EX-5.1 3 a19-19616_1ex5d1.htm EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

Our ref

RDS/302157-000001/15401583v3

Direct tel

+852 2971 3046

Email

richard.spooner@maples.com

 

NetEase, Inc.

Building No. 7, West Zone

Zhongguancun Software Park (Phase II)

No. 10 Xibeiwang East Road, Haidian District

Beijing 100193 People’s Republic of China

 

15 October 2019

 

Dear Sirs

 

NetEase, Inc. (the “Company”)

 

We have acted as Cayman Islands legal counsel to the Company in connection with a registration statement on Form S-8 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on 15 October 2019 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the “Securities Act”) of 322,458,300 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Shares”), issuable by the Company pursuant to the 2019 Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “2019 Plan”).

 

For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined copies of the Registration Statement and the 2019 Plan. We have also reviewed copies of the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of the Company as adopted on 12 May 2000 and amended on 6 June 2003 (the “Memorandum and Articles”) and the minutes of a meeting of the board of directors of the Company dated 6 August 2019 (together, the “Resolutions”).

 

Based upon, and subject to, the assumptions and qualifications set out below, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:

 

1                                         The Shares to be issued by the Company and registered under the Registration Statement have been duly and validly authorised.

 

2                                         When issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the 2019 Plan and in accordance with the Resolutions, and when appropriate entries are made in the register of members of the Company, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

In this opinion letter, the phrase “non-assessable” means, with respect to the issuance of Shares, that a shareholder shall not, in respect of the relevant Shares, have any obligation to make further contributions to the Company’s assets (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

 

 

These opinions are subject to the qualification that under the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, the register of members of a Cayman Islands company is by statute regarded as prima facie evidence of any matters which the Companies Law (2018 Revision) directs or authorises to be inserted therein. A third party interest in the shares in question would not appear.  An entry in the register of members may yield to a court order for rectification (for example, in the event of fraud or manifest error).

 

These opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter.  We express no opinion as to the meaning, validity or effect of any references to foreign (i.e. non-Cayman Islands) statutes, rules, regulations, codes, judicial authority or any other promulgations.

 

We have also relied upon the assumptions, which we have not independently verified, that (a) all signatures, initials and seals are genuine, (b) copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals, (c) there is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect the opinions set out above, (d) there is nothing contained in the minute book or corporate records of the Company (which we have not inspected) which would or might affect the opinions set out below, and (e) upon the issue of any Shares, the Company will receive consideration which shall be equal to at least the par value of such Shares.

 

This opinion letter is to and for the benefit solely of the addressee and may not be relied upon by any other person for any purpose.

 

We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to us in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto. In giving such consent, we do not consider that we are “experts” within the meaning of such term as used in the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP

 

Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP