As filed with Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2019

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018

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

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 001-15264

 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 
ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
 
People’s Republic of China
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 

No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Haidian District, Beijing

People’s Republic of China (100082)

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Lu Dongliang

No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Haidian District, Beijing

People’s Republic of China (100082)

(86) 10 8229 8322

ir@chalco.com.cn

(Name, Telephone, Email 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

American Depositary Shares* New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Class H Ordinary Shares**  
     

 

*Evidenced by American Depositary Receipts. Each American Depositary Share represents 25 H Shares.
**Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing of American Depositary Shares, pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None
(Title of Class)

 

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.

 

As of December 31, 2018:  
Domestic Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share 10,959,832,268
H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share 3,943,965,968

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☑ 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. Yes ☐ No ☑

 

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

 

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. Yes ☑ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). Yes ☑ 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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ☑ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Emerging growth company ☐

 

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. ☐

 

†The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.

 

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

 

U.S. GAAP ☐
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☑
Other ☐

 

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.

 

Item 17  ☐  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 Exchange Act).

 

Yes ☐ 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.

 

Yes ☐ No ☐

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS II
   
CERTAIN TERMS AND CONVENTIONS III
   
PART I   1
     
  Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors 1
  Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable 1
  Item 3. Key Information 1
  Item 4. Information on the Company 20
  Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments 59
  Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects 59
  Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees 85
  Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions 96
  Item 8. Financial Information 105
  Item 9. The Offer and Listing 106
  Item 10. Additional Information 106
  Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 118
  Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities 122
       
PART II   123
     
  Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies 123
  Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds 123
  Item 15. Controls and Procedures 123
  Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert 124
  Item 16B. Code of Ethics 124
  Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services 124
  Item 16D. Exemptions From the Listing Standards for Audit Committees 125
  Item 16E. Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers 125
  Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant 125
  Item 16G. Corporate Governance 125
  Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure 126
       
PART III   126
     
  Item 17. Financial Statements 126
  Item 18. Financial Statements 126
  Item 19. Exhibits 126

 

i

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain information contained in this annual report, which does not relate to historical information, may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements. The words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to:

 

future general economic conditions;

 

future conditions in the international and China capital markets;

 

future conditions in the financial and credit markets;

 

future prices and demand for our products;

 

future PRC tariff levels for alumina and primary aluminum;

 

sales of our products;

 

the extent and nature of, and potential for, future developments;

 

production, consumption and demand forecasts of bauxite, coal, alumina and primary aluminum;

 

expansion, consolidation or other trends in the primary aluminum industry;

 

the effectiveness of our cost-saving measures;

 

future expansion, investment and acquisition plans and capital expenditures;

 

our proposed asset restructuring;

 

competition;

 

changes in legislation, regulations and policies;

 

estimates of proven and probable bauxite reserves;

 

our research and development plans; and

 

our dividend policy.

 

These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in particular circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations. These risks are more fully described in the section headed “Item 3. Key Information - D. Risk Factors.”

 

ii

 

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this annual report are qualified by these cautionary statements. We cannot assure you that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effect on us or our business or operations.

 

Certain Terms and Conventions

 

Chalco,” “the Company,” “the Group,” “our Company,” “our Group,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Aluminum Corporation of China Limited and its subsidiaries and, where appropriate, to its predecessors;

 

A Share(s)” and “domestic share(s)” refer to our domestic ordinary share(s), with a par value of RMB1.00 each, which are listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange;

 

ADR(s)” refers to the American Depositary Receipt(s);

 

ADS(s)” refers to the American Depositary Share(s);

 

alumina-to-silica ratio” refers to the ratio of alumina to silica in bauxite by weight;

 

aluminum fabrication” refers to the process of converting primary aluminum or recycled aluminum materials into plates, strips, bars, tubes and other fabricated products;

 

Australian dollar” refers to the lawful currency of the Commonwealth of Australia;

 

Baotou Aluminum” refers to Baotou Aluminum Company Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Baotou Aluminum Group” refers to Baotou Aluminum (Group) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Chinalco;

 

bauxite” refers to a mineral ore that is principally composed of aluminum;

 

Bayer process” refers to a refining process that employs a strong solution of caustic soda at an elevated temperature to extract alumina from ground bauxite;

 

Bayer-sintering combined process” and “Bayer-sintering series process” refer to the two methods of refining process developed in China which involve the combined application of the Bayer process and the sintering process to extract alumina from bauxite;

 

Board” refers to our board of directors;

 

Boffa Project” refers to the project to develop and operate a bauxite mine located in Boffa, Guinea, in accordance with a mining convention entered into by Chalco Hong Kong, Chalco Guinea Company S.A. and the Guinean government on June 8, 2018;

 

CBEX” refers to China Beijing Equity Exchange, an approved equity exchange for the transfer of state-owned assets;

 

Chinalco Assets” refers to Chinalco Assets Operation and Management Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinalco;

 

Chalco Energy” refers to Chalco Energy Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Chalco Hong Kong” refers to Chalco Hong Kong Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary established under Hong Kong Law;

 

iii

 

Chalco Liupanshui” refers to Chalco Liupanshui Hengtaihe Mining Co., Ltd., 49% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Chalco Logistics” refers to Chalco Logistics Group Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Chalco Mining” refers to Chalco Mining Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Chalco Ruimin” refers to Chalco Ruimin Company Limited, our subsidiary until June 2013 when we disposed of 93.30% of its equity interest to Chinalco;

 

Chalco Shandong” refers to Chalco Shandong Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Chalco Shanghai” or “Chinalco Shanghai” refers to Chalco Shanghai Company Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Chalco Southwest Aluminum” refers to Chalco Southwest Aluminum Company Limited, our subsidiary until June 2013 when we disposed of 60% of its equity interest to Chinalco;

 

Chalco Southwest Aluminum Cold Rolling” refers to Chalco Southwest Aluminum Cold Rolling Company Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary until June 2013 when we disposed of its entire equity interest to Chinalco;

 

Chalco Trading” refers to China Aluminum International Trading Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Chalco Xing County Alumina Project” refers to the Bayer process production system and ancillary facilities at Xing County, Lvliang City of Shanxi Province with production capacity of 800,000 tonnes of metallurgical grade alumina per year;

 

China” and the “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for purposes of this annual report, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan;

 

China Copper” refers to China Copper Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinalco;

 

China United Assets Appraisal” refers to China United Assets Appraisal Group Co., Ltd., a PRC qualified valuer;

 

Chinalco” and “Chinalco Group” refer to our controlling shareholder, Aluminum Corporation of China and its subsidiaries (other than Chalco and its subsidiaries) and, where appropriate, to its predecessors;

 

Chinalco Finance” refers to Chinalco Finance Co., Ltd.;

 

CSRC” refers to China Securities Regulatory Commission;

 

Dongdong Coal” refers to Shaanxi Chengcheng Dongdong Coal Co., Ltd., 45% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Energy-Saving and Emission Reduction Goals” refers to the energy-saving and emission reduction goals set out in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development laid out in 2016, in accordance with which China expects to, by the end of 2020, reduce its per unit GDP energy consumption by 15% compared with the 2015 level;

 

iv

 

Exchange Act” refers to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

Euro” refers to the lawful currency of the Eurozone;

 

Fushun Aluminum” refers to Fushun Aluminum Company Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Gansu Hualu” refers to Gansu Hualu Aluminum Company Limited, 51% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Gansu Huayang” refers to Gansu Huayang Mining Development Company Limited, 70% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

GNF” refers to Guinea franc, the lawful currency of the Republic of Guinea;

 

Guangxi Investment” refers to Guangxi Investment (Group) Co., Ltd., formerly known as Guangxi Development and Investment Co., Ltd., a PRC state-owned enterprise;

 

Guizhou Development” refers to Guizhou Provincial Materials Development and Investment Corporation, a PRC state-owned enterprise and one of our promoters and shareholders;

 

Guizhou Huajin” refers to Guizhou Huajin Aluminum Co., Ltd., 60% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Guizhou Huaren” refers to Guizhou Huaren New Materials Co., Ltd., 40% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Guizhou Yuneng” refers to Guizhou Yuneng Mining Co., Ltd., 25% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

H Share(s)” refers to overseas listed foreign share(s) with a par value of RMB1.00 each, which are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange;

 

Henan Aluminum” refers to Chalco Henan Aluminum Company Limited, our subsidiary until June 2013 when we disposed of 90.03% of its equity interest to Chinalco;

 

HK$” and “HK dollars” refer to Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC;

 

Hong Kong Stock Exchange” refers to The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited;

 

Huaxi Aluminum” refers to Huaxi Aluminum Company Limited, our subsidiary until June 2013 when we disposed of 56.86% of its equity interest to Chinalco;

 

Inner Mongolia Huayun” refers to Inner Mongolia Huayun New Materials Co., Ltd., 50% of the equity interest of which is owned by Baotou Aluminum;

IRS” refers to Internal Revenue Service of the United States federal government;

 

Japanese Yen” refers to the lawful currency of Japan;

 

Jiaozuo Wanfang” refers to Jiaozuo Wanfang Aluminum Manufacturing Co. Ltd.;

 

v

 

Ka” refers to kiloamperes, a unit for measuring the strength of an electric current, with one kiloampere equaling 1,000 amperes;

 

kWh” refers to kilowatt-hours, a unit of electrical power, meaning one kilowatt of power for one hour;

 

Lanzhou Aluminum” refers to Lanzhou Aluminum Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary since January 2019, which was previously our wholly-owned branch, Lanzhou branch;

 

Listing Rules” and “Hong Kong Listing Rules” refer to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, as amended;

 

LME” refers to the London Metal Exchange Limited;

 

MIIT” refers to Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the PRC;

 

MOF” refers to Ministry of Finance of the PRC;

 

Nanchu” refers to ENanchu (http://www.enanchu.com/), a nonferrous metal-related portal site in PRC;

 

NDRC” refers to China National Development and Reform Commission;

 

Ningxia Energy” refers to China Aluminum Ningxia Energy Group Co., Ltd., formerly known as Ningxia Electric Power Group Co., Ltd., before we acquired 70.82% of its equity interest in January 2013;

 

Northwest Aluminum” refers to Northwest Aluminum Fabrication Branch, our wholly-owned branch until June 2013 when we disposed of all its assets to a subsidiary of Chinalco;

 

NYSE” and “New York Stock Exchange” refer to the New York Stock Exchange Inc.;

 

ore-dressing Bayer process” refers to a refining process we developed to increase the alumina-to-silica ratio of bauxite;

 

PBOC” refers to People’s Bank of China;

 

Qingdao Light Metal” refers to Chalco Qingdao Light Metal Company Limited, our wholly-owned subsidiary until June 2013 when we disposed of its entire equity interest to Chinalco. In December 2017, we acquired 100% of the equity interest in Qingdao Light Metal through Chalco Shandong at a consideration of RMB300.4 million to further our prospective strategic layout on secondary aluminum;

 

Qinghai Energy” refers to Qinghai Province Energy Development (Group) Co., Ltd., 21% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

refining” refers to the chemical process used to produce alumina from bauxite;

 

RMB” and “Renminbi” refer to the lawful currency of the PRC;

 

SAT” refers State Administration of Taxation of the PRC;

 

SAFE” refers to State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC;

 

SASAC” refers to State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of China;

 

SEC” refers to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

vi

 

Securities Act” refers to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

Shandong Huayu” refers to Shandong Huayu Alloy Material Co., Ltd., 55% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Shanxi Jiexiu” refers to Shanxi Jiexiu Xinyugou Coal Industry Co., Ltd., 34% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Shanxi Huasheng” refers to Shanxi Huasheng Aluminum Company Limited, 51% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Shanxi Huaxing” refers to Shanxi Huaxing Aluminum Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law.

 

Shanxi New Material” or “Shanxi Huaze” refers to Chalco Shanxi New Material Co., Ltd., formerly known as Shanxi Huaze Aluminum and Power Co., Limited, 85.98% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Shanxi Other Mines” refers to the eight mines to which we entrusted another party to conduct mining activities, including Changjialing mine (with Shangtan mine consolidated), Guxian mine (with Jindui mine consolidated), Loufan mine (with Shicao mine consolidated), Nanpo mine, Xishan mine, Yangjiashan mine, Niucaogou mine and Xiwupu mine in Shanxi Province;

 

Shanxi Zhongrun” refers to Shanxi China Huarun Co., Ltd., 40% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

SHFE” refers to the Shanghai Futures Exchange;

 

sintering process” refers to a refining process employed to extract alumina from bauxite by mixing ground bauxite with supplemental materials and burning the mixture in a coal-fired kiln;

 

smelting” refers to the electrolytic process used to produce molten aluminum from alumina;

 

tonne” refers to the metric ton, a unit of weight, that is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 pounds;

 

US$,” “dollars” and “U.S. dollars” refer to the lawful currency of the United States;

 

Xinghua Technology” refers to Chinalco Shanxi Jiaokou Xinghua Technology Ltd., 66% of the equity interest of which is owned by us;

 

Yangtze” refers to the Shanghai Changjiang Nonferrous Metals Spot Market;

 

Yunnan SASAC” refers to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government;

 

Zhangze Electric Power” refers to Shanxi Zhangze Electric Power Co., Ltd., which owns 14.02% of equity interest in Shanxi New Material;

 

Zhengzhou Institute” refers to Chalco Zhengzhou Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metal Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary, which primarily provides research and development services;

 

“Zhongzhou Aluminum” refers to Chalco Zhongzhou Aluminum Co., Ltd., our wholly-owned subsidiary established under the PRC law;

 

Zunyi Alumina” refers to Chalco Zunyi Alumina Co., Ltd., which was merged into Zunyi Aluminum in June 2018; and

 

vii

 

Zunyi Aluminum” refers to Zunyi Aluminum Co., Ltd., 67.445% of the equity interest of which is owned by us.

Translations of amounts in this annual report from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and vice versa have been made at the rate of RMB6.8755 to US$1.00, the exchange rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board for December 31, 2018. We make no representation that any Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate, the rates stated below, or at all.

 

Any discrepancies in any table between the amounts identified as total amounts and the sum of the amounts listed therein are due to rounding.

 

viii

 

PART I

 

Item 1.Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 2.Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3.Key Information

 

A.Selected Financial Data

 

Historical Financial Information

 

The following table presents our selected financial data. The selected consolidated statements of financial position data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, and the selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income (except for earnings per ADS) and consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report, and should be read in conjunction with those consolidated financial statements. The selected consolidated statements of financial position data as of December 31, 2014, 2015 and 2016 and the selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income (except for earnings per ADS) and consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2015 are derived from our consolidated financial statements which are not included in this annual report. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

As the business combination under common control incurred in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the comparative financial data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 are revised to reflect the business combination under common control.

 

   For the Year Ended December 31,
   2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2018
   RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  US$
   (in thousands, except per share and per ADS data)
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Data
Revenue    142,419,555    123,922,795    144,854,582    181,020,428    180,240,154    26,214,843 
Continuing Operations                              

Cost of sales

   (141,797,923)   (121,408,135)   (133,700,192)   (166,290,235)   (167,029,416)   (24,293,421)
Gross profit    621,632    2,514,660    11,154,390    14,730,193    13,210,738    1,921,422 
Selling and distribution expenses    (1,772,525)   (1,798,154)   (2,111,787)   (2,372,966)   (2,496,933)   (363,164)
General and administrative expenses    (4,874,342)   (2,386,950)   (3,336,095)   (4,549,206)   (3,958,067)   (575,677)
Research and development expenses    (293,766)   (168,870)   (168,862)   (498,234)   (626,873)   (91,175)
Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment    (5,679,521)   (10,011)   (57,080)   (16,200)   (7,450)   (1,084)
Impairment losses on financial assets    —      —      —      —      (107,841)   (15,685)
Impairment losses on investments in joint ventures    —      —      —      —      (216,953)   (31,555)
Other income    832,239    1,787,774    155,576    89,873    135,367    19,688 
Other gains, net    362,407    5,027,661    169,143    319,382    921,904    134,085 
Operating profit/(losses) from continuing operations    (10,803,876)   4,966,110    5,805,285    7,702,842    6,853,892    996,855 
Finance costs, net    (5,705,117)   (5,167,030)   (4,204,179)   (4,496,734)   (4,390,264)   (638,538)
Operating profit/(loss) from continuing operations less finance costs    (16,508,993)   (200,920)   1,601,106    3,206,108    2,463,628    358,318 
Share of profits and losses of joint ventures    89,510    23,238    (95,508)   8,151    (199,452)   (29,009)
Share of profits and losses of associates    350,575    284,531    115,091    (165,249)   39,335    5,721 
Profit/(loss) before income tax from continuing operations    (16,068,908)   106,849    1,620,689    3,049,010    2,303,511    335,029 
Income tax (expense)/benefit from continuing operations    (1,076,559)   226,220    (403,899)   (643,734)   (822,499)   (119,628)
Profit/(loss) for the year from continuing operations    (17,145,467)   333,069    1,216,790    2,405,276    1,481,012    215,401 
Profit/(loss) per share from continuing operations    (1.21)   0.01    0.02    0.09    0.04    0.01 

 

 

1

 

   For the Year Ended December 31, 
   2014   2015   2016   2017   2018   2018 
   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$ 
   (in thousands, except per share and per ADS data) 
Discontinued operation (loss)/profit for the year from discontinued operation    —      —      —      —      —      —   
Profit/(loss) for the year    (17,145,467)   333,069    1,216,790    2,405,276    1,481,012    215,401 
Profit/(loss) attributable to:                              
Owners of the parent    (16,308,391)   118,029    365,697    1,413,028    746,477    108,567 
Non-controlling interests    (837,076)   215,040    851,093    992,248    734,535    106,834 
Dividends    —      —      —      —      —      —   
Basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share    (1.21)   0.01    0.02    0.09    0.04    0.01 
Earnings/(loss) per ADS    (30.15)   0.20    0.61    2.37    1.25    0.02 
Dividends (expressed in RMB and US$ per share and per ADS)                              
Final dividends per share    —      —      —      —      —      —   
Final dividends per ADS    —      —      —      —      —      —   
Proposed dividends per share    —      —      —      —      —      —   
Proposed dividends per ADS    —      —      —      —      —      —   

 

   As of December 31,
   2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2018
   RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  US$
   (in thousands, except per share and per ADS data)
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position Data
Total current assets    63,952,859    64,760,095    66,865,293    68,644,310    58,895,234    8,565,957 
Total non-current assets    131,687,008    128,177,237    124,362,584    131,172,489    141,980,880    20,650,263 
Total assets    195,639,867    192,937,332    191,227,877    199,816,799    200,876,114    29,216,220 
Total current liabilities    105,163,379    82,397,015    83,664,323    90,337,098    74,748,557    10,871,727 
Total non-current liabilities    49,013,787    58,496,815    51,670,923    43,737,105    58,458,355    8,502,415 
Total liabilities    154,177,166    140,893,830    135,335,246    134,074,203    133,206,912    19,374,142 
Net assets    41,462,701    52,043,502    55,892,631    65,742,596    67,669,202    9,842,078 
Long-term interest bearing loans and borrowings (excluding current portion)    44,870,211    54,065,874    47,376,748    40,289,703    54,207,386    7,884,137 
Capital stock    13,524,488    14,903,798    14,903,798    14,903,798    14,903,798    2,167,668 

 

 

   For the Year Ended December 31,
   2014  2015  2016  2017  2018  2018
   RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  US$
   (in thousands)
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA
Net cash flows generated from operating activities    13,734,366    7,339,238    11,609,309    13,205,572    13,018,176    1,893,415 
Net cash flows (used in)/generated from investing activities    (5,140,277)   2,392,555    (2,626,858)   (5,597,489)   (5,528,369)   (804,070)
Net cash flows generated from/(used in) financing activities    (3,805,258)   (5,448,013)   (6,105,257)   (3,398,994)   (16,266,476)   (2,365,860)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    (8,945,535)   4,283,780    2,877,194    4,209,089    (8,776,669)   (1,276,515)

 

 

B.Capitalization and Indebtedness

 

Not applicable.

 

C.Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

 

Not applicable.

 

D.Risk Factors

 

Our business and financial condition and results of operations are subject to various changing business, competitive, economic, political and social conditions in China and worldwide. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this annual report, the following are some of the important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

 

2

 

Our business is vulnerable to downturns in the general economy and industries in which we operate or which we serve. A significant reduction in demand could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Demand for our products depends on the general economy and level of activity and growth in the industries where we operate or serve. Adverse development in economic and market conditions, such as a significant economic downturn or a downturn in the commodity sector or the financial markets, could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and results of operations. Development of the relevant industries is subject to various factors, including but not limited to market fluctuations of prices of commodities, general political or economic conditions, technology development, government regulations and investment plans and fluctuation in domestic and global production capacity, many of which are beyond our control.

 

We are unable to predict cycles of the global and domestic economies. Concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit, unemployment, consumer confidence, declining asset values, capital market volatility and liquidity issues have created difficult operating conditions for us in the past and may continue to do so in the future. Furthermore, the PRC government has, from time to time, adjusted its monetary, fiscal and other policies and measures to manage the rate of growth of the economy or the overheating and overcapacity in certain industries or markets. As a result, the global and domestic economic conditions or any particular industry in which we operate or which we serve may grow at a lower-than-expected rate or even experience a downturn. Uncertainty about future economic conditions makes it challenging for us to forecast our results of operations, make business decisions and identify risks that may affect our business. If we are not able to timely and appropriately adapt to changes resulting from the difficult macroeconomic environment, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

Volatility in the prices of alumina, primary aluminum, other non-ferrous metal and other commodities may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The prices of the products we produce and trade, including alumina, primary aluminum, other non-ferrous metal and coal products, have experienced significant fluctuation historically and are expected to continually fluctuate in response to general economic conditions, supply and demand and the level of global inventories, which are beyond our control.

 

We price our alumina and primary aluminum products by reference to international and domestic market prices, and domestic supply and demand, each of which may fluctuate beyond our control. We may not be able to effectively respond to a sudden fluctuation in alumina or primary aluminum prices. For example, due to the general slowdown of the global economy and overcapacity of global aluminum industry beginning in 2015, the range for the high and low prices for the Australian FOB spot price for alumina and the international cash price for primary aluminum on the LME declined in 2016 to a high of US$350.5 per tonne and a low of US$197.0 per tonne and a high of US$1,778 per tonne and a low of US$1,449 per tonne, respectively. However, due to global economic recovery and adjustment of production capacity in the PRC primary aluminum industry as a result of the supply-side structural reform carried out by the PRC government, the range for the high and low prices for the Australian FOB spot price for alumina and the international cash price for primary aluminum on the LME increased in 2017 to a high of US$484 per tonne and a low of US$272 per tonne and a high of US$2,256 per tonne and a low of US$1,700 per tonne, respectively. Due to supply shortage in the global aluminum and alumina market, the range for the high and low prices for the Australian FOB spot price for alumina and the international cash price for primary aluminum on the LME further increased in 2018 to a high of US$710 per tonne and a low of US$357 per tonne and a high of US$2,603 per tonne and a low of US$1,869 per tonne, respectively. In 2018, the average external selling prices for our self-produced alumina and primary aluminum were RMB2,923 per tonne and RMB14,364 per tonne respectively in 2018, representing an increase by 1.7% and a decrease by 1.8%, respectively, as compared to the prices in 2017. Because our prices are affected by a variety of factors, most of which are beyond our control, we may not be able to respond promptly to the fluctuation in alumina or primary aluminum prices in international market or domestic market. There is no assurance that there will not be any further and significant fluctuations in prices of our key products, including alumina and primary aluminum, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, since our profit margin for trading non-ferrous metal products and coal products is based on price fluctuations in the short term, we need to make the correct prediction of the price fluctuations of these commodities on the markets to maintain our profit margin. If market price fluctuations on the market do not match our prediction, we may incur substantial losses.

 

3

 

In addition, as we generate profit from the differences between the purchase and sales prices of the non-ferrous metal products and the coal products we deal in, significant fluctuations in these prices may cause the value of the outsourced products in transit or in inventory to decline, and if the carrying value of our existing inventories exceeds the market price in the future periods, we may need to make additional provisions for our inventories’ value. As a result, any significant fluctuation in international market prices for these commodities could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business requires substantial capital expenditures that we may not always be able to obtain at reasonable costs and on acceptable terms.

 

Our plans to upgrade and expand our production capacity will require substantial capital expenditures. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - D. Property, Plants and Equipment - Our Expansion” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - B. Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Expenditures and Capital Commitments.” We may also need additional funding for debt servicing, working capital, other investments, potential acquisitions and joint ventures and other corporate requirements.

 

We may need to seek external financing, such as bank and other loans as well as bond offerings, to satisfy our capital needs if cash generated from our operations is insufficient to fund our capital expenditures or if our actual capital expenditures and investments exceed our plans. Our ability to obtain external financing at reasonable costs and on acceptable terms is subject to a variety of factors, including our credit ratings. Rating agencies may downgrade or withdraw our ratings or place us on “credit watch” based on their assessment of a wide range of factors. For example, records of net losses may result in a deterioration of our credit ratings. Although we were profitable in the recent period including 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, we recorded a net loss of approximately RMB17.1 billion in 2014, and we could incur losses in the future, which may adversely affect our corporate ratings and increase our borrowing costs and limit our access to capital markets. Failure to obtain sufficient funding at reasonable costs and on acceptable terms for our development plans could adversely affect our business and prospects.

Our previous adjustments of our business segments and historical results may not be indicative of our future prospects.

 

In the past few years, we have entered into a new business segment, the energy segment, through acquisition of Ningxia Energy and streamlined our existing business to focus on the productions of alumina and primary aluminum. For instance, since August 2018, the Company has acquired certain carbon assets and equity interests from the affiliated enterprises of Chinalco Assets, through which we are able to consummate our industrial chain as carbon products are one of major raw materials for production of primary aluminum. In December 2018, we acquired 50% equity interests in Shanxi Huaxing through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange at a price of approximately RMB2,665.2 million from Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. Upon completion of the acquisition, Shanxi Huaxing became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The acquisition is conducted for purposes of enhancing our profitability and is in line with our strategic layout of alumina and aluminum business, as the increase of our shareholding in Shanxi Huaxing, an alumina plant, is expected to enhance the synergy with our primary aluminum production in Shanxi, where we have newly added production capacity of primary aluminum. For further details of these acquisitions, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company.”

There is no assurance that we will enter into a new business segment or continue to streamline our existing business as we have done so in the past. Moreover, we cannot assure you that the benefit of entering into a new business segment or streamlining our existing business will be fully realized as expected or at all.

 

4

 

In addition, we have experienced growth in recent years. For example, our revenues for 2016, 2017 and 2018 were RMB144,854.6 million, RMB181,020.4 million and RMB180,240.2 million, respectively. However, such performance was driven by a wide range of factors, many of which are out of our control or may not be sustainable or indicative of future growth or performance, such as the prices of coal, electricity and other raw materials. No assurance can be given that our financial conditions or results of operations will be maintained at any level. As a result, our historical results may not be indicative of our future prospects and results of operations.

 

Our failure to successfully manage our business expansion, including our expansion into new areas of business, would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and prospects.

 

We made investments in business expansion in line with our development strategy through organic growth, acquisitions and joint ventures in the past. In addition, we may, from time to time and when we deem appropriate, expand into new industries which we believe have synergies with our existing operations.

 

Our expansion has created, and will continue to place, substantial demand on our resources. Managing our growth and integrating the acquired businesses will require us to, among other things:

 

comply with the laws, regulations and policies applicable to the acquired businesses, including obtaining timely approval for the construction or expansion of production and mining facilities as required under the relevant PRC laws;

 

maintain adequate control on our business expansion to prevent, among other things, project delays or cost overruns;

 

accumulate expertise and experience in managing the new businesses;

 

gain market acceptance for new products and services and establish relationships with new customers and suppliers;

 

achieve sufficient utilization of new production facilities to recover costs;

 

manage relationships with employees, customers and business partners during the course of our business expansion and integration of new businesses;

 

attract, train and motivate members of our management and qualified workforce to support successful business expansion;

 

access debt, equity or other capital resources to fund our business expansion, which may divert financial resources otherwise available for other purposes;

 

divert significant management attention and resources from our other businesses; and

 

strengthen our operational, financial and management controls, particularly those of our newly acquired subsidiaries, to maintain the reliability of our reporting processes.

 

Any significant difficulty in meeting the foregoing or similar requirements could delay or otherwise constrain our ability to implement our expansion plans, or result in failure to achieve the expected benefits of the combination or acquisition or write-offs of acquired assets or investments, which in turn would limit our ability to increase operational efficiency, reduce marginal manufacturing costs or otherwise strengthen our market position. Failure to obtain the intended economic benefits from the business expansion could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, we may also experience mixed results from our expansion plans in the short term.

 

5

 

Furthermore, there is no assurance that we will be able to identify attractive acquisition targets, obtain favorable deal terms in any acquisition, secure applicable governmental approvals for any proposed investments, accurately estimate the mineral resources and reserves of these acquisition targets or obtain the necessary funding to complete such acquisitions on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Acquisitions may result in the incurrence and inheritance of debts and other liabilities, assumption of potential legal liabilities in respect of the acquired businesses, and incurrence of impairment charges related to goodwill and other intangible assets, any of which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In particular, if any of the acquired businesses fail to perform as we expect, we may be required to recognize a significant impairment charge, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve the strategic purpose of any acquisition, the desired level of operational integration or our investment return target.

 

Our joint ventures and strategic investment may not be successful.

 

We may from time to time enter into joint ventures or make strategic investment to grow our business and operations. For example, since 2010, we have participated in joint ventures and strategic investment in coal mining, in line with our development strategy to diversify our product offering and partially offset our future energy costs, as well as supply a portion of the coal we consume in our operations. In addition, we have acted as joint venture partner or strategic investor in certain projects which engage in primary aluminum, aluminum alloy and light alloy manufacturing to diversify our product offering, strategically position ourselves along the industrial chain and facilitate our enterprise transformation and upgrade. For further details of certain of our joint ventures and strategic investment, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company” and “Item 4. Information on the Company - D. Property, Plants and Equipment – Our Expansion.”

 

We have non-controlling interests in a number of joint ventures. Although we have not been materially constrained by the nature of our ownership interests, no assurance can be given that our joint venture partners will not exercise their power of veto or their controlling influence in any of our joint ventures in a way that will hinder our corporate objectives and reduce any anticipated cost savings or revenue enhancement resulting from these joint ventures. In addition, whether or not we hold majority interests or maintain operational control in such joint ventures, such arrangements necessarily involve special risks and our joint venture partners may:

 

have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with or opposed to ours;

 

exercise veto rights so as to block actions that we believe to be in our or the joint venture’s best interests;

 

take action contrary to our policies or objectives with respect to the investments; or

 

as a result of financial or other difficulties, be unable or unwilling to fulfill their obligations under the joint venture, other agreements, such as contributing capital to expansion or maintenance projects.

 

In addition, our joint ventures which operate coal mines were facing increasing risks in recent years. Due to more stringent regulations on environmental protection, imbalances between supply and demand in the coal market and level of inventory, the coal prices declined in the first half of 2016 and reached their lowest point in August 2016. The coal prices then rebounded after August 2016 as a result of the PRC government’s policy of cutting excessive coal production capacity as well as decrease in hydroelectricity and increase in transportation costs. The coal prices in 2017, with seasonal fluctuations, were generally higher than the prices in 2016. In 2018, the coal prices fluctuated at a relatively high price level. However, we cannot assure you the coal price will continue to increase or maintain at the current price level in the future. If coal prices decrease in the future, the business, financial condition and results of operations of these joint ventures which operate coal mines may be adversely affected.

6

 

Failure to maintain optimal utilization of our production facilities will adversely affect our gross and operating margins.

 

During the past few years, we expanded the production capacity by completing our construction, upgrading or remolding of some of our alumina and primary aluminum production facilities. If we are able to maintain satisfactory facility utilization rates and increase our production output, this increase in our production capacity would enable us to reduce our unit costs through economies of scale, as fixed costs will be spread over a higher volume of output units. Conversely, underutilization of our existing and newly acquired or constructed production facilities may increase our marginal production costs and prevent us from realizing the intended economic benefits of our expansion.

 

Since 2013, we have implemented flexible production arrangements from time to time for certain alumina and primary aluminum production facilities in response to prevailing market conditions and government policies. For example, due to local environmental requirements for air pollution control in the winter heating season, the output of and the utilization rates of production facilities at Shandong Huayu in the winter heating season have been reduced. In addition, we may increase our external purchases of alumina and primary aluminum for trading purposes to capitalize on fluctuating market prices and to enhance resource planning to achieve cost savings in our production. The increase in our external purchases will reduce our utilization of certain production facilities, but may not result in a proportionate decrease in fixed costs such as leases and depreciation of plant, property and equipment.

 

If we fail to maintain optimal utilization rates and spread fixed costs over a high volume of output units, our gross and operating margins may be adversely affected.

 

We may be required to record impairment charges in the future.

 

If business conditions deteriorate, long lived assets need to be reviewed for possible impairment. Impairment loss needs to be recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, we recorded impairment loss of property, plant and equipment of RMB57.1 million, RMB16.2 million and RMB7.5 million, respectively. We also recorded impairment losses of intangible assets of RMB8.1 million in 2017. We cannot guarantee that we will not incur any impairment loss or our impairment loss will not increase in the future due to various reasons including, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to changes in economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on our customer base and material adverse changes in our relationship with significant customers. If we record significant impairment charges, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our operations consume substantial amounts of electricity, and our profitability may decline if electricity costs rise or if our electricity supplies are interrupted.

 

Our operations consume substantial amounts of electricity. Although we generally expect to meet the electricity consumption requirements for our alumina refineries and primary aluminum smelters from a combination of internal and external sources, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by any significant increase in electricity costs or interruptions in electricity supply.

 

Cost of electricity is the principal production cost in our primary aluminum operations. Due to the increase in volume of electricity generated by our own electric power plants and its proportion in the total volume of electricity that we consumed, our average electricity cost per kWh of our primary aluminum smelters decreased by approximately 2% from 2017 to 2018. However, there is no assurance that we will continuously increase the consumption of electricity generated by our own electric power plants, or that any factor beyond our control will not result in any increase in the price of electricity. If we are unable to pass on increases in energy costs to our customers, our operating margin, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

In addition, interruptions in the supply of electricity can result in costly production shutdowns, increased costs associated with restarting production and the waste of production in progress. A sudden loss of electricity, if prolonged, can cause damage to or the destruction of production equipment and facilities. In such an event, we may need to expend significant capital and resources to repair or replace the affected production equipment to restore our production capacity. In the past, various regions across China experienced shortages and disruptions in electricity supply, especially during peak demand summer season or under severe weather conditions. We cannot assure you that our operations will not suffer from shortages or disruptions in electricity supply, the occurrence of which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

7

 

Our operations consume substantial amounts of coal, and our operations may be adversely affected if we are not able to procure sufficient coal or if coal prices rise significantly.

 

We rely heavily on coal as our energy and fuel source in our operations. As we increase our alumina refining capacity, our consumption of coal will increase accordingly. If we are not able to obtain the amount of coal needed for our production due to a shortage of coal, constraints on coal transportation or any other reason, we may be forced to reduce our production output or suspend our alumina refining operations, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Although we have acquired equity interest in a number of coal mines, we expect to continue to rely substantially on third-party coal suppliers for the supply of coal. Our average purchase price per unit tonne of thermal coal used in our alumina production increased by approximately 3% in 2018 from the level in 2017. If we are unable to pass on increases or otherwise significant fluctuations in coal prices to our customers or offset price increases through productivity improvements, our operating margin, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Our business and industry may be affected by the development of alternative energy sources and climate change.

 

Our operations consume substantial amounts of coal. Coal combustion generates significant greenhouse gas and other pollutants, and the effects of climate change resulting from global warming and increased pollution levels may provide incentives for governments to promote or invest in “green” energy technologies such as wind, solar, nuclear and biomass power plants, or to reduce their consumption of conventional energy sources such as coal. A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating legislative and regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change. These regulatory mechanisms may impact our operations directly or indirectly through our customers or supply chain. We may have to increase our capital expenditures in order to comply with such revised or new legislation or regulations, and may realize changes to profit or loss arising from increased or decreased demand for our products and indirectly, from changes in costs of goods sold, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

In addition, we have invested in coal mining operations. Although revenues attributable to our energy segment accounted for only approximately 3.9% of our total revenues in 2018 (after elimination of inter-segment sales), we might still be affected by the growth of the PRC thermal power industry, which relies on coal as main source of fuel. The PRC thermal power industry may be affected by the development of alternative energy sources, climate change and global environmental factors. In particular, pursuant to China’s 13th Five-Year Plan for Environmental Protection, the PRC government plans to continue to encourage the development of alternative energy sources, such as wind power, solar power, biomass and geothermal energy, from 2016 to 2020. As such, alternative energy industries may rapidly develop and gradually gain mainstream acceptance in the PRC and the rest of the world. If alternative energy technologies continue to develop and prove suitable for wide commercial application in the PRC and overseas, demand for conventional energy sources, such as coal, could be reduced. Such reduction in demand for coal could have a material adverse effect on the coal mining industry and, consequently, negatively affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We may not be able to continue competing successfully in the markets in which we operate.

 

In 2018, we sold all of our self-produced alumina and self-produced primary aluminum to domestic customers. Our alumina (with chemical alumina products included) and primary aluminum production represented approximately 21.2% and 11.4%, respectively, of total domestic production in China in 2018. We face competition from both domestic and international alumina and primary aluminum producers. Our principal competitors are major domestic refineries and smelters. These producers compete with our alumina and primary aluminum operations on the basis of product cost, quality and pricing. In addition, we face increasing competition from international alumina and primary aluminum suppliers as a result of the elimination of tariffs on imports of primary aluminum and alumina into China. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - Competition” for further details.

 

8

 

Increasing competition in our product markets may reduce our selling prices or sales volumes, which will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If we are unable to price our products competitively, maintain or increase our current share of China’s alumina and primary aluminum markets or otherwise maintain our competitiveness, our financial condition, results of operations and profitability could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our overseas expansion exposes us to political and economic risks, commercial instability and events beyond our control in the countries in which we plan to operate.

 

We are currently undertaking a couple of overseas projects, including the bauxite mining projects in Laos, Indonesia and Guinea. Due to uncertainties involved in the overseas projects, we cannot assure you that our overseas expansion or investments will be successful or that we will not suffer foreign exchange losses in connection with our overseas investment.

 

In addition, operations in the overseas markets also expose us to a number of risks including expropriation and nationalization of our assets in foreign countries, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, war, or other armed conflict; shortages of construction equipment and materials; severe weather conditions; epidemic diseases and infectious diseases; natural disasters; inflation; currency fluctuations, devaluations and conversion restrictions; confiscatory taxation or other adverse tax policies, governmental activities that limit or disrupt markets, restrict payments or limit the movement of funds, governmental activities that may result in the deprivation of contractual rights; lack of a well-developed legal system that makes it difficult to enforce our contractual rights; and governmental activities that may result in the inability to obtain or retain licenses required for operations.

 

Our profitability and operations could be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain a steady supply of raw materials at competitive prices.

 

Historically, the price for bauxite, our most important raw material for alumina production, has been volatile. We obtain bauxite for our operations from our mines and external suppliers. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - Raw Materials - Alumina - Supply.” The extents to which we procure bauxite from each of these sources affect the security of our supply or cost of bauxite. The supply of bauxite could be affected by various factors, including geographic conditions of bauxite mines, government policies, market prices and competition, many of which are beyond our control. We rely on overseas suppliers to obtain a portion of bauxite we use for production. Indonesia used to be a major source of our imported bauxite. As a result of the ban imposed by the Indonesia Government on the exportation of unprocessed bauxite and nickel, since January 2014, we have not been able to export the bauxite produced by our bauxite mines in Indonesia for the use of our alumina refineries in China, and our operation of bauxite mining in Indonesia has been suspended since September 2014. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - Raw Materials - Alumina – Own Mines” for more details of our bauxite mines in Indonesia. If we exhaust our stockpiles or our procurement of bauxite from external suppliers are interrupted for any reasons, and cannot find an alternative source of bauxite at competitive prices, our financial condition, results of operations and profitability could be adversely affected.

 

In addition, our results of operations can be affected by increases in the cost of other raw materials and other key inputs such as energy. If we cannot obtain a steady supply of key raw materials at competitive prices, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

Any transportation interruption or any material increase in our transportation costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our operations require the reliable transportation of raw materials and supplies to our refining and smelting sites and finished products to our customers. Our alumina products are mainly transported by rail or trucks and our primary aluminum products are delivered to our customers primarily by rail. There is no assurance that we can always enjoy sufficient transportation capacity or we will not experience transportation interruption in the future. Furthermore, natural disasters may cause interruption to the transportation system, which could in turn affect the transportation of our products. In addition, any changes in fuel prices or fuel supply may be unpredictable and beyond our control. There is no assurance that shortage of fuel will not occur in the future. Any surge in fuel prices or shortage of fuel supply may lead to increases in our operation and transportation costs. If we are unable to make timely deliveries due to logistical and transportation disruptions, or transfer the increased costs to our customers, our production, reputation and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

9

 

The bauxite reserve data in this annual report are only estimates, which may prove to be inaccurate.

 

The bauxite reserve data based on which we prepare our production and expenditure plans are only estimates that we have developed internally and may prove to be inaccurate. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities and qualities of reserves, including many factors beyond our control. If these estimates are inaccurate or the indicated tonnages are not recovered, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our mining operations have limited mine lives and eventual closure of these operations will entail costs and risks regarding ongoing monitoring, rehabilitation and compliance with environmental standards.

 

Our existing mining operations in the PRC and overseas have limited mine lives and will eventually be depleted. We need to perform certain procedures to remedy and rehabilitate the environmental and social impact that our mining operations have had on local communities and the environment. Remediation, rehabilitation, closure and removal of our facilities will incur various costs and are subject to various risks. The key costs and risks for mine closures include, among others, (i) long-term management of permanent engineered structures and acid rock drainage; (ii) closure in accordance with local or international environmental standards; (iii) orderly retrenchment of employees and third-party contractors; and (iv) orderly transfer of the site, its associated permanent structures and community development infrastructure and programs to new owners. There is no assurance that such closure of mines will be successful and without delays or additional costs, in which case we may be subject to increased costs, penalties or other legal or administrative actions, damages to reputation, or even suspension and cancellation of mining permits, the occurrence of which would cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Failure to discover new reserves or resources, maintain or enhance existing reserves or resources, develop new mining operations or expand our current mining operations could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Mining exploration is unpredictable in nature. The success of any mining exploration program depends on various factors, many of which are beyond our control. Due to the unpredictable and speculative nature of the mining industry, there is no assurance that any exploration program that we are currently undertaking or may undertake in the future will result in the discovery of valuable reserves or resources. There is no assurance that reported resources can be converted into reserves. Furthermore, actual results upon production may differ from those anticipated at the time of discovery. To access additional reserves in explored areas, we will need to successfully complete development projects, including but not limited to extending existing mines and developing new mines. There are a number of uncertainties inherent in the development and construction of any new mine or an extension of an existing mine, including but not limited to (i) the availability and timing of necessary governmental approvals; (ii) the timing and cost necessary to construct mining and processing facilities; (iii) the availability and cost of labor, utilities, auxiliary materials and other supplies and the accessibility of transportation and other infrastructure; and (iv) the availability of funds to finance construction and production activities. There is no assurance that any future exploration activities or development projects will extend the life of our existing mining operations or result in any new economic mining operations and such failure may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

10

 

Our indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We have relied, and expect to continue to rely, on both short-term and long-term borrowings to fund a significant portion of our capital requirements. As of December 31, 2018, we had approximately RMB47.5 billion in outstanding short-term bonds and short-term bank borrowings (including the current portion of long-term bank and other borrowings) and RMB54.2 billion in outstanding long and medium-term bonds and long-term bank and other borrowings (excluding the current portion of these borrowings). Please see Note 19 to our audited consolidated financial statements for more detailed information about our borrowings. This level of debt could have significant consequences on our operations, including:

 

making it more difficult for us to fulfill payment and other obligations under our outstanding debt, including repayment of our debt and credit facilities should we be unable to obtain extensions for any such debt or credit facilities before they mature. Please see “Item 5 - Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - B. Liquidity and Capital Resources” for maturities of our outstanding long-term borrowings;

 

reducing the availability of cash flows to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

exposing us to interest rates fluctuations on our borrowings and the risk of being unable to rollover, extend or refinance our borrowings as necessary;

 

potentially increasing the cost of additional financing and making it more difficult for us to conduct equity financings in the capital markets or obtain government approvals to seek additional financing; and

 

putting pressure on our ADS price due to concerns of our ability to repay our debt.

 

Our ability to meet our payment and other obligations under our outstanding debt depends on our ability to generate cash flows in the future or to refinance such debt. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations to satisfy our obligations under our outstanding debt and to fund other liquidity needs. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flows to meet such obligations, we may need to refinance or restructure our debt, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek additional equity or debt financing. The sale of additional equity securities could result in dilution to our ADS holders. A shortage of financing could in turn impose limitations on our ability to plan for, or react effectively to, changing market conditions or to expand through organic and acquisitive growth, thereby reducing our competitiveness. We cannot assure you that future financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

 

The instruments governing our senior debt contain a number of significant financial and other covenants that restrict our ability to raise further debt, take certain corporate actions and pay dividends.

 

We completed the issuance of US$500 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.25% senior perpetual capital securities (the “Securities”) in November 2016, through Chalco Hong Kong Investment Company Limited (the “Bond Issuer”) with guarantees to the repayment obligations of the Securities provided by Chalco Hong Kong (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”). Please refer to “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company - Senior Perpetual Capital Securities Offering” for further details.

 

The indentures governing the Securities contain a number of significant financial and other covenants. Such covenants restrict, subject to certain exceptions, among other things, our and our subsidiaries’ ability to create, or have outstanding, any security interest upon our or our subsidiaries’ present or future undertaking, assets or revenues to secure any indebtedness which is in the form of bonds, notes, debentures, loan stock or other securities which for the time being are, or are intended to be or capable of being, quoted, listed or dealt in or traded on any stock exchange or over-the-counter or other securities market (“Relevant Indebtedness”) which is issued outside the PRC, our ability to create or have any Relevant Indebtedness which is issued outside the PRC, our ability to create or have outstanding any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any Relevant Indebtedness which is issued outside the PRC and the Bond Issuer’s, Subsidiary Guarantor’s and their respective subsidiaries’ ability to create, or have outstanding, any security interest upon their present or future undertaking, assets or revenues to secure any Relevant Indebtedness or any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any Relevant Indebtedness or to sell or otherwise dispose of capital stock held or controlled by it in any direct or indirect subsidiary of Chalco Hong Kong which is not a Subsidiary Guarantor. These covenants restrict our ability to raise additional funds in the future through issuing Relevant Indebtedness which is issued outside the PRC or creating or having any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any Relevant Indebtedness which is issued outside the PRC and may restrict our ability to engage in some transactions that we expect to be of benefit to us.

 

11

 

The Securities are guaranteed by Chalco Hong Kong. A breach of any of the covenants in the indenture governing the Securities could result in redemption of the Securities at our discretion or an increase of coupon rate if we do not redeem the Securities upon a breach of such covenants. If we default under the Securities in the future, the holders may enforce their claims against the guarantors to satisfy our obligations to them. In addition, such default may result in a default and acceleration of our senior debt and the holders of our senior debt could gain ownership of the capital stock of certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries (if such capital stock is pledged for such senior debt) and/or enforce their claims against the assets of the guarantors (if guarantee is provided for such senior debt). Consequently, we could lose control or ownership of certain of our assets and operations of the Subsidiary Guarantor or pledgers.

 

In addition to the Securities, in October 2015 and October 2018, our Company issued RMB2,000 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.50% perpetual medium-term notes (the “2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes”) and RMB2,000 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.10% perpetual medium-term notes (the “2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes”), respectively, in China. Pursuant to the terms of the 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes and the 2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes, while any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the headquarters of the Company cannot declare or pay dividends to shareholders or decrease the share capital, or make material fixed asset investments of the headquarters of the Company. Therefore, our ability to pay dividends in respect of our ordinary shares and the ADSs may be limited under certain circumstances.

 

The interests of our controlling shareholder who exerts significant influence over us may conflict with ours.

 

As of December 31, 2018, our largest shareholder, Chinalco, directly owned 33.89% of our issued share capital and indirectly owned an additional 2.73% of our issued share capital through its controlled entities. The interests of Chinalco may conflict or even compete with our interests and those of our public shareholders. Chinalco may take actions that are in the interest of its subsidiaries, associates and other related entities to our detriment. For example, Chinalco may seek to influence our decision as to the amount of dividends we declare and distribute. Any increase in our dividend payout would reduce funds otherwise available for reinvestment in our businesses and thus may adversely affect our future prospects and financial condition.

 

In addition, Chinalco and a number of its subsidiaries and associates provide a range of services to us, including engineering and construction services, social services, land and property leasing as well as the supply of raw and supplemental materials. It would be difficult to find an alternative source for some services that we receive from Chinalco. Our cost of operations may increase if Chinalco, its subsidiaries and associates are unable to continue providing such services to us.

 

In January 2019, Yunnan SASAC gratuitously transferred its 51% equity interest in Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd. to China Copper, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinalco. As Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd., an affiliated company of Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd., competes with us in the business segments of alumina and primary aluminum, Chinalco, as the indirect controlling shareholder of Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. and our direct controlling shareholder, issued a letter of undertakings on non-competition to us, according to which Chinalco undertook to start in 2019 planning the integration of the businesses in which Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. and we compete with each other, and address such business competition within five years. For further details, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company.” While we intend to closely monitor Chinalco’s planning and implementation of such business integration and make timely public disclosure about significant progress made, due to the uncertainties involved in such business integration, however, we cannot assure you that business competition between Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. and us would be addressed without undue delays or at all, or the plan of such business integration or the implementation thereof would be viewed by you or other investors as most favorable to us or our shareholders.

12

 

We are subject to, and incur costs to comply with, environmental laws and regulations.

 

As we produce air emissions, discharge waste water, and handle hazardous substances at our bauxite mines, alumina refineries and primary aluminum smelters, we are subject to, and incur costs to comply with, environmental laws and regulations.

 

Given the magnitude, complexity and continuous amendments to these laws and regulations, compliance therewith may be onerous or may involve substantial financial and other resources to establish efficient compliance and monitoring systems. The liabilities, costs, obligations and requirements associated with these laws and regulations may therefore be substantial and may delay the commencement of, or cause interruptions to, our operations. Non-compliance with the relevant laws and regulations applicable to our operations may even result in substantial penalties or fines, suspension or revocation of our relevant licenses or permits, termination of government contracts or suspension of our operations. For example, in November 2017, our Lanzhou branch was fined by the local environmental protection authorities due to the fact that our Lanzhou branch did not conduct the application registration for storage of residues generated from overhaul of electrobath according to relevant requirements. We started the rectification process in December 2017 and completed as requested through a series of measures, including, among others, relocation of the non-compliantly-stowed overhaul residues to plants in compliance with applicable requirements, construction at our Lanzhou branch of a production line with environmentally-sound treatment of overhaul residues which began operation in March 2018, restoration of the sites previously used to store overhaul residue by Lanzhou branch and improving internal management measures on solid waste treatment by including more stringent requirements. However, we cannot assure you that the similar events would not occur in the future, if such incidents were to occur, it could impact our operating results, financial condition and reputation, all of which could adversely affect our profitability and ability to retain existing customers and to attract new customers.

In addition, the environmental laws and regulations in the PRC and other jurisdictions in which we operate continue to evolve. As a result, we may incur significant additional costs if relevant laws and regulations change or enforcement of existing laws and regulations becomes more rigorous. For instance, to comply with the requirement of desulphurization and denitration in China, we were requested to invest in upgrading or remolding certain production facilities. Due to serious haze hovering in certain areas in China, the PRC government has issued and may continue to issue rules and regulations to restrict production of certain industries in certain areas to alleviate air pollution, pursuant to which we may reduce output of our relevant plants from time to time. Further, our overseas expansion projects are subject to foreign environmental laws and regulations. Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations may trigger a variety of administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties, the imposition of remedial requirements and the issuance of orders enjoining future operations, all of which may materially and adversely affect our business operations.

We are subject to administrative policies and orders relating to China’s Energy-Saving and Emission Reduction Goals that could adversely affect our production.

 

We are subject to administrative energy-saving and emission reduction policies and orders carried out by the central and provincial governments in accordance with China’s Energy-Saving and Emission Reduction Goals. On July 18, 2013, the MIIT issued the Standard Conditions for Aluminum Industry, which sets forth various standards for existing and new projects, including standards for environment protection, energy consumption, and utilization of resources. Although we have been in compliance with the Standard Conditions for Aluminum Industry since its issuance, we cannot assure you that the relevant government authorities will not issue more stringent standards or rules, which may require us to incur additional costs or expenses to comply with these standards or rules, and our existing production may be delayed for facility upgrading or suspended before full compliance with these standards or rules. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

We are subject to accidents and natural disasters that may adversely affect our performance.

 

We may experience accidents and natural disasters in the course of our operations, which may cause significant property damage and personal injuries. Significant accidents and natural disasters may cause interruptions to our operations or result in property or environmental damage, increase in operating expenses or loss of revenues. The occurrence of accidents, natural disasters and the resulting consequences may not be covered adequately, or at all, by the insurance policies we carry. Losses or payments incurred by us as a result of major accidents or natural disasters may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

13

 

We have not obtained valid titles or land use rights to certain properties or land parcels that we occupy.

 

We have not obtained valid ownership certificates to certain properties that we occupy. These properties are used primarily for production plants and daily operations management. As of December 31, 2018, the book value of our properties with defective titles is RMB5,639 million, which represents approximately 2.81% of our total asset value. In addition, we had not obtained land use rights to certain land parcels, which we use primarily for our production plants. As of December 31, 2018, the book value of these land parcels is RMB687 million, representing approximately 0.34% of our total asset value. We have applied to the appropriate authorities to obtain the relevant ownership certificates. We cannot give any assurance that ownership dispute will not occur or that third parties will not assert any claims against us for compensation in respect of any use of these properties or land parcels.

 

Our business involves inherent risks and occupational hazards, which could damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims and cause substantial costs to us.

 

Our business involves inherent risks and occupational hazards. Under our mining operations, we engage or may engage in certain inherently risky and hazardous activities, including, among others, operations at height or on dangerous terrains, underground excavation and construction, use of heavy machinery, mining and handling of flammable and explosive materials, and we are therefore subject to risks associated with these activities, including, among others, geological catastrophes, toxic gas and liquid leakages, equipment failures, industrial accidents, fire, explosions and underground water leakages. Although we conduct geological assessments on mining conditions and adapt our mining plans to the mining conditions at each mine, we cannot assure you that adverse mining conditions will not endanger our workforce, increase our production costs, reduce our bauxite or coal output or temporarily suspend our operations. The occurrence of any of the foregoing events or conditions could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations. Additionally, we are exposed to operational risks associated with industrial or engineering activities, such as maintenance problems or equipment failures. These risks and hazards may result in personal injury and fatal casualties, damage to or destruction of properties or production facilities, and pollution and other environmental damage. Any of these consequences, to the extent they are significant, could result in business interruption, possible legal liability and damage to our business reputation and corporate image.

 

Our mines and operating facilities may be damaged by water, gas, fire or cave-ins due to unstable geological structures. Any significant accident, business disruption or safety incident could result in substantial uninsured costs and the diversion of our resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business operations and financial condition.

 

We may be subject to product liability claims.

 

Some of the products we sell or manufacture may expose us to product liability claims relating to property damage or personal injury. The successful assertion of product liability claims against us could result in significant damage payments and harm to our reputation, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We are subject to litigation risks.

 

In the ordinary course of business, claims involving project owners, customers, suppliers and subcontractors may be brought against us and by us in connection with our operations. If we were found to be liable on any of the claims, we would have to incur a charge against earnings to the extent a reserve had not been established for the matter in our accounts, or to the extent the claims were not sufficiently covered by our insurance coverage. Both claims brought against us and by us, if not resolved through negotiations, are often subject to lengthy and expensive litigation or arbitration proceedings. Charges associated with claims brought against us and write-downs associated with claims brought by us could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Moreover, legal proceedings resulting in judgments or findings against us may harm our reputation and damage our prospects for future contract or business awards.

 

14

 

We face counterparty risks.

 

While we generally sell goods and provide services to reputable customers and evaluate the customers’ credit in accordance with our internal risk management criteria, such as their credit history and likelihood of default, we have limited access to information about our customers and we may encounter difficulties in the collection of receivables in certain countries that we have less experience in our dealings. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that all of our customers will fully perform their obligations under their respective contracts with us, and the deterioration of any customers’ credit or payment conditions may result in those customers defaulting on their contractual obligations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, disputes with governmental entities and other public organizations could potentially lead to contract termination if these remain unresolved or may take a considerably longer period of time to resolve than disputes with counterparties in the private sector, and payments from these entities and organizations may be delayed as a result.

 

We may face challenges to our intellectual property rights which could adversely affect our reputation, business and financial position.

 

We own important intellectual property, including patents and trademarks. Our intellectual property plays an important role in maintaining our competitive position in a number of the markets that we serve. Our competitors may develop technologies that are similar or superior to our proprietary technologies or design around the patents we own or license. Developments or assertions by or against us relating to intellectual property rights, and any inability to protect or enforce these rights, could adversely affect our business and competitive position.

 

We may be exposed to claims in relation to the unsatisfactory performance of third-party service providers, and disputes with business partners may also adversely affect our business.

 

We rely on third-party service providers for certain services, including but not limited to mining infrastructure construction, logistics services or warehouse management. Therefore, we are exposed to the risk that our third-party service providers may fail to perform their obligations, which may adversely affect our business operations. In addition, from time to time, we co-operate with business partners to develop our business, including acquiring strategic mining resources or businesses that complement our own business line. Furthermore, we operate certain projects through joint venture arrangements and may enter into further joint ventures in the future along with the expansion of our operations. We may have disputes with these business partners or joint venture partners over various aspects, such as performance of each party’s obligations, scope of each party’s responsibilities, product quality and logistics services. If such disputes cannot be settled in a timely manner, our financial condition and business may be adversely affected.

 

Failure to hire and retain management executives and other qualified personnel could adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

The growth of our business operations depends on the continued services of our senior management team. The industry experience, expertise and contributions of our executives and other members of our senior management are essential to our continued success. We will require an increasing number of experienced and competent executives in the future to implement our growth plans. If we were to lose the services of any of our key management members and were unable to recruit and retain personnel with equivalent qualifications at any time, the management and growth of our business could be adversely affected.

 

Competition for qualified personnel in general is intense in the PRC and other markets where we operate. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to maintain an adequately skilled labor force necessary for us to execute our projects or to perform other corporate activities, nor can we guarantee that staff costs will not increase as a result of a shortage in the supply of skilled personnel. If we fail to attract and retain personnel with suitable managerial, technical or marketing expertise or maintain an adequate labor force on a continuous basis, our business operations could be adversely affected and our future growth and expansions may be inhibited.

 

15

 

We may not be able to detect and prevent fraud or other misconduct committed by our employees, representatives, agents, customers, affiliates or other third parties.

 

We may be exposed to fraud or other misconduct committed by our employees, representatives, agents, customers, affiliates or other third parties that could subject us to litigation, financial losses and sanctions imposed by governmental authorities, as well as adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations and ADS trading prices. Such misconduct may include, among others:

 

hiding unauthorized or unsuccessful activities, resulting in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses;

 

intentionally concealing material facts, or failing to adequately perform necessary due diligence or risk analysis procedures designed to identify potential risks;

 

improperly using or disclosing confidential information;

 

engaging in improper activities or activities that might be subject to penalties, fines or sanctions;

 

misappropriation of funds;

 

conducting transactions that exceed authorized limits;

 

engaging in misrepresentation or fraudulent, deceptive or otherwise improper or illegal activities;

 

engaging in unauthorized or excessive transactions to the detriment of our customers; or

 

otherwise not complying with applicable laws or our internal policies and procedures.

 

Our internal control procedures are designed to monitor our operations and ensure overall compliance. However, such internal control procedures may be unable to identify, detect or prevent all incidents of non-compliance or suspicious transactions in a timely manner, if at all. In addition, we do not have control over the activities conducted on their own by those of our customers, affiliates or other third parties.

 

There is no assurance that fraud or other misconduct by our employees, representatives, agents, customers, affiliates or other third parties will not occur in the future. If such fraud or other misconduct does occur and to the extent that our employees, representatives, agents, customers, affiliates or other third parties are penalized for any of their non-compliance activities or are otherwise subject to any sanctions laws of foreign jurisdictions, it may cause negative publicity of us as a result, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and our ADS trading prices.

 

Cyber attacks and security breaches may threaten the integrity of our intellectual property and other sensitive information and disrupt our business operations, which could adversely affect our reputation, business and financial position.

 

We face global cybersecurity threats, which may range from uncoordinated individual attempts to sophisticated and targeted measures directed at us. Cyber attacks and security breaches may include, but are not limited to, attempts to access information, computer viruses, denial of service and other electronic security breaches. Cyber attacks and security breaches may cause equipment failures, loss of information and limited access to systems. For manufacturing companies, cyber attacks and security breaches may result in the theft of sensitive data, including valuable technical and marketing information, disruptions to operations and breakdown of industrial control system. The economic costs to us to eliminate or alleviate cyber attacks and security breaches could be significant and may be difficult to estimate or calculate because the loss may differ based on the identity and motive of the programmer or hacker, which are often difficult to identify. Further, the perpetrators of cyber attacks and security breaches are not restricted to specific groups or persons. These attacks may be committed by company employees or external actors operating in any geography, including jurisdictions where law enforcement measures to address such attacks are unavailable or ineffective, and may even be launched by or at the behest of nation states.

 

16

 

Although we have not experienced any material cybersecurity incidents in the past, we cannot assure you that we will not experience them in the future. Due to the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats, the scope and impact of any future incident cannot be predicted. While we devote significant resources to security measures to safeguard our systems and mitigate potential risks, such as deploying network protection devices and performing regular security assessment, there is no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent cyber attacks or security breaches that manipulate or improperly use our systems or networks, compromise confidential or otherwise protected information, destroy or corrupt data, or otherwise disrupt our operations. The occurrence of such events could negatively impact our reputation and our competitive position and could result in litigation with third parties, regulatory action, loss of business, potential liability and increased remediation costs, any of which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We are subject to risks normally associated with cross-border transactions, and our export products have been and may become subject to anti-dumping or countervailing duty proceedings.

 

During the past few years, we generated marginal revenue from exports of certain chemical alumina products and also from time to time from exports of certain non-ferrous metals and minerals products to foreign jurisdictions. In 2018, we only engaged in the export of certain chemical alumina products to foreign countries including, among others, South Korea, Japan and countries in Southeast Asia, and revenue generated from such export accounted for approximately 0.5% of our total revenues in 2018. Such foreign jurisdictions and other countries may take restrictive measures, including, among others, imposition of tariffs, anti-dumping duties and other non-tariff barriers, to protect their own markets. The sales of our product in overseas markets may be adversely affected by increases in or new impositions of anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, quotas or tariffs imposed on our exports. Further increases in or new imposition of anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, quotas or tariffs on our sales in these markets could adversely affect the exports to these regions in the future. For example, since October 1, 2018, the U.S. government has imposed a 10% tariff on various aluminum products imported from China, including chemical alumina products. In 2018, we exported 26,000 tonnes of chemical alumina products to the United States, representing less than 0.1% of our total revenues in 2018. Other than exports of chemical alumina products, we did not have any exports to the United States in 2018. However, if there is any escalation in trade frictions, we cannot assure you whether such development would not have a material adverse effect on the business environment in general, global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets. Any of these factors affected by the developments in trade barriers could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

By virtue of our transactions with parties outside the PRC, we will be subject to the risks normally associated with cross-border business transactions and activities. We will also be exposed to the risk of changes in social, legal, political and economic conditions in the foreign jurisdictions. In particular, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers and price or exchange controls could limit our operations and make the repatriation of profits difficult.

 

Our operations are affected by a number of risks relating to conducting business in the PRC.

 

As a significant majority of our assets and operations are located in the PRC, we are subject to a number of risks relating to conducting business in the PRC, including the following:

 

The central and local PRC government continues to exercise a substantial degree of control and influence over the aluminum industry in China and shape the structure and development of the industry through the imposition of industry policies governing major project approvals and safety, environmental and quality regulations. If the PRC government changes its current policies or the interpretation of those policies that are currently beneficial to us, we may face pressure on profit margins and significant constraints on our ability to expand our business operations.

 

17

Although the PRC has been one of the world’s fastest growing economies in terms of GDP growth in the past 30 years, the global financial crisis that unfolded in 2008, coupled with the on-going structural reform of the PRC economy in the past few years, has led to a marked slowdown in the economic growth of the PRC. For example, the GDP growth rate of the PRC decreased from 11.4% in 2007 to 6.6% in 2018. There is no assurance that the GDP growth rate of the PRC will be maintained at the current level. A slowdown in economic growth could reduce business activities and demand for our products. In addition, the PRC government exercises control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, control of payments of obligations denominated in foreign currencies and monetary and tax policies. Some of these measures benefit the overall economy of China, but may have a materially adverse impact on us.

 

We are subject to reviews and inspections by various governmental authorities and regulatory agencies. These reviews and inspections could cover a broad range of aspects in relation to our business and operations, including financial reporting, tax reporting, internal control and compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. We cannot predict the impact of any findings of these reviews and inspections to be carried out by governmental authorities and regulatory agencies in the future, and we cannot assure you that the outcome of any such reviews and inspections would not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

In 2005, China adopted a managed floating exchange rate system to allow the value of the Renminbi to fluctuate within a regulated band based on supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. Since then the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and Renminbi has fluctuated and become increasingly unpredictable following the global financial crisis with increasing pressure on the Renminbi to appreciate. In April 2012, the PRC government took a milestone step in turning the Renminbi into a global currency by doubling the size of its trading band against the U.S. dollar, pushing through a crucial reform that further liberalizes its financial markets. The PBOC further allows the Renminbi to rise or fall 2% from a mid-point every day, effective on March 17, 2014, compared with its previous 1% limit. In recent years, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly. For example, the Renminbi continuously appreciated in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, reversing three consecutive years of depreciation. However, starting from the second quarter of 2018, the Renminbi depreciated significantly. Since early 2019, the Renminbi has appreciated. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future. Any appreciation or depreciation of the Renminbi will affect the value of our U.S. dollar-denominated borrowings and overseas investments, the prices of our export sales denominated in foreign currencies and the Renminbi equivalent value of our trade and notes receivable denominated in foreign currencies, which may affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our financial condition and operating performance may also be affected by changes in the value of currencies other than Renminbi in which our earnings and obligations are denominated.

There might be uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations. The Chinese legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which decided legal cases may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Over the past decades, the PRC government has promulgated a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations governing economic matters. The overall effect of legislation over the past decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to foreign investors in general. However, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and because of the relatively limited volume of published cases and their non-binding nature, and because the laws, rules and regulations often give the relevant administrative and court authorities certain discretion in how to interpret and enforce them, uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations may adversely affect our operations.

 

18

 

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process and enforcing judgments against us and our management.

 

Substantially all of our assets and our subsidiaries are located in the PRC. In addition, most of our directors and officers reside within the PRC, and most of the assets of our directors and officers are located within the PRC. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States or elsewhere outside the PRC upon most of our directors or officers, including with respect to matters arising under applicable laws and regulations. Moreover, the PRC does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the United States, the United Kingdom or most other Western countries, and Hong Kong has no arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the United States.

 

As a result, recognition and enforcement in the PRC or Hong Kong of judgments of a court in the United States and any of the other jurisdictions mentioned above in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.

 

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

 

Auditors of companies that are registered with the SEC and traded publicly in the United States, including our independent registered public accounting firms, must be registered with the US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) and are required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess their compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Because we have substantial operations within the PRC and the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct full inspections of the work of our auditors as they relate to those operations without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditors’ work related to our operations in China is not currently inspected by the PCAOB.

 

This lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work performed in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating audit work of any auditor that was performed in China including that performed by our auditors. As a result, investors may be deprived of the full benefits of PCAOB inspections.

 

The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of audit work performed in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditors’ audit procedures as compared to auditors in other jurisdictions that are subject to PCAOB inspections on all of their work. Investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.

 

Proceedings instituted recently by the SEC against five PRC-based accounting firms could result in our financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

In December 2012, the SEC brought administrative proceedings against five accounting firms in China, alleging that they had refused to produce audit work papers and other documents related to certain other China-based companies under investigation by the SEC for potential accounting fraud. On January 22, 2014, an initial administrative law decision was issued, censuring these accounting firms and suspending four of the five firms from practicing before the SEC for a period of six months. The four firms appealed to the SEC against this decision and, on February 6, 2015, each of the four accounting firms agreed to a censure and to pay a fine to the SEC to settle the dispute and avoid suspension of their ability to practice before the SEC. The firms’ ability to continue to serve all their respective clients is not affected by the settlement. The settlement requires the firms to follow detailed procedures to seek to provide the SEC with access to Chinese firms’ audit documents via the CSRC. If the firms do not follow these procedures, the SEC could impose penalties such as suspensions, or it could restart the administrative proceedings. The settlement did not require the firms to admit to any violation of law and preserves the firms’ legal defenses in the event the administrative proceeding is restarted.

 

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We were not and are not subject to any SEC investigations, nor are we involved in the proceedings brought by the SEC against the accounting firms. However, the independent registered public accounting firms that issue the audit reports included in our annual reports filed with the SEC is affiliated to one of the four accounting firms above.

 

In the event that the SEC restarts the administrative proceedings, depending upon the final outcome, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, including possible delisting. Moreover, any negative news about the proceedings against these audit firms may cause investor uncertainty regarding China-based, United States-listed companies and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.

 

If our independent registered public accounting firms were denied, temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC and we were unable to timely find another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such a determination could ultimately lead to the delisting from the NYSE or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ADSs in the United States.

 

Item 4.Information on the Company

 

A.History and Development of the Company

 

We were incorporated as a joint stock limited company under the Company Law of the PRC on September 10, 2001 under the corporate name Aluminum Corporation of China Limited. Our principal executive and registered office is located in the People’s Republic of China at No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China 100082, and our telephone number is (86) 10 8229 8322. Our website address is www.chalco.com.cn. The information on our website does not constitute a part of this annual report. Our U.S. public filings are available at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxies and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

Pursuant to a reorganization agreement entered into among Chinalco, Guangxi Investment and Guizhou Development in 2001, substantially all of Chinalco’s alumina and primary aluminum production operations, as well as a research institute and other related assets and liabilities, were transferred to us upon our formation. We acquired our bauxite mining operations and associated mining rights from Chinalco in a separate mining rights agreement.

 

Our A Shares have been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since April 2007. Our H Shares and our ADSs, each representing 25 H Shares, have been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange, respectively, since December 2001.

 

We are a vertically integrated aluminum producer with operations in bauxite and coal mining, alumina refining and primary aluminum smelting. We also produce ancillary products and services derived from or related to our aluminum operations. In addition, we are engaged in trading and logistics of alumina, primary aluminum, other non-ferrous metal products, coal products and raw and ancillary materials in bulk domestically and internationally. Since 2013, we have expanded our operations into power generation. See “– B. Business Overview” for more details.

 

We have substantially increased the size and scope of our operations through organic growth as well as selective acquisitions and joint ventures. Our key operating assets currently include seven subsidiaries mainly engaged in bauxite mining; two integrated alumina and primary aluminum production plant; eight stand-alone alumina refineries; nine stand-alone primary aluminum smelters; three stand-alone carbon production plants; one integrated power generation company with coal mining operations and one institute providing research and development services. All of our principal alumina and primary aluminum production facilities are operated in accordance with ISO14001 standards.

 

20

 

Disposal of Aluminum Fabrication Business

 

We disposed of substantially all of our aluminum fabrication operations to Chinalco pursuant to the approval of shareholders at the 2012 annual general meeting on June 27, 2013.

 

On May 13, 2013, we submitted the tender notice to CBEX to dispose of the equity interest we held in eight aluminum fabrication enterprises, including Henan Aluminum, Chalco Southwest Aluminum, Chalco Southwest Aluminum Cold Rolling, Huaxi Aluminum, Qingdao Light Metal, Chalco Ruimin, Chalco Sapa Aluminum Products (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. and Guizhou Chalco Aluminum Co., Ltd. (collectively, “Aluminum Fabrication Interests”) through open tender. Chinalco participated in and won the bid for the Aluminum Fabrication Interests on June 7, 2013. We entered into an agreement (the “Aluminum Fabrication Interests Transfer Agreement”) with Chinalco on June 9, 2013 for the disposal of Aluminum Fabrication Interests for a consideration of RMB3,242.2 million. Such consideration was the initial bidding price, which was determined with reference to the appraised value of the Aluminum Fabrication Interests. Pursuant to the Aluminum Fabrication Interests Transfer Agreement, Chinalco agreed to pay the consideration in cash in two installments, namely, 30% of the consideration to be paid within five business days after the effective date of the agreement and 70% of the consideration to be paid by June 30, 2014. Chinalco must pay interest for the second installment for the period starting from the date immediately after the effective date until the payment date at the one-year lending rate set by the PBOC. The disposal was approved at the 2012 annual general meeting held on June 27, 2013 and we completed the disposal on June 27, 2013. Chinalco paid the consideration in full in June 2014.

 

As a condition of the disposal of the Aluminum Fabrication Interests, on June 9, 2013, we entered into an agreement with Chinalco to transfer the outstanding entrusted loans we provided to Henan Aluminum and Qingdao Light Metal as of December 31, 2012 to Chinalco for a consideration of RMB1,756.0 million. Such consideration was determined based on negotiations between the parties, with reference to the appraised total value of the loans. Pursuant to the agreement, Chinalco agreed to pay the consideration in cash in five equal installments of RMB351.2 million, with the last installment, together with the relevant interests at the one-year lending rate set by the PBOC, to be paid by June 30, 2017. The transfer was approved at the 2012 annual general meeting held on June 27, 2013 and we completed the transfer on June 27, 2013. The payment was fully settled by Chinalco in accordance with the agreement.

 

In addition, we entered into an agreement with Northwest Aluminum Fabrication Plant, a subsidiary of Chinalco, on June 6, 2013 to dispose of all the assets of Northwest Aluminum for RMB1,659.6 million. Such consideration was determined based on negotiations between the parties, with reference to the appraised net asset value of Northwest Aluminum. Pursuant to the agreement, Northwest Aluminum Fabrication Plant agreed to pay the consideration in cash in five equal installments of RMB331.9 million, with the last installment, together with the relevant interests at the one-year lending rate set by the PBOC, to be paid by June 30, 2017. The disposal was approved at the 2012 annual general meeting held on June 27, 2013 and we completed the disposal on June 27, 2013. The payment was fully settled by Northwest Aluminum Fabrication Plant in accordance with the agreement.

 

Disposal of Assets of Alumina Production Line of Guizhou Branch

 

On June 6, 2013, we entered into an agreement with Guizhou Aluminum Plant, a subsidiary of Chinalco, to dispose of the assets of the alumina production line of our Guizhou branch for a consideration of RMB4,429.0 million. Such consideration was determined based on negotiations between the parties, with reference to the appraised net asset value of such alumina assets of our Guizhou branch. Pursuant to the agreement, Guizhou Aluminum Plant agreed to pay the consideration in cash in five equal installments of RMB885.8 million, with the last installment, together with the relevant interests at the one-year lending rate set by the PBOC, to be paid by June 30, 2017. The disposal was approved at the 2012 annual general meeting held on June 27, 2013 and we completed the disposal on June 27, 2013. The payment was fully settled by Guizhou Aluminum Plant in accordance with the agreement.

 

We decided to dispose of the assets of the alumina production line of Guizhou branch because the district in which they were located had been changed from an industrial district to a commercial district based on the local urban plan, which will significantly increase Guizhou branch’s environmental compliance costs. We built a new alumina refinery, Guizhou Huajin, in an area relatively close to major bauxite and coal mines in Guizhou Province, which commenced production with an annual capacity of 1.6 million tonnes of alumina in 2015.

 

21

 

Transfer of Equity Interest in Shanxi Huaxing

 

The Chalco Xing County Alumina Project, which was carried out by Shanxi Huaxing, commenced construction in May 2011 and undertook full operation in 2014. After completion of private placement of A Shares in June 2015, the Board resolved to replace the funds which have been invested by us in advance with the proceeds raised from the private placement of A Shares. In light of our strategic blueprint for the development of Shanxi aluminum recycle industrial park, we planned to introduce strategic investors for joint investment and cooperation to develop a new model of integrated coal, electricity and aluminum operations. In December 2015, the Group entered into an equity transfer agreement with Shenzhen CR Yuanta Asset Management Co., Ltd., a state- owned entity, to transfer 50% equity interests in Shanxi Huaxing, a wholly-owned subsidiary, through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange at a price of RMB2,351 million (the “2015 Equity Transfer Agreement”). The price was determined based on the appraisal value provided by an independent qualified appraisal company. According to the 2015 Equity Transfer Agreement, 30% of the consideration amounting to RMB705 million has been received by us in December 2015. In December 2016, Shenzhen CR Yuanta Asset Management Co., Ltd. transferred the 50% of equity interest in Shanxi Huaxing to Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. As agreed among Shenzhen CR Yuanta Asset Management Co., Ltd., Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. and the Company, Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd., shall assume the payment obligation on the outstanding consideration of RMB1,646,035,160 payable by Shenzhen CR Yuanta Asset Management Co., Ltd. to the Company under the 2015 Equity Transfer Agreement and settle the outstanding consideration in full together with interest accrued thereon from January 1, 2017 to the date of payment before March 31, 2017. The payment was fully settled by Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. in March 2017.

 

In December 2018, we entered into an equity transfer agreement with Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd., pursuant to which we agreed to acquire 50% equity interest in Shanxi Huaxing through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange at a price of approximately RMB2,665.2 million, which we paid in full in December 2018. Upon completion of the acquisition, Shanxi Huaxing became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The acquisition is conducted for the purpose of enhancing our profitability and is in line with our strategic layout of alumina and aluminum business, as the increase of our shareholding in Shanxi Huaxing, an alumina plant, is expected to enhance the synergy with our primary aluminum production in Shanxi, where we have newly added production capacity of primary aluminum.

Transfer of Shares of Jiaozuo Wanfang

 

On January 22, 2015 and January 23, 2015, we decreased our shareholding in Jiaozuo Wanfang by 4,758,858 shares through the securities exchange system of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. In March 2015, we transferred 100,000,000 shares of Jiaozuo Wanfang to Geo-Jade Petroleum Corporation by way of agreement after the public solicitation for potential transferees. On June 25, 2015, we further transferred 42,550,900 shares of Jiaozuo Wanfang by way of block trading through the securities exchange system of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. On December 18, 21 and 22, 2015, we reduced our shareholding in Jiaozuo Wanfang by 16,695,100 shares through the centralized bidding trading system of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. From December 23 to 25, 2015, we reduced our shareholding in Jiaozuo Wanfang by 13,865,000 shares through the centralized bidding trading system of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and block trading. As a result, we held 29,582,057 shares of Jiaozuo Wanfang as of December 31, 2015, representing 2.46% of the total share capital of Jiaozuo Wanfang. During the period from July 8, 2016 to September 27, 2016, we reduced our shareholding of Jiaozuo Wanfang by an aggregate of 16,628,098 shares via the Shanghai Stock Exchange centralized bidding trading system, representing approximately 1.39% of the total share capital of Jiaozuo Wanfang. The average price of reduction was approximately RMB8.73 per share. After the reduction, the Company remained holding 12,953,959 shares of Jiaozuo Wanfang, representing approximately 1.09% of its total share capital. During the period from September 29, 2016 to January 26, 2017, we reduced our shareholding of Jiaozuo Wanfang by an aggregate of 12,953,959 shares via the Shanghai Stock Exchange centralized bidding trading system, representing approximately 1.09% of the total share capital of Jiaozuo Wanfang. The average price of reduction was approximately RMB10.19 per share. After such reduction in our shareholding, we no longer hold any shares of Jiaozuo Wanfang.

 

22

 

Disposal of Certain Assets of Guizhou Branch

 

Guizhou branch entered into a land reserve acquisition cooperation agreement with the People’s Government of the Baiyun District of Guiyang, Guiyang Land Reserve Center, and Guizhou Aluminum Plant on November 13, 2015. As the land of Guizhou Aluminum Plant occupied by the primary aluminum plant of Guizhou branch shall be transferred to the respective land resources and reserve authorities, Guizhou branch sold the relevant assets, including buildings and structures located on the land occupied by the primary aluminum plant of Guizhou branch, to the Guiyang Land Reserve Center for a total consideration of RMB1.95 billion. The consideration was determined based on the asset appraisal conducted by an independent asset appraisal firm.

 

Disposal of the Environmental Protection Business

 

On May 30, 2016, the Board approved the transfer of the environmental protection assets in relation to the desulfurization, denitration and dedusting of the coal-fired generating units of five entities, namely Lanzhou branch, Baotou Aluminum, Shandong Huayu, Maliantai Power Station and Liupanshan Power Station of Ningxia Energy, by way of public bidding. On June 29, 2016, the assets transfer agreement in relation to disposal of the above environmental protection assets were entered into between Beijing Aluminum SPC Environment Protection Tech Co., Ltd., which had won the bid for the acquisition of the assets, and us. Pursuant to the asset transfer agreement, the aggregate consideration for the above environmental protection assets disposal was RMB1,754 million which was paid in two installments in June 2016 and December 2016, respectively.

 

We decided to dispose the environmental protection assets to reduce our capital investments and generate cash flows. We have been complying with the relevant standards of environmental protection through professional services rendered by specialized environmental protection companies.

 

Development of Gold Leasing Financing

 

On May 30, 2016, the Board resolved to develop gold leasing business to financing working capital. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, we entered into several agreements with Bank of Communications Co., Ltd., China Everbright Bank and Agriculture Bank of China to finance working capital via gold leasing. As of December 31, 2018, our remaining proceeds from gold leasing amounted to RMB 1.6 billion, which has been used to replenish working capital for our production and operation.

 

Construction Projects

 

As of the date of this annual report, we have undertaken a number of facility expansion projects in China. See “- D. Property, Plants and Equipment - Our Expansion.”

 

Boffa Project

 

On June 8, 2018, Chalco Hong Kong and Chalco Guinea Company S.A., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chalco Hong Kong, entered into a mining convention (the “Mining Convention”) with the Guinean government, pursuant to which Chalco Hong Kong agreed to provide investment funds while the Guinean government agreed to provide mining licenses and rights to transport mining products for the development and operation of the Boffa Project, a project for the construction and development of a bauxite mine located in Boffa, Guinea.

 

Based on our previous research and preliminary analysis and after taking into account various factors, including but not limited to (i) the bauxite reserve and the minable quantity in the mining area of the Boffa Project; (ii) the advancement and effectiveness of the existing development technologies; (iii) labor cost, transportation expense and other development costs and other factors, the total investment of the Boffa Project is estimated to be approximately US$706 million, subject to adjustment pursuant to the actual needs, which will be mainly allocated in the construction of mines, ports and lightering system and is expected to be funded through capital investment together with shareholders’ loans or bank loans. As of December 31, 2018, an aggregate of US$64 million of capital expenditure had been incurred for Boffa Project.

 

23

 

In accordance with the Mining Convention, a mining company (the “Mining Company”) and a port company (the “Port Company”) are established to act as the main operating bodies for mines construction and ports construction, respectively. In accordance with the Mining Convention, we own 85% and 95% equity interests in the Mining Company and the Port Company, respectively, while the Guinean government and its wholly-owned companies collectively own 15% and 5% equity interests in the Mining Company and the Port Company, respectively. Pursuant to the Mining Convention, Chalco Hong Kong shall grant the Guinean government and/or its wholly-owned companies an option to obtain additional equity interests in the Mining Company and grant Societe Guineenne de Patrimoine Minier, a company wholly owned by the Guinean government, an option to obtain additional equity interests in the Port Company (together, the “Options”). If the Options are exercised in full, our equity interests in the Mining Company and Ports Company will reduce to 65% and 90%, respectively.

 

With a large reserve of resources, we believe the Boffa Project would provide sustainable bauxite resources for our alumina production and its high ore grades would help reduce alkali and energy consumption in our alumina production. In addition, as the mines are close to port, we are able to consolidate inland waterway transportation and maritime transportation, which benefits long-term development of the project and effectively controls investment risks at the early stage.

 

The Boffa Project commenced construction in September 2018 and planned to be put into operation by the end of March 2020 with an expected annual bauxite output of 12 million tonnes.

 

Private Placement of A Shares

 

On March 8, 2012, our Board resolved to issue up to 1.25 billion A Shares in the PRC. The A Share issue plans previously proposed by our Board on June 30, 2009 and January 30, 2011 and approved by our shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting, A Share class meeting and H Share class meeting held on August 24, 2009 and on April 14, 2011, respectively, ceased. Pursuant to the new issue plan approved by our Board on March 8, 2012, we planned to issue up to 1.25 billion A Shares, with a nominal value of RMB1.00 each, by way of private placement for expected proceeds not exceeding RMB8 billion. We intended to issue the A Shares to no more than ten specific target subscribers within six months of obtaining the approval of the CSRC. The issue price of A Shares to be offered shall be not less than 90% of the average trading price of our A Shares in twenty trading days immediately preceding the pricing determination date. We intended to apply proceeds from this private placement to finance Chalco Xing County Alumina Project, Zhongzhou branch Ore-dressing Bayer Process expansion construction project and to supplement working capital. The issue plan was approved by the SASAC on April 5, 2012 and by our shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting, A Share class meeting and H Share class meeting held on May 4, 2012. On August 24, 2012, our Board resolved to adjust the issue plan by proposing, among others, to increase the number of A Shares to be issued to up to 1.45 billion A Shares. The adjusted issue plan was approved by the SASAC and our shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting, A Share class meeting and the H Share class meeting on October 12, 2012 and by the CSRC on December 7, 2012. On March 14, 2013, we obtained the approval from the CSRC on our proposed private placement of A Shares under such adjusted issue plan, with effective period of six months after the approval date. However, the CSRC temporarily retrieved its approval in July 2013 due to its on-going investigation of the sponsor of our proposed private placement of A Shares. The period of authorization to the Board relating to the adjusted issue plan was extended by our shareholders at the 2013 annual general meeting, A Share class meeting held on June 27, 2014 and H Share class meeting held on June 27, 2014, with an effective period of 12 months after the approval date. On January 4, 2015, we submitted the “Report regarding the resumption of the approval of non-public offering of shares of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited” to the CSRC. On April 24, 2015, we received the Approval in Relation to the Non-public Issuance of Shares by Aluminum Corporation of China Limited issued by the CSRC, pursuant to which we were approved to issue no more than 1,450,000,000 new shares. We completed the non-public issuance of A Shares on June 15, 2015 and issued an additional 1,379,310,344 A Shares pursuant to the specific mandate as approved at the annual general meeting of the Company on June 27, 2014. On June 15, 2015, we completed the non-public issuance of 1,379,310,344 A Shares. Upon completion, the total number of A Shares of the Company was increased from 13,524,487,892 to 14,903,798,236. Please refer to “- Subscription of Equity Interest of Certain Subsidiaries and Subsequent Issuance of Additional A Shares” for further changes of our issuance of A Shares.

 

24

 

Senior Perpetual Capital Securities Offering

 

In October 2013, we completed the issuance of US$350 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.625% senior perpetual capital securities (the “2013 Senior Perpetual Securities”) through Chalco Hong Kong Investment Company Limited (the “Bond Issuer”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, which was exempted from, and not subject to, registration under the Securities Act. The 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities are guaranteed by Chalco Hong Kong and its certain subsidiaries. The 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities also have the benefit of a keepwell deed dated October 29, 2013 entered into by the Issuer, the Company, Chalco Hong Kong and the trustee and a deed of equity interest purchase undertaking dated on October 29, 2013 entered into by the Company and the trustee, both deeds being executed in favor of the trustee. The 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on October 30, 2013. The net proceeds from the issue of the 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities after deduction of issuance costs are RMB2,122.6 million and have been on-lent to the Company or any of its subsidiaries for general corporate use. Coupon payments of 6.625% per annum on the 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities are paid semi-annually in arrears from October 29, 2013, and may be deferred at our discretion unless, during the six-month period ending on the day before the relevant scheduled coupon payment date, we have, or the Bond Issuer or Chalco Hong Kong has, declared or paid a discretionary dividend, distribution or other discretionary payment on or in respect of, or have/has at its discretion repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, any securities of lower or equal rank, subject to certain exceptions. The 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities have no fixed maturity and are callable only at our option on or after October 29, 2018, at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon interest payments. After October 29, 2018, the coupon rate would be reset every five calendar years to a rate of interest expressed as a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 5.312 per cent, (b) the U.S. Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 5.00 per cent per annum. While any coupon interest payments are unpaid or deferred, we, Chalco Hong Kong, and the Bond Issuer shall not, subject to certain exceptions, declare or pay any discretionary dividends or make distributions or similar discretionary payments in respect of, or at its discretion repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for any consideration any securities of lower or equal rank. We redeemed the 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities in October 2018.

 

In April 2014, we completed the issuance of US$400 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.25% senior perpetual capital securities (the “2014 Senior Perpetual Securities”) through the Bond Issuer, which was exempted from, and not subject to, registration under the Securities Act. The 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities are guaranteed by Chalco Hong Kong and its certain subsidiaries. The 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities also have the benefit of a keepwell deed entered into by the Bond Issuer, the Company, Chalco Hong Kong and the trustee and a deed of equity interest purchase undertaking entered into by the Company and the trustee, both deeds being executed in favor of the trustee. The 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on April 22, 2014. The net proceeds from the issue of the 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities after deduction of issuance costs are RMB2,461.8 million and have been on-lent to the Company or any of its subsidiaries for general corporate use. Coupon payments of 6.25% per annum on the 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities are paid semi-annually on April 29 and October 29 in arrears from April 17, 2014, and may be deferred at the discretion of the Group. The first coupon payment date was April 29, 2014. The 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities have no fixed maturity and are callable only at our option on or after April 17, 2017 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon interest payments. While any coupon interest payments are unpaid or deferred, we, the subsidiary guarantors and the Bond Issuer cannot declare or pay dividends or make distributions or similar discretionary payments in respect of, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of lower or equal rank. After April 17, 2017, the coupon rate would be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 5.423 per cent, (b) the U.S. Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 5.00 per cent, per annum. We redeemed the 2014 Senior Perpetual Securities in April 2017.

On October 27, 2015, our Company issued RMB2,000 million perpetual medium-term notes at an initial distribution rate of 5.50% (the “2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes”). The proceeds from the issuance were RMB2,000 million and were used for repayments of interest-bearing loans and borrowings. Coupon payments of 5.50% per annum on the 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes are paid annually in arrears from October 29, 2015 and may be deferred at the discretion of our Company. The 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes have no fixed maturity and are callable only at the Group’s option on October 29, 2020 or any coupon distribution date after October 29, 2020 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. The coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 2.61 per cent, (b) the China Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 300 Bps every five years after October 29, 2020. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the headquarters of the Company cannot declare or pay dividends to shareholders or decrease the share capital, or make material fixed asset investments of the headquarters of the Company.

25

 

On November 7, 2016, the Bond Issuer issued US$500 million senior perpetual securities (the “2016 Senior Perpetual Securities”) at a rate of 4.25%. The 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities are guaranteed by one of our subsidiaries, Chalco Hong Kong. The 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities also have the benefit of a keepwell deed entered into by the Bond Issuer, the Company, Chalco Hong Kong and the trustee. The 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities were listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on November 7, 2016. The net proceeds from the issue of the 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities were on-lent to the Company or any of its subsidiaries for general corporate use. Coupon payments of 4.25% per annum on the 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities have been made semi-annually on April 29 and October 29 in arrears from November 7, 2016 and may be deferred at the discretion of the Group. The first coupon payment date was April 29, 2017. The 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities have no fixed maturity date and are callable only at the Group’s option on or after November 7, 2021 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. After November 7, 2021, the coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 2.931 per cent, (b) the U.S. Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 5.00 per cent per annum. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the Group, the wholly-owned subsidiaries of Chalco Hong Kong as guarantors, and the Bond Issuer cannot declare or pay dividends or make distributions or similar discretionary payments in respect of, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of lower or equal rank.

 

On October 19, 2018, we issued RMB2,000 million perpetual medium-term notes with an initial distribution rate at 5.10% (the “2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes”). The proceeds from the issuance were RMB2,000 million. The proceeds were used for the repayment of interest-bearing loans and borrowings. Coupon payments of 5.10% per annum on the 2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes are made annually in arrears from October 19, 2018 and may be deferred at our discretion. The 2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes have no fixed maturity date and are callable only at our option on October 23, 2021 or any coupon distribution date after October 23, 2021 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. The coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 1.90 per cent, (b) the China Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 500 Bps after October 23, 2021. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, we cannot declare or pay dividends to shareholders or decrease the share capital, or make material fixed asset investments.

Proposed Issuance of H Shares

 

On June 26, 2018, our shareholders at the 2017 annual general meeting passed a special resolution, which will remain valid until the earliest of (i) the conclusion of our next annual general meeting, (ii) the expiration of 12 months following the date of passing the resolution, or (iii) the date on which the authority set out in this resolution is revoked or varied by a special resolution at a general meeting. The resolution authorizes us to issue up to 20% of the total nominal value of H Shares in issue as of the resolution date. Our Board has been authorized to determine the use of the proceeds. The proposed issuance is subject to all the necessary approval by the CSRC and/or other relevant PRC government authorities.

 

Merger and Reorganization of Shanxi Branch and Shanxi Huaze

 

On August 8, 2017, we entered into a reorganization agreement with Zhangze Electric Power, pursuant to which we contributed certain assets related to alumina production of our Shanxi branch, with an appraised net value of RMB3,425.7 million equaling the appraised net value of the assets and liabilities of Shanxi branch, to Shanxi Huaze. The assets injected into Shanxi Huaze included, among others, inventories, buildings, structures, machinery and equipment. Upon completion of our asset contribution in 2017, our shareholding in Shanxi Huaze increased from 60% to 85.98% and Shanxi Huaze was renamed to Shanxi New Material.

 

26

 

Establishment of Industry Investment Fund

 

On May 23, 2017, the Company, Bank of Communications International Trust Co., Ltd. (“BOCOMMTRUST”) and Chinalco Jianxin Investment Fund Management (Beijing) Company Limited (“Chinalco Jianxin”) entered into a partnership agreement in relation to the establishment of Beijing Chalco Bocom Size Industry Investment Fund Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) (the “Industry Fund”). On September 27, 2017, the Company, BOCOMMTRUST, Chinalco Jianxin and Bocommtrust Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Bocommtrust Asset”) entered into certain agreements with respect to Chinalco Jianxin’s withdrawal from and Bocommtrust Asset’s participation in the Industry Fund. On the same day, the Company, BOCOMMTRUST and Bocommtrust Asset entered into a capital contribution agreement and a new partnership agreement in relation to the Industry Fund. Pursuant to these agreements, the general partner of the Industry Fund changed from Chinalco Jianxin to Bocommtrust Asset while Chinalco Jianxin remained as the manager of the Industry Fund.

 

The Industry Fund would provide funding for the construction of our major projects, replenish our working capital and support our structural adjustment, transformation and upgrade. As of December 31, 2018, the Industry Fund made debt investments in certain of our subsidiaries and joint ventures with a total amount of RMB5,000 million, of which we had contributed RMB1,650 million.

 

Acquisition of Carbon Assets and Equity Interests

 

On August 30, 2018, our Group and the affiliates of Chinalco Assets entered into a series of assets transfer agreements and equity transfer agreements for the acquisition of certain carbon assets and equity interests from the affiliates of Chinalco Assets, including: (i) the assets of the carbon plant under Shandong Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd; (ii) the assets of the carbon plant under Pingguo Aluminum Company Limited; (iii) 49% equity interests of Baotou Sendu Carbon Company Limited; and (iv) 57.69% and 19.96% equity interests of Chibi Great Wall Carbon Products Company Limited from two separate shareholders. Upon completion of the acquisition, we expect this acquisition would help us consummate our industrial chain, ensure our steady production, and improve our competitiveness and anti-risk capabilities, as carbon products are one of major raw materials for production of primary aluminum. As of December 2018, we had paid the total consideration of RMB735.6 million in full and the closing had been completed.

 

Merger and Reorganization of Zunyi Alumina and Zunyi Aluminum

 

On June 21, 2018, in order to streamline our production chains, enhance synergistic effects and control operating costs, we entered into a contribution agreement with other shareholders of Zunyi Aluminum, pursuant to which we contributed all assets in Zunyi Alumina to Zunyi Aluminum. The appraised net value of Zunyi Alumina, equaling the appraised net value of its assets and liabilities, was RMB2,311 million. Upon completion of the merger, our shareholding in Zunyi Aluminum increased from 62.1% to 67.445%.

 

Gratuitous Transfer Between China Copper and Yunnan SASAC

 

On November 13, 2018, China Copper, a wholly-owned subsidiary of our controlling shareholder, entered into a gratuitous transfer agreement with Yunnan SASAC, pursuant to which Yunnan SASAC shall gratuitously transfer its 51% equity interest in Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd. to China Copper. The gratuitous transfer was approved by the SASAC on December 19, 2018, by the State Administration for Market Regulation on December 20, 2018 and by the CSRC on December 29, 2018. Chinalco completed the gratuitous transfer on January 8, 2019. As Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd., an affiliated company of Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd., competes with us in the business segments of alumina and primary aluminum, on January 2, 2019, Chinalco, as the indirect controlling shareholder of Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. and our direct controlling shareholder, issued a letter of undertakings on non-competition to us in order to address business competition and safeguard the legitimate interests of the Company and our minority shareholders. According to the letter of undertakings, Chinalco undertook to start in 2019 planning the integration of the businesses in which Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. and we compete with each other, and address business competition between Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. and us within five years.

 

27

 

Subscription of Equity Interest of Certain Subsidiaries and Subsequent Issuance of Additional A Shares (“Asset Restructuring”)

 

On December 4, 2017, we entered into certain investment and debt conversion agreements (the “Initial Agreements”) with Huarong Ruitong Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd. (“Huarong Ruitong”), China Life Insurance Company Limited (“China Life”), Shenzhen Zhaoping Chalco Investment Center LLP (“Zhaoping Investment”), China Pacific Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (“CPIC Life”), China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“China Cinda”), BOC Financial Asset Investment Co., Ltd. (“BOC Financial”), ICBC Financial Asset Investment Co., Ltd. (“ICBC Financial”) and ABC Financial Asset Investment Company Limited (“ABC Financial”) (collectively, the “Restructuring Investors”). Pursuant to the Initial Agreements, Huarong Ruitong, China Life, Zhaoping Investment, CPIC Life, BOC Financial, ICBC Financial and ABC Financial have agreed to make cash contributions to our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Chalco Shandong, Zhongzhou Aluminum, Baotou Aluminum and Chalco Mining (collectively, the “Target Subsidiaries”), while the principal of loans owed by Chalco Mining to Huarong Ruitong, Zhaoping Investment, China Cinda and BOC Financial prior to signing of the Initial Agreements would be treated as capital contribution to Chalco Mining and converted into equity interest in Chalco Mining held by Huarong Ruitong, Zhaoping Investment, China Cinda and BOC Financial. The Restructuring Investors have agreed to acquire 30.80%, 36.90%, 25.67% and 81.14% of equity interest of Chalco Shandong, Zhongzhou Aluminum, Baotou Aluminum and Chalco Mining, respectively, with an aggregate capital contribution of approximately RMB12.6 billion. Under the Initial Agreements, we have also agreed to acquire equity interest held by the Restructuring Investors in the Target Subsidiaries with consideration in the form of our A Shares to be issued to the Restructuring Investors. On December 20, 2017, the Initial Agreements and the transactions contemplated thereunder were approved at our 2017 second extraordinary general meeting. In December 2017, the capital contribution to the Target Subsidiaries by the Restructuring Investors was completed in accordance with the terms of the Initial Agreements.

 

Subsequently, on January 31, 2018, we entered into equity acquisition agreements (the “Further Agreements”) with the Restructuring Investors. Pursuant to the Further Agreements, we have agreed to acquire all the equity interest held by the Restructuring Investors in the Target Subsidiaries with consideration in the form of A Shares of the Company to be issued to the Restructuring Investors (the “Proposed Issuance”). The number of A Shares in issue pursuant to the Proposed Issuance would equal the appraised value of equity interest held by Restructuring Investors in Target Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 determined by China United Assets Appraisal divided by the issue price. The aforementioned appraised value may be subject to further adjustment by competent PRC authorities upon filing of the valuation report by China United Assets Appraisal. The issue price has been set at RMB6.00 per A Share with reference to 90% of the average trading price of our A Shares during the last 60 trading days prior to January 31, 2018 (i.e., the last 60 trading days prior to the suspension of trading of our A Shares) in accordance with rules and regulations of the PRC applicable to transaction of this kind. The appraised value, subject to further adjustment, was RMB12.7 billion and therefore we would issue to the Restructuring Investors approximately 2.1 billion A Shares in aggregate, representing approximately 14.2% of the total issued share capital of the Company as of January 31, 2018 and approximately 12.4% of the enlarged total issued share capital of the Company upon completion of the Proposed Issuance. On July 30, 2018, we entered supplemental equity acquisition agreements with the Restructuring Investors, amending, among others, the final consideration of the proposed acquisition and the number of the consideration shares to be issued from approximately RMB12,703.7 million and approximately 2,117,280,800 to approximately RMB12,713.2 million and 2,118,874,715, respectively. The Proposed Issuance was approved by our shareholders, the SASAC and the CSRC in 2018. In February 2019, all equity interests of Target Subsidiaries held by the Restructuring Investors were transferred to us, which resulted in us holding 100% equity interests of all Target Subsidiaries. On February 25, 2019, we issued an aggregate of 2,118,874,715 A Shares to the Restructuring Investors. The Restructuring Investors shall not transfer the shares issued thereto within twelve months from the completion date of the issuance of the shares and the shares may be listed and traded on the Shanghai Stock Exchange upon expiry of the lock-up period.

 

Cash contributions received from the Restructuring Investors have been used by us for the repayment of loans. The Asset Restructuring has helped to reduce the gearing ratios of these subsidiaries and the Group as a whole.

 

28

 

B.Business Overview

 

Our Principal Products

 

We are a leading enterprise in the non-ferrous metal industry in China. In terms of comprehensive scale, we ranked among the top enterprises in the global aluminum industry. We have benefited from the strong growth of the PRC aluminum market, one of the world’s fastest growing major aluminum markets. We refine bauxite into alumina, which is then smelted into primary aluminum. In addition to alumina and primary aluminum, we also produce and sell a relatively small amount of chemical alumina products (alumina hydrate and alumina-based industrial chemical products), carbon products (carbon anodes and cathodes) and gallium. We are also engaged in the trading and logistics of alumina, primary aluminum, other non-ferrous metal products, coal products and raw and ancillary materials in bulk both manufactured by us and sourced from external suppliers domestically and abroad. In addition, we are engaged in coal mining and power generation. The remainder of our revenues was derived from research and development activities and other products and services. Accordingly, we organize and manage our operations in five business segments: alumina segment, primary aluminum segment, trading segment, energy segment and corporate and other operating segment. After elimination of inter-segment sales, revenues attributable to our alumina segment, primary aluminum segment, trading segment, energy segment, and corporate and other operating segment accounted for approximately 8.2%, 22.9%, 64.7%, 3.9% and 0.3%, respectively, of our total revenues in 2018.

 

Our alumina segment includes the mining and purchasing of bauxite and other raw materials, and production and sale of alumina as well as chemical alumina and metal gallium. Alumina accounted for approximately 88.88% of our total production volume for this segment in 2018. Chemical alumina products are used in the production of chemical, pharmaceutical, ceramic and construction materials. In the process of refining bauxite into alumina, we also produce gallium as a by-product. Gallium is a rare, high value metal with applications in the electronics and telecommunication industries.

 

Our primary aluminum segment includes the procurement of alumina, other raw materials, supplemental materials and electrical power, the production and sale of primary aluminum and aluminum-related products, such as carbon products, aluminum alloy products and other aluminum products. Our principal primary aluminum products are ingots, molten aluminum and aluminum alloys, which accounted for approximately 29%, 39% and 32%, respectively, of our total production volume of primary aluminum in 2018. Our standard 20 kilogram remelt ingots are used for general aluminum fabrication in the construction, electricity, electronics, transportation, packaging, machinery and durable goods industries. We internally produce substantially all the carbon products used at our smelters and sell our remaining carbon products to external customers.

 

Our trading segment is mainly engaged in the trading of alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum fabrication products, other non-ferrous metal products, and crude fuels such as coal products, as well as supplemental materials and logistics and transport services to our internal manufacturing plants and external customers. We established our trading business under Chalco Trading as a separate segment in July 2010 as a result of our operational structural adjustment. Since 2014, we have established China Aluminum International Trading Group Co. Ltd., Chalco Materials Co. Ltd. and China Aluminum Logistics Group Corporation Co., Ltd. to continuously promote and deepen development of our trading business, jointly constituting our trading segment.

Our energy segment includes the research and development, production and operation of energy products, including coal mining and conventional coal-fire power generation as well as renewable energy generation such as wind power and solar power. We are also engaged in new energy equipment production. We established our energy segment in January 2013 as a result of our acquisition of Ningxia Energy in line with our development strategy to partially offset our future energy costs and secure a portion of the coal we consume in our operations. In 2018, we supplied the majority of the electricity we generated for our own production use, supplied a portion of the coal output to our own electric power plant and sold the remaining portion to external customers.

 

Our corporate and other operating segment mainly includes corporate and other aluminum-related research, development, and other activities of the Group.

 

29

 

Our Production Capacity

 

As of December 31, 2018, our annual alumina production capacity and primary aluminum production capacity was approximately 18.86 million tonnes and 4.78 million tonnes, respectively. The following table sets forth the production capacity of each of our principal plants by business segment as of the indicated date:

 

   As of December 31, 2018
Plant  Alumina  Primary
Aluminum
   (in thousand tonnes)(1) 
Guangxi branch    2,210    —  
Zhongzhou Aluminum    3,050    —  
Qinghai branch    —     420 
Guizhou branch    —     0 
Chalco Mining    2,410    —  
Chalco Shandong    2,270    —  
Shanxi New Material    2,600    424 
Chongqing branch   800    —  
Lanzhou Aluminum    —     450 
Shanxi Huasheng    —     190 
Zunyi Aluminum    1,000    375 
Shandong Huayu    —     200 
Baotou Aluminum(2)    —     1,340 
Zhengzhou Institute    20    —  
Liancheng branch    —     550 
Guizhou Huajin    1,600    —  
Xinghua Technology    900    —  
Shanxi Huaxing    2,000    —  
Guizhou Huaren    —     400 
Shanxi Zhongrun    —     432 
Total    18,860    4,781 

 

 

(1)Production capacity is calculated based on designed capacity, which accounts for various assumptions including downtime for ordinary maintenance and repairs, the ore grade of bauxite feedstock and subsequent capacity modifications.

(2)Including the primary aluminum production capacity of Inner Mongolia Huayun, a subsidiary of Baotou Aluminum.

 

In 2018, we produced approximately 13.51 million tonnes of alumina and 4.17 million tonnes of primary aluminum. Our production of alumina (with chemical alumina products included) and primary aluminum represented approximately 21.2% and 11.4%, respectively, of the total output of alumina (with chemical alumina products included) and primary aluminum in China in 2018.

 

The following table sets forth a breakdown of our production volume by product segment for the periods indicated:

 

   Year Ended December 31,
Production Volume by Product  2016  2017  2018
    (in thousand tonnes, except Gallium) 
Alumina segment               
Alumina    12,027    12,810    13,510 
Chemical alumina products    2,479    2,853    3,240 
Gallium (in tonnes)    71    72    136 
Primary aluminum segment               
Primary aluminum(1)    2,953    3,607    4,166 
Carbon    1,680    1,962    2,010 

 

 

(1)Including ingots, molten aluminum and aluminum alloys.

 

30

 

 

Production Process

 

Alumina

 

Alumina is refined from bauxite, an aluminum-bearing ore, through a chemical refining process. The refining process applied is determined by the mineral composition of the bauxite used in production. Our refineries may employ the Bayer process, the Bayer-sintering series process, the Bayer-sintering combined process or the ore-dressing Bayer process. Most of the bauxite reserves in China contain diasporic bauxite, which contains high alumina content but relatively high silica content, resulting in bauxite reserves with low alumina-to-silica ratio. The Bayer process cannot efficiently refine diasporic bauxite that has not undergone processing to increase its alumina-to-silica ratio. The Bayer-sintering process and the Bayer-sintering combined process are suitable for refining low alumina-to-silica ratio bauxite. We have developed and improved these processes to increase our refining yield. When we refine alumina using the Bayer process, we produce gallium as a by-product, which undergoes further processing before sale. In addition, we also produce some chemical alumina products (alumina hydrate and alumina-based industrial chemical products).

 

Primary Aluminum

 

We smelt alumina into primary aluminum through electrolytic reduction. The electrolytic process takes place in a reduction cell, or pot, a steel shell lined with carbon cathodes and refractory materials. Powerful electric currents are passed through the pot to produce molten aluminum. The molten aluminum is transferred to holding furnaces and then poured directly into molds to produce foundry ingots, or further refined to form fabricating ingots, which may be used directly in the aluminum fabrication process. The primary aluminum we produce is in the form of ingots, molten aluminum and aluminum alloys.

 

All of our primary aluminum smelters use pre-bake anode reduction pot-lines. In the pre-bake reduction process, the anodes are pre-formed in a separate facility where pollutants can be contained. The cells themselves are enclosed with removable panels so that the waste gas produced during the process can be extracted using large exhaust fans. Our waste gas is treated and purified to reduce dust and fluoride emissions to acceptable levels set by state environmental protection agencies.

 

Production Facilities

 

Alumina

 

We currently operate ten alumina refineries and one research institute with a total designed annual production capacity of approximately 18.86 million tonnes as of December 31, 2018. Two of our refineries are integrated with primary aluminum smelters. In 2018, we produced approximately 13.51 million tonnes of alumina, approximately 3.24 million tonnes of chemical alumina products and approximately 136 tonnes of gallium. The overall utilization rate for our refineries was 91% as of December 31, 2018.

In 2018, we supplied approximately 6.06 million tonnes, or 45%, of our total production of alumina to our own smelters and sold all of the remaining alumina to other domestic customers. All of the chemical alumina products that we produced in 2018 were sold by alumina refineries directly to external customers or internally to Chalco Trading for subsequent external trading.

 

31

 

 

The following table sets forth the annual production capacity, output of alumina and chemical alumina products, utilization rate and production process applied in each of our alumina refineries and our Zhengzhou Institute:

 

   As of December 31, 2018   For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
  

Annual
Production
Capacity(1)

  

Utilization
Rate(2)

   Alumina
Production
Output
   Chemical
Alumina
Products
Output
   Production Process
   (in thousand tonnes, except percentages)
Shanxi New Material    2,600    100%   2,129    73   Bayer-sintering
Chalco Mining    2,410    81%   1,748    95   Bayer-sintering
Chalco Shandong    2,270    100%   1,715    2,105   Sintering and Bayer
Zhongzhou Aluminum    3,050    84%   1,913    637   Sintering and Bayer
Guangxi branch    2,210    100%   2,486    97   Bayer
Zunyi Aluminum    1,000    100%   1,110    3   Bayer
Chongqing branch    800               Bayer-sintering
Zhengzhou Institute(3)    20            43   Bayer
Guizhou Huajin    1,600    100%   1,514       Bayer
Xinghua Technology    900    100%   778    189   Bayer
Shanxi Huaxing    2,000    100%   117(4)      Bayer
Total    18,860    91%   13,510    3,243    

 

 

(1)Production capacity is calculated based on designed capacity, which accounts for various assumptions including downtime for ordinary maintenance and repairs, the ore grade of bauxite feedstock and subsequent capacity modifications.

(2)Capacity utilization rate is calculated by dividing our utilized production capacity as of the date indicated by our total designed annual production capacity.

(3)The chemical alumina products produced at our Zhengzhou Institute are sold commercially and such sales are included in our total revenues.

(4)Shanxi Huaxing became our wholly-owned subsidiary via acquisition in December 2018. The alumina production output of Shanxi Huaxing in 2018 refers to its output of alumina in December 2018. Please see “- A. History and Development of the Company - Transfer of Equity Interest in Shanxi Huaxing” for more details about the transfer of equity interest.

 

Primary Aluminum

 

We operate eleven primary aluminum smelters in China. Our smelters had an aggregate annual production capacity of approximately 4.78 million tonnes as of December 31, 2018.

In 2018, we produced approximately 4.17 million tonnes of primary aluminum and the average utilization rate for our smelters was 82% as of December 31, 2018. The following table sets forth the annual production capacity, aluminum output, utilization rate and smelting equipment used in each of our aluminum smelters:

 

   As of December 31, 2018   For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Plant(1) 

Annual
Production
Capacity(2)

  

Utilization
Rate(3)

  

Aluminum
Output(4)

   Smelting Equipment
   (in thousand tonnes, except percentages)
Baotou Aluminum(5)   1,340    100%   1,234   200Ka, 240Ka, 400Ka and 500Ka pre-bake
Guizhou branch           36   230Ka pre-bake and secondary aluminum processing
Lanzhou Aluminum   450    99%   399   200Ka and 350Ka pre-bake
Qinghai branch   420    99%   404   180Ka and 210Ka pre-bake
Shandong Huayu   200    45%   197   240Ka pre-bake
Shanxi Huasheng   190    100%   225   300Ka pre-bake
Shanxi New Material   424    99%   431   300Ka pre-bake
Zunyi Aluminum   375    100%   403   200Ka and 400Ka pre-bake
Liancheng branch   550    28%   438   200Ka and 500Ka pre-bake
Guizhou Huaren   400    94%   345   500Ka

 

32

 

 

   As of December 31, 2018   For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Plant(1) 

Annual
Production
Capacity(2)

  

Utilization
Rate(3)

  

Aluminum
Output(4)

   Smelting Equipment
   (in thousand tonnes, except percentages)
Shanxi Zhongrun   432    25%   53   500Ka
Total   4,781    82%   4,166    

 

 

(1)As of December 31, 2018, the primary aluminum production facilities in Fushun Aluminum, Gansu Hualu and Chalco Shandong had been or were in the process of being disposed of by us. These plants did not have annual primary aluminum production capacity as of December 31, 2018. We did not produce any primary aluminum at these plants in 2018.

(2)Production capacity takes into account designed capacity, downtime for ordinary maintenance and repairs and subsequent capacity modifications.

(3)Capacity utilization rate is calculated by dividing our utilized production capacity as of the date indicated by our total designed annual production capacity.

(4)Includes ingots, molten aluminum and aluminum alloys.

(5)Including the primary aluminum production facilities at Inner Mongolia Huayun, a subsidiary of Baotou Aluminum.

 

Raw Materials

 

Alumina

 

Bauxite is the principal raw material in alumina production. Most of the bauxite in China is monohydrate, consisting mainly of Aluminosilicate compounds. Bauxite deposits have been discovered across a broad area of central China and are especially abundant in the southern and northern parts of central China. The largest bauxite deposit in China lies in the Shanxi Province.

 

Rock Formation and Mineralization. Except for our Guangxi Pingguo mine which is an accumulation deposit due to original erosion, the bauxite deposits of our mines in China usually have similar stratigraphic sequences. Primary bauxite deposit, as a type of sedimentary boehmite (Al2O3.H2O) the Carboniferous or Permian age, is contained in clay rock, limestone or coal seams. A zonary red shale is usually located at the bottom of the bauxite and the red seam distributes over the irregular “karst-type” erosion face on the top of Ordovician limestone. Aluminum deposits in northern China are usually covered with a very thick Quaternary weathering.

 

The thickness and quality of deposits vary with our mine locations. Quality is usually consistent in smooth sections but changes sharply in karst “billabong” terrain. The level of hardness of minerals also varies. A sequence that includes a seam of hard bauxite of fine quality in the middle and soft bauxite of inferior quality on the bottom and top seams is common in deposits.

 

Generally, deposits are horizontal or with an obliquity of 0 to 8 degrees, but there are also steep deposits at an angle of 75 degrees, such as in our Guizhou No. 2 mine. Most of the original mineralization is not influenced by folds and faults, and some fractures of a low obliquity and folds emerge in certain deposits, which is evident in the Guizhou No. 2 mine area where the underground mining method must be used due to the obliquity of its bauxite body reaching 70 degrees with the influence of folds and several meters of dislocation arising from partial faults.

 

Economic Significance. Our bauxite deposits in China are divided into three groups. They are primarily distinguished by drill hole spacing and the composition of the deposit, which can encompass rock formations such as intercalated clays, bauxite, footwall iron clay or Ordovician limestone. Bauxite deposit groups vary in the thickness and mineral quality of its reserves.

 

We use the Chinese bauxite deposit estimation method, which is calculated using cut-off grades and thickness to outline continuous areas within the limits defined by samples of marginal grade. We utilize actual limiting sample points that are joined to create a polygonal outline, and grades are then calculated using a length weighted arithmetic average. We believe that the Chinese bauxite deposit estimation method of test boring, inspection pit, trial trench, density, tonnage analysis and calculation applied to the geological work of bauxite in China is an appropriate method to analyze these types of deposits.

 

33

 

 

Supply. To support the growth of our alumina production, we continuously seek opportunities to streamline and optimize our bauxite procurement. Except for Chalco Shandong, all of our refineries are located in the four provinces where over 90% of China’s potentially mineable bauxite has been found. We generally source our bauxite from mines close to our refineries to control transportation costs. Historically, we have procured our bauxite supply principally from three sources:

 

our own bauxite mining operations;

 

jointly-operated mines; and

 

other suppliers, which principally include small independent mines in China and, to a lesser extent, international suppliers.

 

On average, our refineries consumed approximately 2.29 tonnes of bauxite to produce one tonne of alumina in 2018. Our mines supplied approximately 15.50 million tonnes of bauxite to our refineries in 2018. We purchase bauxite from a number of suppliers and do not depend on any supplier for our bauxite requirements. In 2018, bauxite secured from other suppliers accounted for approximately 56.4% of our total bauxite supply, primarily because our demand for bauxite exceeded the production of our mines.

 

The following table sets forth the volumes and percentages of bauxite supplied by our mines and other suppliers for the periods indicated:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2016   2017   2018 
   Bauxite
Supply
   Percentage
of Bauxite
Supply
   Bauxite
Supply
   Percentage
of Bauxite
Supply
   Bauxite
Supply
   Percentage
of Bauxite
Supply
 
       %       %       % 
   (in thousand tonnes, except percentages) 
Own mines   13,603.5    46.9    14,679.6    47.0    15,498.0    43.6 
Other suppliers   15,384.3    53.1    16,566.5    53.0    20,043.6    56.4 
Total   28,987.8    100.0    31,246.1    100.0    35,541.6    100.0 

 

Own Mines. As of December 31, 2018, we owned and operated 19 mines in China that had approximately 235 million tonnes of aggregate bauxite reserves and we continue to explore new bauxite reserves to replenish our reserves. We also own a bauxite mine in Laos through Lao Service Mining Co., Ltd., in which we held 60% of the equity interest. We also hold the requisite mining permit for all the three bauxite mines in West Kalimantan, Indonesia through our 96.28% owned subsidiary, PT Nusapati Prima. Our bauxite deposits in Indonesia are lateritic gibbsite and were formed by weathering and leaching of aluminum-rich silicate rock in tropical climates. We have suspended our bauxite mining since September 2014 due to restraints on export of bauxite imposed by the Indonesian government. In 2017 and 2018, the Indonesian government issued relevant rules pursuant to which export of bauxite may be allowed upon satisfaction of certain requirements. We have been actively exploring the possibility of meeting these requirements. In addition, we own a bauxite mine and have the mining permit through Chalco Guinea Company S.A., in which we indirectly held 85% of the equity interest.

 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, we extracted approximately 14.5 million tonnes, 17.0 million tonnes and 17.3 million tonnes, respectively, of bauxite from our mines. Our reported bauxite reserves for our mines in China do not exceed the quantities that we estimate could be extracted economically if future prices were at similar levels to average historical prices for bauxite or aluminum for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, or the three year historical contracted prices for such commodities. However, we do not use the three year historical bauxite or aluminum price to determine bauxite reserves, nor did we utilize any currency conversion factors or pricing related mechanisms. Instead, the primary criteria are the specifications required by our aluminum refineries, as well as certain modifying factors that are dependent on reserve quality.

 

34

 

 

The following table sets forth information for our mines as of December 31, 2018:

 

Mine Location Nature of
ownership
Mining
method
Permit
Renewal(1)
Present
Condition/
Current State
of Exploration
Bauxite
Production
(in thousand
tonnes)
Pingguo mine Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit October 2030 - April 2036 Fully developed and operational 5,674
Guizhou mine(2) Guizhou Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground March 2019 - December 2038 Partly developed and operational 2,092
Zunyi mine Guizhou Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground February 2020 – August 2027 Partly developed and operational 715
Xiaoyi mine Shanxi Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit December 2017(3) - September 2031 Fully developed and operational 1,747
Shanxi Other Mines Shanxi Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground September 2017(3) - July 2035 Fully developed and operational 1,320
Mianchi mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground December 2018(3) - October 2031 Partly developed and operational 405
Luoyang mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground December 2015(3) - October 2031 Partly developed and operational 460
Xiaoguan mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground August 2018(3) - October 2031 Fully developed and operational 955
Gongyi mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground June 2018(3) - April 2029 Fully developed and operational 230
Dengfeng mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground July 2016(3) - July 2019 Partly developed and operational 314
Xinmi mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground June 2018(3) - February 2020 Fully developed and operational 20
Sanmenxia mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Underground December 2020 - April 2027 Fully developed and operational 1,060
Xuchang mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground July 2018(3) - August 2024 Partly developed and operational 190
Jiaozuo mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground September 2018(3) - October 2024 Partly developed and operational 360
Pingdingshan mine Henan Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit/underground February 2018(3) - October 2024 Partly developed and operational 110
Yangquan mine Shanxi Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Open pit September 2031 - May 2036 Fully developed and operational 1,439
Nanchuan mine Chongqing Municipality, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Underground May 2017(3) - November 2026 In preparation for restarting operation
Huaxing mine Shanxi Province, China 100% owned and operated by Chalco Underground August 2020 September 2020 Fully developed and operational 218
PT ALUSENTOSA West Kalimantan, Indonesia Owned and operated by PT Nusapati Prima, a 96.28% subsidiary of Chalco Open pit December 2027 Suspended production
PT KALMIN West Kalimantan, Indonesia Owned and operated by PT Nusapati Prima, a 96.28% subsidiary of Chalco Open pit December 2027 Suspended production
PT VISITAMA West Kalimantan, Indonesia Owned and operated by PT Nusapati Prima, a 96.28% subsidiary of Chalco Open pit November 2038 Pending production commencement
Laos bauxite mine Attapeu Province and Sekong Province, Laos Owned and operated by Lao Service Mining Co., Ltd., a 60% subsidiary of Chalco Open pit June 2017(4) Exploration completed
Boffa bauxite mine Boffa, Guinea Owned and operated by Chalco Guinea Company S.A., an 85% subsidiary of Chalco Open pit July 2033 Under construction

 

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(1)All conditions to retain our properties or leases have been fulfilled as of December 31, 2018. Each mine may be covered by one or more mining permits or exploration permits and the range of permit renewal dates is set forth above.

(2)Including both Guizhou No. 1 mine and Guizhou No. 2 mine.

(3)We are in the process of renewing these permits.

(4)We are applying for extension to the mineral right to the Laos bauxite mine.

 

We are required to obtain mining rights permits to conduct mining activities. Under PRC laws and regulations, a mining enterprise must prepare and submit exploration reports for a mine to the local government to obtain a mining rights permit for a mine. A mining right owner is also permitted to lease the mining right through a lease arrangement. The mining rights permit is subject to renewal on a regular basis.

 

Furthermore, the mining right owner is required to obtain land use rights on the land in order to operate the mines. We lease the land use rights relating to our mines in China from Chinalco pursuant to a land use rights lease agreement that became effective upon our formation. Chinalco’s land use rights relating to over 90% of our mining properties in China are for 50-year terms beginning on July 1, 2001. The remaining land use rights relating to other mines in China are for shorter terms, some as short as one year. All of our land use rights lease agreements end on the expiry date of the mining rights or the end of the working life of the mine, whichever is earlier. Both the land use rights and land use rights lease agreements are renewable.

For our mines in Indonesia, Laos and Guinea, neither proven nor probable reserves have been established as of the date of this annual report. The following table sets forth certain estimated details of the reserves for our mines in China as of December 31, 2018:

 

Mine

Reserves (1)(2)
(million tonnes)

Al2O3

S1O2

Ratio of
Average A/S(3)

Pingguo mine 48.01 53.47 4.76 11.23
Guizhou No. 1 mine 1.23 65.47 10.02 6.53
Guizhou No. 2 mine 39.74 65.16 8.80 7.40
Zunyi mine 8.20 60.13 11.06 5.44
Xiaoyi mine 11.65 65.77 11.92 5.52
Shanxi Other Mines 10.61 65.16 12.74 5.12
Mianchi mine 2.88 63.24 12.33 5.13
Luoyang mine 2.99 61.27 10.14 6.04
Xiaoguan mine 19.95 63.70 14.94 4.26
Gongyi mine 2.30 64.89 13.02 4.98
Dengfeng mine 1.24 61.85 13.23 4.67
Xinmi mine 2.59 65.38 12.02 5.44
Sanmenxia mine 42.98 63.34 12.73 4.98
Xuchang mine 1.09 62.94 9.08 6.93
Jiaozuo mine 1.27 58.76 14.95 3.93
Pingdingshan mine 1.76 62.08 12.13 5.12
Yangquan mine 2.63 58.82 13.37 4.40
Nanchuan mine 29.09 60.60 13.84 4.38
Huaxing Mine 4.74 63.27 9.62 6.58
Total (average) reserves 234.95 61.34 10.54 5.82
By reserve type        
Proven reserve 70.35 61.92 10.93 5.67
Probable reserve 164.60 61.09 10.38 5.88
Total (average) reserves 234.95 61.34 10.54 5.82

 

 

(1)Our reserves take into consideration mining dilution and loss factors, which generally vary from 5% to 10% and are based on the planned mining method and selected drill data for each site.

 

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(2)Our metallurgical recovery factors are calculated in accordance with the relevant PRC mining standards and vary from mine to mine.

(3)Refers to the ratio of average grade of Al2O3 to the average grade of SiO2 of the reserves.

 

We have been in compliance with the National Mining Safety Law and related rules and regulations in China. We closely supervise and routinely inspect mining conditions with continual implementation of safety measures and procedures at our own bauxite mines and safety training for our mining personnel. In 2018, we extracted approximately 17.3 million tonnes of bauxite from our mines and did not experience any mining operation related accidents that involved serious work injuries or death.

 

Other Suppliers. In addition to our mines, we also source bauxite from other suppliers. The majority of other suppliers are small independent mines. Small independent mines are not affiliated with us and generally have annual bauxite production capacities not exceeding 200,000 tonnes. These mines have been an important source of bauxite for our operations. We purchase bauxite directly from small independent mines or through local distributors that procure bauxite from these mines. In addition, we also secure a portion of bauxite overseas. Bauxite secured from other suppliers accounted for 56.4% of our total bauxite supply in 2018.

Bauxite Procurement. The corporate management department at our headquarters is responsible for the oversight and coordination of our supply of bauxite. To determine how our bauxite requirement will be allocated among our principal sources each year, we first estimate our total bauxite needs for the year. Based on market conditions, production costs and other factors, we determine the amount of bauxite that we wish to source from our mines, and the remaining requirements from other suppliers.

 

Alumina-to-Silica Ratio. The production method for alumina refining is determined by the mineral composition of the bauxite, in particular, its alumina-to-silica ratio. Most of the bauxite reserves in China are diasporic with low alumina-to-silica ratios. Based on our current technology, an efficient application of the Bayer process requires bauxite with an alumina-to-silica ratio of 5:1 or higher, while the Bayer-sintering process can refine bauxite with an alumina-to-silica ratio as low as 4:1. In 2018, the average alumina-to-silica ratio of the proven and probable reserves of our mines ranges from approximately 3.93:1 to 11.23:1.

 

Prices. There is neither governmental regulation on bauxite prices nor an official trading market for bauxite in China. We negotiate bauxite prices with our suppliers based on ore quality, mining costs, market conditions, transportation costs and various governmental taxes or levies, including a resource tax imposed by local governments. Our total bauxite cost is currently influenced by the following factors:

 

the cost of our mining operations;

 

the market conditions relating to purchases from small independent mines; and

 

the market conditions relating to purchases from overseas.

 

The average purchase price of bauxite per tonne from our other suppliers in 2016, 2017 and 2018 was approximately RMB328, RMB369 and RMB413 respectively. The average cost of bauxite per tonne from our mines in 2016, 2017 and 2018 was approximately RMB219.0, RMB226.2 and RMB245.5, respectively.

 

We purchase a substantial amount of bauxite to satisfy our alumina production needs. Additionally, to fully utilize the bauxite from our mines, we refine all bauxite that meets the minimum technical requirements for our production of alumina. We also purchase higher grade ore from other suppliers and blend the ore of various grades to meet the technical requirements for our alumina production. This practice allows for flexibility and the inclusion of lower grade bauxite to optimize the use of bauxite deposits available to us. We do not use our historical average purchase prices or any other historical index to estimate our bauxite reserves.

 

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The following table sets forth our capital expenditures for our bauxite mines for the periods indicated:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2016   2017   2018 
   (RMB in thousands) 
Capital Expenditures               
Infrastructure construction   478,024.6    405,920.0    368,357.4 
Facility upgrade   35,222.9    24,016.9    74,632.7 
Total   513,247.5    429,936.9    442,990.1 

 

Primary Aluminum

 

An average of approximately 1.912 tonnes of alumina and 13,408 kWh of electricity was required to produce one tonne of primary aluminum ingots in 2018.

 

Alumina and electricity, the two principal components of costs in the smelting process, accounted for approximately 43% and 33%, respectively, of our unit primary aluminum production costs in 2018. Apart from alumina and electricity, we also require carbon anodes, carbon cathodes, fluoride salt and cryolite for our smelting operations.

 

Alumina is the main raw material used in the production of primary aluminum. Our primary aluminum plants that do not have integrated alumina refining operations onsite obtain alumina internally from our alumina refineries located elsewhere or externally on the market.

 

Supplemental Materials, Electricity and Fuel

 

The marketing and procurement department at our headquarters coordinates and manages our supply chain for all our major raw materials in conjunction with the procurement center at each production facility, which manages the logistics and inventory of raw materials locally. We are able to purchase diesel, the main fuel used by our mining and manufacturing equipment, from the public markets, and we source our water from local rivers, lakes or underground sources.

 

Alumina

 

Electricity, coal, alkali (caustic soda or soda ash) and natural gas are the principal materials and energy used in our alumina production. Electricity is one of the principal cost components in our refining process. We generate electricity at a number of refineries and purchase our remaining electric power requirements from regional power grids at government-mandated rates or directly from power generation enterprises. Most of our power supply agreements have a term of one year and are renewed by mutual agreement. Power prices in China can vary, sometimes substantially, from one region to another, based on demand and power production costs in the region. Power costs for our various alumina refineries vary accordingly.

 

Large quantities of coal are used as a reducing agent and fuel to produce steam and gas in the alumina refining process. As of December 31, 2018, we held minority interests in a number of coal mining enterprises, including Shanxi Jiexiu, Qinghai Energy, Xuehugou Coal Industry Co., Ltd., Huasheng Wanjie Coal Co., Ltd., Dongdong Coal, Chalco Liupanshui, Huozhou Coal Group Xingshengyuan Coal Co., Ltd., and Guizhou Yuneng. We hold 70% of the equity interest in Gansu Huayang, which holds mining rights for coal deposits in the Luochuan mining area, Gansu Province. We have also acquired 70.82% of the equity interest in the Ningxia Energy, which holds mining rights for coal deposits in Ningxia Autonomous Region.

 

Guizhou Yuneng, an associate company in which we hold 25% of the equity interest, has been under development, and in September 2018, portion of the coal mines were put into production. The production of Huozhou Coal Group Xingshengyuan Coal Co., Ltd. and one of the mines owned by Chalco Liupanshui is currently suspended due to production technology renovation. The rest of the coal mining enterprises in which we directly or indirectly have minority equity interests are currently in the extraction or trial production stage. See “- D. Property, Plants and Equipment” for details of coal mines that we operate. By investing in coal mining enterprises and acquiring mining rights for coal deposits, we plan to partially offset our future energy costs, and secure a portion of the coal we consume in our operations.

 

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Alkali is used as a supplemental material in alumina refining. The Bayer-sintering process and the Bayer-sintering combined process require soda ash while caustic soda is used in the Bayer process. Our alumina refineries use natural gas and coal gas as fuel to refine alumina. There is no governmental regulation of the prices of coal, alkali or fuel. We purchase these raw materials from external suppliers under negotiated supply contracts, which we believe are competitively priced. We have not experienced difficulty in obtaining these materials in sufficient quantity and at acceptable prices.

 

Primary Aluminum

 

Electricity, carbon anodes and cathodes are the principal materials and energy used in our smelting process. Smelting primary aluminum requires a substantial and continuous supply of electricity. The availability and price of electricity are key factors in our primary aluminum production. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects - A. Operating Results - Overview - Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations - Manufacturing Costs.”

 

We generate electricity at four of our smelters to supply a portion of the electricity consumed by these smelters. We purchase our remaining electric power requirements directly from power generation enterprises. As of December 31, 2018, ten of our smelters had direct purchase arrangement with power generation enterprises. Direct purchase transactions are normally organized by the local government and the direct purchase agreements are entered into annually. Because power prices in China vary from one region to another, power costs for our various smelters could vary substantially. The average electricity cost (including tax) of our smelters was approximately RMB0.34/kWh in 2018, which decreased by 2% compared to 2017, primarily due to the increase in volume of electricity generated by our own electric power plants and its proportion in the total volume of electricity that we consumed.

 

Carbon anodes and cathodes are key raw materials in the smelting process. We are generally able to manufacture carbon anodes necessary for the operations of our smelters. In addition, our Qinghai branch possesses production capacity of carbon cathodes and is able to manufacture carbon cathodes products.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We coordinate substantially all of our sales and marketing activities for our self-produced alumina products and some of our sales and marketing activities for our self-produced primary aluminum products through Chalco Trading. Our subsidiaries and branches sell some of our self-produced primary aluminum products directly to external customers. Our alumina refineries sell our self-produced chemical alumina products directly to external customers or indirectly through Chalco Trading for subsequent external trading. For all of our self-produced products that are sold either through Chalco Trading for subsequent external sale or directly to external customers, our subsidiaries and branches play an important role in providing after-sale services and strengthening our presence in the marketplace. Since late 2009, we also have been engaged substantially in the trading of non-ferrous metal products including alumina, primary aluminum, copper, zinc and lead as well as coal products that we source from third-party suppliers through Chalco Trading.

 

Alumina

 

We sell our self-produced alumina to customers primarily through Chalco Trading, giving priority to customers with whom we have long-standing relationships and who have established a strong credit history, after reserving sufficient alumina for our forecasted primary aluminum production. In 2018, we supplied approximately 6.06 million tonnes of alumina produced at our refineries to our smelters, which represented approximately 45% of our total alumina production, and sold the remainder to our customers. In addition, we also procure and sell outsourced alumina under long-term agreements or on the spot market through Chalco Trading. We sold approximately 1.03 million tonnes of outsourced alumina in 2018.

 

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The sales prices of alumina that our alumina refineries sell internally to Chalco Trading are determined based on our budgeted sale prices, spot market prices and the prices of primary aluminum on SHFE. Chalco Trading coordinates the external negotiation and execution of sales contracts of our alumina products. Chalco Trading sells our self-produced alumina and alumina sourced from third-party suppliers to customers throughout China. Most of our major customers in the past three years have been domestic smelters. We primarily sourced alumina from third-party suppliers on the spot market, and we are normally required to pay the full price of the outsourced alumina before each delivery.

 

Chalco Trading sells our self-produced alumina and outsourced alumina under spot sales agreements and long-term sales agreements with terms ranging from one year to three years. Our long-term sales agreement for alumina normally sets forth the quantity of alumina to be sold by us in each month and each year, the price determination mechanism, payment method, place of delivery and delivery method. Places of delivery under our sales agreements are arranged to be where we could efficiently manage the transportation of alumina and help reduce logistics cost. Our customers are normally required to pay for their procurement before each delivery. As a result, the spot price of alumina and fluctuations of primary aluminum prices on the SHFE affect the alumina prices at which we sell.

 

Chalco Trading sets the price for the external sales of alumina products after taking into account the following factors:

 

international and domestic supply-demand situation;

 

CIF Chinese ports prices for alumina imports into China and other relevant import expenses;

 

international and domestic alumina transportation costs;

 

effects of the PRC government’s policies on raw materials required by our alumina refineries; and

 

our short-term and mid-term projections for alumina prices.

 

Primary Aluminum

 

We sell all of our self-produced and outsourced primary aluminum to domestic customers. We expect China to remain our key market for primary aluminum for the foreseeable future. Customers of our primary aluminum products principally consist of aluminum fabricators and distributors that resell our primary aluminum products to aluminum fabricators or other purchasers.

 

To improve the efficiency of our distribution, we divide our China market into the following regions: southern China (including Guangdong and Fujian Provinces); eastern China (including Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces and Shanghai Municipality); southwestern China (including Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality); the Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu area; and central China. In general, we satisfy each purchase order with products from our nearest smelter to minimize transportation costs.

 

Our primary aluminum smelting subsidiaries and branches sell a portion of our primary aluminum output directly to external customers. Each of our smelters is normally responsible for the sale of products to the customers from neighboring markets, negotiating the pricing and delivery terms based on market conditions.

 

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Our primary aluminum smelting subsidiaries and branches also sell a portion of our primary aluminum output internally to Chalco Trading at prices based on the spot prices of primary aluminum on Yangtze or Nanchu. We establish pricing guidelines for Chalco Trading to conduct external domestic sales of our self-produced primary aluminum products, taking into account four main factors: the primary aluminum spot prices and futures price on the SHFE; spot prices in the regions of eastern China and southern China; our production costs and expected profit margins; and supply and demand. Chalco Trading then coordinates the external sales of primary aluminum. Chalco Trading sells our self-produced primary aluminum products to external customers through the following three channels:

 

Contract sales. Most of our primary aluminum sales are made pursuant to contracts entered into directly with our long-standing customers. The terms for our sales contracts for primary aluminum are typically one year. We price our primary aluminum products based on the SHFE prices and spot market prices for primary aluminum.

 

Sales on the SHFE. As part of our effort to manage market risk, we sell a portion of our primary aluminum products on the SHFE through futures contracts with terms ranging from one month to twelve months to hedge against declines in primary aluminum prices.

 

Sales on the spot market. We also sell our primary aluminum products on the spot market at prices with reference to various factors, such as market spot prices and transportation costs.

 

In addition, we also procure and sell outsourced primary aluminum on the spot market or through short-term futures and options transactions. We determine our sales prices of the outsourced primary aluminum through negotiations with our customers, taking into consideration factors including our procurement prices and the prevailing market conditions. We sold approximately 1.74 million tonnes of outsourced primary aluminum in 2018.

 

Chemical alumina products and Gallium

 

Chemical alumina products and gallium are derived from our alumina production. We adjust our production of these products based on market demand. Our alumina refineries sell our chemical alumina products directly to external customers or indirectly to external customers through Chalco Trading for subsequent external trading.

 

We sell most of our chemical alumina products and all of gallium in China. Prices for our chemical alumina products and gallium are determined through negotiations with our customers, taking into consideration the market conditions. Our total sales of gallium in 2016, 2017 and 2018 amounted to approximately RMB108 million, RMB74 million and RMB147 million, respectively.

 

Coal

 

Ningxia Energy sells a portion of its self-produced coal directly to external customers through short-term contracts at prices determined through negotiations with our customers, taking into consideration factors including our procurement prices and prevailing market conditions. Ningxia Energy consumes the rest of its self-produced coal at its own electric power plant.

 

In addition, we also procure and sell outsourced coal under long-term agreements or on the spot market through Chalco Trading. We sold approximately 5.25 million tonnes of outsourced coal in 2018.

 

Trading of Outsourced Non-ferrous Metal Products and Other Materials

 

Since late 2009, we have been actively engaged in the trading of alumina and primary aluminum sourced from third-party suppliers. Please see “- Alumina” and “- Primary Aluminum” for more details. Through Chalco Trading, we also sell other non-ferrous metal products such as copper, zinc and lead as well as coal products that we procure from our third-party suppliers to external customers on the spot market or under long-term sales agreements. Please see “- Coal.” In 2018, we sold approximately 0.44 million tonnes of outsourced copper, zinc and lead. In addition, we also sell outsourced raw and ancillary materials such as iron ore, charred coal and cathode copper in bulk to customers such as steel manufacturers and copper processing companies on the spot market.

 

Chalco Trading has a team with trading expertise to conduct research on the markets of non-ferrous metal products and other materials. From time to time, we may enter into futures and options transactions to hedge against price fluctuations in the non-ferrous metal product market.

 

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Delivery

 

We rely on rail shipping and trucks for the delivery of products within China.

 

Our alumina is transported by rail or trucks, and transportation costs are generally borne by our customers and excluded from our sales prices. For long-distance deliveries, we maintain spur lines connecting our plants to the national railway routes.

 

Most of our primary aluminum products are transported by rail, and our coal products are transported both by trucks and by rail.

 

Rail shipping on the PRC national railway system is subject to government mandated pricing.

 

Principal Facilities

 

Our principal facilities include 22 principal production plants and our Zhengzhou Institute. Set forth below is a description of our principal production plants.

Guangxi Branch

 

Our Guangxi branch commenced operations in 1994 and is located in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwestern China, an area rich in bauxite reserves. Our Guangxi branch obtains bauxite delivered via highway from our Pingguo mine, one of our wholly-owned mines, located less than 17 kilometers from our Guangxi branch.

 

Our Pingguo mine contains large, easily exploitable bauxite reserves with high alumina-to-silica ratios. Our Guangxi branch is our only principal refinery that exclusively uses the Bayer process. With technology and production equipment imported from Europe, the Guangxi refinery features a high level of automation and energy efficiency. Since its inception, we have continually increased the designed production capacity at this branch by overcoming production bottlenecks and investing in capacity expansions. Guangxi branch had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 2,210,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. In 2018, our Guangxi branch produced approximately 2,486,180 tonnes of alumina, along with approximately 96,520 tonnes of chemical alumina products.

 

Guizhou Branch

 

Our Guizhou branch commenced its smelting operations in 1966 and was subsequently expanded to include alumina refining operations in 1978. Our Guizhou branch uses 160Ka and 230Ka pre-bake reduction pot-lines in its primary aluminum production. The smelter in our Guizhou branch has undergone technological innovations and overhauls since its inception. Since November 2017, we have been engaged in the gradual closing down of the 160Ka pre-bake reduction pot-lines and, subsequently, the closing down of the 230Ka pre-bake reduction pot-lines. As of January 2018, the production in Guizhou branch had been fully shut down. In 2018, our Guizhou branch produced approximately 35,830 tonnes of primary aluminum products.

Chalco Mining

 

Chalco Mining was incorporated as one of our subsidiaries in the PRC in 2007 and is currently our wholly owned subsidiary. To optimize the allocation of our resources and further consolidate our operations, we transferred all of the assets and liabilities of our Henan branch to Chalco Mining in August 2017. Henan branch commenced its alumina refining operation in 1966 and primary aluminum smelting operation in 1967 in Henan Province, a province rich in bauxite reserves. It was the first refinery in China to develop the Bayer-sintering combined process. Bauxite is delivered to Chalco Mining via railway and highway from our following mines: Xiaoguan mine, Gongyi mine and Dengfeng mine located in Zhengzhou, Luoyang mine in Luoyang, Mianchi mine in Mianchi, Xuchang mine in Zhengzhou, Sanmenxia mine in Sanmenxia and Jiaozuo mine in Jiaozuo. The alumina production line that we put into operation at Chalco Mining uses the ore-dressing Bayer process, which we developed to refine low alumina-to-silica ratio bauxite. Chalco Mining’s production facilities have been substantially upgraded with equipment imported from Germany and Denmark. The refinery has also benefited from its access to high alumina-to-silica ratio bauxite from certain of our mines and through purchases on the market. Chalco Mining had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 2,410,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. In 2018, Chalco Mining produced approximately 1,747,860 tonnes of alumina and 95,300 tonnes of chemical alumina products.

 

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Chalco Shandong

 

Chalco Shandong was incorporated as one of our subsidiaries in the PRC in 2015 and is currently our wholly owned subsidiary. The predecessor of Chalco Shandong was our Shandong branch, which commenced operations in 1954. Chalco Shandong has the capacity to produce alumina and chemical alumina products. Bauxite is delivered to Chalco Shandong via railway and highway from the Yangquan mine in Yangquan, Shanxi Province. Its alumina refinery was China’s first production facility for alumina. It produces its alumina through the Bayer-sintering process and the Bayer process. In 2018, through technology renovation, Chalco Shandong has the capacity to produce high-quality alumina products used for the production of refined aluminum and high-purity aluminum. Chalco Shandong purchases some bauxite from overseas and the rest from small third-party mines in Henan and Shanxi Provinces. Chalco Shandong had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 2,270,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 1,714,700 tonnes of alumina in 2018.

 

In addition, Chalco Shandong produces substantial amount of chemical alumina products. In 2018, it produced approximately 2,105,480 tonnes of chemical alumina products. It is the largest and most technologically advanced production facility for chemical alumina products in China with the ability to produce a wide variety of chemical alumina products.

 

Chalco Shandong had engaged in primary aluminum production before we suspended the operations of its primary aluminum production facilities in June 2013. In 2017, the disposal of Chalco Shandong’s primary aluminum production facilities was completed. Chalco Shandong did not have any annual primary aluminum production capacity as of December 31, 2018 and did not produce any primary aluminum in 2018.

 

Qinghai Branch

 

Located in Qinghai Province, our Qinghai branch is a stand-alone primary aluminum production facility. This branch commenced operations in 1987 and is one of the most technologically advanced primary aluminum smelters in China. It operates 180Ka and 210Ka automated pre-bake anode reduction pot-lines that were developed domestically. In addition, our Qinghai branch also possesses production capacity of carbon cathodes and is able to manufacture carbon cathodes products. Our Qinghai branch benefits from relatively low electricity costs in Qinghai Province due to the hydroelectric power stations in the region. The Qinghai branch sources alumina from Shanxi New Material, Chalco Shandong, Chalco Mining and Zhongzhou Aluminum and incurs higher transportation costs for both raw materials and its primary aluminum products than our other branches.

Our Qinghai branch had an annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 420,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 403,890 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018.

 

Guizhou Huaren

 

Established in May 2017 and located in Qingzhen, Guizhou Province, Guizhou Huaren is a stand-alone primary aluminum production facility and commenced full operation in September 2018. Guizhou Huaren had an annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 400,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 344,600 tonnes of primary aluminum products in 2018.

 

Shanxi Zhongrun

 

Established in November 2015 and located in Lvliang, Shanxi Province, Shanxi Zhongrun specializes in producing primary aluminum products. The first batch of electrolytic cells of Shangxi Zhongrun was put into operations in May 2018. Shanxi Zhongrun had an annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 432,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 53,470 tonnes of primary aluminum products in 2018.

 

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Zhongzhou Aluminum

 

Located in Henan Province, Zhongzhou Aluminum is a stand-alone alumina plant, located near abundant bauxite, coal and water supplies. Zhongzhou Aluminum was incorporated as one of our subsidiaries in the PRC in 2015 and is currently our wholly owned subsidiary. The predecessor of Zhongzhou Aluminum was our Zhongzhou branch. Zhongzhou Aluminum commenced operations in 1993 and is equipped with imported and self-developed technology and has undergone various improvements and upgrades, in particular to its Bayer-sintering process and Bayer process. Zhongzhou Aluminum obtains bauxite supplies partly from extractions of our mines, and partly from external suppliers in Henan and Shanxi Provinces and overseas.

 

Zhongzhou Aluminum had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 3,050,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. Zhongzhou Aluminum produced approximately 1,913,240 tonnes of alumina and approximately 637,200 tonnes of chemical alumina products in 2018.

 

Chongqing Branch

 

Our Chongqing branch is located in Chongqing. Chongqing branch completed the construction of alumina production facilities in 2010 and its annual alumina production capacity was approximately 800,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. Chongqing branch did not produce any alumina or chemical alumina products in 2018. We have suspended production in Chongqing branch since July 2014 due to the relatively significant decrease in the price of alumina as compared with the price of alumina during the construction period, large negative variation of mineral resources and the high costs of natural gas and other energy at the time of suspension. In 2018, we utilized the alumina assets of Chongqing branch through public external leasing.

 

Guizhou Huajin

 

Established in July 2014 and located in Qingzhen, Guizhou Province, Guizhou Huajin specializes in producing alumina products. Guizhou Huajin had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 1,600,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. Guizhou Huajin produced approximately 1,514,370 tonnes of alumina products in 2018.

 

Shanxi Huaxing

 

Located in Shanxi Province, Shanxi Huaxing is a stand-alone alumina plant which commenced trial production in October 2013. Shanxi Huaxing obtains bauxite supplies from our own mines delivered primarily via highway and is located near abundant coal and water supplies.

 

In December 2015, we transferred out 50% of our equity interests in Shanxi Huaxing, a then wholly-owned subsidiary of our Company, through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange. In December 2018, we acquired the 50% equity interests in Shanxi Huaxing through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange from Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. Upon completion of the acquisition, Shanxi Huaxing became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group. Please see “- A. History and Development of the Company - Transfer of Equity Interest in Shanxi Huaxing” for more details about the transfer of equity interest.

 

Shanxi Huaxing had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 2,000,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. 116,570 tonnes of alumina produced by Shanxi Huaxing in 2018 was recorded as our production volume, being the output of alumina of Shanxi Huaxing in December 2018, as Shanxi Huaxing became our wholly-owned subsidiary in December 2018.

Lanzhou Aluminum

 

Located in Lanzhou city in Gansu Province, Lanzhou Aluminum is a stand-alone primary aluminum plant. In April 2007, we acquired a primary aluminum plant in Lanzhou, which was divided in to two parts in July 2007: our Lanzhou branch and Northwest Aluminum. In January 2019, we turned the Lanzhou branch into our wholly-owned subsidiary, Lanzhou Aluminum, in order to promote its business vitality. Lanzhou Aluminum owns a primary aluminum smelting plant with a designed annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 450,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 398,790 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018.

 

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Shanxi New Material

 

Shanxi New Material is situated in Shanxi Province. In March 2003, we established the joint venture company, Shanxi Huaze, with Zhangze Electric Power to commence the construction of a primary aluminum production facility. In 2017, we contributed certain assets related to alumina production of our Shanxi branch to Shanxi Huaze. Upon completion of our asset contribution, our shareholding in Shanxi Huaze increased from 60% to 85.98% and Shanxi Huaze was renamed to Shanxi New Material. Shanxi New Material had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 2,600,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and produced approximately 2,129,130 tonnes of alumina and 73,050 tonnes of chemical alumina products in 2018. Its designed annual production capacity of primary aluminum was approximately 424,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and it produced approximately 431,360 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018. Please see “- A. History and Development of the Company - Merger and Reorganization of Shanxi Branch and Shanxi Huaze” for more details about the reorganization.

 

Shanxi Huasheng

 

Shanxi Huasheng is situated in Shanxi Province. In December 2005, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Shanxi Guan Lv Company Limited to establish a joint venture company, Shanxi Huasheng. Shanxi Huasheng commenced operations in March 2006 and had a designed annual production capacity for primary aluminum of approximately 190,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. We currently hold 51% equity interest in Shanxi Huasheng. In 2018, Shanxi Huasheng produced approximately 225,390 tonnes of primary aluminum.

 

Zunyi Aluminum

 

Zunyi Aluminum is situated in Guizhou Province. In 2018, we merged Zunyi Alumina into Zunyi Aluminum. Upon the completion of the merger, our shareholding in Zunyi Aluminum increased from 62.1% to 67.445%. After the merger, Zunyi Aluminum had an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 1,000,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and the aggregate production of Zunyi Aluminum was approximately 1,110,000 tonnes of alumina and 3,170 tonnes of chemical alumina products in 2018. Its post-merger designed annual production capacity of primary aluminum was approximately 375,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and it produced approximately 402,940 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018. Please see “- A. History and Development of the Company - Merger and Reorganization of Zunyi Alumina and Zunyi Aluminum” for more details about the merger.

Fushun Aluminum

Fushun Aluminum is situated in Liaoning Province, and is a stand-alone primary aluminum plant. In March 2006, we entered into a share transfer agreement with Liaoning Fushun Aluminum Plant to acquire 100% of the equity interests in Fushun Aluminum for a consideration of RMB500 million. Fushun Aluminum’s primary business was the production of primary aluminum and carbon products. We stopped production of primary aluminum in Fushun Aluminum in October 2015 due to the relatively significant decrease in the price of primary aluminum and high costs of electricity at the time of suspension. In 2018, we disposed of the primary aluminum production facilities in Fushun Aluminum. Fushun Aluminum did not have any annual primary aluminum production capacity as of December 31, 2018 and did not produce any primary aluminum in 2018.

Fushun Aluminum had an annual anode carbon production capacity of approximately 180,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and it produced approximately 117,387 tonnes of baked carbon anodes in 2018.

Shandong Huayu

 

Shandong Huayu is situated in Shandong Province and is a stand-alone primary aluminum plant. We currently hold 55% equity interest in Shandong Huayu. Shandong Huayu had an annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 200,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. Shandong Huayu also has supporting facilities and coal-fired generators. In 2018, Shandong Huayu produced approximately 197,280 tonnes of primary aluminum. Since November 2018, we have gradually suspended production of aluminum at Shandong Huayu due to market environment and production restriction for environmental protection. We are considering the plan of transformation, upgrading and development of Shandong Huayu.

 

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Gansu Hualu

 

Gansu Hualu is situated in Gansu Province, and is a stand-alone primary aluminum plant. In August 2006, we entered into a share transfer agreement with Baiyin Nonferrous Metal (Group) Co., Ltd. (“Baiyin Nonferrous”) and Baiyin Ibis Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Baiyin Ibis”). Baiyin Nonferrous contributed 127,000 tonnes of primary aluminum smelting and supporting facilities owned by Baiyin Ibis as capital contribution and holds a 49% equity interest in Gansu Hualu. We hold a 51% equity interest in Gansu Hualu. Since November 2015, the production of primary aluminum has been suspended. In 2018, the primary aluminum production facilities in Gansu Hualu has been disposed or in the process of disposal. Gansu Hualu had no annual primary aluminum production capacity as of December 31, 2018 and did not produce any primary aluminum in 2018.

 

In addition, Gansu Hualu also possesses production capacity of carbon products. Its designed annual production capacity of anode carbon products was approximately 150,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and it produced approximately 113,595 tonnes of calcined petroleum coke in 2018.

Baotou Aluminum

 

Baotou Aluminum is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and is a stand-alone primary aluminum plant. On December 28, 2007, through A Shares issuance and exchange for Baotou Aluminum shares, we acquired 100% of the equity interest of Baotou Aluminum. Baotou Aluminum is currently our wholly owned subsidiary. In April 2015, Baotou Aluminum and Baotou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. established Inner Mongolia Huayun. Inner Mongolia Huayun commenced operations in 2017. Together with the primary aluminum production facilities at Inner Mongolia Huayun, Baotou Aluminum had a consolidated annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 1,340,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018 and a consolidated output of approximately 1,234,240 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018.

 

Liancheng Branch

 

Liancheng branch is located in Gansu Province. In late May 2008, we acquired 100% of the equity interest in Liancheng Longxing Aluminum Company Limited from Chinalco on the China Beijing Equity Exchange and subsequently turned it into our Liancheng branch which specializes in producing primary aluminum. To better transform its management mechanisms, energize its business vitality and improve its market competitiveness, in September 2018, we decided to convert it into our wholly-owned subsidiary. We are in the process of completing such conversion. Liancheng branch had an annual primary aluminum production capacity of approximately 550,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 438,230 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018.

 

Ningxia Energy

 

Ningxia Energy is an integrated power generation company with coal mines located in Ningxia Autonomous Region. Its principal business includes conventional coal-fire power generation and renewable energy generation. Ningxia Energy was established in June 2003. In January 2013, we acquired an aggregate of 70.82% of the equity interest in Ningxia Energy. Ningxia Energy had a total installed capacity of 4,249.13 MW as of December 31, 2018. It also operates coal mines located in the Ningxia Autonomous Region. Please see “- D. Property, Plants and Equipment - Mines - Coal Mines.” Its principal business includes conventional coal-fire power generation and renewable energy generation. In 2018, Ningxia Energy produced approximately 10.8 million tonnes of coal and approximately 15.9 billion kWh of electricity.

 

Zhengzhou Institute

 

The Zhengzhou Institute, located in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, was incorporated as our subsidiaries in 2015. Its predecessor was established in August 1965 and has served as the center for our research and development efforts. The Zhengzhou Institute specializes in the research and development of technologies for primary aluminum smelting, alumina refining and the development of new products of chemical alumina. Zhengzhou Institute is the only institute in China dedicated to light metals research and has played a key role in bringing about technological innovations in China’s aluminum industry. The Zhengzhou Institute was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the PRC in 2003 to establish the National Research Center of Aluminum Refinery Technologies and Engineering. As of December 31, 2018, the Zhengzhou Institute had a limited production capacity for chemical alumina products, which it uses in connection with its research and development efforts.

 

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Xinghua Technology

 

We acquired a 66% equity interest in Xinghua Technology in December 2016. Located at Shanxi Province, Xinghua Technology is an alumina plant with an annual alumina production capacity of approximately 900,000 tonnes as of December 31, 2018. It produced approximately 778,300 tonnes of alumina and approximately 189,430 tonnes of chemical alumina in 2018.

 

Competition

 

Competition from Domestic Competitors

 

Alumina

 

We sold all of our self-produced alumina to domestic customers in 2018. Our competitors mainly include other domestic and international alumina producers that conduct sales in China. In 2018, our alumina production (with chemical alumina products included) represented approximately 21.2% of total domestic production in China.

 

The Group is a leading enterprise in non-ferrous metal industry in China. As of December 31, 2018, 18 alumina producers in China (including Chalco) each had annual production capacity of 500,000 tonnes or above, which collectively represented approximately 97.59% of the total alumina production capacity in China. As of the same date, among these 18 alumina producers, 16 alumina producers (including Chalco) each had annual production capacity of one million tonnes or above, which collectively represented approximately 95.84% of the total alumina production capacity in China. In order to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of the Chinese alumina industry as well as to protect the environment, MIIT published “Standard Conditions for Aluminum Industry” (the “Standard Conditions”) in July 2013, which established a high entry barrier for new alumina producers in China and imposed stringent requirement for existing alumina companies.

 

Although we face competition from other domestic and international refineries, we have several advantages over such competitors, including:

 

we have access to a substantial and stable supply of bauxite;

 

we are experienced in alumina production and our production technologies are specifically adapted to the particular chemical composition of bauxite found in China;

 

we have strong capabilities in technology research and hold certain proprietary technologies and patents; and

 

we have a substantial workforce that has extensive experience in production and management.

 

Primary Aluminum

 

We derived all of our primary aluminum revenues from domestic sales in 2018. Our competitors include other domestic and international primary aluminum producers that conduct sales in China. In 2018, our primary aluminum production represented approximately 11.4% of total domestic production in China.

 

We are a leading enterprise in non-ferrous metal industry in China. As of December 31, 2018, 20 primary aluminum producers in China (including Chalco) each had annual production capacity of 500,000 tonnes or above, which collectively represented approximately 88.57% of the total primary aluminum production capacity in China. As of the same date, among these 20 primary aluminum producers, 11 primary aluminum producers (including Chalco) each had annual production capacity of one million tonnes or above, which collectively represented approximately 72.73% of the total primary aluminum production capacity in China. The PRC government encourages consolidation in the Chinese primary aluminum industry to create larger, more efficient producers that are better positioned to implement measures to reduce emissions. Moreover, according to the Standard Conditions and other administrative regulations, new primary aluminum projects for expanding production capacity must be approved by the relevant administrative departments and must have stable supply of alumina. In addition, pursuant to relevant PRC regulations, the construction of new primary aluminum projects and the reconstruction or expansion of existing primary aluminum projects would be approved only if such projects would introduce new primary aluminum production capacity in an amount equal to or smaller than the amount of existing production capacity to be replaced.

 

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Although we face competition from other domestic and international smelters, we have several advantages over such competitors, including:

 

 

Scale of production. With eleven primary aluminum smelters, we can achieve significant economies of scale. In addition, our scale of production enables us to achieve high production volumes to fill large customer orders and maintain a large customer base. Through our national distribution network, we are able to make timely deliveries to customers from our local warehouses.

Technology. We believe we have more sophisticated and efficient technology than most of our domestic competitors. The FHEST technology developed and employed by us is currently the most advanced energy saving technology in primary aluminum smelting in China. In addition, in terms of technological support and research and development capabilities, we are equipped with the most advanced research and development institute within the aluminum industry in China and enjoy advantages over other domestic smelters in technology advancement.

 

Vertical integration. As a leading integrated alumina and primary aluminum producer in China, we are able to supply alumina internally to our primary aluminum plants. As a result, we save on transportation, warehousing and related costs. In addition, because we operate our own alumina refineries, we are able to assure a stable supply of alumina for our primary aluminum smelting operations.

 

Quality. We have maintained and will continue to improve on the high quality standards for our primary aluminum which has satisfied national and industrial standards and customers’ need.

 

The primary aluminum produced by most of our smelters satisfies the quality standards of the LME.

 

Competition from International Competitors

 

The tariff rate for alumina and primary aluminum imports was eliminated on January 1, 2008 and August 1, 2007, respectively. In 2018, China had net export of approximately 0.95 million tonnes of alumina (with chemical alumina products included), compared to a net import of 2.81 million tonnes in 2017, primarily due to supply shortage in international market in 2018. China had net import of approximately 69,600 tonnes of primary aluminum in 2018, which represented a 31.7% decrease from 2017. The decrease in net import of primary aluminum in 2018 was primarily due to slowed growth of aluminum consumption in China.

 

We expect to continue to face competition from international suppliers of alumina and primary aluminum which are large international companies. Some competitors may also consider establishing joint venture companies with local producers in China to gain access to the resources in China and to lower transportation costs. However, we expect we will continue to benefit from certain PRC governmental policies that promote large domestic aluminum enterprises.

 

Research and Development

 

Our research and development efforts over the years have facilitated the expansion of our production capacity and reduced our unit costs. We have successfully commercialized our previous research and development results in various technologies. In 2018, we completed 35 technological projects, including nine research and development projects undertaken independently by our branches or subsidiaries, 21 special key science and technology projects and five science and technology application projects. In addition, we filed a total of 122 patent applications in 2018.

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As of December 31, 2018, we owned 1,267 patents, which were primarily related to technologies and processes, equipment and new products. Once registered, a patent in China for an invention is valid for 20 years and for a utility model or a design 10 years from the date of the patent application. As of December 31, 2018, we owned 25 trademarks, each of which had a term of 10 years.

 

We do not regard any single patent, license, or trademark to be material to our sales and operations as a whole. We are not involved in any material intellectual property disputes.

 

Environmental Protection

 

Our operations are subject to PRC national and local environmental laws and regulations, including laws and regulations governing waste discharge, waste generation, treatment and disposal of hazardous materials, land reclamation, pollutant emissions and environmental issues associated with mining.

The pollutants discharged from our alumina refining process include red mud, waste water and gas emissions and particulates. Our primary aluminum production process generates fluorides, pitch fume and particulates. It is illegal to release these pollutants untreated. The discharge of these pollutants after treatment must comply with national and local discharge limits.

 

Each of our alumina refineries, primary aluminum smelters and other production plants has its own waste treatment facilities onsite or has developed other methods to dispose of industrial waste in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations. We were granted ISO14001 accreditations issued by China Quality Certification Center and the International Certification Network in 2004. In 2018, we passed the annual review and these accreditations were renewed.

 

We have increased our energy-efficiency by implementing new production techniques and technologies, upgrading our production facilities, optimizing our production process and enhancing our logistics and operations management. We have incorporated clean technology and processes into our operations with a view to promoting the concept of “zero emission” plants. In 2018, the emission of all industrial waste water in the course of our alumina and primary aluminum production met the standards under relevant regulations.

 

Our total expenditures for maintaining compliance with environmental laws and regulations were RMB657.5 million, RMB691.9 million and RMB777.6 million, for 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2018, we did not have any major environmental pollution incidents.

 

Insurance

 

We maintain insurance coverage for our fixed assets such as plant, machinery, equipment, office facilities and transportation vehicles against accidents or natural disasters such as typhoons, hurricanes, floods, landslides and lightning strikes. However, there are certain types of losses, such as losses from war, acts of terrorism and nuclear radiation, for which we cannot obtain insurance at a reasonable cost or at all.

 

We are covered under the work-related injury insurance required by the relevant local government labor departments, and we have procured additional business accidental insurance for our employees. More extensive insurance is either unavailable in China or would impose a cost on our operations that would reduce our competitiveness.

 

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Our insurance premiums were RMB35.8 million, RMB44.1 million and RMB49.6 million in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

Seasonality

 

Our business is not subject to seasonality.

 

Cyber Security

 

With respect to our internal internet policies on cyber-security, we have established an information safety management system and issued internal regulations on cyber-security, internal hardware and data safety systems and we are gradually implementing measures relating to the office environment information safety management, information system access control, protection from any malicious software, and internal review and audit of information safety risks, in order to prevent loss of information due to cyber-security incidents, network outages or hardware incidents. In 2018, we did not experience any material cyber-security incidents or related losses.

 

Regulatory Overview

 

Producers of alumina and primary aluminum are subject to national industrial policies and relevant laws and regulations in areas of environmental protection, import and export, land use, foreign investment regulation and taxation. We are also subject to regulations relating to activities such as mining.

 

We are principally subject to governmental supervision and regulation by four agencies of the PRC government:

 

the NDRC, which sets and implements the major policies concerning China’s economic and social development, approves investments exceeding certain amounts, coordinates and improves the reform of the economic system;

 

the Ministry of Natural Resources of China, which has the authority to grant land use rights and mining right permits;

 

the MIIT, which formulates industrial policies and investment guidelines for all industries including the aluminum industry; and

 

the CSRC, the securities regulatory commission of China.

 

The following is a brief summary of the principal laws, regulations, policies and administrative directives to which we are subject.

 

Requirements for Capital Investments

 

Any capital markets financing activities by an enterprise or company incorporated in the PRC such as those to finance capital projects, are subject to approval by the CSRC and/or other relevant authorities in China, regardless of whether the funds are raised in China or on the international capital markets. An issuer incorporated in the PRC must obtain prior approval from the CSRC for issuance of equity securities or equity-linked securities. Offering of corporate bonds in the PRC is also subject to supervision of the CSRC. Offering of bonds by a PRC-incorporated company outside the PRC shall be filed with NDRC. For all overseas financing activities by an enterprise or company incorporated in the PRC, the issuer must register with and obtain prior approval from the administrative authorities of foreign exchange. Foreign investment in the exploring and mining of alumina and primary aluminum is permitted by the PRC government.

 

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Standard Conditions for Aluminum Industry

 

The Standard Conditions provides that bauxite mining, alumina and primary aluminum projects must comply with the state industry policies and overall plans on the development of aluminum industry, land use, urban planning and designation of functional zones. Aluminum smelting enterprises must be appropriately distributed across the relevant regions according to certain conditions including availability of resources, energy and environment. Pursuant to the Standard Conditions, aluminum smelting enterprises located in regions lacking competitive production elements should be gradually moved to more competitive region, and the amount of newly increased production capacity shall be strictly controlled to prevent excessive capacity caused by over-investing. The Standard Conditions further sets standards for production scale and major external conditions for newly established bauxite mining, alumina, electrolytic aluminum and recycled aluminum projects. The MIIT promulgated on April 4, 2014, January 4, 2015 and February 14, 2016, respectively, the first, the second and the third lists of enterprises that meet the Standard Conditions for the aluminum industry. Most of our production branches and subsidiaries have met the Standard Conditions and are included on these lists.

 

Pricing

 

The PRC government does not impose any limitations with respect to the pricing of alumina, primary aluminum and related products. Thus, alumina and primary aluminum producers are free to set prices for their products. All the raw materials, supplemental materials and other supplies that we purchase are based on market prices. Freight transportation on the national railway system is subject to government mandated pricing.

 

Electricity Supply and Price

 

The State Electricity Regulatory Commission of China is responsible for the supervision and administration of the power industry in China. The NDRC and local governments regulate electricity pricing.

 

The Electric Power Law of China and related rules and regulations govern construction, generation, supply and consumption of electric power. Currently, China’s state-owned power companies, through their respective local subsidiaries, operate all the regional power grids in China from which we obtain a part of our electricity requirements. In October 2007, PRC government issued “Notice on Further Solutions of the Difference in Electricity Rates,” according to which the preferential electricity prices originally enjoyed by Chinese primary aluminum enterprises have been gradually abolished. In December 2007, PRC government issued “Notice of Eliminating Preferential Electricity Rate for High Energy Consuming Enterprises and Related Matters,” which further eliminated the preferential electricity price arrangement enjoyed by Chinese primary aluminum enterprises. In December 2013, the NDRC and MIIT issued the “Circular on the Policies for Tiered Pricing of Electricity Used by Electrolytic Aluminum Enterprises” (the “Electricity Tiered Pricing Circular”), which became effective on January 1, 2014, to impose tiers of electricity prices on primary aluminum smelters. Specifically, if the alternating current consumed by any smelter is more than 13,700 kWh per tonne of molten aluminum but less than 13,800 kWh per tonne of molten aluminum, such smelter must pay additional RMB0.02 per kWh for the electricity used. If the alternating current consumed by any smelter is more than 13,800 kWh per tonne of molten aluminum, such smelter must pay additional RMB0.08 for per kWh for the electricity used.

 

In March 2015, new policies and reforms relating to electricity generation, retail, usage, and other related sectors were introduced. Under “Several Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Further Deepening the Reform of the Electric Power System,” a series of reforms relating to electricity pricing, distribution and retail segments, electricity trading, distributed generation, and other aspects has been put forward. In November 2015, NDRC and the National Energy Administration of the PRC jointly issued further supplemental measures, including “Implementation Opinions on Promoting Transmission-Distribution Price Reform,” “Implementation Opinions on Promoting Power Market Construction,” “Implementation Opinions on Establishing Power Trading Institutions and Their Normative Operation,” “Implementation Opinions on Orderly Releasing Plans of Power Generation and Power Utilization,” “Implementation Opinions on Promoting Power-Sales Side Reform,” and “Guidance Opinions on Reinforcing and Regulating Supervision and Management of Coal-Fired Self-Generation Power Plants,” which set out further requirements and implementation steps in relation to the reform of electric power system. Towards the end of 2016, NDRC promulgated “Measures of Electricity Pricing for Transmission-Distribution Grid at the Provincial Level,” which established a regulatory framework of electricity transmission and distribution pricing.

 

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Regulations Concerning Imports and Exports of Alumina and Primary Aluminum

 

Import taxes on alumina and primary aluminum have been eliminated. The export tariff on certain primary aluminum products has been 15% since August 1, 2007.

 

Environmental Protection Laws and Regulations

 

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China is responsible for supervision and administration of environmental protection in China. It formulates national environmental quality and discharge standards and monitors China’s environmental system. Bureau of Ecology and Environment at the municipal level or above are responsible for environmental protection within their respective jurisdictions.

 

Environmental regulations require each enterprise to file an environmental impact report with the relevant Bureau of Ecology and Environment for approval before undertaking the construction of a new production facility or any major expansion or renovation of an existing production facility. New facilities built pursuant to this approval are not permitted to operate until the relevant environmental bureau has performed an inspection and concluded that the facilities are in compliance with environmental standards.

 

The Environmental Protection Law requires any facility that produces pollutants or other hazards to incorporate environmental protection measures in its operations and establish an environmental protection responsibility system. Such system includes adoption of effective measures to control and properly dispose of waste gases, waste water, waste residue, dust or other waste materials. Any entity that discharges pollution must register with the relevant environmental protection authority. In 2016, Circular of the General Office of the State Council on the Implementing Plan for the Permit System for Controlling the Discharge of Pollutants was issued, pursuant to which enterprises that discharge pollutants need to obtain permits from relevant environment authority.

 

Penalties for breaches of the Environmental Protection Law include warning, payment of damages and imposition of fines. Any entity undertaking a construction project that fails to install pollution prevention and control facilities in compliance with environmental standards for a construction project may be ordered to suspend production or operations or to cease operations and may be fined. Criminal liability may be imposed for a material violation of environmental laws and regulations that causes any significant loss of property or personal injuries or death.

 

On December 25, 2016, the PRC government promulgated the Environmental Protection Tax Law, which became effective from January 1, 2018. The Environmental Protection Tax Law imposes environmental protection tax to enterprises, entities, producers or operators which discharge taxable pollutants into air, water or lands. Taxable pollutants include air pollutants, water pollutants, solid wastes and noises. The environmental protection tax is collected by tax authority and levied in accordance with a table attached to the Environmental Protection Tax Law. However, enterprises, entities, producers or operators that directly emit taxable pollutants into the centralized sewage and domestic waste treatment facilities or store or dispose of solid wastes in facilities or places that meet the national or local environmental protection standard are exempted from the Environment Protection Tax.

 

Mineral Resources Laws and Regulations

 

All mineral resources in China are owned by the state under the current Mineral Resources Law. Exploration, exploitation and mining operations must comply with the relevant provisions of the Mineral Resources Law and are under the supervision of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Exploration and exploitation of mineral resources are also subject to examination and approval by the Ministry of Natural Resources or relevant local authorities. Upon approval, the relevant administrative authorities, which are responsible for supervision and inspection of mining exploitation in their jurisdiction, will issue an exploration permit or mining permit. The holders of mining rights are required to file with the relevant administrative authorities annually.

 

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The PRC government permits mine operators of collectively owned mines to exploit mineral resources in designated areas and individuals to mine scattered mineral resources. Such mine operators and individuals are subject to government regulation. Mining activities by individuals are restricted. Individuals are not permitted to exploit mineral reserves allocated for exploitation by a mining enterprise or company, or specified minerals prescribed by the state for protective mining. Indiscriminate mining that damages mineral resources is prohibited.

 

If mining activities result in damage to arable land, grassland or afforested area, the mining operator must take measures to return the land to an arable state within the prescribed time frame. Any entity or individual which fails to fulfil its remediation obligations may be fined and denied application for land use rights for new land by the relevant land and natural resources authorities.

 

It is unlawful for an entity or individual to conduct mining operations in areas designated for other legal mining operators. A mining operator whose exploitation causes harm to others in terms of production or in terms of living standards is liable for compensation and is required to take necessary remedial measures. When a mine is closed, a mine closure report and information concerning the mining facilities, hidden dangers, remediation and environmental protection must be submitted for examination and approval in accordance with the relevant PRC law and regulations.

 

Mineral products that have been illegally extracted and the related income derived from such activities may be confiscated and may result in fines, revocation of the mining permit and, in serious circumstances, criminal liability.

 

Energy Conservation Law

 

The amended Energy Conservation Law came into effect on October 26, 2018. It sets out the general principles for reducing energy waste and improving efficiency of energy consumption. It urges the adjustment of industry structure and replacement of high energy consumption projects with new energy or renewable energy resources. It provides that an energy conservation assessment and review system shall apply to newly investment projects and where a project does not meet the mandatory energy conservation standards, the project cannot be constructed. If a project that does not meet the mandatory energy conservation standards has been completed, it cannot be put into use.

 

In March 2014, the MIIT issued a regulation, the “Opinion on Implementing Supervision of Industrial Energy Conservation,” which lists the primary aluminum smelting as one of the high energy consumption operations that will be strictly monitored. In December 2014, the MIIT issued the Guidance for National Industrial Efficiency, which sets forth industrial efficiency standards for producers of major products in industries that involve high energy consumption, which included primary aluminum and alumina products.

 

Regulations Concerning Electrolytic Aluminum Industry

 

In June 2016, the General Office of the State Council promulgated “Guiding Opinions on Creating a Favorable Market Environment and Promoting the Non-Ferrous Metals Industry to Adjust Structure, Advance Transformation and Increase Efficiency,” under which the construction of new electrolytic aluminum projects and the reconstruction or expansion of existing electrolytic aluminum projects would be approved only if such construction, reconstruction or expansion would introduce new electrolytic aluminum production capacity in an amount equal to or smaller than the amount of existing electrolytic aluminum production capacity to be replaced by such construction, reconstruction or expansion.

 

In April 2017, NDRC, MIIT, the Ministry of Land and Resources (now known as Ministry of Natural Resources) and the Ministry of Environmental Protection (now known as Ministry of Ecology and Environment) jointly issued the “Notice Regarding the Plan on Special Action for Clean-up and Rectification of Projects in Violation of Laws and Regulations in the Electrolytic Aluminum Industry,” which sets forth a comprehensive plan to inspect electrolytic aluminum projects and rectify violations of applicable laws or regulations revealed in the inspection.

 

On January 1, 2018, MITT issued the “Notice Regarding Electrolytic Aluminum Enterprises to Realize Capacity Replacement by Acquisition, Merger and Restructure”, which requires electrolytic aluminum enterprises to achieve capacity replacement by acquisition, merger or capacity transferring and exchange of capacity quotas with its group companies.

 

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Tax Laws and Regulation

 

In March 2007, the PRC government promulgated the Enterprise Income Tax Law which became effective from January 1, 2008. The Enterprise Income Tax Law imposes a single income tax rate of 25% on both domestic and foreign invested enterprises. Pursuant to the Enterprise Income Tax Law, important high- and new-tech enterprises that are necessary to be supported by the state are subject to a reduced enterprise income tax rate of 15%. Certain branches and subsidiaries of us were granted tax concessions including preferential tax rates of 15%. On December 6, 2007, PRC government promulgated the Enterprise Income Tax Law Implementation Rules which also became effective on January 1, 2008.

 

In March 2016, the MOF and the SAT jointly promulgated “Circular on Comprehensively Promoting the Pilot Program of the Collection of Value-added Tax in Lieu of Business Tax,” pursuant to which we are allowed to deduct input tax from output tax according to the amount set forth in the special value-added tax invoices obtained from our purchases of services, intangible assets or real estate. On April 4, 2018, the MOF and the SAT issued the Circular on Adjusting Value-added Tax Rates, which became effective on May 1, 2018. Pursuant to this circular, for sale or import of goods, the previous applicable value-added tax rate 17% and 11% were adjusted to 16% and 10% respectively.

 

On March 20, 2019, the MOF, the SAT and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued the Announcement on Policies for Deepening Reform of Value-added Tax, which became effective on April 1, 2019. Pursuant to this announcement, for sales or import of goods by a general taxpayer that were previously subject to value added tax at the rate of 16%, the applicable tax rate has been adjusted to 13%, and for those previously subject to value added tax at the rate of 10%, the applicable tax rate has been adjusted to 9%.

 

C.       Organizational Structure

 

Set out below is a chart illustrating our corporate structure as of March 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Below sets forth further information of our principal subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018:

 

Company

Percentage of ownership interest attributable to the Company

Principal activities

Baotou Aluminum Co., Ltd. 74.33% Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum, aluminum alloy and related fabricated products and carbon products

 

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Company

Percentage of ownership interest attributable to the Company

Principal activities

Chalco Hong Kong Ltd.(1) 100.00% Overseas investments and alumina import and export activities
China Aluminum International Trading Co., Ltd. 100.00% Import and export activities
Chalco Mining Co., Ltd. 18.86% Manufacture, acquisition and distribution of bauxite mines, limestone ore, manufacturing and distribution of alumina and carbon products
Shandong Huayu Alloy Materials Co., Ltd. 55.00% Manufacture and distribution of aluminum alloy
Chinalco Shanxi Jiaokou Xinghua Technology Ltd.(2) 66.00% Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum
Chalco Shanghai Company Limited 100.00% Trading and engineering project management
Shanxi Huasheng Aluminum Co., Ltd. 51.00% Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum, aluminum alloy and carbon-related products
Chalco Shanxi New Material Co., Ltd. 85.98% Manufacture and distribution of alumina, primary aluminum and anode carbon products and electricity generation and supply
Zunyi Aluminum Co., Ltd.

67.445%

Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum and alumina
Chalco Energy Co., Ltd. 100.00% Thermoelectric supply and investment management
China Aluminum Ningxia Energy Group Co., Ltd. 70.82% Thermal power, wind power and solar power generation, coal mining, and power related equipment manufacturing
Guizhou Huajin Aluminum Co., Ltd. 60.00% Manufacture and distribution of alumina
Chalco Zhengzhou Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metal Co., Ltd. 100.00% Research and development services
Chalco Shandong Co., Ltd. 69.20% Manufacture and distribution of alumina
Chalco Zhongzhou Aluminum Co., Ltd. 63.10% Manufacture and distribution of alumina
China Aluminum Logistics Group Corporation Co., Ltd. 100.00% Logistic transportation
Shanxi Huaxing Aluminum Co., Ltd.(3) 100.00% Manufacture and distribution of alumina
Shanxi China Huarun Co., Ltd. 40.00% Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum
Guizhou Huaren New Material Co., Ltd. 40.00% Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum
China Aluminum International Trading Group Co. Ltd. 100.00% Import and export activities
Chalco Materials Co. Ltd. 100.00% Purchase of materials

 

 

(1)Chalco Hong Kong Ltd. is incorporated in Hong Kong. All other principal subsidiaries are incorporated in the PRC.

(2)We directly hold 33% shares and indirectly hold 33% shares, through Chalco Shandong Co., Ltd.

(3)We directly hold 60% shares and indirectly hold 40% shares, through Chalco Hong Kong Ltd.

 

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D.       Property, Plants and Equipment

 

Mines

 

Bauxite Mines

 

The following map sets forth details of the area surrounding our largest bauxite mine in China, the Pingguo mine:

 

 

 

The Guangxi Pingguo plant, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, commenced operations in 1994. The surrounding infrastructure includes roadways and waterways.

 

Modernization and Physical Condition, Equipment, Infrastructure and Other Facilities

 

We have modern facilities at our mines in China, which were designed by professional PRC mine design institutes and adhere to international standards. Our mines are either open pit or underground. Our mines generally have mining offices and transportation facilities that have access to local roads and highways. In addition, we utilize advanced heavy equipment such as bulldozers and scrapers.

 

Source of Power and Water

 

All of our mining facilities in China are connected to the local or regional electric power grids. In addition, our mining facilities are connected to reliable water sources, all of which were sufficient for the requirements of each individual mine.

 

Our mines in Indonesia have access to local roads. Prior to suspension of productions, the two mines were powered by diesel fuel and are equipped with washing machines.

 

Coal Mines

 

We acquired 70% of the equity interest in Gansu Huayang in March 2011, which holds exploration rights for Luochuan mine. We renewed the exploration permit in March 2019, which will expire in October 2020. Luochuan mine is an underground mine. We have completed the exploration but have not commenced development of Luochuan mine. As of the date of this annual report, neither proven nor probable reserves have been established in accordance with United States Securities and Exchange Commission Industry Guide 7 (“Industry Guide 7”).

 

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We acquired the mining rights for Laodonghe mine, in January 2013 through Chalco Guizhou Mining Co., Ltd. We hold 80.0% of the equity interest of Laodonghe mine. The mining permit expired in December 2018. We have completed the exploration but have not commenced development of Laodonghe mine. Laodonghe mine is an underground mine. As of the date of this annual report, neither proven nor probable reserves have been established in accordance with Industry Guide 7.

 

We completed the acquisition of 70.82% of the equity interest in Ningxia Energy in January 2013, which holds mining rights or exploration rights for certain coal deposits in Ningxia Autonomous Region. The coal mines owned and operated by Ningxia Energy include Wangwa mine, Wangwa No.2 mine, Yindonggou mine and Yinxingyijing mine, all of which are underground thermal coal mines. The operations at these coal mines are powered by electricity from local power grids and are accessible by public roads. As of the date of this annual report, neither proven nor probable reserves have been established in accordance with Industry Guide 7.

 

Wangwa mine, Wangwa No. 2 mine and Yindonggou mine are currently in extraction stage. We primarily use comprehensive mechanized longwall mining method to extract coal from Wangwa mine, Wangwa No. 2 mine and Yindonggou mine and we use advanced coal mining equipment including hydraulic roof supports and shearers. In addition, Ningxia Energy holds 50% of interest in Yinxingyijing mine while the other joint owner in Yinxingyijing mine does not participate in its operation. Yinxingyijing mine is currently in trial production. The exploration permit of Yinxingyijing mine expired in August 2018 and we obtained the mining permit in February 2018, which will expire in February 2048.

 

The following table sets forth detailed information on Wangwa mine, Wangwa No. 2 mine and Yindonggou mine:

 

 

Wangwa mine

Wangwa No. 2 mine

Yindonggou mine



Nature of Ownership
Owned and operated by Ningxia Energy, a 70.82% subsidiary of Chalco Owned and operated by Ningxia Energy, a 70.82% subsidiary of Chalco Owned and operated by Ningxia Energy, a 70.82% subsidiary of Chalco
Commencement of construction 1984(1) 2007 2010
Commencement of extraction 1990(1) 2010 2016
Permit renewal November 2046 June 2032 July 2036
Mining recovery rate (%)(2) 78 81 76
Depth of mine (meters underground) 400 400 478
Average thickness of main coal seam (meters) 6-11 8-10 2-8
Calorific value (Kcal/kg) 4,900-5,100 4,800-5,000 4,600-4,900
Sulphur content (%) 1.1 1.2 1.12
Average ash content (%) 14.2 15.3 12.2

 

 

(1)Wangwa mine is currently under construction for expansion.

(2)The mining recovery rate is the rate of the amount of coal recovered from a determined amount of reserves, which is calculated by dividing the actual volume of coal recovered in a year by the volume of reserves mined and consumed in the same year.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, Ningxia Energy incurred capital expenditures of approximately RMB1.2 billion on infrastructure construction.

 

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Land

 

Chinalco leases to us 414 pieces or parcels of land, located in eight provinces, covering an aggregate area of approximately 53.56 million square meters for any purpose related to our operations and businesses. Currently, all leases for our properties are valid and have not expired. The leased land mainly consists of:

 

402 pieces of allocated land with an area of approximately 52.26 million square meters. Chinalco has obtained authorization from the relevant administrative authorities to manage and lease the land use rights for such land; and

 

12 pieces of land with an area of approximately 1.30 million square meters. Chinalco has paid the land premiums and obtained land use rights certificates.

 

The land is leased for the following terms:

 

allocated land: 50 years commencing from July 1, 2001 (except for land use rights of mines operated by us, whose leased terms shall end on the expiration date of the mining rights or at the end of the actual mine life, whichever is earlier);

 

granted land: until expiration of the relevant land use right permits; and

 

for both allocated or granted land: normal commercial terms that stipulate, among other conditions, the terms of use, monthly or annual rental amounts payable in Renminbi and a six-month notification provision for termination of any lease agreement.

 

Buildings

 

Our principal executive offices, which we lease from Chinalco, are located at No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Haidian District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 100082.

 

Pursuant to the reorganization in connection with our initial public offering in 2001, Chinalco transferred to us, among other operating assets, ownership of the buildings and properties for the operation of our core businesses. Chinalco retained its remaining buildings and properties for its operations. The buildings transferred to us comprise 4,631 buildings with an aggregate gross area of approximately 4.2 million square meters. These buildings may be sold or transferred only with the consent of Chinalco and in accordance with applicable land transfer procedures. Chinalco has undertaken to provide its consent and the necessary assistance to affect land grant procedures to ensure that our buildings can be legally transferred or sold.

 

We and Chinalco also lease to each other a number of other buildings and properties for ancillary uses, which comprise mainly buildings for offices, dormitory, canteen and storage purposes. As of the date of this annual report, we leased 129 buildings to Chinalco, with an aggregate gross area of approximately 549,407 square meters, while Chinalco leased 92 buildings to us, with an aggregate gross area of approximately 163,437 square meters. In June 2018, we and China Aluminum Investment and Development Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinalco, renewed a tenancy agreement pursuant to which we would lease from Chinalco the office premises at certain floors of No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Haidian District, Beijing, PRC, with an aggregate gross floor area of 22,303 square meters. This agreement will expire on December 31, 2021.

 

Our Expansion

 

Our expansion projects in 2018 primarily include:

 

Capacity expansion and technology upgrade of Wangwa mine: The project is planned to have a total annual capacity of 6 million tonnes. We expect to invest a total amount of approximately RMB3,063 million in this project. By the end of 2018, investment in project construction amounted to RMB1,462 million. The construction of the project is under the final acceptance procedures by the end of 2018 and is expected to be officially completed by the end of 2019.

 

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The 400,000-tonne light alloy material project of Guangxi Hualei New Material Co., Ltd.: We expect to invest a total amount of approximately RMB5,939 million in this project. By the end of 2018, an aggregate of RMB5,174 million of capital expenditure had been incurred. The project has been completed and put into operation with all of the three units connected to the grid to start power generation by the end of 2018.

 

The Boffa Project: The total investment of this project is currently expected to be US$706 million. By the end of 2018, an aggregate of US$64 million of capital expenditure had been incurred. The project commenced construction in September 2018 and planned to be put into operation by the end of March 2020 with an expected annual bauxite output of 12 million tonnes.

 

The 2,000,000-tonne alumina project of Guangxi Huasheng New Material Co., Ltd.: We expect to invest a total amount of approximately RMB5,805 million in this project. By the end of 2018, an aggregate of RMB330 million of capital expenditure had been incurred. The thermoelectric and finished products warehousing area, the decomposition and sedimentation area, the evaporation and recycled water area and the fundamental civil engineering in front of plant are under construction. We plan to put the project into operation by mid-2020.

 

The 500,000-tonne aluminum alloy product structure adjustment, upgrade and technical innovation project of Inner Mongolia Huayun: We expect to invest a total amount of approximately RMB6,450 million in this project. By the end of 2018, an aggregate of RMB5,640 million of capital expenditure had been incurred. The project has been officially put into operation.

 

The 432,000-tonne light alloy project of Shanxi Zhongrun: We expect to invest a total amount of approximately RMB3,909 million in this project. By the end of 2018, an aggregate of RMB2,660 million of capital expenditure had been incurred. As of the end of 2018, the project had been completed and partially put into operation.

 

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 5.  Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and selected historical financial data, in each case together with the accompanying notes included elsewhere in this annual report. This section contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance or results and our actual results could materially differ from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information provided in “Item 3. Key Information - D. Risk Factors.”

 

As the business combination under common control incurred in the years ended December 31, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, the comparative financial data for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 are revised to reflect the business combination under common control. Unless otherwise indicated in this section, our financial data for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 are presented based on those revised amounts. Please see Note 38 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

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A.Operating Results

 

Overview

 

We are a leading enterprise in the non-ferrous metal industry in China. We are engaged principally in alumina refining, primary aluminum smelting, and trading of non-ferrous metal products, coal products and other products. In addition, we are engaged in coal mining and power generation. The remainder of our revenues was derived from research and development activities and other products and services. We organize and manage our operations according to the following key segments:

 

Our alumina segment, which consists of the mining and purchasing of bauxite and other raw materials, and production and sale of alumina as well as chemical alumina and metal gallium. Alumina accounted for approximately 88.88% of the total production volume for this segment in 2018. Chemical alumina products are used in the production of chemical, pharmaceutical, ceramic and construction materials. In the process of refining bauxite into alumina, we also produce gallium as a by-product. Gallium is a rare, high-value metal with applications in the electronics and telecommunication industries.

 

Our primary aluminum segment, which consists of the procurement of alumina, other raw materials, supplemental materials and electrical power, the production and sale of primary aluminum and aluminum-related products, such as carbon products, aluminum alloy products and other aluminum products. Our principal primary aluminum products are ingots, molten aluminum and aluminum alloys, which accounted for approximately 29%, 39% and 32%, respectively, of our total production volume of primary aluminum in 2018. Our standard 20 kilogram remelt ingots are used for general aluminum fabrication in the construction, electricity, electronics, transportation, packaging, machinery and durable goods industries. We internally produce substantially all the carbon products used at our smelters and sell our remaining carbon products to external customers.

 

Our trading segment, which mainly consists of the trading of alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum fabrication products, other non-ferrous metal products, and crude fuels such as coal products, as well as supplemental materials and logistics and transport services to our internal manufacturing plants and external customers. We established our trading business under Chalco Trading as a separate segment in July 2010 as a result of our operational structural adjustment. Since 2014, we have established China Aluminum International Trading Group Co. Ltd., Chalco Materials Co. Ltd. and China Aluminum Logistics Group Corporation Co., Ltd. to continuously promote and deepen development of our trading business, jointly constituting our trading segment.

 

Our energy segment, which consists of the research and development, production and operation of energy products, including coal mining and conventional coal-fire power generation as well as renewable energy generation such as wind power and solar power. We are also engaged in new energy equipment production. We established our energy segment in January 2013 as a result of our acquisition of Ningxia Energy in line with our development strategy to partially offset our future energy costs and secure a portion of the coal we consume in our operations. In 2018, we supplied the majority of the electricity we generated for our own production use, supplied a portion of the coal output to our own electric power plant and sold the remaining portion to external customers.

 

Our corporate and other operating segment, which consists of corporate and other aluminum-related research, development, and other activities of the Group.

 

We used to be engaged in aluminum fabrication operations, where we processed primary aluminum for the production and sales of various aluminum fabrication products. As approved at our 2012 annual general meeting held on June 27, 2013, we disposed of substantially all of our aluminum fabrication operations to Chinalco. As a result, we ceased to operate aluminum fabrication business as a separate segment in June 2013.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, which requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgment in the process of applying the accounting policies. The areas in our financial reporting involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements. We have established procedures and processes to facilitate the making of such judgments in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Management has used the best information available but actual performance may differ from our management’s estimates and future changes in key variables could change future reported amounts in our consolidated financial statements.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment - recoverable amount

 

Property, plant and equipment, other than construction in progress (“CIP”), are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. When an item of property, plant and equipment is classified as held for sale or when it is part of a disposal group classified as held for sale, it is not depreciated and is accounted for in accordance with IFRS 5. The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its working condition and location for its intended use.

 

Expenditure incurred after items of property, plant and equipment have been put into operation, such as repairs and maintenance, is normally charged to profit or loss in the period in which it is incurred. In situations where the recognition criteria are satisfied, the expenditure for a major inspection is capitalized in the carrying amount of the asset as a replacement. Where significant parts of property, plant and equipment are required to be replaced at intervals, we recognize such parts as individual assets with specific useful lives and depreciate them accordingly.

 

We calculate depreciation on the straight-line basis to write off the cost of each item of property, plant and equipment to its residual value over its estimated useful life. The principal annual rates used for this purpose are as follows:

 

Buildings 8-45 years
Machinery 3-30 years
Transportation facilities 6-10 years
Office and other equipment 3-10 years

 

We reviewed and adjusted the assets’ depreciation method, residual values and useful lives, if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period. An item of property, plant and equipment including any significant part initially recognized is derecognized upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal. Any gain or loss on disposal or retirement recognized in profit or loss in the year the asset is derecognized is the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant asset.

 

CIP represents buildings under construction, and plant and equipment pending for installation, and is stated at cost less any impairment losses. Cost comprises construction expenditures, other expenditures necessary for the purpose of preparing the CIP for its intended use and those borrowing costs incurred before the assets are ready for their intended use that is eligible for capitalization. CIP is transferred to property, plant and equipment when the CIP is ready for its intended use.

 

Intangible assets - goodwill

 

Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred, the amount recognized for non-controlling interests and any fair value of our previously held equity interests in the acquiree over the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If the sum of this consideration and other items is lower than the fair value of the net assets acquired, the difference is, after reassessment, recognized in profit or loss as a gain on bargain purchase.

 

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For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to each of the cash-generating units, or groups of cash-generating units, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Each unit or group of units to which the goodwill is allocated represents the lowest level within the entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes. Goodwill is monitored at the operating segment level.

 

Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates. Where the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. An impairment loss recognized for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period. Any impairment is recognized immediately as an expense and is not subsequently reversed.

 

Intangible assets - mining rights and mineral exploration rights

 

Our mineral exploration rights and mining rights relate to coal, bauxite and other mines.

 

(i)Recognition

 

Mineral exploration rights and mining rights are initially recorded at the cost which includes the acquisition consideration, qualifying exploration and other direct costs. The mineral exploration rights are stated at cost less any impairment, and the mining rights are stated at cost less any amortization and impairment.

 

(ii)Reclassification

 

Mineral exploration rights are converted to mining rights when technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource are demonstrable. Mineral exploration rights are subject to amortization when commercial production has commenced.

 

We assess the stage of each mine under construction to determine when a mine moves into the production stage. The criteria used to assess the start date are determined based on the unique nature of each mine construction project. We consider various relevant criteria, such as completion of a reasonable period of testing of the mine and equipment, ability to produce in saleable form (within specifications) and ability to sustain ongoing production to assess when a mine is substantially complete and ready for its intended use.

 

(iii)Amortization

 

Amortization of bauxite and other mining rights (except for coal mining rights) is provided on a straight-line basis according to the shorter of the expiration date of the mining certificate and the mineable period of natural resources. Estimated mineable periods of the majority of the mining rights range from 3 to 30 years.

 

Coal mining rights are amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the economically recoverable reserves evaluated based on the reserves estimated in accordance with the standards in the Solid Mineral Resource/Reserve Classification of the PRC (GB/T17766-1999) of the mine concerned.

 

(iv)Impairment

 

An impairment review is performed when there are indicators that the carrying amount of the mineral exploration rights and mining rights may exceed their recoverable amounts. To the extent that this occurs, the excess is fully provided as an impairment loss.

 

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Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

 

Non-current assets and disposal groups are classified as held for sale if their carrying amounts will be recovered principally through a sales transaction rather than through continuing use. For this to be the case, the asset or disposal group must be available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for the sale of such assets or disposal groups and its sale must be highly probable. All assets and liabilities of a subsidiary classified as a disposal group are reclassified as held for sale regardless of whether the Group retains a non-controlling interest in its former subsidiary after the sale.

 

Non-current assets and disposal groups (other than financial assets) classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amounts and fair values less costs to sell. Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets classified as held for sale are not depreciated or amortized.

 

Provision for expected credit losses on trade receivables

 

We use a provision matrix to calculate expected credit losses for trade receivables. The provision rates are based on days past due for groupings of various customer segments that have similar loss patterns (i.e., by product type, customer type, and coverage by letters of credit and other forms of credit insurance).

 

The provision matrix is initially based on our historical observed default rates. We will calibrate the matrix to adjust the historical credit loss experience with forward-looking information. For instance, if forecast economic conditions (i.e. gross domestic products) are expected to deteriorate over the next year which can lead to an increased number of defaults in the manufacturing sector, the historical default rates are adjusted. At each reporting date, the historical observed default rates are updated and changes in the forward-looking estimates are analyzed.

 

The assessment of the correlation among historical observed default rates, forecast economic conditions and expected credit losses is a significant estimate. The amount of expected credit losses is sensitive to changes in circumstances and forecast economic conditions. Our historical credit loss experience and forecast of economic conditions may also not be representative of the customer’s actual default in the future. The information about the expected credit losses on our trade receivables is disclosed in Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements.

 

Estimated impairment of inventories

 

In accordance with our accounting policy, our management tests whether inventories suffered any impairment based on estimates of the net realizable amount of the inventories. For different types of inventories, it requires the estimation on selling prices, costs of conversion, selling expenses and the related tax expense to calculate their net recoverable amount of inventories. For inventories held for executed sales contracts, our management estimates the net recoverable amount based on the contracted price; for other inventories, our management estimates the realizable future price based on the actual prices during the period from the end of the reporting period to the date that these financial statements were approved for issuance by our Board, taking into account the nature and balance of inventories and future estimated price trends. For raw materials and work-in-progress, our management has established a model in estimating the net recoverable amount at which the inventories can be realized in the normal course of business after considering our manufacturing cycles, production capacity and forecasts, estimated future conversion costs and selling prices. The management also takes into account the price or cost fluctuations and other related matters occurring after the end of the reporting period which reflect conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period.

 

It is reasonably possible that if there is a significant change in circumstances, including our business and the external environment, outcomes within the next financial year would be significantly affected.

 

Coal reserve estimates and units-of-production depreciation for coal mining rights

 

External qualified valuation professionals evaluate “economically recoverable reserves” based on reserves estimated by external qualified exploration engineers in accordance with the PRC standards. The estimates of our coal reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only the approximate amounts of the coal reserves because of the subjective judgments involved in developing such information. Economically recoverable reserve estimates are evaluated on a regular basis and have taken into account recent production and technical information about each mine.

 

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Income Tax

 

We estimate our income tax provision and deferred income taxation in accordance with the prevailing tax rules and regulations, taking into account any special approvals obtained from the relevant tax authorities and any preferential tax treatment to which we are entitled in each location or jurisdiction in which we operate. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. We recognize liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the income tax and deferred income tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized for unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences, such as the provision for impairment of receivables, inventories and property, plant and equipment and accruals of expenses not yet deductible for tax purposes, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which the losses deductible temporary difference can be utilized. Significant management judgment is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognized, based upon the likely timing and level of future taxable profits together with future tax planning strategies. The carrying value of our deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2018 was RMB1,542.6 million, compared with approximately RMB1,606.2 million as of December 31, 2017, without taking into consideration the offsetting of the balances within the same tax jurisdiction. The amount of unrecognized tax losses as of December 31, 2018, was RMB11,387.5 million, compared with approximately RMB18,213.6 million as of December 31, 2017.

 

An entity shall recognize a deferred tax liability for all taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except to the extent that both of the following conditions are satisfied: (a) the parent, investor or joint venturer is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference; and (b) it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

We believe that we have recorded adequate current tax provision and deferred taxes based on the prevailing tax rules and regulations and our current best estimates and assumptions. In the event that future tax rules and regulations or related circumstances change, adjustments to current and deferred taxation may be necessary which would impact our results or financial position.

 

Revenue recognition

 

(i)Applicable from January 1, 2018 - revenue from contracts with customers

 

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when control of goods or services is transferred to the customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

 

Revenue from the sales (including sales of scrap and other materials). Revenue from the sale of industrial products or scrap and other materials is recognized at the point in time when control of the asset is transferred to the customer, generally on delivery of the industrial products.

 

Rendering of services. We recognize revenue from services over time, using an input method to measure progress towards complete satisfaction of the service, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits we provide. Revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis because the entity’s inputs are expended evenly throughout the performance period.

 

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(ii)Applicable before January 1, 2018

 

We recognize revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to us and specific criteria have been met for each of our activities (see descriptions below).

 

Sales of goods. Revenue from the sales of goods is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, provided that we maintain neither managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership, nor effective control over the goods sold.

 

Rendering of services. We provide machinery processing, transportation and packaging services and other services to third party customers. These services are recognized in the period when the related services are provided.

 

Investments in joint ventures and associates – recoverable amount

 

In accordance with our accounting policy, each investment in a joint venture and an associate is evaluated in every reporting period to determine whether there are any indicators of impairment. If any such indicator exists, an estimate of the recoverable amount is performed and an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of the investment in a joint venture and an associate is measured at the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use.

 

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

 

Value in use is also generally determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows of those expected to arise from the continued use of the asset in its present form and its eventual disposal. Present values are determined using a risk-adjusted pre-tax discount rate appropriate to the risks inherent in the asset. Future cash flow estimates are based on expected production and sales volumes, selling prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors) and operating costs. This policy requires management to make these estimates and assumptions which are subject to risk and uncertainty; hence there is a possibility that changes in circumstances will alter these projections, which may impact on the recoverable amounts of the investments. In such circumstances, some or all of the carrying value of the investments may be impaired and the impairment would be charged against profit or loss.

 

New IFRS Pronouncements

 

For a detailed discussion of new accounting pronouncements, please see Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

 

We believe that the following factors which impact our various revenue and expense items (as described below) have had, and will continue to have, a significant effect on the development of our business, financial position and results of operation.

 

Economic Condition of China and the World

 

As the major aluminum product market is globalized, the demand for and prices of our products are highly correlated with the general economic condition of China and the world and the performance of the major aluminum and related product markets. In recent years, China’s economy continued to experience growth despite the negative effects of the global financial crisis beginning in the second half of 2008 and economic recession in 2009, as well as general market volatility and changing macroeconomic conditions. However, the growth of China’s economy has shown signs of slowing down since 2014, with GDP growth of 6.9% from 2014 to 2015, 6.7% from 2015 to 2016, 6.9% from 2016 to 2017 and 6.6% from 2017 to 2018, as compared to 7.5% from 2013 to 2014.

 

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The global output of alumina (with chemical alumina products included) in 2018 decreased by approximately 4.5% from 2017 to approximately 124.69 million tonnes. The global alumina consumption (with chemical alumina products included) in 2018 decreased approximately by 1.5% from 2017 to approximately 128.40 million tonnes. In 2018, the domestic output of alumina (with chemical alumina products included) increased approximately by 1.9% from 2017 to approximately 71.61 million tonnes and the domestic consumption for alumina (with chemical alumina products included) increased by approximately 0.3% from 2017 to approximately 72.70 million tonnes.

 

The global output of primary aluminum in 2018 increased approximately by 1.5% from 2017 to approximately 64.21 million tonnes. The global consumption of primary aluminum in 2018 increased approximately 3.3% from 2017 to approximately 65.70 million tonnes. In 2018, the domestic output of primary aluminum decreased approximately by 0.5% from 2017 to approximately 36.48 million tonnes and the domestic consumption of primary aluminum increased approximately by 4.9% from 2017 to approximately 37.13 million tonnes.

 

Mix and Pricing of Our Products

 

We are engaged principally in alumina refining, primary aluminum smelting and sales of these products and trading of non-ferrous metal products and other products. In addition, we are engaged in coal mining and power generation. We sell most of our self-produced products through Chalco Trading, taking into account the spot market prices and SHFE prices. In 2018, revenues generated from alumina, primary aluminum, trading and energy segments (after elimination of inter-segment sales) accounted for 8.2%, 22.9%, 64.7% and 3.9%, respectively, of our consolidated total revenues after elimination of inter-segment sales. We apply different policies to price different products. For information on our pricing of different products, please see the section headed “Item 4. Information of the Company - B. Business Overview - Sales and Marketing.”

 

The sales prices of alumina that our alumina refineries sell internally to Chalco Trading are determined based on our budgeted sale prices, spot market prices and the prices of primary aluminum on SHFE. Chalco Trading coordinates the external negotiation and execution of sales contracts of our alumina products. The alumina prices in both domestic and international market increased in 2018 when compared to that of 2017. The increase in sales price in international market was attributable to the supply shortage in global alumina market, as a result of decreases in production of, and sanctions and labor strikes faced by, certain main players in the overseas market in 2018. China’s export volume of alumina also increased in 2018 due to such supply shortage in international market. In addition, the tightened environmental protection regulatory inspection restrained the supply of bauxite in certain areas, which further contributed to the increase in sales price in domestic market. Accordingly, in 2018, the sales price of alumina in the domestic market fluctuated at a relatively high price level. In 2018, the spot price of alumina in the international market reached a high of approximately US$710 per tonne and bottomed out at approximately US$357 per tonne. The average spot price of alumina in the international market was approximately US$473 per tonne, representing an increase of 33.6% from 2017. The spot price of alumina in the domestic market reached a high of RMB3,291 per tonne and bottomed out at RMB2,691 per tonne. The average spot price of alumina in the domestic market was approximately RMB2,992 per tonne, representing an increase of 2.9% from 2017. Our average selling price of alumina increased by 2.6% from RMB2,845 per tonne in 2017 to RMB2,918 per tonne in 2018.

Like most primary aluminum producers in China, we price our primary aluminum products by reference to the primary aluminum spot prices and futures price on the SHFE. In 2018, three month aluminum futures prices reached a high of US$2,718 per tonne and a low of US$1,830 per tonne on LME; and a high of RMB15,650 per tonne and a low of RMB13,505 per tonne on SHFE. The average three-month aluminum futures prices at SHFE decreased by 2.4% from RMB14,731 per tonne in 2017 to RMB14,375 per tonne in 2018. Our average selling price of primary aluminum decreased by 1.7% from RMB14,567 per tonne in 2017 to RMB 14,313 per tonne in 2018. In 2018, the primary aluminum prices in global market experienced significant fluctuations, as the prices first increased due to supply shortage in the global aluminum industry and sanctions faced by a main player in the overseas market, but then followed by a price decrease partially due to mitigation of impacts of factors that previously drove up the prices, as well as the impact of the China-U.S. trade tension. Meanwhile, the primary aluminum prices in domestic market generally declined in 2018 due to the slowdown in growth of demand for primary aluminum, in spite of the impact of the decrease in aluminum production.

 

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Price Volatility of Non-ferrous Metal and Coal Products

 

Since late 2009, as a result of the implementation of our operational structural adjustment, we have been engaged substantially in the trading of outsourced non-ferrous metal products to increase our profit. In 2012, we began to engage in the trading of significant amounts of outsourced coal products to diversify our product portfolio. Although the profit margin of sales of outsourced products is typically lower than that of our self-produced products, we generated substantial revenues and profit from the trading of outsourced products during the past few years due to our significant trading volumes. Our revenue generated from external sales of products purchased from external sources in 2018 was approximately RMB82,192.6 million, representing approximately 70.5% of total revenue from external sales in our trading segment. From time to time, we may enter into futures and option transactions in addition to the simple buy-low-sell-high trading model to hedge against price fluctuations in the non-ferrous metal and coal products market. However, short-term price volatility of these products remains a key factor affecting our operation results, as we need to make the correct prediction concerning the price trends of these products on the markets to ensure substantial revenues through large trading volume. If the market price trend does not match our prediction, we may be forced to sell trading products at low prices or to purchase trading products at high prices, which may adversely affect gross margins and profitability.

Manufacturing Costs

 

Our cost of revenues consists primarily of the costs of raw materials, overhead cost and electric power cost. Our principal raw material is bauxite. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, bauxite supplied by our mines accounted for 47%, 47% and 44%, respectively, of our total bauxite used in the production of alumina. The unit cost of bauxite produced by us is generally lower than the unit cost of bauxite procured from external suppliers. In 2018, as a result of the increase in the costs of purchasing bauxite and caustic soda, our average cost of alumina per tonne increased by approximately 9.5% from that in 2017.

Primary aluminum is one of our major aluminum products and is produced by smelting operations. Smelting operations require a substantial and continuous supply of electricity. Electricity cost is the most significant component of our primary aluminum production cost and accounted for approximately 33% of our unit production cost for primary aluminum in 2018. The availability and price of electricity are key considerations in our primary aluminum operations. Interruptions of electricity supply can result in lengthy production shutdowns, increased costs associated with restarting production and waste of production in progress, and prolonged interruptions can cause damage to, or the destruction of, production equipment and facilities. Our average annual electricity price per kWh increased by 21% from 2016 to 2017 and decreased by 2% from 2017 to 2018.

Given our high proportion of fixed costs, we must generate sufficient sales to absorb our fixed costs to maintain or increase our operating margins. Our acquisitions and production expansion in recent years have significantly increased our costs that are relatively fixed in nature, such as leases and depreciation of property, plant and equipment and employee benefit expenses. If we are able to maintain satisfactory facility utilization rates and productivity, our production capacity expansion will enable us to reduce our unit costs through economies of scale and recover associated increased costs through higher output. In 2018, we continued to focus on lowering production costs and increasing production efficiency through reducing raw material consumption by improving technology and internal management.

 

Availability and Costs of Financing

 

We require a significant amount of capital to fund our operations. For example, we need substantial amounts of funds for expanding our operations, purchasing and maintaining equipment and procuring commodities. We have in the past funded our capital expenditures primarily with bank loans and the issuance of medium-term notes and bonds and long-term bonds. The availability of financing is subject to various factors, including our credit history and the prevailing credit policy adopted by the PRC government. Over the years, we have maintained good relationships with the commercial banks in China, which enables us to access bank financing at relatively low costs. Any change of lending policies adopted by the PRC government in the future may, among other things, affect our ability to obtain financing and may in turn adversely affect our operating results.

 

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Our finance costs decreased by 6.2% from 2017 to 2018, primarily due to the decrease in interest-bearing loans and borrowings during the year. If we are unable to secure sufficient external funding when required, we may not be able to fund our working capital requirements and necessary capital expenditures, which could adversely affect our business, financial performance and prospects.

 

In addition, our borrowing costs and access to debt financing depend significantly on our credit ratings. These ratings, including long-term corporate credit ratings and financing bond credit ratings, are assigned by rating agencies, which may lower or withdraw their ratings. Any change in our credit ratings or average interest rate could have negative implications, which may increase our finance costs and affect our financial results.

 

Regulatory Environment

 

The central and local governments in the PRC continues to exercise a substantial degree of control and influence over the aluminum and other non-ferrous metal products industry in China and shape the structure and development of the industry through the imposition of industry policies governing major project approvals and safety, environmental and quality regulations. If the PRC government changes its current policies or the interpretation of those policies that are currently beneficial to us, we may face pressure on profit margins and significant constraints on our ability to expand our business operations.

 

Selected Statement of Operation Items

 

Revenue

 

Our revenue is primarily generated from sales of alumina, primary aluminum, other non-ferrous metal products and coal products. In addition, we are engaged in coal mining and power generation. The remainder of our revenues was derived from research and development activities and other products and services. We established our trading and energy businesses as new business segments in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Our cost of sales consists primarily of the purchase of inventories in relation to trading activities, cost of raw materials, consumables and electric power used in manufacturing, the fixed cost of and employee benefit expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, our cost of sales was RMB133,700.2 million, RMB166,290.2 million and RMB167,029.4 million, respectively, and accounted for 92.3%, 91.9% and 92.7%, respectively, of the total consolidated revenues for those periods.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Selling and Distribution Expenses. Our selling and distribution expenses consist primarily of transportation and loading expenses, packaging expense and, to a lesser extent, port expenses, employee benefit expenses for employees in selling and distribution department, warehouse and other storage fees, depreciation of non-production property, plant and equipment, sales commissions and other handling fees, marketing and advertising expenses, among others. Selling and distribution expenses accounted for 37.2%, 31.9% and 33.7% of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

General and Administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of early retirement benefit expenses, employee benefit expenses for directors and officers and employees in administrative department and, to a lesser extent, taxes other than income tax expenses, impairment of intangible assets, depreciation of non-production property, plant and equipment, provision for impairment of receivables, termination benefit expenses, operating lease rental expenses, travelling and entertainment, legal and other professional fees, amortization of land use rights and leasehold land, utilities and office supplies, insurance expense, pollutants discharge fees, repairs and maintenance expenses, auditors’ remuneration, amortization of intangible assets, and others. General and administrative expenses accounted for 58.8%, 61.2% and 53.4% of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Employee benefit expenses, including salaries and bonus, housing fund, staff welfare and other expenses, employment expense in relation to early retirement schemes, termination benefit and retirement benefit cost-defined contribution schemes, comprise a significant component of our general and administrative expenses, accounting for 51.0%, 51.3% and 40.1% of our total general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

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Research and Development Expenses. Our research and development expenses accounted for 3.0%, 6.7% and 8.5% of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment. Our impairment loss on property, plant and equipment accounted for 1.0%, 0.2% and 0.1% of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

Impairment losses on financial assets. Our impairment losses on financial assets accounted for 1.5% of our total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Impairment losses on investments in joint ventures. Our impairment losses on investments in joint ventures accounted for 2.9% of our total operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Other Income

 

Our other income consists primarily of research subsidies, grants on energy saving, environment protection projects and industrial development support from the government. For the year ended December 31, 2018, our other income was RMB135.4 million, and accounted for 0.1% of the total consolidated revenues.

 

Other Gains, net

 

Our other net gains consisted primarily of gains on deemed disposal and disposal of subsidiaries and gains on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value, partially offset by losses and unrealized losses on future, forward and option contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2018, our other net gains were RMB921.9 million, and accounted for 0.5% of the total consolidated revenues.

 

Finance Income

 

Our finance income consists primarily of interest income. For the year ended December 31, 2018, our finance income was RMB492.2 million, and accounted for 0.3% of the total consolidated revenues.

 

Finance Costs

 

Our financing costs consist primarily of interest expense on our borrowings, which we have incurred mainly to fund our capital expenditures. Interest rates on loans related to capital expenditures and working capital set by banks generally follow guidelines issued by the PBOC. The PBOC regulates the interest rates for commercial loans charged by state-owned banks from time to time as part of the PRC government’s efforts to regulate the PRC economy. In 2018, we incurred interest expense (net of capitalized interest) of RMB4,685.1 million on our borrowings.

Share of Profits and Losses of Joint Ventures

 

Our share of profits and losses of joint ventures is the profit attributable to us from our joint ventures, based on our equity interests in such joint ventures. A joint venture is a type of joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the joint venture. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.

 

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Share of Profits and Losses of Associates

 

Our share of profits and losses of associates is the profit attributable to us from our associates, based on our equity interests in such associates. An associate is an entity over which we have significant influence but not control.

 

Consolidated Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth certain income and expense items as a percentage of our revenues from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the periods indicated:

 

  

Year Ended December 31,

 
  

2016 

  

2017 

  

2018 

 
   RMB   (%)   RMB   (%)   RMB   US$   (%) 
   (in millions, except percentage) 
Revenue   144,854.6    100.0    181,020.4    100.0    180,240.2    26,214.8    100.0 
Cost of Sales   (133,700.2)   (92.3)   (166,290.2)   (91.9)   (167,029.4)   (24,293.4)   (92.7)
Gross Profit   11,154.4    7.7    14,730.2    8.1    13,210.8    1,921.4    7.3 
Selling and distribution expenses   (2,111.8)   (1.5)   (2,373.0)   (1.3)   (2,496.9)   (363.2)   (1.4)
General and administrative expenses    (3,336.1)   (2.3)   (4,549.2)   (2.5)   (3,958.1)   (575.7)   (2.2)
Research and development expenses    (168.9)   (0.1)   (498.2)   (0.3)   (626.9)   (91.2)   (0.3)
Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment    (57.1)   <0.1    (16.2)   <0.1    (7.5)   (1.1)   <0.1 
Impairment losses on financial assets                    (107.8)   (15.7)   (0.1)
Impairment losses on investments in joint ventures                    (217.0)   (31.6)   (0.1)
Other income    155.6    0.1    89.9    <0.1    135.4    19.7    0.1 
Other gains, net    169.2    0.1    319.3    0.2    921.9    134.1    0.5 
Operating profit    5,805.3    4.0    7,702.8    4.3    6,853.9    996.9    3.8 
Finance Income    815.7    0.6    706.7    0.4    492.2    71.6    0.3 
Finance cost    (5,019.9)   (3.5)   (5,203.4)   (2.9)   (4,882.5)   (710.1)   (2.7)
Share of profits and losses of joint ventures    (95.5)   (0.1)   8.2    <0.1    (199.5)   (29.0)   (0.1)
Share of profits and losses of associates   115.1    0.1    (165.2)   (0.1)   39.3    5.7    <0.1 
Profit before income tax    1,620.7    1.1    3,049.0    1.7    2,303.5    335.0    1.3 
Income tax benefit/(expense)    (403.9)   (0.3)   (643.7)   (0.4)   (822.5)   (119.6)   (0.5)
Profit for the year    1,216.8    0.8    2,405.3    1.3    1,481.0    215.4    0.8 

 

No customer individually accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2018. Sales to Chinalco and its subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and other related parties accounted for approximately 9.0%, 8.2% and 11.2% of consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. For information on related party transactions, see “Item 7 - Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions - B. Related Party Transactions” and Note 35 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

Revenue

 

Our revenue remained stable from RMB181,020.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB180,240.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, mainly because the increases in the revenue generated from external sales of our primary aluminum segment and energy segment were offset by the decrease in the revenue generated from external sales of our trading segment. Please see “- Discussion of Segment Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017” for discussion regarding segment revenues in 2018 as compared to 2017.

 

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Cost of Sales

 

Our cost of sales remained stable from RMB166,290.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB167,029.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, mainly because the increases in the cost of sales incurred from external sales of our primary aluminum segment and energy segment were offset by the decrease in the cost of sales incurred from external sales of our trading segment. Please see “- Discussion of Segment Operations - Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017” for discussion regarding segment cost and expenses in 2018 as compared to 2017.

Selling and Distribution Expenses

 

Our selling and distribution expenses increased by 5.2% from RMB2,373.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB2,496.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase of freight charges arising from increased sales.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

Our general and administrative expenses decreased by 13.0% from RMB4,549.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB3,958.1million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily attributable to the non-recurring provisions for early retirement benefits for certain employees made in 2017.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Our research and development expenses increased by 25.8% from RMB498.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB626.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to increase in the research and development investment in high-quality alumina, premium aluminum alloy and upgrading of production technology.

 

Other Income

 

Other income increased by 50.6% from RMB89.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB135.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increases in the government grants recorded under other income.

 

Other Gains, Net

 

Our net other gains increased significantly from RMB319.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB921.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in our equity value in certain entities that were converted from joint ventures and associates to our subsidiaries during the year and were therefore re-measured in connection with such conversion.

Finance Income

 

Our finance income decreased by 30.4% from RMB706.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB492.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to decreases in the interest received from unpaid disposal proceeds and interest income from our related party loans.

Finance Costs

 

Our finance costs decreased by 6.2% from RMB5,203.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB4,882.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to decrease in interest-bearing loans and borrowings during the year.

 

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Share of Profits and Losses of Joint Ventures

 

We incurred a loss of RMB199.5 million in our share of profits and losses of joint venture for the year ended December 31, 2018, whereas we had a profit of RMB8.2 million in our share of profits and losses of joint venture for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was primarily attributable to the decrease in profitability of our major joint ventures.

 

Share of Profits and Losses of Associates

 

We had a profit of RMB39.3 million in our share of profits and losses of associates for the year ended December 31, 2018, whereas we incurred a loss of RMB165.2 million in our share of profits and losses of associates for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was primarily attributable to improved operations of our associates which experienced losses in 2017.

 

Income Tax

 

Our income tax expense increased by 27.8% from RMB643.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB822.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This was mainly because we had deferred tax benefits in 2017 but deferred tax expenses in 2018.

 

Results of Operations

 

Our net profit decreased by 38.4% from RMB2,405.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB1,481.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This was primarily due to decrease of our gross profit, which mainly resulted from the decrease in sales price of primary aluminum and the increase in prices of raw materials.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

Revenue

 

Our revenue increased by 25.0% from RMB144,854.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB181,020.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in prices and trading volume of various products. Specifically, influenced by the improvement in the supply and demand of the global aluminum market and China’s environmental policies, the prices and sales volume of alumina, primary aluminum, coal and other products we produced increased in 2017. The sales, purchase prices and purchase quantities of alumina, primary aluminum, copper, lead and zinc in the trading segment also increased.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Our cost of sales increased by 24.4% from RMB133,700.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB166,290.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the prices of raw materials and energy consumed as well as the increase in trading volume of products.

 

Selling and Distribution Expenses

 

Our selling and distribution expenses amounted to RMB2,373.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing an increase from RMB2,111.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the increase of trading volume of products.

 

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General and Administrative Expenses

 

Our general and administrative expenses increased by 36.4% from RMB3,336.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB4,549.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily attributable to the provision for the early retirement benefits for certain employees and the increase in tax expenses.

 

Research and Development Expenses

 

Our research and development expenses significantly increased from RMB168.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB498.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to an increase in the research and development investment in advanced technologies relating to aluminum alloy and alumina.

 

Other Income

 

Other income decreased from RMB155.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB89.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to a decrease in government grants recorded under other income.

 

Other Gains, Net

 

Our net other gains increased from RMB169.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB319.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to gains on deemed disposal and disposal of subsidiaries.

 

Finance Income

 

Our finance income decreased from RMB815.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB706.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to a decrease in the interest received from unpaid disposal proceeds.

 

Finance Costs

 

Our finance costs increased by 3.7% from RMB5,019.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB5,203.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in exchange loss.

Share of Profits and Losses of Joint Ventures

 

We had a profit of RMB8.2 million in our share of profits and losses of joint venture for the year ended December 31, 2017, whereas we incurred a loss of RMB95.5 million in our share of profits and losses of joint venture for the year ended December 31, 2016. This was primarily attributable to the improved results of operation of our joint ventures.

 

Share of Profits and Losses of Associates

 

We had a profit of RMB115.1 million in our share of profits and losses of associates for the year ended December 31, 2016, whereas we incurred a loss of RMB165.2 million in our share of profits and losses of associates for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was primarily attributable to the decrease in the profits of our associates.

 

Income Tax

 

Our income tax expense increased from RMB403.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB643.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was mainly attributable to more income taxes recognized as a result of increase in profit for the year 2017.

 

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Results of Operations

 

As a result of the foregoing, our net profit increased from RMB1,216.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB2,405.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Discussion of Segment Operations

 

We account for our operations on a segmental basis; that is, separately preparing the accounting for our alumina, primary aluminum, trading, energy and corporate and other operating segments. Unless otherwise indicated, also included in these segments are other revenues derived from activities such as supplying electricity, gas, heat and water to our affiliates, selling scrap and other materials and providing services including transportation and research and development to third parties. For additional information relating to our business segments and segment presentation, see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements.

 

The following table sets forth a breakdown of our revenues by segment and the contribution of external sales and inter-segment sales for the periods indicated:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
  

2016 

  

2017 

  

2018 

  

2018 

  

2018 

  

2018 

 
   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$   %   % 
   (in millions, except percentage) 
Revenue                        
Alumina:                        
External sales    9,518.8    14,565.4    14,758.4    2,146.5    6.0    8.2 
Inter-segment sales    20,508.5    24,431.9    29,392.5    4,275.0    11.9      
Total    30,027.3    38,997.3    44,150.9    6,421.5    17.9      
Primary aluminum:                              
External sales    30,108.0    36,551.9    41,344.3    6,013.3    16.7    22.9 
Inter-segment sales    4,981.9    10,693.7    12,457.9    1,811.9    5.0      
Total    35,089.9    47,245.6    53,802.2    7,825.2    21.7      
Trading                              
External sales    100,439.5    123,695.6    116,646.3    16,965.5    47.0    64.7 
Inter-segment sales    13,906.4    23,159.1    25,370.3    3,690.0    10.2      
Total    114,345.9    146,854.7    142,016.6    20,655.5    57.2      
Energy                              
External sales    4,382.3    5,733.7    7,037.0    1,023.5    2.8    3.9 
Inter-segment sales    137.5    517.3    198.3    28.8    0.1      
Total    4,519.8    6,251.0    7,235.3    1,052.3    2.9      
Corporate and others                              
External sales    406.0    473.8    454.2    66.0    0.2    0.3 
Inter-segment sales    98.3    171.5    213.0    31.0    0.1      
Total    504.3    645.3    667.2    97.0    0.3      
Total Revenues before inter-segment eliminations    184,487.2    239,993.9    247,872.2    36,051.5    100      
Eliminations of inter-segment sales    (39,632.6)   (58,973.5)   (67,632.0)   (9,836.7)   (27.3)     
Consolidated total revenues    144,854.6    181,020.4    180,240.2    26,214.8    72.7    100.0 

  

74 

 

The following table sets forth segment results before income tax by segment for the periods indicated:

 

  

Year Ended December 31, 

 
  

2016 

  

2017 

  

2018 

  

2018 

 
   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$ 
   (in millions) 
Alumina:                
Revenues    30,027.3    38,997.3    44,150.9    6,421.5 
Cost and expenses(1)    (29,116.9)   (35,706.4)   (40,654.5)   (5,913.0)
Segment results(2)    910.4    3,290.9    3,496.4    508.5 
Primary aluminum:                    
Revenues    35,089.9    47,245.6    53,802.2    7,825.2 
Cost and expenses(1)    (32,906.1)   (46,419.0)   (54,731.5)   (7,960.4)
Segment results(2)    2,183.8    826.6    (929.3)   (135.2)
Trading:                    
Revenues    114,345.9    146,854.7    142,016.6    20,655.5 
Cost and expenses(1)    (113,541.7)   (146,121.0)   (141,237.1)   (20,542.1)
Segment results(2)    804.2    733.7    779.5    113.4 
Energy:                    
Revenues    4,519.8    6,251.0    7,235.3    1,052.3 
Cost and expenses(1)    (4,486.4)   (6,422.3)   (7,209.3)   (1,048.5)
Segment results(2)    33.4    (171.3)   26.0    3.8 
Corporate and others                    
Revenues    504.3    645.3    667.2    97.0 
Cost and expenses(1)    (2,497.5)   (2,373.9)   (1,934.3)   (281.3)
Segment results(2)    (1,993.2)   (1,728.6)   (1,267.1)   (184.3)
Elimination(3)    (318.0)   97.6    198.1    28.8 
Total (loss)/profit before income tax    1,620.7    3,049.0    2,303.5    335.0 

 

 

(1)Consist of cost of sales, operating expenses, other income, other gains, finance income, finance costs and others attributable to each segment.

(2)Segment results refer to profit/(loss) before income tax.

(3)Elimination refers to the aggregate inter-segment eliminations of segment results of each segment.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

Alumina Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the alumina segment increased by 13.2% from RMB38,997.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB44,150.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to increases in the sales price and trading volume of alumina in 2018 by 2.6% and 5.0%, respectively, in comparison with 2017.

 

Revenue from external sales of the alumina segment increased by 1.3% from RMB14,565.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB14,758.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to increase in the sales prices of the external sales of alumina.

 

Revenue from inter-segment sales of the alumina segment increased by 20.3% from RMB24,431.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB29,392.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to an increasing demand of alumina by our primary aluminum smelters resulting from the increase in target production volume of our primary aluminum segment in 2018.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our alumina segment increased by 13.9% from RMB35,706.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB40,654.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in trading volume of alumina.

 

75 

 

Segment results. As a result of the foregoing, the segment profit for our alumina segment increased by 6.2% from RMB3,290.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB3,496.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Primary Aluminum Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the primary aluminum segment increased by 13.9% from RMB47,245.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB53,802.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in the trading volume of primary aluminum, partially offset by the decrease in the sales price of primary aluminum. In comparison with 2017, the trading volume and sales price of primary aluminum increased by 15.5% and decreased by 1.7%, respectively, in 2018.

 

Revenue from external sales of the primary aluminum segment increased by 13.1% from RMB36,551.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB41,344.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in the trading volume for external sales of primary aluminum.

 

Revenue from inter-segment sales of primary aluminum segment increased by 16.5% from RMB10,693.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB12,457.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in the trading volume for inter-segment sales of primary aluminum.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our primary aluminum segment increased by 17.9% from RMB46,419.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, to RMB54,731.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in the trading volume of primary aluminum. In addition, the increases in the purchase prices of alumina and anode also contributed to the increases in cost and expenses. In comparison with 2017, the purchase prices of alumina and anode increased by 3.5% and 11.5%, respectively, in 2018.

 

Segment results. We had a segment profit of RMB826.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, whereas we incurred a segment loss of RMB929.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This was mainly attributable to the increases in purchase prices of alumina and anode and the decrease in the sales price of primary aluminum.

 

Trading Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the trading segment decreased by 3.3% from RMB146,854.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB142,016.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the decrease in the revenue generated from the external sales of our trading segment.

 

Revenue from external sales of the trading segment decreased by 5.7% from RMB123,695.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB116,646.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, mainly due to conversion of certain trading segment subsidiaries making external sales or their businesses into joint ventures.

 

Revenue from internal sales of the trading segment increased by 9.5% from RMB23,159.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB25,370.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in the inter-segment trading volume of alumina and primary aluminum as a result of the increase in target production volume of our primary aluminum segment.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our trading segment decreased by 3.3% from RMB146,121.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB141,237.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, mainly due to the conversion of certain trading segment subsidiaries or their businesses into joint ventures.

 

76 

 

Segment results. As a result of the foregoing, the segment profit for our trading segment decreased by 6.2% from RMB733.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB779.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Energy Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the energy segment increased by 15.7% from RMB6,251.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB7,235.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increases in revenues of coal and electricity by 9.22% and 40.45%, respectively, in comparison with 2017.

 

Revenue from external sales of the energy segment increased by 22.7% from RMB5,733.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB7,037.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in trading volume of electricity resulting from the acquisition of an electricity plant by Ningxia Energy in September 2017.

 

Revenue from internal sales of the energy segment decreased by 61.7% from RMB517.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB198.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to a reduction of inter-company services provided by our energy segment subsidiaries and a decrease in the inter-segment trading volume of coals.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our energy segment increased by 12.3% from RMB6,422.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB7,209.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in trading volume of electricity.

 

Segment results. We recorded a segment loss of RMB171.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, whereas we had a segment profit of RMB26.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This was mainly attributable to the increase in revenue generated from external sales of the energy segment following acquisition of a new electricity plant in September 2017.

 

Corporate and Other Operating Segment

 

Revenues. Revenue from the corporate and other operating segment remained stable from RMB645.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB667.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Segment results. The segment loss for our corporate and other operate segment decreased from RMB1,728.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB1,267.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to gains resulted from the increase in our equity value in certain entities that were converted from joint ventures and associates to our subsidiaries during the year and were therefore re-measured in connection with such conversion.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

Alumina Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the alumina segment increased by 29.9% from RMB30,027.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB 38,997.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the price and trading volume of alumina. Specifically, the revenue of alumina, the main product of alumina segment, increased by RMB9,061.8 million, partially offset by the decrease of revenue of other products amounting to RMB1,010.0 million. The sales price and volume of alumina in 2017 increased by 38.6% and 3.4%, respectively, in comparison with 2016.

 

Revenue from external sales of the alumina segment increased by 53.0% from RMB9,518.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB 14,565.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the price of the external sales of alumina.

 

77 

 

Revenue from inter-segment sales of the alumina segment increased from RMB20,508.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB 24,431.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our alumina segment increased from RMB29,116.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB35,706.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the prices of bauxite, other raw materials and energy.

 

Segment results. The segment profit for our alumina segment significantly increased from RMB910.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB3,290.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in profit margin and trading volume.

 

Primary Aluminum Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the primary aluminum segment increased by 34.6% from RMB 35,089.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB 47,245.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in trading volume and price of primary aluminum. Specifically, the revenue of primary aluminum and aluminum alloy increased by RMB7,415.5 million and RMB4,182.8 million, respectively. The sales price and volume of primary aluminum increased by 16.5% and 14.8%, and the sales price and volume of aluminum alloy products increased by 16.0% and 17.5% in comparison with 2016.

 

Revenue from external sales of the primary aluminum segment increased by 24.0% from RMB29,482.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB36,552.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to increase in the price and trading volume for the external sales of primary aluminum. Specifically, the sales price and volume of primary aluminum increased by 16.5% and 6.8%, respectively, and the sales price and volume of aluminum alloy products increased by 16.0% and 13.3%, respectively, in comparison with 2016.

 

Revenue from inter-segment sales of primary aluminum segment increased from RMB4,981.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB10,693.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in price of inter-segment sales of primary aluminum.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our primary aluminum segment increased from RMB32,906.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, to RMB46,419.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the prices of alumina and electricity and trading volume of primary aluminum.

 

Segment results. The segment profit for our primary aluminum segment decreased from RMB2,183.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB826.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the price of alumina and the costs of electricity consumed in primary aluminum smelting.

 

Trading Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the trading segment increased from RMB114,345.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB146,854.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in trading volume and prices of main products, such as alumina, aluminum alloy, copper and zinc. Specifically, the sales volume of our trading segment is large, and there are many types of products, including nearly 20 types of products, such as alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum alloy, coal, copper, lead and zinc. As our sales and purchasing platform, the trading segment has frequent transactions with both internal enterprises and external customers. In 2017, influenced by the market condition, the sales prices increased. Meanwhile, sales volume of most products increased. For example, the sales prices of alumina, copper and zinc increased by more than 20%, the prices of raw and auxiliary materials, such as caustic soda and petroleum coke, increased by more than 50%, and the sales volume of aluminum alloy, copper, lead, iron ore and anode products also increased.

 

Revenue from external sales of the trading segment increased from RMB100,439.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB123,695.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in prices and trading volume of the external trading of main products, such as alumina, aluminum alloy, copper and zinc.

 

78 

 

Revenue from internal sales of the trading segment increased from RMB13,906.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB23,159.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in prices and trading volume of the inter-segment trading of main products, such as alumina and coal.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our trading segment increased from RMB113,541.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB146,121.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in purchasing prices and trading volume.

 

Segment results. The segment profit for our trading segment decreased from RMB804.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB733.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was mainly attributable to the decrease in profit margin.

 

Energy Segment

 

Revenues. Total revenue generated by the energy segment increased from RMB4,519.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB6,251.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the price and trading volume of coal.

 

Revenue from external sales of the energy segment increased from RMB4,382.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB5,733.7 for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in the price and trading volume of the external sales of coal.

 

Revenue from internal sales of the energy segment increased from RMB137.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB517.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in price and trading volume of the inter-segment sales of coal.

 

Cost and expenses. The total cost and expenses for our energy segment increased from RMB4,486.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB6,422.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, primarily due to the increase in trading volume of coal.

 

Segment results. We had a segment profit of RMB33.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, whereas we recorded a segment loss of RMB171.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This was mainly because we incurred gains on disposal of non-current assets in 2016.

 

Corporate and Other Operating Segment

 

Revenues. Revenue from the corporate and other operating segment increased from RMB504.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB645.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Segment results. The segment loss for our corporate and other operate segment decreased from RMB1,993.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 to RMB1,728.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

B.           Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Historically, our primary sources of funding have been cash generated from operating activities, prepayments and deposits from customers, bank and other loans and proceeds from equity or notes and bonds offerings. Our primary uses of funds have been working capital for production, capital expenditures and repayments of short-term, medium-term and long-term borrowings.

 

As of December 31, 2018, our current assets amounted to RMB58,895.2 million, representing a decrease of 14.2% from RMB68,644.3 million as of December 31, 2017, primarily because we strengthened capital turnover and reduced monetary capital reserves. As of December 31, 2018, our trade and notes receivable amounted to RMB8,100.5 million, representing an increase of 1.1% from RMB8,008.9 million as of December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2018, our restricted cash and time deposits and cash and cash equivalents balance amounted to RMB2,165.3 million, remaining stable as compared to RMB2,168.2 million as of December 31, 2017.

 

79 

 

As of December 31, 2018, our current liabilities amounted to RMB74,748.6 million, representing a decrease of 17.3% from RMB90,337.1 million as of December 31, 2017, primarily due to the decrease in short-term interest-bearing liabilities resulting from optimizing debt structure.

 

As of December 31, 2018, our net current liabilities amounted to RMB15,853.4 million, representing a decrease of 26.9% from RMB21,692.8 million as of December 31, 2017. As of December 31, 2018, our current ratio (current assets/current liabilities) was 0.79, compared with 0.76 as of December 31, 2017. Our quick ratio ((current assets - inventories - prepayments)/current liabilities) was 0.49 as of December 31, 2018, compared with 0.52 as of December 31, 2017.

 

We have considered our available sources of funds as follows:

 

Our expected net cash inflows from operating activities in 2019;

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had total banking facilities of approximately RMB183,129 million, of which RMB61,611 million had been utilized and unutilized banking facilities amounted to RMB121,518 million as of December 31, 2018, among which, banking facilities of approximately RMB92,582 million will be subject to renewal during the next 12 months from January 1, 2019. We are confident that all banking facilities could be renewed upon their expiration based on our past experience with banks and our good credit standing; and

 

Other available sources of financing from banks and other financial institutions based on our good credit history.

 

We believe that we have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future not less than 12 months from December 31, 2018. The Board therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

 

Cash Flows and Working Capital

 

The following table sets forth a condensed summary of our statement of cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2016   2017   2018   2018 
   RMB   RMB   RMB   US$ 
   (in millions) 
Net cash flows generated from operating activities    11,609.3    13,205.6    13,018.2    1,893.4 
Net cash flows used in investing activities    (2,626.9)   (5,597.5)   (5,528.4)   (804.1)
Net cash flows used in financing activities    (6,105.2)   (3,399.0)   (16,266.5)   (2,365.9)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents    2,877.2    4,209.1    (8,776.7)   (1,276.5)

 

Net Cash Flows Generated from Operating Activities

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, we had cash inflows before changes in working capital but after adjustment for non-cash items and non-operating cash items of RMB14,230.4 million and net cash generated from operating activities of RMB13,018.2 million. The adjustment primarily consisted of non-cash and non-operating activities items such as depreciation of property, plant and equipment of RMB7,499.3 million and finance cost of RMB4,882.5 million, and outflows of RMB264.6 million for changes in working capital and outflows of income tax of RMB947.7 million. The outflows from changes in working capital consisted primarily of (i) an increase in trade and notes receivables of RMB2,486.2 million and (ii) a decrease in other payables and accrued liabilities of RMB945.3 million, and partially offset by (i) a decrease in inventories of RMB1,194.5 million and (ii) a decrease in other current assets of RMB916.7 million.

 

80 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2017, we had cash inflows before changes in working capital but after adjustment for non-cash items and non-operating cash items of RMB14,710.6 million and net cash generated from operating activities of RMB13,205.6 million. The adjustment primarily consisted of non-cash and non-operating activities items such as depreciation of property, plant and equipment of RMB6,554.8 million and finance cost of RMB5,203.4 million, outflows of RMB555.7 million for changes in working capital and outflows of income tax of RMB949.4 million. The outflows from changes in working capital consisted primarily of (i) an increase in inventories of RMB2,656.0 million and (ii) an increase in trade and notes receivables of RMB1,962.0 million, and partially offset by (i) an increase in other payables and accrued liabilities of RMB1,672.7 million, (ii) an increase in trade and notes payables of RMB1,599.3 million and (iii) a decrease in other current assets of RMB1,275.5 million.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2016, we had cash inflows before changes in working capital but after adjustment for non-cash items and non-operating cash items of RMB13,177.1 million and net cash generated from operating activities of RMB11,609.3 million. The adjustment consisted primarily of non-cash and non-operating activities items such as realized and unrealized loss on futures, option and forward contracts of RMB1,135.7 million, finance cost of RMB5,019.9 million, net gains on disposal of other property, plant and equipment and land use rights of RMB816.7 million and depreciation of property, plant and equipment of RMB6,590.2 million and outflows of RMB1,511.9 million for changes in working capital and outflows of income tax of RMB55.9 million. The outflows from changes in working capital consisted primarily of (i) an increase in trade and notes receivables of RMB3,655.7 million and (ii) a decrease in trade and notes payable of RMB3,405.7 million, and partially offset by (i) a decrease in inventories of RMB2,398.0 million and (ii) a decrease in other current assets of RMB3,463.8 million.

 

Net Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities

 

The net cash flows used in investing activities remained stable from RMB5,597.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 to RMB5,528.4 for the year ended December 31, 2018. In 2016, we had net cash flows used in investing activities of RMB2,626.9 million.

 

Net Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities

 

The net cash flows used in financing activities were RMB16,266.5 for the year ended December 31, 2018, representing an increase of RMB12,867.5 million from the net outflows of RMB3,399.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2017, mainly because we received capital injection from non-controlling shareholders in 2017 resulting from the Asset Restructuring and the net cash outflow from the proceeds and repayments of our major debts increased in 2018 as compared to 2017. Our net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2018, consisted primarily of repayments of short-term and long-term loans of RMB70,546.5 million, repayments of bonds and notes of RMB21,815.0 million and repayments of gold leasing arrangement of RMB7,519.3 million, partially offset by drawdown of short-term and long-term loans of RMB76,899.6 million and proceeds from issuance of short-term bonds and medium-term notes (net of issuance costs) of RMB13,185.0 million.

 

The net cash flows used in financing activities were RMB3,399.0 for the year ended December 31, 2017, representing a decrease of net cash outflows of RMB2,706.3 million from the net outflows of RMB6,105.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, mainly because of the capital injection from non-controlling shareholders of RMB12,718.8 million and that we incurred net cash inflows from the drawdown and repayment of interest-bearing loans in 2017 whereas we incurred net cash outflows from the same activities in 2016. Our net cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017, consisted primarily of repayments of short-term and long-term loans of RMB78,866.5 million, repayments of short-term bonds and medium-term notes of RMB16,300.0 million and interest payments of RMB5,233.0 million, partially offset by drawdown of short-term and long-term loans of RMB83,758.7 million and capital injection from non-controlling shareholders of RMB12,718.8 million.

 

81 

 

Loans and Borrowings

 

During the past years, we engaged in debt financing to fund our operations and business expansion. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, our gearing ratio (net debts/total capital attributable to owners of the parent as defined in Note 36.3 to our audited consolidated financial statements) was approximately 72% and 68%, respectively.

 

  

As of December 31, 

 
  

2017 

  

2018 

  

2018 

 
   RMB   RMB   US$ 
   (in millions) 
Short-term loans and borrowings               
Short-term bank and other loans    31,041.4    39,296.2    5,715.4 
Short-term bonds    3,601.6    500.0    72.7 
Gold leasing arrangements    6,818.4    1,607.9    233.9 
Current portion of finance lease payable    2,115.6    2,328.4    338.7 
Current portion of medium-term notes    12,492.4    396.7    57.7 
Current portion of long-term bank and other loans    6,911.7    3,384.4    492.2 
Sub-total    62,981.1    47,513.6    6,910.6 
Long-term loans and borrowings               
Finance lease payable    5,607.6    4,081.3    593.6 
Long-term bank and other loans    40,504.8    46,140.7    6,710.9 
Medium-term notes and bonds and
long-term bonds
   15,697.0    10,094.9    1,468.2 
Less:               
Current portion of medium-term notes and long-term bonds    (12,492.4)   (396.7)   (57.7)
Current portion of long-term bank and other loans    (6,911.7)   (3,384.4)   (492.2)
Current portion of finance lease payable    (2,115.6)   (2,328.4)   (338.7)
Sub-total    40,289.7    54,207.4    7,884.1 
Total borrowings    103,270.8    101,721.0    14,794.7 
Less: Bank balances and cash    30,004.1    21,296.0    3,097.4 
Net    73,266.7    80,425.0    11,697.3 

 

Bank and Other Loans

 

The weighted average annual interest rate of short-term bank and other loans for the year end December 31, 2018 was 4.52%. Our short-term bank and other loans will mature within one year.

 

The weighted average annual interest rate of long-term bank and other loans for the years ended December 31, 2018 was 4.78%. The following table sets forth the aggregate maturities of our outstanding long-term bank and other loans as of December 31, 2018:

 

  

As of December 31, 2018 

 
  

RMB 

  

US$ 

 
   (in millions) 
Within 1 year    3,382.3    492.0 
Between 1 and 2 years    7,375.6    1,072.7 
Between 2 and 5 years    16,586.4    2,412.4 
Over 5 years    18,777.3    2,731.0 
Total    46,121.5    6,708.1 

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had secured loans of RMB13,829.4 million (including long-term and short-term loans). As of December 31, 2018, long-term loans and borrowings amounting to RMB11,509 million (current portion of RMB1,354 million and non-current portion of RMB10,155 million) were secured by the contractual right to charge users for electricity generated in the future and no short-term loans and borrowings were secured by letters of credit.

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had foreign currency denominated loans with a principal amount of RMB19 million in Japanese Yen and RMB1,259 million in U.S. dollars.

 

82 

 

Notes and Bonds

 

The following table sets forth the face value, maturity, effective interest rate and outstanding amount of our outstanding long-term bonds and medium-term notes as of December 31, 2018:

 

  

Face value/maturity 

  

Effective
interest rate 

  

December 31,
2018 

 
   (RMB in thousands) 
2016 private placement notes    3,215,000/2019   5.12%   396,727 
2018 medium-term notes    2,000,000/2021   5.84%   1,986,418 
2018 medium-term bonds    1,100,000/2021   4.66%   1,097,003 
2018 medium-term bonds    900,000/2023   5.06%   897,820 
2018 medium-term bonds    1,400,000/2021   4.30%   1,395,970 
2018 medium-term bonds    1,600,000/2023   4.57%   1,595,311 
2018 US dollar medium-term bonds    2,785,840/2021   5.25%   2,725,612 
Total              10,094,861 

 

The following table sets forth face value, maturity, effective interest rate and outstanding amount of our outstanding short-term bonds as of December 31, 2018:

 

   Face value /maturity   Effective
interest rate
   December 31,
2018
 
   (RMB in thousands) 
2018 Ningxia short-term bonds    500,000/2019   5.00%   500,000 
Total              500,000 

 

Senior Perpetual Capital Securities

 

Please refer to “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company - Senior Perpetual Capital Securities Offering” for further details.

 

Restriction on Cash Dividends

 

Our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside a certain amount of their retained profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserves and these reserves may not be distributed as cash dividends. In addition, when our subsidiaries incur debts on their own behalf, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. Our directors are of the view that we will continue to be able to meet our borrowing payment obligations as they fall due from cash generated from our operating activities.

 

Capital Expenditures and Capital Commitments

 

The following table sets forth our capital expenditures for the years ended 2016, 2017 and 2018, and the capital expenditures of each segment as a percentage of our total capital expenditures for the periods indicated:

 

  

Year Ended December 31 

 
  

2016 

  

2017 

  

2018 

 
  

RMB 

  

  

RMB 

  

  

RMB 

  

 
   (in millions, except percentage) 
Alumina    2,842.0    32.4    2,642.4    26.1    2,665.9    29.2 
Primary aluminum    4,121.9    46.8    5,533.4    54.7    4,603.3    50.4 
Trading    81.6    0.9    89.6    0.9    101.9    1.1 
Energy    1,609.8    18.3    1,580.5    15.6    1,613.2    17.7 
Corporate and others    143.9    1.6    262.2    2.6    144.0    1.6 
Total    8,799.2    100.0    10,108.0    100.0    9,128.4    100.0 

 

83 

 

In 2018, we spent approximately RMB9,128.4 million of our capital expenditures (excluding equity interest investments) primarily in investments in energy saving and consumption reduction, environmental governance, resources acquisition and technological research and development.

 

We expect our estimated capital expenditures in 2019 to be a total of approximately RMB12.5 billion, primarily for infrastructure and technology upgrading.

As of December 31, 2018, our Group’s contractual but not provided capital commitment to fixed assets investment amounted to RMB3,942.9 million.

 

As of December 31, 2018, our commitment under operating leases amounted to RMB12,989.5 million, of which the amount payable within one year was RMB541.5 million, the amount payable from one to five years was RMB1,880.1 million and the amount payable after five years was RMB10,567.9 million.

 

As of December 31, 2018, our commitments to make capital contribution to our associates and joint ventures amounted to RMB542.8 million, comprised of the capital contributions of RMB450.0 million to Chinalco Overseas Development Co., Ltd., RMB10.0 million to Loudi Zhongyu New Materials Co., Ltd., RMB49.0 million to Zhaoshang Wuchan (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., RMB6.0 million to Chinalco Tendering Co., Ltd. and RMB27.8 million to Shanxi Chalco Taiyue New Materials Co., Ltd., respectively.

 

We expect to use primarily operating cash flow in meeting such commitments with the shortfall to be satisfied by proceeds of bank loans, short-term and long-term bonds and medium-term notes.

 

C.            Research and Development

 

Our department of science and technology management is responsible for organizing and coordinating the research and development efforts of the Company. The Zhengzhou Institute, the only organization in China dedicated to aluminum smelting research, is responsible for taking the lead in the research and development of important and key technologies for our operations and providing technology services for our plants. The technology centers at our plants focus on providing solutions for specific issues of each plant and applying our developed technologies. Each of the plants also has opportunities to participate in operational testing and pilot industrialization relating to research and development of important and key technologies. We also collaborate with universities and other research institutions in China on some of our complicated projects.

 

D.           Trend Information

 

Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the period from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our revenue, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.

 

E.           Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

 

There are no off-balance sheet arrangements material to investors that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, our changes in financial condition, revenue or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

84 

 

F.            Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and commercial commitments for the periods indicated as of December 31, 2018:

 

   Payment due by period
   Total  Within 1 year  1 to 2 years  2 to 5 years  Thereafter
   (RMB in millions)
Finance lease payable, including current portion    4,401.1    2,518.7    1,161.5    707.7    13.2 
Long-term bank and other loans, including current portion    46,140.7    3,384.4    7,378.0    16,593.6    18,784.8 
Medium-term notes and bonds, including current portion    10,185.8    400.0    —     9,785.8    —  
Short-term bonds    500.0    500.0    —     —     —  
Gold leasing arrangement    1,607.9    1,607.9    —     —     —  
Short-term bank and other loans    39,296.2    39,296.2    —     —     —  
Interest payables for borrowings    12,547.9    4,849.0    2,602.8    4,197.4    898.8 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss    1.8    1.8    —     —     —  
Financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities, excluding accrued interest    8,855.6    8,855.6    —     —     —  
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities    862.5    —     108.9    333.4    420.3 
Trade and notes payables    14,007.6    14,007.6    —     —     —  
Subtotal    138,407.2    75,421.1    11,251.1    31,617.9    20,117.1 
Capital commitments    3,942.9    N/A      N/A      N/A      N/A   
Commitments for capital contribution    542.8    N/A      N/A      N/A      N/A   
Commitments under operating lease    12,989.5    541.5    507.6    1,372.5    10,567.9 
Total    155,852.4                     

 

G.            Safe Harbor

 

See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this annual report.

 

Item 6.   Directors, Senior Management and Employees

 

A.           Directors and Senior Management

 

Directors

 

The sixth session of our Board currently consists of eight directors, including three executive directors, two non-executive directors and three independent non-executive directors. In accordance with our Articles of Association, our affairs are managed by our Board. The business address of each of our directors is No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Hai Dian District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 100082.

We follow our home country practice in relation to the composition of our Board in reliance on the exemption provided under Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Corporate Governance Rules available to foreign private issuers. Our home country practice does not require a majority of directors of a listed company to be independent directors. As such, the majority of our directors are not independent within the meaning of NYSE Corporate Governance Rules.

 

The table and discussion below set forth information concerning our directors who served on our Board during the year ended December 31, 2018, and up to date of this annual report.

 

Name 

Age 

Positions with the Company 

Executive Directors (1)    
Lu Dongliang (2) 45 Executive Director and Chairman of the Board
Ao Hong (3) 57 Executive Director (re-designated to a non-executive director)
Yu Dehui(4) 59 Executive Director and Chairman of the Board (resigned)

 

85 

 

Name 

Age 

Positions with the Company 

Jiang Yinggang 55 Executive Director and Senior Vice President
Zhu Runzhou(5) 54 Executive Director and Vice President
Non-executive Directors (6)    
Ao Hong (3) 57 Non-executive Director
Liu Caiming (7) 56 Non-executive Director (resigned)
Wang Jun 53 Non-executive Director
Independent Non-executive Directors (8)    
Chen Lijie 64 Independent Non-executive Director
Hu Shihai 64 Independent Non-executive Director
Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David 59 Independent Non-executive Director

 

 

 

(1)As of the date of this annual report, we had three executive directors.
(2)On February 13, 2018, Mr. Lu Dongliang was appointed by the Board as the president of the Company and dismissed from the original position of senior vice president of the Company. On February 21, 2019, Mr. Lu was elected as the chairman of the sixth session of the Board and resigned from the position of the president of the Company.

(3)Mr. Ao Hong was dismissed from the position of the president of the Company due to work engagements and was re-designated by the Board from an executive director to a non-executive director at the twentieth meeting of the sixth session of the Board held on February 13, 2018.

(4)On February 21, 2019, Mr. Yu Dehui resigned from the positions of the chairman of the Board and the executive director of the Company and from all other positions in each of the special committees under the Board.

(5)Mr. Zhu Runzhou was elected as an executive director of the Company at the 2018 second extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on December 11, 2018 and appointed as the vice president of the Company at the 24th meeting of the sixth session of the Board of the Company on May 25, 2018.

(6)As of the date of this annual report, we had two non-executive directors.
(7)Mr. Liu Caiming resigned as a non-executive director of the Company on May 25, 2018.
(8)As of the date of this annual report, we had three independent non-executive directors.

 

Executive Directors

 

Lu Dongliang, aged 45, is currently an executive director and the chairman of the Board of the Company. Mr. Lu graduated from North China University of Technology majoring in accounting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and is an accountant. Mr. Lu has more than 20 years of work experience in financial management and in the non-ferrous metals industry. He successively served as the cadre in the audit department of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Corporation, the officer-in-charge of the capital division of the finance department of China Copper Lead & Zinc Group Corporation, the head of the accounting division and the capital division of the finance department of Chinalco, the deputy manager and manager of the treasure management division of the finance department, the manager of the general management office, the deputy general manager and general manager of the finance department of the Company, the chief financial officer of Chalco Gansu Aluminum Electricity Co., Ltd., the assistant to the president of the Company and the general manager of Lanzhou branch of the Company, an executive director and president of Chalco Gansu Aluminum Electricity Co., Ltd., and an Executive Director, senior vice president and president of the Company. Currently, Mr. Lu also serves as the deputy general manager of Chinalco.

 

Jiang Yinggang, aged 55, is currently an executive director and a senior vice president of the Company. Graduating from Central South University of Mining and Metallurgy majoring in the metallurgy of nonferrous metals, Mr. Jiang holds a master degree in metallurgy engineering of non-ferrous metals and is a professor-grade senior engineer. Mr. Jiang has long been engaged in production operation and corporate management of production enterprises and has extensive and professional experience. He formerly served as deputy head and then head of the Corporate Management Department of Qinghai Aluminum Plant; head of Qinghai Aluminum Smelter, deputy manager and manager of Qinghai Aluminum Company Limited, and general manager of the Qinghai branch of the Company, and an executive director and a vice president of the Company.

 

86 

 

Zhu Runzhou, aged 54, is currently an executive director and a vice president of the Company. Mr. Zhu graduated from Wuhan University, majoring in software engineering, with a master’s degree in engineering. He is a senior engineer of outstanding performance. Mr. Zhu has extensive experience in energy, technologies on power plants and corporate operation and management. He had successively served as the inspection director, operation director and director of the fuel division of Gansu Jingyuan Power Plant, the deputy chief engineer, director of the inspection department and director of the first repairing department of Gansu Jingyuan Power Plant* as well as the manager of Huaming Branch of Gansu Guangming Supervisory Engineering Company. Mr. Zhu also served as the chairman of the labor union, the standing director of the employee stock holding committee and the deputy general manager of Gansu Jingyuan First Power Co., Ltd., the chairman of Baiyin Huadian Water Supply Co., Ltd., head of Guodian Kaili Power Plant, director of the preparatory office of the technical transformation program of Guodian in Duyun City, deputy general manager of Guodian Guizhou Branch, deputy general manager of Guodian Yunnan Branch and general manager of Guodian Power Xuanwei Power Generation Co., Ltd., deputy general manager and general manager of Guodian Guangxi Branch, deputy general manager of the energy management department of the Company and deputy general manager of Chalco Energy, a director and the general manager of Ningxia Energy, the general manager of Chalco Xinjiang Aluminum Power Co., Ltd., the chairman of Ningxia Energy and the general manager of Chalco Xinjiang Aluminum Power Co., Ltd.

 

Non-Executive Directors

 

Ao Hong, aged 57, currently serves as a non-executive director on our Board. Mr. Ao graduated from Central South University with a doctoral degree in management science and engineering. He is a professor-grade senior engineer with over 30 years of work experience in enterprises of non-ferrous metals industry. He successively served as the deputy dean of Beijing General Research Institute for Non-ferrous Metals and concurrently the chairman of GRINM Semiconductor Materials Co., Ltd., the chairman of Guorui Electronics Co., Ltd., the chairman of Guo Jing Micro-electronic Holding, Limited in Hong Kong, a deputy general manager of Chinalco. During this period, he also successively served as the chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company, chairman of the labor union of Chinalco, the dean of Chinalco Research Institute of Science and Technology and the chairman of China Rare Earth Co., Ltd. and an executive director and president of the Company. Mr. Ao is currently the full-time deputy secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Chinalco.

 

Wang Jun, aged 53, has been serving as a non-executive director on our Board since June 27, 2013. Mr. Wang graduated from Huazhong Institute of Engineering with a degree of industrial and civil construction. He is an engineer. He has extensive experience in financial and corporate management. Mr. Wang formerly served as an engineer in the engineering department of Babcock & Wilcox Beijing Company Ltd., deputy manager of the real estate development department of China Yanxing Company, senior deputy manager of the equity management department, and senior manager of the business management department, senior manager, deputy general manager and general manager of the custody and settlement department in China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. and general manager of the equity management department of China Cinda Asset Management Co. Ltd. Mr. Wang currently serves as the business director of China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd.

 

Independent Non-Executive Directors

 

Chen Lijie, aged 64, has been serving as an independent non-executive director on our Board since February 26, 2015. Ms. Chen graduated from Renmin University of China Law School and obtained a doctoral degree in Laws. Ms. Chen Lijie has more than 30 years of experience in law. She successively acted as director and deputy director of Commercial Affairs of the Office of Legislative Affairs of the State Council, deputy director of Department of Policies and Laws of the National Economic and Trade Commission, patrol officer of Bureau of Policies, Laws and Regulations of SASAC and chief legal consultant of China Mobile Communications Corporation.

 

Hu Shihai, aged 64, has been serving as an independent non-executive director on our Board since June 25, 2015. Mr. Hu graduated from Shanghai Jiao Tong University majoring in thermal energy engineering. He is a professor-level senior engineer with more than 40 years of working experience in the power industry. Mr. Hu has extensive experience in corporate management and technical management and successively served as the supervisor, director and deputy head of the Huaneng Shanghai Shidongkou No. 2 Power Plant, deputy director of the preparatory office of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao No. 2 Power Plant, manager of the production department and assistant to the general manager of Huaneng Power International, Inc. and assistant to the general manager and director of the safety production department, and chief engineer of China Huaneng Group.

 

87 

 

Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David, aged 59, has been serving as an independent non-executive director on our Board since December 29, 2015. He is honored with the Silver Bauhinia Star (SBS), Officier de l’Ordre National du Merite and Justice of Peace. Mr. Lie is the executive chairman of Newpower International (Holdings) Co., Ltd. and China Concept Consulting Ltd. He was selected as a member of the National Committee of the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference since 1993. From 2007 to 2013, he acted as a panel convener cum member of the Financial Reporting Review Panel of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”). Mr. Lie is currently the honorary consul of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the HKSAR, the chairman of the Hong Kong-Taiwan Economic and Cultural Cooperation and Promotion Council, a member of the Commission on Strategic Development of the HKSAR, a standing committee member of the China Overseas Friendship Association, a standing director of China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, and a member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC). Currently, Mr. Lie is also an independent non-executive director of Herald Holdings Limited and Harbor Center Development Limited, both of which are listed companies in Hong Kong.

 

Supervisors

 

Our supervisors are elected to represent our employees and shareholders and serve a term of three years or until the election of their respective successors, whichever is earlier. Our supervisors currently comprise Mr. Ye Guohua, Mr. Wu Zuoming and Ms. Shan Shulan.

 

The table and discussion below set forth certain information concerning our supervisors who served on our supervisory committee during the year ended December 31, 2018, and up to the date of this annual report.

 

Name (1) 

Age 

Positions with the Company 

Ye Guohua (2) 50 Chairman of Supervisory Committee
Liu Xiangmin(3) 56 Chairman of Supervisory Committee (resigned)
Wu Zuoming 52 Supervisor
Shan Shulan (4) 47 Supervisor
Wang Jun(5) 48 Supervisor (resigned)

 

 

(1)As of the date of this annual report, we had three supervisors.

(2)Mr. Ye Guohua was elected as a supervisor of the Company at the 2018 second extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on December 11, 2018 and on the same day, elected as the chairman of the supervisory committee at the 15th meeting of the sixth session of the supervisory committee of the Company.

(3)Mr. Liu Xiangmin resigned from the position of the chairman of supervisory committee and ceased to be a supervisor of the Company on December 11, 2018.

(4)Ms. Shan Shulan was elected as a supervisor of the Company at the 2019 first extraordinary general meeting of the Company held on February 20, 2019.

(5)Mr. Wang Jun resigned as a supervisor of the Company and was re-designated as the chief financial officer and the secretary to the Board of the Company on February 20, 2019.

 

Ye Guohua, aged 50, is currently the chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company. Mr. Ye graduated from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, majoring in accounting, with a bachelor degree in economics and is a senior accountant. Mr. Ye has extensive experience in financial management and accounting. He had successively served as the director of accounting department of the refinery of Shanghai Gaoqiao Petrochemical Company, the deputy chief accountant and head of accounting department of Sinopec Shanghai Gaoqiao Branch, the chief financial officer, executive director, a member of the Party Committee, deputy general manager of Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited, the director of accounting department of China Petroleum & Chemical Group Corporation, the chairman of Century Bright International Investment Company, the chairman of Sinopec Insurance Limited, the vice chairman of Taiping & Sinopec Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., a director of Sinopec Finance Co., Ltd., and a director of Sinopec Oilfield Service Corporation. Mr. Ye is also a member of the Communist Party Committee and the chief accountant of Chinalco.

 

88 

 

Wu Zuoming, aged 52, is currently a supervisor of the Company. Mr. Wu holds an MBA degree from Renmin University of China. He is a senior engineer. Mr. Wu has extensive experience in human resource management. He successively acted as the deputy manager of the Personnel Division, Human Resource Department of Chinalco, the person in charge of the Personnel Division, Human Resource Department for the Preparatory Team of Chinalco, the deputy manager of the Personnel Division (Training Division) of Human Resource Department of Chinalco, the deputy manager of Assessment and Training Division, the manager of Employee Management Division and the manager of General Division of the Company, the senior manager of the Human Resource Department (Retired Cadres Department) and the manager of the General Division of Chinalco, the deputy general manager and general manager of the Human Resource Department of the Company, and the deputy secretary of the Communist Party Committee, deputy general manager and the chairman of the labor union of our Guangxi branch. Currently, Mr. Wu also serves as the deputy secretary of the Communist Party Committee and a general manager of Shanxi New Material.

 

Shan Shulan, aged 47, is currently a supervisor of the Company. Ms. Shan graduated from Beijing Institute of Light Industry, majoring in industrial corporate management, with a bachelor degree in engineering. She is a certified public accountant and statistician. Ms. Shan has extensive experience in accounting, finance management and other fields. She successively served as an economic analyst at the economic research office of Beijing Glass Instruments Plant, the financial manager of Beijing CEMFIL Glass Fiber Co. Ltd. under Saint-Gobain in China, the financial manager for Beijing region of Carrefour (China) Co., Ltd., the financial manager for China region of Baker Hughes Centrilift, the financial manager for China region of Microsoft Research Asia (China), and the business director and deputy head of budget division and the head of budget assessment division of the finance department of Chinalco. Ms. Shan currently serves as the deputy director of the finance department of Chinalco. She also concurrently serves as a supervisor of Chinalco Innovative Development Investment Company Limited and a director of Aluminum Corporation of China Overseas Holdings Limited and China Aluminum Insurance Broker (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

 

Senior Management

 

The table and discussion below set forth certain information concerning other members of senior management during the year ended December 31, 2018, and up to the date of this annual report.

 

Name 

Age 

Positions with the Company 

He Zhihui(1) 56 President
Tian Yong(2) 59 Vice President
Wu Maosen(3) 55 Vice President
Xu Bo(4) 54 Vice President (resigned)
Leng Zhengxu(5) 58 Vice President (resigned)
Wang Jun(6) 48 Chief Financial Officer and Secretary to the Board
Zhang Zhankui(7) 60 Chief Financial Officer and Secretary to the Board (resigned)

 

 

(1)On February 21, 2019, Mr. He Zhihui was appointed as the president of the Company and nominated as a candidate for an executive director of the sixth session of the Board at the 39th meeting of the sixth session of the Board of the Company.

(2)On June 6, 2018, Mr. Tian Yong was appointed at the 25th meeting of the sixth session of the Board as the vice president of the Company.

(3)On March 21, 2019, Mr. Wu Maosen was appointed at the 40th meeting of the sixth session of the Board as the vice president of the Company.

(4)Mr. Xu Bo was dismissed from the position of the vice president of the Company due to job re-designation on June 6, 2018.

(5)Mr. Leng Zhengxu was dismissed from the position of the vice president of the Company due to job re-designation on October 26, 2018.

(6)On February 20, 2019, Mr. Wang Jun resigned as a supervisor of the Company and was re-designated as the chief financial officer and the secretary to the Board of the Company at the 38th meeting of the sixth session of the Board of the Company, effective on the same day and from the date on which he has obtained the certificate of the qualifications as a secretary to the board of directors from the Shanghai Stock Exchange, respectively.

(7)Mr. Zhang Zhankui was dismissed from the position of the chief financial officer and the secretary to the Board of the Company due to reaching statutory retirement age on February 20, 2019.

 

89 

 

He Zhihui, aged 56, is currently the president of the Company. Mr. He graduated from Huazhong Institute of Technology with a master’s degree in engineering and is a senior engineer with outstanding performance. Mr. He successively served as an engineer and a deputy director of the power control office, the head of the electric automation institution and the dean of the electric automation branch of Guiyang Aluminum Magnesium Design & Research Institute, the deputy dean and dean of Guiyang Aluminum Magnesium Design & Research Institute, the deputy general manager and general manager of China Aluminum International Engineering Co., Ltd., the chairman of China Nonferrous Metals Processing Technology Co., Ltd., the secretary of the Communist Party Committee, chairman, executive director, president and chairman of the labor union of China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited and an assistant to the general manager of Chinalco.

 

Tian Yong, aged 59, is currently a vice president of the Company. Mr. Tian graduated from Kunming University of Science and Technology, majoring in metallurgical engineering, with a master degree in engineering, and with a senior engineer of outstanding performance. Mr. Tian has extensive experience in smelting and production of non-ferrous metals and corporate management. He successively served as a technician and deputy director of the smelting workshop, and the acting director of No. 2 smelting workshop of Yunnan Aluminum Plant, the chief dispatcher and the head of the dispatching office of Yunnan Aluminum Plant, the head of the fabrication factory, the deputy head and head of the production department as well as the head of the production dispatching office, the assistant to the head of the factory and chief dispatcher, and the head of the production division of Yunnan Aluminum Plant, the deputy head and head of Yunnan Aluminum Plant, the vice chairman and general manager of Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd., deputy general manager and general manager of Yunnan Metallurgical Group Corporation and the general manager and chairman of Yunnan Metallurgical Group Co., Ltd.

 

Wu Maosen, aged 55, is currently a vice president of the Company. Mr. Wu graduated from Dalian Railway College with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, majoring in welding technology and equipment. He is a senior engineer with excellent performance. Mr. Wu has extensive experience in corporate management. He had successively served as the deputy head of the alumina branch, the deputy head of the overhauling branch and the director of the transport department of Shanxi Aluminum Plant, the assistant to the general manager of our Shanxi branch, the deputy commander-in-chief of the engineering and construction command department of Chalco Shanxi, a deputy general manager of Shanxi Huaze, the deputy head and head of Shanxi Aluminum Plant, a director and a general manager and the secretary of the Party Committee of Qinghai Huanghe Hydropower Regeneration Aluminum Co., Ltd., the secretary of the Party Committee, an executive director and general manager of Chalco Asset Operation and Management Company and successively served as an executive director of Chinalco Shanghai, an executive director and the general manager of Chalco Industrial Development Co., Ltd., the chairman of the board of Huaxi Aluminum, the chairman of the board and the general manager of Chalco Investment and Development Co., Ltd., the deputy team-leader of the team aiming at making up deficits and shaking off dilemma, transforming and upgrading of our Shanxi branch and Shanxi Aluminum Plant and the chairman of the board of Chinalco Research Institute of Science and Technology Co., Ltd. Mr. Wu currently also serves as the chairman of the board of Chalco Investment and Development Co., Ltd., the deputy team-leader of the team aiming at making up deficits and shaking off dilemma, transforming and upgrading of our Shanxi branch and Shanxi Aluminum Plant and an executive director of Chinalco Research Institute of Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

 

Wang Jun, aged 48, resigned as a supervisor of the Company on 20 February 2019 and was appointed as the chief financial officer and secretary to the Board (company secretary) of the Company on the same day. Mr. Wang obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Tsinghua University. He is a senior accountant and a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). He has also been admitted to the National Training Program for Accounting Leading Talent Backup. Mr. Wang has worked in grassroots units, overseas companies, listed companies and various departments of the group, and has extensive experience in financial accounting, fund management and capital operation. Mr. Wang successively served as the deputy manager and manager of treasury management division of finance department of Chinalco, the general representative of the Peru office of Chinalco, a director and senior auditing manager of Minera Chinalco Perú S.A., the chief financial officer and the manager of finance department of Chinalco Resources Corporation, the chief financial officer of China Aluminum International Engineering Co., Ltd., an executive director, the chief financial officer and the secretary to the board of directors of China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited, the deputy chief accountant, general manager of finance department and capital operating department of Chinalco and a supervisor of the Company. Mr. Wang is currently the chairman of the supervisory committee of China Rare Earth Holdings Limited and a director of China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited, Chinalco Assets Operation and Management Co., Ltd., Chinalco Capital Holdings Co., Ltd. and Chinalco Finance. He is also a director and the president of Aluminum Corporation of China Overseas Holdings Limited.

 

90 

 

B.            Compensation

 

Executive Compensation

 

Executive directors are entitled to a director’s fee, performance bonuses and welfare benefits provided under the relevant PRC laws and regulations. Non-executive directors are entitled only to a director’s fees. In 2018, the aggregate amount of cash compensation paid by us to our directors, supervisors and other members of senior management for services performed in connection with their respective capacities above was approximately RMB2.1 million, RMB0.7 million and RMB2.4 million, respectively. Our executive directors and supervisors who are employees also receive compensation in the form of housing allowances, other allowances and benefits and contributions to their pension plans. None of the service contracts of our directors provide benefits to our directors upon their termination.

 

Details of the emoluments paid to our directors and supervisors during the year ended December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

Name of Directors and Supervisors 

Fees 

  

Salary 

  

Bonus 

  

Pension 

  

Total 

 
    RMB(ʼ000)    RMB(ʼ000)    RMB(ʼ000)    RMB(ʼ000)    RMB(ʼ000) 
Directors                         
Executive Directors                         
Yu Dehui                     
Lu Dongliang                     
Jiang Yinggang        762        90    852 
Zhu Runzhou        438        54    492 
                          
Non-Executive Directors                         
Ao Hong                     
Wang Jun    150                150 
                          
Independent Non-Executive Directors                         
Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David    202                202 
Chen Lijie    202                202 
Hu Shihai    202                202 
Subtotal    756    1,200        144    2,100 
                          
Supervisors                         
Ye Guohua                     
Wu Zuoming        649        90    739 
Wang Jun                     
Subtotal        649        90    739 
Total    756    1,849        234    2,839 

 

91 

 

Senior Management Incentive System

 

In order to better provide incentives for our senior management and improve our shareholders’ value, we adopted a special compensation system for our senior management designed to align our senior management’s financial interests with our operating performance. Under this system, the senior management’s compensation consists of the following components:

 

basic salaries;

 

performance bonuses;

 

welfare benefits; and

 

incentive bonuses.

 

C.            Board Practices

 

Board of Directors

 

All of our directors and supervisors serve a term of three years or until such later date as their successors are elected or appointed. Directors and supervisors may serve consecutive terms. Each of our directors and supervisors has entered into a service contract with us, none of which can be terminated by us within one year without payment of compensation (other than statutory compensation). There were no arrangements providing for benefits upon termination of directors, supervisors or other senior management personnel. One of the supervisors is an employee representative appointed by our employees and the rest are appointed by the shareholders. The following table sets forth the number of years our current directors have held their positions and the expiration of their current term.

 

Name 

Held Position Since 

Expiration of Term 

Lu Dongliang June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019
Jiang Yinggang June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019
Zhu Runzhou December 11, 2018 June 30, 2019
Ao Hong June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019
Wang Jun June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019
Chen Lijie June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019
Hu Shihai June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019
Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David June 28, 2016 June 30, 2019

 

Audit Committee

 

As at the date of this annual report, our audit committee consists of three independent non-executive directors, namely, Ms. Chen Lijie, Mr. Hu Shihai and Mr. Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David. Mr. Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David is the chairman of the audit committee.

 

The primary duties of our audit committee as set out in the committee charter include proposing to engage or replace the auditor, supervising our internal audit and its implementation, being responsible for the communication between the internal audit and external audit, auditing our financial information and its disclosure, reviewing the Company’s financial control, internal control and risk management systems, studying on our other relevant professional matters, and putting forward suggestions for the decisions of the Board for reference.

 

Remuneration Committee

 

As at the date of this annual report, our remuneration committee consists of two independent non-executive directors, Mr. Hu Shihai and Mr. Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David. Mr. Hu Shihai is the chairman of the remuneration committee. In 2018, Mr. Liu Caiming was also a member of our remuneration committee until his resignation as a non-executive director of the Company on May 25, 2018. The primary duties of our remuneration committee as set out in the committee charter include: preparing the remuneration management scheme and remuneration proposal for directors, employee-representative supervisors and senior management, and providing suggestions to the Board; preparing measures on performance evaluation of senior management, performance assessment procedures and relevant rewards and punishments, and providing suggestions to the Board; monitoring the implementation of the remuneration system of our Company; reviewing senior management’s fulfilment of duties and conducting performance assessments; and other functions and authorities delegated by the Board. In 2018, the remuneration committee convened one meeting, to consider and approve remuneration standards for 2018 for our directors, supervisors and other senior management members.

92 

 

We follow our home country practice in relation to the composition of our remuneration committee in reliance on the exemption provided under NYSE Corporate Governance Rule 303A.00 available to foreign private issuers. Our home country practice does not require us to establish a remuneration committee which must be composed entirely of independent directors.

 

Nomination Committee

 

As at the date of this annual report, our nomination committee consists of one non-executive director, namely Mr. Ao Hong, and three independent non-executive directors, namely Mr. Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David, Mr. Hu Shihai and Ms. Chen Lijie. In 2018, Mr. Yu Dehui was also a member and the chairman of our nomination committee. Mr. Yu Dehui resigned from the positions of the chairman of the Board and the executive director of the Company and from all other positions in each of the special committees under the Board on February 21, 2019.

The primary duties of our nomination committee as set out in the committee charter include: studying the selection standards and procedures for directors, senior management and members of special committees under the Board and providing suggestions to the Board; reviewing the qualification of candidates for directors, senior management and members of special committees under the Board and providing advice on inspection and appointment; assessing the independence of independent non-executive directors; and other functions and authorities delegated by the Board.

 

We follow our home country practice in relation to the composition of our nomination committee in reliance on the exemption provided under NYSE Corporate Governance Rule 303A.00 available to foreign private issuers. Our home country practice does not require us to establish a nomination committee which must be composed entirely of independent directors.

 

Development and Planning Committee

 

As at the date of this annual report, our development and planning committee consists of one executive director, namely Mr. Jiang Yinggang, one non-executive director, namely Mr. Ao Hong, and one independent non-executive director, namely Mr. Hu Shihai. In 2018, Mr. Yu Dehui was also a member and the chairman of our development and planning committee. Mr. Yu Dehui resigned from the positions of the chairman of the Board and the executive director of the Company and from all other positions in each of the special committees under the Board on February 21, 2019. In accordance with the committee charter, the committee reviews and assesses our strategic plans for long-term development, fiscal budgeting, investment, business operations and investments returns.

Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Committee

 

As at the date of this annual report, our occupational health and safety and environmental committee consists of two executive directors, namely Mr. Lu Dongliang and Mr. Jiang Yinggang, and one non-executive director, namely Mr. Wang Jun, with Mr. Jiang Yinggang as the chairman. This committee considers our annual planning on health, environmental protection and safety, supervises our implementation of the planning on health, environmental protection and safety initiatives, makes inquiries into serious incidents and inspects and supervises the handling of such incidents and makes recommendations to the Board on major decisions on health, environmental protection and safety.

 

Supervisory Committee

 

As at the date of this annual report, our supervisory committee consists of three supervisors, namely Mr. Ye Guohua and Ms. Shan Shulan as our shareholder representative supervisors and Mr. Wu Zuoming as the employee representative supervisor. Mr. Ye Guohua is the chairman of our supervisory committee. During 2018, Mr. Liu Xiangmin and Mr. Wang Jun were our shareholders representative supervisors and Mr. Liu Xiangmin was the chairman of our supervisory committee. Mr. Liu Xiangmin resigned from the position of a supervisor of the Company and the chairman of supervisory committee on December 11, 2018. Mr. Wang Jun resigned as a supervisor of the Company on February 20, 2019. The term of all members of the supervisory committee will expire upon conclusion of the 2018 annual general meeting. The primary duties of our supervisory committee include: inspecting implementation of resolutions of the general meetings; inspecting legal compliance of our operations; inspecting our financial activities; inspecting the utilization of proceeds raised by us; inspecting the acquisitions and disposals of our assets; inspecting our connected transactions; and reviewing self-assessment report on internal control.

93 

 

D.Employees

 

As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, we had 65,755, 64,794 and 65,211 employees, respectively. The number of our employees increased from 2017 to 2018, which was mainly due to increasing demand for human resources arising from our newly completed projects. The table below sets forth the number of our employees by function and location as of the periods indicated:

 

   As of December 31, 
   2016   2017   2018 
Function      (%)       (%)       (%) 
Alumina production    29,783    45.29    27,808    42.91    28,038    43.00 
Primary aluminum production    22,473    34.18    23,648    36.50    23,630    36.24 
Mining operation    2,696    4.10    2,657    4.10    2,700    4.14 
Research and development    986    1.50    991    1.53    1,024    1.57 
Sales and marketing    487    0.74    544    0.84    548    0.84 
Energy    5,792    8.81    5,790    8.94    5,997    9.20 
Management and others(1)    3,538    5.38    3,356    5.18    3,274    5.02 
Total    65,755    100.00    64,794    100.00    65,211    100.0 

 

 

(1)Excluding our management personnel for alumina production, and primary aluminum production.

 

Location  Employees   % of Total 
Shandong    7,593    11.64 
Chalco Shandong    5,809    8.91 
Shandong Huayu    1,784    2.74 
Henan    11,193    17.16 
Chalco Mining    6,209    9.52 
Zhongzhou Aluminum    4,317    6.62 
Zhengzhou Institute    667    1.02 
Guizhou    7,268    11.15 
Guizhou Huajin    795    1.22 
Guizhou branch    3,784    5.80 
Zunyi Aluminum    2,045    3.14 
Guizhou Huaren    644    0.99 
Guangxi    2,569    3.94 
Guangxi branch    2,569    3.94 
Shanxi    10,624    16.29 
Shanxi branch    2,604    3.99 
Shanxi Huasheng    1,659    2.54 
Shanxi New Material    5,147    7.89 
Shanxi Xinghua Technology    458    0.70 
Shanxi Huaxing    74    0.11 
Shanxi Zhongrun    682    1.05 
Gansu    6,494    9.96 
Lanzhou Aluminum    3,033    4.65 
Gansu Hualu    1,266    1.94 
Liancheng branch    2,195    3.37 
Liaoning    1,342    2.06 
Fushun Aluminum    1,342    2.06 
Qinghai    3,389    5.20 
Qinghai branch    3,389    5.20 
Chongqing    219    0.34 
Chongqing branch    219    0.34 
Inner Mongolia    5,661    8.68 
Baotou Aluminum    5,661    8.68 

 

94

 

Location  Employees   % of Total 
Ningxia    5,646    8.66 
Ningxia Energy    5,646    8.66 
Shanghai    22    0.03 
Chalco Shanghai    22    0.03 
Beijing    2,938    4.51 
Chalco Trading    349    0.54 
Chalco Energy    351    0.54 
Chalco Logistics    2,238    3.43 
Others    32    0.05 
Headquarters    221    0.34 
Total    65,211    100.00 

 

We have workers’ unions at the plant level that protect employees’ rights and welfare benefits, organize educational programs, encourage employee participation in management decisions and mediate disputes between individual employees and us. All employees are union members. We have not experienced any strikes or other labor disturbances that have interfered with our operations and we believe that we maintain good relationships with our employees.

 

The remuneration package of our employees includes salary, bonuses and allowances. Employees also receive welfare benefits including medical care, housing subsidies, childcare and education, retirement and other miscellaneous items.

 

In accordance with applicable PRC regulations, we participate in pension contribution plans organized by provincial and municipal governments, under which each of our plants is required to contribute an amount equal to a specified percentage of its employees’ salaries, bonuses and various allowances. The amount of contribution as a percentage of the employees’ salary is, on average, approximately 20% depending in part on the location of the plant. We have made all required pension contributions up to December 31, 2018. Retirees who retired prior to the date of the reorganization will have their pensions paid out of the pension plans established by the PRC government. We provide to our employees various social welfare benefits through various institutions owned by Chinalco and its other affiliates or through third parties.

 

E.Share Ownership

 

As of the date of this annual report, the following directors, supervisors or senior management own an interest in shares of our Company:

 

Name  Position  Share class   Number of shares   % of respective share class 
Jiang Yinggang  Executive Director and Senior Vice President   A Share    10,000    <0.1% 

 

95

 

Item 7.Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

 

A.Major Shareholders

 

We are a joint stock limited company organized under the laws of the PRC. Our parent company, Chinalco, a state-owned enterprise, beneficially owns 32.06% of our outstanding ordinary Shares directly and indirectly through its controlled entities as of March 31, 2019. Chinalco holds a significant portion of our domestic shares in the form of state legal person shares, which do not have voting rights different from our other shares. Chinalco has substantial influence over our management, policies and corporate actions and can exercise all rights as our controlling shareholder subject to the relevant laws, rules and regulations. As of March 31, 2019, approximately 67.94% of our total outstanding ordinary Shares are held by public shareholders, of which 45.72% and 22.22% are owned by holders of A Shares and H Shares, respectively. The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of our issued and outstanding capital stock as of March 31, 2019. The table includes all persons who are known by us to own, either as beneficial owners or holders of record, five percent or more of any class of shares.

   March 31, 2019
Holders of A Shares and H Shares  Number of
shares
 

% of
respective
share class(1)

 

% of issued
total share
capital(2)

Chinalco(3)               
A Shares    5,295,895,019(L)(4)   40.49(L)   31.11(L)
H Shares    162,276,000(L)   4.11(L)   0.95(L)
                
BlackRock, Inc.               
H Shares    314,898,217(L)(5)   7.98(L)   1.85(L)
    1,590,000(S)(5)(6)   0.04(S)   

<0.01

(S) 
The Capital Group Companies, Inc.               
H Shares    275,175,500(L)(7)   6.98(L)   1.62(L)
                
Citigroup Inc.               
H Shares    198,266,233(L)(8)   5.02(L)   1.16(L)
    31,557,010(S)(8)   0.80(S)   0.19(S)
    160,214,084(P)(8)(9)   4.06(P)   0.94(P)

 

 

(1)The total number of our A Shares is 13,078,706,983 and the total number of our H Shares is 3,943,965,968.
(2)The number of our total issued shares is 17,022,672,951 shares.
(3)Including 5,050,376,970 A Shares directly held by Chinalco, an aggregate interest of 245,518,049 A Shares directly held by various controlled subsidiaries of Chinalco, comprising 238,377,795 A Shares held by Baotou Aluminum Group and 7,140,254 A Shares held by Chalco Shanxi Aluminum Co., Ltd. and an interest of 162,276,000 H Shares directly held by Aluminum Corporation of China Overseas Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Chinalco.
(4)The letter “L” denotes a long position.
(5)These interests were held directly by various corporations controlled by BlackRock, Inc.
(6)The letter “S” denotes a short position.
(7)These interests were held directly by Capital Research and Management Company controlled by The Capital Group Companies, Inc.
(8)These interests were held directly by various corporations controlled by Citigroup Inc.
(9)The letter “P” denotes a lending pool.

 

We are not aware of any arrangement that may on a subsequent date result in a change of control of Chalco. We have completed the Asset Restructuring through capital contributions by several investors to our subsidiaries and subsequent issuance of additional A Shares to these investors to purchase their entire stake in these subsidiaries. On February 25, 2019, we issued to the investors approximately 2.1 billion A Shares in aggregate, representing approximately 12.45% of the enlarged total issued share capital of the Company. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company - Subscription of Equity Interest of Certain Subsidiaries and Subsequent Issuance of Additional A Shares” for detailed information of the Asset Restructuring.

 

As of March 31, 2019, there were 45 registered holders of ADRs evidencing 5,346,033 of our ADSs.

 

As an owner of at least 30% of our issued and outstanding shares, the parent company is deemed a controlling shareholder and therefore may not exercise its voting rights with respect to various matters related to our shares in a manner prejudicial to the interests of our other shareholders. See “Item 10. Additional Information - B. Memorandum and Articles of Association.” In accordance with our Articles of Association, each share of our capital stock has one vote and the shares of the same class have the same rights. Other than the foregoing restrictions, the voting rights of our major holders of domestic and H Shares are identical to those of any other holders of the same class of shares. Holders of domestic shares and H Shares are deemed to be shareholders of different classes for some matters, which may affect their respective interests. Other than the foregoing, holders of H Shares and domestic shares are entitled to the same voting rights.

 

96

 

B.Related Party Transactions

 

Connected Transactions under Hong Kong Listing Rules

 

Under the Listing Rules, transactions between connected persons and us, or connected transactions, generally must be reported to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, announced to the public and/or approved by shareholders unless the foregoing requirements are waived by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or exempted under the Listing Rules. Each year our independent non-executive directors must review our non-exempt continuing transactions and confirm that these transactions have been entered into:

 

(i)in the ordinary and usual course of our business;

 

(ii)with the terms of the transaction being fair and reasonable as far as our shareholders are concerned;

 

(iii)either on normal commercial terms or, if there are not sufficient comparable transactions to judge whether they are on normal commercial terms, on terms no less favorable to us than terms available to or from (as appropriate) independent third parties; and

 

(iv)in accordance with the relevant agreement governing them on terms that are fair and reasonable and in the interests of our shareholders as a whole.

 

Although the definition of connected transactions is not synonymous with the definition of related party transactions, the concepts are sufficiently similar that the description of our connected transactions would satisfy disclosure requirements under U.S. securities laws.

 

The following table sets forth the details of our material connected transactions for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Agreement

Nature

Term of the Agreement

Transaction
Amount
in 2018

Cap
for 2018

Connected Transactions     (RMB in millions) (RMB in millions)
Comprehensive Social and Logistics Services Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco) Chinalco provides us with a broad range of social and logistics services including education and schooling, public transportation and property management. The original agreement was entered on November 5, 2001, and expired on December 31, 2012. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2012, the term was renewed and expired on December 31, 2015. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2015, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 312

Annual

cap: 550

         
General Agreement on Mutual Provision of Production Supplies and Ancillary Services (Counterparty: Chinalco) We purchase from Chinalco ancillary production supplies and services which include, among other things, various raw materials required in alumina and primary aluminum production, transportation and loading services and production supporting services. The original agreement was entered on into November 5, 2001, and expired on December 31, 2012. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2012, the term was renewed and entered on December 31, 2015. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2015, the term was renewed for three years from January, 1 2016 to December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 4,495

Annual

cap: 6,950

         

 

97

 

Agreement

Nature

Term of the Agreement

Transaction
Amount
in 2018

Cap
for 2018

Connected Transactions     (RMB in millions) (RMB in millions)
Mineral Supply Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco) Chinalco provides us with bauxite and limestone from several mines that it operates. Chinalco must not provide bauxite and limestone to bauxite and limestone requirements. The original agreement was entered on November 5, 2001, and expired on December 31, 2012. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2012, the term was renewed and expired in December 31, 2015. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2015, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 11

Annual

cap: 360

         
Provision of Engineering, Construction and Supervisory Services Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco) Chinalco provides us with certain engineering, construction and supervisory services at the state guidance price and, where there is no state guidance price, at market price. Such services are mainly provided by subsidiaries of Chinalco including China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited. The original agreement was entered on November 5, 2001, and expired on December 31, 2012. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2012, the term was renewed and expired on December 31, 2015. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2015, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 1,993

Annual

cap: 10,000

         
Land Use Rights Leasing Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco) Chinalco leases 470 parcels of land covering an aggregate area of approximately 61.2 million square meters and spanning across eight provinces in the PRC to us. The original agreement was entered on November 5, 2001, for a term of 50 years, expiring on June 30, 2051. 412

Annual

cap: 1,200

         

 

98

 

Agreement

Nature

Term of the Agreement

Transaction
Amount
in 2018

Cap
for 2018

Connected Transactions     (RMB in millions) (RMB in millions)
Fixed Assets Leases Framework Contract (Counterparty: Chinalco) We have agreed with Chinalco to provide leases to each other regarding buildings, constructions, machinery, apparatus, transportation facilities as well as equipment, appliance or tools and other fixed assets owned by either party in relation to production and operation. The original agreement was entered into on April 28, 2015 and expired on December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 34

Annual

cap: 110

         
Financial Services Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco Finance) Chinalco Finance has agreed with Chinalco to provide us with deposit services, credit services and miscellaneous financial services. We have the right to choose the financial institution for financial services and the financial institution for deposit services and loan services as well as the amounts of loans and deposits with reference to our own needs. Chinalco Finance undertakes that the terms for the provision of financial services to us at any time would be no less favorable than those of the same type of financial services provided by Chinalco Finance to Chinalco and other subsidiaries of Chinalco or those of the same type of financial services that may be provided to us by other financial institutions. The original agreement expired on August 25, 2012, for a term of 1 year. Pursuant to the financial services agreement renewed on August 24, 2012, the term was extended and expired on August 25, 2015. Pursuant to the financial services agreement renewed on April 28, 2015, the term was renewed for a term of 3 years from August 26, 2015, and was amended and replaced as a whole by a new financial services agreement. The new financial services agreement was entered on October 26, 2017, for a term of 3 years, expiring on October 25, 2020.

9,102

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,755

 

 

 

 

 


Daily cap of deposit balance

(including accrued interests):

12,000

 

Daily cap of loan balance (including accrued interests):

15,000

 

Other financial services: 50

         
Finance Lease Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco Finance Lease Co., Ltd.) Chinalco Finance Lease Co., Ltd. provides finance lease services to the Group. The original finance lease framework agreement was entered into between the Company and Chinalco Lease on August 27, 2015, with a term from August 27, 2015, to December 31, 2016. A new finance lease framework agreement was entered into between the Company and Chinalco Lease on November 13,2015, with a term of 3 years from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 1,088 10,000
         

 

99

 

Agreement

Nature

Term of the Agreement

Transaction
Amount
in 2018

Cap
for 2018

Connected Transactions     (RMB in millions) (RMB in millions)

Factoring Cooperation Agreement

(Counterparty: Chinalco Commercial Factoring (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.)

Chinalco Commercial Factoring (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. provides factoring financing services to the Company. The original agreement was entered on September 27, 2017, and expired on December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 1,000

Annual

cap: 1,300

         
General Agreement on Mutual Provision of Production Supplies And Ancillary Services (Counterparty: Chinalco) Supplies and ancillary services. The original agreement was entered into on November 5, 2001, and expired on December 31, 2012. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2012, the term was renewed and expired on December 31, 2015. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2015, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 11,867

Annual

cap: 16,400

         
Fixed Assets Leases Framework Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco) We have agreed to provide leases to each other regarding buildings, constructions, machinery, apparatus, transportation facilities as well as equipment, appliance or tools and other fixed assets owned by either party in relation to production and operation. Pursuant to the original agreement entered into on April 28, 2015, the term is from January 1, 2016 to December 31 2018, for a term of three years. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2018, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. 32

Annual

cap: 100

         
Labor Services and Engineering Services Agreement (Counterparty: Chinalco) Services provided by the Company to Chinalco: engineering design services, equipment repairs, logistics management services, etc. The original agreement expired in June 27, 2016. Pursuant to the supplementary agreement entered into in 2016, the term was renewed for three years from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018. 6

Annual

cap: 500

         
Labor Services and Engineering Services Framework Agreement (Counterparty: Chalco Steering Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.) Chalco Steering Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. provides us with engineering services and labor services which include, among other things, equipment repairs, intelligent industrial design and maintenance. Pursuant to the agreement entered into on September 17, 2018, the term is from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020, for a term of three years. 2

Annual

cap: 56

         

 

100

 

All transactions with related parties are conducted at prices and terms mutually agreed by the parties involved, which are determined as follows:

 

(a)Sales of materials and finished goods comprised sales of alumina, primary aluminum, copper and scrap materials. Transactions entered are covered by general agreements on mutual provision of production supplies and ancillary services. The pricing policy is summarized below:

 

(1)The price prescribed by the PRC government (“State-prescribed price”) is adopted;

 

(2)If there is neither a state-prescribed price nor a state-guidance price, then the market price (being price charged to and from independent third parties) is adopted; and

 

(3)If none of the above is available, then the adoption of a contractual price (being reasonable costs incurred in providing the relevant services plus not more than 5% of such costs is adopted).

 

(b)Utility services, including electricity, gas, heat and water, are supplied at State-prescribed prices.

 

(c)Engineering, project construction and supervisory services were provided for construction projects of the Group. The state-guidance price or prevailing market price (including the tender price where by way of tender) is adopted for pricing purposes.

 

(d)The pricing policy for purchases of key and auxiliary materials (including bauxite, limestone, carbon, cement and coal) is the same as that set out in (i) above.

 

(e)Social services and logistics services provided by Chinalco Group cover public security, fire services, education and training, school and hospital services, cultural and physical education, newspaper and magazines, broadcasting and printing as well as property management, environmental and hygiene, greenery, nurseries and kindergartens, sanatoriums, canteens and offices, public transport and retirement management and other services. Provisions of these services are covered by the Comprehensive Social and Logistics Services Agreement. The pricing policy is the same as that set out in (a) above.

 

(f)Pursuant to the Land Use Rights Lease Agreements entered into between Chinalco Group and us, operating leases for industrial or commercial land are charged at the market rent rate. The Group also entered into a building rental agreement with Chinalco Group and pays rent based on the market rate for its lease of buildings owned by Chinalco.

 

(g)The pricing policy for product processing services is the same as that set out in (a) above.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, our significant transactions with other state-owned enterprises (excluding Chinalco and its subsidiaries) constituted a large portion of our sales of goods and purchases of raw materials, electricity, property, plant and equipment and services. In addition, substantially all restricted cash, time deposits, cash and cash equivalents and borrowings as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the relevant interest earned or paid during the year are transacted with banks and other financial institutions which are controlled by the PRC government.

 

101

 

We provide the following additional information on material related party transactions during the periods indicated:

 

(a)Significant related party transactions

 

   For the year ended December 31 
   2016   2017   2018 
   (RMB in thousands) 
Sales of goods and services rendered:            
Sales of materials and finished goods to:            
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    10,319,958    10,658,507    11,248,625 
Associates of Chinalco    688,308    682,992    897,642 
Joint ventures    648,145    2,031,159    4,462,670 
Associates    605,449    724,658    2,626,780 
    12,261,860    14,097,316    19,235,717 
Provision of utility services to:               
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    567,628    581,566    620,552 
Associates of Chinalco    4,444    8,776    15,719 
Joint Ventures    3,031    118,280    186,672 
Associates    584    1,122    24,309 
    575,687    709,744    847,252 
Provision of engineering, construction and supervisory services to:               
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    101,323    77,095    5,981 
Joint ventures    41,423    2,046     
Associates            1,725 
    142,746    79,141    7,706 
Rental revenue of land use rights and buildings to:               
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    33,231    40,875    31,551 
Associates of Chinalco        426    1,545 
Associates            1,511 
    33,231    41,301    34,607 
Purchase of goods and services:               
Purchases of engineering, construction and supervisory services from:               
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    1,525,349    1,071,283    2,088,338 
Joint ventures            2,100 
Associates        134,072    405,993 
    1,525,349    1,205,355    2,496,431 
                
Purchases of key and auxiliary materials and finished goods from:               
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    1,660,529    3,850,073    3,513,420 
Associates of Chinalco            18,917 
Joint ventures    3,799,116    6,516,087    8,182,251 
Associates    31,413    1,175    2,108,072 
    5,491,058    10,367,335    13,822,660 
                
Provision of social services and logistics services by:  Chinalco and its subsidiaries    307,354    326,830    312,062 
                
Provision of utilities services by:
Chinalco and its subsidiaries
   686,474    1,412,722    992,827 
Associates of Chinalco            96,510 
Joint Ventures    3,386    19,537    26,269 

 

102

 

   For the year ended December 31 
   2016   2017   2018 
   (RMB in thousands) 
Associates            77,432 
    689,860    1,432,259    1,193,038 
                
Provision of other services by:             
A joint venture    151,552    269,204    226,280 
Rental expenses for buildings and land use rights charged by:            
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    511,001    509,848    501,866 
Joint ventures    126         
    511,127    509,848    501,866 
                
Other significant related party transactions:               
Borrowing from a subsidiary of Chinalco    5,145,959    4,010,000    6,525,000 
Interest expense on borrowings, discounted notes and factoring arrangement from subsidiaries of Chinalco    226,118    225,934    143,415 
Entrusted loan and other borrowings to:               
Joint ventures    212,400    500,000     
An associate        1,100,000     
    212,400    1,600,000     
Interest income on entrusted loan and other borrowings to:               
Joint ventures    31,373    41,005     
An associate        24,425     
    31,373    65,430     
Interest income from the unpaid disposal proceeds from: Chinalco and its subsidiaries    246,149    117,587     
Disposal of assets under a sale and leaseback contract to a subsidiary of Chinalco    1,040,000    600,000    224,000 
Finance lease under a sale and leaseback contract from a subsidiary of Chinalco    1,040,036    600,036    224,000 
Trade receivable factoring arrangement from a subsidiary of Chinalco        1,570,000    470,101 
Discounted notes receivable to a subsidiary of Chinalco    40,200    523,253    756,000 
Provision of financial guarantees to:               
Joint ventures    24,245    18,350    12,450 
                
Financial guarantees provided by:
Subsidiaries of Chinalco
   23,000    4,000     

 

(b)Balances with related parties

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2018 
Cash and cash equivalents deposited with          
A subsidiary of Chinalco    7,679,806    9,101,541 
Trade and notes receivables          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    1,483,984    1,278,715 
Associates of Chinalco    2,000    18,655 
Joint ventures    591,488    819,878 
Associates    96,574    6,615 
    2,174,046    2,123,863 
Provision for impairment of receivables    (78,388)   (77,657)
    2,095,658    2,046,206 
Other current assets          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    623,254    830,615 

 

103

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2018 
Joint ventures    1,737,644    1,424,678 
Associates    1,132,138    29,701 
    3,493,036    2,284,994 
Provision for impairment of other current assets    (48,166)   (40,830)
    3,444,870    2,244,164 
Other non-current assets          
Joint ventures    97,103     
Associates    111,845    111,845 
    208,948    111,845 
Borrowings and finance lease payable          
Subsidiaries of Chinalco    3,329,807    4,373,033 
A joint venture    190,000     
    3,519,807    4,373,033 
Trade and notes payables          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    332,701    404,278 
Joint ventures    413,533    631,570 
Associates    7,222    13,033 
Associates of Chinalco       4,012 
    753,456    1,052,893 
Other payables and accrued liabilities          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries    2,652,249    1,887,010 
Associates of Chinalco    5,030    17,128 
Associates    218,560    148,978 
Joint ventures    101,828    8,860 
    2,977,667    2,061,976 
Contract liabilities          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries        22,307 
Associates of Chinalco        20 
Associates        12,451 
Joint ventures        94,367 
        129,145 
           

Guarantees

 

We provided guarantees to our related parties to guarantee their loans during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The outstanding balance of the loans we guaranteed was RMB12.45 million as of March 31, 2019 and the largest amount outstanding of the loans we guaranteed during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 was RMB18.35 million. The interest rates on such loans range from 2.3% to 6.53% per annum.

 

Our related parties also provided guarantees to us to guarantee our loans during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The outstanding balance of the loans guaranteed by our related parties was RMB668 million as of March 31, 2019 and the largest amount outstanding of the loans guaranteed by our related parties during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 was RMB668 million. The interest rate on such loan range from 6.4% to 6.4125% per annum.

Loans

 

We provided several entrusted loans to our related parties mainly for the purpose of supplementing working capital during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The outstanding balance of such entrusted loans was mainly RMB675 million as of March 31, 2019 and the largest amount outstanding of the entrusted loans during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 was RMB675 million. The interest rates on such entrusted loans range from 4.3% to 10% per annum. 

104

 

Our related party also provided several loans to us mainly for the purpose of supplementing working capital during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. The outstanding balance of such loans was RMB4.14 billion as of March 31, 2019 and the largest amount outstanding of the loans during the period from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 was RMB4.74 billion. The interest rates on such loans range from 4.35% to 5.23% per annum.

C.Interests of Experts and Counsel

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8.Financial Information

 

A.Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

 

We have appended our consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

We are not currently a party to any pending legal proceedings which are expected to have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations, nor are we aware of any proceedings that are pending or threatened which may have a significant effect on our financial position or results of operations. We may from time to time become a party to various legal or administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business.

 

Dividend Policy

 

Under the Company Law of the PRC and our Articles of Association, all of our shareholders have equal rights to dividends and distributions. The holders of the H Shares share proportionately on a per share basis in all dividends and other distributions declared by our Board. Any final dividend for a fiscal year is subject to shareholders’ approval. Cash dividends, if made, are declared in Renminbi with respect to H Shares on a per share basis and paid in HK dollars. The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, converts the HK dollar dividend payments and distributes them to holders of ADSs in U.S. dollars, less expenses of conversion.

We believe that our dividend policy strikes a balance between two important goals of providing our shareholders with a competitive return on investment and assuring sufficient reinvestment of profits to enable us to achieve our strategic objectives. The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board, which takes into account the following factors:

our financial results;
capital requirements;
contractual restrictions on the payment of dividends by us to our shareholders or by our subsidiaries to us;
our shareholders’ interests;
the effect on our creditworthiness;
general business conditions; and
other factors our Board may deem relevant.

Under our current profit distribution policy as set forth in our Articles of Association, the basic principles of such policy include (i) giving adequate consideration to return to investors and making dividend to shareholders in an applicable percentage of the distributable profits, (ii) maintaining the continuity and stability of our dividend policy, while taking into consideration of our interests in the long term and the overall interests of all shareholders, as well as our sustainable development; and (iii) giving priority to dividend in cash.

More specifically, under such policy, we may make dividends in cash, in shares or in a combination of both cash and shares. Subject to conditions, we may make interim profit distributions. Save in exceptional circumstances , if our profit for the year and our cumulative undistributed profit are positive, we may make dividend in cash and (i) the profit to be distributed in cash per annum will not be less than 10% of the distributable profit realized for that year, or (ii) the total profit to be distributed in cash in the past three years will not be less than 30% of the average annual distributable profit realized in the past three years.

Pursuant to PRC laws and regulations, dividends may only be distributed after allowance has been made for: (1) recovery of losses, if any and (2) allocations to the statutory surplus reserve. The allocations to the statutory surplus reserve is 10% of our net profit determined in accordance with PRC Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, unless the accumulated statutory surplus reserve exceeds 50% of our registered share capital, in which case the surplus reserve is discretional.

See “Item 10. Additional Information - E. Taxation” for a discussion of the tax consequences of receipt of dividends.

B.Significant Changes

 

Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements which is included in this annual report.

 

105

 

Item 9.The Offer and Listing

 

Our A Shares are traded under the stock code “601600” in the Shanghai Stock Exchange, as our principal host market, while our H Shares are traded under the stock code “02600” in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as the principal market for our H Shares. The ADSs have been issued by the Bank of New York Mellon, acting as depositary bank, and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ACH” with each ADS representing 25 H Shares.

 

In connection with the proposed Asset Restructuring, the trading of A Shares of the Company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange was suspended from September 12, 2017 to February 25, 2018. For more information regarding the Asset Restructuring, see “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company - Subscription of Equity Interest of Certain Subsidiaries and Subsequent Issuance of Additional A Shares.”

 

Item 10. Additional Information

 

A.                  Share Capital

 

Not applicable.

 

B.                  Memorandum and Articles of Association

 

The following is a summary of certain provisions of our Articles of Association, as amended. Such summary does not purport to be complete. For further information, you and your advisors should refer to the text of our Articles of Association, as amended, and to the texts of applicable laws and regulations. A copy of our Articles of Association is filed as an exhibit to this annual report.

 

Our objects and purposes

 

Our Articles of Association as amended from time to time are filed with the Hong Kong Companies Registrar. Our business purpose and business scope can be found in Article 13 and Article 14, respectively, of our Articles of Association.

 

Directors’ power to vote on matters in which he or she has an interest

 

Under Article 174, a director shall not vote in any resolution of the board of directors for approving any contract, transaction or arrangement in which such director or any of his associates (as defined in the applicable rules governing the listing of securities amended from time to time) is materially interested, and shall not be counted into the quorum of the meeting either. Unless the interested director has disclosed his or her interest to the board of directors in accordance with the Article 174 and the contract, transaction or arrangement has been approved by the board of directors at a meeting in which the interested director is not counted in the quorum and has refrained from voting, a contract, transaction or arrangement in which such director is materially interested is voidable at the instance of our Company except as against a bona fide party thereto acting without notice of the breach of duty by such director.

 

Borrowing powers

 

Subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the PRC, we have the power to raise and borrow money which power includes (without limitation) the issuance of debentures and the charging or mortgaging of part or whole of our business or properties and other rights permitted. The Articles of Association do not contain any specific provision in respect of the manner in which borrowing powers may be exercised by the directors nor do they contain any specific provision in respect of the manner in which such powers may be varied, other than (a) provisions which give the directors the power to formulate proposals for the issuance of debentures by us; (b) Article 87(2), which provides that the issuance of bonds must be approved by the shareholders in a general meeting by way of a special resolution; and (c) Article 112(4), which provides that the directors have the power to formulate our annual final financial budgets and final accounts which shall be passed by over half of the directors.

 

106

 

Age limit for retirement

 

There is no provision pertaining to the retirement of directors pursuant to an age limit requirement in our Articles of Association.

 

Directors’ qualifying shares

 

Under Article 107, the directors are not required to hold any qualifying shares.

 

Dividend rights

 

Article 55(1) provides that holders of our ordinary shares have the right to receive dividends and distribution of profits in other forms, in proportion to the number of shares held. Under Article 49, when we convene a general shareholders’ meeting, allocate dividends, liquidate or perform other activities that require the verification of equity rights, the Board or the general meeting convener must specify a date as the record date. The shareholders registered in the shareholder register after closing as at the record date are the Company’s shareholders entitled to appropriate rights and interests.

 

Voting rights

 

Article 55(2) provides that holders of our ordinary shares have the right to lawfully request, convene, chair, attend in person or appoint a proxy to attend and vote at general meetings of shareholders in respect of the number of shares held.

 

Rights to share profits

 

Article 61(7) provides that a plan for profit distribution and a plan for making up for losses formulated by the Board in accordance with Article 112(6) must be approved by way of the shareholders’ general meeting.

 

Rights to share surplus in the event of liquidation

 

Article 55(6) provides that the holders of ordinary shares have the right to participate in the distribution of our surplus assets in proportion to the number of shares held in the event of the termination or liquidation of us.

 

Redemption provisions; sinking fund provisions and liability to further capital calls

 

Article 30 provides that we may repurchase issued shares in accordance with the procedures provided in the Articles of Association and with the approvals from the relevant governing authorities of PRC under the following circumstances: (1) cancellation of shares for the purpose of reducing our capital; (2) merger with another company which owns our shares; (3) granting bonus shares to our employees; (4) shareholders disagreeing with our general meeting’s resolution on merger or division and requiring us to acquire the shares in their possession; and (5) other circumstances permitted by law and administrative regulations.

 

No securities issued by us are redeemable, entitled to a sinking fund or subject to liability for further capital calls.

 

Actions necessary to change the rights of holders of our shares or holders of a class of shares

 

Under Article 87(5), revision of any rights of class shareholders, e.g., rights to dividends, share profits or surplus in the event of liquidation or voting rights, requires a special resolution of the shareholders’ general meeting. Under Article 80, a special resolution must be passed by votes representing more than two-thirds of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including proxies) present at the meeting.

 

107

 

The rights attached to any class of shares may be varied or abrogated only with the sanction of a special resolution passed at the shareholders’ general meeting and by holders of shares of the affected class passed at a separate general meeting of the class convened in accordance with Articles 98 to Article 102 respectively. The circumstances which are deemed to be a variation or abrogation of the class rights are set forth under Article 96. Except for the circumstances under Article 97 (1), (9) and (10), shareholders of the affected class, whether or not otherwise having the right to vote at shareholders’ general meetings, have the right to vote at class meetings but Interested Shareholders (as defined under Article 98) are not entitled to vote at class meetings.

 

Resolutions of a class meeting shall be passed by two-thirds or more of the shares with voting rights held by the class shareholders who, according to Article 98, are entitled to vote at that class meeting. Written notice must be given to all shareholders who are registered as holders of that class in the register of shareholders 45 days (inclusive of date of meeting) before the date of the class meeting. Such notice must contain the matters to be considered at such meeting, the date and the place of meeting. Those shareholders of the class who intend to attend shall send the written reply to us 20 days before the class meeting according to Article.

 

The proceedings of class meetings shall be conducted as near as possible to those of shareholders’ general meetings. The provisions in the Articles of Association relating to the proceedings of shareholders’ general meetings shall apply to class meetings.

 

The special procedures for approval by a class of shareholders do not apply where we issue, upon approval by special resolution of shareholders in general meeting, either separately or concurrently once every 12 months, not more than 20% of each of our existing issued Domestic-Invested Shares and Overseas-Listed Foreign-Invested Shares (as defined under Article 18).

 

Provisions discriminating against any existing or prospective shareholder as a result of owning a substantial number of shares

 

Chinalco, as our controlling shareholder, shall not exercise its voting rights in a manner prejudicial to the interest of all or some part of the shareholders when making decisions:

 

to relieve a director or supervisor of his duty to act honestly in our best interest;

 

to approve the expropriation by a director or supervisor (for his own benefit or for the benefit of another) of our assets, in any manner, including but not limited to an opportunity beneficial to us; or

 

to approve the expropriation by a director or supervisor (for his own benefit or for the benefit of another) the individual rights of other shareholders, including but not limited to rights to distributions and voting rights save and except for our restructuring, submitted for approval by the shareholders in general meeting in accordance with the Articles of Association.

 

Conditions governing the manner in which annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings of shareholders are convoked

 

Shareholders’ general meetings can be held as annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. Annual general meetings are held once a year within six months after the end of the preceding fiscal year.

 

The Board is required to convene an extraordinary general meeting within two months of the occurrence of any of the following circumstances:

 

(1)the number of directors falls below the number required by the PRC Company Law or two-thirds of the number required by the Articles of Association;

 

108

 

(2)our unrecovered losses amount to one-third of the total amount of its paid-in-capital;

 

(3)upon the request of shareholder(s) holding ten percent or more of our shares for more than ninety consecutive days (the number of shares held shall be the figures as of the date of the written request from the shareholder); and

 

(4)whenever the Board deems necessary or the supervisory committee proposes to convene the same.

 

We shall, within 45 days (inclusive of date of meeting) before the date of meeting, send written notices of the shareholders’ general meeting and inform all registered shareholders of the matters to be considered at the meeting and the date and venue of the meeting. Those shareholders who intend to attend the meeting shall send the written reply to the Company 20 days before the meeting.

 

Motions put forward at the general meeting shall be specific and shall relate to the matters to be considered at a shareholders’ general meeting. Motions raised at a general meeting shall:

 

(1)be free of conflicts with the provision of laws, administrative regulations and Articles of Association, and fall within our business scope and the terms of the reference of the shareholders’ general meeting;

 

(2)have definite topics to discuss and specific matters to resolve; and

 

(3)be submitted in writing or served to the board of directors.

 

Limitations on the rights to own securities

 

Under Article 19, the shares issued to domestic investors and denominated in Renminbi are Domestic-Invested Shares whereas the shares issued to overseas investors and denominated in foreign currency are Foreign-Invested Shares. Under Article 18, our Domestic-Invested Shares can be held only by PRC shareholders and our Foreign-Invested Shares, such as H Shares and ADSs, can be held only by foreign shareholders and other shareholders from regions of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

 

Provisions having an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control

 

Under Article 116, decisions in respect of market development, merger and acquisition, and investment in a new field, where the consideration to be paid or the assets to be acquired exceed 10% of our total assets, the Board is required to engage relevant professional consultants to provide professional opinions, which shall serve as the key reference for the decision of the Board concerning such investment, merger or acquisition.

 

Under Article 87(3), division, merger, dissolution and liquidation of us and material acquisitions and disposals by us must be approved by a special resolution at a shareholders’ general meeting.

 

There are no provisions under the Articles of Association pertaining to the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

 

Conditions governing changes in registered capital

 

Under Article 112(7), any proposal for the increase or decrease of our registered capital must be formulated by the Board. Article 87(1) further provides that any increase or reduction in share capital requires adoption of a special resolution at a shareholders’ general meeting.

 

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C.Material Contracts

 

For the two years immediately preceding the date of this annual report, we have not entered into any additional material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4. Information on the Company - A. History and Development of the Company” and “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions - B. Related Party Transactions.”

 

D.Exchange Controls

 

The existing foreign exchange regulations have significantly reduced government foreign exchange controls for transactions under the current account, including trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions and payment of dividends. We may undertake current account foreign exchange transactions without prior approval from the SAFE by producing commercial documents evidencing such transactions, provided that they are processed through Chinese banks licensed to engage in foreign exchange transactions. The PRC government has stated publicly that it intends to make the Renminbi freely convertible in the future. However, we cannot predict whether the PRC government will continue its existing foreign exchange policy and when the PRC government will allow free conversion of Renminbi to foreign currency.

 

Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account, including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated obligations, continue to be subject to significant foreign exchange controls and require the approval of the SAFE. These limitations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financing, or to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures.

 

Since 1994, the conversion of Renminbi into HK and U.S. dollars has been based on rates set by the PBOC, which are set daily based on the previous day’s PRC interbank foreign exchange market rate and current exchange rates on the world financial markets. From 1994 to July 20, 2005, the official exchange rate for the conversion of Renminbi to U.S. dollars was generally stable. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government introduced a managed floating exchange rate system to allow the value of the Renminbi to fluctuate within a regulated band based on market supply and demand and by reference to a basket of currencies. Since then, the PRC government has made, and may in the future make, further adjustments to the exchange rate system. In April 2012, the PRC government took a milestone step in turning the Renminbi into a global currency by doubling the size of its trading band against the U.S. dollar, pushing through a crucial reform that further liberalizes its financial markets. The PBOC allows the Renminbi to rise or fall 1% from a mid-point every day, effective April 16, 2012, compared with its previous 0.5% limit. The PBOC further allows the Renminbi to rise or fall 2% from a mid-point every day, effective March 17, 2014. The PBOC announces the closing price of a foreign currency traded against the Renminbi in the inter-bank foreign exchange market after the closing of the market on each working day, and makes it the central parity for trading against the Renminbi on the following working day. Fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the value, translated or converted into U.S. dollars or HK dollars, of our net assets, earnings and any declared dividends. We cannot give any assurance that any future movements in the exchange rate of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies will not adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

 

E.Taxation

 

PRC Taxation

 

The following summary of the material PRC and United States federal income tax provisions relating to the ownership and disposition of H Shares or ADSs held by the investor as capital assets is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change, and does not constitute legal or tax advice. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws.

 

Dividends Paid to Individual Investors

 

Any shares registered in the name of our depositary bank will be deemed as being held by non-resident enterprise shareholders and the dividends attributable to the corresponding ADSs will be subject to the withholding of the PRC corporate income tax. We are therefore required to withhold 10% corporate income tax when we make dividend distributions to the investors of our ADSs. Investors of our ADSs will not be subject to further PRC individual income tax or PRC corporate income tax. The 10% dividend withholding tax rate is not subject to any reduction under the 1984 Agreement between the United States and the People’s Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, or the PRC Treaty.

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Capital Gains

 

With respect to foreign enterprises which are established under the laws of non-PRC jurisdictions and have no establishment or residence in China or whose capital gains from China do not relate to their establishment or residence in China (“non-resident foreign enterprises”), according to the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008, capital gains realized by non-resident foreign enterprises are ordinarily subject to capital gains tax at the rate of 10%, unless exempted or reduced pursuant to an applicable double-taxation treaty or other exemptions. The capital gains realized by resident enterprises, including enterprises established under the laws of non-PRC jurisdictions but whose “de facto management body” is located in the PRC, upon the sales of overseas-listed shares are subject to the PRC enterprise income tax.

 

With respect to foreign individual investors, the Provisions for Implementation of Individual Income Tax Law of China, as amended, stipulated that individual income tax on gains realized on the sale of equity shares shall be regulated in separate rules to be drafted by the State Council of China. However, as of the date of this annual report, there are no such rules enacted by the State Council yet. On March 30, 1998, the MOF and the SAT jointly issued the “Circular of Taxation Regarding the Continued Exemption of Individual Income Taxes Levied on Income Obtained from the Transfer of Shares,” which provided that income derived from the transfer of shares issued by listed companies shall not be taxed as income for the purposes of levying individual income taxes after July 1, 1997.

 

For PRC mainland investors, on October 31, 2014, the SAT issued “Circular on Tax Policies Relating to the Pilot Program of Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect,” which provided that any capital gain from transferring stocks listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by a PRC mainland investor would not be subject to tax during the period from November 17, 2014 to November 16, 2017. For mainland enterprises, such capital gains would be included in its income and subject to income tax. On November 1, 2017, the MOF, the SAT and the CSRC jointly issued “Circular on Extending Individual Income Tax Policies Relating to the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect,” which provided that income generated from price differences through investment in stocks listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by PRC mainland individual investors via the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect would be exempt from individual income tax from November 17, 2017 to December 4, 2019.

 

Tax Treaties

 

China currently has such treaties with more than one hundred countries and regions, including the following countries:

 

the United States;

 

Australia;

 

Canada;

 

France;

 

Germany;

 

Japan;

 

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Malaysia;

 

Singapore;

 

the United Kingdom; and

 

the Netherlands.

 

Under most treaties, the rate of withholding tax imposed by China’s taxation authorities remains 10%. The double taxation treaty between China and the United States provides that 10% withholding tax rate will be applied to the gross amount of dividends repatriated to an eligible U.S. holder. Under the treaty, an eligible U.S. holder is a person who, by reason of domicile, residence, place of head office, place of incorporation or any other criterion of similar nature is subject to taxation in the United States, as applicable under the treaty’s “treaty shopping provisions.”

 

Additional China Tax Considerations

 

Pursuant to the prevailing stamp duty regulations, a stamp duty is not imposed by China on the transfer of shares, such as the H Shares or ADSs, of Chinese publicly traded companies that take place outside of China.

 

United States Federal Income Taxation

 

Each potential investor is strongly urged to consult its own tax advisor to determine the particular U.S. federal, state, local, treaty and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, owning or disposing of the H Shares or ADSs.

 

The following summary describes the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the H Shares or ADSs. This summary only applies to U.S. holders, as defined below, who hold the H Shares or ADSs as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”). This discussion does not address all of the tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs, and does not take into account U.S. holders that may be subject to special rules, including:

 

financial institutions;

 

insurance companies;

 

tax-exempt organizations;

 

real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, grantor trusts;

 

persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;

 

persons that will own H Shares or ADSs through partnerships or other pass-through entities;

 

persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the combined voting power of our voting stock or of the total value of our stock;

 

dealers or traders in securities or currencies;

 

certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

persons that will hold the H Shares or ADSs as a position in a “straddle” or as part of a “hedging” or “conversion” or other risk reduction transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

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persons who receive the H Shares or ADSs as compensation for services;

 

“dual resident” corporations;

 

persons that generally mark their securities to market for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

persons who are residents of the People’s Republic of China or who are subject to Hong Kong profits tax; or

 

persons who purchase or sell the H Shares or ADSs as part of a wash sale for U.S. federal tax purposes.

 

Moreover, this description does not address U.S. federal estate, gift or alternative minimum taxes, the U.S. federal unearned income Medicare contribution tax, or any foreign state or local tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs. Each U.S. holder should consult its tax advisor with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of H Shares or ADSs.

 

This discussion is based on the Code, its legislative history, final, temporary and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions as in effect on the date hereof, as well as on the agreement between the United States and the People’s Republic of China for the avoidance of double taxation (the “Treaty”), all of which are subject to change, or change in interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. In addition, this discussion is based in part upon the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreements will be performed according to its terms.

 

You are a “U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of H Shares or ADSs and, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, are:

 

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;

 

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

 

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without regard to its source; or

 

a trust: (i) subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of the Code) have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or (ii) that has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations.

 

If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes) holds H Shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of the partnership and a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If an investor is a partner in a partnership that holds H Shares or ADSs, such investor should consult its tax advisor.

 

In general, if you hold ADSs evidencing H Shares, you will be treated as the owner of the H Shares represented by the ADSs. Exchanges of H Shares for ADSs, and ADSs for H Shares, generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax.

 

The tax treatment of your H Shares or ADSs will depend in part on whether or not we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes. Except as discussed below under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company”, this discussion assumes that we are not classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE H SHARES OR ADSs, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAX LAWS OR NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, ANY CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS AND ANY PENDING OR PROPOSED LEGISLATION OR REGULATIONS.

 

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Distributions on the H Shares or ADSs

 

The gross amount of any distribution (without reduction for any PRC tax withheld) we make on the H Shares or ADSs, other than certain pro-rata distributions of the H Shares, will be includible in income as dividend income when you, in the case of the H Shares, or the depositary, in the case of ADSs, receive the distribution, actually or constructively. Because we do not calculate earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. tax principles, all distributions by us to U.S. holders will generally be treated as dividends. Any dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to certain U.S. corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.

 

If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, dividends that constitute qualified dividend income will be taxable to you at the preferential rates applicable to long-term capital gains provided that you hold the H Shares or ADSs for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date and meet other holding period requirements. Dividends we pay with respect to the ADSs generally will be qualified dividend income. Dividends that we pay with respect to the H Shares will be qualified dividend income if we are eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. We believe that we are currently eligible for the benefits of the Treaty, and we therefore believe that dividends that we currently distribute on the H Shares constitute qualified dividend income. However, there can be no assurance that we will be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty in future taxable years, and there can therefore be no assurance that dividends that we distribute on the H Shares will continue to constitute qualified dividend income in such years.

 

The amount of the dividend distribution that you must include in your income as a U.S. holder will be the U.S. dollar value of the HK dollar payments made, determined at the spot HK dollar/U.S. dollar rate on the date the dividend distribution is includible in your income, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. Generally, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date you include the dividend payment in income to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the special tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income. Dividends paid by us generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes and will generally be categorized as “passive income” for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. We may be required to withhold PRC income tax on dividends paid to U.S. holders on the H Shares or ADSs. Subject to various limitations, any PRC tax withheld from distributions in accordance with the Treaty will be deductible or creditable against your U.S. federal income tax liability.

 

You may not be able to claim a foreign tax credit (and instead may qualify to claim a deduction) for non-U.S. taxes imposed on dividends paid on the H Shares or ADSs if you (i) have held the H Shares or ADSs for less than a specified minimum period, or (ii) are obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property (for example, pursuant to a short sale). The rules relating to the U.S. foreign tax credit are complex and U.S. holders may be subject to various limitations on the amount of foreign tax credits that are available. In addition, in the case of a noncorporate U.S. holder, rules similar to the special rules that apply in determining the foreign tax credit limitation when the taxpayer has foreign source capital gains that are taxed in the US at the lower capital gains rate apply in determining the noncorporate US holder’s foreign tax credit limitation arising from dividends that are taxed at the capital gains rate.

 

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition

 

Upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the H Shares, you will generally recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in such H Shares. Generally, gain or loss recognized upon the sale or other disposition of H Shares or ADSs will be capital gain or loss, will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for such H Shares or ADSs exceeds one year, and will be income or loss from sources within the United States for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Long-term capital gains of noncorporate U.S. holders are generally taxed at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.

 

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With respect to the sale or exchange of H Shares, the amount realized upon a sale of H Shares generally will be the U.S. dollar value on the settlement date for the sale in the case of a cash basis U.S. holder (or an accrual basis U.S. Holder that so elects). If H Shares are traded on an “established securities market,” a cash basis taxpayer or, if it so elects, an accrual basis taxpayer, will determine the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized by translating the amount received at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale. A U.S. holder will have a tax basis in the foreign currency received equal to the U.S. dollar amount realized. Any currency exchange gain or loss realized on a subsequent conversion of the foreign currency into U.S. dollars for a different amount generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss from sources within the United States. However, if such foreign currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date received by the U.S. holder, a cash basis or electing accrual basis U.S. holder should not recognize any gain or loss on such conversion.

 

Any gain or loss that you recognize upon a sale of the H Shares or ADSs will generally be U.S. source gain or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes and, as a result of the U.S. foreign tax credit limitation, foreign taxes, if any, imposed upon capital gains in respect of H Shares or ADSs may not be currently creditable. Under the Treaty, however, if any PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of H Shares or ADSs, the gain could be treated as PRC source income. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is imposed on a disposition of H Shares or ADSs, including the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances. Any Hong Kong stamp duty paid will not be a creditable tax for United States federal income tax purposes, although the proceeds that you are treated as receiving upon a sale of the H Shares will be reduced by the amount of the stamp duty.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company

 

A non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after applying relevant look-through rules with respect to the income and assets of subsidiaries:

 

75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income, such as dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the sale of assets that give rise to such income; or

 

50% or more of the average quarterly value of its gross assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income.

 

Passive income does not include certain rents and royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business. If the stock of a non-U.S. corporation is publicly traded for the taxable year, the asset test is applied using the fair market value of the assets for purposes of measuring such corporation’s assets. If we own at least 25% (by value) of the stock of another corporation, we will be treated, for purposes of the PFIC tests, as owning our proportionate share of the other corporation’s assets and receiving our proportionate share of the other corporation’s income for purposes of the PFIC income and asset tests.

 

Based on the composition of our assets and income and the current expectations regarding the price of the H Shares and ADSs, we believe that we were not a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to our 2018 taxable year and we do not intend or anticipate becoming a PFIC in the foreseeable future. However, the determination of PFIC status is a factual determination that must be made annually at the close of each taxable year and, therefore, there can be no certainty as to our status in this regard until the close of the current or any future taxable year. Changes in the nature of our income or assets or a decrease in the trading price of our shares may cause us to be considered a PFIC in the current or any subsequent year. If we were a PFIC in any year during a U.S. holder’s holding period for the H Shares or ADSs, we would ordinarily continue to be treated as a PFIC for each subsequent year during which the U.S. holder owned the H Shares or ADSs.

If we were a PFIC in any taxable year that you held the H Shares or ADSs, you generally would be subject to special rules with respect to “excess distributions” made by us on the H Shares or ADSs and with respect to gain from your disposition of the H Shares or ADSs. An “excess distribution” generally is defined as the excess of the distributions you receive with respect to the H Shares or ADSs in any taxable year, other than the taxable year in which your holding period in the H Shares or ADSs begins, over 125% of the average annual distributions you have received from us during the shorter of the three preceding years, or your holding period for the H Shares or ADSs that preceded the taxable year in which you receive the distribution. Generally, you would be required to allocate any excess distribution or gain from the disposition of the H Shares or ADSs ratably over your holding period for the H Shares or ADSs. The portion of the excess distribution or gain allocated to a prior taxable year, other than a year prior to the first year in which we became a PFIC, would be taxed at the highest U.S. federal income tax rate in effect for such taxable year, and you would be subject to an interest charge on the resulting tax liability, determined as if the tax liability had been due with respect to such particular taxable years. The portion of the excess distribution or gain that is not allocated to prior taxable years, together with the portion allocated to the years prior to the first year in which we became a PFIC, would be included in your gross income for the taxable year of the excess distribution or disposition and taxed as ordinary income.

 

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These adverse tax consequences may be mitigated if the U.S. holder is eligible to and does elect to annually mark-to-market the H Shares or ADSs. If a U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election, such holder will generally include as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the H Shares or ADSs at the end of each taxable year over its adjusted basis, and will be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the H Shares or ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of income previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election). Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of the H Shares or ADSs will be treated as ordinary income. The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations. The H Shares or ADSs may qualify as “marketable stock” because the ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the H Shares or ADSs will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the mark-to-market rules. If a U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the H Shares or ADSs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors about the availability of the mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable in their particular circumstances. However, the stock of any of our subsidiaries that were PFICs would not be eligible for the mark-to-market election.

 

Alternatively, a timely election to treat us as a qualified electing fund could be made to avoid the foregoing rules with respect to excess distributions and dispositions. You should be aware, however, that if we become a PFIC, we do not intend to satisfy the recordkeeping requirements that would permit you to make a qualified electing fund election.

 

If we were regarded as a PFIC, a U.S. holder of H Shares or ADSs may be required to file an information return on IRS Form 8621.

 

U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding the H Shares or ADSs if we were considered to be a PFIC.

 

Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets

 

Owners of “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 (and in some circumstances, a higher threshold) may be required to file an information report with respect to such assets with their tax returns. “Specified foreign financial assets” may include financial accounts maintained by foreign financial institutions, as well as the following, but only if they are held for investment and not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions: (i) stocks and securities issued by non-United States persons, (ii) financial instruments and contracts that have non-United States issuers or counterparties, and (iii) interests in foreign entities. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of this reporting requirement to their ownership of the H Shares or ADSs.

 

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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

If you are a noncorporate U.S. holder, information reporting requirements, on IRS Form 1099, generally will apply to dividend payments or other taxable distributions made to you within the United States, and the payment of proceeds to you from the sale of the H Shares or ADSs effected at a United States office of a broker.

 

Additionally, backup withholding may apply to such payments if you fail to comply with applicable certification requirements or (in the case of dividend payments) are notified by the IRS that you have failed to report all interest and dividends required to be shown on your federal income tax returns.

 

Payment of the proceeds from the sale of the H Shares or ADSs effected at a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, a sale effected at a foreign office of a broker could be subject to information reporting in the same manner as a sale within the United States (and in certain cases may be subject to backup withholding as well) if (i) the broker has certain connections to the United States, (ii) the proceeds or confirmation are sent to the United States or (iii) the sale has certain other specified connections with the United States.

 

You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

 

Hong Kong Taxation

 

The following discussion summarizes the material Hong Kong tax provisions relating to the ownership of H Shares or ADSs held by you.

 

Dividends

 

Under current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department practice, no Hong Kong tax is payable by the recipient in respect of dividends paid by us, either by withholding or otherwise, unless such dividends are attributable to a trade, profession or business carried on in Hong Kong.

 

Taxation of Capital Gains

 

Hong Kong profits tax is currently charged at a flat rate of 16.5% for corporations and 15% for unincorporated businesses and individuals, except that the respective half-rates of 8.25% and 7.5% apply for the first HK$2 million of assessable profits for years of assessment beginning on or after April 1, 2018.

 

No Hong Kong tax is imposed on capital gains arising from the sale of property (such as H Shares) acquired and held as a capital investment. However, if a person carries on a business in Hong Kong that includes trading and dealing in securities, and derives trading gains from such activities or from other Hong Kong sources, Hong Kong profits tax will be payable. Gains from sales of H Shares effected on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are considered to be from a Hong Kong source for this purpose. The source of gains from off-exchange transactions is less clear and, generally, will depend on whether the purchase and sale contracts were negotiated and, in substance, concluded in Hong Kong. In addition, exemption from profits tax is available for certain classes of taxpayers, notably non-Hong Kong residents who do not otherwise carry on business in Hong Kong (such as offshore funds), subject to compliance with various other requirements.

 

The Hong Kong tax position with respect to gains from the disposal of ADSs is similar. However, no Hong Kong tax will apply on trading gains arising from the sale of ADSs where the purchase and sale were effected on the NYSE.

 

Hong Kong Stamp Duty

 

Hong Kong stamp duty is payable by each seller and purchaser for every sold note and every bought note created for every sale and purchase of “Hong Kong stock” (which means stock the transfer of which is required to be registered in Hong Kong), including the H Shares. Stamp duty is charged at the total rate of 0.2% of the value of the H Shares transferred (the buyer and seller each paying half of such stamp duty). In addition, a fixed duty of HK$5 is currently payable on an instrument of transfer of H Shares. If one of the parties to a sale is a non-resident of Hong Kong and does not pay the required stamp duty, the unpaid stamp duty will be assessed on the instrument of transfer (if any), and the transferee will be liable for the full payment of such amount.

 

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If the withdrawal of H Shares when ADSs are surrendered or the issuance of ADSs when H Shares are deposited results in a change of beneficial ownership in the H Shares under Hong Kong law, Hong Kong stamp duty at the rate described above for sale and purchase transactions will apply. The issuance of ADSs for deposited H Shares issued directly to the depositary or for the account of the depositary should not lead to a Hong Kong stamp duty liability. Holders of the ADSs are not liable for the Hong Kong stamp duty on transfers of ADSs outside of Hong Kong so long as the transfers do not result in a change of beneficial interest in the H Shares under Hong Kong law.

 

Estate Duty

 

The Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Ordinance 2005 came into effect on February 11, 2006 in Hong Kong. No Hong Kong estate duty is payable and no estate duty clearance papers are needed for an application for a grant of representation in respect of holders of H Shares or ADSs whose death occurs on or after February 11, 2006.

 

F.Dividends and Paying Agents

 

Not applicable.

 

G.Statement by Experts

 

Not applicable.

 

H.Documents on Display

 

We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file an annual report under Form 20-F no later than four months after the close of each of our fiscal years, which is December 31, for fiscal years ended after December 15, 2011. Copies of reports and other information, when so filed, may be inspected without charge and may be obtained at prescribed rates at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information regarding the Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR filing system. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders of ours are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

I.Subsidiary Information

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

We are exposed to various types of market risks, including credit risk relating to financial assets and changes in foreign exchange rates, interest rates and the prices of alumina and primary aluminum, in the normal course of business.

 

We borrow short-term, medium-term and long-term funds, including variable rate debts, principally denominated in Renminbi. We hedge a limited amount of our sales through the trade of futures contracts on the SHFE and LME. Our hedging activities are subject to policies approved by our senior management. Substantially all of the financial instruments we hold are for purposes other than trading.

 

118

 

The following discussion, which contains “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, summarize our market-sensitive financial instruments. Such discussions address markets risk only and do not present other risks, which we face in the normal course of business.

 

Credit Risk

 

Credit risk arises from balances with banks and financial institutions, trade and notes receivables, other current and non-current receivables as well as credit exposures of customers, including outstanding receivables and committed transactions. We also provide financial guarantees to certain subsidiaries and a joint venture. The carrying amounts of these receivables and amounts of financial guarantees represent our maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to our financial assets and guarantees.

 

We maintain substantially all of our bank balances and cash and short-term investments in several major state-owned banks in the PRC. Our directors are of the opinion that these assets are not exposed to significant credit risk.

With regard to receivables, the marketing department assesses the credit quality of the customers and related parties, taking into account their financial positions, past experience and other factors. We perform periodic credit evaluations of our customers and believe that adequate provisions for impairment of receivables have been made in the financial statements. Management does not expect any further losses from non-performance by these counterparties.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenues of approximately RMB32,852 million are derived from entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the PRC government including Chinalco. There were no other individual customers from whom we have derived revenue of more than 10% of our revenue during the year ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Thus, our directors are of the opinion that we were not exposed to any significant concentration of credit risk as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

 

Foreign Exchange Rate Risk

 

We conduct our business primarily in Renminbi, which is our functional and reporting currency. We convert a portion of our Renminbi revenues into other currencies to meet foreign currency obligations and to pay for imported equipment and materials.

 

Many foreign currency exchange transactions involving Renminbi, including foreign exchange transactions under our capital account, are subject to foreign exchange controls and require the approval of the SAFE. Actions taken by the PRC government could cause future exchange rates to vary significantly from current or historical exchange rates. On July 21, 2005, the PBOC announced a reform of its exchange rate system. Under the reform, the Renminbi is no longer effectively linked to the U.S. dollar but instead is allowed to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of foreign currencies, according to market demand and supply conditions. In April 2012, the PRC government took a milestone step in turning the Renminbi into a global currency by doubling the size of its trading band against the U.S. dollar, pushing through a crucial reform that further liberalizes its financial markets. The PBOC allows the Renminbi to rise or fall 1% from a mid-point every day, effective on April 16, 2012, compared with its previous 0.5% limit. The PBOC allows the Renminbi to rise or fall 2% from a mid-point every day, effective on March 17, 2014, compared with its previous 1% limit. Any appreciation of the Renminbi will increase the prices of our export sales denominated in foreign currencies and reduce the Renminbi equivalent value of our trade and notes receivable denominated in foreign currencies, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Our financial condition and operating performance may also be affected by changes in the value of currencies other than Renminbi in which our earnings and obligations are denominated.

 

119

 

Our bank balances and cash on hand as of December 31, 2018 amounted to RMB21,295.9 million, including Renminbi balances and foreign currency deposits of U.S. dollar, HK dollar, Euro, Australian dollar and Indonesian rupiah, which translated into RMB3,256.6 million, RMB8.3 million, RMB371 thousand, RMB2.6 million and RMB2.0 million, respectively. Most of our sales are domestic and as such we have a limited amount of foreign currency denominated receivables and payables. As of December 31, 2018, we had foreign currency denominated loans with principal amount of RMB19 million in Japanese Yen and RMB1,259 million in U.S. dollars. In addition, as of December 31, 2018, our trade and notes receivables, other receivables and trade and notes payables denominated in U.S. dollars amounted to RMB1,403 million, RMB48 million and RMB213 million, respectively; our other payables and accrued liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars and HK dollars amounted to RMB240 million and RMB0.27 million, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2018, if Renminbi had weakened/strengthened by 5% against U.S. dollars with all other variables held constant, the total comprehensive income for the year would have been approximately RMB10 million higher/lower, mainly as a result of foreign exchange gains and losses arising from the translation of U.S.-dollar-denominated borrowings, cash and receivables. Profit was more sensitive to the fluctuation in the RMB/U.S. dollars exchange rates in 2018 than in 2017, mainly due to the increase in the U.S.-dollar-denominated cash and receivables.

 

As the assets and liabilities denominated in other foreign currencies other than U.S. dollars were relatively minimal to our total assets and liabilities, our directors are of the opinion that we were not exposed to any significant foreign currency risk arising from these foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

As of December 31, 2018, as we had no significant interest-bearing assets except for bank deposits and entrusted loans, our income and operating cash flows are substantially independent of changes in market interest rates.

 

Most of the bank deposits are maintained in savings and time deposit accounts in the PRC. The interest rates are regulated by the PBOC and our Group treasury closely monitors the fluctuation on such rates periodically. The interest rates of entrusted loans are fixed. As the interest rates applied to the entrusted loans were fixed, our directors are of the opinion that we was not exposed to any significant interest rate risk for our financial assets held as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.

 

The interest rate risk for our financial liabilities primarily arises from interest-bearing loans. Loans borrowed at floating interest rates expose us to cash flow interest rate risk. We enter into debt obligations to support general corporate purposes including capital expenditures and working capital needs. Our Group treasury closely monitors market interest rates and maintains a balance between variable rate and fixed rate borrowings in order to reduce the exposures to the interest rate risk described above.

As of December 31, 2018, if interest rates had been 100 basis points higher/lower for bank and other loans borrowed at floating interest rates with all other variables held constant, net profit for the year would have been RMB641 million lower/higher, respectively, mainly as a result of the higher/lower interest expense on floating rate borrowings.

 

Our interest rate risk for our financial liabilities also arises from medium-term notes and short-term bonds issued at fixed rates. As the fluctuation of comparable interest rates of corporate bonds with similar terms was relatively low, our directors are of the opinion that we are not exposed to any significant fair value interest rate risk for its fixed interest rate borrowings held as of December 31, 2017 and 2018.

Commodity Price Risk

 

We are exposed to fluctuations in the prices of alumina, primary aluminum and other products. We import a small portion of our alumina supply from suppliers outside China. Such purchases are made at market prices. In addition, all our sales of alumina, primary aluminum and other products are made at market prices. Therefore, fluctuations in the prices of alumina and primary aluminum have a significant effect on our operating performances.

 

120

 

We use mainly futures contracts and option contracts traded on the SHFE and the LME to hedge against fluctuations in primary aluminum prices. We use the futures contract for hedging other than speculation. As of December 31, 2018, the fair values of the outstanding futures contracts amounting to RMB16 million and RMB2 million were recognized in financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, respectively. As of December 31, 2018, we did not hold any option contracts.

 

As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, if the commodity futures prices had increased/decreased by 3% and all other variables were held constant, the profit for the respective year would have changed by the amounts shown below:

 

 

2017

2018

Primary aluminum Decrease/increase RMB46 million Decrease/increase RMB14 million
Copper Increase/decrease RMB0.3 million Increase/decrease RMB0.9 million
Zinc Decrease/increase RMB7 million Decrease/increase RMB1.0 million
Coal Decrease/increase RMB0.2 million Decrease/increase RMB2.7 million

 

Liquidity risk

 

We monitor rolling forecasts of our liquidity requirements to ensure we have sufficient cash to meet operational needs while maintaining sufficient headroom on our undrawn committed borrowing facilities at all times so that we do not breach borrowing limits or covenants (where applicable) on any of our borrowing facilities. Such forecast takes into consideration our debt financing plans, covenant compliance, compliance with internal balance sheet ratio targets and, if applicable, external regulatory or legal requirements. Our management also monitors rolling forecasts of our liquidity reserve on the basis of expected cash flows.

 

As of December 31, 2018, we had total banking facilities of approximately RMB183,129 million, of which RMB61,611 million had been utilized, and unutilized banking facilities amounted to RMB121,518 million as of December 31, 2018, among which, banking facilities of approximately RMB92,582 million will be subject to renewal during the next 12 months from January 1, 2019. Our directors are confident that such banking facilities could be renewed upon their expiration based on our past experience with banks and our good credit standing. In addition, as of December 31, 2018, we had credit facilities through our futures agent at LME amounting to US$12 million, of which approximately US$1 million has been utilized. The futures agent has the right to adjust the related credit facilities.

 

The following table sets forth the maturity profile of our financial liabilities as of December 31, 2018:

 

  

Within 1 year(1)

  

1 to 2 years(1)

  

2 to 5 years(1)

  

Over 5 years(1)

  

Total(1)

 
   (RMB in millions) 
Finance lease payable, including current portion    2,518.7    1,161.5    707.7    13.2    4,401.1 
Long-term bank and other loans, including current portion    3,384.4    7,378.0    16,593.6    18,784.8    46,140.7 
Medium-term notes and bonds, including current portion    400.0        9,785.8        10,185.8 
Short-term bonds    500.0                500.0 
Gold leasing arrangement    1,607.9                1,607.9 
Short-term bank and other loans    39,296.2                39,296.2 
Interest payables for borrowings    4,849.0    2,602.8    4,197.4    898.8    12,547.9 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss    1.8                1.8 
Financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities, excluding accrued interest    8,855.6                8,855.6 
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities(2)        108.9    333.4    420.3    862.5 
Trade and notes payables    14,007.6                14,007.6 
Total    75,421.1    11,251.1    31,617.9    20,117.1    138,407.2 

 

 

(1)The amounts disclosed are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.
(2)As of December 31, 2018, the carrying value of financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities was RMB841 million.

 

121

 

Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities

 

A.Debt Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

B.Warrants and Rights

 

Not applicable.

 

C.Other Securities

 

Not applicable.

 

D.American Depositary Shares

 

The following table summarizes the fees and charges that a holder of our ADSs may have to pay, directly or indirectly, in connection with the ownership of Chalco’s ADRs.

 

Persons depositing or withdrawing shares must pay: For:
   
$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) ●     Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property
   
 

●     Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates

   

$0.02 (or less) per ADS

 

$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)

●     Any cash distribution to ADS registered holders

 

●     Any distribution other than cash

   
$0.02 (or less) per ADS per calendar year

●     Depositary services

   
As necessary

●    Transfer and registration of shares on the depositary’s share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares

   
As necessary ●     Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)

 

122

 

Persons depositing or withdrawing shares must pay: For:
   
 

●     Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars

   
As necessary

●     Taxes and other governmental charges that the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes

   
As necessary ●     Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary, has agreed to reimburse certain expenses related to the administration and maintenance of our ADR program incurred by us in connection with the program. From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, we received from the depositary reimbursements of US$907,015.67 for our continuing annual stock exchange listing fees and our expenses incurred in connection with investor relationship programs. The depositary has also agreed to waive certain standard out-of-pocket administrative, maintenance and shareholder services expenses related to our ADR program. From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018, the total amount of the fees that were waived was US$131,639.30.

 

PART II

 

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

 

None.

 

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

 

None.

 

Item 15. Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d- 15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of a company’s assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

123

 

Under the supervision of and with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on the framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 Framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in May 2013.

 

Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013 Framework) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2018, our internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with the IFRS.

 

The effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 has been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

During 2018, there have been no material changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal year covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert

 

Our audit committee members are Ms. Chen Lijie, Mr. Hu Shihai and Mr. Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David. Our Board has determined that Mr. Lie-A-Cheong Tai Chong, David, the chairman of the audit committee, qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in Item 16A of Form 20-F and is the financial expert serving on our audit committee. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.”

 

Item 16B. Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, other directors, independent non-executive directors, senior management and employees. We have posted our code of ethics on our website: http://www.chalco.com.cn/chalcoen/whzr/ddgf/A130516web_1.htm. A hard copy of this code of ethics is available to investors free of charge upon written request to the address on the cover of this annual report on Form 20-F.

 

Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP served as our independent auditor for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. A description of the fees billed to us by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, Ernst & Young and Ernst & Young (China) Advisory Limited for professional services in each of the last two fiscal years is set forth below:

   Year ended December 31 
   2017   2018 
   (RMB in thousands) 
Audit fee (1)    21,800    25,329 
Audit-related fees (2)    625    1,130 
Tax fees        
Other fees (3)    655    240 

 

 

(1)“Audit fee” represents the fee obtained from audit work charged by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP and Ernst & Young for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.

124

 

(2)“Audit-related fees” represent aggregate fees charged by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP and Ernst & Young for comfort letters about acquisitions, debt issuance and the Asset Restructuring for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
(3)“Other fees” represent the fees charged by Ernst & Young (China) Advisory Limited for permissible professional services rendered in connection with the environmental, social and governance report and overseas investment for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.

Our audit committee pre-approves all audit, audit-related services and other services performed by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, Ernst & Young and Ernst & Young (China) Advisory Limited, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.

 

Item 16D. Exemptions From the Listing Standards for Audit Committees

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 16E. Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

We do not have an equity securities repurchase program and did not repurchase any of our equity securities during the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 16G. Corporate Governance

 

The NYSE has imposed a series of corporate governance standards for companies listed on the NYSE in Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. However, the NYSE provides that listed companies that are foreign private issuers, subject to certain limitations and conditions, are permitted to follow “home country” practice in lieu of the provisions of Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. As a foreign private issuer listed on the NYSE, we are required to disclose a summary of the significant differences between our corporate governance practice and NYSE corporate governance rules that apply to U.S. domestic issuers.

 

  NYSE Listed Company Manual Requirements on Corporate Governance Our Practice
Majority of independent directors NYSE requires that the board of a listed company must comprise a majority of independent directors.

Under applicable PRC and Hong Kong laws and regulations, our Board is not required to be formed with a majority of independent directors. The Listing Rules require that every board of directors of a listed company must include at least three independent non-executive directors and at least one third of the board of directors of a listed company are independent non-executive directors.

Our Board currently comprises three independent directors and five non-independent directors, which is in compliance with the requirement by the PRC securities regulatory authorities and of the Listing Rules.

     
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee NYSE requires U.S. domestic issuers to have only independent directors on their nominating/corporate governance committees.

The Listing Rules require that listed companies should establish a nomination committee which consists of a majority of independent non-executive directors.

We have a nomination committee that consists of a non-independent director and three independent directors, which is in compliance with the requirement of the Listing Rules.

     
Compensation Committee NYSE requires U.S. domestic issuers to have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors.

The Listing Rules contain a code provision that the listed companies should establish a remuneration committee which consists of a majority of independent non-executive directors.

We have a remuneration committee that consists of two independent directors, which is in compliance with the requirement of the Listing Rules.

 

125

 

Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure

 

As of the date of this annual report, we do not own or operate any mine in the United States. For details of the mining safety control of our bauxite mines in China, see “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - Raw Materials - Alumina - Own Mines.”

 

PART III

 

Item 17. Financial Statements

 

We have elected to provide the financial statements and related information specified in Item 18 in lieu of Item 17.

 

Item 18. Financial Statements

 

The audited Consolidated Financial Statements as required under Item 18 are attached hereto starting on page F-1 of this Form 20-F.

 

Item 19. Exhibits

Exhibit Number  

Description 

     
1.1   English translation of Amended Articles of Association of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 of our annual report on Form 20-F (file No. 001-15264) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2018)
     
2.1   Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of our annual report on Form 20-F/A (file No. 001-15264) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2012)
     
2.2   Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for H Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of our annual report on Form 20-F/A (file No.001-15264) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2012)
     
2.3   Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, The Bank of New York, as depositary, and Owners and Beneficial Owners of the American Depositary Receipts (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 of our annual report on Form 20-F/A (file No. 001-15264) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2012)

 

126

 

Exhibit Number  

Description 

     
4.1   English translation of Form of Employment Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our annual report on Form 20-F/A (file No. 001-15264) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2012)
     
8.1*   List of Subsidiaries of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited as of December 31, 2018
     
12.1*   Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
12.2*   Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
13.1*   Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
13.2*   Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
15.1   Letter from Ernst & Young (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 15.1 of our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-15264) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2016)
     
101.INS*   XBRL Instance Document
     
101.SCH*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
     
101.CAL*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
     
101.DEF*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
     
101.LAB*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
     
101.PRE*   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

* Filed with this annual report on Form 20-F

 

127

 

SIGNATURES

 

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED

   
  By: /s/ Lu Dongliang
    Name: Lu Dongliang
    Title: Executive Director and Chairman of the Board
    Date: April 24, 2019

 

 

 
 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

 

Together with Reports of Independent Public Accounting Firm

 

 F-1

 

  

INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED

 

  Pages
   
Reports of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F3-F4
   
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 F5-F6
   
Consolidated Statements of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 F7-F8
   
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 F9-F11
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 F12-F13
   
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements F14-F214

 

 F-2

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited 

(Incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group at December 31, 2017 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated April 24, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

As discussed in Note 2.2 (b) and Note 2.2 (c) to the consolidated financial statements, the Group has changed its method for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers using a modified retrospective approach, and its method for accounting for the classification, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments during the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

Change in Accounting Policy 

 

As discussed in Note 2.2 (d) to the consolidated financial statements, the Group has elected to change its method of presenting government grants during the year ended December 31, 2018. The Group applied this change in accounting principle retrospectively to all prior periods presented. 

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Group’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Group in accordance with the US federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and International Standards on Auditing. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

 

/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP

 

We have served as the Group’s auditor since 2012. 

Beijing, the People’s Republic of China

April 24, 2019

 

 F-3

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Aluminum Corporation of China Limited
(Incorporated in the People’s Republic of China with limited liability)

 

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

We have audited Aluminum Corporation of China Limited and its subsidiaries’ (the “Group”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), (the “COSO criteria”). In our opinion, the Group maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on the COSO criteria.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated statements of financial position of the Group as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, and the related notes of the Group and our report dated April 24, 2019 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

The Group’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Group in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

 

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Group’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP

 

Beijing, the People’s Republic of China

April 24, 2019

 

 F-4

 


 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

As of December 31, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

     

December 31, 

2017 

  December 31, 2018
   Notes  RMB’000  RMB’000  USD’000
ASSETS            
Non-current assets                    
Intangible assets   5    10,637,633    12,879,365    1,873,226 
Property, plant and equipment   6    95,627,577    106,193,369    15,445,185 
Investment properties   7    1,332,370    1,156,006    168,134 
Land use rights   8    3,577,012    4,280,291    622,543 
Investments in joint ventures   9 (a)   6,007,624    3,393,349    493,542 
Investments in associates   9 (b)   6,935,030    6,363,462    925,527 
Available-for-sale investments   10    1,928,201         
Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income   10        1,729,825    251,593 
Deferred tax assets   11    1,606,150    1,542,569    224,357 
Other non-current assets   12    3,520,892    4,442,644    646,156 
                     
Total non-current assets        131,172,489    141,980,880    20,650,263 
                     
Current assets                    
Inventories   13    20,547,556    20,459,668    2,975,735 
Trade and notes receivables   14    8,008,937    8,100,532    1,178,174 
Other current assets   15    10,074,225    9,022,953    1,312,334 
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss   36.1, 36.2    9,534    16,141    2,348 
Restricted cash   16    2,168,192    2,165,288    314,928 
Cash and cash equivalents   16    27,835,866    19,130,652    2,782,438 
                     
Total current assets        68,644,310    58,895,234    8,565,957 
                     
Total assets        199,816,799    200,876,114    29,216,220 

 

 F-5

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Continued) 

As of December 31, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

     

December 31,  

2017 

 

December 31, 2018

 

   Notes  RMB’000    RMB’000    USD’000  
                    
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES EQUITY                    
Equity attributable to owners of the parent                    
Share capital   17    14,903,798    14,903,798    2,167,668 
Other reserves   18    28,116,602    40,327,573    5,865,402 
Accumulated losses        (3,332,371)   (2,816,481)   (409,640)
         39,688,029    52,414,890    7,623,430 
                     
Non-controlling interests        26,054,567    15,254,312    2,218,648 
                     
Total equity        65,742,596    67,669,202    9,842,078 
                     
LIABILITIES                    
Non-current liabilities                    
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   19    40,289,703    54,207,386    7,884,137 
Other non-current liabilities   21    2,453,660    2,438,164    354,616 
Deferred tax liabilities   11    993,742    1,812,805    263,662 
                     
Total non-current liabilities        43,737,105    58,458,355    8,502,415 
                     
Current liabilities                    
Trade and notes payables   23    12,360,441    14,007,600    2,037,321 
Other payables and accrued liabilities   22    14,692,899    11,532,504    1,677,333 
Contract liabilities            1,579,322    229,703 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   36.1, 36.2    89,426    1,766    257 
Income tax payable        213,262    113,783    16,549 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   19    62,981,070    47,513,582    6,910,564 
                     
Total current liabilities        90,337,098    74,748,557    10,871,727 
                     
Total liabilities        134,074,203    133,206,912    19,374,142 
                     
Total equity and liabilities        199,816,799    200,876,114    29,216,220 
                     
Net current liabilities        21,692,788    15,853,323    2,305,770 
                     
Total assets less current liabilities        109,479,701    126,127,557    18,344,493 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

Lu Dongliang   Wang Jun
Director   Chief Financial Officer

  

 F-6

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

       2016   2017   2018 
  

Note 

  

RMB’000 

  

RMB’000 

  

RMB’000 

  

USD’000 

 
Continuing Operations                         
Revenue   4    144,854,582    181,020,428    180,240,154    26,214,843 
Cost of sales        (133,700,192)   (166,290,235)   (167,029,416)   (24,293,421)
                          
Gross profit        11,154,390    14,730,193    13,210,738    1,921,422 
                          
Selling and distribution expenses        (2,111,787)   (2,372,966)   (2,496,933)   (363,164)
General and administrative expenses        (3,336,095)   (4,549,206)   (3,958,067)   (575,677)
Research and development expenses        (168,862)   (498,234)   (626,873)   (91,175)
Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment   6    (57,080)   (16,200)   (7,450)   (1,084)
Impairment losses on financial assets                (107,841)   (15,685)
Impairment losses on investments in joint ventures                (216,953)   (31,555)
Other income   26    155,576    89,873    135,367    19,688 
Other gains, net   27    169,143    319,382    921,904    134,085 
Finance income   28    815,729    706,690    492,232    71,592 
Finance costs   28    (5,019,908)   (5,203,424)   (4,882,496)   (710,130)
Share of profits and losses of:                        

Joint ventures

   9 (a)   (95,508)   8,151    (199,452)   (29,009)
Associates   9 (b)   115,091    (165,249)   39,335    5,721 
                          
Profit before income tax   25    1,620,689    3,049,010    2,303,511    335,029 
                          
Income tax expense   31    (403,899)   (643,734)   (822,499)   (119,628)
                          
Profit for the year        1,216,790    2,405,276    1,481,012    215,401 

 

 F-7

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

       2016   2017   2018 
   Note   RMB’000   RMB’000   RMB’000   USD’000 
Profit attributable to:                         
Owners of the parent        365,697    1,413,028    746,477    108,567 
Non-controlling interests        851,093    992,248    734,535    106,834 
                          
         1,216,790    2,405,276    1,481,012    215,401 
                          
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:                         
Other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods:                         
Available-for-sale investments:                         
Changes in fair value        104,103    (5,206)        
Reclassification adjustments for gains included in profit or loss -Gain on disposal        (102,854)   (45,039)        
Income tax effect        (13,288)   11,180         
Transfer out other comprehensive income of an associate        (4,658)            
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations        657,531    (634,793)   (120,756)   (17,563)
                          
Net other comprehensive income that may be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods        640,834    (673,858)   (120,756)   (17,563)
                          
Other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods                         
Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income:                         
Changes in fair value                (15,491)   (2,253)
Income tax effect                3,769    548 
Net other comprehensive income that will not be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods                (11,722)   (1,705)
                          
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax        640,834    (673,858)   (132,478)   (19,268)
                          
Total comprehensive income for the year        1,857,624    1,731,418    1,348,534    196,133 
                          
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to:                         
Owners of the parent        1,006,531    739,170    614,638    89,395 
Non-controlling interests        851,093    992,248    733,896    106,738 
                          
         1,857,624    1,731,418    1,348,534    196,133 
                          
Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent                         
(expressed in RMB per share)   32    0.017    0.087    0.037    0.0054 

  

 

Details of the dividends payable and proposed for the year are disclosed in note 33 to the financial statements.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 F-8

 

  

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

   Attributable to owners of the parent         
    Capital reserves                                           
  

Share 

capital 

  

Share 

premium 

 

Other 

capital 

reserves 

 

Statutory 

surplus 

reserve 

    

Special 

reserve 

   Gain on available-for-sale financial assets  

Other 

equity 

instruments 

 

Foreign currency 

translation 

reserve 

 

Accumulated 

losses 

   Total  

Non- 

controlling 

interests 

  

Total 

equity 

 
                                                         
At January 1, 2016   14,903,798    20,747,839   932,588   5,867,557    100,018    62,598    2,019,288   312,538   (4,894,942)   40,051,282    11,937,634    51,988,916 
Add: Adjustment due to business combinations under common control       169,242                        4,626    173,868    12,404     186,272 
At January 1, 2016   14,903,798    20,917,081   932,588   5,867,557    100,018    62,598    2,019,288   312,538   (4,890,316)   40,225,150    11,950,038    52,175,188 
Profit for the year                               365,697    365,697    851,093    1,216,790 
                                                         
Other comprehensive income for the year                                                        

Changes in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets 

                     90,815              90,815        90,815 
Disposal of available-for-sale financial assets                          (102,854)                (102,854)        (102,854)

Transfer out of share of other comprehensive  income of an associate 

                     (4,658)             (4,658)       (4,658)
Exchange differences related to foreign operations                            657,531       657,531        657,531 
Total comprehensive income for the year                     (16,697)      657,531   365,697    1,006,531    851,093    1,857,624 
                                                         
Release of deferred government subsidies          20,290                         20,290        20,290 
Business combination under common control       (3,010,627)                           (3,010,627)       (3,010,627)
Dividends distributed by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders                                       (8,941)   (8,941)
Capital injection from non-controlling shareholders       176,615                            176,615    1,661,925    1,838,540 
Other appropriation                 23,215                  23,215    (13,376)   9,839 
Share of reserves of joint ventures and associates                 8,969                  8,969        8,969 
Issuance of perpetual medium-term notes                                       3,513,068    3,513,068 
Perpetual medium-term notes’ dividends                                       (324,762)   (324,762)
Other equity instruments’ distribution                                     (110,000)   (110,000)       (110,000)
At December 31, 2016   14,903,798    18,083,069   952,878   5,867,557    132,202    45,901    2,019,288   970,069   (4,634,619)   38,340,143    17,629,045    55,969,188 

 

 F-9

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued) 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

    Attributable to owners of the parent            
    Capital reserves                                                            
    Share
capital
 (note 17)
    Share
premium
  Other
capital
reserves
  Statutory
surplus
reserve
    Special
reserve
    Gain on available-for-sale financial assets   Other
equity
instruments
  Foreign currency
translation
reserve
  Accumulated
losses
  Total     Non-
controlling
interests
  Total
equity
                                                                                 
At January 1, 2017     14,903,798       17,913,827     952,878     5,867,557       131,510       45,901     2,019,288     970,069     (4,636,530)     38,168,298       17,618,510     55,786,808
Adjustment due to business combinations under common control (note 38)           169,242               692                   1,911     171,845       10,535     182,380
At January 1, 2017     14,903,798       18,083,069     952,878     5,867,557       132,202       45,901     2,019,288     970,069     (4,634,619)     38,340,143       17,629,045     55,969,188
Profit for the year                                           1,413,028     1,413,028       992,248     2,405,276
                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income for the year                                                                                
Changes in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax                               (4,758 )               (4,758 )         (4,758)
Disposal of available-for-sale financial assets, net of tax                               (34,307 )               (34,307 )         (34,307)
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations                                       (634,793 )       (634,793 )         (634,793)
Total comprehensive income for the year                               (39,065 )       (634,793 )   1,413,028     739,170       992,248     1,731,418
                                                                                 
Business combinations under common control (note 38)           (242,564 )                                   (242,564 )         (242,564)
Disposal of subsidiaries                         (6,149 )                     (6,149 )     6,929     780
Disposal of equity interest in subsidiaries without loss of control           38,189                                     38,189       (38,189 )  
Deemed disposal of a subsidiary                                                     (96,568 )   (96,568)
Capital injection from non-controlling shareholders           1,887,824                                     1,887,824       10,831,897     12,719,721
Capital injection from the parent company           2,040                                                 2,040           2,040
Acquisition of non-controlling interests           (980,725 )                                                 (980,725 )     (432,564 )   (1,413,289)
Acquisition of a subsidiary                                                     416,353     416,353
Other appropriations                         24,577                       24,577       34,166     58,743
Share of reserves of joint ventures and associates                         (3,696 )                     (3,696 )         (3,696)
Repayment of senior perpetual securities                                                     (2,584,682 )   (2,584,682)
Other equity instruments’ distribution                                           (110,000)     (110,000 )     (391,933 )   (501,933)
Dividends distributed by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders                                                     (312,135 )   (312,135)
Dividends distribution before business under common control                                           (780)     (780 )         (780)
At December 31, 2017     14,903,798       18,787,833     952,878     5,867,557       146,934       6,836     2,019,288     335,276     (3,332,371)     39,688,029       26,054,567     65,742,596

 

 F-10

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Continued) 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

    Attributable to owners of the parent            
    Capital reserves                                                            
    Share
capital
(note 17)
    Share
premium
  Other
capital
reserves
  Statutory
surplus
reserve
    Special
reserve
    Gain on available-for-sale
financial assets/fair value reserve
  Other
equity
instruments
  Foreign currency
translation
reserve
  Accumulated
losses
  Total   Non–
controlling
interests
  Total
equity
 
At December 31, 2017     14,903,798       18,616,551     952,878     5,867,557       144,361       6,836     2,019,288     335,276     (3,368,095)     39,478,450     26,035,429     65,513,879  
Adjustment due to business combinations under common control (note 38)           171,282               2,573                   35,724     209,579     19,138     228,717  
Effect of adoption of IFRS 9 (note 2.2)                               10,835             (133,346)     (122,511 )   (16,925)     (139,436 )
At January 1, 2018     14,903,798       18,787,833     952,878     5,867,557       146,934       17,671     2,019,288     335,276     (3,465,717)     39,565,518     26,037,642     65,603,160  
Profit for the year                                           746,477     746,477     734,535     1,481,012  
                                                                                 
Other comprehensive income for the year                                                                                
Changes in fair value of equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income, net of tax                               (11,083 )               (11,083 )   (639)     (11,722 )
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations                                       (120,756 )       (120,756 )       (120,756 )
Total comprehensive income for the year                               (11,083 )       (120,756 )   746,477     614,638     733,896     1,348,534  
                                                                                 
Business combinations under common control (note 38)           (443,582 )                                   (443,582 )       (443,582 )
Capital injection from non-controlling shareholders           78,271                                     78,271     759,350     837,621  
Capital injection from the parent company           69,885                                     69,885         69,885  
Acquisition of non-controlling interests           (218 )                                   (218 )   (3,547)     (3,765 )
Restructure of subsidiaries           (77,511 )                                   (77,511 )   77,511      
Disposal of subsidiaries                                                   (1,160)     (1,160 )
Issuance of senior perpetual securities                                   1,988,000             1,988,000         1,988,000  
Release of deferred government subsidies               2,200                                 2,200         2,200  
Equity exchange arrangement               10,735,214                                 10,735,214     (10,735,214)      
Other appropriations                         8,119                       8,119     (1,514)     6,605  
Share of reserves of joint ventures and associates                         2,051                       2,051         2,051  
Other equity instruments’ distribution                                   (19,288)         (90,722)     (110,010 )   (300,538)     (410,548 )
Dividends distribution before business combinations under common control                                           (6,519)     (6,519 )       (6,519 )
Dividends distributed by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders                                                   (605,416)     (605,416 )
Acquisition of subsidiaries                         (11,166 )                     (11,166 )   1,468,435     1,457,269  
Repayment of senior perpetual securities by a subsidiary                                                   (2,175,133)     (2,175,133 )
At December 31, 2018     14,903,798       18,414,678 *   11,690,292 *   5,867,557 *     145,938 *     6,588 *   3,988,000 *   214,520 *   (2,816,481)     52,414,890     15,254,312     67,669,202  

 

*These reserves accounts comprise the consolidated other reserves of RMB40,328 million (December 31, 2017: RMB28,117 million) in the consolidated statement of financial position.

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 F-11

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

   Note   2016   2017   2018 
         RMB’000    RMB’000    RMB’000    USD’000 
                          
Net cash flows from operating activities   34    11,609,309    13,205,572    13,018,176    1,893,415 
                          
Investing activities                         
Purchases of intangible assets        (286,282)   (418,203)   (103,304)   (15,025)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment        (6,327,839)   (8,891,794)   (6,745,880)   (981,148)
Purchases of land use rights        (20,963)   (59,215)   (2,838)   (413)
Purchases of investment properties        (41,982)            
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment        271,609    460,982    564,791    82,145 
Proceeds from disposal of intangible assets            11,730         
Proceeds from disposal of land use rights            5,824         
Proceeds from disposal of a joint venture and an associate                30,816    4,482 
Acquisition of subsidiaries   38        255,152    255,650    37,183 
Proceeds from disposal and deemed disposal of subsidiaries and business, net of cash        6,200,670    5,631,298    6,558    954 
Interest received from unpaid disposal proceeds        353,665    117,586         
Interest received from loans and borrowings to others        31,723    118,015         
Investments in joint ventures        (1,134,512)   (15,414)   (90,000)   (13,090)
Investments in associates        (30,000)   (857,317)   (266,300)   (38,732)
(Purchase of)/return of investment from equity investments   10        (1,848,000)   198,000    28,798 
Proceeds from dividends and disposal of equity investments        490,309    124,536    109,914    15,986 
Dividend received        65,083    44,960    327,983    47,703 
Decrease in time deposits        (21,700)   72,700         
Cash paid for settlement of futures, options and forward contracts        (2,006,583)   93,677    (13,288)   (1,933)
Loans to related parties   35    (547,957)   (1,600,000)        
Loans repaid by related parties        213,354    1,010,169    32,215    4,685 
Asset-related government grants received        164,547    145,825    167,314    24,335 
                          
Net cash flows used in investing activities        (2,626,858)   (5,597,489)   (5,528,369)   (804,070)

 

 F-12

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued) 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

   Note   2016   2017   2018 
         RMB’000    RMB’000    RMB’000    USD’000 
                          
Financing activities                         
Proceeds from gold leasing arrangements        3,000,000    7,804,083    2,323,105    337,882 
Repayments of gold leasing arrangements            (4,000,000)   (7,519,283)   (1,093,634)
Purchase of non-controlling interests            (1,413,289)   (3,765)   (548)
Proceeds from issuance of bonds and notes, net of issuance costs        11,070,660    3,478,550    13,185,034    1,917,684 
Repayments of senior perpetual securities            (2,895,910)   (2,417,758)   (351,648)
Proceeds from issuance of perpetual securities, net of issuance costs        3,513,068        1,988,000    289,143 
Repayments of bonds and notes        (13,500,000)   (16,300,000)   (21,815,000)   (3,172,860)
Senior perpetual securities’ distribution paid        (434,762)   (501,933)   (410,548)   (59,712)
Drawdown of short-term and long-term loans        44,733,924    83,758,749    76,899,591    11,184,582 
Repayments of short-term and long-term loans        (48,659,566)   (78,866,459)   (70,546,537)   (10,260,568)
Cash consideration paid for business combination under common control        (2,456,512)   (176,848)   (373,495)   (54,323)
Proceeds from sale and leaseback finance leases, net of deposit and transaction costs        1,527,085    1,000,036    1,204,843    175,237 
Capital injection from the parent company to the entity acquired under common control                69,885    10,164 
Finance lease instalment paid        (1,580,986)   (2,462,250)   (3,915,404)   (569,472)
Capital injection from non-controlling shareholders        1,838,540    12,718,761    837,621    121,827 
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders        (20,481)   (309,465)   (327,645)   (47,654)
Interest paid        (5,136,227)   (5,233,019)   (5,445,120)   (791,960)
                          
Net cash flows used in financing activities        (6,105,257)   (3,398,994)   (16,266,476)   (2,365,860)
                          
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents        2,877,194    4,209,089    (8,776,669)   (1,276,515)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year        20,779,604    23,848,344    27,835,866    4,048,559 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net        191,546    (221,567)   71,455    10,394 
                          
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31   16    23,848,344    27,835,866    19,130,652    2,782,438 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-13

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

1.GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (the “Company”) (中 國 鋁 業 股 份 有 限 公 司 ) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) are principally engaged in the manufacture and distribution of alumina, primary aluminum and energy products. The Group is also engaged in the development of bauxite-related resources, the production, fabrication and distribution of bauxite, carbon and relevant non-ferrous metal products and the trading and logistics and transport services of non-ferrous metal products and coal products.

 

The Company is a joint stock company which is domiciled and was established on 10 September 2001 in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”) with limited liability. The address of its registered office is No. 62 North Xizhimen Street, Haidian District, Beijing, the PRC.

 

The Company’s shares have been listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange since 2001. The Company also listed its A shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2007.

 

In the opinion of the directors, the ultimate holding company and the parent of the Company is Aluminum Corporation of China (“Chinalco”) (中國鋁業集团有限公司), a company incorporated and domiciled in the PRC and wholly owned by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

 

Information about subsidiaries

 

Particulars of the Company’s principal subsidiaries are as follows:

 

Name  Place of
registration and
business
  Registered
capital
   Principal activities  Percentage of equity
attributable to the
Company
 
             Direct     Indirect 
Shanxi Huaxing Aluminum Co. Ltd. (“Shanxi Huaxing”) (山西華興鋁業有限公司)  PRC/Mainland China   1,850,000   Manufacture and distribution of alumina   60.00%   40.00%
Baotou Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Baotou Aluminum”) (包頭鋁業有限公司)  PRC/Mainland China   2,245,510   Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum, aluminum alloy and related fabricated products and carbon products   74.33%    
China Aluminum International Trading Co., Ltd. (“Chalco Trading”) (中鋁國際貿易有限公司)  PRC/Mainland China   1,731,111   Import and export activities   100.00%    
Shanxi Huasheng Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Shanxi Huasheng”) (山西華聖鋁業有限公司)  PRC/Mainland China   1,000,000   Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum, aluminum alloy and carbon-related products   51.00%    

 

 F-14

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

1.GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)

 

Information about subsidiaries (Continued)

 

  Name   Place of registration and business   Registered capital   Principal activities   Percentage of equity attributable to the Company
                  Direct Indirect
  Chalco Shanxi New Material Co., Ltd. (“Shanxi New Material”) (中鋁山西新材料有限公司)   PRC/Mainland China   4,279,601   Manufacture and distribution of alumina, primary aluminum and anode carbon products and electricity generation and supply   85.98%
  Zunyi Aluminum Co., Ltd. (遵義鋁業股份有限公司)   PRC/Mainland China   3,204,899   Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum and alumina   67.445%
  Shandong Huayu Alloy Materials Co., Ltd. (“Shandong Huayu”) (山東華宇合金材料有限公司)   PRC/Mainland China   1,627,697   Manufacture and distribution of aluminum alloy   55.00%
  Chalco Hong Kong Ltd. (“Chalco Hong Kong”) (中國鋁業香港有限公司)   Hong Kong   HKD849,940 in thousand   Overseas investments and alumina import and export activities   100.00%
  Chalco Mining Co., Ltd. (“Chalco Mining”) (中鋁礦業有限公司)   PRC/Mainland China   4,028,859   Manufacture, acquisition and distribution of bauxite mines, limestone ore, manufacturing and distribution of alumina   18.86%
  Chalco Energy Co., Ltd. (中鋁能源有限公司)   PRC/Mainland China   819,993    Thermoelectric supply and investment management   100.00%
  China Aluminum Ningxia Energy Group Co., Ltd. (“Ningxia Energy”) (中鋁寧夏能源集團)   PRC/Mainland China   5,025,800    Thermal power, wind power and solar power generation, coal mining, and power-related equipment manufacturing   70.82%
  Guizhou Huajin Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Guizhou Huajin”) (貴州華錦鋁業有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  1,000,000    Manufacture and distribution of alumina   60.00%
  Chalco Zhengzhou Research Institute of Non-ferrous Metal Co., Ltd. (中國鋁業鄭州有色金屬研究院有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  214,858    Research and development services   100.00%
  Chalco Shandong Co., Ltd. (“Chalco Shandong”) (中鋁山東有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  3,808,995   Manufacture and distribution of alumina   69.20%

 

 

F-15

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

1.GENERAL INFORMATION (Continued)

 

Information about subsidiaries (Continued)

 

  Name   Place of registration and business   Registered capital    Principal activities   Percentage of equity attributable to the Company
          Direct Indirect
  Chalco Zhongzhou Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Zhongzhou Aluminum”) (中鋁中州鋁業有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  5,071,235   Manufacture and distribution of alumina   63.10%
  China Aluminum Logistics Group Corporation Co., Ltd. (中鋁物流集團有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  558,752   Logistic transportation   100.00%
  Chinalco Shanxi Jiaokou Xinghua Technology Ltd. (“Xinghua Technology”) (中鋁集團山西交口興華科技股份有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  270,000   Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum   33.00% 33.00%
  Chinalco Shanghai Company Limited (“Chinalco Shanghai”) (中鋁(上海)有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  968,300   Trading and engineering project management   100.00%
  Shanxi China Huarun Co., Ltd. (“Shanxi Huarun”) (山西中鋁華潤有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  1,641,750   Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum   40.00%
  Guizhou Huaren New Material Co., Ltd. (“Guizhou Huaren”) (貴州華仁新材料有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  1,200,000   Manufacture and distribution of primary aluminum   40.00%
 

China Aluminum International

Trading Group Co. Ltd. (中鋁國際貿易集團有限公司) 

  PRC/Mainland
China
  1,030,000   Import and export activities   100.00%
  Chalco Materials Co. Ltd. (中鋁物資有限公司)   PRC/Mainland
China
  1,000,000   Purchase materials   100.00%

  

The above table lists the subsidiaries of the Company which, in the opinion of the directors, principally affected the results of the year or formed a substantial part of the net assets of the Group. To give details of the other subsidiaries would, in the opinion of the directors, result in particulars of excessive length.

 

*The English names represent the best effort made by management of the Group in translating the subsidiaries’ Chinese name as they do not have any official English names.

 

F-16

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

 

2.1Basis of preparation

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”) and the disclosure requirements of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance. They have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income and financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss which have been measured at fair value.

 

These financial statements are presented in thousands of Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”) unless otherwise stated.

 

F-17

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.1Basis of preparation (Continued)

 

Going concern

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group’s current liabilities exceeded its current assets by approximately RMB15,853 million (December 31, 2017: RMB21,693 million). The directors of the Company have considered the Group’s available sources of funds as follows:

 

The Group’s expected net cash inflows from operating activities in 2019;

 

Unutilized banking facilities of approximately RMB121,518 million as at December 31, 2018, of which amounts totalling RMB92,582 million will be subject to renewal during the next 12 months. The directors of the Company are confident that these banking facilities could be renewed upon expiration based on the Group’s past experience and good credit standing; and

 

Other available sources of financing from banks and other financial institutions given the Group’s credit history.

 

The directors of the Company believe that the Group has adequate resources to continue operations for the foreseeable future of not less than 12 months from December 31, 2018. The directors of the Company therefore are of the opinion that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

 

Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and all of its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2018. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Specifically, the Group controls an investee if and only if the Group has:

 

Power over the investee (i.e, existing rights that give it the current ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee);

 

Exposure, or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and

 

The ability to use its power over the investee to affect its returns.

 

F-18

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.1Basis of preparation (Continued)

 

Consolidation (Continued)

 

Generally, there is a presumption that a majority of voting rights result in control. To support this presumption and when the Group has less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, the Group considers all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over an investee, including:

 

The contractual arrangement with the other vote holders of the investee;

 

Rights arising from other contractual arrangements; and

 

The Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights.

 

The Group reassesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group loses control of the subsidiary. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the Company using consistent accounting policies. Assets, liabilities, income and expenses of a subsidiary acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated statement of financial position and consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income from the date the Group gains control until the date the Group ceases to control the subsidiary.

 

Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) are attributed to the equity holders of the parent of the Group and to the non-controlling interests, even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. All intra-group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between members of the Group are eliminated in full on consolidation.

 

F-19

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.1Basis of preparation (Continued)

 

Consolidation (Continued)

 

A change in the ownership interest of a subsidiary, without a loss of control, is accounted for as an equity transaction. If the Group loses control over a subsidiary, it:

 

Derecognizes the assets (including goodwill) and liabilities of the subsidiary;

 

Derecognizes the carrying amount of any non-controlling interests;

 

Derecognizes the cumulative translation differences recorded in equity;

 

Recognizes the fair value of the consideration received;

 

Recognizes the fair value of any investment retained;

 

Recognizes any surplus or deficit in profit or loss; and

 

Reclassifies the parent’s share of components previously recognized in OCI to profit or loss or retained earnings, as appropriate, as would be required if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities.

 

(a)Merger accounting for business combinations under common control

 

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the combining entities or businesses in business combinations under common control as if they had been combined from the date when the combining entities or businesses first came under the control of the ultimate holding company.

 

The net assets of the combining entities or businesses are consolidated using the carrying amount from the ultimate holding company’s perspective . No amount is recognized for goodwill or the excess of the Group’s interest in the book value of the net assets over cost at the time of the common control combination, to the extent of the continuation of the ultimate holding company’s interest.

 

F-20

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.1Basis of preparation (Continued)

 

Consolidation (Continued)

 

(a)Merger accounting for business combinations under common control (Continued)

 

The consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income includes the results of each of the combining entities or businesses from the earliest date presented or since the date when the combining entities or businesses first came under common control, where this is a shorter period, regardless of the date of the common control combination.

 

The comparative financial data have been restated to reflect the business combinations under common control which occurred during this year as disclosed in note 38.

 

Transaction costs, including professional fees, registration fees, costs of furnishing information to shareholders, costs or losses incurred in combining operations of the previously separate businesses and other costs incurred in relation to the common control combination that is to be accounted for by using the merger accounting method are recognized as expenses in the period in which they are incurred.

 

(b)Acquisition method of accounting for other business combinations

 

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group, other than common control combinations. The considerations transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary are the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Group recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognized amounts of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount recognized for non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.

 

For each business combination, the Group elects whether to measure the non-controlling interests in the acquiree that are present ownership interests and entitle their holders to a proportionate share of net assets in the event of liquidation at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. All other components of non-controlling interests are measured at fair value. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

 

When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation in accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions as at the acquisition date. This includes the separation of embedded derivatives in host contracts of the acquiree.

 

If the business combination is achieved in stages, the previously held equity interest is remeasured at its acquisition date fair value and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in profit or loss.

 

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the acquirer is recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. Contingent consideration classified as an asset or liability is measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured and subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.

 

F-21

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.1Basis of preparation (Continued)

 

Consolidation (Continued)

 

(c)Subsidiaries

 

A subsidiary is an entity, directly or indirectly, controlled by the Company. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee (i.e., existing rights that give the Group the current ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee).

 

When the Company has, directly or indirectly, less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, the Group considers all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over an investee, including:

 

(a)the contractual arrangement with the other vote holders of the investee;

 

(b)rights arising from other contractual arrangements; and

 

(c)the Group’s voting rights and potential voting rights.

 

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.

 

Inter-company transactions, balances, income and expenses on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Profits and losses resulting from inter-company transactions that are recognized in assets are also eliminated. Amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted where necessary in the consolidated financial statements to conform with the policies adopted by the Group.

 

In the Company’s statement of financial position, as permitted under IFRS 1, the investments in subsidiaries acquired prior to January 1, 2008, being the date of transition to IFRS, are stated at deemed cost as required under the previously adopted accounting standards. Subsidiaries acquired after that date that are not classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations are stated at cost less provision for impairment losses. The results of subsidiaries are accounted for by the Company on the basis of dividends received and receivable.

 

F-22

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures

 

The Group has adopted the following new and revised IFRSs for the first time for the current year’s financial statements.

 

  Amendments to IFRS 2 Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions
  Amendments to IFRS 4 Applying IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts
  IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
  IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
  Amendments to IFRS 15 Clarifications to IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
  Amendments to IAS 40 Transfers of Investment Property
  IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration
  Annual Improvements 2014-2016 Cycle Amendments to IFRS 1 and IAS 28

 

Except for the amendments to IFRS 4 and Annual Improvements 2014-2016 Cycle, which are not relevant to the preparation of the Group’s financial statements, the nature and the impact of the new and revised IFRSs are described below:

 

(a)Amendments to IFRS 2 address three main areas: the effects of vesting conditions on the measurement of a cash-settled share-based payment transaction; the classification of a share-based payment transaction with net settlement features for withholding a certain amount in order to meet an employee’s tax obligation associated with the share-based payment; and accounting where a modification to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment transaction changes its classification from cash-settled to equity-settled. The amendments clarify that the approach used to account for vesting conditions when measuring equity-settled share-based payments also applies to cash-settled share-based payments. The amendments introduce an exception so that a share-based payment transaction with net share settlement features for withholding a certain amount in order to meet the employee’s tax obligation is classified in its entirety as an equity-settled share-based payment transaction when certain conditions are met. Furthermore, the amendments clarify that if the terms and conditions of a cash-settled share-based payment transaction are modified, with the result that it becomes an equity-settled share-based payment transaction, the transaction is accounted for as an equity-settled transaction from the date of the modification. The amendments have had no impact on the financial position or performance of the Group as the Group does not have any cash-settled share-based payment transactions and has no share-based payment transactions with net settlement features for withholding tax.

 

(b)IFRS 9 Financial Instruments replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018, bringing together all three aspects of the accounting for financial instruments: classification and measurement, impairment and hedge accounting.

 

The Group has recognized the transition adjustments against the applicable opening balances in equity at January 1, 2018. Therefore, the comparative information was not restated and continues to be reported under IAS 39.

 

Classification and measurement

 

The following information sets out the impacts of adopting IFRS 9 on the consolidated statement of financial position, including the effect of replacing IAS 39’s incurred credit loss calculations with IFRS 9’s expected credit losses (“ECLs”).

 

F-23

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

(b) (Continued)

 

A reconciliation between the carrying amounts under IAS 39 and the balances reported under IFRS 9 as at January 1, 2018 is as follows:

 

      IAS 39               IFRS 9 
      measurement               measurement 
   Notes  Category  Amount   Re-classification   ECL   Fair value 
adjustment
   Amount   Category 
          RMB’000    RMB’000    RMB’000    RMB’000    RMB’000     
Assets                                   
Financial assets                                   
Trade and notes receivables     L&R   8,008,937        (112,407)       7,896,530   AC 
Other current assets     L&R   6,487,548        (38,502)       6,449,046   AC 
Other non-current assets     L&R   261,156                261,156   AC 
Financial Assets at fair value through profit or loss     FVPL   9,534                9,534   FVPL 
Cash and cash equivalents     L&R   27,835,866                27,835,866   AC 
Restricted cash     L&R   2,168,192                2,168,192   AC 
Available-for-sale financial investments  (i)  AFS   1,928,201    (1,928,201)              N/A 
Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income  (i)  N/A       1,928,201        15,114    1,943,315   FVOCI
(Equity)
 
          46,699,434        (150,909)   15,114    46,563,639    
                                    
Total assets         199,816,799        (150,909)   15,114    199,681,004     
Liabilities                                   
Other liabilities                                   
Deferred tax liabilities         993,742            3,641    997,383     
                                    
Total Liabilities         134,074,203            3,641    134,077,844     

 

1 L&R: Loans and receivables

2 AC: Financial assets or financial liabilities at amortized cost

3 FVPL: Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

4 AFS: Available-for-sale investments

5 FVOCI: Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income

 

F-24

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

(b)  (Continued)

 

Notes:

 

The Group has elected the option to irrevocably designate certain of its previous available-for-sale equity investments as equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income.

 

Impairment

 

The following table reconciles the aggregate opening impairment allowances under IAS 39 to the ECL allowances under IFRS 9. Re-measurement equals to the effect of adoption of IFRS 9 in note 14 and note 15.

 

   Impairment allowances
under IAS 39
at December 31, 2017
  

Re-measurement

(note 14/note 15)

   ECL allowances
under IFRS 9
at January 1, 2018
 
   RMB’000   RMB’000   RMB’000 
Trade receivables   546,102    112,407    658,509 
Other current assets   1,673,122    38,502    1,711,624 
    2,219,224    150,909    2,370,133 

 

Impact on reserves and accumulated losses

 

The impact of transition to IFRS 9 on reserves and accumulated losses is as follows:

 

   Reserves and
accumulated losses
 
   RMB’000 
Fair value reserve under IFRS 9 (gain on available-for-sale financial assets under IAS 39)    
Balance as at December 31, 2017 under IAS 39   6,836 
Remeasurement of equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income previously measured at cost under IAS 39   14,263 
Deferred tax in relation to the above   (3,428)
Balance as at January 1, 2018 under IFRS 9   17,671 
      
Accumulated losses     
Balance as at December 31, 2017 under IAS 39   (3,368,095)
Adjustment due to business combinations under common control (note 38)   35,724 
Recognition of expected credit losses for trade receivables under IFRS 9   (94,844)
Recognition of expected credit losses for current financial assets at amortized cost under IFRS 9   (38,502)
Balance as at January 1, 2018 under IFRS 9   (3,465,717)
      
Non-controlling interests     
Balance as at December 31, 2017 under IAS 39   26,035,429 
Adjustment due to business combinations under common control (note 38)   19,138 
Remeasurement of equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income previously measured at cost under IAS 39   851 
Recognition of expected credit losses for trade receivables under IFRS 9   (17,563)
Deferred tax in relation to the above   (213)
Balance as at January 1, 2018 under IFRS 9   26,037,642 

 

F-25

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

(c)IFRS 15 and its amendments replace IAS 11 Construction Contracts, IAS 18 Revenue and related interpretations and it applies, with limited exceptions, to all revenue arising from contracts with customers. IFRS 15 establishes a new five-step model to account for revenue arising from contracts with customers. Under IFRS 15, revenue is recognized at an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. The principles in IFRS 15 provide a more structured approach for measuring and recognising revenue. The standard also introduces extensive qualitative and quantitative disclosure requirements, including disaggregation of total revenue, information about performance obligations, changes in contract asset and liability account balances between periods and key judgements and estimates. The disclosures are included in note 4 to the financial statements. As a result of the application of IFRS 15, the Group has changed the accounting policy with respect to revenue recognition in note 2.27 to the financial statements.

 

The Group has adopted IFRS 15 using the modified retrospective method of adoption. The Group applied IFRS 15 to contracts that are initiated after the effective date and contracts that had remaining obligations as of the effective date. In respect of the prior periods, the Group retained prior period’s figures as reported under the previous standards, recognising the cumulative effect of applying IFRS 15 as an adjustment to the opening balance of equity as at January 1, 2018. The Group concluded that the transitional adjustment to be made on January 1, 2018 to accumulated losses upon initial adoption of IFRS 15 is nil. It is because the Group recognizes revenue upon the transfer of significant risks and rewards, which coincides with the fulfilment of performance obligations. Additionally, the Group’s contracts with customers generally has only one performance obligation.

 

The nature of the adjustments as at January 1, 2018 and the reasons for the significant changes in the consolidated statement of financial position as at December 31, 2018 are described below:

 

Consideration received from customers in advance

 

Before the adoption of IFRS 15, the Group recognized consideration received from customers in advance as other payables. Under IFRS 15, the amount is classified as contract liabilities.

 

Therefore, upon adoption of IFRS 15, the Group reclassified RMB1,372 million from other payables to contract liabilities as at January 1, 2018 in relation to the consideration received from customers in advance as at January 1, 2018.

 

As at December 31, 2018, under IFRS 15, RMB1,579 million was recorded as contract liabilities in relation to the consideration received from customers in advance for the sale of industrial products.

 

F-26

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

(d)Voluntary change in accounting policies for government grants

 

In 2018, the management of the Group performed an analysis on the nature of the Group’s government grants. After reassessing the gross vs. net presentation policy, management considered that presenting government grants in the net method can provide reliable and more relevant information about the effects of transactions to the users of the financial statements. As such, the Company proposed a voluntary change in the accounting policy.

 

Up to the year of 2017, the Group recognized and measured government grants according to the gross method:

 

Asset-related government grants are recognized when the government document designates that the government grants are used for constructing or forming long-term assets. Asset-related government grants are recognized as deferred income and are amortized evenly in profit or loss over the useful lives of the related assets. Income-related government grants that are used to compensate subsequent related expenses or losses of the Group are recognized as deferred income and recorded in profit or loss when the related expenses or losses are incurred. When the grants are used to compensate expenses or losses that were already incurred, they are directly recognized in profit or loss for the current period.

 

After the voluntary change in the accounting policy, the Group recognized government grants according to the net method. For asset related government grants, had the asset already existed upon receiving the government grant, the Group directly deducted the grant amount from the book value of the assets related to the government grant instead of recording the government grants as deferred income. For government grants related to income and expenses already incurred by the Group, which are specific to compensate certain cost and expenses, the Group would directly offset the grant amount against the related cost or expense.

 

F-27

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

  (d) (Continued)

 

The main effects of retrospective adjustments caused by the above accounting policy change on financial statements are as follows:

             
Consolidated statement of financial position 

Before change in
accounting policy

December 31, 2017

  

Reclassification on

change in

 accounting policy

  

After change in
accounting policy

December 31, 2017

 
Assets:            
Property, plant and equipment   96,430,815    (803,238)   95,627,577 
Land use rights   3,746,602    (169,590)   3,577,012 
Intangible Assets   10,653,175    (15,542)   10,637,633 
    110,830,592    (988,370)   109,842,222 
                
Total assets   200,805,169    (988,370)   199,816,799 
                
Liabilities:               
Other non-current liabilities   3,442,030    (988,370)   2,453,660 
                
Total liabilities   135,062,573    (988,370)   134,074,203 

 

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income 

Before change in
accounting policy

 December 31, 2017

  

Reclassification on

 change in

accounting policy

  

After change in

 accounting policy

December 31, 2017

 
Cost of sales   (166,494,842)   204,607    (166,290,235)
General and administration expenses   (4,604,055)   54,849    (4,549,206)
Other income   349,329    (259,456)   89,873 
    (170,749,568)       (170,749,568)
                
Profit before tax   3,049,010        3,049,010 

 

F-28

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

  (d) (Continued)

             
Consolidated statement of financial position  Before change in
accounting policy
December 31, 2018
   Reclassification on change in accounting policy   After change in
accounting policy
December 31, 2018
 
Assets:            
Property, plant and equipment   107,066,073    (872,704)   106,193,369 
Land use rights   4,484,055    (203,764)   4,280,291 
Intangible Assets   12,881,804    (2,439)   12,879,365 
Other non-current assets   4,446,938    (4,294)   4,442,644 
    128,878,870    (1,083,201)   127,795,669 
                
Total assets   201,959,315    (1,083,201)   200,876,114 
                
Liabilities:               
Other non-current liabilities   3,521,365    (1,083,201)   2,438,164 
                
Total liabilities   134,290,113    (1,083,201)   133,206,912 

 

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income  Before change in
accounting policy
December 31, 2018
   Reclassification on
 change in
accounting policy
   After change in
accounting policy
December 31, 2018
 
Cost of sales   (167,254,868)   225,452    (167,029,416)
General and administration expenses   (4,540,590)   582,523    (3,958,067)
Research and development expenses   (630,815)   3,942    (626,873)
Selling and distribution expenses   (2,496,977)   44    (2,496,933)
Other income   947,328    (811,961)   135,367 
    (173,975,922)       (173,975,922)
                
Profit before tax   2,303,511        2,303,511 

  

F-29

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.2Changes in accounting policies and disclosures (Continued)

 

(e)Amendments to IAS 40 clarify when an entity should transfer property, including property under construction or development, into or out of investment property. The amendments state that a change in use occurs when the property meets, or ceases to meet, the definition of investment property and there is evidence of the change in use. A mere change in management’s intentions for the use of a property does not provide evidence of a change in use. The amendments have had no impact on the financial position or performance of the Group.

 

(f)IFRIC 22 provides guidance on how to determine the date of the transaction when applying IAS 21 to the situation where an entity receives or pays advance consideration in a foreign currency and recognizes a non-monetary asset or liability. The interpretation clarifies that the date of the transaction for the purpose of determining the exchange rate to use on initial recognition of the related asset, expense or income (or part of it) is the date on which an entity initially recognizes the non-monetary asset (such as a prepayment) or non-monetary liability (such as deferred income) arising from the payment or receipt of the advance consideration. If there are multiple payments or receipts in advance of recognising the related item, the entity must determine the transaction date for each payment or receipt of the advance consideration. The interpretation has had no impact on the Group’s financial statements as the Group’s accounting policy for the determination of the exchange rate applied for initial recognition of non-monetary assets or non-monetary liabilities is consistent with the guidance provided in the interpretation.

 

F-30

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.

BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.3Issued but not yet effective International Financial Reporting Standards

 

The Group has not applied the following new and revised IFRSs that have been issued but are not yet effective, in these financial statements.

 

  Amendments to IFRS 3 Definition of a Business2
  Amendments to IFRS 9 Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation1
  Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture4
  IFRS 16 Leases1
  IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts3
  Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 Definition of Material2
  Amendments to IAS 19 Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement1
  Amendments to IAS 28 Long-term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures1
  IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments1
  Annual Improvements 2015-2017 Cycle Amendments to IFRS 3, IFRS 11, IAS 12 and IAS 231
   
  1 Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019
  2 Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020
  3 Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021
  4  No mandatory effective date yet determined but available for adoption

 

F-31

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.3Issued but not yet effective financial reporting standards (Continued)

 

Further information about those IFRSs that are expected to be applicable to the Group is described below.

 

Amendments to IFRS 3 clarify and provide additional guidance on the definition of a business. The amendments clarify that for an integrated set of activities and assets to be considered a business, it must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output. A business can exist without including all of the inputs and processes needed to create outputs. The amendments remove the assessment of whether market participants are capable of acquiring the business and continue to produce outputs. Instead, the focus is on whether acquired inputs and acquired substantive processes together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The amendments have also narrowed the definition of outputs to focus on goods or services provided to customers, investment income or other income from ordinary activities. Furthermore, the amendments provide guidance to assess whether an acquired process is substantive and introduce an optional fair value concentration test to permit a simplified assessment of whether an acquired set of activities and assets is not a business. The Group expects to adopt the amendments prospectively from January 1, 2020.

 

Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 address an inconsistency between the requirements in IFRS 10 and in IAS 28 in dealing with the sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture. The amendments require a full recognition of a gain or loss when the sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture constitutes a business. For a transaction involving assets that do not constitute a business, a gain or loss resulting from the transaction is recognized in the investor’s profit or loss only to the extent of the unrelated investor’s interest in that associate or joint venture. The amendments are to be applied prospectively. The previous mandatory effective date of amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 was removed by the IASB in January 2016 and a new mandatory effective date will be determined after the completion of a broader review of accounting for associates and joint ventures. However, the amendments are available for adoption now.

 

F-32

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.3Issued but not yet effective financial reporting standards (Continued)

 

IFRS 16 replaces IAS 17 Leases, IFRIC Interpretation 4 Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease, SIC-15 Operating Leases - Incentives and SIC-27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal Form of a Lease. The standard sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases and requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases. The standard includes two elective recognition exemptions for lessees – leases of low-value assets and short-term leases. At the commencement date of a lease, a lessee will recognize a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing the right to use the underlying asset during the lease term. The right-of-use asset is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses unless the right-of-use asset meets the definition of investment property in IAS 40, or relates to a class of property, plant and equipment to which the revaluation model is applied. The lease liability is subsequently increased to reflect the interest on the lease liability and reduced for the lease payments. Lessees will be required to separately recognize the interest expense on the lease liability and the depreciation expense on the right-of-use asset. Lessees will also be required to remeasure the lease liability upon the occurrence of certain events, such as change in the lease term and change in future lease payments resulting from a change in an index or rate used to determine those payments. Lessees will generally recognize the amount of the remeasurement of the lease liability as an adjustment to the right-of-use asset. Lessor accounting under IFRS 16 is substantially unchanged from the accounting under IAS 17. Lessors will continue to classify all leases using the same classification principle as in IAS 17 and distinguish between operating leases and finance leases. IFRS 16 requires lessees and lessors to make more extensive disclosures than under IAS 17. Lessees can choose to apply the standard using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach. The Group will adopt IFRS 16 from January 1, 2019. The Group plans to adopt the transitional provisions in IFRS 16 to recognize the cumulative effect of initial adoption as an adjustment to the opening balance of accumulated losses at January 1, 2019 and will not restate the comparatives. In addition, the Group plans to apply the new requirements to contracts that were previously identified as leases applying IAS 17 and measure the lease liability at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the Group’s incremental borrowing rate at the date of initial application. The right-of-use asset will be measured at the amount of the lease liability, adjusted by the amount of any prepaid or accrued lease payments relating to the lease recognized in the statement of financial position immediately before the date of initial application. The Group plans to use the exemptions allowed by the standard on lease contracts whose lease terms end within 12 months as of the date of initial application. During 2018, the Group has performed a detailed assessment on the impact of adoption of IFRS 16. The Group has estimated that right-of-use assets of RMB6,929 million and lease liabilities of RMB6,929 million will be recognized at January 1, 2019.

 

Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 provide a new definition of material. The new definition states that information is material if omitting, misstating or obscuring it could reasonably be expected to influence decisions that the primary users of general purpose financial statements make on the basis of those financial statements. The amendments clarify that materiality will depend on the nature or magnitude of information. A misstatement of information is material if it could reasonably be expected to influence decisions made by the primary users. The Group expects to adopt the amendments prospectively from January 1, 2020. The amendments are not expected to have any significant impact on the Group’s financial statements.

 

F-33

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.3Issued but not yet effective financial reporting standards (Continued)

 

Amendments to IAS 28 clarify that the scope exclusion of IFRS 9 only includes interests in an associate or joint venture to which the equity method is applied and does not include long-term interests that in substance form part of the net investment in the associate or joint venture, to which the equity method has not been applied. Therefore, an entity applies IFRS 9, rather than IAS 28, including the impairment requirements under IFRS 9, in accounting for such long-term interests. IAS 28 is then applied to the net investment, which includes the long-term interests, only in the context of recognising losses of an associate or joint venture and impairment of the net investment in the associate or joint venture. The Group expects to adopt the amendments on January 1, 2019 and will assess its business model for such long-term interests based on the facts and circumstances that exist on January 1, 2019 using the transitional requirements in the amendments. The Group also intends to apply the relief from restating comparative information for prior periods upon adoption of the amendments.

 

IFRIC-Int 23 addresses the accounting for income taxes (current and deferred) when tax treatments involve uncertainty that affects the application of IAS 12 (often referred to as “uncertain tax positions”). The interpretation does not apply to taxes or levies outside the scope of IAS 12, nor does it specifically include requirements relating to interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax treatments. The interpretation specifically addresses (i) whether an entity considers uncertain tax treatments separately; (ii) the assumptions an entity makes about the examination of tax treatments by taxation authorities; (iii) how an entity determines taxable profits or tax losses, tax bases, unused tax losses, unused tax credits and tax rates; and (iv) how an entity considers changes in facts and circumstances. The interpretation is to be applied retrospectively, either fully retrospectively without the use of hindsight or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of application as an adjustment to the opening equity at the date of initial application, without the restatement of comparative information. The Group expects to adopt the interpretation from January 1, 2019. The interpretation is not expected to have any significant impact on the Group’s financial statements.

 

F-34

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.4Investments in joint ventures and associates

 

A joint venture is a type of joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the joint venture. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.

 

An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee, but is not control or joint control over those policies.

 

The Group’s investments in associates and joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method, less any impairment losses

 

Under the equity method, the investment in an associate or a joint venture is initially recognized at cost. The carrying amount of the investment is adjusted to recognize changes in the Group’s share of net assets of the associate or joint venture since the acquisition date. Goodwill relating to the associate or joint venture is included in the carrying amount of the investment, and tested for impairment when any indicators of impairment are identified.

 

The consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income includes the Group’s share of the results of operations of the associate or joint venture. Any change in OCI of those investees is presented as part of the Group’s OCI. In addition, when there has been a change recognized directly in the equity of the associate or joint venture, the Group recognizes its share of any changes, when applicable, in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. Unrealized gains and losses resulting from transactions between the Group and the associate or joint venture are eliminated to the extent of the interest in the associate or joint venture.

 

The aggregate of the Group’s share of profit or loss of an associate and a joint venture is shown in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income and represents profit or loss after tax and non-controlling interests in the subsidiaries of the associate or joint venture.

 

F-35

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.4Investments in joint ventures and associates (Continued)

 

The financial statements of the associate or joint venture are prepared for the same reporting period as the Group. When necessary, adjustments are made to bring the accounting policies in line with those of the Group.

 

After application of the equity method, the Group determines whether it is necessary to recognize an impairment loss on its investment in its associate or joint venture. At each reporting date, the Group determines whether there is objective evidence that the investment in the associate or joint venture is impaired. If there is such evidence, the Group calculates the amount of impairment as the difference between the recoverable amount of the associate or joint venture and its carrying value, then recognizes the loss in profit or loss.

 

If an investment in an associate becomes an investment in a joint venture or vice versa, the retained interest is not remeasured. Instead, the investment continues to be accounted for under the equity method. In all other cases, upon loss of significant influence over the associate or joint control over the joint venture, the Group measures and recognizes any retained investment at its fair value. Any difference between the carrying amount of the associate or joint venture upon loss of significant influence or joint control and the fair value of the retained investment and the proceeds from disposal is recognized in profit or loss.

 

When an investment in an associate or a joint venture is classified as held for sale, it is accounted for in accordance with IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations.

 

2.5Segment reporting

 

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-makers. The chief operating decision-makers, who are responsible for allocating resources and assessing the performance of the operating segments, have been identified as the presidents of the Company that make strategic decisions.

 

F-36

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.6Related parties

 

A party is considered to be related to the Group if:

 

(a)the party is a person or a close member of that person’s family and that person:

 

(i)has control or joint control over the Group;

 

(ii)has a significant influence over the Group; or

 

(iii)is a member of the key management personnel of the Group or of a parent of the Group;

 

or

 

(b)the party is an entity where any of the following conditions applies:

 

(i)the entity and the Group are members of the same group;

 

(ii)one entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or of a parent, subsidiary or fellow subsidiary of the other entity);

 

(iii)the entity and the Group are joint ventures of the same third party;

 

(iv)one entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of the third entity;

 

(v)the entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of employees of either the Group or an entity related to the Group;

 

(vi)the entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (a);

 

(vii)a person identified in (a) (i) has significant influence over the entity or is a member of the key management personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the entity); and

 

(viii)the entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key management personnel services to the Group or to the parent of the Group.

 

2.7Fair value measurement

 

The Group measures its futures, options and forward contracts and equity investments at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Also, the fair values of financial instruments measured at amortized cost are disclosed in note 36.

 

F-37

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.7Fair value measurement (Continued)

 

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place either:

 

In the principal market for the asset or liability; or

 

In the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

 

The principal or the most advantageous market must be accessible by the Group. The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.

 

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

 

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

 

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the financial statements are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:

 

Level 1 Based on quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

 

Level 2 Based on valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable

 

Level 3 Based on valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable

 

For assets and liabilities that are recognized in the financial statements on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorisation (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.

 

F-38

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.8Foreign currency translation

 

Functional and presentation currency

 

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the “functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in RMB, which is the Company’s functional currency and the Group’s presentation currency.

 

Transactions and balances

 

Foreign currency transactions recorded by the entities in the Group are initially recorded using their respective functional currency rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the functional currency rates of exchange ruling at the end of the reporting period. Differences arising on settlement or translation of monetary items are recognized in profit or loss.

 

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the dates of the initial transactions. Non-monetary items measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value was measured. The gain or loss arising on translation of a non-monetary item measured at fair value is treated in line with the recognition of the gain or loss on change in fair value of the item.

 

In determining the exchange rate on initial recognition of the related asset, expense or income on the derecognition of a non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability relating to an advance consideration, the date of initial transaction is the date on which the Group initially recognizes the non-monetary asset or non-monetary liability arising from the advance consideration. If there are multiple payments or receipts in advance, the Group determines the transaction date for each payment or receipt of the advance consideration.

 

Group companies

 

The results and financial positions of all the group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyper-inflationary economy) that has a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

 

(i)assets and liabilities in each statement of financial position presented are translated at the closing rates at the end of the reporting period;

 

(ii)income and expenses in each statement of comprehensive income are translated at average exchange rates (unless this average is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case income and expenses are translated at the rates at the dates of the transactions); and

 

(iii)all resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income. Upon disposal of a foreign operation, the other comprehensive income related to the foreign operation is reclassified to profit or loss.

 

Goodwill and fair value adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated at the closing rate. Exchange differences arising are recognized in other comprehensive income.

 

F-39

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.9Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment, other than construction in progress, are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. When an item of property, plant and equipment is classified as held for sale or when it is part of a disposal group classified as held for sale, it is not depreciated and is accounted for in accordance with IFRS 5. The cost of an item of property, plant and equipment comprises its purchase price and any directly attributable costs of bringing the asset to its working condition and location for its intended use.

 

Expenditure incurred after items of property, plant and equipment have been put into operation, such as repairs and maintenance, is normally charged to profit or loss in the period in which it is incurred. In situations where the recognition criteria are satisfied, the expenditure for a major inspection is capitalized in the carrying amount of the asset as a replacement. Where significant parts of property, plant and equipment are required to be replaced at intervals, the Group recognizes such parts as individual assets with specific useful lives and depreciates them accordingly.

 

Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis to write off the cost of each item of property, plant and equipment to its residual value over its estimated useful life. The principal annual rates used for this purpose are as follows:

 

Buildings 8 - 45 years
Machinery 3 - 30 years
Transportation facilities 6 -10 years
Office and other equipment 3 - 10 years

 

The depreciation method, residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period. An item of property, plant and equipment including any significant part initially recognized is derecognized upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected from its use or disposal. Any gain or loss on disposal or retirement recognized in profit or loss in the year the asset is derecognized is the difference between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant asset.

 

Construction in progress (“CIP”) represents buildings under construction, and plant and equipment pending for installation, and is stated at cost less any impairment losses. Cost comprises construction expenditures, other expenditures necessary for the purpose of preparing the CIP for its intended use and those borrowing costs incurred before the asset is ready for its intended use that is eligible for capitalisation. CIP is transferred to property, plant and equipment when the CIP is ready for its intended use.

 

F-40

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.10Intangible assets

 

(a)Goodwill

 

Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred, the amount recognized for non-controlling interests and any fair value of the Group’s previously held equity interests in the acquiree over the identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If the sum of this consideration and other items is lower than the fair value of the net assets acquired, the difference is, after reassessment, recognized in profit or loss as a gain on bargain purchase.

 

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. The Group performs its annual impairment test of goodwill as at December 31. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units, or groups of cash-generating units, that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the Group are assigned to those units or groups of units.

 

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to each of the cash-generating units, or groups of cash-generating units, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. Each unit or group of units to which the goodwill is allocated represents the lowest level within the entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes. Goodwill is monitored at the operating segment level.

 

Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates. Where the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. An impairment loss recognized for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period. Any impairment is recognized immediately as an expense and is not subsequently reversed.

 

Where goodwill has been allocated to a cash-generating unit (or group of cash-generating units) and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill associated with the operation disposed of is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on the disposal. Goodwill disposed of in these circumstances is measured based on the relative value of the operation disposed of and the portion of the cash-generating unit retained.

 

F-41

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.10Intangible assets (Continued)

 

(b)Mining rights and mineral exploration rights

 

The Group’s mineral exploration rights and mining rights relate to coal, bauxite and other mines.

 

(i)Recognition

 

Mineral exploration rights and mining rights are initially recorded at cost which includes the acquisition consideration, qualifying exploration and other direct costs. The mineral exploration rights are stated at cost less any impairment, and the mining rights are stated at cost less any amortization and impairment.

 

(ii)Reclassification

 

Mineral exploration rights are converted to mining rights when technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting a mineral resource are demonstrable, and are subject to amortization when commercial production has commenced.

 

The Group assesses the stage of each mine under construction to determine when a mine moves into the production stage. The criteria used to assess the start date are determined based on the unique nature of each mine construction project. The Group considers various relevant criteria, such as completion of a reasonable period of testing of the mine and equipment, ability to produce in saleable form (within specifications) and ability to sustain ongoing production to assess when a mine is substantially complete and ready for its intended use.

 

(iii)Amortization

 

Amortization of bauxite and other mining rights (except for coal mining rights) is provided on a straight-line basis according to the shorter of the expiration date of the mining certificate and the mineable period of natural resources. Estimated mineable periods of the majority of the mining rights range from 3 to 30 years.

 

Coal mining rights are amortized on a unit-of-production basis over the economically recoverable reserves evaluated based on the reserves estimated in accordance with the standards in the Solid Mineral Resource/Reserve Classification of the PRC (GB/T17766-1999) of the mine concerned.

 

(iv)Impairment

 

An impairment review is performed when there are indicators that the carrying amount of the mineral exploration rights and mining rights may exceed their recoverable amounts. To the extent that this occurs, the excess is fully provided as an impairment loss.

 

F-42

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.10Intangible assets (Continued)

 

(c)Computer software

 

Acquired computer software licences are capitalized on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use specific software. These costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which do not exceed 10 years. Costs associated with maintaining computer software programmes are recognized as an expense as incurred.

 

(d)Primary aluminum production quota

 

Primary aluminum production quota are initially recorded at purchased costs incurred to acquire the quota. Amortization is calculated on the straight-line basis over the expected production period.

 

(e)Other intangible assets

 

Other intangible assets mainly include profit-sharing rights of Maochang mine, which are initially recorded at costs incurred to acquire the specific right. Amortization is calculated on the straight-line basis over its estimated useful life. The estimated useful live of profit-sharing rights of Maochang mine is 22.5 years.

 

(f)Periodic review of the useful lives and amortization method

 

For intangible assets with finite useful lives, the estimated useful lives and amortization method are reviewed annually at the end of each reporting period and adjusted when necessary.

 

2.11Research and development costs

 

Research and development expenditures are classified as research expenditures and development expenditures according to the nature of the expenditures and whether there is significant uncertainty of development activities transforming to assets.

 

Research expenditures are recognized in profit or loss for the current period. Development expenditures are recognized as assets when all of the following criteria are met:

 

(i)it is technically feasible to complete the asset so that it will be available for use or sale;

 

(ii)management intends to complete the asset and intends and has ability to use or sell it;

 

(iii)it can be demonstrated that the asset will generate probable future economic benefits;

 

(iv)there are adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development of the asset and management has the ability to use or sell the asset; and

 

(v)the expenditure attributable to the asset during its development phase can be reliably measured.

 

Development expenditures that do not meet the criteria above are recorded in profit or loss for the current period as incurred. Development expenditures that have been recorded in profit or loss in previous periods will be not recognized as assets in subsequent periods. The Group has not had any development expenditure capitalized.

 

F-43

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.12Impairment of non-financial assets

 

Where an indication of impairment exists, or when annual impairment testing for an asset is required (other than inventories, for example, goodwill or intangible assets with an indefinite useful life), the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s value in use and its fair value less costs of disposal, and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets, in which case the recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

 

An impairment loss is recognized only if the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. An impairment loss is charged to profit or loss in the period in which it arises.

 

An assessment is made at the end of each reporting period as to whether there is an indication that previously recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such an indication exists, the recoverable amount is estimated. A previously recognized impairment loss of an asset other than goodwill is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount of that asset, but not to an amount higher than the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of any depreciation/amortization) had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years. A reversal of such an impairment loss is credited to profit or loss in the period in which it arises.

 

F-44

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.13Investment properties

 

Investment properties are interests in land and buildings (including the leasehold interest under an operating lease for a property which would otherwise meet the definition of an investment property) held to earn rental income and/or for capital appreciation, rather than for use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes; or for sale in the ordinary course of business. Such properties are measured initially at cost, including transaction costs. After initial recognition, the Group uses the cost model to measure all of its investment properties.

 

Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis to write off the cost to investment property’s residual value over its estimated useful life. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

Buildings 50 years
Land use rights 40-70 years

 

The carrying amounts of investment properties measured using the cost method are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

 

Any gains or losses on the retirement or disposal of an investment property are recognized in profit or loss in the year of the retirement or disposal.

 

2.14Non-current assets and disposal groups held for sale

 

Non-current assets and disposal groups are classified as held for sale if their carrying amounts will be recovered principally through a sales transaction rather than through continuing use. For this to be the case, the asset or disposal group must be available for immediate sale in its present condition subject only to terms that are usual and customary for the sale of such assets or disposal groups and its sale must be highly probable. All assets and liabilities of a subsidiary classified as a disposal group are reclassified as held for sale regardless of whether the Group retains a non-controlling interest in its former subsidiary after the sale.

 

Non-current assets and disposal groups (other than financial assets) classified as held for sale are measured at the lower of their carrying amounts and fair values less costs to sell. Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets classified as held for sale are not depreciated or amortized.

 

F-45

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets

 

Policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018

 

Initial recognition and measurement

 

Financial assets are classified, at initial recognition, as subsequently measured at amortized cost, fair value through other comprehensive income, and fair value through profit or loss.

 

The classification of financial assets at initial recognition depends on the financial asset’s contractual cash flow characteristics and the Group’s business model for managing them. With the exception of trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component or for which the Group has applied the practical expedient of not adjusting the effect of a significant financing component, the Group initially measures a financial asset at its fair value, plus in the case of a financial asset not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs. Trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component or for which the Group has applied the practical expedient are measured at the transaction price determined under IFRS 15 in accordance with the policies set out for “Revenue recognition (applicable from January 1, 2018)” below.

 

In order for a financial asset to be classified and measured at amortized cost or fair value through other comprehensive income, it needs to give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest (“SPPI”) on the principal amount outstanding.

 

The Group’s business model for managing financial assets refers to how it manages its financial assets in order to generate cash flows. The business model determines whether cash flows will result from collecting contractual cash flows, selling the financial assets, or both.

 

All regular way purchases and sales of financial assets are recognized on the trade date, that is, the date that the Group commits to purchase or sell the asset. Regular way purchases or sales are purchases or sales of financial assets that require delivery of assets within the period generally established by regulation or convention in the marketplace.

 

Subsequent measurement

 

The subsequent measurement of financial assets depends on their classification as follows:

 

F-46

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Financial assets at amortized cost (debt instruments)

 

The Group measures financial assets at amortized cost if both of the following conditions are met:

 

Financial asset is held within a business model with the objective to hold financial assets in order to collect contractual cash flows.

 

Contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

 

Financial assets at amortized cost are subsequently measured using the effective interest method and are subject to impairment. Gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income when the asset is derecognized, modified or impaired.

 

Financial assets designated at fair value through other comprehensive income (equity investments)

 

Upon initial recognition, the Group can elect to classify irrevocably its equity investments as equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income when they meet the definition of equity under IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation and are not held for trading. The classification is determined on an instrument-by-instrument basis.

 

Gains and losses on these financial assets are never recycled to the statement of profit or loss. Dividends are recognized as other gains in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income when the right of payment has been established, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the dividend will flow to the Group and the amount of the dividend can be measured reliably, except when the Group benefits from such proceeds as a recovery of part of the cost of the financial asset, in which case, such gains are recorded in other comprehensive income. Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income are not subject to impairment assessment.

 

F-47

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss include financial assets held for trading, financial assets designated upon initial recognition at fair value through profit or loss, or financial assets mandatorily required to be measured at fair value. Financial assets are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purpose of selling or repurchasing in the near term. Derivatives, including separated embedded derivatives, are also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as effective hedging instruments. Financial assets with cash flows that are not solely payments of principal and interest are classified and measured at fair value through profit or loss, irrespective of the business model. Notwithstanding the criteria for debt instruments to be classified at amortized cost or at fair value through other comprehensive income, as described above, debt instruments may be designated at fair value through profit or loss on initial recognition if doing so eliminates, or significantly reduces, an accounting mismatch.

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are carried in the statement of financial position at fair value with net changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss.

 

This category includes derivative instruments and equity investments which the Group had not irrevocably elected to classify at fair value through other comprehensive income. Dividends on equity investments classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are also recognized as other gains in profit or loss when the right of payment has been established, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the dividend will flow to the Group and the amount of the dividend can be measured reliably.

 

A derivative embedded in a hybrid contract, with a financial liability or non-financial host, is separated from the host and accounted for as a separate derivative if the economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to the host; a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative; and the hybrid contract is not measured at fair value through profit or loss. Embedded derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. Reassessment only occurs if there is either a change in the terms of the contract that significantly modifies the cash flows that would otherwise be required or a reclassification of a financial asset out of the fair value through profit or loss category.

 

A derivative embedded within a hybrid contract containing a financial asset host is not accounted for separately. The financial asset host together with the embedded derivative is required to be classified in its entirety as a financial asset at fair value through profit or loss.

 

F-48

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Impairment of financial assets

 

The Group recognizes an allowance for ECLs for all debt instruments not held at fair value through profit or loss. ECLs are based on the difference between the contractual cash flows due in accordance with the contract and all the cash flows that the Group expects to receive, discounted at an approximation of the original effective interest rate. The expected cash flows will include cash flows from the sale of collateral held or other credit enhancements that are integral to the contractual terms.

 

General approach

 

ECLs are recognized in two stages. For credit exposures for which there has not been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, ECLs are provided for credit losses that result from default events that are possible within the next 12 months (a 12-month ECL). For those credit exposures for which there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition, a loss allowance is required for credit losses expected over the remaining life of the exposure, irrespective of the timing of the default (a lifetime ECL).

 

At each reporting date, the Group assesses whether the credit risk on a financial instrument has increased significantly since initial recognition. When making the assessment, the Group compares the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as at the reporting date with the risk of a default occurring on the financial instrument as at the date of initial recognition and considers reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort, including historical and forward-looking information.

 

The Group considers a financial asset to be in default when internal or external information indicates that the Group is unlikely to receive the outstanding contractual amounts in full before taking into account any credit enhancements held by the Group. A financial asset is written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovering the contractual cash flows.

 

Debt investments at fair value through other comprehensive income and financial assets at amortized cost are subject to impairment under the general approach and they are classified within the following stages for measurement of ECLs except for trade receivables and contract assets which apply the simplified approach as detailed below.

 

F-49

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Impairment of financial assets (continued)

 

Stage 1 - Financial instruments for which credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition and for which the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to 12-month ECLs

Stage 2 - Financial instruments for which credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition but that are not credit-impaired financial assets and for which the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs

Stage 3 - Financial assets that are credit-impaired at the reporting date (but that are not purchased or originated credit-impaired) and for which the loss allowance is measured at an amount equal to lifetime ECLs

 

Simplified approach

 

For trade receivables and contract assets that do not contain a significant financing component or when the Group applies the practical expedient of not adjusting the effect of a significant financing component, the Group applies the simplified approach in calculating ECLs. Under the simplified approach, the Group does not track changes in credit risk, but instead recognizes a loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting date. The Group has established a provision matrix that is based on its historical credit loss experience, adjusted for forward-looking factors specific to the debtors and the economic environment.

 

For trade receivables and contract assets that contain a significant financial component and lease receivable, the Group chooses as its accounting policy to adopt the simplified approach in calculating ECLs with policies as described above.

 

F-50

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018

 

Classification

 

The Group classifies its financial assets in the following categories: financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables and available-for-sale financial investments. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.

 

(i)Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss include financial assets held for trading and financial assets designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purposes of sale in the near term. Derivatives, including separated embedded derivatives, are also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as effective hedging instruments as defined by IAS 39.

 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are carried in the consolidated statement of financial position at fair value with positive net changes in fair value presented as other income and gains and negative net changes in fair value presented as finance costs in profit or loss. These net fair value changes do not include any dividends or interest earned on these financial assets, which are recognized in accordance with the policies set out for “Revenue recognition” (applicable before January 1, 2018) below.

 

Financial assets designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss are designated at the date of initial recognition and only if the criteria in IAS 39 are satisfied.

 

Derivatives embedded in host contracts are accounted for as separate derivatives and recorded at fair value if their economic characteristics and risks are not closely related to those of the host contracts and the host contracts are not held for trading or designated as at fair value through profit or loss. These embedded derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. Reassessment only occurs if there is either a change in the terms of the contract that significantly modifies the cash flows that would otherwise be required or a reclassification of a financial asset out of the fair value through profit or loss category.

 

F-51

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Classification (continued)

 

(ii)Loans and receivables

 

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. After initial measurement, such assets are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method less any allowance for impairment. Amortized cost is calculated by taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and includes fees or costs that are an integral part of the effective interest rate. The effective interest rate amortization is included in other income and gains in profit or loss. The loss arising from impairment is recognized in profit or loss in finance costs for loans and in impairment losses of financial assets for receivables.

 

(iii)Available-for-sale financial investments

 

Available-for-sale financial investments are non-derivative financial assets in listed and unlisted equity investments and debt securities. Equity investments classified as available for sale are those which are neither classified as held for trading nor designated as at fair value through profit or loss. Debt securities in this category are those which are intended to be held for an indefinite period of time and which may be sold in response to needs for liquidity or in response to changes in market conditions.

 

After initial recognition, available-for-sale financial investments are subsequently measured at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses recognized as other comprehensive income in the available-for-sale investment revaluation reserve until the investment is derecognized, at which time the cumulative gain or loss is recognized in profit or loss in other income, or until the investment is determined to be impaired, when the cumulative gain or loss is reclassified from the available-for-sale investment revaluation reserve to profit or loss in other gains. Interest and dividends earned whilst holding the available-for-sale financial investments are reported as interest income and dividend income, respectively and are recognized in profit or loss as other gains in accordance with the policies set out for “Interest income” and “Dividend income” below.

 

F-52

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Classification (continued)

 

(iii)Available-for-sale financial investments (continued)

 

When the fair value of unlisted equity investments cannot be reliably measured because (a) the variability in the range of reasonable fair value estimates is significant for that investment or (b) the probabilities of the various estimates within the range cannot be reasonably assessed and used in estimating fair value, such investments are stated at cost less any impairment losses.

 

The Group evaluates whether the ability and intention to sell its available-for-sale financial assets in the near term are still appropriate. When, in rare circumstances, the Group is unable to trade these financial assets due to inactive markets, the Group may elect to reclassify these financial assets if management has the ability and intention to hold the assets for the foreseeable future or until maturity.

 

For a financial asset reclassified from the available-for-sale category, the fair value carrying amount at the date of reclassification becomes its new amortized cost and any previous gain or loss on that asset that has been recognized in equity is amortized to profit or loss over the remaining life of the investment using the effective interest rate. Any difference between the new amortized cost and the maturity amount is also amortized over the remaining life of the asset using the effective interest rate. If the asset is subsequently determined to be impaired, then the amount recorded in equity is reclassified to profit or loss.

 

F-53

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Recognition and measurement

 

All regular purchases and sales of financial assets are recognized on the trade date, that is the date that the Group commits to purchase or sell the asset. Regular way purchases or sales are purchases or sales of financial assets that require delivery of assets within the period generally established by regulation or convention in the marketplace. Investments are initially recognized at fair value plus transaction costs, except in the case of financial assets recorded at fair value through profit or loss. Financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss are initially recognized at fair value and transaction costs are expensed in profit or loss. Financial assets are derecognized when the rights to receive cash flows from the investments have expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership. Available-for-sale financial investments and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are subsequently carried at fair value. Loans and receivables are subsequently carried at amortized cost using the effective interest method.

 

Impairment of financial assets

 

The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired. An impairment exists if one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset have an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or the group of financial assets that can be reliably estimated. Evidence of impairment may include indications that a debtor or a group of debtors is experiencing significant financial difficulty, default or delinquency in interest or principal payments, the probability that they will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation and observable data indicating that there is a measurable decrease in the estimated future cash flows, such as changes in arrears or economic conditions that correlate with defaults.

 

Financial assets carried at amortized cost

 

For financial assets carried at amortized cost, the Group assesses whether impairment exists individually for financial assets.

 

The amount of any impairment loss identified is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not yet been incurred). The present value of the estimated future cash flows is discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate (i.e., the effective interest rate computed at initial recognition).

 

The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account and the loss is recognized in profit or loss. Interest income continues to be accrued on the reduced carrying amount using the rate of interest used to discount the future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss. Loans and receivables together with any associated allowance are written off when there is no realistic prospect of future recovery and all collateral has been realized or has been transferred to the Group.

 

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the estimated impairment loss increases or decreases because of an event occurring after the impairment was recognized, the previously recognized impairment loss is increased or reduced by adjusting the allowance account. If a write-off is later recovered, the recovery is credited to other gains in profit or loss.

 

F-54

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Impairment of financial assets (Continued)

 

Available-for-sale financial investments

 

For available-for-sale financial investments, the Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that an investment or a group of investments is impaired.

 

If an available-for-sale asset is impaired, an amount comprising the difference between its cost (net of any principal payment and amortization) and its current fair value, less any impairment loss previously recognized in profit or loss, is removed from other comprehensive income and recognized in profit or loss.

 

In the case of equity investments classified as available-for-sale financial investments, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is considered as an indicator that the securities are impaired. If any such evidence exists for available-for-sale financial investments, the cumulative loss – measured as the difference between the acquisition cost and the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that financial asset previously recognized in other comprehensive income – is removed from other comprehensive income and recognized in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognized in profit or loss on equity instruments are not reversed through profit or loss.

 

F-55

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Impairment of financial assets (continued)

 

Available-for-sale financial investments (continued)

 

The determination of what is “significant” or “prolonged” requires judgement. In making this judgement, the Group evaluates, among other factors, the duration or extent to which the fair value of an investment is less than its cost.

 

In the case of debt instruments classified as available for sale, impairment is assessed based on the same criteria as financial assets carried at amortized cost. However, the amount recorded for impairment is the cumulative loss measured as the difference between the amortized cost and the current fair value, less any impairment loss on that investment previously recognized in profit or loss. Future interest income continues to be accrued based on the reduced carrying amount of the asset and is accrued using the rate of interest used to discount the future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss. The interest income is recorded as part of finance income. Impairment losses on debt instruments are reversed through profit or loss if the subsequent increase in fair value of the instruments can be objectively related to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognized in profit or loss.

 

F-56

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

2.15Financial assets (Continued)

 

Policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Derecognition of financial assets

 

A financial asset (or, where applicable, a part of a financial asset or part of a group of similar financial assets) is primarily derecognized (i.e. removed from the Group’s consolidated statement of financial position) when:

 

the rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired; or

 

the Group has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from the asset or has assumed an obligation to pay the received cash flows in full without material delay to a third party under a “pass-through” arrangement; and either (a) the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, or (b) the Group has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset, but has transferred control of the asset.

 

When the Group has transferred its rights to receive cash flows from an asset or has entered into a pass-through arrangement, it evaluates if, and to what extent, it has retained the risk and rewards of ownership of the asset. When it has neither transferred nor retained substantially all the risks and rewards of the asset nor transferred control of the asset, the Group continues to recognize the transferred asset to the extent of the Group’s continuing involvement. In that case, the Group also recognizes an associated liability. The transferred asset and the associated liability are measured on a basis that reflects the rights and obligations that the Group has retained.

 

Continuing involvement that takes the form of a guarantee over the transferred asset is measured at the lower of the original carrying amount of the asset and the maximum amount of consideration that the Group could be required to repay.

 

F-57

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.16Financial liabilities (continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018 and policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018

 

Initial recognition and measurement

 

Financial liabilities are classified, at initial recognition, as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, loans and borrowings, payables, or as derivatives designated as hedging instruments in an effective hedge, as appropriate.

 

All financial liabilities are recognized initially at fair value and, in the case of loans and borrowings and payables, net of directly attributable transaction costs.

 

The Group’s financial liabilities include financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, loans and borrowings, trade and notes payables and other financial liabilities.

 

Subsequent measurement

 

The subsequent measurement of financial liabilities depends on their classification as follows:

 

Loans and borrowings

 

After initial recognition, interest-bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest rate method unless the effect of discounting would be immaterial, in which case they are stated at cost. Gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income when the liabilities are derecognized as well as through the effective interest rate amortization process.

 

Amortized cost is calculated by taking into account any discount or premium on acquisition and fees or costs that are an integral part of the effective interest rate. The effective interest rate amortization is included in finance costs in profit or loss.

 

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018)

 

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss include financial liabilities held for trading and financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss.

 

F-58

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.16Financial liabilities

 

Policies under IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018 and policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Subsequent measurement (continued)

 

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018) (continued)

 

Financial liabilities are classified as held for trading if they are incurred for the purpose of repurchasing in the near term. This category also includes derivative financial instruments entered into by the Group that are not designated as hedging instruments in hedge relationships as defined by IFRS 9. Separated embedded derivatives are also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as effective hedging instruments. Gains or losses on liabilities held for trading are recognized in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income. The net fair value gain or loss recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income does not include any interest charged on these financial liabilities.

 

Financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss are designated at the initial date of recognition, and only if the criteria in IFRS 9 are satisfied. Gains or losses on liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss, except for the gains or losses arising from the Group’s own credit risk which are presented in other comprehensive income with no subsequent reclassification to t profit or loss. The net fair value gain or loss recognized in profit or loss does not include any interest charged on these financial liabilities.

 

F-59

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.16Financial liabilities (continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018 and policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Subsequent measurement (continued)

 

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018)

 

Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss include financial liabilities held for trading and financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss.

 

Financial liabilities are classified as held for trading if they are acquired for the purpose of repurchasing in the near term. This category includes derivative financial instruments entered into by the Group that are not designated as hedging instruments in hedge relationships as defined by IAS 39. Separated embedded derivatives are also classified as held for trading unless they are designated as effective hedging instruments. Gains or losses on liabilities held for trading are recognized in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income. The net fair value gain or loss recognized in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income does not include any interest charged on these financial liabilities.

 

Financial liabilities designated upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss are designated at the date of initial recognition and only if the criteria in IAS 39 are satisfied.

 

F-60

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.16Financial liabilities (continued)

 

Policies under IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018 and policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018 (continued)

 

Subsequent measurement (continued)

 

Financial guarantee contracts (policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018)

 

Financial guarantee contracts issued by the Group are those contracts that require a payment to be made to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because the specified debtor fails to make a payment when due in accordance with the terms of a debt instrument. A financial guarantee contract is recognized initially as a liability at its fair value, adjusted for transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of the guarantee. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Group measures the financial guarantee contracts at the higher of: (i) the ECL allowance determined in accordance with the policy as set out in “Impairment of financial assets (policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018)”; and (ii) the amount initially recognized less, when appropriate, the cumulative amount of income recognized.

 

Financial guarantee contracts (policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018)

 

A financial guarantee contract is recognized initially as a liability at its fair value, adjusted for transaction costs that are directly attributable to the issuance of the guarantee. Subsequent to initial recognition, the Group measures the financial guarantee contract at the higher of (i) the amount of the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period; and (ii) the amount initially recognized less, when appropriate, cumulative amortization.

 

Derecognition of financial liabilities (policies under IFRS 9 applicable from January 1, 2018 and IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018)

 

A financial liability is derecognized when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled, or expires.

 

When an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a derecognition of the original liability and a recognition of a new liability, and the difference between the respective carrying amounts is recognized in profit or loss.

 

F-61

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.17Offsetting financial instruments

 

Policies under IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018 and policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018

 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the consolidated statement of financial position when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

 

2.18Derivative financial instruments

 

Policies under IFRS 9 from January 1, 2018 and policies under IAS 39 applicable before January 1, 2018

 

Initial recognition and subsequent measurement

 

The Group uses derivative financial instruments, such as futures and option contracts, to reduce its exposure to fluctuation in the price of primary aluminum and other products, to hedge its foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, respectively. Such derivative financial instruments are initially recognized at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at fair value. Derivatives are carried as assets when the fair value is positive and as liabilities when the fair value is negative.

 

Any gains or losses arising from changes in fair value of derivatives are taken directly to profit or loss.

 

F-62

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.19Inventories

 

Inventories comprise raw materials, work-in-progress, finished goods, spare parts and packaging materials and others, and are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable amount. Cost is determined using the weighted average method. Work-in-progress and finished goods comprise materials, direct labour and an appropriate proportion of all production overhead expenditure (based on the normal operating capacity). Borrowing costs are excluded.

 

Provision for impairment of inventories is usually determined by the excess of cost over the net realisable amount and recorded in profit or loss. Net realisable amounts are determined based on the estimated selling price less estimated conversion costs, selling expenses and related taxes in the ordinary course of business. The provision for or the reversal of provision for impairment of inventories is recognized within “Cost of sales” in profit or loss.

 

2.20Trade and notes receivables

 

Trade and notes receivables are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. If collection of these receivables is expected in one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer), they are classified as current assets.

 

Trade and notes receivables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment.

 

F-63

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.21Cash and cash equivalents

 

For the purpose of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits, and short term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash, are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, and have a short maturity of generally within three months when acquired, less bank overdrafts which are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the Group’s cash management.

 

For the purpose of the consolidated statement of financial position, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and at banks, including term deposits, and assets similar in nature to cash, which are not restricted as to use.

 

2.22Government grants

 

Government grants are recognized when the Group fulfils the conditions attached to them and there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received. When the government grant is in the form of monetary assets, it is measured at the actual amount received. When the government grant is in the form of non-monetary assets, the grant is recorded at the fair value of the non-monetary assets.

 

Asset-related government grants are recognized when the government document designates that the government grants are used for constructing or forming long-term assets. If the government document is inexplicit, the Group should make a judgement based on the basic conditions to obtain the government grants, and recognizes them as asset-related government grants if the conditions are to construct or to form long-term assets. Otherwise, the government grants should be income-related.

 

As described in note 2.2 (d), the Group has voluntarily changed the accounting policy for government grants on the presentation in the consolidated statement of financial position and the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income. The revised accounting policies are as follows:

 

For asset-related government grants that are related to non-current assets that already exist at the time of recognising the government grant, the grant is deducted from the carrying amount of the asset. The grant is recognized in profit or loss over the life of a depreciable asset by way of a reduced depreciation charge. If the asset is not yet purchased or constructed at the time of recognising the government grant, the grant is recognized as deferred income and will be deducted from the cost of the asset once the asset is recognized.

 

Income-related government grants that are specific to compensate expenses or costs that have already incurred directly recognized in profit or loss for the current period as deduction of the related expenses or costs. If the income-related government grants are specific to compensate future expenses or costs of the Group, they are recognized as deferred income and will be deducted from the related expenses or costs when the related expenses or costs are incurred.

 

F-64

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.23Trade and notes payables and other payables

 

Trade and notes payables and other payables are mainly obligations to pay for goods, equipment or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers and service providers. These payables are classified as current liabilities if they are due within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer).

 

2.24Employee benefits

 

Employee benefits mainly include salaries, bonuses, allowances and subsidies, pension insurance, social insurance and housing funds, labour union fees, employees’ education fees and other expenses related to the employees for their services. The Group recognizes employee benefits as liabilities during the accounting period when employees rendered the services and allocates the related cost of assets and expenses based on different beneficiaries.

 

(a)Bonus plans

 

The expected cost of bonus plans is recognized as a liability when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of services rendered by employees and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.

 

(b)Retirement benefit obligations

 

The Group primarily pays contributions on a monthly basis to participate in a pension plan organised by the relevant municipal and provincial governments in the PRC. In 2018, the Group made monthly contributions at the rate of 20% (2017: 20%) of the qualified employees’ salaries. The municipal and provincial governments undertake to assume the retirement benefit obligations of all existing and future retired employees payable under these plans. The Group has no legal or constructive obligations for further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefit relating to their current and past services.

 

F-65

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.24Employee benefits (continued)

 

(c)Other social insurance and housing funds

 

The Group provides other social insurance and housing funds to the qualified employees in the PRC based on certain percentages of their salaries. These percentages are not to exceed the upper limits of the percentages prescribed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC. These benefits are paid to social security organisations and the amounts are expensed as incurred. The Group has no legal or constructive obligations for further contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefit relating to their current and past services.

 

(d)Termination benefit obligations and early retirement benefit obligations

 

Termination and early retirement benefit obligations are payable when employment is terminated by the Group before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy and/or early retirement in exchange for these benefits. The Group recognizes termination and early retirement benefit obligations when it is demonstrably committed to either: terminating the employment of current employees according to a detailed formal plan without the possibility of withdrawal; or providing termination benefits as a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy and/or early retirement. The specific terms vary among the terminated and early retired employees depending on various factors, including the position, length of service and district of the employees concerned. Benefits falling due for more than 12 months after the end of the reporting period are discounted to their present values.

 

F-66

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.25Current and deferred income tax

 

Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax relating to items recognized outside profit or loss is recognized outside profit or loss, either in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

 

Current tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period, taking into consideration interpretations and practices prevailing in the countries in which the Group operates.

 

Deferred tax is provided, using the liability method, on all temporary differences at the end of the reporting period between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.

 

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences, except:

 

when the deferred tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; and

 

in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, when the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized for all deductible temporary differences, the carryforward of unused tax credits and any unused tax losses. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, the carryforward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilized, except:

 

when the deferred tax asset relating to the deductible temporary differences arises from the initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business combination and, at the time of the transaction, affects neither the accounting profit nor taxable profit or loss; and

 

in respect of deductible temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, deferred tax assets are only recognized to the extent that it is probable that the temporary differences will reverse in the foreseeable future and taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilized.

 

F-67

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.25Current and deferred income tax (continued)

 

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilized. Unrecognized deferred tax assets are reassessed at the end of each reporting period and are recognized to the extent that it has become probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be recovered.

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.

 

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset if and only if the Group has a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets and current tax liabilities and the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or different taxable entities which intend either to settle current tax liabilities and assets on a net basis, or to realize the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred tax liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or recovered.

 

F-68

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.26Perpetual securities

 

Perpetual securities are classified as equity if they are non-redeemable, or redeemable only at the issuer’s option, and any interest and distributions are discretionary. Interest and distributions on perpetual securities classified as equity are recognized as distributions within equity.

 

The perpetual securities issued by the Company are recognized as other equity instruments, and the perpetual securities issued by a subsidiary of the Company are recognized as non-controlling interests.

 

2.27Revenue recognition

 

Applicable from January 1, 2018

 

Revenue from contracts with customers

 

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when control of goods or services is transferred to the customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

 

(a)Revenue from the sales (including sales of scrap and other materials)

 

Revenue from the sale of industrial products or scrap and other materials is recognized at the point in time when control of the asset is transferred to the customer, generally on delivery of the industrial products.

 

(b)Rendering of services

 

Revenue from services is recognized over time, using an input method to measure progress towards complete satisfaction of the service, because the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the Group. Revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis because the entity’s inputs are expended evenly throughout the performance period.

 

F-69

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.28Contract liabilities

 

Applicable from January 1, 2018

 

A contract liability is the obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the Group has received a consideration (or an amount of consideration that is due) from the customer. If a customer pays the consideration before the Group transfers goods or services to the customer, a contract liability is recognized when the payment is made or the payment is due (whichever is earlier). Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue when the Group performs under the contract.

 

2.29Interest income

 

Applicable from January 1, 2018

 

Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis using the effective interest method by applying the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash receipts over the expected life of the financial instrument or a shorter period, when appropriate, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.

 

2.30Dividend income

 

Applicable from January 1, 2018

 

Dividend income is recognized when the shareholders’ right to receive payment has been established, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the dividend will flow to the Group and the amount of the dividend can be measured reliably.

 

F-70

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.31Revenue recognition

 

Applicable before January 1, 2018

 

The Group recognizes revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Group and when specific criteria have been met for each of the Group’s activities (see descriptions below).

 

(a)Sales of goods

 

Revenue from the sales of goods is recognized when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer, provided that the Group maintains neither managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership, nor effective control over the goods sold.

 

(b)Rendering of services

 

The Group provides machinery processing, transportation and packaging services and other services to third party customers. These services are recognized in the period when the related services are provided.

 

2.32Interest income

 

Applicable before January 1, 2018

 

Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method. When a loan or receivable is impaired, the Group reduces the carrying amount to its recoverable amount, being the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate of the instrument, and continues unwinding the discount as interest income. Interest income on impaired loans and receivables is recognized using the original effective interest rate.

 

2.33Dividend income

 

Applicable before January 1, 2018

 

Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive payment is established.

 

F-71

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.34Leases

 

Leases that transfer substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets to the Group, other than legal title, are accounted for as finance leases. At the inception of a finance lease, the cost of the leased asset is capitalized at the present value of the minimum lease payments and recorded together with the obligation, excluding the interest element, to reflect the purchase and financing. Assets held under capitalized finance leases, including prepaid land lease payments under finance leases, are included in property, plant and equipment, and depreciated over the shorter of the lease terms and the estimated useful lives of the assets. The finance costs of such leases are charged to the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income so as to provide a constant periodic rate of charge over the lease terms.

 

Assets acquired through hire purchase contracts of a financing nature are accounted for as finance leases, but are depreciated over their estimated useful lives.

 

Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets remain with the lessor are accounted for as operating leases. Where the Group is the lessor, assets leased by the Group under operating leases are included in non-current assets, and rentals receivable under the operating leases are credited to the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income on the straight-line basis over the lease terms. Where the Group is the lessee, rentals payable under operating leases net of any incentives received from the lessor are charged to the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income on the straight-line basis over the lease terms.

 

Prepaid land lease payments under operating leases are initially stated at cost and subsequently recognized on the straight-line basis over the lease terms.

 

When the lease payments cannot be allocated reliably between the land and buildings elements, the entire lease payments are included in the cost of the land and buildings as a finance lease in property, plant and equipment.

 

2.35Borrowing costs

 

General and specific borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale.

 

Investment income earned on the temporary investment of specific borrowings pending their expenditure on qualifying assets is deducted from the borrowing costs eligible for capitalisation.

 

All other borrowing costs are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that an entity incurs in connection with the borrowing of funds.

 

F-72

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

2.BASIS OF PREPARATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

 

2.36Dividend distribution

 

Dividend distribution to the Company’s shareholders is recognized as a liability in the Group’s and Company’s financial statements in the period in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders.

 

2.37Provisions

 

A provision is recognized when a present obligation (legal or constructive) has arisen as a result of a past event and it is probable that a future outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation, provided that a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

 

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. The increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognized as finance costs.

 

F-73

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

 

The preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, and the accompanying disclosures, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Uncertainty about these judgements, assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities affected in future periods.

 

Judgements

 

In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies and preparing the Group’s consolidated financial statements, management has made the following judgements, apart from those involving estimates, which have a significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements.

 

(a)Significant influence over an entity in which the Group holds less than 20% of voting rights

 

At December 31, 2018, the Group owned a 6.68% equity interest in Chalco Mineral Resources Co.,Ltd.* (“Chalco Resources”) (中鋁礦產資源有限公司). The Group considers that it has significant influence over Chalco Resources even though it owns less than 20% of the voting rights, on the grounds that the Group can appoint one out of the five directors of the board of directors of Chalco Resources.

 

At December 31, 2018, the Group owned a 14.62% equity interest in China Rare Earth Co., Ltd. * (“China Rare Earth”) (中國稀有稀土有限公司). The Group considers that it has significant influence over China Rare Earth even though it owns less than 20% of the voting rights, on the grounds that the Group can appoint one out of the seven directors of the board of directors of China Rare Earth.

 

At December 31, 2018, the Group owned 17.7% of the voting right of Chinalco Capital Holdings Co., Ltd.* (“Chinalco Capital”) (中鋁資本控股有限公司). The Group considers that it has significant influence over Chinalco Capital since it can appoint one out of three directors of the board of directors of Chinalco Capital.

 

F-74

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Judgements (continued)

 

(a)Significant influence over an entity in which the Group holds less than 20% of voting rights (continued)

 

At December 31, 2018, the Group owned a 16% equity interest in Baise New Aluminum Power Co., Ltd. * (“New Aluminum Power”) (百色新鋁電力有限公司). The Group considers that the Group has significant influence over New Aluminum Power even though it owns less than 20% of the voting rights, on the grounds that the Group can appoint one out of the nine directors of the board of directors of New Aluminum Power.

 

At December 31, 2018, the Group owned a 14.29% equity interest in Inner Mongolia Geliugou Co., Ltd.* (“Inner Mongolia Qiliugou”) (內蒙古圪柳溝能源有限公司). The Group considers that it has significant influence over Inner Mongolia Qiliugou even though it owns less than 20% of the voting rights, on the grounds that the Group can appoint one out of the seven directors of the board of directors of Inner Mongolia Qiliugou.

 

(b)Consolidation of entities in which the Group holds less than a majority of voting rights

 

At December 31, 2018, the Group owned a 40.23% equity interest in Ningxia Yinxing Energy Co., Ltd. * (“Yinxing Energy”) (寧夏銀星能源股份有限公司). Since the remaining 59.77% of the equity shares in Yinxing Energy are held by a large number of individual shareholders, in opinion of the directors of the Company, the Group has control over Yinxing Energy, and Yinxing Energy continues to be included in the consolidation scope.

 

As disclosed in note 38, the Company holds a 40% equity interest in Guizhou Huaren New Materials Co., Ltd.* (“Guizhou Huaren”) (貴州華仁新材料有限公司). In accordance with the acting-in-concert agreement signed between the Company and Hangzhou Jinjiang Group Co., Ltd. (“Hangzhou Jinjiang”), Hangzhou Jinjiang would exercise the shareholders’ and board of directors’ votes in concert with the Group. Therefore, the directors of the Company believe that the Company has control over Guizhou Huaren and consolidated Guizhou Huaren’s financial statements from the date the Group obtained control.

 

As disclosed in note 38, the Company holds 40% of the shares of Shanxi China Aluminum China Resources Co., Ltd.* (“Shanxi Zhongrun”) (山西中鋁華潤有限公司). In accordance with the acting-in-concert agreement signed between the Company and China Resources Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. (“China Resources Coal Industry”), China Resources Coal Industry would exercise the shareholders’ and board of directors’ votes in concert with the Group. Therefore, the directors of the Company believe that the Company has control over Shanxi Zhongrun and consolidated Shanxi Zhongrun’s financial statements from the date the Group obtained control.

 

F-75

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Judgements (continued)

 

(c)Determination of control over structured entities

 

As disclosed in note 10, in 2017, the Company initiated the establishment of Beijing Chalco Bocom Size Industry Investment Fund Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) * (“Size Industry Investment Fund”) (北京中鋁交銀四則產業投資基金管理合夥企業(有限合夥)). Pursuant to the Investment Agreements, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that as a limited partner, the Company neither had control over or joint control over nor significant influence over Size Industry Investment Fund. Therefore, the Company’s investment in Size Industry Investment Fund was accounted for as equity investment designated at fair value through other comprehensive income.

 

(d)Lease classification

 

As disclosed in note 20, the Group has entered into several sales and lease back agreements with third party leasing companies and related party leasing companies. The Group assessed the terms in the agreements and considered that the Group had substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership and treated them as finance leases.

 

*The English name represents the best effort made by management of the Group in translating its Chinese name as it does not have any official English names.

 

F-76

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Estimates and assumptions

 

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are described below. The Group’s assumptions and estimates are based on parameters available when the consolidated financial statements were prepared. Existing circumstances and assumptions about future developments, however, may change due to market changes or circumstances arising beyond the control of the Group. Such changes are reflected in the assumptions when they occur.

 

(a)Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets – recoverable amount

 

In accordance with the Group’s accounting policy, each asset or cash-generating unit is evaluated in every reporting period to determine whether there are any indications of impairment. If any such indication exists, an estimate of the net recoverable amount is performed and an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit of assets is measured at the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use.

 

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

 

Value in use is generally determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows of those expected to arise from the continued use of the asset in its present form and its eventual disposal. Present values are determined using a risk-adjusted pre-tax discount rate appropriate to the risks inherent in the asset. Future cash flow estimates are based on expected production and sales volumes, selling prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors) and operating costs. This policy requires management to make these estimates and assumptions which are subject to risk and uncertainty; hence, there is a possibility that changes in circumstances will alter these projections, which may impact on the net recoverable amounts of the assets. In such circumstances, some or all of the carrying value of the assets may be impaired and the impairment would be charged against profit or loss.

 

F-77

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Estimates and assumptions (continued)

 

(b)Property, plant and equipment and intangible assets - estimated useful lives and residual values

 

The Group’s management determines the estimated useful lives and residual values (if applicable) and consequently the related depreciation/amortization charges for its property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (excluding goodwill). These estimates are based on the historical experience of the actual useful lives of property, plant and equipment of similar nature and functions, or based on value-in-use calculations or market valuations according to the estimated periods that the Group intends to derive future economic benefits from the use of intangible assets. Management will increase the depreciation/ amortization charge where useful lives are less than previously estimated, and it will write off or write down technically obsolete or non-strategic assets that have been abandoned or sold.

 

Actual economic lives may differ from estimated useful lives and actual residual values may differ from estimated residual values. Periodic review could result in change in depreciable lives and residual values and therefore change in depreciation/amortization expense in future periods.

 

(c)Provision for expected credit losses on trade receivables

 

The Group uses a provision matrix to calculate ECLs for trade receivables. The provision rates are based on days past due for groupings of various customer segments that have similar loss patterns (i.e., by product type, customer type, and coverage by letters of credit and other forms of credit insurance).

 

The provision matrix is initially based on the Group’s historical observed default rates. The Group will calibrate the matrix to adjust the historical credit loss experience with forward-looking information. For instance, if forecast economic conditions (i.e., gross domestic products) are expected to deteriorate over the next year which can lead to an increased number of defaults in the manufacturing sector, the historical default rates are adjusted. At each reporting date, the historical observed default rates are updated and changes in the forward-looking estimates are analysed.

 

The assessment of the correlation among historical observed default rates, forecast economic conditions and ECLs is a significant estimate. The amount of ECLs is sensitive to changes in circumstances and forecast economic conditions. The Group’s historical credit loss experience and forecast of economic conditions may also not be representative of the customer’s actual default in the future. The information about the ECLs on the Group’s trade receivables is disclosed in note 14 to the financial statements.

 

F-78

  

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Estimates and assumptions (continued)

 

(d)Estimated impairment of inventories

 

In accordance with the Group’s accounting policy, the Group’s management tests whether inventories suffered any impairment based on the estimates of the net realisable amount of the inventories. For different types of inventories, it requires the estimation on selling prices, costs of conversion, selling expenses and the related tax expense to calculate the net realisable amount of inventories. For inventories held for executed sales contracts, management estimates the net realisable amount based on the contracted price; for other inventories, management estimates the realisable future price based on the actual prices during the period from the end of the reporting period to the date that these financial statements were approved for issue by the board of directors of the Company and takes into account the nature and balance of inventories and future estimated price trends. For raw materials and work-in-progress, management has established a model in estimating the net realisable amount at which the inventories can be realized in the normal course of business after considering the Group’s manufacturing cycles, production capacity and forecasts, estimated future conversion costs and selling prices. Management also takes into account the price or cost fluctuations and other related matters occurring after the end of the reporting period which reflect conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period.

 

It is reasonably possible that if there is a significant change in circumstances, including the Group’s business and the external environment, outcomes within the next financial year would be significantly affected.

 

(e)Coal reserve estimates and units-of-production amortization for coal mining rights

 

External qualified valuation professionals evaluate “economically recoverable reserves” based on the reserves estimated by external qualified exploration engineers in accordance with the PRC standards. The estimates of coal reserves are inherently imprecise and represent only the approximate amounts of the coal reserves because of the subjective judgements involved in developing such information. Economically recoverable reserve estimates are evaluated on a regular basis and have taken into account recent production and technical information about each mine.

 

F-79

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Estimates and assumptions (continued)

 

(f)Income tax

 

The Group estimates its income tax provision and deferred taxation in accordance with the prevailing tax rules and regulations, taking into account any special approvals obtained from the relevant tax authorities and any preferential tax treatment to which it is entitled in each location or jurisdiction in which the Group operates. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain during the ordinary course of business. The Group recognizes liabilities for anticipated tax audit issues based on the estimates of whether additional taxes will be due. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, the differences will impact on the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which the determination is made.

 

Deferred tax assets are recognized for unused tax losses and deductible temporary differences, such as the provision for impairment of receivables, inventories and property, plant and equipment and accruals of expenses not yet deductible for tax purposes, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which the losses and deductible temporary difference can be utilized. Significant management judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognized, based upon the likely timing and level of future taxable profits together with future tax planning strategies.

 

An entity shall recognize a deferred tax liability for all taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except to the extent that both of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

the parent, investor or joint venturer is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference; and

 

it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

The Group considers that it has recorded adequate current tax provision and deferred taxes based on the prevailing tax rules and regulations and its current best estimates and assumptions. In the event that future tax rules and regulations or related circumstances change, adjustments to current and deferred taxation may be necessary which would impact on the Group’s results or financial position.

 

F-80

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

3.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Estimates and assumptions (continued)

 

(g)Goodwill - recoverable amount

 

In accordance with the Group’s accounting policy, goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash generating units as it represents the lowest level within the Group at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes and is tested for impairment annually by preparing a formal estimate of the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of value in use and the fair value less costs of disposal. Similar considerations to those described above in respect of assessing the recoverable amount of property, plant and equipment also apply to goodwill.

 

(h)Investments in joint ventures and associates - recoverable amount

 

In accordance with the Group’s accounting policy, each investment in a joint venture and an associate is evaluated in every reporting period to determine whether there are any indicators of impairment. If any such indicators exists, an estimate of the recoverable amount is performed and an impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount. The recoverable amount of the investment in a joint venture and an associate is measured at the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use.

 

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

 

Value in use is also generally determined as the present value of the estimated future cash flows of those expected to arise from the continued use of the asset in its present form and its eventual disposal. Present values are determined using a risk-adjusted pre-tax discount rate appropriate to the risks inherent in the asset. Future cash flow estimates are based on expected production and sales volumes, commodity prices (considering current and historical prices, price trends and related factors) and operating costs. This policy requires management to make these estimates and assumptions which are subject to risk and uncertainty; hence there is a possibility that changes in circumstances will alter these projections, which may impact on the recoverable amounts of the investments. In such circumstances, some or all of the carrying value of the investments may be impaired and the impairment would be charged against profit or loss.

 

F-81

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

(a)Revenue

 

Revenue recognized during the years is as follows:

 

   2016   2017   2018 
             
Sales of goods (net of value-added tax)   144,564,755    180,704,153    179,784,444 
Rendering of services   123,966    163,732    215,557 
Rental income   165,861    152,543    240,153 
                
    144,854,582    181,020,428    180,240,154 

 

Other revenue primarily includes revenue from the sale of scrap and other materials, the supply of heat and water and the provision of machinery processing, transportation and packaging and other services.

 

(i)Disaggregated revenue information

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018

 

  

Alumina

segment

  

Primary

aluminum

segment

  

Energy

segment

   Trading  

Corporate

and other

operating

segments

   Inter-segment elimination   Total 
Type of goods or services                                   
Sales of goods   43,979,059    53,771,379    7,019,716    141,979,219    667,095    (67,632,024)   179,784,444 
Rendering of services           215,557                215,557 
Total revenue   43,979,059    53,771,379    7,235,273    141,979,219    667,095    (67,632,024)   180,000,001 
                                    
Geographical markets                                   
Mainland China   43,979,059    53,771,379    7,235,273    132,762,660    667,095    (67,632,024)   170,783,442 
Outside of mainland China               9,216,559            9,216,559 
Total revenue   43,979,059    53,771,379    7,235,273    141,979,219    667,095    (67,632,024)   180,000,001 
                                    
Timing of revenue recognition                                   
Goods transferred at a point in time   43,979,059    53,771,379    7,019,716    141,979,219    667,095    (67,632,024)   179,784,444 
Services transferred over time           215,557                215,557 
Total revenue   43,979,059    53,771,379    7,235,273    141,979,219    667,095    (67,632,024)   180,000,001 
                                    
Revenue from contracts with customers                                   
External customers   14,586,564    41,313,516    7,036,936    116,608,916    454,069        180,000,001 
Intersegment sales   29,392,495    12,457,863    198,337    25,370,303    213,026        67,632,024 
    43,979,059    53,771,379    7,235,273    141,979,219    667,095        247,632,025 
Intersegment adjustments and eliminations   (29,392,495)   (12,457,863)   (198,337)   (25,370,303)   (213,026)       (67,632,024)
Total revenue   14,586,564    41,313,516    7,036,936    116,608,916    454,069        180,000,001 

 

F-82

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

 

(a)Revenue (Continued)

 

(i)Disaggregated revenue information (continued)

 

The following table shows the amounts of revenue recognized in the current reporting period that were included in the contract liabilities at the beginning of the reporting period and recognized from performance obligations satisfied in previous periods:

 

   2018 
     
Revenue recognized that was included in contract liabilities at the beginning of the reporting period:     
— Sale of goods   1,277,125 
— Others   32,947 
      
    1,310,072 

 

(ii)Performance obligations

 

Information about the Group’s performance obligations is summarised below:

 

Revenue from sales of products (including sales of and other materials)

 

The performance obligation is satisfied upon delivery of the industrial products and payment is generally due within 30 to 90 days from delivery, except for new customers, where payment in advance is normally required.

 

Sale of goods were made in a short period of time and the performance obligation was mostly satisficed in one year or less at the end of each year.

 

Rendering of services

 

The performance obligation is satisfied over time as services are rendered and payment is generally due upon completion of the relevant services.

 

The transaction prices allocated to the remaining performance obligations (unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied) as at December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

     
Within one year   1,579,322 
More than one year   132,844 
      
    1,712,166 

 

The remaining performance obligations expected to be recognized in more than one year relate to rendering of services that are to be satisfied within 1–10 years. All the other remaining performance obligations are satisfied in one year or less at the end of each year.

 

F-83

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

 

(b)Segment information

 

The presidents of the Company have been identified as the chief operating decision-makers. They are responsible for the review of internal reports in order to allocate resources to operating segments and assess their performance of these operating segments.

 

The presidents monitor the business from a product perspective comprising alumina, primary aluminum and energy products which are identified as separate reportable operating segments. In addition, the Group’s trading business is identified as a separate reportable operating segment. The Group’s operating segments also include corporate and other operating activities.

 

The presidents assess the performance of operating segments based on profit or loss before income tax in related periods. Unless otherwise stated below, the manner of assessment used by the presidents is consistent with that applied in these financial statements. Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the presidents that are used to make strategic decisions.

 

F-84

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

 

(b)Segment information (Continued)

 

The Group’s five reportable operating segments are summarised as follows:

 

The alumina segment, which consists of the mining and purchase of bauxite and other raw materials, the refining of bauxite into alumina, and the sale of alumina both internally to the Group’s aluminum enterprises and trading enterprises and externally to customers outside the Group. This segment also includes the production and sale of chemical alumina and metal gallium.

 

The primary aluminum segment, which consists of the procurement of alumina and other raw materials, supplemental materials and electricity power, and the smelting of alumina to produce primary aluminum which is sold to internal trading enterprises and external customers, including Chinalco and its subsidiaries. This segment also includes the production and sale of carbon products and aluminum alloy and other aluminum products.

 

The energy segment, which consists of the research and development, production and operation of energy products, mainly includes coal mining, electricity generation by thermal power, wind power and solar power, and the new energy-related equipment manufacturing business. Sales of coals are mainly made to the Group’s internal and external coal consuming customers; electricity is sold to regional power grid corporations.

 

The trading segment, which consists of the trading of alumina, primary aluminum, aluminum fabrication products, other non-ferrous metal products, coal products, raw materials and supplemental materials and logistics and transport services to internal manufacturing plants and external customers in the PRC. The products are sourced from fellow subsidiaries of the Group, international and domestic suppliers of the Group. Sales of products manufactured by the Group’s manufacturing business are included in the total revenue of the trading segment and are eliminated with the segment revenue of the respective segments which supply the products to the trading segment.

 

Corporate and other operating segments, which mainly include corporate management, research and development activities and others.

 

Prepaid current income tax and deferred tax assets are excluded from segment assets, and income tax payable and deferred tax liabilities are excluded from segment liabilities. All sales among the operating segments were conducted on terms mutually agreed among group companies, and have been eliminated on consolidation.

 

F-85

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Segment information (continued)

 

   Year ended December 31, 2016 
   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

   Energy   Trading  

Corporate

and other

operating

segments

  

Inter-

segment

eliminations

   Total 
                             
Total revenue   30,027,317    35,089,860    4,519,806    114,345,851    504,355    (39,632,607)   144,854,582 
Inter-segment revenue   (20,508,466)   (4,981,936)   (137,460)   (13,906,423)   (98,322)   39,632,607     
                                    
Sales of self-produced products (Note (i))                  18,292,949                
                                    
Sales of products sourced from external suppliers                  82,146,479                
                                    
Revenue from external customers   9,518,851    30,107,924    4,382,346    100,439,428    406,033        144,854,582 
                                    
Segment profit/(loss) before income tax   910,426    2,183,826    33,408    804,207    (1,993,161)   (318,017)   1,620,689 
                                    
Income tax expense                                 (403,899)
                                    
Profit for the year                                 1,216,790 
                                    
Other items                                   
Finance income   302,230    36,139    51,897    226,941    198,522        815,729 
Finance costs   (1,016,455)   (1,226,821)   (987,422)   (329,454)   (1,459,756)       (5,019,908)
Share of profits and losses of joint ventures   (41,367)       (28,312)       (25,829)       (95,508)
Share of profits and losses of associates       958    87,359    (810)   27,584        115,091 
Amortization of land use rights   (43,523)   (27,464)   (11,172)   (15)   (17,550)       (99,724)
Depreciation and amortization (excluding the amortization of land use rights)   (2,847,343)   (2,612,308)   (1,298,483)   (54,724)   (88,095)       (6,900,953)
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and land use rights   191,364    361,155    253,566    2,890    7,746        816,721 
Impairment of property, plant and equipment   (35,893)   (18,239)   (2,948)               (57,080)
Changes in fair value gains and losses       16,778        109,906    27,901        154,585 
Realized loss on futures, forward and option contracts, net   (1,297)   (271,000)       (457,702)   (560,268)       (1,290,267)
Changes for impairment of inventories   684,271    505,595    159    471,218    1,145        1,662,388 
Provision for impairment of receivables, net of bad debts recovered   53,144    (2,465)   (836)   (5,838)           44,005 
Gain on disposal of associates                   128,833        128,833 
Dividends from available for sale financial assets           1,000        139,929        140,929 
                                    
Additions during the period:                                   
Investment in joint ventures   2,631,546        1,559,966        2,048,688        6,240,200 
Investment in associates   69,000    313,244    2,351,845    146,926    3,045,518        5,926,533 
Intangible assets   336,603    3    6,857    509    127        344,099 
Land use rights       26    20,937                20,963 
Investment properties   50,285    3,354        38,628            92,267 
Property, plant and equipment (Note (ii))   2,455,066    4,203,385    1,582,039    42,476    143,736        8,426,702 

 

Note:

 

(i)The sales of self-produced products include sales of self-produced alumina amounting to RMB12,795 million, sales of self-produced primary aluminum amounting RMB3,684 million, and sales of self-produced other products amounting to RMB1,814 million.

 

(ii)The additions to property, plant and equipment under sale and leaseback contracts (note 20) are not included.

 

F-86

  

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Segment information (continued)

 

   Year ended December 31, 2017 
   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

   Energy   Trading  

Corporate

and other

operating

segments

  

Inter-

segment

eliminations

   Total 
                             
Total revenue   38,997,261    47,245,646    6,250,966    146,854,723    645,314    (58,973,482)   181,020,428 
Inter-segment revenue   (24,431,939)   (10,693,678)   (517,269)   (23,159,115)   (171,481)   58,973,482     
                                    
Sales of self-produced products (Note (i))                  23,158,952                
                                    
Sales of products sourced from external suppliers                  100,536,656                
                                    
Revenue from external customers   14,565,322    36,551,968    5,733,697    123,695,608    473,833        181,020,428 
                                    
Segment profit/(loss) before income tax   3,290,945    826,632    (171,310)   733,731    (1,728,563)   97,575    3,049,010 
                                    
Income tax expense                                 (643,734)
                                    
Profit for the year                                 2,405,276 
                                    
Other items                                   
Finance income   233,016    83,996    44,015    192,327    153,336        706,690 
Finance costs   (708,655)   (1,212,249)   (1,000,767)   (467,090)   (1,814,663)       (5,203,424)
Share of profits and losses of joint ventures   82,619        (383,263)   1,885    306,910        8,151 
Share of profits and losses of associates       (16,887)   (181,667)   9,463    23,842        (165,249)
Amortization of land use rights   (42,768)   (25,120)   (15)   (6,376)   (17,300)       (91,579)
Depreciation and amortization (excluding the amortization of land use rights)   (2,781,350)   (2,516,058)   (1,510,218)   (78,724)   (86,200)       (6,972,550)
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and land use rights   47,243    40,106    (12,826)   1,673    543        76,739 
Realized gain/(loss) on futures, forward and option contracts, net   3,398    (47,730)   1,585    (24,953)   43,749        (23,951)
Impairment of property, plant and equipment   (568)       (15,632)               (16,200)
Unrealized gain/(loss) on futures, forward and option contracts, net       (17,033)       (92,719)   (21,321)       (131,073)
Gain on deemed disposal and disposal of subsidiaries           38,397    54,599    232,026        325,022 
Changes for impairment of inventories   79,063    64,734    4,488    722    5,287        154,294 
Reversal of/(provision for) impairment of receivables, net of bad debts recovered   (17,453)   269    (25,119)   (18,396)           (60,699)
Gain on disposal and dividends of available for sale       2,792            76,616        79,408 
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value           117,640                117,640 
Investments in associates   90,875    296,357    2,170,178    184,149    4,193,471        6,935,030 
Investments in joint ventures   2,809,758        878,196    28,865    2,290,805        6,007,624 
                                    
Additions during the period:                                   
Intangible assets       197    284,509    372    89        285,167 
Land use rights           27,956    25,199    6,060        59,215 
Property, plant and equipment (Note (ii))   2,642,350    5,533,168    1,268,051    64,005    256,093        9,763,667 

 

Note:

 

(i)The sales of self-produced products include sales of self-produced alumina amounting to RMB13,187 million, sales of self-produced primary aluminum amounting RMB6,680, and sales of self-produced other products amounting to RMB3,292 million.

 

(ii)Change for impairment of inventories do not include change for impairment due to disposal of subsidiaries.

 

(iii)The additions to property, plant and equipment under sale and leaseback contracts (note 20) are not included.

 

F-87

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

 

(b)Segment information (Continued)

 

   Year ended December 31, 2018 
   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

   Energy   Trading  

Corporate

and other

operating

segments

  

Inter-

segment

eliminations

   Total 
                             
Total revenue   44,150,937    53,802,172    7,235,273    142,016,561    667,235    (67,632,024)   180,240,154 
Inter-segment revenue   (29,392,495)   (12,457,863)   (198,337)   (25,370,303)   (213,026)   67,632,024     
                                    
Sales of self-produced products (Note (i))                  34,453,683                
                                    
Sales of products sourced from external suppliers                  82,192,575                
                                    
Revenue from external customers   14,758,442    41,344,309    7,036,936    116,646,258    454,209        180,240,154 
Segment profit/(loss) before income tax   3,496,381    (929,298)   26,020    779,451    (1,267,146)   198,103    2,303,511 
                                    
Income tax expense                                 (822,499)
                                    
Profit for the year                                 1,481,012 
                                    
Other items                                   
Finance income   100,125    54,458    15,744    136,513    185,392        492,232 
Finance costs   (399,344)   (1,131,622)   (1,047,285)   (366,807)   (1,937,438)       (4,882,496)
Share of profits and losses of joint ventures   37,377    8    (225,377)   9,010    (20,470)       (199,452)
Share of profits and losses of associates   (1,141)   17,102    (52,368)   19,375    56,367        39,335 
Amortization of land use rights   (39,027)   (41,175)   (9,335)   (18,000)           (107,537)
Depreciation and amortization (excluding the amortization of land use rights)   (2,846,051)   (2,954,801)   (1,962,081)   (101,705)   (82,962)       (7,947,600)
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and land use rights   53,116    15,211    24,780    20,036    (12,045)       101,098 
Realized (loss)/gain on futures, forward and option contracts, net   (716)       2,855    47,601    (9,248)       40,492 
Impairment of property, plant and equipment           (7,450)               (7,450)
Unrealized gain on futures, forward and option contracts, net               100,967            100,967 
Gain / (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries   7,671                (4,154)       3,517 
Changes for impairment of inventories   (54,463)   (273,796)   (7,884)   (17,802)           (353,945)
Reversal of/(provision for) impairment of receivables, net of bad debts recovered   19,320    (9,406)   (23,327)   (84,807)   (9,621)       (107,841)
Dividends of equity investments at fair value through other comprehensive income           1,000        108,914        109,914 
Loss on disposal of associates           (1,904)               (1,904)
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value           (3,177)       751,263        748,086 
Investments in associates   89,734    558,759    2,064,425    131,691    3,518,853        6,363,462 
Investments in joint ventures   989,840        435,867    77,211    1,890,431        3,393,349 
                                    
Additions during the period:                                   
Intangible assets   99,089    753    2,754    514    194        103,304 
Land use rights   2,786            52            2,838 
Property, plant and equipment (Note (ii))   2,564,003    4,602,580    1,610,442    101,360    143,839        9,022,224 

 

 Note:

 

(i)The sales of self-produced products include sales of self-produced alumina amounting to RMB16,561 million, sales of self-produced primary aluminum amounting RMB13,517 million, and sales of self-produced other products amounting to RMB4,376 million.

 

(ii)The additions to property, plant and equipment under sale and leaseback contracts (note 20) are not included.

 

F-88

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Segment information (continued)

 

   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

   Energy   Trading  

Corporate

and other

operating

segments

   Total 
As at December 31, 2017                              
                               
Segment assets   69,810,387    51,736,716    40,113,747    18,586,406    48,264,166    228,511,422 
Reconciliation:                              
Elimination of inter-segment receivables                            (30,170,567)
Other eliminations                            (194,763)
Corporate and other unallocated assets:                              
Deferred tax assets                            1,606,150 
Prepaid income tax                            64,557 
                               
Total assets                            199,816,799 
                               
Segment liabilities   33,037,329    29,552,176    27,368,026    13,067,384    60,012,851    163,037,766 
Reconciliation:                              
Elimination of inter-segment payables                            (30,170,567)
Corporate and other unallocated liabilities:                              
Deferred tax liabilities                            993,742 
Income tax payable                            213,262 
                               
Total liabilities                            134,074,203 

 

   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

   Energy   Trading  

Corporate

and other

operating

segments

   Total 
As at December 31, 2018                              
                               
Segment assets   82,677,250    57,712,842    39,458,086    20,129,355    33,577,526    233,555,059 
Reconciliation:                              
Elimination of inter-segment receivables                            (34,228,334)
Other eliminations                            (155,283)
Corporate and other unallocated assets:                              
Deferred tax assets                            1,542,569 
Prepaid income tax                            162,103 
                               
Total assets                            200,876,114 
                               
Segment liabilities   38,817,030    34,492,538    27,265,031    14,442,010    50,492,049    165,508,658 
Reconciliation:                              
Elimination of inter-segment payables                            (34,228,334)
Corporate and other unallocated liabilities:                              
Deferred tax liabilities                            1,812,805 
Income tax payable                            113,783 
                               
Total liabilities                            133,206,912 

 

F-89

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

4.REVENUE AND SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Segment information (continued)

 

The Group mainly operates in Mainland China. Operating segment information by geographical location as follows:

 

   2016  

2017

   2018 
             
             
Segment revenue from external customers               
    — Mainland China   142,018,789    171,954,097    171,023,595 
    — Outside Mainland China   2,835,793    9,066,331    9,216,559 
                
    144,854,582    181,020,428    180,240,154 

 

  

2017

   2018 
         
         
Non-current assets (excluding financial assets and deferred tax assets)          
— Mainland China   126,992,893    137,857,441 
— Outside Mainland China   384,089    646,327 
           
    127,376,982    138,503,768 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenues of approximately RMB32,852 million (2016: RMB30,940 million, 2017: RMB39,759 million) were derived from entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the PRC government including Chinalco. These revenues are mainly attributable to the alumina, primary aluminum, energy and trading segments. There were no other individual customers from which the Group has derived revenue of 10% or more of the Group’s revenue during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

 

F-90

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

5.INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

   Goodwill  

Mining

rights and

others

  

Mineral

exploration

rights

  

Computer

software,

production quota and others

   Total 
                     
Year ended December 31, 2017                         
Opening net carrying amount   2,346,853    6,981,217    1,123,639    140,540    10,592,249 
Additions       280,340        4,827    285,167 
Acquisition of a subsidiary               188    188 
Disposals               (11,168)   (11,168)
Disposal of subsidiaries               (562)   (562)
Amortization       (241,261)       (34,616)   (275,877)
Transfer from property, plant and equipment (note 6)       53,565        22,614    76,179 
Impairment losses               (8,134)   (8,134)
Currency translation differences   (923)   (7,433)   (12,053)       (20,409)
                          
Closing net carrying amount   2,345,930    7,066,428    1,111,586    113,689    10,637,633 
                          
As at December 31, 2017                         
Cost   2,345,930    8,546,343    1,111,586    399,532    12,403,391 
Accumulated amortization and impairment       (1,479,915)       (285,843)   (1,765,758)
                          
Net carrying amount   2,345,930    7,066,428    1,111,586    113,689    10,637,633 

 

   Goodwill  

Mining

rights and

others

  

Mineral

exploration

rights

  

Computer

software, production quota and others

   Total 
                     
Year ended December 31, 2018                         
Opening net carrying amount   2,345,930    7,066,428    1,111,586    113,689    10,637,633 
Additions       98,995        4,309    103,304 
Acquisition of subsidiaries   1,163,949    728,066        1,285    1,893,300 
Reclassification       7,072    (7,072)        
Disposals               (168)   (168)
Amortization       (265,108)       (30,793)   (295,901)
Transfer from property, plant and equipment (note 6)       41,148        484,068    525,216 
Currency translation differences   754    5,782    9,445        15,981 
                          
Closing net carrying amount   3,510,633    7,682,383    1,113,959    572,390    12,879,365 
                          
As at December 31, 2018                         
Cost   3,510,633    9,430,183    1,113,959    888,975    14,943,750 
Accumulated amortization and impairment       (1,747,800)       (316,585)   (2,064,385)
                          
Net carrying amount   3,510,633    7,682,383    1,113,959    572,390    12,879,365 

 

F-91

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

5.INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued)

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the amortization expenses of intangible assets recognized in profit or loss were analysed as follows:

 

   2016   2017   2018 
             
Cost of sales   211,915    241,261    265,108 
General and administrative expenses   32,446    34,616    30,793 
                
    244,361    275,877    295,901 

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group has pledged intangible assets with a net carrying value amounting to RMB773 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,112 million) for bank and other borrowings as set out in note 24 to the financial statements.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group was in the process of applying for the certificates of mining rights with a carrying value amounting to RMB626 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,680 million). There have been no litigations, claims or assessments against the Group for compensation with respect to the use of these rights to date. As at December 31, 2018, the carrying value of these rights only represented approximately 0.31% of the total asset value of the Group (December 31, 2017: approximately 0.84%). Management considers that it is probable that the Group can obtain the relevant ownership certificates from the appropriate authorities. The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group legally owns and has the rights to use the above mining rights, and that there is no material adverse impact on the overall financial position of the Group.

 

F-92

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

5.INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued)

 

Impairment testing of goodwill

 

The lowest level within the Group at which goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes is the operating segment level. Therefore, goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash-generating units (“CGUs”) and groups of CGUs according to operating segments. A summary of goodwill allocated to each segment is presented below:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2018 
   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

   Alumina  

Primary

aluminum

 
                 
Qinghai Branch       217,267        217,267 
Guangxi Branch   189,419        189,419     
Lanzhou Branch       1,924,259        1,924,259 
PT. Nusapati Prima (“PTNP”)   14,985        15,739     
Shanxi Huaxing           1,163,949     
                     
    204,404    2,141,526    1,369,107    2,141,526 

 

The recoverable amount of a CGU is determined based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the 5-year period are extrapolated using the estimated growth rate of 2% (2017: 2%) not exceeding the long-term average growth rate for the businesses in which the CGU operates. Other key assumptions applied in the impairment testing include the expected product price, demand for the products, product costs and related expenses. Management determined these key assumptions based on past performance and their expectations on market development. Furthermore, the Group adopts a pre-tax rate of 12.62% (2017: 12.62%) that reflects specific risks related to CGUs and groups of CGUs as the discount rate. The assumptions above are used in analysing the recoverable amounts of CGUs and groups of CGUs within operating segments.

 

The directors of the Company are of the view that, based on their assessment, there was no impairment of goodwill as at December 31, 2018 (December 31, 2017: no impairment).

 

F-93

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

6.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

   Buildings   Machinery  

Transportation

facilities

  

Office

and other

equipment

  

Construction

in progress

   Total 
                         
Year ended December 31, 2017                              
Opening net carrying amount   27,918,175    45,522,495    656,467    100,202    16,174,232    90,371,571 
Reclassifications and internal transfers   5,334,951    9,722,364    9,064    11,439    (15,077,818)    
Transfer to intangible assets (note 5)                   (76,179)   (76,179)
Transfer to land use rights (note 8)                   (396,398)   (396,398)
Transfer to investment properties (note 7)   (157,150)                   (157,150)
Additions   8,941    1,068,129    36,667    47,804    9,602,162    10,763,703 
Acquisition of subsidiaries   889,597    2,600,315    3,410    1,714    99,934    3,594,970 
Disposal of subsidiaries   (86,945)   (62,814)   (5,269)   (2,114)   (108,479)   (265,621)
Disposals   (37,678)   (1,140,096)   (13,084)   (1,123)   (334,329)   (1,526,310)
Government grants   (3,585)   (105,979)               (109,564)
Depreciation   (1,577,363)   (4,803,886)   (145,287)   (28,239)       (6,554,775)
Impairment losses   (564)   (15,636)               (16,200)
Currency translation differences   (156)   (196)   (60)   (58)       (470)
                               
Closing net carrying amount   32,288,223    52,784,696    541,908    129,625    9,883,125    95,627,577 
                               
As at December 31, 2017                              
Cost   48,990,555    101,005,277    2,873,825    561,597    9,995,123    163,426,377 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment   (16,702,332)   (48,220,581)   (2,331,917)   (431,972)   (111,998)   (67,798,800)
                               
Net carrying amount   32,288,223    52,784,696    541,908    129,625    9,883,125    95,627,577 

 

F-94

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

6.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (Continued)

 

   Buildings   Machinery  

Transportation

facilities

  

Office

and other

equipment

  

Construction

in progress

   Total 
                         
Year ended December 31, 2018                              
Opening net carrying amount   32,288,223    52,784,696    541,908    129,625    9,883,125    95,627,577 
Reclassifications and internal transfers   3,204,611    3,600,371    75,277    5,149    (6,885,408)    
Government grants   (468)   (113,481)               (113,949)
Transfer to intangible assets (note 5)                   (525,216)   (525,216)
Transfer to land use rights (note 8)                   (382,242)   (382,242)
Transfer to investment properties (note 7)   (11,039)                   (11,039)
Transfer from investment properties (note 7)   21,773                    21,773 
Additions   230,243    1,998,717    31,668    48,912    8,025,615    10,335,155 
Acquisition of subsidiaries   4,633,728    4,026,062    17,443    5,937    3,149,060    11,832,230 
Disposal of subsidiaries       (472)   (101)   (53)   (8,893)   (9,519)
Disposals   (251,212)   (2,505,158)   (39,827)   (3,347)   (275,391)   (3,074,935)
Depreciation   (1,266,607)   (6,087,890)   (116,807)   (28,018)       (7,499,322)
Impairment losses       (7,061)           (389)   (7,450)
Currency translation differences   99    146    34    27        306 
                               
Closing net carrying amount   38,849,351    53,695,930    509,595    158,232    12,980,261    106,193,369 
                               
As at December 31, 2018                              
Cost   56,620,994    103,608,492    2,538,835    603,593    13,092,648    176,464,562 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment   (17,771,643)   (49,912,562)   (2,029,240)   (445,361)   (112,387)   (70,271,193)
                               
Net carrying amount   38,849,351    53,695,930    509,595    158,232    12,980,261    106,193,369 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, depreciation expenses recognized in profit or loss are analyzed as follows:

 

  

2016

  

2017

   2018 
             
Cost of sales   6,399,010    6,387,773    7,291,380 
General and administrative expenses   181,708    160,076    201,337 
Selling and distribution expenses   9,530    6,926    6,605 
                
    6,590,248    6,554,775    7,499,322 

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group was in the process of applying for the ownership certificates of buildings with a net carrying value of RMB5,639 million (December 31, 2017: RMB6,942 million). There have been no litigations, claims or assessments against the Group for compensation with respect to the use of these buildings as at the date of approval of these financial statements.

 

F-95

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

6.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (CONTINUED)

 

As at December 31, 2018, the carrying value of these buildings only represented approximately 2.81% of the Group’s total asset value (December 31, 2017: 3.47%). Management considers that it is probable that the Group can obtain the relevant ownership certificates from the appropriate authorities. The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group legally owns and has the rights to use the above buildings, and that there is no material adverse impact on the overall financial position of the Group.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, interest expenses of RMB518 million (2016: RMB414 million, 2017: RMB344 million) (note 28) arising from borrowings attributable to the construction of property, plant and equipment during the year were capitalized at an annual rate ranging from 4.54% to 7.00% (2016: 3.85% to 6.00%, 2017: 4.41% to 8.00%) (note 28), and were included in additions to property, plant and equipment.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group has pledged property, plant and equipment at a net carrying value amounting to RMB4,168 million (December 31, 2017: RMB5,799 million) for bank and other borrowings as set out in note 24 to the financial statements.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the carrying value of temporarily idle property, plant and equipment of the Group was RMB675 million (December 31, 2017: RMB2,530 million).

 

The cost of the Group’s fixed assets held under finance leases included in the total amounts of the machinery and construction in progress at December 31, 2018 were RMB10,678 million (2017: RMB9,955 million) and RMB112 million (2017: RMB100 million), respectively. The accumulated depreciation of the Group’s fixed assets held under finance leases amounted to RMB2,011 million (2017: RMB1,908 million).

 

Impairment testing for property, plant and equipment

 

When any indicators of impairment are identified, property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment based on each CGU. The CGU is an individual plant or entity. The carrying values of these individual plants or entities were compared to the recoverable amounts of the CGUs, which were based predominantly on value in use. Value-in-use calculations use pre-tax cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a five-year period. Cash flows beyond the five-year period are extrapolated using the same cash flow projections of the fifth year. Other key assumptions applied in the impairment testing include the expected product price, demand for the products, product cost and related expenses. Management determined these key assumptions based on past performance and their expectations on market development. Further, the Group adopts a pre-tax and non-inflation rate of 10.16% (2017: 10.16%) that reflects specific risks related to the CGUs as discount rates. The assumptions above are used in analysing the recoverable amounts of the CGUs within operating segments.

 

For the CGUs with indicators of impairment identified, the assets were not further impaired during the current year based on the impairment testing (2017: Nil).

 

In addition to the CGUs for which impairment was tested based on value in use, the Group also assessed the recoverable amounts for property, plant and equipment about to be disposed or abandoned, and impairment losses of RMB7 million were provided during the year ended December 31, 2018 (2016: RMB57 million, 2017: RMB16 million).

 

F-96

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

7.INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

 

    Buildings     Land use right     Total  
                   
Year ended December 31, 2017                        
Opening net carrying amount     99,655       1,156,120       1,255,775  
Transfer from property, plant and equipment and land use  rights (note 6) (note 8)     157,150       6,896       164,046  
Disposal           (73,346 )     (73,346 )
Depreciation     (2,744 )     (11,361 )     (14,105 )
Closing net carrying amount     254,061       1,078,309       1,332,370  
                         
As at December 31, 2017                        
Cost     263,066       1,107,411       1,370,477  
Accumulated depreciation     (9,005 )     (29,102 )     (38,107 )
                         
Net carrying amount     254,061       1,078,309       1,332,370  

 

   Buildings   Land use rights   Total 
             
Year ended December 31, 2018               
Opening net carrying amount   254,061    1,078,309    1,332,370 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment (note 6)   11,039        11,039 
Transfer to property, plant and equipment (note 6)   (21,773)       (21,773)
Disposal       (143,401)   (143,401)
Depreciation   (7,353)   (14,876)   (22,229)
Closing net carrying amount   235,974    920,032    1,156,006 
                
As at December 31, 2018               
Cost   251,626    939,015    1,190,641 
Accumulated depreciation   (15,652)   (18,983)   (34,635)
                
Net carrying amount   235,974    920,032    1,156,006 

 

The Group’s investment properties consist of land use rights held for capital appreciation and buildings leased to third parties under operating leases.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group was in the process of applying for the ownership certificates of investment properties with a net carrying value of RMB68 million (December 31, 2017: RMB147 million). There have been no litigations, claims or assessments against the Group for compensation with respect to the use of these rights to date. As at December 31, 2018, the carrying value of these investment properties only represented approximately 0.03% of the total asset value of the Group (December 31, 2017: 0.07%). Management considers that it is probable that the Group can obtain the relevant ownership certificates from the appropriate authorities. The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group legally owns and has the rights to use the above investment properties, and that there is no material adverse impact on the overall financial position of the Group.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the fair value of the buildings was approximately RMB781 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,208 million), which was estimated based on the market price of comparable buildings in the nearby area. The directors of the Company estimated that the fair value of the land use right is likely to be RMB1,287 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,182 million), which was determined based on the transaction prices for similar lands nearby.

 

 F-97

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

8.LAND USE RIGHTS AND LEASEHOLD LAND

 

Details of land use rights and leasehold land are as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Operating leases :          
In the mainland of the PRC, held on:          
Leases less than 10 years   127,516    768,153 
Leases between 10 to 50 years   3,331,557    3,393,547 
Leases over 50 years   117,939    118,591 
           
    3,577,012    4,280,291 

 

Operating leases prepayments

 

   2017   2018 
         
As at January 1   3,198,047    3,577,012 
Additions   59,215    2,838 
Acquisition of a subsidiary   31,833    460,638 
Transfer from property, plant and equipment (note 6)   396,398    382,242 
Disposals   (6,712)    
Government grants       (34,174)
Disposal of subsidiaries   (3,294)   (728)
Transfer to investment properties   (6,896)    
Amortization   (91,579)   (107,537)
           
As at December 31   3,577,012    4,280,291 

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group was in the process of applying for the certificates of land use rights with a carrying amount of RMB687 million (December 31, 2017: RMB516 million). There have been no litigations, claims or assessments against the Group for compensation with respect to the use of land parcels to date. As at December 31, 2018, the carrying value of these land parcels only represented approximately 0.34% of the total asset value of the Group (December 31, 2017: 0.26%). Management considers that it is probable that the Group can obtain the relevant ownership certificates from the appropriate authorities. The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group legally owns and has the right to use the above land, and that there is no material adverse impact on the overall financial position of the Group.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, the amortization expenses of land use rights were recognized in “general and administrative expenses” in profit or loss amounting to RMB108 million (December 31, 2017: RMB92 million ).

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group has pledged land use rights at a net carrying value amounting to RMB328 million (December 31, 2017: RMB177 million) for bank and other borrowings as set out in note 24 to the financial statements.

 

 F-98

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

9.INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES AND ASSOCIATES

 

(a)Investments in joint ventures

 

Movements in investments in joint ventures are as follows:

 

   2017   2018 
         
As at January 1   6,240,200    6,007,624 
Capital injections   201,864    90,000 
A joint venture changed into a subsidiary (note 38 (k))   (315,706)   (2,048,780)
A subsidiary changed into a joint venture   11,980     
Share of profits and losses for the year   8,151    (199,452)
Share of changes in reserves   (6,105)   (2,837)
Cash dividends declared   (132,760)   (236,253)
Impairment       (216,953)
           
As at December 31   6,007,624    3,393,349 

 

As at December 31, 2018, all joint ventures of the Group were unlisted.

 

No joint venture was individually material to the Group.

 

The following table illustrates the aggregate financial information of the Group’s joint ventures that are not individually material:

 

   2017   2018 
         
Share of the joint ventures’ profits and losses for the year   8,151    (199,452)
Share of the joint ventures’ total comprehensive income   8,151    (199,452)
           
Aggregate carrying amount of the Group’s investments in joint ventures   6,007,624    3,393,349 

 

As at December 31, 2018, there were no proportionate interests of the Group in the joint ventures’ capital commitments (December 31, 2017: Nil).

 

There were no material contingent liabilities relating to the Group’s interests in the joint ventures and the joint ventures themselves.

 

 F-99

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

(b)Investments in associates

 

Movements in investments in associates are as follows:

 

   2017   2018 
         
As at January 1   5,926,533    6,935,030 
Capital injections   857,317    315,300 
Deemed disposal of a subsidiary   100,092     
A subsidiary changed into an associate   240,258     
Associates changed into subsidiaries       (862,214)
Disposal       (32,720)
Share of profits and losses for the year   (165,249)   39,335 
Cash dividends declared   (26,330)   (36,157)
Share of changes in reserves   2,409    4,888 
           
As at December 31   6,935,030    6,363,462 

 

As at December 31, 2018, all associates of the Group were unlisted.

 

No associate was individually material to the Group.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group has pledged investment in an associate amounting to RMB536 million (31 December 2017: nil) for bank and other borrowings as set out in note 24 to the financial statements.

 

The following table illustrates the aggregate financial information of the Group’s associates that are not individually material:

 

   2017   2018 
         
Share of the associates’ profits and losses   (165,249)   39,335 
Share of the associates’ total comprehensive income   (165,249)   39,335 
           
Aggregate carrying amount of the Group’s investments in the associates   6,935,030    6,363,462 

 

There were no material contingent liabilities relating to the Group’s interests in the associates and the associates themselves.

 

 F-100

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

10.EQUITY INVESTMENTS DESIGNATED AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income          
Stated at fair value          
Listed equity investments       6,441 
Unlisted investments (Note)       1,723,384 
        1,729,825 
           
Available-for-sale investments          
Non current portion          
Stated at fair value          
Listed equity investments   9,701     
Unlisted investments (Note)   1,848,000     
    1,857,701     
Stated at cost          
Unlisted equity investments   73,211     
Less: provision for impairment   (2,711)    
    70,500     
           
    1,928,201    1,729,825 

 

The above equity investments were irrevocably designated at fair value through other comprehensive income as the Group considers these investments to be strategic in nature.

 

Note:

 

In 2017, the Company entered into a series of agreements with Bank of Communications International Trust Co., Ltd. (“BOCOMMTRUST”) (交銀國際信託有限公司), Bocommtrust Asset Management Co., Ltd.* (“Bocommtrust Asset”) ( 交銀國信資產管理有限公司), a subsidiary of BOCOMMTRUST, and Chinalco Jianxin Investment Fund Management (Beijing) Company Limited* (“Chinalco Jianxin”) (中鋁建信投資基金管理(北京)有限公司) to establish Size Industry Investment Fund. According to these agreements, BOCOMMTRUST acted as the prioritised limited partner and the Company as the secondary limited partner of Size Industry Investment Fund, with the maximum amount of capital contribution of RMB6,700 million and RMB3,300 million, respectively. Bocommtrust Asset and Chinalco Jianxin are the general partner and the manager of Size Industry Investment Fund, respectively. The purpose of Size Industry Investment Fund is to invest in the Company’s subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures in the form of debt financing. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has made investment of RMB1,848 million to the fund.

 

 F-101

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

10.EQUITY INVESTMENTS DESIGNATED AT FAIR VALUE THROUGH OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

Note: (continued)

 

As at December 31, 2018, Size Industry Investment Fund made four investments in two of the Company’s associates and two of the Company’s joint ventures amounting to RMB5,600 million in the form of debt. The Company and BOCOMMTRUST contributed capital of RMB1,650 million and RMB3,350 million to Size Industry Investment Fund, respectively.

 

Because the variable return of Size Industry Investment Fund depends on the selection of investment targets, the timing and size of the investment fund and the rate of return, which are all determined by BOCOMMTRUST under its full authority, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Company did not have control or joint control over, or significant influence over Size Industry Investment Fund. Therefore, the Company’s investment in Size Industry Investment Fund was accounted for as an equity investment designated at fair value through other comprehensive income.

 

*The English names represent the best effort made by management of the Group in translating the Chinese names of the Companies as the companies do not have any official English names.

 

 F-102

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

11.DEFERRED TAX

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current income tax assets against current income tax liabilities and when the deferred taxes relate to the same tax authority.

 

The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2018 without taking into consideration the offsetting of balances within the same tax jurisdiction are as follows:

 

Movements in deferred tax assets:

 

  

Provision

for impairment

  

Accrued

expenses

   Tax losses  

Unrealized

profit at

consolidation

   Others   Total 
As at January 1, 2017   553,716    207,651    636,197    169,113    120,830    1,687,507 
(Charged)/credited to profit or loss   (28,334)   59,664    (94,978)   (3,070)   47,817    (18,901)
Disposal of subsidiaries       (3,106)   (1,320)           (4,426)
                               
As at December 31, 2017   525,382    264,209    539,899    166,043    168,647    1,664,180 
                               
As at January 1, 2018   525,382    264,209    539,899    166,043    168,647    1,664,180 
Acquisition of subsidiaries   360                7,734    8,094 
(Charged)/credited to profit or loss   (139,985)   (21,839)   76,338    3,833    5,989    (75,664)
                               
As at December 31, 2018   385,757    242,370    616,237    169,876    182,370    1,596,610 

 

F-103

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

11.DEFERRED TAX (Continued)

 

Movements in deferred tax liabilities:

 

  

Interest

capitalisation

  

Fair value

changes of

financial assets

  

Depreciation

and amortization

   Fair value adjustments arising from acquisition of subsidiaries  

Investment

in a subsidiary

  

Investment

in an associate

   Total 
As at January 1, 2017   61,166    14,925    7,474    977,342    183,232        1,244,139 
Exchange realignment               (1,830)           (1,830)
Credited to other comprehensive income       (11,180)                   (11,180)
Acquisition of subsidiaries               40,706            40,706 

(Credited)/

charged to profit or loss

   (8,232)   (1,414)   185    (27,370)   (183,232)       (220,063)
                                    
As at December 31, 2017   52,934    2,331    7,659    988,848            1,051,772 
                                    
Changes in accounting policies       3,641                    3,641 
As at January 1, 2018   52,934    5,972    7,659    988,848            1,055,413 
Exchange realignment                  1,353              1,353 
Credited to other comprehensive income        (3,769)                   (3,769)
Acquisition of subsidiaries               822,229            822,229 

(Credited)/

charged to profit or loss

  (9,102)   3,403    24,830    (27,511)           (8,380)
                                    
As at December 31, 2018   43,832    5,606    32,489    1,784,919            1,866,846 

 

F-104

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

11.DEFERRED TAX (Continued)

 

For presentation purposes, certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset in the consolidated statement of financial position. The following is an analysis of the deferred tax balances of the Group for financial reporting purposes:

 

   

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

2018

 
             
Net deferred tax assets     1,606,150       1,542,569  
                 
Net deferred tax liabilities     993,742       1,812,805  

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group has not recognized deferred tax assets of RMB2,634 million (December 31, 2017: RMB4,337 million) in respect of accumulated tax losses amounting to RMB11,387 million (December 31, 2017: RMB18,214 million) arising in Mainland China and deferred tax assets of RMB1,660 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,434 million) in respect of deductible temporary differences amounting to RMB7,992 million (December 31, 2017: RMB6,235 million) as it was considered not probable that those assets would be realized. The above tax losses will expire in one to five years if not utilized.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the expiry profile of these unprovided tax losses was analysed as follows:

 

     

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

2018

 
               
Expiring in                  
2018       7,689,663        
2019       7,650,084       6,753,096  
2020       711,878       711,878  
2021       975,081       975,081  
2022       1,186,914       1,211,002  
2023             1,736,412  
                   
        18,213,620       11,387,469  

 

F-105

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

12.OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

 

   

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

2018

 
             
             
Financial assets                
- Other long-term receivables     261,156       204,718  
                 
Prepayment for mining rights     801,657       808,736  
Long-term prepaid expenses     484,536       667,772  
Deferred losses for sale and leaseback transactions (Note)     1,234,376       1,164,782  
Others     739,167       1,596,636  
      3,259,736       4,237,926  
                 
      3,520,892       4,442,644  

 

Note:As disclosed in note 20, the Group entered into several sale and leaseback agreements which constitute finance leases during the year. The deferred losses resulted from the sale are classified as other non-current assets and were amortized over the useful lives of the assets leased back.

 

As at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all amounts were denominated in RMB.

 

As at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all amounts in other non-current assets were non-interest-bearing.

 

F-106

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

13.INVENTORIES

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Raw materials   7,619,265    8,362,697 
Work-in-progress   8,193,656    8,684,506 
Finished goods   4,417,202    3,280,641 
Spare parts   731,621    879,794 
Packaging materials and others   43,064    63,227 
    21,004,808    21,270,865 
           
Less: provision for impairment of inventories   (457,252)   (811,197)
           
    20,547,556    20,459,668 

 

Movements in the provision for impairment of inventories are as follows:

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

 
         
As at January 1   719,560    457,252 
Provision for impairment of inventories   194,588    2,413,098 
Reversal arising from increase in net realisable value   (89,318)   (165,510)
Written off upon sales of inventories   (259,564)   (1,893,643)
Disposal of subsidiaries   (108,014)    
           
As at December 31   457,252    811,197 

 

As at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Group had not pledged inventories for bank and other borrowings.

 

F-107

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

14.TRADE AND NOTES RECEIVABLES

 

   

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

2018

 
             
Trade receivables     4,832,177       5,865,311  
Less: provision for impairment     (546,102 )     (659,261 )
      4,286,075       5,206,050  
                 
Notes receivable     3,722,862       2,894,482  
                 
      8,008,937       8,100,532  

 

As at December 31, 2018, except for trade and notes receivables of the Group amounting to RMB1,403 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,094 million) which were denominated in USD, all trade and notes receivables were denominated in RMB.

 

Included in the Group’s trade and notes receivables are amounts due from the Group’s joint ventures and associates of RM820 million (December 31, 2017: RMB591 million) and RMB7 million (December 31, 2017: RMB97 million), respectively, which are repayable on credit terms similar to those offered to the major customers of the Group.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group had pledged notes receivable amounting to RMB934 million to exchange notes receivable (December 31, 2017: trade receivables amounting to RMB22 million and notes receivable amounting to RMB82 million for bank and other borrowings and to exchange notes receivable) as set out in note 24 to the financial statements.

 

Trade receivables are non-interest-bearing and are generally on terms of 3 to 12 months. Certain of the Group’s sales were on advance payments or documents against payment. In some cases, these terms are extended for qualifying long term customers that have met specific credit requirements. As at December 31, 2018, the ageing analysis of trade and notes receivables was as follows:

 

   

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,
2018

 
             
Within 1 year     6,289,931       6,212,537  
Between 1 and 2 years     516,359       906,302  
Between 2 and 3 years     338,334       158,162  
Over 3 years     1,410,415       1,482,792  
      8,555,039       8,759,793  
                 
Less: provision for impairment     (546,102 )     (659,261 )
                 
      8,008,937       8,100,532  

 

F-108

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

14.TRADE AND NOTES RECEIVABLES (Continued)

 

Impairment under IFRS 9 for the year ended December 31, 2018

 

An impairment analysis is performed at each reporting date using a provision matrix to measure expected credit losses. The provision rates are based on days past due for groupings of various customer segments with similar loss patterns (i.e., by geographical region, product type, customer type and rating, and coverage by letters of credit or other forms of credit insurance). The calculation reflects the probability-weighted outcome, the time value of money and reasonable and supportable information that is available at the reporting date about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.

 

Set out below is the information about the credit risk exposure on the Group’s trade receivables using a provision matrix:

 

As at December 31, 2018

 

    Gross carrying
amount
   

Expected credit
losses

    Expected credit
loss rate ( % )
Alumina and primary aluminum                  
Within 1 year     401,691       3,696       0.92  
Between 1 and 2 years     55,766       6,179       11.08  
Between 2 and 3 years     16,546       14,893       90.01  
Over 3 years     379,213       359,759       94.87  
      853,216       384,527       /  
Trading                        
Within 1 year     473,153       662       0.14  
Between 1 and 2 years     4,146       70       1.69  
Between 2 and 3 years     74       3       4.05  
Over 3 years     19,422       3,787       19.50  
      496,795       4,522       /  
Energy                        
Within 1 year     88,462       3,388       3.83  
Between 1 and 2 years     3,217       685       21.29  
Between 2 and 3 years     15,417       3,688       23.92  
Over 3 years     12,710       6,216       48.91  
      119,806       13,977       /  
Corporate and other operating segments
Within 1 year     108,627       6,539       6.02  
Between 1 and 2 years     10,974       7,767       70.78  
Between 2 and 3 years     4,026       3,823       94.96  
Over 3 years     25,800       25,142       97.45  
      149,427       43,271       /  
                         
Individually assessed trade receivables     4,246,067       212,964          
                         
      5,865,311       659,261          

  

F-109

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

14.TRADE AND NOTES RECEIVABLES (Continued)

 

Impairment under IAS 39 for the year ended December 31, 2017

 

The ageing analysis of the trade receivables as at December 31, 2017 that were not individually nor collectively considered to be impaired under IAS 39 is as follows:

 

   

December 31,

2017

 
       
Past due for 1 year     470,008  
Past due for 1 to 2 years     298,008  
Past due for over 2 years     781,832  
      1,549,848  
         
Not past due     2,384,268  
         
      3,934,116  

 

The credit quality of trade and notes receivables that are neither past due nor impaired was assessed by reference to the counterparties’ default history.

 

As at December 31, 2017, trade and notes receivables of RMB898 million of the Group were impaired and provisions of RMB546 million were made. The individually impaired receivables mainly relate to customers which are in unexpected difficult economic situations and it was expected that only a portion of these receivables would be recovered. The ageing analysis of these trade receivables is as follows:

 

   

December 31,

2017

 
       
Within 1 year     182,801  
Between 1 and 2 years     46,351  
Between 2 and 3 years     40,325  
Over 3 years     628,584  
      898,061  
         
Loss allowance for impairment     (546,102 )
         
      351,959  

 

F-110

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

 14.

TRADE AND NOTES RECEIVABLES (Continued)

 

Movements in the loss allowance for impairment of trade and notes receivables are as follows:

 

    2017     2018  
             
As at January 1     507,593       546,102  
Effect of adoption of IFRS 9           112,407  
At beginning of year     507,593       658,509  
                 
Impairment loss     47,953       64,544  
Written off     (15,341 )     (33,469 )
Reversal     (7,206 )     (20,466 )
Others     13,103       (9,857 )
                 
As at December 31     546,102       659,261  

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group has derecognized notes receivable that have been discounted or endorsed but not yet due carrying amount in aggregate of RMB29,273 million (December 31, 2017: RMB24,474 million). In addition, as at December 31, 2018, the Group has not derecognized notes receivable that have been discounted or endorsed but not yet due with a carrying amount of RMB444 million (December 31, 2017: RMB227 million).

 

The derecognized notes receivable had a maturity of one to six months at the end of the reporting period. In accordance with the Law of Negotiable Instruments in the PRC, the holders of the derecognized notes receivable have a right of recourse against the Group if the PRC banks default (the “Continuing Involvement”). In the opinion of the directors, the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards relating to the derecognized notes receivable. Accordingly, it has derecognized the full carrying amounts of the derecognized notes receivable and the associated trade payables. The maximum exposure to loss from the Group’s Continuing Involvement in the derecognized notes receivable and the undiscounted cash flows to repurchase these derecognized notes receivable is equal to their carrying amounts. In the opinion of the directors, the fair values of the Group’s Continuing Involvement in the derecognized notes receivable are not significant.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Group has not recognized any gain or loss on the date of transfer of the derecognized notes receivable. No gains or losses were recognized from the Continuing Involvement, both during the year or cumulatively. The endorsement has been made evenly throughout the year.

 

F-111

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

15.OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

   

December 31,

2017

    December 31,
2018
 
             
Financial assets                
- Deposits paid to suppliers     756,748       317,946  
- Dividends receivable     267,331       47,167  
- Receivables from other revenue     575,650       693,039  
- Entrusted loans and loans receivable from third parties     1,615,429       1,645,205  
- Entrusted loans and loans receivable from related parties     2,459,883       1,297,892  
- Receivables from disposal of Guizhou Branch’s aluminum properties     1,320,488       1,881,513  
- Interest receivables     144,473       40,936  
- Recoverable reimbursement for freight charges     13,944       185,866  
- Other financial assets     1,006,723       530,029  
      8,160,669       6,639,593  
                 
Less: provision for impairment     (1,673,122 )     (1,764,068 )
      6,487,547       4,875,525  
                 
Receivable of governments grants           58,455  
Receivable of value-added tax refund     1,063        
Advances to employees     46,890       23,744  
Deductible input value added tax receivables     2,411,495       2,187,202  
Prepaid income tax     64,557       162,103  
Prepayments to related parties for purchases     62,724       586,312  
Prepayments to suppliers for purchases and others     890,958       963,870  
Others     113,146       169,881  
      3,590,833       4,151,567  
                 
Less: provision for impairment     (4,155 )     (4,139 )
      3,586,678       4,147,428  
                 
Total other current assets     10,074,225       9,022,953  

  

F-112

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)  

 

15.OTHER CURRENT ASSETS (Continued)

 

As at December 31, 2018, except for an amount included in other receivables amounting to RMB48 million and RMB0.10 million, which were denominated in USD and HKD, respectively (December 31, 2017: other receivables amounting to RMB161 million denominated in USD), amounts in other current assets were denominated in RMB.

 

As at December 31, 2018, except for entrusted loans and loans receivable (December 31, 2017: except for entrusted loans and loans receivable) which were interest-bearing assets, all amounts in other current assets were non-interest-bearing (December 31, 2017: all non-interest-bearing).

 

As at December 31, 2018, the ageing analysis of financial assets included in other current assets was as follows:

 

   

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

 2018

 
             
Within 1 year     2,582,172       1,114,811  
Between 1 and 2 years     1,016,290       1,653,822  
Between 2 and 3 years     1,689,050       449,003  
Over 3 years     2,873,157       3,421,957  
      8,160,669       6,639,593  
Less: provision for impairment     (1,673,122 )     (1,764,068 )
                 
      6,487,547       4,875,525  

  

Movements in the provision for impairment of other current assets are as follows:

 

    2017     2018  
             
As at January 1     1,672,316       1,677,277  
Effect of adoption of IFRS 9           38,502  
At beginning of year     1,672,316       1,715,779  
                 
Impairment loss     29,483       65,494  
Write off     (10,926 )     (6,117 )
Reversal     (9,531 )     (1,731 )
Others     (4,065 )     (5,218 )
                 
As at December 31     1,677,277       1,768,207  

  

F-113

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

15.OTHER CURRENT ASSETS (CONTINUED)

 

Impairment under IFRS 9 for the year ended December 31, 2018

 

Financial assets included in other current assets at amortized cost are subject to impairment under the general approach and they are classified within the following stages for measurement of ECLs.

           
As at December 31, 2018     

 

Gross carrying amount

      Expected credit losses  
Stage 1 – 12 months expected credit loss     1,098,455        
Stage 2 – life time expected credit loss     3,744,612       88,974  
Stage 3 – life time expected credit loss with credit-impaired     1,796,526       1,675,094  
      6,639,593       1,764,068  

Impairment under IAS 39 for the year ended December 31, 2017

 

As at December 31, 2017, the ageing analysis of financial assets that are not impaired and included in other current assets was as follows:

 

   

December 31,

2017

 
       
Past due for 1 year     1,214,515  
Past due for 1 to 2 years     364,953  
Past due for over 2 years     1,073,261  
      2,652,729  
         
Not past due     3,695,813  
         
      6,348,542  

  

The credit quality of other current assets that are neither past due nor impaired is assessed by reference to the counterparties’ default history. As at December 31, 2017, there was no history of default of these customers.

 

The credit quality of other current assets that were not impaired is assessed by reference to the counterparties’ default history. Based on past experience, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that no provision for impairment is necessary in respect of these balances as there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the balances are still considered recoverable.

 

Included in the Group’s financial assets that are past due but not impaired are amounts due from the Group’s related parties of RMB1,545 million on December 31, 2017.

 

F-114

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

16.CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH AND TIME DEPOSITS

 

   

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

2018

 
             
Restricted cash     2,168,192       2,165,288  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents     27,835,866       19,130,652  
                 
      30,004,058       21,295,940  

  

Restricted cash mainly represented deposits held for use in issued notes payable and letters of credit.

 

As at December 31, 2018, bank balances and cash on hand of the Group were denominated in the following currencies:

 

   

December 31,

2017

    December 31,
2018
 
             
RMB     26,949,057       18,026,082  
USD     3,045,228       3,256,625  
HKD     7,029       8,321  
EUR     56       371  
AUD     2,688       2,552  
IDR           1,989  
                 
      30,004,058       21,295,940  

  

Cash at banks earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. The bank balances and restricted cash are deposited with creditworthy banks with no recent history of default.

 

F-115

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

17.SHARE CAPITAL

 

As at December 31, 2017 and 2018, all issued shares were registered and fully paid. Both A shares and H shares rank pari passu with each other.

 

The number of the Company’s authorised ordinary shares was 14,903,798,236 at par value of RMB1.00 per share as at December 31, 2017 and 2018. There were 14,903,798,236 ordinary shares issued and outstanding as at December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

18.RESERVES

 

The amounts of the Group’s reserves and the movements therein for the current and prior years are presented in the consolidated statement of changes in equity of the financial statements.

 

(a)As disclosed in note 38(l) , note 38(m), note 38(n) and note 38(o), the acquisitions of the carbon business of Shandong Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Shandong Aluminum”) (山東鋁業有限公司), the carbon business of Pingguo Aluminum Co., Ltd. (“Pingguo Aluminum”) (平果鋁業有限公司), a 77.65% equity interest of Red Cliff Carbon Co., Ltd. (“Red Cliff Carbon”) (赤壁長城碳素有限公司) and a 51% equity interest of Harbin Bingdong Light Logistics Co., Ltd. (“East Light Logistics”) (哈爾滨東輕龍華物流有限公司) were considered to be business combinations under common control, which resulted in the decrease of share premium amounting to RMB444 million in total.

 

(b)On January 31, 2018, the Company and eight investors, including Huarong Ruitong Equity Investment Management Co., Ltd. (華融瑞通股權投資管理有限公司), China Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (中國人壽保險股份有限公司), Shenzhen Zhao Ping Aluminum Investment Center (limited partnership) (深圳市招平中鋁投資有限(有限合夥)), China Pacific Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (中國太平洋人壽保險股份有限公司), China Cinda Asset Management Co., Ltd. (中國信達資產管理股份有限公司), BOC Financial Asset Investment Co, Ltd. (中銀金融資產投資有限公司), ICBC Financial Asset Investment Co., Ltd. (工銀金融資產投資有限公司) and ABC Financial Asset Investment Co., Ltd. (農銀金融資產投資有限公司) (collectively called “Transferors”) entered into the equity acquisition agreements, pursuant to which, the Company agreed to acquire and the Transferors agreed to sell their non-controlling equity interests in Chalco Shandong, Zhongzhou Aluminum, Baotou Aluminum and Chalco Mining (collectively called the “Target Companies”), at a consideration of approximately 2.1 billion shares, which was determined at the fair value of the non-controlling interests in the Target Companies of approximately RMB12.7 billion. Upon signing the equity acquisition agreements, together with the investment agreements and debt to equity swap agreements signed in 2017, the Transferors effectively surrendered their non-controlling interests in the Target Companies, which included the rights to profit or loss, voting rights and other shareholder rights of the Target Companies to the Group. Consequently the carrying values of the Transferors’ non-controlling interests in the Target Companies of RMB10.7 billion were derecognized, and were transferred to the capital reserve of the Group.

 

On February 25, 2019, the Company has completed the issuance of ordinary shares to these Transferors, and the total number of shares issued was 2,118,874,715.

 

F-116

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

19.INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS

 

   December 31,
2017
   December 31,
2018
 
         
Long-term loans and borrowings          
           
Finance lease payables (note 20)   5,607,570    4,081,270 
           
Bank and other loans (Note (a))          
— Secured (Note (f))   14,716,175    12,608,727 
— Guaranteed (Note (e))   3,191,277    3,040,400 
— Unsecured   22,597,382    30,491,613 
           
    40,504,834    46,140,740 
           
Medium-term notes and bonds and long-term bonds and private placement notes (Note (b))          
 — Unsecured   15,696,961    10,094,861 
           
Total long-term loans and borrowings   61,809,365    60,316,871 
           
Current portion of finance lease payables (note 20)   (2,115,644)   (2,328,358)
           
Current portion of medium-term bonds and long-term bonds   (12,492,378)   (396,727)
           
Current portion of long-term bank and other loans   (6,911,640)   (3,384,400)
           
Non-current portion of long-term loans and borrowings   40,289,703    54,207,386 

 

F-117

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)  

 

19.INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS (CONTINUED)

 

  

December 31,
2017

   December 31,
2018
 
         
Short-term loans and borrowings          
Bank and other loans (Note (c))          
  — Secured (Note (f))   1,362,000    1,220,680 
  — Guaranteed (Note (e))   150,000    240,000 
  — Unsecured   29,529,442    37,835,512 
           
    31,041,442    39,296,192 
           
Short-term bonds, unsecured (Note (d))   3,601,573    500,000 
Gold leasing arrangements (Note (g))   6,818,393    1,607,905 
Current portion of finance lease payables (note 20)   2,115,644    2,328,358 
Current portion of medium-term notes   12,492,378    396,727 
Current portion of long-term bank and other loans   6,911,640    3,384,400 
           

Total short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term loans and borrowings

   62,981,070    47,513,582 

 

As at December 31, 2018, except for loans and borrowings of the Group amounting to RMB19 million (December 31, 2017: RMB21 million) and RMB3,984 million (December 31, 2017: RMB1,860 million), which were denominated in JPY and USD, respectively, all loans and borrowings were denominated in RMB.

 

As at December 31, 2018, included in the Group’s interest-bearing loans and borrowings are amounts due to subsidiaries of Chinalco of RMB4,373 million (December 31, 2017: RMB3,330 million are due to subsidiaries of Chinalco and RMB190 million are due to a joint venture), as set out in note 35(b).

 

F-118

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

19.INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS (CONTINUED)

 

Note:

 

(a)Long-term bank and other loans

 

(i)The maturity of long-term bank and other loans is set out below:

 

    Loans from banks and other
financial institutions
    Other loans     Total of long-term bank and other
loans
 
    December 31,
2017
    December 31,
2018
    December 31,
2017
   

December 31,

2018

    December 31,
2017
    December 31,
2018
 
                                     
Within 1 year     6,905,000       3,382,325       6,640       2,075       6,911,640       3,384,400  
Between 1 and 2 years     5,171,738       7,375,557       2,277       2,399       5,174,015       7,377,956  
Between 2 and 5 years     8,666,967       16,586,390       6,827       7,197       8,673,794       16,593,587  
Over 5 years     19,736,283       18,777,275       9,102       7,522       19,745,385       18,784,797  
                                                 
      40,479,988       46,121,547       24,846       19,193       40,504,834       46,140,740  

  

(ii)Other loans were provided by local bureaus of the Ministry of Finance to the Group. The weighted average annual interest rate of long-term bank and other loans for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 4.78% (2017: 4.97%).

 

(b)Medium-term notes and bonds and long-term bonds and private placement notes

 

Outstanding medium-term bonds & private placement notes of the Group as at December 31, 2018 are summarised as follows:

 

   Face value /maturity   Effective
interest rate
  

December 31,

2017

   December 31,
2018
 
                 
2015 medium-term notes   3,000,000/2018    5.53%   2,999,030     
2015 medium-term notes   1,500,000/2018    5.01%   1,496,503     
2013 medium-term bonds   3,000,000/2018    5.99%   2,999,211     
2015 medium-term bonds   3,000,000/2018    6.11%   2,999,359     
2015 medium-term bonds   2,000,000/2018    6.08%   1,998,275     
2016 private placement notes   3,215,000/2019    5.12%   3,204,583    396,727 
2018 medium-term notes   2,000,000/2021    5.84%       1,986,418 
2018 medium-term bonds   1,100,000/2021    4.66%       1,097,003 
2018 medium-term bonds   900,000/2023    5.06%       897,820 
2018 medium-term bonds   1,400,000/2021    4.30%       1,395,970 
2018 medium-term bonds   1,600,000/2023    4.57%       1,595,311 
2018 US dollar medium-term bonds   2,785,840/2021    5.25%       2,725,612 
              15,696,961    10,094,861 

 

F-119

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

 

19.INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS (CONTINUED)

 

Note: (continued)

 

(c)Short-term bank and other loans

 

Other loans were entrusted loans provided by state-owned companies to the Group.

 

The weighted average annual interest rate of short-term bank and other loans for the year ended December 31, 2018 was 4.52% (2017: 4.43%).

 

(d)Short-term bonds

 

Outstanding short-term bonds as at December 31, 2018 are summarized as follows:

 

   Face value /maturity  

Effective

interest rate

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,
2018

 
2017 short-term bonds   3,000,000/2018    4.30%   3,101,573     
2017 short-term bonds   500,000/2018    4.90%   500,000     
2018 Ningxia short-term bonds   500,000/2019    5.30%       500,000 
                     
              3,601,573    500,000 

 

All the above short-term bonds were issued for working capital needs.

 

F-120

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)  

 

19.INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS (CONTINUED)

 

Note: (continued)

 

(e)Guaranteed interest-bearing loans and borrowings

 

Details of the interest-bearing loans and borrowings in which the Group received guarantees are set out as follows:

 

Guarantors  

December 31,

2017

   

December 31,

2018

 
             
Long-term loans                
Lanzhou Aluminum Factory*(蘭州鋁廠) (Note (i))     4,000        
Ningxia Energy (Note (ii))     1,020,400       892,400  
Yinxing Energy (Note (ii))     91,000       70,000  
Baotou Aluminum Limited Company*(包头铝业有限公司) and Baotou Communications Investment Group Limited Company*(包头交通投资集团有限公司) (Note (iii))     1,600,000       1,600,000  
The Company and Hangzhou Jinjiang (Note (iv))     475,877       246,000  
Qingzhen Industrial Investment Co., Ltd.*(“Qingzhen Investment”) (清鎮市工業投資有限公司) (Note (v))           116,000  
Guizhou Industrial Investment Group Co., Ltd.*(“Guizhou Investment”) (貴州產業投資(集團)有限責任公司) (Note (v))           116,000  
                 
      3,191,277       3,040,400  
                 
Short-term loans                
Ningxia Energy (Note (ii))     70,000        
Chalco Shandong (Note (ii))     80,000        
China Great Wall Aluminum Co., Ltd.*(“China Great Wall Aluminum”) (中國長城鋁業有限公司) (Note(i))           40,000  
Hangzhou Jinjiang, Qingzhen Investment and Guizhou Investment           200,000  
                 
      150,000       240,000  
                 

 

Note:

 

(i)The guarantor is a subsidiary of Chinalco.

 

(ii)The guarantor is a subsidiary of the Group.

 

(iii)The guarantors are a subsidiary of the Company and a third party respectively.

 

(iv)The guarantors are the Company and a third party respectively.

 

(v)The guarantor is a third party

 

*The English names represent the best effort by management of the Group in translating the Chinese names of the Companies as they do not have any official English names.

 

(f)Secured interest-bearing loans and borrowings

 

The assets pledged for bank and other borrowings were set out in note 24 to the financial statements.

 

F-121

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)  

 

19.INTEREST-BEARING LOANS AND BORROWINGS (CONTINUED)

 

Note: (continued)

 

(g)Gold leasing arrangements

 

In 2017 and 2018, the Company entered into several gold leasing master framework agreements, individual gold leasing agreements and general hedging agreements with Bank of Communications and Agriculture Bank of China, (collectively, “the Banks”). According to the gold leasing master framework agreements and gold leasing agreements, the Company leased standard gold with fineness of Au 99.99 for 6 to 12 months from the Banks, with annual interest rates ranging from 4.10% to 4.50%. In 2018, the Company entrusted the Banks to sell all leased gold and received cash of RMB2,323 million from the sale (2017: RMB7,804 million). Upon the expiry of the gold leasing agreements, the Company shall purchase the standard gold (with same quality and value according to the general hedging agreements entered into simultaneously with the leasing agreements) to return to the Banks.

 

The directors of the Company are of the view that the Company is free from the assumption of risk of gold price fluctuations due to the fixed repurchase price under the general hedging agreements, and therefore, this arrangement should be accounted for as short-term loans with fixed interest rates (ranging from 4.10% to 4.50%), net of the Banks’ charges.

 

F-122

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

20.FINANCE LEASE PAYABLES

 

As disclosed in note 6, the Group leased certain machineries and construction in progress under finance leases with lease terms ranging from one to six years. At December 31, 2018, the total future minimum lease payments under finance leases and their present values are as follows:

 

   Minimum lease payments   Present value of minimum lease payments 
  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
                 
Amounts payable:                    
Within one year   2,371,917    2,518,653    2,115,644    2,328,358 
In the second year   1,762,618    1,161,490    1,606,571    1,075,050 
In the third to fifth years, inclusive   1,890,329    707,716    1,817,506    664,889 
After five years   73,603    13,238    67,849    12,973 
                     
Total minimum finance lease payments   6,098,467    4,401,097    5,607,570    4,081,270 
                     
Future finance charges   (490,897)   (319,827)          
                     
Total net finance lease payables (note 19)   5,607,570    4,081,270           
                     
Portion classified as current liabilities    (note 19)   (2,115,644)   (2,328,358)          
                     
Non-current portion   3,491,926    1,752,912           

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Group entered into various sale and leaseback agreements with Pingan International Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (平安國際融資租賃有限公司), Tianjin Far East Hongxin Finance Leasing Co., Ltd. (“遠東宏信(天津)融資租賃有限公司”),China Aviation International Leasing Co., Ltd. (“中航國際租賃有限公司”), Zhaoyin Leasing Co., Ltd.(“招銀租賃有限公司”) and Chalco Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.*(“中鋁融資租賃有限公司”), which is a related party of the Group, respectively, under which the Group sold machineries and construction in progress and leased them back. The lease terms range from one to six years and the lease rentals are payable by installments which bear interest at prevailing lending rates.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Group entered into under the sales and leaseback arrangements and incurred losses of RMB254 million (2017: RMB102 million), which were amortized over their respective useful lives of the assets. The Group entered into sales and leaseback arrangements and incurred a gain of RMB115 million (2017: Nil). The internal rate of return (IRR) of the sales and finance leaseback arrangements range from 4.35% to 9.74% (2017: from 4.35% to 6.20%).

 

*The English names represent the best effort made by the management of the Group in translating the Chinese name of the companies as they do not have any official English names.

 

F-123

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

21.OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

  

December 31, 

2017 

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Financial liabilities          
- Long-term payables for mining rights   749,761    788,133 
- Other financial liabilities   19,300    52,926 
    769,061    841,059 
           
Obligations in relation to early retirement schemes (Note (i))   900,924    777,305 
Deferred government grants (Note (ii))   373,447    314,045 
Deferred gain relating to sales and leaseback agreements   176,774    240,661 
Contract liabilities       132,844 
Provision for rehabilitation   113,672    121,033 
Others   119,782    11,217 
    1,684,599    1,597,105 
           
    2,453,660    2,438,164 

 

F-124

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

21.OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES (CONTINUED)

 

Note:

 

(i)Obligations in relation to early retirement schemes

 

From 2014, certain subsidiaries and branches implemented certain early retirement benefit schemes which allow qualified employees to early retire on a voluntary basis. The Group undertakes the obligations to pay the early retired employees’ living expenses for no more than five years in the future on a monthly basis according to the early retirement benefit schemes, together with social insurance and housing fund pursuant to the regulation of the local Social Security Office. Living expenses, social insurance and the housing fund are together referred to as “the Payments”. The Payments are discounted by the treasury bond rate of December 31, 2018. As at December 31, 2018, the current portion of the Payments within one year was reclassified to “Other payables and accrued liabilities”.

 

As at December 31, 2018, obligations in relation to retirement benefits under the Group’s early retirement schemes are as follows:

 

   2017   2018 
         
As at January 1,   996,598    1,438,440 
Provision made during the year (note 29)   767,632    447,660 
Interest costs   17,618    62,801 
Payment during the year   (343,408)   (655,060)
           
As at December 31,   1,438,440    1,293,841 
           
Non-current   900,924    777,305 
Current (note 22)   537,516    516,536 
           
    1,438,440    1,293,841 

 

(ii)As described on note 2.2 (d), in order to provide more reliable and more relevant information about the government grants, from January 1, 2018, the Group voluntarily changed the accounting policy in relation to government grants. For an asset-related government grant, had the asset already existed upon receiving the government grant, the Group directly deducted the grant amount from the book value of the asset related to the government grant instead of recording the government grant as deferred income. For a government grants related to income and expenses already incurred by the Group, which are specific to compensate certain cost and expenses, the Group would directly offset the grant amount against the related cost or expense. Other types of government grants are still included in deferred government grants and other income.

 

F-125

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

22.

OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES

 

  

December 31,  2017 

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Financial liabilities          
- Payable for capital expenditures   6,283,484    5,694,632 
- Accrued interest   827,367    396,286 
- Payables withheld as guarantees and deposits   1,494,367    1,101,456 
           
- Dividends payable by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders   223,942    543,207 
- Consideration payable for investment projects   170,494    280,856 
- Current portion of payables for mining rights   300,970    210,325 
- Others   2,062,612    1,025,163 
    11,363,236    9,251,925 
           
Sales and other deposits from customers (note 2.2(c))   1,605,374     
Taxes other than income taxes payable (Note)   818,979    831,040 
Accrued payroll and bonus   76,683    220,851 
Staff welfare payables   262,077    391,824 
Current portion of obligations in relation to early retirement schemes (note 21)   537,516    516,536 
Contribution payable for pension insurance   27,248    30,145 
Output value-added tax on pending       252,691 
Others   1,786    37,492 
    3,329,663    2,280,579 
           
    14,692,899    11,532,504 

 

Note: Taxes other than income taxes payable mainly comprise accruals for value-added tax, resource tax, city construction tax and education surcharge.

 

As at December 31, 2018, except for other payables and accrued liabilities of the Group amounting to RMB240 million and RMB0.27 million, which were denominated in USD and HKD, respectively (December 31, 2017: RMB331 million and RMB0.32 million which were denominated in USD and HKD respectively), all payables and accrued liabilities were denominated in RMB.

 

F-126

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

23.TRADE AND NOTES PAYABLES

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Trade payables   7,767,482    8,568,438 
Notes payable   4,592,959    5,439,162 
           
    12,360,441    14,007,600 

 

As at December 31, 2018, except for trade and notes payables of the Group amounting to RMB213 million (December 31, 2017: RMB56 million) which were denominated in USD, all trade and notes payables were denominated in RMB.

 

The ageing analysis of trade and notes payables is as follows:

 

  

December 31,  

2017 

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Within 1 year   11,748,228    13,598,040 
Between 1 and 2 years   199,889    140,517 
Between 2 and 3 years   200,191    47,111 
Over 3 years   212,133    221,932 
           
    12,360,441    14,007,600 

 

The trade and notes payables are non-interest-bearing and are normally settled within one year.

 

F-127

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

24.PLEDGE OF ASSETS

 

The Group has pledged various assets as collateral against certain secured borrowings as set out in note 19. As at December 31, 2018, a summary of these pledged assets was as follows:

 

  

December 31,  

2017 

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Property, plant and equipment (note 6)   5,799,013    4,168,239 
Land use rights (note 8)   176,914    328,116 
Intangible assets (note 5)   1,111,705    772,597 
Notes receivable (note 14)   82,125    933,551 
Trade receivables (note 14)   22,000     
Investments in associates       535,610 
           
    7,191,757    6,738,113 

 

As at December 31, 2018, in addition to the loans and borrowings which were secured by the above assets, the current portion of long-term loans and borrowings amounting to RMB1,354 million and the non-current portion of long-term loans and borrowings amounting to RMB10,155 million were secured by the contractual right to charge users for electricity generated in the future (December 31, 2017: the current portion of long-term loans and borrowings amounting to RMB1,007 million and the non-current portion of long-term loans and borrowings amounting to RMB12,582 million were secured by the contractual right to charge users for electricity generated in the future and 70.82% equity interests in a subsidiary of the Company, Ningxia Energy).

 

F-128

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

25.PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAX

 

An analysis of profit before income tax is as follows:

 

  

2016 

  

2017

  

2018

 
             
Purchase of inventories in relation to trading activities   79,682,085    98,282,714    85,443,397 
Raw materials and consumables used, and changes in work-in-progress and finished goods   27,209,597    34,550,042    43,197,855 
Power and utilities   12,980,854    17,274,948    17,650,214 
Depreciation and amortization   7,000,677    7,064,129    8,055,137 
Employee benefit expenses (note 29)   5,899,257    6,975,281    7,433,027 
Repairs and maintenance   1,354,394    1,716,940    1,750,194 
Transportation expenses   1,532,920    1,768,604    1,893,659 
Logistic cost   796,231    1,894,061    2,794,733 
Taxes other than income tax expense (Note (i))   690,718    858,344    936,546 
Rental expenses for land use rights and buildings   511,189    497,356    649,640 
Packaging expenses   236,465    267,547    261,626 
Research and development expenses   168,862    498,234    626,873 
Auditors’ remuneration expense (Note (ii))   26,006    31,815    30,847 
   
Note:

 

(i)Taxes other than income tax expense mainly comprise surcharges, land use tax, property tax and stamp duties.

 

(ii)During the year ended December 31, 2018, auditors’ remuneration included audit and non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young, including Ernst & Young, Hong Kong and Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, amounting to RMB26.7 million (2016:RMB23.7 million, 2017: RMB23.1 million), and services provided by other auditors.

 

F-129

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

26.OTHER INCOME

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, government grants amounting to RMB135 million (2016: RMB156 million, 2017: RMB90 million) were recognized as income for the year to facilitate the Group’s development. There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attached to the grants.

 

27.OTHER GAINS, NET

 

  

2016

  

2017

  

2018

 
             
Gain on deemed disposal and disposal of subsidiaries       325,022    3,517 
Gain on disposal and dividends of available for sales investments/equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income   140,929    79,408    109,914 
Realized gains/(losses) on futures, forward and option contracts, net (Note)   (1,290,267)   (23,951)   40,492 
Unrealized gains/(losses) on futures, forward and option contracts, net (Note)   154,585    (131,073)   100,967 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and land use rights, net   816,721    76,739    101,098 
Gain on previously held equity interests remeasured at acquisition-date fair value (note 38(h), 38 (i), 38 (j) and 38 (k))       117,640    748,086 
Loss on disposal of investments in an associate   128,833        (1,904)
Others   218,342    (124,403)   (180,266)
                
    169,143    319,382    921,904 

 

Note: None of these futures, forward and option contracts was designated for hedge accounting.

 

F-130

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

28.FINANCE INCOME/FINANCE COSTS

 

An analysis of finance income/finance costs is as follows:

 

   2016   2017   2018 
             
Finance income - interest income   (815,729)   (706,690)   (492,232)
                
Interest expense   5,169,568    5,175,156    5,202,639 
Less: interest expense capitalized in property, plant and equipment (note 6)   (414,133)   (344,452)   (517,589)
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest   4,755,435    4,830,704    4,685,050 
Amortization of unrecognized finance expenses   324,701    241,099    205,335 
Exchange (gain)/loss, net   (60,228)   131,621    (7,889)
Finance costs   5,019,908    5,203,424    4,882,496 
                
Capitalization rate during the year (note 6)   3.85% to 6.00%    4.41% to 8.00%    4.54% to 7.00% 

 

29.EMPLOYEE BENEFIT EXPENSES

 

An analysis of employee benefit expenses is as follows:

 

  

2016 

  

2017 

  

2018 

 
             
Salaries and bonus   3,854,571    4,205,361    4,636,972 
Housing fund   388,017    395,489    414,440 
Staff welfare and other expenses (Note)   1,495,618    1,576,552    1,896,365 
Employment expense in relation to early retirement schemes (note 21)   132,044    767,632    447,660 
Employment expenses in relation to termination benefit   29,007    30,247    37,590 
                
    5,899,257    6,975,281    7,433,027 

 

Note:Staff welfare and other expenses include staff welfare, staff union expenses, staff education expenses, unemployment insurance expenses, pension insurance expenses, etc.

 

Employee benefit expenses include remuneration payables to directors, supervisors and senior management as set out in note 30.

 

F-131

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated) 

 

30.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION

 

(a)Directors’ and supervisors’ remuneration

 

Directors' and supervisors’ remuneration for the year, disclosed pursuant to the Listing Rules, section 383(1)(a), (b), (c) and (f) of the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance and Part 2 of the Companies Regulation (Disclosure of Information about Benefits of Directors), is as follows:

 

   2016   2017   2018 
             
Fees   762    768    756 
Basic salaries, housing fund, other allowances and benefits in kind   975    1,370    1,849 
Pension cost   114    166    234 
                
    1,851    2,304    2,839 

 

F-132

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

30.

DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION (CONTINUED)

 

(a)Directors’ and supervisors’ remuneration (continued)

 

The remuneration of each director and supervisor of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2016 is set out below:

 

Names of directors and supervisors  Fees   Salaries   Discretionary
bonuses
   Pension costs   total 
                     
Executive Directors:                         
Ge Honglin                    
Ao Hong                    
Lu Dongliang                    
Jiang Yinggang       725        76    801 
        725        76    801 
Non-executive Directors:                         
Yu Dehui                    
Liu Caiming                    
Wang Jun   150                150 
Lie-A-Cheong Tai-Chong, David   204                204 
Chen Lijie   204                204 
Hu Shihai   204                  204 
    762                762 
Supervisors:                         
Liu Xiangmin                    
Yuan Li                    
Wang Jun                     
Wu Zuoming        250        38    288 
Zhao Zhao                     
        250        38    288 
                          
Total   762    975        114    1,851 

 

F-133

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

30.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION (CONTINUED)

 

(a)Directors’ and supervisors’ remuneration (continued)

 

The remuneration of each director and supervisor of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2017 is set out below:

 

Names of directors and supervisors  Fees   Salaries   Discretionary
bonuses
   Pension costs   total 
                     
Executive Directors:                         
Yu Dehui                    
Lu Dongliang                    
Jiang Yinggang       822        83    905 
        822        83    905 
                          
Non-executive Directors:                         
Ao Hong                    
Liu Caiming                    
Wang Jun   150                150 
Chen Lijie   206                206 
Lie-A-Cheong Tai-Chong, David   206                206 
Hu Shihai   206                206 
    768                768 
                          
Supervisors:                         
Liu Xiangmin                    
Wang Jun                    
Wu Zuoming       548        83    631 
        548        83    631 
                          
Total   768    1,370        166    2,304 

 

F-134

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

30.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION (CONTINUED)

 

(a)Directors’ and supervisors’ remuneration (continued)

 

The remuneration of each director and supervisor of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2018 is set out below:

 

Names of directors and supervisors  Fees   Salaries   Discretionary
bonuses
   Pension costs   total 
                     
Executive Directors:                         
Yu Dehui (Note (i))                    
Lu Dongliang (Note (iii))                    
Jiang Yinggang       762        90    852 
Zhu Runzhou       438        54    492 
        1,200        144    1,344 
Non-executive Directors:                         
Ao Hong (Note ii))                    
Wang Jun (Note (ii))   150                150 
Chen Lijie   202                202 
Lie-A-Cheong Tai-Chong, David   202                202 
Hu Shihai   202                202 
    756                756 
Supervisors:                         
Ye Guohua                    
Wang Jun                    
Wu Zuoming       649        90    739 
        649        90    739 
                          
Total   756    1849        234    2,839 

 

Note:

 

(i)On February 21, 2019, Mr. Yu Dehui resigned as the chairman and an executive Director of the Company, and Mr. Lu Dongliang was elected as the chairman of the sixth session of the Board of the Company at the 39th meeting of the sixth session of the Board.

 

(ii)On February 20, 2019, the appointment of Mr. Wang Jun as the chief financial officer and the Secretary to the Board (Company Secretary) of the Company was approved at the 38th meeting of the sixth session of the Board of the Company.

 

F-135

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

30.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION (CONTINUED)

 

(a)Directors’ and supervisors’ remuneration (continued)

 

The remuneration of the directors and supervisors of the Company fell within the following band:

 

   Number of individuals 
   2016   2017   2018 
             
Nil to RMB1,000,000   15    15    12 

 

During the year, no options were granted to the directors or the supervisors of the Company (2016: Nil, 2017: Nil).

 

During the year, no emoluments were paid to the directors or the supervisors of the Company (among which included the five highest paid employees) as an inducement to join or upon joining the Company or as compensation for loss of office (2016: Nil, 2017: Nil).

 

No directors or supervisors of the Company waived any remuneration during the years 2018 and 2017.

 

(b)Five highest paid individuals

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the five highest paid employees of the Group include two directors and one supervisor (2016: two directors and one supervisor, 2017: one director and one supervisor) whose remuneration is reflected in the analysis presented above. The remuneration payable to the remaining three individuals during 2018 (2016: two, 2017: three) is as follows:

 

   2016   2017   2018 
             
Basic salaries, housing fund, other allowances and benefits in kind   1,450    2,460    1,305 
Discretionary bonuses            
Pension costs   152    249    165 
                
    1,602    2,709    1,470 

 

The number of the remaining three highest paid individuals during 2018 (2016: two, 2017: three) whose remuneration fell within the following band is as follows:

 

   Number of employees 
   2016   2017   2018 
             
Nil to RMB1,000,000   2    3    2 

 

F-136

 

   

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

31.INCOME TAX BENEFIT/ (EXPENSE)

 

   2016  

2017 

   2018 
             
Current income tax expense:               
— PRC corporate income tax   503,233    844,896    755,215 
Deferred tax (benefit)/expense   (99,334)   (201,162)   67,284 
                
    403,899    643,734    822,499 

 

In general, the Group’s PRC entities are subject to PRC corporate income tax at the standard rate of 25% (2016: 25%, 2017: 25%) on their respective estimated assessable profits for the year. Certain branches and subsidiaries of the Company located in the western regions of the PRC are granted tax concessions including a preferential tax rate of 15% (2016: 15%, 2017: 15%).

 

F-137

 

   

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

31.INCOME TAX EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

 

A reconciliation of the tax expense applicable to profit before tax at the statutory rates for the countries in which the Company and the majority of its subsidiaries are domiciled to the tax expense at the effective tax rates, and a reconciliation of the applicable rates to the effective tax rates are as follows:

 

  

2016

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

 
             
Profit before income tax   1,620,689    3,049,010    2,303,511 
                
Tax expense calculated at the statutory tax rate of 25% (2016 and 2017: 25%)   405,172    762,253    575,878 
Tax effects of:               
Preferential income tax rates applicable to certain branches and subsidiaries   (3,322)   (287,081)   (268,665)
Impact of change in income tax rate   5,945    98,150    23,425 
Tax losses with no deferred tax assets recognized   269,173    296,728    434,103 
Deductible temporary differences with no deferred tax assets recognized   78,644    308,657    382,503 
Utilisation of previously unrecognized tax losses and deductible temporary differences   (203,423)   (212,240)   (52,962)
Tax incentive in relation to deduction of certain expenses   (3,769)   (43,846)   (62,172)
Non-taxable income   (89,602)   (126,101)   (254,337)
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes   83,966    10,290    46,758 
Write-off of unrecoverable deferred tax assets previously recognized   3,315    49,808    183,195 
Return on equity investment measured by the equity method   (4,896)   39,274    40,029 
Recognition of deferred tax assets related to deductible temporary differences and tax losses previously not recognized   (117,513)   (274,726)   (233,940)
True-up adjustments in respect of prior year’s annual income tax filings and others   (19,791)   22,568    8,684 
                
Income tax expense   403,899    643,734    822,499 
                
Effective tax rate   25%   21%   36%

 

Share of income tax expense of associates and joint ventures of RMB106 million (2016: RMB64 million, 2017: RMB86 million) and RMB48 million (2016: RMB22 million, 2017: RMB 11 million) is included in “Share of profits and losses of associates“ and “Share of profits and losses of joint ventures“, respectively.

 

F-138

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

32.EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE PARENT

 

(a)Basic

 

The basic earnings per share amount is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.

 

For the purpose of calculating basic earnings per share, the Group adjusted (i) the profit attributable to owners of the parent for the after-tax amounts of cumulative distribution reserved for the period of other equity instruments, which were issued by the Group and classified as equity instruments, and (ii) the weighted average effect of the shares to be issued as a consideration to acquire the non-controlling interests as disclosed in note 18(b).

 

  

2016

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

 
             
Profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent (RMB)   365,697,352    1,413,028,383    746,477,441 
Other equity instruments’ distribution reserved (RMB)   (110,000,000)   (110,000,000)   (129,282,192)
    255,697,352    1,303,028,383    617,195,249 
                
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue
   14,903,798,236    14,903,798,236    14,903,798,236 
Effect of equity exchange arrangement (Note 18(b))           1,938,915,502 
    14,903,798,236    14,903,798,236    16,842,713,738 
                
Basic earnings per share (RMB)   0.017    0.087    0.037 

 

(b)Diluted

 

The diluted earnings per share amounts for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are the same as the basic earnings per share amounts as there were no dilutive potential shares during those years.

 

33.DIVIDENDS

 

According to the articles of association of the Company, the Company considers that the maximum limit of profit appropriation to its shareholders is the lowest of:

 

(i)the sum of the net profit and the opening retained earnings for the current period in accordance with IFRSs;

 

(ii)the sum of the net profit and the opening retained earnings for the current period in accordance with the PRC Accounting Standards for Business Enterprises; and

 

(iii)the amount limited by the Company Law of the PRC.

 

According to the resolution of the board of directors dated 28 March 2019, the directors did not propose any final dividend for the year ended December 31, 2018, which is to be approved by the shareholders.

 

F-139

 

   

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

34.NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

(a)Reconciliation of profit before taxation to cash generated from operations

 

  

Notes

 

  

2016

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

 
                 
Cash flows generated from operating activities                    
                     
Profit before income tax        1,620,689    3,049,010    2,303,511 
                     
Adjustments for:                    
Share of profits and losses of joint ventures   9(a)   95,508    (8,151)   199,452 
Share of profits and losses of associates   9(b)   (115,091)   165,249    (39,335)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment   6    6,590,248    6,554,775    7,499,322 
Depreciation of investment properties   7    1,426    14,105    22,229 
Gain on disposal of other property, plant and equipment and land use rights, net   27    (245,451)   (76,739)   (101,098)
Gain on disposal of Environmental Protection Assets        (571,270)        
Impairment losses on property, plant and equipment   6    57,080    16,200    7,450 
Impairment losses of intangible assets   5        8,134     
Amortization of intangible assets   5    244,361    275,877    295,629 
Amortization of land use rights   8    99,724    91,579    107,809 
Amortization of prepaid expenses included in other non-current assets        64,918    127,793    130,148 
Realized and unrealized losses/(gains) on futures, option and forward contracts   27    1,135,682    155,024    (141,459)
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value   27        (117,640)   (748,086)
Gain on disposals and deemed disposals of subsidiaries   27        (325,022)   (3,517)
Loss on disposal of investments in associates   27    (128,833)       1,904 
Gain on disposal of and dividends from equity investments   27    (140,929)   (79,408)   (109,914)
Receipt of government subsidies        (207,146)   (202,359)   (158,109)
Interest income        (353,619)   (183,015)    
Finance costs   28    5,019,908    5,203,422    4,882,496 
Change in special reserve        9,839    58,743    6,605 
Others        55    (16,950)   75,380 
                     
         13,177,099    14,710,627    14,230,417 

 

F-140

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

34.NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

 

(a)Reconciliation of profit before taxation to cash generated from operations (continued)

 

  

2016

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

 
             
Cash flows generated from operating activities (continued)               
                
Changes in working capital:               
Decrease/(increase) in inventories   2,398,030    (2,662,507)   1,194,454 
Increase in trade and notes receivables   (3,655,735)   (1,961,968)   (2,486,201)
Decrease in other current assets   3,463,799    1,275,535    916,681 
(Increase)/decrease in restricted cash   (264,508)   (137,745)   530,284 
(Increase)/decrease in other non-current assets   (132,203)   (422,845)   425,768 
(Decrease)/increase in trade and notes payables   (3,405,737)   1,599,294    (5,660)
Increase/(decrease) in other payables and accrued liabilities   73,357    1,672,658    (945,270)
Increase in other non-current liabilities   11,105    81,878    105,386 
                
Cash generated from operations   11,665,207    14,154,927    13,965,859 
                
PRC corporate income taxes paid   (55,898)   (949,355)   (947,683)
                
Net cash generated from operating activities   11,609,309    13,205,572    13,018,176 
                
Non-cash transactions of investing activities and financing activities               
Capital injection to an associate and joint ventures by non-cash assets   371,051    186,450     
Equity exchange arrangement (note 18(b))           10,735,214 
Endorsement of notes receivables accepted from the sale of goods or services for purchase of property, plant and equipment   1,568,488    372,816    2,384,046 
Acquisition of businesses at non-cash consideration       50,058    70,087 
Finance lease       44,342    113,305 

 

F-141

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

34.NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

 

(b) Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities

 

The table below details changes in the Group’s liabilities from financing activities, including both cash and non-cash changes. Liabilities arising from financing activities are liabilities for which cash flows were, or future cash flows will be, classified in the Group’s consolidated statement of cash flows as cash flows from financing activities.

 

   Financial
liabilities at fair
value through
profit or loss
   Trade and
notes payables
   Financial
liabilities
included in other
current payables
and accrued
expenses
   Financial
liabilities
included in
other non-
current
liabilities
   Interest bearing
loans and
borrowings
   Total 
                         
As at January 1, 2017   3,575    11,532,163    9,793,534    789,720    105,968,641    128,087,633 
                               
Net cash generated from operating activities       1,361,087    1,253,220            2,614,307 
                               
Net cash flows from/(used in) investing activities   85,851    (530,457)   640,157    (73,701)   2,400,464    2,522,314 
Payment of upfront interest of gold leasing arrangement                   7,804,083    7,804,083 
Proceeds from issuance of short-term bonds and medium-term notes, net of issuance costs                   3,478,550    3,478,550 
Repayments of medium-term notes and short-term bonds                   (16,300,000)   (16,300,000)
Repayments of gold leasing arrangement                   (4,000,000)   (4,000,000)
Drawdown of short-term and long-term bank and other loans                   83,758,749    83,758,749 
Repayments of short-term and long-term bank and other loans                   (78,866,459)   (78,866,459)
Proceeds from finance lease, net of deposit and transaction costs                   1,000,036    1,000,036 
Capital elements of finance lease rental payment                   (2,462,250)   (2,462,250)
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders           2,446            2,446 
Amortization of unrecognized finance expenses and interest expense               16,352    398,371    414,723 
Interest paid           (278,084)           (278,084)
Reclassification           (36,690)   36,690         
Net cash (used in)/ generated from financing activities           (312,328)   53,042    (5,188,920)   (5,448,206)
Net foreign exchange differences       (2,352)   (11,347)       90,588    76,889 
As at December 31, 2017   89,426    12,360,441    11,363,236    769,061    103,270,773    127,852,937 

 

F-142

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

34.NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

 

(b) Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities (continued)

 

   Financial
liabilities at fair
value through
profit or loss
   Trade and notes payables   Financial
liabilities
included in other current payables
and accrued
expenses
   Financial
liabilities
included in
other non-
current
liabilities
   Interest bearing
loans and
borrowings
   Total 
                         
As at January 1, 2018   89,426    12,360,441    11,363,236    769,061    103,270,773    127,852,937 
                               
Net cash generated from operating activities       (5,660)   (669,353)           (675,013)
                               
Net cash flows from/(used in) investing activities   (87,660)   1,646,299    (193,345)       7,197,213    8,562,507 
Payment of upfront interest of gold leasing arrangement                   2,323,105    2,323,105 
Proceeds from issuance of short-term bonds and medium-term notes, net of issuance costs                   13,185,034    13,185,034 
Repayments of medium-term notes and short-term bonds                   (21,815,000)   (21,815,000)
Repayments of gold leasing arrangement                   (7,519,283)   (7,519,283)
Drawdown of short-term and long-term bank and other loans                   76,899,591    76,899,591 
Repayments of short-term and long-term bank and other loans           (1,000,000)       (69,546,537)   (70,546,537)
Proceeds from finance lease, net of deposit and transaction costs                   1,204,843    1,204,843 
Capital elements of finance lease rental payment                   (3,915,404)   (3,915,404)
Dividends paid by subsidiaries to non-controlling shareholders           277,771            277,771 
Amortization of unrecognized finance expenses and interest expense               6,090    521,295    527,385 
Interest paid           (449,835)   (24,736)   (85,579)   (560,150)
Reclassification           (90,644)   90,644         
Net cash (used in)/ generated from financing activities           (1,262,708)   71,998    (8,747,935)   (9,938,645)
Net foreign exchange differences       6,520    14,095        917    21,532 
As at December 31, 2018   1,766    14,007,600    9,251,925    841,059    101,720,968    125,823,318 

 

F-143

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS

 

The Company is controlled by Chinalco, the parent company and a state-owned enterprise established in Mainland China. Chinalco itself is controlled by the PRC government, which also owns a significant portion of the productive assets in Mainland China. In accordance with IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures, government-related entities and their subsidiaries, directly or indirectly controlled, jointly controlled or significantly influenced by the PRC government, are defined as related parties of the Group. On that basis, related parties include Chinalco and its subsidiaries (other than the Group), other government-related entities and their subsidiaries (“other state-owned enterprises“), other entities and corporations over which the Company is able to control or exercise significant influence and key management personnel of the Company and Chinalco as well as their close family members.

 

For the purposes of the related party transaction disclosures, the directors of the Company consider that meaningful information in respect of related party transactions has been adequately disclosed.

 

In addition to the related party information and transactions disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements, the following is a summary of significant related party transactions in the ordinary course of business between the Group and its related parties during the year.

 

(a)Significant related party transactions

 

   Note  

2016

 

  

2017

 

  

2018

 

 
                 
Sales of goods and services rendered:
Sales of materials and finished goods to:  (i)             
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    10,319,958    10,658,507    11,248,625 
Associates of Chinalco        688,308    682,992    897,642 
Joint ventures        648,145    2,031,159    4,462,670 
Associates        605,449    724,658    2,626,780 
                     
         12,261,860    14,097,316    19,235,717 
                     
Provision of engineering, construction and supervisory services to:   (iii)                
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    101,323    77,095    5,981 
Joint ventures        41,423    2,046     
Associates                1,725 
         142,746    79,141    7,706 
                     
Provision of utility services to:   (ii)                
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    567,628    581,566    620,552 
Associates of Chinalco        4,444    8,776    15,719 
Joint ventures        3,031    118,280    186,672 
Associates        584    1,122    24,309 
                     
         575,687    709,744    847,252 
                     

F-144

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (Continued)

 

(a)Significant related party transactions (Continued)

 

   Notes   2016   2017   2018 
                 
Sales of goods and services rendered: (continued)                
                 
Rental revenue of land use rights and buildings from:   (vi)                
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    33,231    40,875    31,551 
Joint ventures            426    1,545 
Associates                 1,511 
                     
         33,231    41,301    34,607 
Purchases of goods and services:                    
                     
Purchases of engineering, construction and supervisory services from:   (iii)                
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    1,529,453    1,071,283    2,088,338 
Joint ventures                2,100 
Associates            134,072    405,993 
                     
         1,529,453    1,205,355    2,496,431 
                     
Purchases of key and auxiliary materials, equipment and finished goods from:   (iv)                
 Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    1,660,529    3,850,073    3,513,420 
Associates of Chinalco                 18,917 
 Joint ventures        3,799,116    6,516,087    8,182,251 
 Associates        31,413    1,175    2,108,072 
                     
        5,491,058    10,367,335    13,822,660 
                     
Provision of social services and logistics services by:   (v)                
 Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)   307,354    326,830    312,062 
                     
                     
Provision of utility services by:   (ii)                
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   (ix)    686,474    1,412,722    992,827 
Associates of Chinalco                96,510 
Joint ventures        3,386    19,537    26,269 
Associates                77,432 
                     
        689,860    1,432,259    1,193,038 

 

F-145

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (Continued)

 

(a)Significant related party transactions (Continued)

 

  

Notes

  2016   2017   2018 
                
Purchases of goods and services: (continued)            
Provision of other services by:               
A joint venture      151,552    269,204    226,280 
                   
Rental expenses for buildings and land use rights charged by:  (vi)               
Chinalco and its subsidiaries  (ix)   511,001    509,848    501,866 
Joint ventures      126         
                   
       511,127    509,848    501,866 
                   
Other significant related party transactions:                  
                   
Borrowing from a subsidiary of Chinalco  (viii), (ix)   5,145,959    4,010,000    6,525,000 
                   
Interest expense on borrowings, discounted notes and factoring arrangement from subsidiaries of Chinalco      226,118    225,934    143,415 
                   
Entrusted loans and other borrowings to:                  
Joint ventures      212,400    500,000     
Associates         1,100,000     
                   
       212,400    1,600,000     
                   
Interest income on entrusted loans and other borrowings:                  
 Joint ventures      31,373    41,005     
 An associate          24,425     
                   
      31,373    65,430     
                   
Interest income from the unpaid disposal proceeds from:                  
Chinalco and its subsidiaries     246,149    117,587     

 

F-146

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

 

(a)Significant related party transactions (continued)

 

  

Notes

  2016   2017   2018 
                
Disposal of assets under a sale and leaseback contract to a subsidiary of Chinalco  (xi)   1,040,000    600,000    224,000 
                   
Finance lease under a sale and leaseback contract from a subsidiary of Chinalco   (xi), (ix)   1,040,036    600,036    224,000 
                   
Trade receivable factoring arrangement from a subsidiary of Chinalco  (ix)       1,570,000    470,101 
                   
Discounted notes receivable to a subsidiary of Chinalco  (viii)  40,200    523,253    756,000 
                   
Provision of financial guarantees to:                  
  A joint venture  (x)   24,245    18,350    12,450 
                   
Financial guarantees provided by:                  
  Subsidiaries of Chinalco      23,000    4,000     
                   

All transactions with related parties were conducted at prices and on terms mutually agreed by the parties involved, which are determined as follows:

 

(i)Sales of materials and finished goods comprised sales of alumina, primary aluminum, copper and scrap materials. Transactions entered into are covered by general agreements on a mutual provision of production supplies and ancillary services. The pricing policy is summarised below:

 

1.The price prescribed by the PRC government (“the state-prescribed price”) is adopted;

 

2.If there is no state-prescribed price, the state-guidance price is adopted;

 

3.If there is neither a state-prescribed price nor state-guidance price, then the market price (being price charged to and from independent third parties) is adopted; and

 

4.If none of the above is available, then a contractual price (being reasonable costs incurred in providing the relevant services plus not more than 5% of such costs) is adopted.

 

F-147

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (Continued)

 

(a)Significant related party transactions (Continued)

 

All transactions with related parties are conducted at prices and terms mutually agreed by the parties involved, which are determined as follows: (continued)

 

(ii)Utility services, including electricity, gas, heat and water, are provided at the state-prescribed price.

 

(iii)Engineering, project construction and supervisory services were provided for construction projects. The state-guidance price or prevailing market price (including the tender price where by way of tender) is adopted for pricing purposes.

 

(iv)The pricing policy for purchases of key and auxiliary materials (including bauxite, limestone, carbon, cement and coal) is the same as that set out in (i) above.

 

(v)Social services and logistics services provided by Chinalco Group cover public security, fire services, education and training, school and hospital services, cultural and physical education, newspaper and magazines, broadcasting and printing as well as property management, environmental and hygiene, greenery, nurseries and kindergartens, sanatoriums, canteens and offices, public transport and retirement management and other services. Provisions of these services are covered by the Comprehensive Social and Logistics Services Agreement. The pricing policy is the same as that set out in (i) above.

 

(vi)Pursuant to the Land Use Rights Lease Agreements entered into between the Group and Chinalco Group, operating leases for industrial or commercial land are charged at the market rent rate. The Group also entered into a building rental agreement with Chinalco Group and paid rent based on the market rate for its lease of buildings owned by Chinalco.

 

(vii)The pricing policy for product processing services is the same as that set out in (i) above.

 

F-148

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

 

(a)Significant related party transactions (continued)

 

All transactions with related parties are conducted at prices and terms mutually agreed by the parties involved, which are determined as follows: (continued)

 

(viii)Chinalco Finance Company Limited (“Chinalco Finance”)* (中鋁財務有限責任公司), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinalco and a non-bank financial institution established in the PRC, provides deposit services, credit services and miscellaneous financial services to the Group. The terms for the provision of financial services to the Group are no less favourable than those of the same type of financial services provided by Chinalco Finance to Chinalco and other members of its group or those of the same type of financial services that may be provided to the Group by other financial institutions.

 

(ix)These related party transactions also constitute connected transactions or continuing connected transactions as defined in Chapter 14A of the Listing Rules.

 

(x)In December 2006, Ningxia Energy, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a financial guarantee contract with China Construction Bank providing a financial guarantee to Tian Jing Shen Zhou Wind Power Co., Ltd, a joint venture of the Company, for its 14-year bank loan amounting to RMB35 million. As at December 31, 2018, the outstanding amount of the guarantee was RMB12 million.

 

(xi)As disclosed in note 20, the Group has entered into several sales and leaseback contracts with CFL.

 

(xii)As disclosed in note 38 (n) and 38 (o), the Group acquired 57.69% and 19.96% equity interest in Chibi Great Wall Carbon from China Great Wall Aluminum and Henan Great Wall Zhongxin Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Henan Great Wall Zhongxin”) (河南長城眾鑫實業股份有限公司) respectively; and acquired 51% equity interest in East Light Logistics from Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. (“Northeast Light Alloy”) (東北輕合金有限公司); which constituted related party transactions.

 

(xiii)As disclosed in note 38 (l) and 38 (m), the Group acquired Shandong Aluminum Plant (山東鋁廠碳素廠) and Pingguo Aluminum Plant (平果鋁業碳素廠) from Pingguo Aluminum and Shandong Aluminum, which also constituted related party transactions.

 

*The English name represent the best effort made by management of the Group in translating the Chinese name of the company as it does not have any official English name.

 

F-149

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Balances with related parties

 

Other than those disclosed elsewhere in the consolidated financial statements, the outstanding balances with related entities at the year end are as follows:

 

   December 31, 2017   December 31, 2018 
         
Cash and cash equivalents deposited with          
A subsidiary of Chinalco (Note)  7,679,806    9,101,541 
           
Trade and notes receivables          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   1,483,984    1,278,715 
Associates of Chinalco   2,000    18,655 
Joint ventures   591,488    819,878 
Associates   96,574    6,615 
    2,174,046    2,123,863 
           
Provision for impairment of receivables   (78,388)   (77,657)
           
    2,095,658    2,046,206 

 

Note:On August 26, 2011, the Company entered into an agreement with Chinalco Finance, pursuant to which, Chinalco Finance agreed to provide deposit services, credit services and other financial services to the Group. On August 24, 2012, April 28, 2015 and October 26, 2017, the Company renewed the financial service agreement with Chinalco Finance with a validation term of three years ending on October 26, 2020.

 

F-150

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Balances with related parties (continued)

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
         
Other current assets          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   623,254    830,615 
Joint ventures   1,737,644    1,424,678 
Associates   1,132,138    29,701 
    3,493,036    2,284,994 
           
Provision for impairment of other current assets   (48,166)   (40,830)
           
   3,444,870    2,244,164 
           
Other non-current assets          
A joint venture   97,103     
Associates   111,845    111,845 
           
    208,948    111,845 
           
Borrowings and finance lease payables          
Subsidiaries of Chinalco   3,329,807    4,373,033 
A joint venture   190,000     
           
    3,519,807    4,373,033 
           
Trade and notes payables          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   332,701    404,278 
Joint ventures   413,533    631,570 
 Associates   7,222    13,033 
Associates of Chinalco       4,012 
           
    753,456    1,052,893 

 

F-151

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

35.SIGNIFICANT RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Balances with related parties (Continued)

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
Other payables and accrued liabilities          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries   2,652,249    1,887,010 
Associates of Chinalco   5,030    17,128 
Associates   218,560    148,978 
Joint ventures   101,828    8,860 
           
   2,977,667   2,061,976 

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

December 31,

2018

 
Contract Liabilities          
Chinalco and its subsidiaries       22,307 
Associates of Chinalco       20 
Associates       12,451 
Joint ventures       94,367 
           
       129,145 

 

As at December 31, 2018, included in long-term loans and borrowings and short-term loans and borrowings were from other state-owned enterprises amounting to RMB42,553 million (December 31, 2017: RMB33,575 million) and RMB41,189 million (December 31, 2017: RMB42,648 million).

 

The terms of all balances with the exception of the entrusted loans were unsecured and were in accordance with terms as set out in the respective agreements or as mutually agreed between the parties concerned.

 

(c)Compensation of key management personnel

 

   2016   2017   2018 
             
Fees   762    768    756 
Basic salaries, housing fund, other allowances and benefits in kind   2,542    3,830    3,953 
Pension costs   277    415    482 
                
    3,581    5,013    5,191 

 

Details of directors’ remuneration are included in note 30 to the financial statements.

 

(d)Commitments with related parties

 

As at December 31, 2018 and 2017, except for the other capital commitments disclosed in note 42(c) to these financial statements, the Group had no significant commitments with related parties.

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

 

F-152

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

  

36.1Financial risk management

 

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, including market risk (including foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and commodity price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group’s overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise the potential adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance.

 

Risk management is carried out by the treasury management department (the “Group Treasury“) under policies approved by the board of directors of the Company. The Group Treasury identifies, evaluates and hedges financial risks through close co-operation with the Group’s operating units.

 

(a)Market risk

 

(i)Foreign currency risk

 

Foreign currency risk primarily arises from certain significant foreign currency deposits, trade and notes receivables, trade and notes payables, advances paid to suppliers, and short-term and long-term loans denominated in United States dollars (“USD”), Australian dollars (“AUD”), Euro (“EUR”), Japanese yen (“JPY”), and Hong Kong dollars (“HKD”). Related exposures are disclosed in notes 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 23 and 40 to the financial statements, respectively. The Group Treasury closely monitors the international foreign currency market on the change of exchange rates and takes these into consideration when investing in foreign currency deposits and borrowing loans. As at December 31, 2018, the Group only had significant exposure to USD.

 

As at December 31, 2018, if RMB had weakened /strengthened by 5% against USD with all other variables held constant, the total comprehensive income for the year would have been approximately RMB10 million higher/lower (2017: RMB21 million lower/higher), mainly as a result of foreign exchange gains and losses arising from the translation of USD-denominated borrowings, cash and receivables. Profit was more sensitive to the fluctuation in the RMB/USD exchange rates in 2018 than in 2017, mainly due to the increase in the USD denominated cash and receivables.

 

As the assets and liabilities denominated in other foreign currencies other than USD were relatively minimal to the total assets and liabilities of the Group, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group was not exposed to any significant foreign currency risk arising from these foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

F-153

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(a)Market risk (Continued)

 

(ii)Interest rate risk

 

As at December 31, 2018, as the Group had no significant interest-bearing assets except for bank deposits (note 16) and entrusted loans (note 15), the Group’s income and operating cash flows are substantially independent of changes in market interest rates.

 

Most of the bank deposits are maintained in savings and time deposit accounts in the PRC. The interest rates are regulated by the People’s Bank of China and the Group Treasury closely monitors the fluctuation on such rates periodically. The interest rates of entrusted loans are fixed. As the interest rates applied to the entrusted loans were fixed, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group was not exposed to any significant interest rate risk for its financial assets held as at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

The interest rate risk for the Group’s financial liabilities primarily arises from interest-bearing loans. Loans borrowed at floating interest rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk. The Group enters into debt obligations to support general corporate purposes including capital expenditures and working capital needs. The Group Treasury closely monitors market interest rates and maintains a balance between variable rate and fixed rate borrowings in order to reduce the exposures to the interest rate risk described above.

 

As at December 31, 2018, if interest rates had been 100 basis points (December 31, 2017: 100 basis points) higher/lower for bank and other loans borrowed at floating interest rates with all other variables held constant, the total comprehensive income for the year would have been RMB641 million lower/higher (2017: RMB537 million), respectively, mainly as a result of the higher/lower interest expense on floating rate borrowings.

 

F-154

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(a)Market risk (Continued)

 

(ii)Interest rate risk (continued)

 

The interest rate risk of the Group mainly arises from medium-term notes and short-term bonds issued at fixed rates. As the fluctuation of comparable interest rates of corporate bonds with similar terms was relatively low, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group is not exposed to any significant fair value interest rate risk for its fixed interest rate borrowings held as at December 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

(iii)Commodity price risk

 

The Group uses futures and option contracts to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in the price of primary aluminum and other products. The Group uses the futures contract for hedging other than speculation. With reference to the hedging of primary aluminum, production company hedges the output of primary aluminum and trading company hedges the quantities of buyout and self-supporting.

 

The Group uses mainly futures contracts and option contracts traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange and London Metal Exchange (“LME“) to hedge against fluctuations in primary aluminum prices. As at December 31, 2018, the fair values of the outstanding futures contracts amounting to RMB16 million (December 31, 2017: RMB10 million) and RMB2 million (December 31, 2017: RMB89 million) were recognized in financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, respectively. As at December 31, 2018, the Company did not hold any option contracts (December 31, 2017: the Company did not hold any option contracts).

 

F-155

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(a)Market risk (Continued)

 

(iii)Commodity price risk (Continued)

 

As at December 31, 2018, if the commodity futures prices had increased/decreased by 3% (December 31, 2017: 3%) and all other variables were held constant, the profit for the year would have changed by the amounts shown below:

 

  2017   2018
       
Primary aluminum Decrease/increase RMB46 million   Decrease/increase RMB14 million
       
Copper Increase/decrease RMB0.3 million   Increase/decrease RMB0.9 million
       
Zinc Decrease/increase RMB7 million   Decrease/increase RMB1.0 million
       
Coal Decrease/increase RMB0.2 million   Decrease/increase RMB2.7 million

 

F-156

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(b)Credit risk (continued)

 

Credit risk arises from balances with banks and financial institutions, trade and notes receivables, other current and non-current receivables as well as credit exposures of customers, including outstanding receivables and committed transactions.

 

The Group maintains substantially all of its bank balances and cash and short-term investments in several major state-owned banks in the PRC. With strong support from the PRC government to these state-owned banks, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that there is no significant credit risk on such assets being exposed to losses.

 

The Group applies the simplified approach to most of its trade receivables to provide for expected credit losses prescribed by IFRS 9, which permits the use of the lifetime expected loss provision for trade receivables. The Group has made individual assessment for trade receivables from clients with top rating and those receivables with pledged assets separately and impairment provisions are made.

 

To measure the expected credit losses of trade receivables excluding individually assessed and impaired receivables, trade receivables have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the days past due. The expected credit loss model also incorporates forward-looking information.

 

F-157

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(b)Credit risk (continued)

 

The Group has performed historical analysis and identified the key economic variables impacting credit risk and expected credit losses. It considers available reasonable and supportive forwarding-looking information. Especially the following indicators are incorporated:

 

internal credit rating

 

external credit rating

 

actual or expected significant adverse changes in business, financial or economic conditions that are expected to cause a significant change to the borrower’s ability to meet its obligations

 

actual or expected significant changes in the operating results of individual clients

 

significant changes in the expected performance and behaviour of the clients

 

The Group measures expected credit loss rates on the basis of a loss rate approach by segmenting its portfolio into appropriate groupings based on shared credit risk characteristics. At the end of each year, the Group updates its historical loss information with forward-looking information. As the historical credit loss rates were comparatively stable and no significant changes were expected to the forward-looking information after the consideration of reasonable and supportable forecasts of comparatively stable customer relationship and customers’ credit ratings, the expected credit loss rates remained consistent during 2018.

 

F-158

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(b)Credit risk (continued)

 

Maximum exposure and year-end staging as at December 31, 2018

 

The table below shows the credit quality and the maximum exposure to credit risk based on the Group's credit policy, which is mainly based on past due information unless other information is available without undue cost or effort, and year-end staging classification as at December 31, 2018. The amounts presented are gross carrying amounts for financial assets and the exposure to credit risk for the financial guarantee contracts.

 

   12-month
ECLs
   Lifetime ECLs     
   Stage 1   Stage 2   Stage 3   Simplified   Total 
Trade receivables*               5,206,050    5,206,050 
Financial assets in other current assets*   1,098,455    3,655,638    121,432        4,875,525 
Notes receivable   2,894,482                2,894,482 
Restricted cash   2,165,288                2,165,288 
Cash and cash equivalents   19,130,652                19,130,652 
Financial assets in other non-current assets   204,718                204,718 
Financial guarantees - not yet past due    12,450                12,450 
    25,506,045    3,655,638    121,432    5,206,050    34,489,165 

 

*For trade receivables to which the Group applies the simplified approach for impairment, information based on the provision matrix is disclosed in notes 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

 

F-159

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(b)Credit risk (continued)

 

Maximum exposure as at December 31, 2017

 

The carrying amounts of short-term investments and these receivables included in notes 10, 12, 14, and 15 represent the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to its financial assets. The Group also provided financial guarantees to certain subsidiaries and a joint venture. The guarantees to the joint venture mentioned in note 35 represented the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to its guarantees to the joint venture.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018, revenues of approximately RMB32,852 million (2016: RMB30,940 million, 2017: RMB39,759 million) were derived from entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the PRC government including Chinalco. There were no other individual customers from whom the Group has derived revenue of more than 10% of the Group’s revenue during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Thus, the directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group was not exposed to any significant concentration of credit risk as at December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

 

F-160

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT(CONTINUED)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(c)Liquidity risk

 

Cash flow forecast is performed in the operating entities of the Group and aggregated by the Group Treasury. The Group Treasury monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity requirements to ensure that it has sufficient cash to meet operational needs while maintaining sufficient headroom on its undrawn committed borrowing facilities at all times so that the Group does not breach borrowing limits or covenants (where applicable) on any of its borrowing facilities. This forecast takes into consideration the Group’s debt financing plans, covenant compliance, compliance with internal balance sheet ratio targets and, if applicable, external regulatory or legal requirements, for example, currency restrictions.

 

As at December 31, 2018, the Group had total banking facilities of approximately RMB183,129 million of which the amounts totalling RMB61,611 million have been utilized as at December 31, 2018. Banking facilities of approximately RMB92,582 million will be subject to renewal during the next 12 months. The directors of the Company are confident that such banking facilities can be renewed upon expiration based on their past experience and good credit standing.

 

In addition, as at December 31, 2018, the Group had credit facilities through its futures agent at the LME amounting to USD12 million (equivalent to RMB82 million) (December 31, 2017: USD20 million (equivalent to RMB131 million)), of which USD1 million (equivalent to RMB7 million) (December 31, 2017: USD2 million (equivalent to RMB13 million)) has been utilized. The futures agent has the right to adjust the related credit facilities.

 

Management also monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity reserve on the basis of the expected cash flows.

 

F-161

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(c)Liquidity risk (Continued)

 

The table below analyses the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities as at the end of the reporting period. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

 

   Within 1 year   1 to 2 years   2 to 5 years   Over 5 years   Total 
                     

As at December 31, 2017

                         
Finance lease payables, including current portion   2,371,917    1,762,618    1,890,329    73,603    6,098,467 
Long-term bank and other loans, including current portion   6,911,640    5,174,015    8,673,794    19,745,385    40,504,834 
Medium-term notes and bonds, including current portion   12,500,000    3,215,000            15,715,000 
Short-term bonds   3,500,000                3,500,000 
Gold leasing arrangement   6,818,393                6,818,393 
Short-term bank and other loans   31,041,442                31,041,442 
Interest payables for borrowings   5,502,360    2,123,149    4,106,037    1,048,728    12,780,274 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   89,426                89,426 
Financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities, excluding accrued interest   10,535,869                10,535,869 
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities (Note)       107,785    108,896    587,668    804,349 
Trade and notes payables   12,360,441                12,360,441 
                          
    91,631,488    12,382,567    14,779,056    21,455,384    140,248,495 

 

F-162

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.1Financial risk management (Continued)

 

(c)Liquidity risk (Continued)

 

   Within 1 year   1 to 2 years   2 to 5 years   Over 5 years   Total 
                     
As at December 31, 2018                         
Finance lease payables, including current portion   2,518,653    1,161,490    707,716    13,238    4,401,097 
Long-term bank and other loans, including current portion   3,384,400    7,377,956    16,593,587    18,784,797    46,140,740 
Medium-term notes and bonds, including current portion   400,000        9,785,840        10,185,840 
Short-term bonds   500,000                500,000 
Gold leasing arrangement   1,607,905                1,607,905 
Short-term bank and other loans   39,296,192                39,296,192 
Interest payables for borrowings   4,848,968    2,602,751    4,197,364    898,786    12,547,869 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   1,766                1,766 
Financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities, excluding accrued interest   8,855,639                8,855,639 
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities (note)       108,896    333,354    420,258    862,508 
Trade and notes payables   14,007,600                14,007,600 
                          
    75,421,123    11,251,093    31,617,861    20,117,079    138,407,156 

 

Note:As disclosed in note 21, as at December 31, 2018, the carrying value of financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities was RMB841 million (December 31, 2017: RMB769 million).

 

F-163

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(a)Financial instruments by category

 

The carrying amounts of each of the categories of financial instruments of the Group as at the end of the reporting period are as follows:

 

Financial assets    
   December 31, 2017 
  

Financial assets

at fair value

through profit or

loss

   Loans and
receivables
  

Available-
for-sale
financial

investments

   Total 
Current                
                 
Trade and notes receivables       8,008,937        8,008,937 
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss   9,534            9,534 
Restricted cash       2,168,192        2,168,192 
Cash and cash equivalents       27,835,866        27,835,866 
Financial assets included in other current assets       6,487,547        6,487,547 
                     
Subtotal   9,534    44,500,542        44,510,076 
                     
Non-current                    
                     
Available-for-sale financial investments           1,928,201    1,928,201 
Financial assets included in other non-current assets       261,156        261,156 
                     
Subtotal       261,156    1,928,201    2,189,357 
                     
Total   9,534    44,761,698    1,928,201    46,699,433 

 

F-164

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(a)Financial instruments by category (Continued)

 

Financial liabilities    
   December 31, 2017 
  

Financial

liabilities at fair

value through

profit or loss

  

Financial

liabilities at

amortized cost

   Total 
Current            
             
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss   89,426        89,426 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings       62,981,070    62,981,070 
Financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities       11,363,236    11,363,236 
Trade and notes payables       12,360,441    12,360,441 
                
Subtotal   89,426    86,704,747    86,794,173 
                
Non-current               
                
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities       769,061    769,061 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings       40,289,703    40,289,703 
                
Subtotal       41,058,764    41,058,764 
                
Total   89,426    127,763,511    127,852,937 

 

F-165

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(a)Financial instruments by category (Continued)

 

Financial assets    
   December 31, 2018 
  

Financial assets at fair

value through profit or

loss

  

Financial assets at amortized

cost

  

Equity

investments

designated at

fair value

through other comprehensive

income

   Total 
  

Designated as

such upon

initial

recognition

  

Held for

trading

             
Current                    
                     
Trade and notes receivables           8,100,532        8,100,532 
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss       16,141            16,141 
Restricted cash           2,165,288         2,165,288 
Cash and cash equivalents           19,130,652        19,130,652 
Financial assets included in other current assets           4,875,525        4,875,525 
                          
Subtotal       16,141    34,271,997        34,288,138 
                          
Non-current                         
                          
Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income               1,729,825    1,729,825 
Other non-current assets           204,718        204,718 
                          
Subtotal           204,718    1,729,825    1,934,543 
                          
Total       16,141    34,476,715    1,729,825    36,222,681 

 

F-166

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(a)Financial instruments by category (Continued)

 

Financial liabilities    
   December 31, 2018 
  

Financial liabilities at fair

value through profit or

loss

  

Financial

liabilities at

amortized cost

   Total 
  

Designated as

such upon

initial

recognition

  

Held for

trading

         
Current                
                 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss       1,766        1,766 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings           47,513,582    47,513,582 
Financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities (note 22)           9,251,925    9,251,925 
Trade and notes payables           14,007,600    14,007,600 
                     
Subtotal       1,766    70,773,107    70,774,873 
                     
Non-current                    
                     
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities (note 21)           841,059    841,059 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings           54,207,386    54,207,386 
                     
Subtotal           55,048,445    55,048,445 
                     
Total       1,766    125,821,552    125,823,318 

 

F-167

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy

 

Fair value

 

The carrying amounts and fair values of the Group’s financial instruments, other than those with carrying amounts that reasonably approximate to fair values and those carried at fair value, are as follows:

 

    Carrying amounts    Fair values 
    

December 31,

2017

    

December 31,

2018

    

December 31,

2017

    

December 31,

2018

 
                     
Financial assets                    
Other non-current assets (note 12)   261,156    204,718    242,567    182,132 
                     
    261,156    204,718    242,567    182,132 

 

    Carrying amounts    Fair values 
    

December 31,

2017

    

December 31,

2018

    

December 31,

 2017

    

December 31,

 2018

 
                     
Financial liabilities                    
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities (note 21)   769,061    841,059    660,688    816,529 
Long-term interest-bearing loans and borrowings (note 19)   40,289,703    54,207,386    39,475,392    53,207,052 
                     
    41,058,764    55,048,445    40,136,080    54,023,581 

 

F-168

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Fair value (continued)

 

Management has assessed that the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade and notes receivables, financial assets included in other current assets, entrusted loans, trade and notes payables, financial liabilities included in other payables and accrued liabilities, short-term and the current portion of interest-bearing loans and borrowings, interest payable and the current portion of long-term payables approximate to their carrying amounts largely due to the short term maturities of these instruments.

 

The fair values of the financial assets and liabilities are included at the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values:

 

The fair values of the financial assets included in other non-current assets and financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities and long-term interest-bearing loans and borrowings have been calculated by discounting the expected future cash flows using rates currently available for instruments with similar terms, credit risk and remaining maturities.

 

The Group’s own non-performance risk for financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities and long-term interest-bearing loans and borrowings as at December 31, 2018 was assessed to be insignificant.

 

F-169

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Fair value hierarchy

 

The following tables illustrate the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Group’s financial instruments:

 

Assets measured at fair value

 

As at December 31, 2017  Fair value measurement using 
  

Quoted prices in

active markets

(Level 1) 

  

Significant

observable

inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs

(Level 3)

   Total 
                 
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:                    
Futures contracts   9,534            9,534 
Available-for-sale financial investments:                    
Listed equity investments   9,701            9,701 
Other unlisted investment           1,848,000    1,848,000 
                     
    19,235        1,848,000    1,867,235 

 

As at December 31, 2018  Fair value measurement using 
  

Quoted prices in

active markets

(Level 1)

  

Significant

observable

inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs

(Level 3)

   Total 
                 
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:                    
Futures contracts   16,141            16,141 
Equity investments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income:                    
Listed equity investments   6,441            6,441 
Other unlisted investment           1,723,384    1,723,384 
                     
    22,582        1,723,384    1,745,966 

 

F-170

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Liabilities measured at fair value

 

As at December 31, 2017  Fair value measurement using 
  

Quoted prices in

active markets
(Level 1)

  

Significant

observable

inputs
(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs
(Level 3)

   Total 
                 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:                    
Futures contracts   89,426            89,426 
                     
    89,426            89,426 
                     

 

As at December 31, 2018  Fair value measurement using 
  

Quoted prices in

active markets

(Level 1)

  

Significant

observable

inputs

(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs

(Level 3)

   Total 
                 
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:                    
Futures contracts   1,766            1,766 
                     
    1,766            1,766 

 

F-171

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Assets for which fair values are disclosed

 

As at December 31, 2017  Fair value measurement using  
   Quoted
prices in
active
markets
(Level 1)
  Significant
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
   Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
   Total 
Loans and receivables:                  
Financial assets included in other non-current assets    242,567        242,567 

 

 

As at December 31, 2018  Fair value measurement using  
  

Quoted

prices in

active

markets
(Level 1)

 

Significant

observable

inputs
(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs
(Level 3)

   Total 
Financial assets at amortized cost:                  
Financial assets included in other non-current assets     182,132        182,132 

 

F-172

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Liabilities for which fair values are disclosed

 

As at December 31, 2017

  Fair value measurement using 
  

Quoted

prices in

active

markets
(Level 1)

  

Significant

observable

inputs
(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs
(Level 3)

   Total 
                 
Financial liabilities at amortized cost:                    
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities       660,688        660,688 
Long-term interest-bearing loans and borrowings       39,475,392        39,475,392 
                     
        40,136,080        40,136,080 

 

As at December 31, 2018  Fair value measurement using 
  

Quoted

prices in

active

markets
(Level 1)

  

Significant

observable

inputs
(Level 2)

  

Significant

unobservable

inputs
(Level 3)

   Total 
                 
Financial liabilities at amortized cost:                    
Financial liabilities included in other non-current liabilities       816,529        816,529 
Long-term interest-bearing loans and borrowings       53,207,052        53,207,052 
                     
        54,023,581        54,023,581 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Group had no transfers of fair value measurements between Level 1 and Level 2 and no transfers into or out of Level 3 for both financial assets and financial liabilities (2017: Nil).

 

F-173

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.2Financial instruments (Continued)

 

(b)Fair value and fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Fair value hierarchy (Continued)

 

Liabilities for which fair values are disclosed (continued)

 

Below is a summary of significant unobservable inputs to the valuation of financial instruments as at 31 December 2018 and 2017:

 

   Valuation Technique 

Significant

unobservable input

  Range 

Equity investments in

Size Industry

Investment Fund

           
31 December 2018  Net Assets Method  Net Assets   5,000,000 
31 December 2017  Net Assets Method  Net Assets   5,600,000 

 

F-174

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

36.FINANCIAL AND CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT (Continued)

 

36.3Capital risk management

 

The Group’s capital management objectives are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders, and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

 

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debts.

 

Consistent with other entities in the industry, the Group monitors capital on the basis of its gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt is calculated as total liabilities (excluding deferred tax liabilities, income tax payable and deferred government grants) less restricted cash, and cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is calculated as equity, as shown in the consolidated statement of financial position, plus net debt less non-controlling interests.

 

The gearing ratio as at December 31, 2018 is as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2017

 

  

December 31,

2018

 

 
         
Total liabilities (excluding deferred tax liabilities, income tax payable and deferred government grants)   132,493,752    130,966,279 
Less: restricted cash, time deposits and cash and cash equivalents   (30,004,058)   (21,295,940)
           
Net debt   102,489,694    109,670,339 
           
Total equity   65,742,596    67,669,202 
Add: net debt   102,489,694    109,670,339 
Less: non-controlling interests   (26,054,567)   (15,254,312)
           
Total capital attributable to owners of the parent   142,177,723    162,085,229 
           
Gearing ratio   72%   68%

 

F-175

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

37.PARTLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES WITH MATERIAL NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

Other than the senior perpetual securities issued by a subsidiary of the Group, which is disclosed in note 40, details of the Group’s subsidiaries that have material non-controlling interests are set out below:

 

   2017   2018 
         
Percentage of equity interest held by non-controlling interests
         
Ningxia Energy   29.18%   29.18%
Guizhou Huajin   40.00%   40.00%
Guizhou Huaren   N/A    60.00%
Inner Mongolia Huayun new material Co.,Ltd (“Huayun”) (Note)   50.00%   50.00%
           
Profit/(loss) for the year allocated to non-controlling interests          
           
Ningxia Energy   (5,670)   214,479 
Guizhou Huajin   410,023    291,009 
Guizhou Huaren   N/A    20,783 
Huayun   72,903    186,945 
           
Dividends distributed to non-controlling interests          
           
Ningxia Energy   3,264    351,979 
Guizhou Huajin       200,000 
Guizhou Huaren        
Huayun        
           
Accumulated balances of non-controlling interests at the reporting dates          
           
Ningxia Energy   4,914,902    4,757,014 
Guizhou Huajin   695,251    782,176 
Guizhou Huaren   N/A    820,675 
Huayun   776,418    959,847 

 

Note: the Group owned 51% of the voting right of Huayun.

 

F-176

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

37.PARTLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES WITH MATERIAL NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS (Continued)

 

The following tables illustrate the summarised financial information of the above subsidiaries. The amounts disclosed are before any inter-company eliminations:

 

2017  Ningxia Energy 
     
Revenue   5,624,059 
Total expenses   5,691,240 
Loss for the year   (67,181)
Total comprehensive income for the year   (67,181)
      
Current assets   4,538,735 
Non-current assets   33,716,269 
Current liabilities   7,944,491 
Non-current liabilities   19,488,716 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   2,110,801 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (3,933,743)
Net cash flows from financing activities   1,350,275 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net    
      
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (472,667)

 

2018  Ningxia Energy 
     
Revenue   6,714,040 
Total expenses   6,555,933 
Profit for the year   158,107 
Total comprehensive income for the year   158,107 
      
Current assets   5,036,413 
Non-current assets   32,677,977 
Current liabilities   8,723,922 
Non-current liabilities   18,367,979 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   2,755,612 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (1,616,513)
Net cash flows from financing activities   (991,998)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net    
      
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   147,101 

 

F-177

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

37.PARTLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES WITH MATERIAL NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS (Continued)

 

The following tables illustrate the summarised financial information of the above subsidiaries. The amounts disclosed are before any inter-company eliminations: (Continued)

 

2017  Guizhou Huajin 
     
Revenue   4,123,352 
Total expenses   3,098,295 
Profit for the year   1,025,057 
Total comprehensive income for the year   1,025,057 
      
Current assets   1,820,262 
Non-current assets   2,841,975 
Current liabilities   1,958,230 
Non-current liabilities   965,880 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   1,162,069 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (7,437,104)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   (1,835,878)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net   (221,567)
      
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   (8,332,480)

 

2018  Guizhou Huajin 
     
Revenue   4,018,682 
Total expenses   3,291,160 
Profit for the year   727,522 
Total comprehensive income for the year   727,522 
      
Current assets   1,495,922 
Non-current assets   2,752,815 
Current liabilities   1,875,227 
Non-current liabilities   418,070 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   1,104,759 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (75,066)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   (1,075,311)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net    
      
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (45,618)

 

F-178

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

37.PARTLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES WITH MATERIAL NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS (Continued)

 

The following tables illustrate the summarised financial information of the above subsidiaries. The amounts disclosed are before any inter-company eliminations: (Continued)

 

2018  Guizhou Huaren 
     
Revenue   4,282,882 
Total expenses   4,248,243 
Profit for the year   34,639 
Total comprehensive income for the year   34,639 
      
Current assets   1,169,453 
Non-current assets   3,038,875 
Current liabilities   1,381,541 
Non-current liabilities   1,458,995 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   134,781 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (510,243)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   (115,222)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net    
      
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (490,684)

 

F-179

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

37.PARTLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES WITH MATERIAL NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS (Continued)

 

The following tables illustrate the summarised financial information of the above subsidiaries. The amounts disclosed are before any inter-company eliminations: (Continued)

 

2017  Huayun 
     
Revenue   3,085,361 
Total expenses   2,939,556 
Profit for the year   145,805 
Total comprehensive income for the year   145,805 
      
Current assets   2,151,021 
Non-current assets   7,549,859 
Current liabilities   3,525,808 
Non-current liabilities   4,122,238 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   263,559 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (4,408,396)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   4,308,874 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net    
      
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   164,037 

  

2018  Huayun 
     
Revenue   8,099,579 
Total expenses   7,725,689 
Profit for the year   373,890 
Total comprehensive income for the year   373,890 
      
Current assets   2,372,120 
Non-current assets   8,338,220 
Current liabilities   4,342,807 
Non-current liabilities   3,947,839 
      
Net cash flows from operating activities   1,448,853 
Net cash flows used in investing activities   (2,097,536)
Net cash flows used in financing activities   614,418 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes, net    
      
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (34,265)

 

F-180

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION

 

(a)Acquisition of Bayer aluminum production line

 

On January 1, 2016, Chalco Shandong, a subsidiary of the Company, completed the swap of its certain assets and liabilities with Shandong Aluminum, a subsidiary of Chinalco. The assets disposed of by Chalco Shandong include the relevant assets and liabilities of the electrolysis aluminum plant except for the electrolysis production line (mainly carbon assets), the aluminum processing plant and the hospital ward building of Chalco Shandong (the “Assets Disposed of“). The assets acquired by Chalco Shandong comprised the relevant assets and liabilities of the Bayer alumina production line of Shandong Aluminum which, in the opinion of directors of the Company, constitute businesses (the “Business Acquired“). According to the final consideration, Chalco Shandong shall pay a net consideration amounting to RMB162 million. As at the combination date, the carrying amounts of the Business Acquired and Assets Disposed of were RMB327 million and RMB176 million, respectively. Before and after the transaction, both entities were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. Thus, the acquisition is considered to be a business combination under common control. The transaction date was January 1, 2016, which was determined by the date that the transfer of the rights and risks of the assets and liabilities was completed.

 

The carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities of Business Acquired as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2015

  

January 1,

2016

 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   328,354    328,354 
           
Liabilities          
Other payables and accrued expenses   1,488    1,488 
           
Net assets   326,866    326,866 
Difference recognized in equity       11,418 
         338,284 
           
Cash        161,962 
Carrying values of assets disposed of        176,322 
Total purchase consideration        338,284 

 

F-181

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(b)Acquisition of pseudoboehmite and activated silicon powder production lines

 

On June 28, 2016, the Shanxi Branch of the Company (“Shanxi Branch“) entered into an Asset Transfer Agreement with Shanxi Aluminum Plant, pursuant to which, the Shanxi Branch acquired pseudoboehmite and activated silicon powder production lines of Science and Technology Chemical Company, a branch of Shanxi Aluminum Plant, at a total cash consideration of RMB43.06 million. In the opinion of directors of the Company, the production lines constitute a business. The total cash consideration was determined based on the asset appraisal report performed by an independent qualified valuer.

 

Shanxi Aluminum Plant is a subsidiary of Chinalco, the parent company of the Group. Before and after the acquisition, both Shanxi Aluminum Plant and the Company are controlled by Chinalco, and the control is not temporary. Thus, the acquisition is considered to be business combination under common control. The transaction date is July 5, 2016, which is determined by the date of transfer of the assets.

 

The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities of pseudoboehmite and activated silicon powder production lines as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,  

2015 

  

July 5, 

2016 

 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   29,966    28,860 
           
Liabilities          
Other payables and accrued expenses   2,503     
           
Net assets   27,463    28,860 
Difference recognized in equity        14,201 
         43,061 
           
Cash        43,061 
Total purchase consideration        43,061 

 

The acquisition of Shanxi Aluminum Plant has no impact on the Group’s cash and cash equivalents.

 

F-182

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(c)Acquisition of equity interest in Chinalco Shanghai

 

On August 8, 2016, through the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange, the Company was affirmed as the acquirer of the 60% equity interest in Chinalco Shanghai and the Company entered into an equity transfer agreement with Chinalco, pursuant to which, the Company acquired the 60% equity interest of Chinalco Shanghai with a total cash consideration of RMB2,113.76 million. The consideration was determined based on the appraisal value of the equity of Chinalco Shanghai. Subsequent to the acquisition, the Group exercised control over Chinalco Shanghai.

 

Before and after the acquisition, both Chinalco Shanghai and the Company are controlled by Chinalco, and the control is not temporary. Thus, the acquisition of 60% equity interest in Chinalco Shanghai is considered to be business combination under common control. The transaction date was September 9, 2016, which was determined by the date that the Group obtained control over Chinalco Shanghai.

 

The book values of the assets and liabilities of Chinalco Shanghai Company Limited as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2015

   September 9,
2016
 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   414,766    494,725 
Land use rights   742,771    731,967 
Inventories   22    15 
Other current assets   916    1,425 
Restricted cash and time deposits   51,500    70,500 
Cash and cash equivalents   1,156    2,164 
           
Liabilities          
Interest bearing loans and borrowings   241,118    330,549 
Trade and notes payables   147    29 
Other payables and accrued expenses   1,598    1,951 
           
Net assets   968,268    968,267 
Non-controlling interests        387,307 
Net assets acquired        580,960 
Difference recognized in equity        1,532,801 
         2,113,761 
           
Satisfied by cash        2,113,761 
Total purchase consideration        2,113,761 

 

As at December 31, 2016, the Group has paid up the purchase consideration amounting to RMB2,114 million.

 

F-183

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(d)Acquisition of equity interest in Xinghua Technology

 

On December 5, 2016, through China Beijing Equity Exchange, the Company, and Chalco Shandong entered into equity transfer agreements with Shanxi Aluminum Plant and Shandong Aluminum respectively, pursuant to which the Company and Chalco Shandong acquired 33% and 33% equity interests of Xinghua Technology, from Shanxi Aluminum Plant and Shandong Aluminum respectively. The considerations for the acquisition of 33% and 33% equity interests of Xinghua Technology were RMB257.76 million and RMB257.76 million, respectively, which were determined based on the appraisal value of Xinghua Technology. Up to December 31, 2016, the Group has paid RMB335.09 million based on the equity transfer agreements. The remaining considerations will be paid before December 31, 2017 with interest at the prevailing one year lending rate quoted by the People's Bank of China.

 

Xinghua Technology was a subsidiary of Chinalco, the parent company of the Group. Subsequent to the acquisition, the Group had control over Xinghua Technology. Before and after the acquisition, both Xinghua Technology and the Company are controlled by Chinalco, and the control is not temporary. Thus, the acquisition of 66% equity interests in Xinghua Technology is considered to be a business combination under common control. The transaction date was December 23, 2016, which was date that the Group obtained control over Xinghua Technology.

 

The book values of the assets and liabilities of Xinghua Technology Ltd. as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2015

  

December 23,

2016

 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   978,596    1,134,185 
Land use rights       8,339 
Other non-current assets   1,474    8,334 
Trade and notes receivables   2,423    5,471 
Inventories   164,262    170,986 
Other current assets   89,626    86,283 
Restricted cash and time deposits   15,000    184,060 
Cash and cash equivalents   1,910    19,828 
           
Liabilities          
Interest bearing loans and borrowings (non-current)   34,086    14,909 
Other non-current liabilities   47,900    43,921 
Interest bearing loans and borrowings (current)   338,393    354,181 
Trade and notes payables   230,235    484,755 
Other payables and accrued expenses   329,184    398,239 
Income tax payable       9,919 
           
Net assets   273,493    311,562 
Non-controlling interests        105,931 
Net assets acquired        205,631 
Difference recognized in equity        309,890 
         515,521 
           
Satisfied by cash        515,521 
Total purchase consideration        515,521 

 

F-184

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(e)Acquisition of equity interest in Xinghua Technology

 

As at December 31, 2016, the Group has paid the purchase consideration of RMB335 million. As at December 31, 2017, the Group has paid the purchase consideration of RMB61 million with notes receivables and the Group has not paid the remaining consideration of approximately RMB121 million.

 

(f)Acquisition of 100% equity interest in Qingdao Light Metal

 

On December 28, 2017, Chalco Shandong, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into an equity transfer agreement with Chinalco, pursuant to which Chalco Shandong acquired 100% equity interest of Qingdao Light Metal from Chinalco. The consideration for the acquisition was RMB162 million which was determined based on the appraisal value of the 100% equity interest in Qingdao Light Metal. The Company has paid all consideration as of December 31, 2017. The transaction date was December 29, 2017 which was the date that the Group obtained control of Qingdao Light Metal. Before and after the acquisition, both Qingdao Light Metal and the Company were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. Thus, the acquisition of 100% equity interest in Qingdao Light Metal is considered to be a business combination under common control.

 

The carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities of Qingdao Light Metal as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,  

2016 

  

December 29,

2017

 
Assets          
           
Investment properties   10,742    10,425 
Property, plant and equipment   290,579    278,309 
Land use rights   20,722    20,195 
Inventories   29,446    49,489 
Other current assets   2,934    3,978 
Trade and notes receivables   29,748    98,957 
Cash and cash equivalents   5,688    10,924 
           
Liabilities          
Trade and notes payables   64,900    97,681 
Other payables and accrued expenses   10,641    66,042 
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   167,000    167,000 
           
Net assets   147,318    141,554 
Other equity instruments   138,670    138,670 
    8,648    2,884 
           
Difference recognized in equity        158,848 
           
Total purchase consideration        161,732 

 

F-185

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(g)Acquisition of Shanxi Aluminum Sewage Treatment Plant

 

On December 28, 2017, Shanxi New Material, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into an assets transfer agreement with Chalco Shanxi Aluminum, a subsidiary of Chinalco, pursuant to which, Shanxi New Material acquired Shanxi Aluminum Sewage Treatment Plant at a total consideration of RMB50 million. The consideration was determined based on the appraisal report issued by an independent qualified valuer. In the opinion of directors of the Company, the sewage treatment plant constitutes a business. Before and after the acquisition, both entities were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. Thus, the acquisition is considered to be a business combination under common control. The acquisition date was December 28, 2017, which is determined by the date of transfer of the assets.

 

The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities of Shanxi Aluminum Sewage Treatment Plant as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

   December 31, 
2016
   December 28,
2017
 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   52,001    48,995 
           
Liabilities          
Other payables and accrued expenses        
           
Net assets   52,001    48,995 
Difference recognized in equity       1,063 
           
Total purchase consideration        50,058 

 

The acquisition of Shanxi Aluminum Sewage Treatment Plant has no impact on the Group’s cash and cash equivalents.

 

F-186

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(h)Acquisition of Yinxing Power

 

In April 2015, Ningxia Energy and Zhejiang Power Group Co., Ltd.* (“Zhejiang Power”) (浙江省能源集團有限公司) jointly established Ningxia Yinxing Power Co., Ltd.* (“Yinxing Power”) (寧夏銀星發電有限責任公司). The registered capital of Yinxing Power is RMB800 million, of which Ningxia Energy and Zhejiang Power contributed 51% and 49%, respectively. Ningxia Energy can appoint four out of the seven directors of the board of directors. According to the articles of association of Yinxing Power, the resolutions pertaining to significant relevant activities at both the shareholders’ and board of directors meetings require more than two-thirds of the votes for passing. Accordingly, the directors of the Company considered that Ningxia Energy and Zhejiang Power have joint control over Yinxing Power, which was accounted for as a joint venture.

 

In August 2017, to minimize coal procurement costs and to secure long-term coal supply to Yinxing Power, Ningxia Energy and Zhejiang Power entered into an acting-in-concert agreement which was effective on 31 August 2017. According to the acting-in-concert agreement, Zhejiang Power will exercise the shareholders vote in concert with the Group. Accordingly, the directors of the Company consider that Ningxia Energy have control over Yinxing Power and consolidated Yinxing Power as a subsidiary since 31 August 2017.

 

F-187

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(h)Acquisition of Yinxing Power (Continued)

 

The fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities of Yinxing Power at the acquisition date are as follows:

 

   August 31, 2017 
   Fair value 
Assets    
Property, plant and equipment   3,594,970 
Land use rights   31,833 
Intangible assets   188 
Other current assets   312,840 
Inventories   35,349 
Trade and notes receivables   162,093 
Cash and cash equivalents   255,152 
      
Liabilities     
Deferred tax liabilities   (40,706)
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   (2,514,800)
Other payables and accrued expenses   (186,782)
Trade and notes payables   (800,438)
      
Net assets   849,699 
      
Non-controlling interests   416,353 
      
Net assets acquired   433,346 
      
Goodwill    
      
Satisfied by cash    

 

F-188

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(h)Acquisition of Yinxing Power (Continued)

 

Details of the 51% equity interest held by the Group before the acquisition of Yinxing Power and the profit from the investment are as follows:

 

   August 31, 2017 
     
Initial investment cost   316,200 
      
Investment income recognized under the equity method   (494)
      
The book value of the investment in 51% equity of Yinxing Power on the merger date   315,706 
      
The fair value of the investment in 51% equity of Yinxing Power on the merger date (Note)   433,346 
      
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value   117,640 

 

Note: The fair value was determined by the valuation report issued by an independent qualified valuer.

 

An analysis of the cash flows in respect of the acquisition of Yinxing Power is as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Cash consideration    
Cash and bank balances acquired   255,152 
      
Net inflow of cash and cash equivalents included in cash flows from investing activities   255,152 

 

The operating results and cash flows of Yinxing Power since the merger date to the end of the year are as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Revenue   578,117 
Profit for the period   96,756 
Net cash flows   36,024 

 

*The English names represent the best effort by management of the Group in translating the Chinese names of the Companies as they do not have any official English names.

 

F-189

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(i)Acquisition of Guizhou Huaren

 

In May 2017, the Company, together with Hangzhou Jinjiang, Guizhou Investment and Qingzhen Investment jointly established Guizhou Huaren. The registered capital of Guizhou Huaren is RMB1,200 million, of which the Company holds 40% of equity interest in Guizhou Huaren, Hangzhou Jinjiang holds 30%, while each of the other two shareholders holds 15% equity interest, respectively. According to the article of association of Guizhou Huaren, the directors of the Company considered that the Company had significant influence over Guizhou Huaren, which was accounted for as an associate.

 

In December 2017, the Company and Hangzhou Jinjiang entered into an acting-in-concert agreement which became effective on January 1, 2018. According to the acting-in-concert agreement, Hangzhou Jinjiang agreed to exercise the board members’ and shareholder’s vote in concert with the Company. Accordingly, the directors of the Company considered that the Company obtains control over Guizhou Huaren and has consolidated Guizhou Huaren’s financial position and performance into the Group’s consolidated financial statements since January 1, 2018.

 

F-190

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(i)Acquisition of Guizhou Huaren (Continued)

 

The fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities of Guizhou Huaren at the acquisition date are as follows:

 

   January 1, 2018 
   Fair value 
Assets    
Property, plant and equipment   2,194,095 
Intangible assets   137 
Land use rights   109,320 
Other current assets   353,655 
Inventories   220,718 
Trade and notes receivables   250 
Restricted cash   324,030 
Cash and cash equivalents   673,587 
      
Liabilities     
Deferred tax liabilities   (58,299)
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   (1,680,000)
Contract liabilities   (2,562)
Other payables and accrued expenses   (345,562)
Trade and notes payables   (464,454)
      
Net assets   1,324,915 
      
Non-controlling interests   794,949 
      
Share of net assets acquired   529,966 
      
Goodwill    
      
Satisfied by:     

Cash

    
Fair value of previously held equity interest   529,966 
    529,966 

 

F-191

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(i)Acquisition of Guizhou Huaren (Continued)

 

Details of the 40% equity interest held by the Company before the acquisition of Guizhou Huaren and the profit from the investment are as follows:

 

   January 1, 2018 
     
Initial investment cost   480,000 
      
Share of loss accumulated under the equity method   (18,347)
      
Book value of the investment in 40% equity of Guizhou Huaren on the acquisition date   461,653 
      
Fair value of the investment in 40% equity of Guizhou Huaren on the acquisition date (Note)   529,966 
      
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value   68,313 

 

Note: The fair value was determined by the valuation report issued by an independent qualified valuer.

 

F-192

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(i)Acquisition of Guizhou Huaren (Continued)

 

An analysis of the cash flows in respect of the acquisition of Guizhou Huaren is as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Cash consideration    
Cash and bank balances acquired
   673,587 
      
Net inflow of cash and cash equivalents included in cash flows from investing activities   673,587 

 

The operating results and cash flows of Guizhou Huaren since the acquisition date to December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Revenue   4,282,882 
Profit for the period   34,639 
Net cash out flows   (490,684)

 

F-193

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(j)Acquisition of Shanxi Zhongrun

 

In February 2017, the Company entered into a capital injection and enlargement agreement on Shanxi Zhongrun with Huarun (Coal) Group Co., Ltd.* (“Huarun (Coal) Group”) (華潤(煤業)集團有限公司), Shanxi Xishan Coal and Electricity Power Co., Ltd.* (“Xishan Coal Electricity”) (山西西山煤電股份有限公司) and Jin Energy Power Group Co., Ltd.* (“Jin Energy Power”) (晉能電力集團有限公司). After the capital contribution, the registered capital of Shanxi Zhongrun is RMB500 million, of which the Company holds 40% of equity interest in Shanxi Zhongrun while each of the other three shareholders holds a 20% equity interest, respectively. The Company can appoint two out of the five directors of the board of directors. According to the article of association of Shanxi Zhongrun and the agreement, the directors of the Company considered that the Company had significant influence over Shanxi Zhongrun, which was accounted for as an associate.

 

In December 2017, the Company and Huarun (Coal) Group entered into an acting-in-concert agreement which was effective on January 1, 2018. According to the acting-in-concert agreement, Huarun (Coal) Group agreed to exercise the board members’ and shareholder’s vote in concert with the Company. Accordingly, the directors of the Company considered that the Company obtains control over Shanxi Zhongrun and has consolidated Shanxi Zhongrun’s financial position and performance into the Group’s consolidated financial statements since January 1, 2018.

 

F-194

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(j)Acquisition of Shanxi Zhongrun (Continued)

 

The fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities of Shanxi Zhongrun at the acquisition date are as follows:

 

   January 1, 2018 
   Fair value 
Assets    
Property, plant and equipment   2,292,483 
Intangible assets   749 
Other current assets   215,575 
Inventories   15,473 
Trade and notes receivables   4,135 
Cash and cash equivalents   2,173,062 
      
Liabilities     
Deferred tax liabilities   (41,581)
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   (3,485,852)
Other payables and accrued expenses   (37,789)
Trade and notes payables   (13,778)
      
Net assets   1,122,477 
      
Non-controlling interests   673,486 
      
Share of net assets acquired   448,991 
      
Goodwill    
      
Satisfied by:     
Cash    
Fair value of previously held equity interest   448,991 
    448,991 

 

F-195

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(j)Acquisition of Shanxi Zhongrun (Continued)

 

Details of the 40% equity interest held by the Company before the acquisition of Shanxi Zhongrun and the profit from the investment are as follows:

 

   January 1, 2018 
     
Initial investment cost   400,184 
      
Share of loss accumulated under the equity method   (6,553)
      
Book value of the investment in 40% equity of Shanxi Zhongrun on the acquisition date   393,631 
      
Fair value of the investment in 40% equity of Shanxi Zhongrun on the acquisition date (Note)   448,991 
      
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value   55,360 

 

Note: The fair value was determined by the valuation report issued by an independent qualified valuer.

 

F-196

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(j)Acquisition of Shanxi Zhongrun (Continued)

 

An analysis of the cash flows in respect of the acquisition of Shanxi Zhongrun is as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Cash consideration    
Cash and bank balances acquired   2,173,062 
      
Net inflow of cash and cash equivalents included in cash flows from investing activities   2,173,062 

 

The operating results and cash flows of Shanxi Zhongrun since the acquisition date to December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Revenue   645,214 
Profit for the period   817 
Net cash out flows   (2,137,166)

 

*The English names represent the best effort made by management of the Group in translating their Chinese names as the companies do not have any official English names.

 

F-197

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(k)Acquisition of Shanxi Huaxing

 

On December 31, 2017, the Company, Chalco Hong Kong and Baotou Communication Investment held 10%, 40% and 50% of the shares of Shanxi Huaxing, respectively. According to the articles of association of Shanxi Huaxing, the Group can exercise joint control over Shanxi Huaxing and therefore, which was accounted for as a joint venture accordingly.

 

In December 2018, the Company entered into an equity transfer agreement with Baotou Communication Investment. According to the agreement, the Company acquired 50% of Shanxi Huaxing’s equity with a consideration at RMB2,665 million in cash. Upon completion of the transaction, the Group held a total of 100% of Shanxi Huaxing’s shares. The directors of the Company considered that the Company obtains control over Shanxi Huaxing and has consolidated Shanxi Huaxing’s financial position and performance into the Group’s consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date of December 6, 2018.

 

F-198

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (Continued)

 

(k)Acquisition of Shanxi Huaxing (Continued)

 

The fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities of Shanxi Huaxing at the acquisition date are as follows:

 

   December 6, 2018 
   Fair value 
Assets    
Property, plant and equipment   7,327,807 
Intangible assets   728,067 
Land use right   348,901 
Deferred tax assets   8,094 
Other non-current assets   60,336 
Other current assets   102,396 
Inventories   865,418 
Trade and notes receivables   44,706 
Restricted cash   203,350 
Cash and cash equivalents   81,344 
      
      
Liabilities     
Deferred tax liabilities   (722,349)
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   (1,743,036)
Other non-current liabilities   (239,998)
Contract liabilities   (617,827)
Other payables and accrued expenses   (686,024)
Trade and notes payables   (1,594,724)
      
Net assets   4,166,461 
      
Non-controlling interests    
      
Share of net assets acquired   4,166,461 
      
Goodwill   1,163,949 
      
Satisfied by:     
Cash
   2,665,205 
Fair value of previously held equity interest   2,665,205 
    5,330,410 

 

F-199

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(k)Acquisition of Shanxi Huaxing (Continued)

 

Details of the 50% equity interest held by the Group before the acquisition of Shanxi Huaxing and the profit from the investment are as follows:

 

   December 6, 2018 
     
Initial investment cost   2,351,479 
      
Share of loss accumulated under the equity method   (77,309)
      
Share of changes in reserves under the equity method   11,166 
      
Cash dividends declared   (236,556)
      
Book value of the investment in 50% equity of Shanxi Huaxing on the acquisition date   2,048,780 
      
Fair value of the investment in 50% equity of Shanxi Huaxing on the acquisition date (Note)   2,665,205 
      
Gain on previously held equity interest remeasured at acquisition-date fair value   616,425 

 

Note:The fair value was determined by the valuation report issued by an independent qualified valuer.

 

F-200

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(k)Acquisition of Shanxi Huaxing (Continued)

 

An analysis of the cash flows in respect of the acquisition of Shanxi Huaxing is as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Cash consideration   (2,665,205)
Cash and bank balances acquired   81,344 
      
Net outflow of cash and cash equivalents included in cash flows from investing activities   (2,583,861)

 

The operating results and cash flows of Shanxi Huaxing since the acquisition date to December 31, 2018 are as follows:

 

   RMB’000 
     
Revenue   415,509 
Profit for the period   110,917 
Net cash out flows   (434)

 

*The English names represent the best effort made by management of the Group in translating their Chinese names as the companies do not have any official English names.

 

F-201

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(l)Acquisition of Shandong Aluminum Carbon Plant

 

On August 31, 2018, Chalco Shandong, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into an asset transfer agreement with Shandong Aluminum Plant, pursuant to which, Chalco Shandong acquired Shandong Aluminum Carbon Plant from Shandong Aluminum at a total consideration of RMB146 million. The consideration was determined based on the appraisal report issued by an independent qualified valuer. Chalco Shandong has paid all consideration as of December 31, 2018. In the opinion of the directors of the Company, Shandong Aluminum Carbon Plant constitutes a business. Before and after the acquisition, Chalco Shandong and Shandong Aluminum were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. As such, the acquisition is considered to be a business combination under common control. The acquisition date was August 31, 2018, which is determined by the date of transfer of the assets.

 

The carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities of Shandong Aluminum Carbon Plant as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

August 31,

2018

 
Assets          
           
Property, plant and equipment   24,393    23,845 
Inventories   51,104    46,150 
Other current assets   418    411 
Trade and notes receivables   23,052    44,522 
Cash and cash equivalents   34,354     
           
Liabilities          
Trade and notes payables   (12,235)   (24,011)
Contract liabilities       (1,432)
Other payables and accrued expenses   (38,415)   (1,542)
           
Net assets   82,671    87,943 
           
Difference recognized in equity        58,319 
           
Total purchase consideration        146,262 

 

 F-202

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(m)Acquisition of Pingguo Aluminum Carbon Plant

 

On August 30, 2018, Guangxi Branch of the Company entered into an asset transfer agreement with Pingguo Aluminum, pursuant to which, Guangxi Branch of the Company acquired Pingguo Aluminum Carbon Plant from Pingguo Aluminum at a total consideration of RMB92 million. The consideration was determined based on the appraisal report issued by an independent qualified valuer. Guangxi Branch of the Company has paid all consideration as of December 31, 2018. In the opinion of the directors of the Company, the Pingguo Aluminum Carbon Plant constitutes a business. Before and after the acquisition, Guangxi Branch and Pingguo Aluminum were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. As such, the acquisition is considered to be a business combination under common control. The acquisition date was August 30, 2018, which is determined by the date of transfer of the assets.

 

The carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities of Pingguo Aluminum Carbon Plant as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

August 30,

2018

 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   35,201    127,315 
Trade and notes receivables   12,143     
Inventories   90,581    71,264 
           
Liabilities          
Trade and notes payables   (69,521)   (117,749)
           
Net assets   68,404    80,830 
Difference recognized in equity        11,218 
           
Total purchase consideration        92,048 

 

 F-203

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(n)Acquisition of Chibi Great Wall Carbon

 

On August 30, 2018, Chalco Mining, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into an equity transfer agreement with China Great Wall Aluminum and Henan Great Wall Zhongxin, pursuant to which, Chalco Mining acquired 57.69% and 19.96% equity interest in Red Chibi Great Wall from China Great Wall Aluminum and Henan Great Wall Zhongxin, respectively. The consideration for the acquisition was RMB202 million, which was determined based on the appraisal value of the 77.65% equity interest in Chibi Great Wall Carbon. As at December 31, 2018, Chalco Mining has paid the consideration in receivables amounting to RMB70 million and cash amounting to RMB132 million, respectively. The transaction date was August 30, 2018, which was the date that the Group obtained control of Chibi Great Wall Carbon. Before and after the acquisition, both Chibi Great Wall Carbon and Chalco Mining were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. Thus, the acquisition of the 77.65% equity interest in Chibi Great Wall Carbon is considered to be a business combination under common control.

 

The carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities of Red Cliff Carbon as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

August 30,

2018

 
Assets          
Property, plant and equipment   271,604    379,618 
Land use rights   26,124    25,731 
Deferred tax assets   3,325    3,325 
Inventories   59,035    65,440 
Other current assets   11,095    18,608 
Trade and notes receivables   32,880    53,392 
Restricted Cash   15,700     
Cash and cash equivalents   50,545    16,258 
           
Liabilities          
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings   (228,500)   (233,000)
Contract liabilities       (1,816)
Trade and notes payables   (46,702)   (56,970)
Other payables and accrued expenses   (51,595)   (52,114)
Income tax payable   (2,927)    
Other non-current liabilities   (69,640)   (65,901)
           
Net assets   70,944    152,571 
Non-controlling interests   (15,856)   (34,100)
Difference recognized in equity        83,497 
           
Total purchase consideration        201,968 

 

 F-204

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

38.BUSINESS COMBINATION (Continued)

 

(o)Acquisition of Longhua Logistics

 

On August 30, 2018, China Aluminum Logistics Group Corporation Co., Ltd. (“China Aluminum Logistics Group”) (“中鋁物流集團有限公司”), a subsidiary of the Company, entered into an equity transfer agreement with Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd., pursuant to which, Chalco Aluminum Logistics acquired a 51% equity interest in East Light Logistics from Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. The consideration for the acquisition was RMB3 million, which was determined based on the appraisal value of the 51% equity interest in East Light Logistics and China Aluminum Logistics Group has paid all consideration as of December 31, 2018. The transaction date was August 30, 2018, which was the date that the Group obtained control of East Light Logistics. Before and after the acquisition, both East Light Logistics and China Aluminum Logistics Group were controlled by Chinalco, and the control was not temporary. As such, the acquisition of the 51% equity interest in East Light Logistics is considered to be a business combination under common control.

 

The carrying amount of the assets and liabilities of East Light Logistics as at the transaction date and the comparative financial figures were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

2017

  

September 17,

2018

 
Assets          
           
Property, plant and equipment   2,901    3,839 
Inventories   127    2,207 
Other current assets   200    608 
Trade and notes receivables   6,704    6,828 
Cash and cash equivalents   281    403 
           
Liabilities          
Trade and notes payables   (2,062)   (4,647)
Contract liabilities       (1,504)
Income tax payable   (130)    
Other payables and accrued expenses   (1,323)   (2,065)
           
Net assets   6,698    5,669 
           
Non-controlling interests   (3,281)   (2,778)
           
Net assets acquired        2,891 
           
Difference recognized in equity        413 
           
Total purchase consideration        3,304 

 

 F-205

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018

(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

39.DISPOSAL OF BUSINESSES

 

(a)Disposed of the Environmental Protection Business

 

On June 29, 2016, each of the Lanzhou Branch and three subsidiaries, Baotou Aluminum Shandong Huayu and Ningxia Energy of the Company (collectively the “Sellers“ and each a “Seller“), entered into a business transfer agreement with Aluminum SPC, pursuant to which the Sellers agreed to sell and Aluminum SPC agreed to acquire the environmental protection business. Aluminum SPC is a joint venture of the Company and SPC. The environmental protection business includes the environmental protection assets and relevant liabilities in relation to the desulfurization, denitration and dedusting of the coal fired generating units of the Sellers (collectively as “Environmental Protection Business“). The aggregate consideration of the business transfer agreements was RMB1,754 million, which was determined based on the valuation reports of the Environmental Protection Business on the valuation base date of March 31, 2016. As at December 31, 2016, all the cash consideration of disposal of environmental assets was received.

 

The Group disposed of the Environmental Protection Business with a carrying value of RMB1,183 million and recognized a disposal gain of RMB571 million in the period. The transaction was completed on June 30, 2016.

 

The details of the net assets disposed of are as follows:

 

   June 30, 2016 
Net assets disposed of :     
Property, plant and equipment   1,187,802 
Trade and notes payables   (2,042)
Accruals and other payables   (2,665)
      
    1,183,095 
Gain on disposal of the Environmental Protection Business   571,270 
      
Cash consideration   1,754,365 

 

 F-206

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

39.DISPOSAL OF BUSINESSES (CONTINUED)

 

(b)Disposal of Shandong Engineering

 

On October 31, 2017, the Company and CHALIECO entered into an equity transfer agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell and CHALIECO agreed to acquire 60% equity interest in Shandong Engineering at a consideration of RMB360 million. The consideration was determined based on the appraised value of the 60% equity interest in Shandong Engineering. Full consideration has been received by the Group in November 2017.

 

The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group lost control over Shandong Engineering and accounted for it as an associate accordingly. As of the date of disposal, the carrying amount of Shandong Engineering was RMB350 million, and the Group recognized gain of disposal of subsidiary of RMB153 million for 60% equity interests disposed of. The Group re-measured the remaining 40% equity interest of Shandong Engineering to a fair value of RMB240 million and recognized the fair value gain of RMB102 million accordingly. In addition, unrealized profit arisen from construction services provided by Shandong Engineering previously eliminated upon consolidation amounting to RMB59 million was reversed and recognized in other gains.

 

F-207

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

39.DISPOSAL OF BUSINESSES (CONTINUED)

  

(b)Disposal of Shandong Engineering (Continued)

 

The details of the net assets disposed of are as follows:

 

   Date of disposal  
Net assets disposed of:    
Property, plant and equipment  109,103 
Intangible assets  428 
Deferred tax assets  3,106 
Inventories  167,499 
Trade receivables and notes receivable  1,067,636 
Other current assets  23,136 
Cash and cash equivalents  123,530 
Other non-current liabilities  (4,637)
Other payables and accrued liabilities  (282,232)
Trade and notes payables  (727,622)
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings  (130,000)
     
Net assets  349,947 
Non-controlling interests  3,961 
Total net assets  345,986 
     
Gain on disposal of Shandong Engineering  254,659 
     
The fair value of the remaining equity interest in Shandong Engineering  240,258 
     
Consideration  360,387 
     
Satisfied by:    
Cash  387 
Notes receivable  360,000 

 

An analysis of the cash flow of cash and cash equivalents in respect of the Disposal of Shandong Engineering is as follows:

 

   Date of disposal  
  
Cash consideration received  387 
Cash and bank balances disposed of  (123,530)
     

Net outflows of cash and cash equivalents in respect of disposal of Shandong Engineering

  (123,143)

 

F-208

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

39.DISPOSAL OF BUSINESSES (CONTINUED)

 

(c)Deemed disposal of Shanxi Zhongrun

 

The Company previously had a 50% equity interest in Shanxi China Huarun Co., Ltd.* (“Shanxi Zhongrun”) (山西中鋁華潤有限公司). According to the then acting-in-concert agreement entered into by the Company and the other shareholders of Shanxi Zhongrun, Huarun (Coal) Group Co., Ltd. * (“Huarun (Coal) Group”) (華潤(煤業)集團有限公司), Huarun (Coal) Group agreed to confer its voting rights in the shareholders’ meeting of Shanxi Zhongrun to the Company. Accordingly, the directors of the Company considered that the Company had control over Shanxi Zhongrun and included Shanxi Zhongrun in the consolidation scope.

 

On February 15, 2017, the Company entered into a capital injection and enlargement agreement on Shanxi Zhongrun with Huarun (Coal) Group, Shanxi Xishan Coal and Electricity Power Co., Ltd.* (“Xishan Coal Electricity”) (西山煤電), and Jin Energy Power Group Co., Ltd.* (“Jin Energy Power”) (晉能電力). Pursuant to the agreement, the Company, Xishan Coal Electricity and Jin Energy Power had each subscribed RMB100 million, respectively. After the capital contribution, the Company’s equity interest in Shanxi Zhongrun decreased to 40% while each of the other three shareholders hold a 20% equity interest, respectively, and the acting-in-concert agreement between the Company and Huarun (Coal) Group also ceased to be effective since then. The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group lost control over Shanxi Zhongrun and accounted for it as an associate accordingly. As of the date of deemed disposal, the Company re-measured the 40% equity of Shanxi Zhongrun to a fair value of RMB100 million and recognized the fair value gain of RMB4 million accordingly.

 

F-209

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

39.DISPOSAL OF BUSINESSES (CONTINUED)

 

(d)Disposal of Zibo Trading

 

In November 2017, Chalco Trading, a subsidiary of the Company, agreed to transfer 50% equity interest in Zibo International Trading Co. Ltd. * (”Zibo Trading”) (“淄博國貿”) to a third party. The directors of the Company are of the opinion that the Group lost control over Zibo Trading and accounted for it as a joint venture accordingly. As of the date of disposal, the Group recognized loss of disposal of subsidiary of RMB2 million for 50% equity interest disposed of. The Group re-measured the 50% equity of Zibo Trading to a fair value of RMB12 million and recognized the fair value loss of RMB2 million accordingly.

 

(e)Bankruptcy liquidation of Longmen Aluminum

 

In September 2017, Shanxi Hejin People's Court accepted the liquidation petition filed by the Group’s subsidiary, Shanxi Longmen Aluminum Co., Ltd. ("Longmen Aluminum”) (山西龍門鋁業有限公司). Upon the liquidation, administrators took control over Longmen Aluminum, the directors of the Company considered the Company lost control over Longmen Aluminum and therefore, ceased to consolidate Longmen Aluminum since then. The Group recognized a loss of RMB26 million for lost control over Longmen Aluminum.

 

(f)Bankruptcy liquidation of Beijing Yike

 

In September 2017, Beijing Shijingshan People's Court accepted the liquidation petition filed by the Group’s subsidiary, Beijing Yike. Upon the liquidation, administrators took control over Beijing Yike, and therefore, the directors of the Company considered the Group lost control over Beijing Yike and deconsolidated Beijing Yike since then. The Group recognized a gain of RMB38 million upon the deconsolidation of Beijing Yike.

 

(g)Disposal of Zhengzhou Chalco Longyu Mining Co., Ltd.

 

In August 2018, Chalco Trading, a subsidiary of the Company, agreed to transfer a 51% equity interest in Zhengzhou Chalco Longyu Mining Co., Ltd.* (“Longyu Mining”) (“鄭州中鋁龍宇礦業有限公司”) to a third party. As of the date of disposal, the Group recognized a gain of disposal of subsidiary of RMB8 million.

 

(h)Bankruptcy liquidation of Shanxi Huatai Carbon Co., Ltd.

 

In March 2018, Shanxi Jiexiu People’s Court accepted the liquidation petition filed by the Group’s subsidiary, Shanxi Huatai Carbon Co., Ltd.* (“山西華泰碳素有限責任公司”). Upon the liquidation, administrators took control over Shanxi Huatai Carbon Co., Ltd., and the directors of the Company considered that the Company lost control over Shanxi Huatai Carbon Co., Ltd. and therefore, ceased to consolidate Shanxi Huatai Carbon Co., Ltd. since then. The Group recognized a loss of RMB2 million for lost control over Shanxi Huatai Carbon Co., Ltd.

 

(i)Bankruptcy liquidation of Hedong Carbon Co., Ltd.

 

In June 2018, Shanxi Hejin People’s Court accepted the liquidation petition filed by the Group’s subsidiary, Hedong Carbon Co., Ltd.* (“河東碳素”). Upon the liquidation, administrators took control over Hedong Carbon Co., Ltd., and the directors of the Company considered that the Company lost control over Hedong Carbon Co., Ltd. and therefore, ceased to consolidate Hedong Carbon Co., Ltd. since then. The Group recognized a loss of RMB2 million for lost control over Hedong Carbon Co., Ltd.

 

*The English name represents the best effort made by management of the Group in translating its Chinese name as it does not have any official English names.

 

F-210

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

40.OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS

 

On October 22, 2013, a subsidiary of the Company, Chalco Hong Kong Investment Company Limited (“Chalco Hong Kong Investment”, or the “Issuer“) issued USD350 million senior perpetual securities at an initial distribution rate of 6.625% (the “2013 Senior Perpetual Securities“). The proceeds from the issuance of the 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities after the issuance costs amounted to USD347 million (equivalent to RMB2,123 million). The proceeds were on-lent to the Company and any of its subsidiaries for general corporate use. Coupon payments at 6.625% per annum on the 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities have been made semi-annually in arrears from October 29, 2013 and may be deferred at the discretion of the Group. The 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities have no fixed maturity dates and are callable only at the Group’s option on or after October 29, 2018 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. After October 29, 2018, the coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 5.312 percent, (b) the U.S. Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 5.00 percent per annum. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the Company and Chalco Hong Kong as guarantors, and the Issuer cannot declare or pay dividends or make distributions or similar discretionary payments in respect of, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of lower or equal rank.

 

On October 31, 2018, the Group redeemed the senior perpetual security, and paid $373 million in principal and interest, approximately RMB2,592 million.

 

On October 27, 2015, the Company issued RMB2,000 million perpetual medium-term notes with an initial distribution rate at 5.50% (the “2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes“). The proceeds from the issuance of the 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes were RMB2,000 million. The proceeds were used for the repayment of interest-bearing loans and borrowings. Coupon payments at 5.50% per annum on the 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes have been made annually in arrears from October 29, 2015 and may be deferred at the discretion of the Company. The 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes have no fixed maturity date and are callable only at the Group’s option on October 29, 2020 or any coupon distribution date after October 29, 2020 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. The coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 2.61 percent, (b) the China Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of maximum 300 Bps every five years after October 29, 2020. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the Company cannot declare or pay dividends to shareholders or decrease the share capital, or make material fixed asset investments.

 

F-211

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

40.OTHER EQUITY INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

 

On October 31, 2016, Chalco Hong Kong Investment issued USD500 million senior perpetual securities with an initial distribution rate at 4.25% (the “2016 Senior Perpetual Securities“). The proceeds from the issuance of the 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities after the issuance costs were USD498 million (equivalent to RMB3,374 million). The proceeds were on-lent to the Company and any of its subsidiaries for general corporate use. Coupon payments at 4.25% per annum on the 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities have been made semi-annually on April 29 and October 29, in arrears from November 7, 2016 and may be deferred at the discretion of the Group. The first coupon payment date was April 29, 2017. The 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities have no fixed maturity date and are callable only at the Group’s option on or after November 7, 2021 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. After November 7, 2021, the coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 2.931 percent, (b) the U.S. Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 5.00 percent per annum. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the Company and Chalco Hong Kong as guarantors, and the Issuer cannot declare or pay dividends or make distributions or similar discretionary payments in respect of, or repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of lower or equal rank.

 

On October 19, 2018, the Company issued RMB2,000 million perpetual medium-term notes with an initial distribution rate at 5.10% (the “2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes“). The proceeds from the issuance of the 2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes were RMB2,000 million. The proceeds were used for the repayment of interest-bearing loans and borrowings. Coupon payments of 5.10% per annum on the 2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes have been made annually in arrears from October 19, 2018 and may be deferred at the discretion of the Company. The 2018 Perpetual Medium-term Notes have no fixed maturity date and are callable only at the Group’s option on October 23, 2021 or any coupon distribution date after October 23, 2021 at their principal amounts together with any accrued, unpaid or deferred coupon distribution payments. The coupon distribution rate will be reset to a percentage per annum equal to the sum of (a) the initial spread of 2.61 percent, (b) the China Treasury Rate, and (c) a margin of 500 Bps every three years after October 23, 2021. While any coupon distribution payments are unpaid or deferred, the Company cannot declare or pay dividends to shareholders or decrease the share capital, or make material fixed asset investments.

 

Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the 2013 Senior Perpetual Securities, the 2015 Perpetual Medium-term Notes and the 2016 Senior Perpetual Securities, the Group has no contractual obligations to repay their principal or to pay any coupon distributions. Thus, in the opinion of the directors of the Company, they do not meet the definition of financial liabilities according to IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation, and are classified as equity and subsequent distributions declared will be treated as distributions to equity owners.

 

41.CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

 

As at December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Group had no significant contingent liabilities.

 

F-212

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

42.COMMITMENTS

 

(a)Capital commitments on property, plant and equipment

 

 

December 31, 

2017

 

December 31, 

2018

 
             
Contracted, but not provided for   2,967,541     3,942,933  

  

(b)Commitments under operating leases

 

The future aggregate minimum lease payments as at December 31, 2018 pursuant to non-cancellable lease agreements entered into by the Group are summarised as follows:

 

  December 31,
2017
 

December 31, 

2018 

 
         
Within one year   658,574     541,541  
In the second to fifth years, inclusive   2,112,800     1,880,058  
After five years   12,544,108     10,567,925  
             
    15,315,482     12,989,524  

  

(c)Other capital commitments

 

As at December 31, 2018, the commitments to make capital contributions to the Group’s joint ventures and associates were as follows:

 

 

December 31,

 2017 

 

December 31, 

2018 

 
         
Associates   374,800     82,800  
Joint ventures       460,000  
             
    374,800     542,800  

  

F-213

 

 

ALUMINUM CORPORATION OF CHINA LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
(Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB unless otherwise stated)

 

43.EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD

 

(a)On January 16, 2019, the Group completed an issuance of short-term bonds with a total face value of RMB2 billion at par value of RMB100.00 per unit which will mature in March 2019 for working capital needs. The fixed annual coupon interest rate of these bonds is 2.99%.

 

(b)On January 22, 2019, the Group completed an issuance of corporate bonds with a total face value of RMB2 billion at par value of RMB100.00 per unit which will mature in January 2022 for working capital needs and repayment of bank borrowings. The fixed annual coupon interest rate of these bonds is 3.80%.

 

(c)On March 14, 2019, the Group completed an issuance of short-term bonds with a total face value of RMB1 billion at par value of RMB100.00 per unit which will mature in September 2019 for working capital needs. The fixed annual coupon interest rate of these bonds is 2.64%.

 

(d)On March 15, 2019, the Group completed an issuance of short-term bonds with a total face value of RMB2 billion at par value of RMB100.00 per unit which will mature in May 2019 for working capital needs. The fixed annual coupon interest rate of these bonds is 2.90%.

 

(e)On March 20, 2019, the Group completed an issuance of short-term bonds with a total face value of RMB3 billion at par value of RMB100.00 per unit which will mature in September 2019 for working capital needs. The fixed annual coupon interest rate of these bonds is 2.98%.

 

 (f)On April 24, 2019, the Group completed an issuance of short-term bonds with a total face value of RMB1 billion at par value of RMB100.00 per unit which will mature in June 2019 for working capital needs. The fixed annual coupon interest rate of these bonds is 2.89%.

 

44.COMPARATIVE AMOUNTS

 

Certain comparative amounts have been restated as a result of the business combinations under common control and voluntary change in the accounting policy as disclosed in note 38 and note 2.2(d).

 

The comparative consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 have been revised to reclassify the cash outflows for the purchase of non-controlling interests and business combination under common control from investing activities to financing activities in accordance with IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows. This change did not impact the consolidated statement of financial position or consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the prior periods.

 

45.APPROVAL OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The financial statements were approved and authorized for issue by the board of directors on April 24, 2019.

 

F-214