended March 31, 2016 included the fair value of the retained noncontrolling investment in Alibaba Pictures which is accounted for as an equity method investee after the deconsolidation (Note 4(j)). Additions during the year ended March 31, 2017 included the investments of RRS (Note 4(o)) and Intime (Note 4(v)). The investment in RRS is accounted for as an equity method investee upon the exchange of the convertible and exchangeable bond in January 2017. The investment in Intime was accounted for as an equity method investee upon the conversion of the convertible bond in June 2016 and before the privatization of Intime in May 2017.
(ii)	Share of results, other comprehensive income and other reserves included the share of results of the equity investees, the gain or loss arising from the deemed disposal of the equity investees and the amortization of basis differences. The balance excluded the expenses in connection with the share-based awards relating to ordinary shares of the Company and Ant Financial Services granted to employees of certain equity investees (Note 8(d)).
(iii)	During the year ended March 31, 2016, disposals under the cost method were primarily related to the partial disposal of the Company's investment in an equity investee. A gain of approximately RMB3,078 million arising from such disposal was recognized in interest and investment income, net in the consolidated income statement. Transfers under the equity method were primarily related to the consolidation of Alibaba Health upon which the control was obtained by the Company (Note 4(h)).
	During the year ended March 31, 2017, transfers under the cost method were primarily related to the completion of the reverse takeover of YTO Express (Note 4(r)), the step acquisition of Damai (Note 4(c)) and the completion of an initial public offering of a cost method investee. Transfers under the equity method were primarily related to the step acquisition of Youku Tudou (Note 4(f)).

Schedule of summarized financial information for all of the Company's equity method investments

	Year ended March 31,
	2015			2016			2017
	(in millions of RMB)
Operating data:
Revenue		12,010			20,808			125,701
Cost of revenue		(9,816	)		(17,505	)		(109,790	)
Loss from operations		(1,238	)		(5,429	)		(9,071	)
Net loss		(1,269	)		(1,504	)		(6,743	)

	As of March 31,
	2016		2017
	(in millions of RMB)
Balance sheet data:
Current assets		42,700		137,900
Non-current assets		33,532		122,844
Current liabilities		15,125		93,354
Non-current liabilities		537		12,375
Noncontrolling interests		809		7,443