F-1 1 d771710df1.htm FORM F-1 Form F-1
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2019.

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM F-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Youdao, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Not Applicable

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

 

Cayman Islands   8200   Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

No. 399, Wangshang Road, Binjiang District

Hangzhou 310051, People’s Republic of China

+86 0571-8985-2163

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

COGENCY GLOBAL INC.

10 E. 40th Street, 10th floor

New York, NY 10016

+1 800-221-0102

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Li He, Esq.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

2201 China World Office 2

No. 1 Jian Guo Men Wai Avenue

Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100004

People’s Republic of China

+86 10-8567-5000

 

James C. Lin, Esq.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

c/o 18th Floor, The Hong Kong

Club Building

3A Chater Road, Central

Hong Kong

+852 2533-3300

 

Z. Julie Gao, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

c/o 42/F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark

15 Queen’s Road Central

Hong Kong

+852 3740-4700

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐             

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐             

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐             

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities 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.

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of
securities to be registered
  Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering price(2)(3)
  Amount of
registration fee

Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share(1)(2)

  US$300,000,000   US$36,360

 

 

(1)

American depositary shares issuable upon deposit of Class A ordinary shares registered hereby will be registered under a separate registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-                 ). Each American depositary share represents                  Class A ordinary shares.

(2)

Includes Class A ordinary shares initially offered and sold outside the United States that may be resold from time to time in the United States either as part of their distribution or within 40 days after the later of the effective date of this registration statement and the date the shares are first bona fide offered to the public, and also includes Class A ordinary shares that are issuable upon the exercise of the underwriters option to purchase additional ADSs. These Class A ordinary shares are not being registered for the purpose of sales outside the United States.

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Dated                     , 2019

American Depositary Shares

 

 

LOGO

Youdao, Inc.

Representing                  Class A Ordinary Shares

This is an initial public offering of American depositary shares, or ADSs, representing Class A ordinary shares of Youdao, Inc. We are offering a total of                  ADSs, each representing                  of our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. The underwriters may also purchase up to                  additional ADSs within 30 days.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the ADSs. We expect the initial public offering price will be between US$             and US$             per ADS. We intend to apply to list the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DAO.”

Following the completion of this offering, our issued and outstanding share capital will consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. (i) NetEase, Inc., or NetEase, our controlling shareholder; (ii) Dr. Feng Zhou, our Chief Executive Officer and director; and (iii) certain individual minority shareholders who are our employees will beneficially own all of our issued Class B ordinary shares and will be able to exercise         % of the total voting power of our issued and outstanding share capital immediately following the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, and the issuance and sale of Class A ordinary shares in connection with concurrent private placements to certain investment funds managed by Orbis Investment Management Limited (collectively, “Orbis”). Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to three votes. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof, while Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary shares by a holder thereof to any non-affiliate of such holder, each of such Class B ordinary shares will be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A ordinary share. See “Description of Share Capital.”

Immediately following the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance rules because NetEase will beneficially own         % of the total voting power of our then issued and outstanding ordinary shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs. See “Principal Shareholders.”

Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We are an “emerging growth company” under the US federal securities laws and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. Investing in the ADSs involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 19 of this prospectus.

 

     Per ADS      Total  

Public offering price

   US$                    US$                

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

   US$                    US$                

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   US$                    US$                

 

(1)

For a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters, see “Underwriting.”

The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment in U.S. dollars in New York, New York on                     , 2019.

 

 

 

Citigroup   Morgan Stanley

(in alphabetical order)

 

CICC   Credit Suisse   HSBC

(in alphabetical order)

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2019.


Table of Contents

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

     Page  

Prospectus Summary

     1  

Our Corporate Information

     8  

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

     8  

Conventions which Apply to this Prospectus

     9  

The Offering

     11  

Our Summary Consolidated Financial Data and Operating Data

     14  

Risk Factors

     19  

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     68  

Use of Proceeds

     69  

Dividend Policy

     71  

Capitalization

     72  

Dilution

     74  

Enforceability of Civil Liabilities

     76  

Our History and Corporate Structure

     78  

Our Relationship with NetEase

     84  

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

     88  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     91  

Industry Overview

     122  

Business

     127  

Regulation

     153  

Management

     172  

Principal Shareholders

     179  

Related Party Transactions

     182  

Description of Share Capital

     185  

Description of American Depositary Shares

     196  

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     204  

Taxation

     206  

Underwriting

     212  

Expenses Relating to this Offering

     224  

Legal Matters

     225  

Experts

     226  

Where You Can Find Additional Information

     227  

Index to the Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-1  

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “Youdao, Inc.” or the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” or similar terms refer to Youdao, Inc., together with its subsidiaries and, in the context of describing its operations and consolidated financial information, its consolidated variable interest entities, or VIEs.

 

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we may have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. Neither we nor the underwriters are making an offer to sell the ordinary shares in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. This offering is being made in the United States and elsewhere solely on the basis of the information contained in this prospectus. You should assume that the

 

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information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may have changed since the date on the front cover of this prospectus.

Until                     , 2019 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade the ADSs, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to this summary, we urge you to read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in the ADSs discussed under “Risk Factors,” “Business,” and information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” before deciding whether to buy the ADSs. Investors should note that due to the restrictions on foreign investment in companies that engage in certain businesses under the PRC law, a significant portion of our businesses in the PRC described in this prospectus are operated through our VIEs. Investors should also note that Youdao, Inc. became our ultimate holding company recently through a series of transactions initiated by our controlling shareholder, NetEase, and has a limited operating history on a consolidated basis. See “—Our History and Corporate Structure” and “Risk Factors— Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have a limited history in operating on a consolidated basis and, particularly, operating certain of our products and services. This may make it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and the risks and uncertainties associated with these products and services.” NetEase is expected to continue to control us following this offering. For more information about NetEase and our relationships with NetEase, See “Our Relationship with NetEase.”

Our Business

What is Youdao

Youdao makes learning happen.

For over a decade, Youdao has developed and used technologies to provide learning content, applications and solutions to users of all ages.

We’re the leading intelligent learning company in China with over 100.0 million average total MAUs* in the first half of 2019. Starting from online knowledge tools, we currently offer a comprehensive suite of learning products and services that are accessible, reliable and trustworthy.

Today, for tens of millions of people, Youdao is the go-to destination for looking up a word, translating a foreign language, preparing for an exam, and picking up a new skill. Through technology, we enrich the lives of people of all ages every day, guiding them on their journey of pursuing knowledge and sharing ideas.

What Youdao Offers

Youdao was founded in 2006 as part of NetEase, a leading internet technology company in China, dedicated to providing online services centered around content, community, communication and commerce. In 2007, we launched our flagship Youdao Dictionary, which is China’s number one language app in terms of MAUs in the first half of 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan. Youdao Dictionary had 51.2 million average MAUs in the first half of 2019.

 

* 

See “—Conventions Which Apply to This Prospectus” for the definition of average total MAUs.



 

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The early success of Youdao Dictionary has enabled us to attract a massive user base, build a strong brand, and expand into a broad range of products and services addressing lifelong learning needs of pre-school, K-12 and college students as well as adult learners, including:

 

LOGO

Let’s start with our online knowledge tools—a collection of dictionary, translation and writing tools empowered by leading technologies. Our tools are convenient, smart and powerful. We offer most of them for free, but monetize their massive user bases mainly through advertising. As these tools become ubiquitous in people’s lives, they’ve also helped drive organic user traffic to our online courses and other products and services.

Building on the popularity of our online knowledge tools, we set out to offer online courses, including Youdao Premium Courses, our flagship online course brand, with a strategic focus on K-12 students, as well as NetEase Cloud Classroom and China University MOOC. We deliver our Youdao Premium Courses in “dual-teacher” large classes through live streaming. We adopt this format because it allows us to make the best use of our teaching resources while maximizing flexibility and interaction for both our instructors and students. Our course designers, instructors and engineers work together to expertly create course materials covering a wide range of subjects, making sure they’re interesting, relevant and engaging.

We also offer a variety of interactive learning apps that enable students to study math, English and other subjects with a virtual teacher on their mobile devices. These fun and effective apps incorporate AI teaching to particularly cater to the learning habits of our students. Through social media such as Weixin/WeChat, users may access these apps and share their activities with friends. Moreover, our interactive learning apps provide an abundance of gamified features that help significantly increase younger students’ interest levels and drive their engagement.

We began to invest in building smart devices that further enhance users’ learning experience and efficiency. That’s how we invented Youdao Smart Pen, Youdao Dictionary Pen and Youdao Pocket Translator. Our approach to such devices is a seamless integration of AI algorithms and data processing into hardware devices that supplement our online knowledge tools and online courses.



 

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Our products and services are built upon a common set of core technologies, which allows us to use data insights gained from individual product or service to help optimize our entire product and service portfolio. Our business has evolved significantly since inception and we’ve never stopped re-imagining and innovating our products and services. We’re doing this not only to cater to, but influence, the learning habits and lifestyles of our users, to fulfill their goals and enrich their lives. Since our inception, our apps have amassed over 1.3 billion cumulative downloads and more than 200 million student enrollments. Fueling all of these great achievements are our technologies. That’s why we’ll continue to invest in technology and products for our users, and for our long-term success.

Our net revenues increased by 67.7% from RMB327.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 to RMB548.5 million (US$79.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, we recorded net losses of RMB82.8 million and RMB167.9 million (US$24.5 million), respectively. Our net revenues increased by 60.5% from RMB455.7 million in 2017 to RMB731.6 million (US$106.6 million) in 2018. In 2017 and 2018, we recorded net losses of RMB163.9 million and RMB209.3 million (US$30.5 million), respectively.

Market Opportunities

Driven by mobile internet, AI and data analytics, China has seen the increasing prevalence of intelligent learning. Intelligent learning features the integration of technology with most aspects of the learning and teaching process to foster a more personalized, interactive, and adaptive learning experience. Intelligent learning companies are well positioned to attract and monetize a large and loyal user base through offering a comprehensive, synergetic suite of learning products and services.

The intelligent learning industry in China currently consists of AI-powered online courses, intelligent knowledge products and services, and institutional learning solutions. In recent years, this industry has grown quickly driven by rapid technological developments. According to Frost & Sullivan, the overall size of China’s intelligent learning industry reached approximately RMB103.4 billion in 2018, and is expected to grow to RMB719.8 billion in 2023, representing a CAGR of 47.4%.

In addition to China, other countries and regions, such as India, Indonesia and South America, present great opportunities in the field of intelligent learning for Chinese enterprises, due to their large population, scarce educational resources, and willingness to pay for education.

What Sets Youdao Apart

We believe the following competitive strengths differentiate us from our competitors:

 

   

Leading technologies;

 

   

Massive and loyal user base with a trusted brand;

 

   

Products and services covering full learning journey;

 

   

Strong content development capabilities;

 

   

Scalable business model; and

 

   

Visionary and experienced management team.

How We Approach the Future

We seek to lead the development of intelligent learning industry in China by pursuing the following strategies:

 

   

Keep investing in technologies;



 

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Improve content offerings;

 

   

Grow and engage our user base;

 

   

Expand overseas;

 

   

Enhance smart device offerings; and

 

   

Serve more business customers.

Our Challenges

We face risks and uncertainties in achieving our business objectives and executing our strategies, including those relating to:

 

   

Our limited operating history may make it difficult to evaluate our future prospects;

 

   

Our ability to develop and apply our technologies to support and expand our product and service offerings;

 

   

Our ability to timely respond to the rapid changes in industry trends and users’ preference;

 

   

Our ability to be effective in broadening our monetization channels;

 

   

Our ability to drive user acceptance and respond to market trend of integration of technology and learning;

 

   

Our ability to improve or expand our product and service offerings in a timely and cost-effective manner;

 

   

Our ability to achieve profitability in the future;

 

   

Our ability to maintain and enhance recognition of our brand;

 

   

Our ability to obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms;

 

   

Our ability to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; and

 

   

Our ability to retain existing or attract new advertising customers.

Our History and Corporate Structure

Our Major Business Milestones

In 2007, we launched our flagship Youdao Dictionary, China’s number one language app in terms of MAUs in the first half of 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan.

In 2011, we launched Youdao Cloudnote, China’s number one independent notetaking tool in terms of MAUs in the first half of 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan.

In 2012, NetEase launched NetEase Cloud Classroom, a platform offering online courses mainly targeting adults in China, which was acquired by us in May 2019.

In 2014, we strategically expanded offerings to include online courses by launching Youdao Classroom, which was rebranded as Youdao Premium Courses in 2016. In the same year, NetEase launched China University MOOC, a platform offering online courses primarily targeting college students and adults in China, which was acquired by us in May 2019.



 

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Between 2016 and 2018, we continued to expand our suite of learning products and services by launching a portfolio of interactive apps catering to various age groups’ learning needs, which currently mainly include Youdao Math, Youdao Vocabulary Builder, Youdao Fun Reading, Youdao Speaking and Youdao Reading, and by launching our smart device offerings, which currently include Youdao Smart Pen, Youdao Dictionary Pen and Youdao Pocket Translator.

Our Corporate History

We commenced our operations in March 2006 through Youdao Information. In September 2007, Beijing NetEase Youdao Computer System Co., Ltd., or Youdao Computer, was incorporated in the PRC. Both of Youdao Information and Youdao Computer were then controlled by NetEase, our controlling shareholder.

In 2014, we strategically shifted our focus to the intelligent learning industry. Since then, we have successfully developed a variety of technology-driven learning products and services, including Youdao Premium Courses.

In November 2014, Youdao, Inc., our current ultimate holding company, was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

In July 2016, Youdao (Hong Kong) Limited, or Youdao HK, was incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong. Youdao HK currently operates U-Dictionary, an online dictionary and translation app we offer primarily targeting users in selected overseas markets.

Between December 2016 and November 2017, through a number of transactions, we acquired the entire interests in Youdao Information and, through certain contractual arrangements, the control of Youdao Computer.

In April 2018, we issued a total of 6,814,815 Series A preferred shares to certain investors for an aggregate consideration of US$70.0 million. See “Description of Share Capital—History of Securities Issuances—Preferred Shares.”

Due to the restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations on foreign ownership of companies engaged in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses, Youdao Information entered into a series of contractual arrangements, as amended and restated, with each of Youdao Computer and Hangzhou NetEase Linjiedian Education Technology Co., Ltd., or Linjiedian Education, a company incorporated in the PRC in January 2019, as well as their respective shareholders, through which we obtained control over Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education. See “—Our Corporate Structure and Contractual Arrangements.” Linjiedian Education was incorporated primarily with a view to undertake future businesses that may be subject to foreign investment restrictions under PRC law and currently does not operate any substantial business or hold any material assets. As a result, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of each of Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education. We treat them as our consolidated affiliated entities under U.S. GAAP, and have consolidated the financial results of these entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We refer to Youdao Information as our wholly foreign owned entity, or WFOE, and to each of Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education as a VIE, in this prospectus. For more details and risks related to our VIE structure, please see “Our History and Corporate Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Shareholders” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”

In May 2019, we acquired certain online learning businesses, including NetEase Cloud Classroom, China University MOOC and NetEase Kada, from the NetEase Group, as we believe these offerings generally appeal to different target audiences from, and as a result complement, Youdao Premium Courses, our existing online



 

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course brand and enable us to reach a broader student base. Since the acquired businesses were controlled by NetEase both before and after the acquisition, such transactions are accounted for as business combinations under common control. Therefore, our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus reflect the results of such acquired businesses as if the current corporate structure, including the acquired businesses in May 2019, had been in existence throughout the periods presented. See our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Our Corporate Structure and Contractual Arrangements

Current PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses. We are a company registered in the Cayman Islands. Youdao Information, our PRC subsidiary, is considered a foreign invested enterprise. To comply with the foregoing restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations on foreign investments, we conduct a significant portion of our businesses in China through Youdao Computer, one of our VIEs, based on a series of contractual arrangements between us and our VIEs and their respective shareholders. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we exert effective control over, and are considered the primary beneficiary of, our VIEs and consolidate their operating results in our financial statements under the U.S. GAAP. For a summary of the contractual arrangements by and among Youdao Information, Youdao Computer and the shareholders of Youdao Computer, see “Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Respective Shareholders.” In 2017 and 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, the amount of revenues generated by our VIEs accounted for 87.9%, 82.9% and 79.6%, respectively, of our total net revenues. As a result, our ability to pay dividends depends upon the dividends paid by our subsidiaries which, in turn, depends on the payment of service fees to our PRC subsidiaries by our VIEs in the PRC pursuant to these contractual arrangements. In 2017 and 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, the amount of service fees paid to our PRC subsidiaries from our VIEs was RMB233.7 million, RMB395.2 million (US$57.6 million) and RMB236.6 million (US$34.5 million), respectively. We expect that the amounts of such service fees will increase in the foreseeable future as our PRC business continues to grow.

In the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel, the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, our VIEs and our VIEs’ shareholders are valid, binding and enforceable under current PRC laws. However, our PRC legal counsel has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. It remains uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or if adopted, how they would affect our VIE structure. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government authorities find that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our value-added telecommunication services and other business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in such businesses, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. Additionally, these contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with effective control over our VIEs. If our VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under such contractual arrangements, we could be limited in our ability to enforce such contractual arrangements that give us effective control over our business operations in the PRC and may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure will be effective. Additionally, the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us is limited by PRC legal restrictions on the payment of dividends by PRC companies and foreign exchange control restrictions, among others, which prevents us from having unfettered access to our PRC subsidiaries’ and VIEs’ revenues. Our access to our VIEs’ revenues is also limited since we do not have direct ownership in our VIEs and have to rely on the payment of service fees by our VIEs to our PRC subsidiaries. For a more detailed description of the



 

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risks related to these contractual arrangements, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”

The following chart shows our corporate structure, including our principal subsidiaries and VIEs, after giving effect to the contemplated issuance and sale of              Class A ordinary shares in this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ADSs, and the issuance and sale of              Class A ordinary shares in connection with concurrent private placements to Orbis, based on an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the mid-point of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus.

 

 

LOGO

 

Notes:

 

LOGO    Equity interest
LOGO    Contractual arrangements, including the cooperation agreement, operating agreement, equity pledge agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, shareholder voting right trust agreement and loan agreement. See “Our History and Corporate Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Respective Shareholders.”

 

(1)

Beneficial ownership percentages represent beneficial ownership of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, and the concurrent private placements to Orbis. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant, or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person. See also “Principal Shareholders.”

(2)

Voting power percentages represent aggregate voting power of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, and are calculated by dividing the voting power beneficially owned by such person or group by the voting power of all of our issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. In respect of matters requiring a shareholder vote, each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to three votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. See also “Description of Share Capital—Ordinary Shares.”

(3)

Youdao HK currently operates our overseas businesses, including U-Dictionary. See “Business—Global Opportunities.”

(4)

Jiankun Zhao, an employee of our company as of the date of this prospectus, holds 15% of NetEase Langsheng’s equity interests. As of the date of this prospectus, Mr. Zhao also holds a vested option to purchase additional 15% equity interest of NetEase Langsheng.



 

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(5)

Shareholders of Linjiedian Education are William Lei Ding, our director (who is also the chief executive officer, a director and a principal shareholder of NetEase, our controlling shareholder), and Feng Zhou, our Chief Executive Officer and director, each holding 99% and 1%, respectively, of Linjiedian Education’s equity interests.

(6)

Shareholders of Youdao Computer are William Lei Ding, our director (who is also the chief executive officer, a director and a principal shareholder of NetEase, our controlling shareholder), and Feng Zhou, our Chief Executive Officer and director, each holding approximately 71% and 29%, respectively, of Youdao Computer’s equity interests.

OUR CORPORATE INFORMATION

Our principal executive offices are located at No. 399 Wangshang Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310051, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is + 86 0571-8985-2163. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Our agent for service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc. located at 10 E. 40th Street, 10th Floor New York, New York 10016.

Investors should contact us for any inquiries through the address and telephone number of our principal executive office. Our principal website is www.youdao.com. The information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus.

IMPLICATIONS OF BEING AN EMERGING GROWTH COMPANY

As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenue for the last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015), or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting. The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. However, we have elected to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of our fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.07 billion; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of the ADSs that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Once we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the ADSs and This Offering—We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an ‘emerging growth company’.”



 

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CONVENTIONS WHICH APPLY TO THIS PROSPECTUS

Unless we indicate otherwise, all information in this prospectus reflects the following:

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to                  additional ADSs representing                  Class A ordinary shares from us; and

Except where the context otherwise requires and for purposes of this prospectus only:

 

   

“ADSs” refers to the American depositary shares, each representing                  Class A ordinary shares;

 

   

“China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purpose of this prospectus only, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau;

 

   

“Class A ordinary share” refers to our Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share;

 

   

“Class B ordinary share” refers to our Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share;

 

   

“cohort” for a given period with respect to our online courses refers to the students that are newly enrolled in any of our online courses in that period;

 

   

“gross billings” for a specific period refers to the total amount of consideration for our online courses sold on Youdao Premium Courses, NetEase Cloud Classroom and China University MOOC, net of the total amount of refunds, in such period;

 

   

“NetEase” refers to NetEase, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES), our controlling shareholder;

 

   

“NetEase Group” refers to NetEase and its subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities other than us and the entities controlled by us;

 

   

“paid courses” refers to our online courses for which we charge not less than RMB50 per course package;

 

   

“paid student enrollments” for a specified period refers to the cumulative number of paid courses enrolled in by our students, including multiple paid courses enrolled in by the same student, after deducting the number of courses the tuition of which were fully refunded;

 

   

a “paying student” means a unique student who has enrolled in at least one paid course;

 

   

“Post-IPO MAA” means the fourth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of our company, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

“preferred shares” prior to this offering refers to our Series A preferred shares, par value US$0.0001 per share;

 

   

“RMB” or “Renminbi” refers to the legal currency of the People’s Republic of China;

 

   

“student enrollments” for a specified period refers to the cumulative number of courses enrolled in by our students, including multiple courses enrolled in by the same student, after deducting the number of courses the tuition of which were fully refunded;

 

   

“US$,” “dollars” or “U.S. dollars” refers to the legal currency of the United States;

 

   

“variable interest entities,” or “VIEs,” refers to the PRC entities of which we have power to control the management, and financial and operating policies and have the right to recognize and receive substantially all the economic benefits and in which we have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests at the minimum price possible to the extent permitted by PRC law;

 

   

“Youdao,” “we,” “us,” “our company,” and “our” refer to Youdao, Inc., a Cayman Islands company and its subsidiaries and, in the context of describing our operations and consolidated financial information, its VIEs;

 

   

“Youdao Computer” refers to Beijing NetEase Youdao Computer System Co., Ltd;



 

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“Youdao HK” refers to Youdao (Hong Kong) Limited; and

 

   

“Youdao Information” refers to NetEase Youdao Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.

We generate MAUs from the users of our products and services (except for smart devices) of our learning services and products segment. With respect to the MAU data used in this prospectus:

 

   

“monthly active user” or “MAUs” for a specified period, with respect to each of our products and services (except for smart devices), refers to the average of the monthly number of unique mobile or PC devices, as the case may be, through which such product and service is accessed at least once in that month;

 

   

Our total MAUs for a given month is calculated by combining the MAUs of our various products and services (except for smart devices) for that month (duplicate access to different products and services is not eliminated from the calculation);

 

   

“average total MAUs” for a given period refers to the monthly average of the sum of our total MAUs of such period; and

 

   

our MAUs are calculated using internal company data, treating each distinguishable device as a separate MAU even though some users may access our products and services using more than one device and multiple users may access our services using the same device.

Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this prospectus are made at RMB6.8650 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board on June 28, 2019. 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. On September 20, 2019, the noon buying rate for Renminbi was RMB7.0909 to US$1.00.

This prospectus contains information derived from various public sources and certain information from an industry report dated August 12, 2019 commissioned by us and prepared by Frost & Sullivan, a third-party industry research firm, to provide information regarding our industry and market position. Such information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to variety of factors, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications and reports.



 

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THE OFFERING

 

Offering price range

We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be between US$             and US$             per ADS.

 

ADSs offered by us

             ADSs (or              ADSs if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full).

 

The ADSs

Each ADS represents              Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. The depositary will hold the Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs. You will have rights as provided in the deposit agreement.

 

  We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. If, however, we declare dividends on our Class A ordinary shares, the depositary will pay you the cash dividends and other distributions it receives on our Class A ordinary shares, after deducting its fees and expenses in accordance with the terms set forth in the deposit agreement.

You may turn in the ADSs to the depositary in exchange for Class A ordinary shares. The depositary will charge you fees for any exchange.

We may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold the ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended.

To better understand the terms of the ADSs, you should carefully read the “Description of American Depositary Shares” section of this prospectus. You should also read the deposit agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

 

Ordinary shares

We will issue              Class A ordinary shares represented by the ADSs in this offering.

All options, regardless of grant dates, will entitle holders to the equivalent number of Class A ordinary shares once the vesting and exercising conditions on such share-based compensation awards are met.

See “Description of Share Capital.”

 

Ordinary shares issued and outstanding immediately after this offering

             Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (or              Class A ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full), including              Class A ordinary shares that Orbis has agreed to purchase from us in the concurrent private placements in connection with this offering (based on an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated public offering price range shown on



 

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the front cover of this prospectus, as adjusted to reflect the ADS-to-Class A ordinary share ratio) and              Class B ordinary shares.

 

Concurrent Private Placements

Concurrently with and subject to the completion of this offering, certain investment funds managed by Orbis Investment Management Limited (collectively, “Orbis”) have agreed to purchase from us in aggregate US$125 million of our Class A ordinary shares. The number of Class A ordinary shares to be purchased by such investors shall be calculated based on the initial public offering price of ADSs (as adjusted to reflect the ADS-to-Class A ordinary share ratio) in this offering. Based on an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus (as adjusted to reflect the ADS-to-Class A ordinary share ratio), Orbis is expected to own             % of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing             % of our total voting power, immediately upon the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise the option to purchase additional ADSs. These investments are being made pursuant to exemption from registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Orbis, with its long-term investment philosophy, has no intention to sell such Class A ordinary shares within 180 days after the date of this prospectus. See Underwriting for more information.

 

Option to purchase additional ADSs

We have granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional            Class A ordinary shares from us within 30 days of the date of this prospectus.

 

Listing

We intend to apply to list the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “DAO.”

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis will be approximately US$            , based on an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

  We plan to use the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis to further invest in technology and product development, expand our branding and marketing efforts, further grow our user base and satisfy other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Lock-up

[Except as described below, we, our director, executive officers, existing shareholders and holders of share-based awards have agreed



 

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with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, sell, or dispose of any shares of our share capital or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our share capital during the 180-day period following the date of this prospectus. Each of NetEase, Dr. Feng Zhou, Mr. Yinghui Wu (our Vice President), Mr. Lei Jin (our Vice President), Mr. Renlei Liu (our Vice President), as well as five other employees of our company have agreed with the underwriters to provide a lock-up term of 18 months following the date of this prospectus, with other terms of their lock-up agreements substantially the same as those of parties described above. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Underwriting” for more information.]

 

Payment and settlement

The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment therefor through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on                    , 2019.

 

Depositary

The Bank of New York Mellon

 

[Directed share program

At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to an aggregate of            ADSs offered in this offering to our directors, officers, employees, business associates and related persons.]

 

Taxation

For a description of certain Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax considerations with respect to the ownership and disposition of the ADSs, see “Taxation.”

 

Risk Factors

See “Risk Factors” and other information included in this prospectus for discussions of the risks relating to investing in the ADSs. You should carefully consider these risks before deciding to invest in the ADSs.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the option granted to the underwriters to purchase up to             additional ADSs.



 

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OUR SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA AND OPERATING DATA

The following summary consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and summary consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following summary consolidated statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, summary consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2019 and summary consolidated cash flow data for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this Summary Consolidated Financial Data section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2017     2018     2018     2019  
    RMB     %     RMB     US$     %     RMB     %     RMB     US$     %  
    (in thousands, except for percentages, shares and per share data)  

Summary Consolidated Statements of Operations:

                   

Net revenues

    455,746       100.0       731,598       106,570       100.0       327,155       100.0       548,543       79,904       100.0  

Cost of revenues(1)

    (293,807     (64.5     (515,133     (75,038     (70.4     (219,541     (67.1     (389,585     (56,749     (71.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    161,939       35.5       216,465       31,532       29.6       107,614       32.9       158,958       23,155       29.0  

Operating expenses

                   

Sales and marketing expenses(1)

    (136,412     (29.9     (213,405     (31,086     (29.2     (94,301     (28.8     (186,136     (27,114     (33.9

Research and development expenses(1)

    (133,092     (29.2     (184,020     (26,806     (25.1     (80,697     (24.7     (111,184     (16,196     (20.3

General and administrative expenses(1)

    (22,476     (4.9     (38,177     (5,561     (5.2     (15,749     (4.8     (23,784     (3,465     (4.3
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    (291,980     (64.0     (435,602     (63,453     (59.5     (190,747     (58.3     (321,104     (46,775     (58.5
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (130,041     (28.5     (219,137     (31,921     (29.9     (83,133     (25.4     (162,146     (23,620     (29.5

Interest income/(expense), net

    (29,327     (6.4     (23,507     (3,424     (3.2     (13,057     (4.0     (12,362     (1,801     (2.3

Others, net

    598       0.1       44,643       6,503       6.1       17,904       5.5       8,253       1,202       1.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before tax

    (158,770     (34.8     (198,001     (28,842     (27.0     (78,286     (23.9     (166,255     (24,219     (30.3

Income tax expenses

    (5,162     (1.1     (11,294     (1,645     (1.6     (4,465     (1.4     (1,639     (239     (0.3
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (163,932     (35.9     (209,295     (30,487     (28.6     (82,751     (25.3     (167,894     (24,458     (30.6

Net (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders

    30,355       6.6       385       56       0.0       678       0.2       (481     (70     (0.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to the Company

    (133,577     (29.3     (208,910     (30,431     (28.6     (82,073     (25.1     (168,375     (24,528     (30.7

Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value

    —         —         (30,311     (4,415     (4.1     (10,105     (3.1     (21,156     (3,081     (3.9
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company

    (133,577     (29.3     (239,221     (34,846     (32.7     (92,178     (28.2     (189,531     (27,609     (34.6

Net loss per ordinary share

                   

Basic

    (2.04       (2.80     (0.41       (1.16       (2.06     (0.30  

Diluted

    (2.04       (2.80     (0.41       (1.16       (2.06     (0.30  

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating net loss per ordinary share

                   

Basic

    65,387,160         85,346,790       85,346,790         79,208,193         92,000,000       92,000,000    

Diluted

    65,387,160         85,346,790       85,346,790         79,208,193         92,000,000       92,000,000    


 

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Notes:

(1)

The following table sets forth the allocation of our share-based compensation expenses. These expenses were allocated to us based on awards granted to our employees pursuant to NetEase’s 2009 RSU Plan. See also “Related Party Transactions—Other Related Party Transactions with NetEase.”

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,      For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017      2018      2018      2019  
     RMB      RMB      US$      RMB      RMB      US$  
     (in thousands)  

Cost of revenues

     2,220        3,055        446        1,187        907        132  

Sales and marketing expenses

     289        350        51        256        780        114  

Research and development expenses

     2,773        2,735        398        1,174        41        6  

General and administrative expenses

     8        36        5        12        399        58  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     5,290        6,176        900        2,629        2,127        310  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents our summary consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019.

 

     As of December 31,     As of June 30,  
     2017     2018     2019  
                       Actual     Pro forma(1)  
     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     US$     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Summary Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

              

Cash and cash equivalents

     39,831       41,738       6,080       52,317       7,621       52,317       7,621  

Accounts receivable, net

     65,121       80,562       11,735       167,389       24,383       167,389       24,383  

Total current assets

     144,981       595,068       86,682       611,232       89,036       611,232       89,036  

Total assets

     161,853       619,617       90,258       639,461       93,148       639,461       93,148  

Contract liabilities

     94,531       177,536       25,861       242,475       35,320       242,475       35,320  

Short-term loans from NetEase Group

     878,000       878,000       127,895       878,000       127,895       878,000       127,895  

Total current liabilities

     1,119,850       1,300,398       189,425       1,416,401       206,322       1,416,401       206,322  

Total liabilities

     1,119,850       1,300,398       189,425       1,416,401       206,322       1,416,401       206,322  

Total mezzanine equity

     —         460,652       67,102       481,808       70,183       —         —    

Total shareholders’ deficit

     (957,997     (1,141,433     (166,269     (1,258,748     (183,357     (776,940     (113,174

Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholder’s deficit

     161,853       619,617       90,258       639,461       93,148       639,461       93,148  

 

(1)

On a pro forma basis to reflect the the conversion of all of our outstanding preferred shares on a one-for-one basis into ordinary shares, as if such conversion had occurred as of June 30, 2019.



 

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The following table presents our summary consolidated cash flow data for the periods indicated.

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017     2018     2018     2019  
     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data:

        

Net cash used in operating activities

     (87,138     (100,330     (14,615     (38,619     (200,804     (29,252

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities

     (10,836     (374,000     (54,479     (403,408     135,364       19,719  

Net cash provided by financing activities

     107,765       475,117       69,209       465,866       75,643       11,019  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         1,120       163       626       376       55  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     9,791       1,907       278       24,465       10,579       1,541  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year/period

     30,040       39,831       5,802       39,831       41,738       6,080  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year/period

     39,831       41,738       6,080       64,296       52,317       7,621  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

Gross billings is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define gross billings for a specific period as the total amount of consideration for online courses sold on Youdao Premium Courses, NetEase Cloud Classroom and China University MOOC, net of the total amount of refunds, in such period. Our management uses gross billings as a performance measurement because we generally bill our students for the entire course tuition at the time of sale of our courses and recognize revenue proportionally over an average of the learning periods of different online courses. The learning period of a live streaming course refers to the period during which the course is delivered plus the estimated period following the completion of the course during which the students view playback of the course recordings, and the learning period of a pre-recorded course refers to the estimated period during which the course is viewed by students. We believe that gross billings provides valuable insight into the performance of our online courses operations.

As gross billings has material limitations as an analytical metrics and may not be calculated in the same manner by all companies, it may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. In light of the foregoing limitations, you should not consider gross billings as a substitute for, or superior to, net revenues prepared in accordance with GAAP. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using gross billings only as a supplemental measure.



 

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The following table sets forth a reconciliation of gross billings to net revenues, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, of our online courses:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017     2018     2018     2019  
     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Net revenues of online courses

     115,003       329,424       47,986       157,966       228,233       33,246  

Add: value-added tax

     10,153       23,666       3,447       10,491       17,083       2,488  

Add: ending deferred revenue

     64,136       129,144       18,812       81,015       185,622       27,039  

Less: beginning deferred revenue

     (9,930     (64,136     (9,342     (64,136     (129,144     (18,812
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross billings of online courses (non-GAAP)

     179,362       418,098       60,903       185,336       301,794       43,961  

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of gross billings to net revenues, its most directly comparable GAAP measure, of Youdao Premium Courses:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017      2018     2018     2019  
     RMB      RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Net revenues of Youdao Premium Courses

     89,129        284,160       41,393       137,060       191,289       27,864  

Add: value-added tax

     8,592        20,352       2,965       9,136       14,362       2,092  

Add: ending deferred revenue

     54,067        109,105       15,893       69,273       157,184       22,896  

Less: beginning deferred revenue

     —          (54,067     (7,876     (54,067     (109,105     (15,893
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross billings of Youdao Premium Courses (non-GAAP)

     151,788        359,550       52,375       161,402       253,730       36,959  


 

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Key Performance Metrics

The following table presents our key performance metrics for the periods indicated. See “—Conventions Which Apply to This Prospectus” for their definitions.

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,      For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017      2018      2018      2019  

Average total MAUs (in millions)

     73.7        96.4        93.1        105.0  

Paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses (in thousands)

     418        643        318        338  

Gross billings per paid student enrollment of Youdao Premium Courses (in RMB)

     363        559        508        751  

Our management continually reviews paid student enrollments and gross billings per paid student enrollment of Youdao Premium Courses to evaluate the overall performance and growth trends of our online courses, since we have historically generated the vast majority of the net revenues of online courses through Youdao Premium Courses.

Recent Developments

Our business continued to grow in the second half of 2019. The following table sets forth our key performance metrics for the two months ended August 31, 2018 and 2019.

 

     For the Two Months
Ended August 31,
 
     2018      2019  

Average total MAUs (in millions)

     94.2        105.9  

Paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses (in thousands)

     110.4        167.3  

 

   

Average total MAUs grew from 94.2 million for the two months ended August 31, 2018 to 105.9 million for the two months ended August 31, 2019, as a result of the overall growth of our learning services and products business.

 

   

Paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses grew by 51.5% from 110.4 thousand for the two months ended August 31, 2018 to 167.3 thousand for the two months ended August 31, 2019. In particular, the number of our K-12 paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses has more than doubled, growing from 24.7 thousand for the two months ended August 31, 2018 to 75.7 thousand for the two months ended August 31, 2019, mainly driven by our increased sales and marketing efforts, the expansion of our K-12 course offerings and our enhanced brand name among students and their parents.



 

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RISK FACTORS

You should consider carefully all of the information in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties described below and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before making an investment in the ADSs. Any of the following risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The market price of the ADSs could decline significantly as a result of any of these risks and uncertainties, and you may lose all or part of your investment. When determining whether to invest, you should also refer to the other information contained in this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes thereto. You should also carefully review the cautionary statements referred to under “Forward-looking Statements.” Our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated in this prospectus.

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

We have a limited history in operating on a consolidated basis and, particularly, operating certain of our products and services. This may make it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and the risks and uncertainties associated with these products and services.

While the history of our business dates back to 2007 when Youdao Dictionary was launched by our controlling shareholder, NetEase, our current ultimate holding company acquired control of our principal operating entities through a number of transactions between December 2016 and November 2017 and has a limited history in operating our businesses on a consolidated basis. For more information about our history and corporate structure, see “Our History and Corporate Structure.” Additionally, we have a limited history in operating certain of our major products and services. For example, we launched Youdao Classroom in 2014, which was rebranded as Youdao Premium Courses in 2016, and we began to offer smart devices in late 2017. Our limited history may make it difficult for us to evaluate our future prospects and the risks and uncertainties associated with new products and services, and our historical performance may not be indicative of our future prospects and operating results.

In addition, we recently acquired certain online course-related businesses, including the operations of NetEase Cloud Classroom, China University MOOC and NetEase Kada, from the NetEase Group. Since both these businesses and our company are controlled by NetEase both before and after the acquisition, such transactions are accounted for as business combinations under common control. Therefore, the consolidated financial statements reflect the results of such acquired businesses as if the current corporate structure, including the transfer of business in May 2019, had been in existence throughout the periods presented. See our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus. Such acquired business had operating losses of RMB59.7 million and RMB78.0 million (US$11.4 million), respectively, in 2017 and 2018. Given our limited history operating such newly acquired businesses, there is no assurance that we will be successfully improve our operating margin as a result of such acquisition and achieve operating efficiency and synergies as a result of integrating such acquired business going forward.

Managing a growing portfolio of products and services and integrating acquired business with our existing business and operations involve significant challenges and risks, including those relating to our ability to:

 

   

integrate our operational, administrative and financial systems and internal controls across business segments;

 

   

educate the market on, and monetize the user bases of, our new products and services;

 

   

keep up with the evolving industry standards and market developments;

 

   

secure sufficient financing to support the operations of new products and services and acquired businesses;

 

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develop and apply technologies necessary to support our expanded product and service offerings;

 

   

respond to changes in the regulatory environment;

 

   

cross-sell our various offerings and achieve synergies and cost savings among different business units; and

 

   

address competitive, regulatory, marketing and other challenges encountered in connection with expansion into new businesses and markets.

If we are unable to successfully address these risks and uncertainties, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

If we fail to develop and apply our technologies to support and expand our product and service offerings or if we fail to timely respond to the rapid changes in industry trends and users’ preference, we may lose market share and our business may be materially and adversely affected.

We believe our technologies are critical to our business. Over the years, we have developed a number of core technologies to support our comprehensive suite of products and services. We also rely on technologies to build and maintain our IT infrastructure. The intelligent learning industry is subject to rapid technological changes and innovations and is affected by unpredictable product lifecycles and user preferences. Our technologies may become obsolete or insufficient, and we may have difficulties in following and adapting to technological changes in the intelligent learning industry in a timely and cost-effective manner. New technologies and solutions developed and introduced by our competitors could render our offerings less attractive or obsolete thus materially affecting our business and prospects. In addition, our substantial investments in technology may not produce expected results. If we fail to continue to develop, innovate and utilize our technologies or if our competitors develop or apply more advanced technologies, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be effective in broadening our monetization channels.

We have developed a diversified monetization model and plan to explore additional opportunities to monetize our user base, content and technologies by, for example, offering additional technology solutions to our business customers and providing additional subscription options to users to increase their spending with us. If these efforts fail to achieve our anticipated results, we may not be able to increase or maintain our revenue growth. Specifically, in order to increase the number of our users and students and their levels of spending, we will need to address a number of challenges, including providing consistently high-quality and effective learning content, products and services; continuing to innovate and stay ahead of our competitors; and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of our sales and marketing efforts. If we fail to address any of these challenges, especially if we fail to offer high-quality learning content, products and services to meet user preferences and demands, we may not be successful in increasing the number of our users and increasing their spending, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The success and future growth of our business will be affected by the user acceptance and market trend of integration of technology and learning.

We operate in the intelligent learning industry, and our business model features integrating technology closely with learning to provide a more efficient and engaging learning experience. However, intelligent learning remains a relatively new concept in China, and there are limited proven methods to project user demand or preference or available industry standards on which we can rely. For example, despite the early popularity of Youdao Smart Pen among the students of Youdao Premium Courses, there is no guarantee that it will also be well received by the broader user and student community. In addition, even with the proliferation of internet and mobile devices in China, we believe that some of our target students may still be inclined to choose traditional,

 

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face-to-face courses over online courses as they find the former more intimate and reliable. We cannot assure you that our products and services will continue to be attractive to our users in the future. If our AI-powered learning products and services become less appealing to our users, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be able to improve or expand our product and service offerings in a timely and cost-effective manner.

We regularly and constantly update our existing product and service offerings and develop new products, services and content to meet our users’ and students’ demand and the evolving market trends. New products, services and content may not be accepted by our users and students as we expect, and we may not be able to introduce them as quickly as our competitors introduce competing offerings. The development of new products, services and content could be costly and time-consuming and requires us to make significant investments in research and product development, develop new technologies, and increase sales and marketing efforts, all of which may not be successful. If we are unsuccessful in improving or expanding our product and service offerings due to financial constraints, failure to attract qualified personnel or other reasons, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer.

We have a history of net losses and we may not achieve profitability in the future.

We had net losses of RMB163.9 million, RMB209.3 million (US$30.5 million) and RMB167.9 million (US$24.5 million), respectively, in 2017 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate net profits in the future. We intend to continue to invest heavily in sales, marketing and branding efforts which is expected to cause our sales and marketing expenses to increase continuously and rapidly. We also intend to continue to invest heavily in the foreseeable future in improving our technologies, hiring qualified faculty and R&D personnel and offering additional products, services and contents. These efforts may be more costly than we expect and our net revenues may not increase sufficiently to offset the expenses. We may continue to take actions and make investments that do not generate optimal financial results and may even result in significantly increased operating and net losses in the short term with no assurance that we will eventually achieve our intended long-term benefits or profitability. In particular, as we began to strategically increase our spending on online traffic acquisition channels in the second quarter of 2019 in order to attract new users and students, we expect to see further increases in sales and marketing expenses at least through the remaining quarters of 2019. These factors may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business depends on the continued success of our brand, and if we fail to maintain and enhance recognition of our brand, our reputation and operating results may be harmed.

We believe that market awareness of our “Youdao” brand has contributed significantly to our success. Maintaining and enhancing our brand are critical to our efforts to scale our business and attract and retain users and students. Failure to maintain and enhance our brand recognition could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We have devoted significant resources to maintaining and promoting our brand, but we cannot assure you that these efforts will be successful. If we are unable to further enhance our brand recognition, or if our brand image is negatively impacted by any negative publicity, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We may also be negatively impacted by negative publicity associated with NetEase or any member of the NetEase Group; see also “—Any negative development in NetEase’s market position, brand recognition or financial condition may materially and adversely affect us.”

 

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We require a significant amount of capital to fund our operations and respond to business opportunities. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms, or at all, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We may make investments from time to time in content and product development, technologies, branding, sales and marketing to remain competitive. In the past, our principal sources of liquidity included loans from the NetEase Group and the proceeds received from the issuance and sale of our preferred shares. See “Related Party Transactions” and “Description of Share Capital—History of Securities Issuances.” Our ability to obtain additional financing in the future is subject to a number of uncertainties, including those relating to:

 

   

our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;

 

   

general market conditions for financing activities; and

 

   

macro-economic and other conditions in China and elsewhere.

Although we expect to rely less on financing support from our existing shareholders and rely increasingly on net cash provided by operating activities and financing through capital markets and commercial banks for our liquidity needs as our business continues to grow and as we become a public company, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in our efforts to diversify our sources of capital. If we cannot obtain sufficient capital, we may not be able to implement our growth strategies, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We have significant working capital requirements and have historically experienced working capital deficits. If we continue to experience working capital deficits in the future, our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

As a result of changes in our funding position and operating assets and liabilities, we had a working capital (defined as total current assets deducted by total current liabilities) deficit of RMB974.9 million, RMB705.3 million (US$102.7 million) and RMB805.2 million (US$117.3 million), respectively, as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019. As of June 30, 2019, we had outstanding interest-bearing short-term loans payable to the NetEase Group in the amount of RMB878.0 million (US$127.9 million), which constituted a substantial portion of our current liabilities. These loans are generally repayable within one year and were advanced to us by the NetEase Group to provide working capital for our business operations. Repayment of the loans would materially and adversely affect our liquidity, financial position and cash flows.

There is no assurance that we will generate sufficient net income or operating cash flows to meet our working capital requirements and repay our liabilities as they become due, due to a variety of factors. For actions that we plan to take in order to address our working capital deficit, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully take any of these actions in a timely manner, including prudently managing our working capital, or raising additional equity or debt financing on terms that are acceptable to us. Our inability to take these actions as and when necessary could materially adversely affect our liquidity, results of operations, financial condition and ability to operate.

Certain aspects of our business operations may be deemed not to be in full compliance with PRC regulatory requirements regarding online private education. Additionally, we are subject to the risks relating to the uncertainties in the implementation of these requirements and additional regulatory requirements and restrictions regarding online private education.

The private education industry in the PRC is subject to various regulations. Relevant rules and regulations are relatively new and evolving and could be changed to accommodate the development of the education markets, in particular, the online private education markets from time to time.

 

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Pursuant to the amended Law for Promoting Private Education, or the amended Private Education Law, a “private school” may be organized as a non-profit or for-profit school at the discretion of its sponsor who shall obtain approval or a certain operating permit granted by, and register the school with, relevant government authorities. See “Regulation—Regulation Related to Private Education—The Law for Promoting Private Education and Its Implementing Rules.” We, as an online education service provider, are different from traditional offline education service providers, and prior to the publication of the amended Private Education Law in November 2016, in practice, limited liability companies engaging in educational consulting services, tutoring services and similar types of training activities that operate without private school operating permits were generally considered not regulated by the pre-amended Private Education Law. It remains unclear in practice as to whether and how an online education service provider needs to comply with the operating permit requirement under the amended Private Education Law. In August 2018, the Ministry of Justice, or MOJ, published the draft amendment to the Regulations on the Implementation of the Law for Promoting Private Education of the PRC, or MOJ Draft, for public comment. According to the MOJ Draft, online diploma-awarding education service providers shall obtain a private school operating permit and we, as an online non-diploma-awarding training service provider, shall file with the department of education at the provincial level. The MOJ Draft further stipulates that the internet technology service platform that provides the training and educational activities shall review and register the identity information of institutions or individuals applying for access to the platform. See “Regulations—Regulation Related to Private Education—The Law for Promoting Private Education and its Implementing Rules.” As of the date of this prospectus, the MOJ Draft is still pending final approval and has not come into effect. It remains uncertain when and how the MOJ Draft would come into effect, and whether and how local government would promulgate rules related to the filing or licensing requirement applicable to online education service providers. In addition, the differences between “training services” and “educational consulting services” were unclear under PRC law with no laws specifically providing that the scope of “educational consulting services” is not broad enough to cover “after-school training services” until August 6, 2018 when the State Council issued the Opinion on the Regulation of the Development of After-school Training Institutions, or the State Council Circular 80, which explicitly provides that after-school training institutions shall not provide training services to primary and secondary students in the form of consulting.

We operate our online education services in China primarily through Youdao Computer whose permitted scope of business as set forth in its business license includes educational consulting (except for agent services), application software services, computer technology training and technology services, but does not explicitly cover the provision of training services to primary and secondary students. While it remains unclear whether the State Council Circular 80 would be applied equally to both offline and online education services, due to the prohibition under the State Council Circular 80 on the provision of training services to primary and secondary students in the form of consulting, we cannot assure you that government authorities would not take a view that Youdao Computer is operating beyond its permitted scope of business, in which case we may be subject to fines or confiscation of the gains derived from the non-compliant operations and may be required to cease the non-compliant operations.

Further, the Ministry of Education, or the MOE, jointly with certain other PRC government authorities, promulgated the Implementation Opinions on Regulating Online After-School Training, or the Online After-School Training Opinions, effective on July 12, 2019. The Online After-School Training Opinions are intended to regulate academic after-school training involving internet technology provided to students in primary and secondary schools. Among other things, the Online After-School Training Opinions require that online after-school training institutions shall file with the competent provincial education regulatory authorities before October 31, 2019 and that such education regulatory authorities shall, jointly with other provincial government authorities, review such filings and the qualifications of the online after-school training institutions submitting such filings. The Online After-School Training Opinions also impose a series of new regulatory requirements, including (i) each class shall not last longer than 40 minutes and shall be taken at intervals of not less than 10 minutes; (ii) live streaming courses provided to students receiving compulsory education shall not end later than 9:00 p.m.; (iii) where fees are charged based on the number of classes, fees are not allowed to be collected in a lump sum for more than 60 classes, and where fees are charged based on the length of the course, the fees shall

 

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not be collected for a course length of more than three months; and (iv) instructors are required to obtain the necessary teacher qualification licenses. According to the Online After-School Training Opinions, provincial education regulatory authorities shall promulgate local implementing rules regarding the above-mentioned filing requirements. For details, see “Regulations—Regulation Related to Private Education—The Online After-School Training Opinions.” Moreover, the MOE, jointly with certain other PRC government authorities, issued the Opinions on Guiding and Regulating the Orderly and Healthy Development of Educational Mobile Apps on September 5, 2019, or the Opinions on Educational Apps, which requires, among others, mobile apps that offer services for school teaching and management, student learning and student life, or home-school interactions, with school faculty, students or parents as the main users, and with education or learning as the main application scenarios, be filed with the competent provincial regulatory authorities for education before the end of 2019. The MOE expects to further promulgate implementation rules with respect to such filing requirements. See “Regulations—Regulation Related to Private Education—Regulation Related to After-school Tutoring and Educational Apps.”

Certain aspects of our online course business may be deemed to not be in full compliance with the Online After-School Training Opinions. For example, some of our K-12 live-streaming courses end after 9:00 p.m., and the tuition fees of some courses are collected at one time for a course length of more than three months or in a lump sum for more than 60 classes. In addition, some of our instructors have not obtained the necessary teacher qualification licenses. As of the date of this prospectus, approximately 64% of our K-12 instructors have obtained teacher qualification licenses, and approximately 19% of our K-12 instructors have passed the government-run exam which is the prerequisite for obtaining teacher qualification licenses, but have not yet been formally qualified. We are making efforts to comply with the Online After-School Training Opinions by, for example, making changes to our course schedule and tuition collection method and notifying our K-12 instructors of the requirement to obtain the necessary teacher qualification licenses. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not received any written notice of warning from, or been subject to penalties imposed by, the relevant government authorities for alleged failure by us to comply with the Online After-School Training Opinions. We are also preparing the filing materials as required under the Online After-School Training Opinions and the Opinions on Educational Apps. As the Online After-School Training Opinions and the Opinions on Educational Apps were newly promulgated and the relevant authorities have not issued its implementation rules with respect to the filing requirements under the Online After-School Training Opinions and the Opinions on Educational Apps, we cannot assure you that we will complete such filing and comply with other regulatory requirements under the Online After-School Training Opinions, the Opinions on Educational Apps and their related local rules in a timely manner, or at all. If we fail to promptly complete such filing and comply with other applicable regulatory requirements, we may be subject to fines, regulatory orders to suspend our operations or other regulatory and disciplinary sanctions.

In addition, it is uncertain whether and how the PRC government would promulgate additional laws and regulations regarding the online private education industry, and there is no assurance that we can comply with any such newly promulgated laws and regulations in a timely manner. Failure to regain compliance may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we fail to retain existing or attract new advertising customers, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We generate a substantial portion of our net revenues from online marketing services. We generated net revenues of RMB305.8 million, RMB302.9 million (US$44.1 million) and RMB233.7 million (US$34.0 million) in 2017 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, from online marketing services. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our advertising customers in the future, attract new advertising customers continuously or be able to retain our advertising customers at all. If our advertising customers find that they can generate better returns elsewhere, or if our competitors provide better advertising services to suit our advertising customers’ goals, we may lose our advertising customers. In addition, third parties may develop and use certain technologies to block the display of our advertising customers’ advertisements on our platform, which

 

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may in turn cause us to lose advertising customers and adversely affect our results of operations. Since many of our advertising customers are not bound by long-term contracts, they may lessen or discontinue advertising arrangements with us easily without incurring material liabilities. Failure to retain existing advertising customers or attract new advertising customers may materially and adversely affect our financial conditions and results of operations. In addition, a significant portion of our brand advertising customers have entered into advertising agreements with us through various third-party advertising agencies. As a result, we rely on third-party advertising agencies for sales to, and collection of payment from, our brand advertisers. The financial soundness of our advertising customers and advertising agencies may affect our collection of accounts receivable.

Users may decide not to use our products and services for a number of reasons, including a perceived lack of improvement in their academic performance or general dissatisfaction with our offerings, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.

The success of our business depends on our ability to deliver a high-quality learning experiences and help users and students achieve their learning objectives. We may not always be able to meet our users’ and students’ expectations i due to a variety of reasons, many of which are outside of our control. We may face increased user dissatisfaction due to our users’ perceptions of our failure to help them achieve their anticipated goals, their overall dissatisfaction with the quality of our offerings. These factors may contribute to reduced user engagement and increased challenges in attracting prospective users and students, all of which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be able to continue to recruit, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified instructors and teaching assistants.

Our instructors and teaching assistants are key to the quality of our online courses offerings, as well as our brand and reputation. We have invested, and will continue to invest, substantially in building and enhancing our course development studios to drive our learning content creation, and this, in turn, depends on our ability to continue to attract a sufficient number of high-quality instructors, as well as to establish and maintain attractive compensation and incentive arrangements with instructors, especially the popular ones. If we lose any of our high-quality instructors to our competitors, the attractiveness of our course and content offerings may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Given the interactive nature of our live streaming courses, we tend to hire instructors and teaching assistants with strong education background and good communication skills. The market for recruitment of instructors and teaching assistants in China is competitive. In order to recruit qualified instructors and teaching assistants, we must provide candidates with competitive compensation packages and offer attractive career development opportunities. Although we have not experienced major difficulties in recruiting qualified instructors and teaching assistants in the past, we cannot guarantee we will be able to continue to recruit, train and retain a sufficient number of qualified instructors and teaching assistants in the future as we continue to expand our course offerings and business scale, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, our brand and business may suffer.

We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. Although we seek to obtain copyright or patent protection for our intellectual property when applicable, it is possible that we may not be able to do so successfully or that the copyright or patent we have obtained may not be sufficient to protect all of our intellectual property rights. In particular, we primarily rely on our learning content developed in-house to provide high-quality intelligent learning services. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary education content and other intellectual property rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or duplicate our intellectual property or otherwise use our

 

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intellectual properties without obtaining our consent. Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will effectively prevent misappropriation of our intellectual properties. If we are not successful in protecting our intellectual property rights, our business and results of operations may be adversely affected.

We may from time to time be subject to infringement claims relating to intellectual properties of third parties.

We cannot assure you that our content, product and service offerings or our technologies do not or will not infringe upon copyrights or other intellectual property rights (including but not limited to trademarks, patents, know-how) held by third parties. We may encounter disputes from time to time over rights and obligations concerning intellectual properties, and we may not prevail in those disputes.

We have adopted policies and procedures to prohibit our students, users, employees and business partners from infringing upon third-party copyright or other intellectual property rights. However, we cannot assure you that they will not, against our policies, use third-party copyrighted materials or intellectual property without proper authorization in our online courses or via any medium through which we provide our services. To the extent that our students, users, employees and business partners use intellectual property rights or copyrights owned by others, disputes may arise as to the rights in related know-how and inventions and other proprietary assets. In addition, we may incur liability for unauthorized duplication or distribution of materials used in our online courses. Although we have set up rules and procedures to enable copyright owners to provide us with notice of alleged infringement, given the volume of content available that we offer, it is not possible for us to identify and remove or disable all potentially infringing content that may exist, and we may encounter intellectual property claims. If any third-party infringement claims are brought against us, we may be forced to divert management’s time and other resources from our business and operations to defend against these claims, or may be prohibited from using such intellectual property or relevant contents, and we may incur licensing or usage fees or be forced to develop alternatives of our own. As a result, our reputation may be harmed and our business and financial performance may be materially and adversely affected.

We face intense competition, which could lead to pricing pressure and loss of market share and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We operate in the competitive intelligent learning industry and are faced with intense competition in every aspect of our business, including competition for users, student enrollments, technology and talents. For example, we face competition for our online course offerings from online and offline providers of courses and educational content. We also face competition for our knowledge tools from providers of online dictionary and translation solutions and note-taking services and for our smart device offerings from manufacturers of smart hardware or devices. We also compete with advertisers and their budgets, not only with internet companies, but also with other types of advertising media, such as newspapers, magazines, and television. Some of our current and future competitors may have greater brand recognition and financial and other resources than we do, which may make it harder for us to maintain or gain market share. If we are not able to effectively compete against current or future competitors, our business, financial condition and results of operations could suffer. Increased competition may result in pricing pressure, reducing our ability to charge higher prices for our products and services. The increasingly competitive landscape may also result in longer and more complex sales cycles with a prospective paying user and student and cause us to lose market share to our competitors, any of which could materially and negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.

We may not be able to maintain or increase our tuition level.

Our results of operations are affected by the pricing of our online course offerings. We determine the tuition for our online courses primarily based on the market demand for our course offerings, the cost of our operations, the pricing charged by our competitors, and the general economic conditions, among other things. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to maintain or increase our tuition level in the future without adversely affecting the demand for our online course offerings.

 

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Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate, which makes our results of operations difficult to predict and may cause our quarterly results of operations to fall short of expectations.

Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate depending on a number of factors, many of which are out of our control. Our operating results tend to be seasonal. We tend to generate higher net revenues from learning services and products in the second and fourth quarters mainly as a result of increased student enrollments in our online courses. Historically, we offered more courses in the second and fourth quarters for students preparing for school exams in the spring and fall semesters, in May and June for students preparing for the national college entrance exams, and in the fourth quarter for students preparing for China’s national postgraduate entrance examination and college English tests, than we did in the rest of the year. In addition, we historically generated lower net revenues from online marketing services in the first quarter as advertisers tend to reduce their online advertisement and marketing spending in the first quarter each year due to the Chinese New Year holidays. For these reasons, comparing our operating results on a consecutive quarter-over-quarter basis may not be meaningful, and you should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance. Our quarterly and annual net revenues and costs and expenses as a percentage of our revenues in a given period may be significantly different from our historical or projected rates and our operating results in future quarters may fall below expectations. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Selected Quarterly Results of Operations.”

If we are unable to manage our growth or execute our strategies effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

Our business has grown substantially in recent years, and we expect to continue to drive the growth of our business in the future. In addition, as we continue to diversify our product and service offerings, we will need to continuously enhance and upgrade our technology, optimize our branding, sales and marketing efforts, and expand, train and manage our faculty members and R&D personnel. All these efforts will require significant managerial, financial and human resources. We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively manage our growth, that our current technology, infrastructure and operation capabilities will be adequate and successful to support our expanding operations, or that our strategies and new business initiatives will be executed successfully. If we are not able to manage our growth or execute our strategies effectively, our expansion may not be successful and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Any significant disruption in our technology infrastructure or our failure to maintain the satisfactory performance, security and integrity of our technology infrastructure would reduce visitor traffic and may materially and adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

The proper functioning of our technology infrastructure is essential to our business. We heavily rely on our technology infrastructure to operate our business.

We may encounter problems when upgrading our technology infrastructure including our online platform, mobile apps, systems and software. The development, upgrades and implementation of our technology infrastructure are complex processes. Issues not identified during pre-launch testing of new services may only become evident when such services are made available to our entire customer base. Therefore, our technology infrastructure may not function properly if we fail to detect or solve technical errors in a timely manner. In addition, our systems are potentially vulnerable to damage or interruption as a result of natural disasters, power or telecommunications failures, air quality issues, environmental conditions, computer viruses or attempts to harm our systems, criminal acts and similar events.

These and other events may lead to the unavailability of the interruption of online course delivery, the availability of our tools and services and apps, or other events which would affect our operations. If we experience frequent or persistent service disruptions, our reputation may be damaged and our students or users may switch to our competitors, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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Failure to adequately and promptly respond to changes in examination systems, admission standards, test materials, teaching methods and regulation changes in the PRC could render our content, products and services less attractive to our users and students.

In China, school admissions rely heavily on examination results, and students’ performance in these exams is critical to their education and future employment prospects. It is therefore common for students to take after-school tutoring classes to improve their test performance, and the success of our online course offerings, particularly our K-12 after-school tutoring courses and other test preparation courses, to a large extent depends on the continued use of entrance exams or tests by schools in their admissions. However, such heavy emphasis on examination scores may decline or fall out of favor with educational institutions or government authorities in China. Admission and assessment processes undergo continuous changes, in terms of subject and skill focus, question type, examination format and the manner in which the processes are administered. We are therefore required to continually update and enhance our curricula, course materials and teaching methods. Any failure to respond to the changes in a timely and cost-effective manner will adversely impact the marketability of our online courses, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Regulations and policies that decrease the weight of scholastic competition achievements in the admissions process mandated by government authorities or adopted by schools may have an negative impact on our student enrollments. For example, the MOE issued certain implementation guidelines in January 2014 to clarify that local educational administrative departments at all levels, public schools and private schools are not allowed to use examinations to select their students for admission to middle schools from primary schools. Public schools may not use various competitions or examination certificates as the criteria or basis for enrollment. Failure to track and respond to these changes in a timely and cost-effective manner would render our courses, services and products less attractive to students, which may materially and adversely affect our reputation and ability to continue to attract and retain students.

Refunds or potential refund disputes of our course fees may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The refund policy of our online courses is based on a number of factors, including the total length of the course, whether the course has started when the refund request is made, among other things. Youdao Premium Courses historically accounted for most of the refunds we paid. In the first half of 2019, the refund rate (calculated by dividing the total amount of refund payments processed by the total amount of gross billings generated that year) of Youdao Premium Courses was approximately 3.5%. For more information, see “Business—How We Generate Revenues—Tuition.” The number of refund requests and the amount of refunds could be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include, without limitation to, student dissatisfaction with the quality of our online course offerings, a perceived decline in our faculty’s teaching quality due to the departure of popular instructors, privacy concerns relating to our products and services, negative publicity regarding us or online course providers in general, and any change or development in PRC laws and regulations with respect to fees and tuitions charged by online courses providers like us. Any refund payments that we may be required to make to our students, as well as the expenses we could incur for processing refunds and resolving refund disputes, could be substantial and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. A high volume of refunds and refund disputes may also generate negative publicity that could harm our reputation.

We may be adversely affected by any negative publicity concerning us and our business, shareholders, affiliates, directors, officers, instructors, teaching assistants and other employees and business partners, and the industry in which we operate, regardless of its accuracy, that could harm our reputation and business.

Negative publicity about us and our business, shareholders, affiliates, directors, officers, instructors, teaching assistants and other employees, business partners, as well as the industry in which we operate, can harm

 

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our brand and reputation. Negative publicity concerning these parties could be related to a wide variety of matters, including, but are not limited to:

 

   

alleged misconduct or other improper activities committed by our directors, officers, instructors, teaching assistants and other employees, including misrepresentation made by our employees to prospective students during sales and marketing activities;

 

   

false or malicious allegations or rumors about us or our directors, shareholders, affiliates, officers, instructors, teaching assistants and other employees;

 

   

complaints by our users and students about our products and services;

 

   

security breaches of private user or transaction data;

 

   

employment-related claims relating to alleged employment discrimination, wage and hour violations; and

 

   

governmental and regulatory investigations or penalties resulting from our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

See also “—Any negative development in NetEase’s market position, brand recognition or financial condition may materially and adversely affect us.”

In addition to traditional media, there has been an increasing use of social media platforms and similar devices in China, including instant messaging applications, social media websites and other forms of internet-based communications that provide individuals with access to a broad audience of consumers and other interested persons. The availability of information on instant messaging applications and social media platforms is virtually immediate as is its impact without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction. The opportunity for dissemination of information, including inaccurate information, is seemingly limitless and readily available. Information concerning our company, shareholders, directors, officers and employees may be posted on such platforms at any time. The risks associated with any such negative publicity or incorrect information cannot be completely eliminated or mitigated and may materially harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our reputation and business may be adversely impacted by our users’, students’ and employees’ misconduct, improper activities and misuse of our content, products and services, many of which are beyond our control.

Our courses undergo multiple rounds of internal review before being broadly released. We regularly and actively monitor our live courses and other content and communications to ensure that we are able to identify content that may be deemed inappropriate or violation of laws, regulations and government policies. When any inappropriate or illegal content is identified, we promptly remove the content. However, since we have limited control over the real-time and offline behavior of our students, instructors and teaching assistants, to the extent any improper behavior is associated with our content, products and services, our ability to protect our reputation may be limited. In addition, if any of our users, instructors and teaching assistants suffer or allege to have suffered harm following contact initiated through our products and services, we may face civil lawsuits or other liabilities. In response to allegations of illegal or inappropriate activities, PRC government authorities may intervene and hold us liable for non-compliance with PRC laws and regulations concerning the dissemination of information on the internet and subject us to administrative penalties or other sanctions, such as requiring us to restrict or discontinue our content, products or services. As a result, our business may suffer and our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We are also exposed to the risk of other types of employee fraud or other misconduct. Other types of employee misconduct include intentionally failing to comply government regulations, engaging in unauthorized activities and misrepresentation to our prospective users during sales and marketing activities, which could harm our reputation. It is not always possible to deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent

 

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and detect this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses, which could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to liability claims or legal or regulatory liability for any inappropriate or illegal content, which could subject us to liabilities and cause damages to our reputation.

Although we implement various monitoring procedures to identify and remove inappropriate or illegal content, we cannot assure you that there will be no inappropriate or illegal content included in our content offerings including, for example, our proprietary quiz banks, the language-related information displayed on Youdao Dictionary that we mined from the internet, and content generated and uploaded to our online platforms by our users and students. We may face civil, administrative or criminal liability or legal or regulatory sanctions, such as requiring us to restrict or discontinue our content, products or services, if an individual or corporate, governmental or other entity believes that any of the content offerings violates any laws, regulations or governmental policies or infringes upon its legal rights. Even if such a claim were not successful, defending such a claim may cause us to incur substantial costs. Moreover, any accusation of inappropriate or illegal content in our content offerings could lead to significant negative publicity, which could harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Privacy concerns or security breaches relating to our platform could result in economic loss, damage our reputation, deter users from using our products, and expose us to legal penalties and liability.

We collect, process, and store significant amounts of data concerning our users, business partners and employees, including personal and transaction data involving our users. While we have taken reasonable steps to protect such data, there is no guarantee that such steps will be successful. Techniques used to gain unauthorized access to data and systems, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems, are constantly evolving, and we may be unable to anticipate, deter, or prevent such techniques or otherwise implement adequate preventative measures to avoid unauthorized access to such data or our systems.

Like all internet services, our service is vulnerable to software bugs, computer viruses, internet worms, break-ins, phishing attacks, attempts to overload servers with denial-of-service, and similar attacks and disruptions from the unauthorized use of our and third-party computer systems, any of which could lead to system interruptions, delays, or shutdowns and cause the loss of critical data or the unauthorized access to our data or our users’ data. Computer malware, viruses, and computer hacking and phishing attacks have become more prevalent in our industry. Any functions that we use to facilitate interactivity with other internet platforms have the potential to increase the scope of access that hackers may have to our user accounts. Though it is difficult to determine what, if any, harm may directly result from any specific interruption or attack, our failure to maintain performance, reliability, security and availability of our products and technical infrastructure to the satisfaction of our users may harm our reputation and ability to retain existing users and attract new users. Although we have in place systems and processes that are designed to protect our and our users’ data, we cannot assure you that such measures will provide absolute security. We may incur significant costs in protecting against cyber-attacks, and if an actual or perceived breach of security occurs to our systems or a third party’s systems, we could be required to expend significant resources to mitigate the breach of security and to address matters related to any such breach, including notifying users or regulators.

We are subject to a variety of laws and other obligations regarding data protection, any failure to comply with applicable laws and obligations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to various regulatory requirements relating to the security and privacy of data, including restrictions on the collection and use of personal information and requirements to take steps to prevent personal data from being divulged, stolen, or tampered with. See “Regulation—Regulation Related to Internet Information Security and Privacy Protection.” Regulatory requirements regarding the protection of data are constantly

 

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evolving and can be subject to differing interpretations or significant change, making the extent of our responsibilities in that regard uncertain. For example, the Cybersecurity Law of the PRC became effective in June 2017, but there are great uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of the law. It is possible that those regulatory requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices. In addition, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued an announcement on January 23, 2019 regarding carrying out special campaigns against mobile internet application programs collecting and using personal information in violation of applicable laws and regulations, which prohibits business operators from collecting personal information irrelevant to their services, or forcing users to give authorization in disguised manner. Further, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Provisions on the Cyber Protection of Children’s Personal Information on August 22, 2019, which will take effect on October 1, 2019. The Provisions on the Cyber Protection of Children’s Personal Information requires, among others, that network operators who collect, store, use, transfer and disclose personal information of children under the age of 14 shall establish special rules and user agreements for the protection of children’s personal information, inform the children’s guardians in a noticeable and clear manner, and shall obtain the consent of the children’s guardians. We have been taking and will continue to take reasonable measures to comply with such announcement and provisions; however, as the announcement and provisions are relatively new, we cannot assure you we can adapt our operations to it in a timely manner.

Any failure, or perceived failure, by us, or by our third-party partners, to maintain the security of our user data or to comply with applicable privacy, data security and personal information protection laws, regulations, policies, contractual provisions, industry standards, and other requirements, may result in civil or regulatory liability, including governmental or data protection authority enforcement actions and investigations, fines, penalties, enforcement orders requiring us to cease operating in a certain way, litigation, or adverse publicity, and may require us to expend significant resources in responding to and defending allegations and claims. Moreover, claims or allegations that we have failed to adequately protect our users’ data, or otherwise violated applicable privacy, data security and personal information protection laws, regulations, policies, contractual provisions, industry standards, or other requirements, may result in damage to our reputation and a loss of confidence in us by our users or our partners, potentially causing us to lose users, advertisers, content providers, other business partners and revenues, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may face risks and uncertainties with respect to the licensing requirement for internet audio-visual programs.

According to relevant PRC laws and regulations, no entities or individuals may provide internet audio-visual program services, which includes making and editing of audio-visual programs concerning educational content and broadcasting such content to the general public online, without a License for Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs issued by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, or the SAPPRFT (currently known as National Radio and Television Administration), or its local bureaus or completing the relevant registration procedures with SAPPRFT or its local bureaus. And only state-owned or state-controlled entities are eligible to apply for a License for Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs. See “Regulation—Regulation Related to Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs.” However, there are still significant uncertainties relating to the interpretation and implementation of the Administrative Provisions on Internet Audio-Visual Program Service, or the Audio-Visual Program Provisions, in particular, the scope of “internet audio-visual programs.”

We offer live courses in live streaming format where the live audio/video data are transmitted through the platforms between the specific recipients instantly without any further redaction. In addition, we also offer video recordings of live streaming courses and certain other audio-video contents on our online platforms to our students. We believe the nature of the raw data we transmit distinguishes us from general providers of internet audio-visual program services. However, we cannot assure you that the competent PRC government authorities

 

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will not ultimately take a view contrary to our opinion. Provisional Implementation of the Tentative Categories of Internet Audio-Visual Program Services promulgated by the SAPPRFT, or the Categories, describe “internet audio-visual program services” in a very broad, vague manner and are unclear as to whether the contents we offer or are available on our platforms fall into the definition of “internet audio-visual programs.” The PRC government may find that our activities mentioned above or any other content offered on our mobile apps fall within the definition of “internet audio-visual programs” and thus are subject to the licensing requirement for internet audio-visual programs. We currently do not hold a License for Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs. If the PRC government determines that our content should be considered as “internet audio-visual programs” for the purpose of the Audio-Visual Program Provisions, we may be required to obtain a License for Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs. We are, however, not eligible to apply for such license since we are not a state-owned or state-controlled entity. If this were to occur, we may be subject to penalties, fines, legal sanctions or an order to suspend the provision of our relevant content.

Our failure to obtain, maintain or renew other licenses, approvals, permits, registrations or filings necessary to conduct our operations in China could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

A number of PRC regulatory authorities, such as the SAIC, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the SAPPRFT, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Welfare, oversee different aspects of our business operations, and we are required to obtain a wide range of licenses, approvals, permits, registrations and filings required for conducting our business in China, and we cannot assure you that we have obtained all of them or will continue to maintain or renew all of them.

We may be deemed to provide certain services or conduct certain activities and thus be subject to certain licenses, approvals, permits, registrations and filings due to the lack of official interpretations of certain terms under internet related PRC regulations and laws. For example, certain content posted on our mobile apps and/or websites, including our course materials, may be deemed as “internet cultural products,” and our use of such content may be regarded as “internet cultural activities,” thus we may be required to obtain an Internet Culture Business Operating License for provision of such content through our mobile apps and websites. Our production and distribution of course materials and audio-visual content may also be deemed as providing radio and TV programs, and thus we may be required to obtain the Permit for Production and Operation of Radio and TV Programs. Also, due to the ambiguity of the definition of “online publishing service,” the online distribution of content, including our course materials, through our mobile apps, may be regarded as an “online publishing service” and therefore we may be required to obtain an Online Publishing License. In addition, we deliver certain courses in live-streaming format on our mobile apps which the relevant authorities may regard as a live-streaming platform and may thus require us to make necessary filings as a live-streaming platform. We or third parties post information on our mobile apps and websites that may be viewed as news information, and the release of such information on our mobile apps and websites may be deemed as Internet news information services and therefore require us to obtain Internet news information licenses. We currently have not obtained any of the above licenses nor have we made any such filings. Although we do not think we are subject to any of these licenses or filing requirements, and as of the date of this prospectus, we have not been subject to any fines or other form of regulatory or administrative penalties or sanctions due to the lack of any the licenses, approvals, permits, registrations and filings, we cannot assure you that the PRC government authorities will not take a different view or will not require us to obtain any additional licenses, approvals, permits, registrations and filings in the future. We also print and provide physical education materials to our students. If the government authorities deem such activities as “publication distribution” under Administrative Provisions on the Publications Market, we may be required to obtain the Publication License. Furthermore, although we have obtained a Value-Added Telecommunications Business Operating License, also known as the ICP License, that specifically permits us to provide certain internet information services, due to uncertainties with respect to the interpretation of relevant laws and regulations by PRC government authorities, we cannot assure you that our ICP License covers all the telecommunication services we currently provide, and in the event that our ICP License is found

 

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not to cover all the telecommunication services we currently provide, we may be required to obtain an additional Value-Added Telecommunications Business Operating License or to update our existing ICP License. Failures to obtain or update such license may subject us to fines and other regulatory, civil or criminal liabilities, and we may be ordered by the competent government authorities to suspend printing and providing such offline educational materials to our students, which will materially and adversely affect our business operation.

In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain our existing licenses, approvals, registrations or permits necessary to provide our current online services in China, renew any of them when their current term expires, or update existing licenses or obtain additional licenses, approvals, permits, registrations or filings necessary for our business expansion from time to time. If we fail to do so, our business, financial conditions and operational results may be materially and adversely affected.

Our business is subject to the risks of international operations.

We have launched products in overseas markets, such as U-Dictionary in India and Indonesia. As we plan to expand our operations in additional emerging markets and regions, we may have to adapt our business models to the local market due to various legal requirements and market conditions. Our international operations and expansion efforts have resulted and may continue to result in increased costs and are subject to a variety of risks, including increased competition, uncertain enforcement of our intellectual property rights, changes and evolutions in overseas market conditions and user preferences, and the complexity of compliance with foreign laws and regulations.

In addition, compliance with applicable Chinese and foreign laws and regulations, such as import and export requirements, anti-corruption laws, tax laws, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, data privacy requirements, labor laws, restrictions on foreign investment, and anti-competition regulations, increases the costs and risk exposure of doing business in foreign jurisdictions. Although we have implemented policies and procedures to comply with these laws and regulations, a violation by us or our employees, contractors or agents could nevertheless occur. In some cases, compliance with the laws and regulations of one country could violate the laws and regulations of another country. Violations of these laws and regulations could materially and adversely affect our brand, international growth efforts and business.

We may not be successful in developing or maintaining relationships with key participants in the mobile industry or in developing or offering products and services that operate effectively with these operating systems, networks, devices and standards.

We make our products and services available on both iOS and Android systems across a variety of mobile devices. We depend on the interoperability of our products and services with popular devices and mobile operating systems that we do not control. Any changes in devices or their systems that degrade the functionality of our products and services or give preferential treatment to competitive products or services could adversely affect usage of our products and services. We may not be successful in developing relationships with key participants in the mobile industry or in developing products and services that operate effectively with their operating systems, networks, devices and standards. We also cooperate with key participants in the mobile industry to display our products and services on the front page of their respective app stores and recommend our products and services to help us attract prospective users. If we cannot maintain such relationships at reasonable costs or at all, we may not get sufficient exposure on their respective platforms, which will impair our ability to acquire traffic. Moreover, we are subject to the terms, policies and conditions of the app stores. If any of the key participants finds us to be in violation of the terms, policies and conditions of its app store, it may seek economic damages from us or remove our products from its app store. Such incident would also harm our relationship with the key participant. Further, if the number of systems, networks and devices for which we develop our products and services increases, it will result in an increase in our costs and expenses, and adversely affect our net margin and results of operations.

 

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If we are unable to conduct sales and marketing activities cost-effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

We rely on our sales and marketing efforts to enlarge our user base and drive the growth of our paying users. Our sales and marketing activities may not be well received by the market and may not result in the levels of sales that we anticipate. We also may not be able to retain or recruit a sufficient number of experienced sales and marketing personnel, or to train newly hired sales and marketing personnel, which we believe is critical to implementing our sales and marketing strategies cost-effectively. Further, sales and marketing approaches and tools in China’s intelligent learning industry are evolving rapidly. This requires us to continually enhance our sales and marketing approaches and experiment with new methods to keep pace with industry developments and user preferences. Failure to engage in sales and marketing activities in a cost-effective manner may reduce our market share, cause our net revenues to decline, negatively impact our profitability, and materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our success depends on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and other key employees.

We depend on the continued contributions of our senior management and other key employees. The loss of the services of any of our senior management or other key employees could harm our business. Competition for qualified talents in China is intense. If one or more of our senior management or other key employees are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to find replacements in a timely manner, or at all, and our business may be disrupted. Moreover, if any member of our senior management team or any of our other key personnel joins a competitor or forms or invests in a competing business, we may reduce students or users base, qualified instructors and teaching assistants and other key sales and marketing personnel to our competitors. Our future success is also dependent on our ability to attract a significant number of qualified employees and retain existing key employees. If we are unable to do so, our business and growth may be materially and adversely affected. Our need to significantly increase the number of our qualified employees and retain key employees may cause us to materially increase compensation-related costs, including share-based compensation.

We may be the subject of detrimental conduct by third parties such as our competitors, including complaints to regulatory agencies and the public dissemination of malicious assessments of our business, which could have a negative impact on our reputation.

We have been, and in the future may be, the target of anti-competitive, harassing or other detrimental conduct by third parties including our competitors. Such conduct may include complaints, anonymous or otherwise, to regulatory agencies regarding our operations, accounting, business relationships, business prospects and business ethics. Additionally, allegations, directly or indirectly against us, may be posted online by anyone, whether or not related to us, on an anonymous basis. We may be subject to government or regulatory investigation as a result of such third-party conduct and may be required to expend significant time and incur substantial costs to address such third-party conduct, and there is no assurance that we will be able to conclusively refute each of the allegations within a reasonable period of time, or at all. Our reputation may also be materially negatively affected as a result of the public dissemination of anonymous allegations or malicious statements about our business.

We might not be able to successfully pursue synergy from acquisitions or to achieve the benefits we expect from recent and future investments, strategic alliance and acquisitions.

We have recently acquired certain online course-related businesses, including NetEase Cloud Classroom, China University MOOC and NetEase Kada, from the NetEase Group. Integration of such businesses into ours may involve significant risks and uncertainties and cause disruptions to our existing operation and our ability to manage our future growth and may therefore result in material adverse impacts on our profitability and financial condition. Moreover, such acquired businesses incurred substantial losses prior to the acquisition, and there is no guarantee that we may be able to realize the anticipated returns and benefits from such businesses.

 

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We may also form strategic alliances or make strategic investments and acquisitions from time to time to complement and enhance our existing business. We may experience difficulties in integrating our operations with the newly invested or acquired businesses, implementing our strategies or achieving expected levels of revenues, profitability, productivity or other benefits. Moreover, if the businesses we acquire or invest in or our strategic alliances or partnerships do not subsequently generate the anticipated financial performance or if any goodwill impairment test triggering event occurs, we may need to revalue or write down the value of goodwill and other intangible assets in connection with such transactions, which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, we may be unable to identify appropriate strategic investment or alliance targets when it is necessary or desirable to make such acquisition or investment to remain competitive or to expand our business. Even if we identify an appropriate target, we may not be able to negotiate the terms of the transaction successfully. In the event that we do not have control over the companies in which we only have minority stake, we cannot ensure that these companies will at all times comply with applicable laws and regulations in their business operations. Material non-compliance by our investees may cause substantial harms to our reputations and the value of our investment.

We may be subject to litigations, allegations, complains and investigations from time to time arising out of our operations, and our reputation and operation may be adversely affected.

We have been and may continue to be involved in legal and other disputes in the ordinary courses of our business, including allegations against us for potential infringement of third party’s copyrights or other intellectual property rights, as well as customer complaints in relation to our refund policy, course content, the quality of our devices and data security and other dissatisfactions. We might be involved in governmental investigations for advertisement or content posted on our platforms in the future. Any claims against us, with or without merit, could be time consuming and costly to defend or litigate, divert our management’s attention and resources or harm our brand equity. If a lawsuit or governmental proceeding against us is successful, we may be required to pay substantial damages or fines and/or enter into royalty or license agreements that may not be based upon commercially reasonable terms, or we may be unable to enter into such agreements at all. We may also lose, or be limited in, the rights to offer some of our content, products and services or be required to make changes to our content offerings or business model. As a result, the scope of our content, product and service offerings could be reduced, which could adversely affect our ability to attract new users, harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our advertising content may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.

Under PRC advertising laws and regulations, we are obligated to monitor our advertising content to ensure that such content is true and accurate and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In addition, education or training advertisement are further prohibited from containing content such as guarantee for passing of examination or the effect of education or training, recommendation and/or endorsement by scientific research institutes, academic institutions, educational organizations, industry associations, professionals or beneficiaries using their name or image. Violation of these laws and regulations may subject us to penalties, including fines, confiscation of our advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an announcement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations by us, PRC government authorities may force us to terminate our advertising operations or revoke our licenses.

We cannot assure you that all the content contained in our advertisements is true and accurate as required by, and complies in all aspects with, the advertising laws and regulations, especially given the uncertainty in the interpretation of these PRC laws and regulations. If we are found to be in violation of applicable PRC advertising laws and regulations, we may be subject to penalties and our reputation may be harmed, which may negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

 

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While we believe that we currently have adequate internal control procedures in place, we are still exposed to potential risks from legislation requiring companies to evaluate controls under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Upon the completion of this offering, we will become a public company in the United States subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, will require that we include a report from management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

As a subsidiary of NetEase, we have been indirectly subject to requirements to maintain an effective internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002. Although we believe that we currently have adequate internal control procedures in place, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us.

During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, we may identify weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. Generally speaking, if we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information. This could in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of operations and lead to a decline in the trading price of the ADSs. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions.

We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an “emerging growth company.”

Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company and expect to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the NYSE, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies. As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenues for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting. The JOBS Act also permits an emerging growth company to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. However, we have elected to “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.

We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. After we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring

 

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compliance with the requirements of Section 404 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. For example, as a result of becoming a public company, we will need to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. We also expect that operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our Board of Directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.

We have granted, and may continue to grant, share incentives, which may result in increased share-based compensation expenses.

We adopted an equity incentive plan in February 2015 (as amended in April 2018), or the 2015 Plan, for the purpose of granting share-based compensation awards to employees, officers, directors and consultants to incentivize their performance and promote the success of our business.

We account for compensation costs for share-based awards granted under the 2015 Plan using a fair-value based method and recognize expenses in our consolidated statements of operations in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the performance condition for options granted thereunder will be satisfied upon completion of this offering; as a result, we will, upon the date of the completion of this offering, record a significant amount of cumulative share-based compensation expenses for those options for which the vesting conditions have been satisfied as of such date. If such performance condition were satisfied as of June 30, 2019, we would have recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB9.6 million (US$1.4 million) for those options for which service condition were satisfied as of such date. As of the date of this prospectus, options to purchase a total of 8,446,500 ordinary shares are outstanding under the 2015 Plan. In addition, we have recorded share-based compensation expenses of RMB5.3 million, RMB6.2 million (US$0.9 million) and RMB2.1 million (US$0.3 million), respectively, allocated to us based on equity awards granted to our employees under NetEase’s 2009 RSU Plan, in 2017 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019. See “Related Party Transaction—Other Related Party Transactions with NetEase.”

We believe the granting of share-based awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain key personnel and employees, and we will continue to grant share-based awards in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase. We may also continue to record share-based compensation allocated to us based on equity awards granted to our employees pursuant to under NetEase’s 2009 RSU Plan, which may cause our share-based compensation to increase. Any increase in our share-based compensation may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefits plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.

Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government-sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where our employees are based. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. If we fail to make contributions to various employee benefit plans and in complying with applicable PRC labor-related laws in the future, we may be subject to late payment penalties, and we could be required to make up the contributions for these plans as well as to pay late fees and fines. If we are subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

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Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

The PRC Labor Contract Law has reinforced the protection of employees who, under the PRC Labor Contract Law, have the right, among others, to have written employment contracts, to enter into employment contracts with no fixed term under certain circumstances, to receive overtime wages and to terminate or alter terms in labor contracts. Furthermore, the PRC Labor Contract Law sets forth additional restrictions and increases the costs involved with dismissing employees. To the extent that we need to significantly reduce our workforce, the PRC Labor Contract Law could adversely affect our ability to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner, and our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, for employees whose employment contracts include noncompetition terms, the PRC Labor Contract Law requires us to pay monthly compensation after such employment is terminated, which will increase our operating expenses.

In addition, we are required by PRC laws and regulations to make social insurance registration and open housing fund account with relevant governmental authorities and pay various statutory employee benefits, including pensions, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. The relevant government agencies may examine whether an employer has made adequate payments of the requisite statutory employee benefits, and those employers who fail to make adequate payments may be subject to late payment fees, fines and/or other penalties. If we fail to make adequate social insurance and housing fund contributions, we may be subject to fines and legal sanctions, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our customers by increasing the prices of our products and services, our financial conditions and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

We face certain risks relating to the real properties that we lease.

We lease real properties from third parties primarily for our office use in China, and the lease agreements for most of these leased properties have not been registered with the PRC government authorities as required by PRC law. Although the failure to do so does not in itself invalidate the leases, we may be ordered by the PRC government authorities to rectify such noncompliance and, if such noncompliance were not rectified within a given period of time, we may be subject to fines imposed by PRC government authorities ranging from RMB1,000 and RMB10,000 for those of our lease agreements that have not been registered with the relevant PRC government authorities.

As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any regulatory or governmental actions, claims or investigations being contemplated or any challenges by third parties to our use of our leased properties the lease agreements of which have not been registered with the government authorities. However, we cannot assure you that the government authorities will not impose fines on us due to our failure to register any of our lease agreements, which may negatively impact our financial condition.

In addition, some of the ownership certificates or other similar proof of certain leased properties have not been provided to us by the relevant lessors. Therefore, we cannot assure you that such lessors are entitled to lease the relevant real properties to us. If the lessors are not entitled to lease the real properties to us and the owners of such real properties decline to ratify the lease agreements between us and the respective lessors, we may not be able to enforce our rights to lease such properties under the respective lease agreements against the owners. As of the date of this prospectus, we are not aware of any claim or challenge brought by any third parties concerning the use of our leased properties without obtaining proper ownership proof. If our lease agreements are claimed as null and void by third parties who are the real owners of such leased real properties, we could be required to vacate the properties, in the event of which we could only initiate the claim against the lessors under relevant lease agreements for indemnities for their breach of the relevant leasing agreements. We cannot assure you that suitable alternative locations are readily available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and if we are unable to relocate our operations in a timely manner, our operations may be interrupted.

 

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Any change, disruption, discontinuity in the features and functions of major social networks in China could severely limit our ability to continue growing our user base, and our business may be materially and adversely affected.

Our success depends on our ability to attract new users and retain existing users. We leverage social networks in China as a tool for user acquisition and engagement. For example, we leverage Weixin/WeChat to enable users to access our services. To the extent that we fail to leverage such social networks, our ability to attract or retain users may be severely harmed. If any of these social networks makes changes to its functions or support unfavorable to us, or stops offering its functions or support to us, we may not be able to locate alternative platforms of similar scale to provide similar functions or support on commercially reasonable terms in a timely manner, or at all. Furthermore, we may fail to establish or maintain relationships with additional social network operators to support the growth of our business on economically viable terms, or at all. Any interruption to or discontinuation of our relationships with major social network operators may severely and negatively impact our ability to continue growing our user base, and any occurrence of the circumstances mentioned above may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our operations depend on the performance of the internet infrastructure and telecommunications networks in China.

The successful operation of our business depends on the performance of the internet infrastructure and telecommunications networks in China. Almost all access to the internet is maintained through state-owned telecommunications operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of the MIIT. Moreover, we have entered into contracts with various subsidiaries of a limited number of telecommunications service providers at provincial level and rely on them to provide us with data communications capacity through local telecommunications lines. We have limited access to alternative networks or services in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s internet infrastructure or the telecommunications networks provided by telecommunications service providers. Our platform regularly serves a large number of users and advertisers. With the expansion of our business, we may be required to upgrade our technology and infrastructure to keep up with the increasing traffic on our platform. However, we have no control over the costs of the services provided by telecommunications service providers. If the prices we pay for telecommunications and internet services rise significantly, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. If internet access fees or other charges to internet users increase, our user traffic may decline and our business may be harmed.

A severe or prolonged downturn in the Chinese or global economy could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

The global macroeconomic environment is facing challenges, including the end of quantitative easing by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the economic slowdown in the Eurozone since 2014 and uncertainties over the impact of Brexit. The growth of the PRC economy has slowed down since 2012 compared to the previous decade and the trend may continue. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. There have been concerns over unrest and terrorist threats in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. There have also been concerns about the relationship between China and the United States and other countries, particularly with respect to the ongoing trade discussion between the two nations. Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic and political policies and the expected or perceived overall economic growth rate in China. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our students and users may reduce or delay spending with us, while we may have difficulty expanding our customer base fast enough, or at all, to offset the impact of decreased spending by our existing customers.

 

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We are subject to third-party payment processing-related risks.

We accept payments through major third-party online payment channels in China, as well as bank transfers and credit cards. We may also be susceptible to fraud, user data leakage and other illegal activities in connection with the various payment methods we offer. In addition, our business depends on the billing, payment and escrow systems of the third-party payment service providers to maintain accurate records of payments by customers and collect such payments. If the quality, utility, convenience or attractiveness of these payment processing and escrow services declines, or if we have to change the pattern of using these payment services for any reason, the attractiveness of our company could be materially and adversely affected. We are also subject to various rules, regulations and requirements, regulatory or otherwise, governing electronic funds transfers which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. If we fail to comply with these rules or requirements, we may be subject to fines and higher transaction fees and become unable to accept the current online payments solutions from our customers, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Business involving online payment services is subject to a number of risks that could materially and adversely affect third-party online payment service providers’ ability to provide payment processing and escrow services to us, including:

 

   

dissatisfaction with these online payment services or decreased use of their services;

 

   

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

 

   

changes to rules or practices applicable to payment systems that link to third-party online payment service providers;

 

   

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

 

   

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

 

   

increasing costs to third-party online payment service providers, including fees charged by banks to process transactions through online payment channels, which would also increase our costs of revenues; and

 

   

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

We currently do not have any business insurance coverage.

Insurance companies in China currently do not offer as extensive an array of insurance products as insurance companies in more developed economies. Currently, we do not have any business liability or disruption insurance to cover our operations. We have determined that the costs of insuring for these risks and the difficulties associated with acquiring such insurance on commercially reasonable terms make it impractical for us to have such insurance. Any uninsured business disruptions may result in our incurring substantial costs and the diversion of resources, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

We face risks related to natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, health epidemics and other catastrophic incidents, which could significantly disrupt our operations.

China has in the past experienced significant natural disasters, including earthquakes, extreme weather conditions, as well as health scares related to epidemic diseases, and any similar event could materially impact our business in the future. If a disaster or other disruption were to occur in the future that affects the regions where we operate our business, our operations could be materially and adversely affected due to loss of personnel and damages to property. Even if we are not directly affected, such a disaster or disruption could affect our operations or financial condition.

 

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In addition, our business could be affected by public health epidemics, such as the outbreak of avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, Zika virus, Ebola virus or other disease. If any of our employees is suspected of having contracted a contagious disease, we may be required to apply quarantines or suspend our operations. Furthermore, any future outbreak may restrict economic activities in affected regions, resulting in reduced business volume, temporary closure of our offices or otherwise disrupt our business operations and adversely affect our results of operations.

Our user metrics and other estimates are subject to inaccuracy in measuring our operating performance, which may harm our reputation.

We continually review MAUs, student enrollments and certain other metrics to evaluate growth trends, measure our performance and make strategic decisions. These metrics are calculated using internal data and may not be indicative of our future operating performance. While these numbers are based on what we believe to be reasonable estimates for the applicable period of measurement, there are inherent challenges in measuring how our website and mobile application are used across a large student or user base. For example, the actual number of individual users, is likely to be lower than that of our MAUs, potentially significantly, due to various reasons such as access to our products and services through multiple mobile devices. We have limited ability to validate or confirm the accuracy of information provided during the user registration process to ascertain whether a new user account created was actually created by an existing user who is registering duplicative accounts. As a result, the number of our MAUs may overstate the number of individuals who access our products and services. In addition, there may be variation in the degree to which MAU is a relevant metric in measuring the user engagement from one product or service to another, due to the different nature and engagement patterns of our various learning products and services. For example, a one-time user of our Youdao Dictionary mobile app and a frequent user taking one of our online courses are counted equally as one MAU. If investors do not perceive our operating metrics to accurately represent our operating performance, or if we discover material inaccuracies in our operating metrics, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Relationship with NetEase

If we are no longer able to benefit from our business cooperation with NetEase, our business may be adversely affected.

NetEase, our controlling shareholder, is a leading internet technology company in China. Our business has benefited significantly from NetEase’s brand name and strong market position and user bases, and we cooperate with NetEase in a number of areas, such as user acquisition and IT infrastructure. For details about NetEase and our relationship with NetEase, see “Our Relationship with NetEase.” We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to benefit from our cooperative relationships with NetEase in the future. To the extent that we cannot maintain our relationships with NetEase on terms favorable to us, or at all, we will need to find replacement business partners and services providers, which may not be done in a timely manner and/or on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and we may lose access to key strategic assets, which could result in material and adverse effects on our business and results of operations.

We have no experience operating as a stand-alone public company.

We have no experience conducting our operations as a stand-alone public company. After we become a stand-alone public company upon the completion of this offering, we will face enhanced administrative and compliance requirements, which may result in substantial costs. In addition, since we are becoming a public company, our management team will need to develop the expertise necessary to comply with the regulatory and other requirements applicable to public companies, including those relating to corporate governance, internal control, listing standards, and investor relations issues. While we are a private company controlled by NetEase, we are indirectly subject to the requirements to maintain an effective internal control over financial reporting

 

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under Section 404 of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act of 2002. However, as a stand-alone public company, our management will have to evaluate our internal control system independently with new thresholds of materiality, and to implement necessary changes to our internal control system. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so in a timely and effective manner.

Any negative development in NetEase’s market position, brand recognition or financial condition may materially and adversely affect us.

We have benefited, and expect to continue to benefit, significantly from NetEase’s strong brand recognition, which enhances our reputation and credibility. Any negative publicity associated with NetEase or any member of the NetEase Group or any negative development with respect to NetEase’s market position, financial condition or compliance with applicable legal or regulatory requirements will likely have an adverse impact on our reputation and brand. In addition, we collaborate with the NetEase Group to attract user traffic from their products and services to our offerings, and if NetEase’s market position weakens, the effectiveness of our sales and marketing through NetEase may be impaired, which may in turn have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. See “Related Party Transactions” for more information about our related party transactions with the NetEase Group.

NetEase, our controlling shareholder, has had and will, upon the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, continue to have effective control over the outcome of shareholder actions in our company. The interests of NetEase may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders and holders of the ADSs.

Immediately upon completion of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, NetEase will continue to be our controlling shareholder by beneficially owning         % of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, representing         % of our total voting power, assuming the underwriters do not exercise the option to purchase additional ADSs. NetEase’s voting power gives it the power to control certain actions that require shareholder approval under Cayman Islands law, our memorandum and articles of association and NYSE requirements, including approval of mergers and other business combinations, changes to our memorandum and articles of association and the number of shares available for issuance under any share incentive plans.

NetEase’s voting control may cause transactions to occur that might not be beneficial to you as a holder of the ADSs and may prevent transactions that could have been be beneficial to you. For example, NetEase’s voting control may prevent a transaction involving a change of control in us, including transactions in which you as a holder of the ADSs might otherwise receive a premium for the ADSs over the then-current market price. In addition, NetEase is not prohibited from selling the controlling interest in us to a third party and may do so without your approval and without providing for a purchase of your ADSs. If NetEase is acquired, otherwise undergoes a change of control or is subject to a corporate restructuring, an acquirer, successor or other third party may be entitled to exercise the voting control and contractual rights of NetEase, and may do so in a manner that could vary significantly from that of NetEase.

We may have conflicts of interest with NetEase and, because of NetEase’s controlling ownership interest in our company, we may not be able to resolve such conflicts on terms favorable to us.

Conflict of interest may arise between NetEase and us in a number of areas relating to our ongoing relationships. Potential conflicts of interest that we have identified mainly include the following:

 

   

Agreements with NetEase. We have entered into a series of business cooperation agreements, including a non-competition agreement, with NetEase in connection with this offering, which are expected to become effective upon the completion of this offering. See “Our Relationship with NetEase—Business Cooperation Agreements.” These agreements may be less favorable to us than similar agreements negotiated between unaffiliated third parties. Additionally, NetEase may use its control over us to

 

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prevent us from bringing a legal claim against it in the event of a contractual breach by it, notwithstanding our contractual rights under such agreements and any other agreement we may enter into with NetEase from time to time.

 

   

Competition with NetEase and allocation of business opportunities. Under the non-competition agreement, NetEase and we have each agreed to be subject to certain non-compete restrictions, including an obligation to refer to the other party certain types of business opportunities. These non-compete restrictions may significantly affect our ability to diversify our revenue sources and may materially and adversely impact our business and prospects. In addition, there may arise business opportunities in the future that both we and NetEase are interested in and which may complement each of our respective businesses. NetEase holds a large number of business interests, some of which may directly or indirectly compete with us. See “Our Relationship with NetEase.” We may be prevented from taking advantages of new business opportunities that NetEase has entered into or decides to take up such opportunities itself.

 

   

Employee recruiting and retention. We may compete with NetEase in the hiring of employees, especially computer programmers, engineers, sales and other employees with experience or an interest in the internet industry. We have a non-solicitation arrangement with NetEase under the non-competition agreement that restricts each of NetEase and us from hiring the other party’s employees; see “Our Relationship with NetEase—Business Cooperation Agreements.”

 

   

Sale of shares in our company. Subject to its lock-up arrangements with us and the underwriters in this offering and applicable securities laws, NetEase may decide to sell all or a portion of the shares that it holds in our company to a third party, including to one of our competitors, thereby giving that third-party substantial influence over our business and our affairs. Such a sale could be contrary to the interests of our employees or our other shareholders or holders of the ADSs.

 

   

Developing business relationships with NetEase’s competitors. We may be limited in our ability to do business with NetEase’s competitors, which may limit our ability to serve the best interests of our company and our other shareholders or holders of the ADSs.

 

   

Our directors may have conflicts of interest. William Lei Ding, our director, is also the chief executive officer, a director and a principal shareholder of NetEase, our controlling shareholder, as well as a nominee shareholder of each of our VIEs. These relationships could create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest when William Lei Ding is faced with decisions with potentially different implications for NetEase and us.

Our financial contribution to NetEase was not material during the periods presented in this prospectus, and NetEase may from time to time make strategic decisions that it believes are in the best interests of its business as a whole, which may be different from the decisions that we would have made on our own. NetEase’s decisions with respect to us or our business may favor NetEase and therefore the NetEase shareholders, which may not necessarily be aligned with our interests and the interests of our other shareholders. NetEase may make decisions, or suffer adverse trends, that may disrupt or discontinue our collaborations with NetEase or our access to NetEase’s user base. Furthermore, if NetEase seeks to alter or violate the terms of the non-competition agreement with us in order to compete with us, such conflicts may not be resolved in our favor in light of NetEase’s controlling interest in us. If NetEase were to compete with us, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. Although we will become a stand-alone public company upon the completion of this offering and will have an audit committee, consisting of independent non-executive directors, to review and approve all proposed related party transactions including those between NetEase and us, we may not be able to resolve all potential conflicts of interest, and even if we do so, the resolution may be less favorable to us than if we were dealing with a non-controlling shareholder.

 

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Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure

If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating some of our operations in China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.

Foreign investment in the value-added telecommunication services industry in China is extensively regulated and subject to numerous restrictions. Pursuant to the list of special management measures for the market entry of foreign investment, or the Negative List, published by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce on June 28, 2018 and effective on July 28, 2018, with a few exceptions, foreign investors are not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunication service provider and any such foreign investor must have experience in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record.

We are a Cayman Islands company and our wholly-owned PRC subsidiaries are currently considered foreign-invested enterprise. Accordingly, our PRC subsidiaries are not eligible to provide value-added telecommunication services in China. To ensure strict compliance with the PRC laws and regulations, we conduct such business activities through Youdao Computer, one of our VIEs. Youdao Information, our wholly owned subsidiary in China, has entered into a series of contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their shareholders, which enable us to (i) exercise effective control over our VIEs, (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of our VIEs, and (iii) have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests and assets in our VIEs when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we have control over and are the primary beneficiary of our VIEs and hence consolidate their financial results as our VIEs under U.S. GAAP. See “Our History and Corporate Structure” for further details.

If the PRC government finds that our contractual arrangements do not comply with its restrictions on foreign investment in the value-added telecommunication services, or if the PRC government otherwise finds that we, our VIEs, or any of their subsidiaries are in violation of PRC laws or regulations or lack the necessary permits or licenses to operate our business, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities, including the MIIT and SAIC, would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations or failures, including, without limitation:

 

   

revoking the business licenses and/or operating licenses of such entities

 

   

discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operation through any transactions between our PRC subsidiary and our VIEs;

 

   

imposing fines, confiscating the income from our PRC subsidiary or our VIEs, or imposing other requirements with which we or our VIEs may not be able to comply;

 

   

requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements with our VIEs and deregistering the equity pledges of our VIEs, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert effective control over our VIEs; or

 

   

restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis to finance our business and operations in China.

Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of these occurrences results in our inability to direct the activities of our VIEs that most significantly impact its economic performance and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from our VIEs, we may not be able to consolidate the entity in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

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Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress of the PRC promulgated the Foreign Investment Law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2020 and replace the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. The enacted Foreign Investment Law does not mention concepts such as “actual control” and “controlling PRC companies by contracts or trusts” that were included in the previous drafts, nor did it specify regulation on controlling through contractual arrangements, and thus this regulatory topic remains unclear under the Foreign Investment Law. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. For instance, though the Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, it contains a catch-all provision under the definition of “foreign investment,” which includes investments made by foreign investors in China through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, such as unwinding our existing contractual arrangements and/or disposal of our related business operations, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.

We rely on contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their shareholders for a large portion of our business operations which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.

We primarily have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their respective shareholders to operate our business in China. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our VIEs. For example, our VIEs and their shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. If we had direct ownership of our VIEs, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of our VIEs, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by our VIEs and their shareholders of their respective obligations under the contracts to exercise control over our VIEs. The shareholders of our VIEs may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the contractual arrangements with our VIEs. If any disputes relating to these contracts remain unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through the operations of PRC law and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our VIEs may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be.

Any failure by any of our VIEs or their shareholders to perform their respective obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and adverse effect on our business.

If any of our VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may be limited in our ability to enforce the contractual arrangements that give us effective

 

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control over our VIEs, and if we are unable to maintain such control, our ability to consolidate the financial results of our VIEs will be affected. We may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure will be effective under PRC law. For example, if the shareholders of any of our VIEs refuse to transfer their equity interest in such VIEs to us or our designee if we exercise the purchase option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they otherwise act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations. In addition, if any third parties claim any interest in such shareholders’ equity interests in any of our VIEs, our ability to exercise shareholders’ rights or foreclose the share pledge according to the contractual arrangements may be impaired. If these or other disputes between the shareholders of our VIEs and third parties were to impair our control over our VIEs, our ability to consolidate the financial results of our VIEs would be affected, which would in turn result in a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.

In addition, the shareholders of our VIEs may be involved in personal disputes with third parties or other incidents that may have an adverse effect on their respective equity interests in our VIEs and the validity or enforceability of the contractual arrangements. For instance, in the event that such shareholder divorces his or her spouse, the spouse may claim that the equity interest of our VIEs held by such shareholder is part of their marital or community property and should be divided between such shareholder and his or her spouse. If such claim is supported by the competent court, the relevant equity interest may be obtained by the shareholder’s spouse or another third party who is not bound by our contractual arrangements, which could result in our losing effective control over our VIEs. Even if we receive a consent letter from the spouse of a nominee shareholder of our VIEs where such spouse undertakes that he or she would not take any actions to interfere with the contractual arrangements through which we control such VIEs, including by claiming that the equity interest of our VIEs held by such shareholder is part of their marital or community property, we cannot assure you that these undertakings will be complied with or effectively enforced. In the event that any of them is breached or becomes unenforceable and leads to legal proceedings, it could disrupt our business, distract our management’s attention and subject us to substantial uncertainties as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings. Similarly, if any of the equity interests of our VIEs are inherited by a third party on whom the current contractual arrangements are not binding, we could lose our control over our VIEs or have to maintain such control at unpredictable cost, which could cause significant disruption to our business operations and harm our financial condition and results of operations.

Our contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law, and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures.

The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. Meanwhile, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how contractual arrangements in the context of a VIE should be interpreted or enforced under PRC law. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and if the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts, which would require additional expenses and delay. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over our VIEs, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.

The shareholders of our VIEs may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.

The shareholders of our VIEs may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us. These shareholders may refuse to sign or breach, or cause our VIEs to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual

 

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arrangements we have with them and our VIEs, which would have a material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively control our VIEs and receive economic benefits from them. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with our VIEs to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and these shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.

Contractual arrangements in relation to our VIEs may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or our VIEs owe additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment.

Under applicable PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities within ten years after the taxable year when the transactions are conducted. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the VIE contractual arrangements were not entered into on an arm’s-length basis in such a way as to result in an impermissible reduction in taxes under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and adjust the income of our VIEs in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction of expense deductions recorded by our VIEs for PRC tax purposes, which could in turn increase its tax liabilities without reducing our PRC subsidiary’s tax expenses. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on our VIEs for the adjusted but unpaid taxes according to the applicable regulations. Our financial position could be materially and adversely affected if our VIEs’ tax liabilities increase or if it is required to pay late payment fees and other penalties.

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

As part of our contractual arrangements with our VIEs, our VIEs hold certain assets, licenses and permits that are material to our business operations, such as the ICP License. The contractual arrangements contain terms that specifically obligate VIEs’ shareholders to ensure the valid existence of the VIEs and restrict the disposal of material assets of the VIEs. However, in the event the VIEs’ shareholders breach the terms of these contractual arrangements and voluntarily liquidate our VIEs, or our VIEs declare bankruptcy and all or part of its assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, or are otherwise disposed of without our consent, we may be unable to conduct some or all of our business operations or otherwise benefit from the assets held by the VIEs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, if any of our VIEs undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, its shareholders or unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of the assets of such VIE, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business as well as constrain our growth.

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

Substantially all of our assets and operations are located in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate,

 

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control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to a reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate adjustment, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.

The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from us.

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the prospectus based on foreign laws.

We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, all our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time and most are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China. In addition, China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and many other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China

 

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of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.

We may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

We are a Cayman Islands holding company and we rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including for services of any debt we may incur. The ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends and other distributions on equity, in turn, depends on the payment they receive from our VIEs as service fees pursuant to certain contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, our VIEs and our VIEs’ shareholders entered into to comply with certain restriction under PRC law on foreign investment. For more information about such contractual arrangements, see “Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Respective Shareholders.”

Our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends is based upon its distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to its respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC subsidiary, our VIEs and their subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to their respective shareholders could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

To address the persistent capital outflow and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, have implemented a series of capital control measures in the subsequent months, including stricter vetting procedures for China-based companies to remit foreign currency for overseas acquisitions, dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. For instance, the Circular on Promoting the Reform of Foreign Exchange Management and Improving Authenticity and Compliance Review, or the SAFE Circular 3, issued on January 26, 2017, provides that the banks shall, when dealing with dividend remittance transactions from domestic enterprise to its offshore shareholders of more than US$50,000, review the relevant board resolutions, original tax filing form and audited financial statements of such domestic enterprise based on the principal of genuine transaction. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our PRC subsidiaries’ dividends and other distributions may be subject to tightened scrutiny in the future. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax at a rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless reduced under treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are tax resident.

The custodians or authorized users of our controlling non-tangible assets, including chops and seals, may fail to fulfill their responsibilities, or misappropriate or misuse these assets.

Under the PRC law, legal documents for corporate transactions, including agreements and contracts are executed using the chop or seal of the signing entity or with the signature of a legal representative whose designation is registered and filed with relevant PRC industry and commerce authorities.

 

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In order to secure the use of our chops and seals, we have established internal control procedures and rules for using these chops and seals. In any event that the chops and seals are intended to be used, the responsible personnel will submit the application which will then be verified and approved by authorized employees in accordance with our internal control procedures and rules. In addition, in order to maintain the physical security of our chops, we generally have them stored in secured locations accessible only to authorized employees. Although we monitor such authorized employees, the procedures may not be sufficient to prevent all instances of abuse or negligence. There is a risk that our employees could abuse their authority, for example, by entering into a contract not approved by us or seeking to gain control of one of our subsidiaries or VIEs. If any employee obtains, misuses or misappropriates our chops and seals or other controlling non-tangible assets for whatever reason, we could experience disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources to resolve and divert management from our operations.

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using the proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and to make loans to our VIEs, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

Any funds we transfer to our PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, as well as any loans we provide to our VIEs, are subject to approval by or registration with relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises, or FIEs, in China, capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, or its local branches and registration with a local bank authorized by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. In addition, (i) any foreign loan procured by our PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with SAFE or its local branches and (ii) any of our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between its total investment amount and registered capital or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the calculation approach and limitation as provided in the Notice of the People’s Bank of China on Matters concerning the Macro-Prudential Management of Full-Covered Cross-Border Financing, or the PBOC Notice No. 9. Additionally, any medium or long-term loans to be provided by us to our VIEs must be registered with the NDRC and the SAFE or its local branches. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals or complete such registrations on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions or foreign loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries or loans by us to our VIEs. If we fail to receive such approvals or complete such registration or filing, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

There is, in effect, no statutory limit on the amount of capital contribution that we can make to our PRC subsidiaries, because there is no statutory limit on the amount of registered capital for our PRC subsidiaries, and we are allowed to make capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries by subscribing for their initial registered capital and increased registered capital, provided that the PRC subsidiaries completes the relevant filing and registration procedures. With respect to loans provided to the PRC subsidiaries by us, (i) if the relevant PRC subsidiaries adopt the traditional foreign exchange administration mechanism, or the Traditional Foreign Debt Mechanism, the outstanding amount of the loans shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the PRC subsidiaries which effectively means that there is no ultimate limit on the amount of loans that we can make to our PRC subsidiaries under this circumstance because we can increase the total investment and the registered capital of our PRC subsidiaries, subject to the completion of the required registrations and compliance with the statutory requirement that the registered capital shall be no less than certain percentage of the total investment, and the difference between the total investment and the registered capital will increase accordingly; and (ii) if the relevant PRC subsidiaries adopt the foreign exchange administration mechanism as provided in the PBOC Notice No. 9, or the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism, the risk-weighted outstanding amount of the loans, which shall be calculated based on the formula provided in PBOC

 

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Notice No. 9, shall not exceed 200% of the net asset of the relevant PRC subsidiary. With respect to our PRC subsidiaries, the maximum amount of the loans that they can acquire in aggregate from outside China is (i) zero under the Traditional Foreign Debt Mechanism calculated based on the amounts of total investment and registered capital of our PRC subsidiaries as of June 30, 2019; or (ii) approximately RMB21.9 million (US$3.2 million) under the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism calculated based on our PRC subsidiaries’ net assets as of June 30, 2019 under PRC GAAP under the assumption that the loans are denominated in foreign currencies with duration of more than one year. With respect to our VIEs, the maximum amount of the loans that they can obtain in aggregate from outside China as of June 30, 2019 is approximately RMB29.3 million (US$4.3 million) under the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism calculated based on our VIEs’ net assets as of June 30, 2019 under PRC GAAP under the assumption that the loans are denominated in foreign currencies with duration of more than one year. According to the PBOC Notice No. 9, after a transition period of one year since the promulgation of PBOC Notice No. 9, the People’s Bank of China and SAFE will determine the cross-border financing administration mechanism for the foreign-invested enterprises after evaluating the overall implementation of PBOC Notice No. 9. As of the date hereof, neither the People’s Bank of China nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices or circulars in this regard. It is uncertain which mechanism will be adopted by the People’s Bank of China and SAFE in the future and what statutory limits will be imposed on us when providing loans to our PRC subsidiaries. Currently, our PRC subsidiaries have the flexibility to choose between the Traditional Foreign Debt Mechanism and the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism. However, if the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism, or a more stringent foreign debt mechanism becomes mandatory and our PRC subsidiaries are no longer able to choose the Traditional Foreign Debt Mechanism, our ability to provide loans to our PRC subsidiaries may be significantly limited, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On March 30, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming the Management Approach Regarding the Foreign Exchange Capital Settlement of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which took effect as of June 1, 2015. SAFE Circular 19 launched a nationwide reform of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of FIEs and allows FIEs to settle their foreign exchange capital at their discretion, but continues to prohibit FIEs from using the Renminbi fund converted from their foreign exchange capital for expenditure beyond their business scopes, providing entrusted loans or repaying loans between nonfinancial enterprises. The SAFE issued the Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or SAFE Circular 16, effective in June 2018. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 16, enterprises registered in China may also convert their foreign debts from foreign currency to Renminbi on a self-discretionary basis. SAFE Circular 16 provides an integrated standard for conversion of foreign exchange under capital account items (including but not limited to foreign currency capital and foreign debts) on a self-discretionary basis which applies to all enterprises registered in China. SAFE Circular 16 reiterates the principle that Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital of a company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope or prohibited by PRC laws or regulations, while such converted Renminbi shall not be provided as loans to its non-affiliated entities. As this circular is relatively new, there remains uncertainty as to its interpretation and application and any other future foreign exchange related rules. Violations of these Circulars could result in severe monetary or other penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to use Renminbi converted from the net proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis to fund the establishment of new entities in China by our VIEs or their subsidiaries, to invest in or acquire any other PRC companies through our PRC subsidiaries, or to establish new VIEs in China, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.

The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies, among other things. In July 2005, the PRC government changed its decades-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and

 

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the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation subsided and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. While appreciating approximately by 7% against the U.S. dollar in 2017, the Renminbi in 2018 depreciated approximately by 5% against the U.S. dollar. Since October 1, 2016, the RMB has joined the International Monetary Fund’s basket of currencies that make up the Special Drawing Right, along with the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system and there is no guarantee that the RMB will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. 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.

Substantially all of our revenue and costs are denominated in Renminbi. We are a holding company and we rely on dividends paid by our operating subsidiaries in China for our cash needs. Any significant revaluation of Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial position reported in Renminbi when translated into U.S. dollars, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, the ADSs in U.S. dollars. To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount.

Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company primarily relies on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions, without prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiaries in China may be used to pay dividends to our company. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, we need to obtain SAFE approval to use cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs to pay off their respective debt in a currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside China, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside China in a currency other than Renminbi. The PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.

Certain PRC regulations may make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

Among other things, the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. Such regulation requires, among other things, that the MOFCOM be notified

 

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in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor acquires control of a PRC domestic enterprise or a foreign company with substantial PRC operations, if certain thresholds under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, issued by the State Council in 2008, are triggered. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the NPC which became effective in 2008 requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds must be cleared by the MOFCOM before they can be completed. In addition, PRC national security review rules which became effective in September 2011 require acquisitions by foreign investors of PRC companies engaged in military related or certain other industries that are crucial to national security be subject to security review before consummation of any such acquisition. We may pursue potential strategic acquisitions that are complementary to our business and operations. Complying with the requirements of these regulations to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval or clearance from the MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiary to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.

In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents’ Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75, which ceased to be effective upon the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future.

SAFE Circular 37 requires registration with, and approval from, Chinese government authorities in connection with direct or indirect control of an offshore entity by PRC residents. The term “control” under SAFE Circular 37 is broadly defined as the operation rights, beneficiary rights or decision-making rights acquired by PRC residents in the offshore special purpose vehicles by means of acquisition, trust, proxy, voting rights, repurchase, convertible bonds or other arrangements. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV is required to update its filed registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any material change. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE. If any PRC shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiary in China. On February 13, 2015, the SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, will be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.

These regulations may have a significant impact on our present and future structuring and investment. We have requested our shareholders who to our knowledge are PRC residents to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments as required under these regulations. We intend to take all necessary measures to ensure that all required applications and filings will be duly made and all other requirements will be met. We further intend to structure and execute our future offshore acquisitions in a manner consistent with these regulations and

 

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any other relevant legislation. However, because it is presently uncertain how the SAFE regulations, and any future legislation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted and implemented by the relevant government authorities in connection with our future offshore financings or acquisitions, we cannot provide any assurances that we will be able to comply with, qualify under, or obtain any approvals required by the regulations or other legislation. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that any PRC shareholders of our company or any PRC company into which we invest will be able to comply with those requirements. Any failure or inability by such individuals to comply with SAFE regulations may subject us to fines or legal sanctions, such as restrictions on our cross-border investment activities or our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to, or obtain foreign exchange-denominated loans from, our company or prevent us from making distributions or paying dividends. As a result, our business operations and our ability to make distributions to you could be materially and adversely affected.

Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.

Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.

In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, replacing earlier rules promulgated in 2007. Pursuant to these rules, PRC citizens and non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year who participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiaries of such overseas-listed company, and complete certain other procedures. In addition, an overseas-entrusted institution must be retained to handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We and our executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who have been granted options will be subject to these regulations when our company becomes an overseas-listed company upon the completion of this offering. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions, there may be additional restrictions on the ability of them to exercise their stock options or remit proceeds gained from sale of their stock into the PRC. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law. See “Regulation—Regulation Related to Stock Incentive Plans.”

If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders.

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with its “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, the State

 

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Administration of Taxation, or SAT, issued a circular, known as SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” text should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China, and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.

We believe our company is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” If the PRC tax authorities determine that our company is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we will be subject to PRC enterprise income on our worldwide income at the rate of 25%. Furthermore, we will be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises, including the holders of our ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10% on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such gain is treated as derived from a PRC source. Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends paid to our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) and any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares by such shareholders may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 20% (which, in the case of dividends, may be withheld at source by us). These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty, but it is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would, in practice, be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares.

We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.

On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Tax Resident Enterprises, or SAT Bulletin 7. SAT Bulletin 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Bulletin 7 has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Bulletin 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets.

On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or SAT Bulletin 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. The SAT Bulletin 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of non-resident enterprise income tax.

Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an Indirect Transfer, the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for

 

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the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.

We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of certain past and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries and investments. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if our company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is transferee in such transactions, under SAT Bulletin 7 and/or SAT Bulletin 37. For transfer of shares in our company by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiaries may be requested to assist in the filing under SAT Bulletin 7 and/or SAT Bulletin 37. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 7 and/or SAT Bulletin 37 or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets to comply with these circulars, or to establish that our company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The audit report included in this prospectus is prepared by an auditor who is not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, you are deprived of the benefits of such inspection.

Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Since our auditors are located in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities.

In May 2013, the PCAOB announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on Enforcement Cooperation with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, and the PRC Ministry of Finance, which establishes a cooperative framework between the parties for the production and exchange of audit documents relevant to investigations undertaken by the PCAOB, the CSRC or the PRC Ministry of Finance in the United States and the PRC, respectively. The PCAOB continues to be in discussions with the CSRC, and the PRC Ministry of Finance to permit joint inspections in the PRC of audit firms that are registered with PCAOB and audit Chinese companies that trade on U.S. exchanges.

On December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. However, it remains unclear what further actions, if any, the SEC and the PCAOB will take to address the problem.

This lack of the PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm. As a result, we and investors in our ordinary shares are deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our stock to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements.

As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular China’s, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of the U.S. Congress, which if passed, would require the SEC to maintain a list of

 

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issuers for which PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The proposed Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for these issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from U.S. national securities exchanges such as the NYSE of issuers included on the SEC’s list for three consecutive years. Enactment of this legislation or other efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and the market price of our ADSs could be adversely affected. It is unclear if this proposed legislation would be enacted. Furthermore, there has been recent media reports on deliberations within the U.S. government regarding potentially limiting or restricting China-based companies from accessing U.S. capital markets. If any such deliberations were to materialize, the resulting legislation may have material and adverse impact on the stock performance of China-based issuers listed in the United States.

Proceedings instituted by the SEC against Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

In December 2012, the SEC instituted administrative proceedings against the Big Four PRC-based accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, alleging that these firms had violated U.S. securities laws and the SEC’s rules and regulations thereunder by failing to provide to the SEC the firms’ audit work papers with respect to certain PRC-based companies that are publicly traded in the United States.

On January 22, 2014, the administrative law judge, or the ALJ, presiding over the matter rendered an initial decision that each of the firms had violated the SEC’s rules of practice by failing to produce audit papers and other documents to the SEC. The initial decision censured each of the firms and barred them from practicing before the SEC for a period of six months.

On February 6, 2015, the four China-based accounting firms each 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 and audit U.S.-listed companies. The settlement required the firms to follow detailed procedures and to seek to provide the SEC with access to Chinese firms’ audit documents via the CSRC. Under the terms of the settlement, the underlying proceeding against the four China-based accounting firms was deemed dismissed with prejudice four years after entry of the settlement. The four-year mark occurred on February 6, 2019. While we cannot predict if the SEC will further challenge the four China-based accounting firms’ compliance with U.S. law in connection with U.S. regulatory requests for audit work papers or if the results of such a challenge would result in the SEC imposing penalties such as suspensions, if the accounting firms are subject to additional remedial measures, our ability to file our financial statements in compliance with SEC requirements could be impacted. A determination that we have not timely filed financial statements in compliance with the SEC requirements could ultimately lead to the delisting of our ordinary shares from the NYSE or the termination of the registration of our ordinary shares under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ordinary shares in the United States.

Regulation and censorship of information disseminated over the internet in China may adversely affect our business and reputation and subject us to liability for information displayed on our website.

The PRC government has adopted regulations governing internet access and the distribution of news and other information over the internet. Under these regulations, internet content providers and internet publishers are prohibited from posting or displaying over the internet content that, among other things, violates PRC laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of China, or is reactionary, obscene, superstitious, fraudulent or defamatory. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the revocation of licenses to provide internet content and other licenses, and the closure of the concerned websites. The website operator may also be held liable for such censored information displayed on or linked to the websites. If our platform or content is

 

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found to be in violation of any such requirements, we may be penalized by relevant authorities, and our operations or reputation could be adversely affected.

Risks Related to the ADSs and This Offering

An active trading market for our ordinary shares or the ADSs may not develop and the trading price for the ADSs may fluctuate significantly.

We have been approved to list the ADSs on the NYSE. We have no current intention to seek a listing for our ordinary shares on any stock exchange. Prior to the completion of this offering, there has been no public market for the ADSs or our ordinary shares, and we cannot assure you that a liquid public market for the ADSs will develop. If an active public market for the ADSs does not develop following the completion of this offering, the market price and liquidity of the ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. The initial public offering price for the ADSs was determined by negotiation between us and the underwriters based upon several factors, and we can provide no assurance that the trading price of the ADSs after this offering will not decline below the initial public offering price. As a result, investors in our securities may experience a significant decrease in the value of their ADSs.

Our dual-class share structure with different voting rights may adversely affect the value and liquidity of the ADSs.

We cannot predict whether our dual-class share structure with different voting rights will result in a lower or more volatile market price of the ADSs, in adverse publicity, or other adverse consequences. Certain index providers have announced restrictions on including companies with multiple-class share structures in certain of their indices. For example, in July 2017, FTSE Russell announced that it plans to require new constituents of its indices to have greater than 5% of the company’s voting rights in the hands of public stockholders, and S&P Dow Jones announced that it will no longer admit companies with multiple-class share structures to certain of its indices. Also in 2017, MSCI, a leading stock index provider, opened public consultations on their treatment of no-vote and multi-class structures and temporarily barred new multi-class listings from certain of its indices; in October 2018, MSCI announced its decision to include equity securities “with unequal voting structures” in its indices and to launch a new index that specifically includes voting rights in its eligibility criteria. Because of our dual-class structure, we will likely be excluded from these indices and other stock indices that take similar actions. Given the sustained flow of investment funds into passive strategies that seek to track certain indices, exclusion from certain stock indices would likely preclude investment by many of these funds and could make the ADSs less attractive to investors. In addition, several shareholder advisory firms have announced their opposition to the use of multiple class structure and our dual-class structure may cause shareholder advisory firms to publish negative commentary about our corporate governance, in which case the market price and liquidity of the ADSs could be adversely affected.

The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.

The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, including the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our ADSs may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:

 

   

variations in our net revenues, earnings and cash flows;

 

   

announcements of new investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures by us or our competitors;

 

   

announcements of new offerings, solutions and expansions by us or our competitors;

 

   

changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;

 

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detrimental adverse publicity about us, our services or our industry;

 

   

announcements of new regulations, rules or policies relevant to our business;

 

   

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

   

our controlling shareholder’s business performance and reputation;

 

   

release of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities; and

 

   

potential litigation or regulatory investigations.

Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our ADSs will trade.

In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Because our initial public offering price is substantially higher than our net tangible book value per share, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution.

If you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will pay more for your ADSs than the amount paid by our existing shareholders for their ordinary shares on a per ADS basis. As a result, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of approximately US$             per ADS, representing the difference between the initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus, and our net tangible book value per ADS as of June 30, 2019, after giving effect to the net proceeds to us from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis. See “Dilution” for a more complete description of how the value of your investment in the ADSs will be diluted upon the completion of this offering.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding the ADSs, the market price for the ADSs and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for the ADSs will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade the ADSs, the market price for the ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for the ADSs to decline.

The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of ADSs could adversely affect their market price.

Sales of substantial amounts of ADSs in the public market after the completion of this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of the ADSs and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. The ADSs sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, and shares held by our existing shareholders and Orbis who agreed to purchase a number of Class A ordinary shares in concurrent private

 

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placements may also be sold in the public market in the future subject to the restrictions in Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act and the applicable lockup agreements. There will be              ADSs (representing              Class A ordinary shares) issued and outstanding immediately after this offering and the completion of the concurrent private placements, or              ADSs (representing              Class A ordinary shares) if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full. [In connection with this offering, we, our directors, executive officers, existing shareholders and holders of share-based awards have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell any ordinary shares or ADSs for 180 days, with certain existing shareholders agreeing to a longer lock-up period of 18 months after the date of this prospectus, after the date of this prospectus without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters.] However, the underwriters may release these securities from these restrictions at any time, subject to applicable regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. In addition, Orbis is not subject to any contractual lock-up arrangements with the underwriters or us. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of securities held by our significant shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market price of the ADSs. See “Underwriting” and “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a more detailed description of the restrictions on selling our securities after this offering.

Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of the ADSs.

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is in the short seller’s interest for the price of the security to decline, many short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a security short. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market.

Public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of short selling. Much of the scrutiny and negative publicity has centered on allegations of a lack of effective internal control over financial reporting resulting in financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result, many of these companies are now conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations and, in the interim, are subject to shareholder lawsuits and/or SEC enforcement actions.

It is not clear what effect such negative publicity could have on us. If we were to become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we could have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend ourselves. While we would strongly defend against any such short seller attacks, we may be constrained in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller by principles of freedom of speech, applicable state law or issues of commercial confidentiality. Such a situation could be costly and time-consuming, and could distract our management from growing our business. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, allegations against us could severely impact our business operations, and any investment in the ADSs could be greatly reduced or even rendered worthless.

Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering, you must rely on a price appreciation of the ADSs for a return on your investment.

We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings after this offering to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in the ADSs as a source for any future dividend income.

 

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Our Board of Directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our Board of Directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in the ADSs will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of the ADSs. There is no guarantee that the ADSs will appreciate in value after this offering or even maintain the price at which you purchased the ADSs. You may not realize a return on your investment in our ADSs and you may even lose your entire investment in the ADSs.

The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering under PRC law.

The M&A Rules purport to require offshore special purpose vehicles that are controlled by PRC companies or individuals and that have been formed for the purpose of seeking a public listing on an overseas stock exchange through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies or assets to obtain CSRC approval prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear. If CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether it would be possible for us to obtain the approval, and any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining CSRC approval for this offering would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC and other PRC regulatory agencies.

Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel, has advised us that, based on its understanding of the current PRC laws and regulations, we will not be required to submit an application to the CSRC for the approval of this offering and the listing and trading of our ADSs on the NYSE because (i) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under this prospectus are subject to this regulation, (ii) we established the WFOE by means of direct investment and not through a merger or acquisition of the equity or assets of a “PRC domestic company” as such term is defined under the M&A Rules; and (iii) no provision in the M&A Rules classifies the contractual arrangements under the VIE Agreements as a type of acquisition transaction falling under the M&A Rules.

However, our PRC legal counsel has further advised us that there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering, and its opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC legal counsel, and hence we may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of the ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before settlement and delivery of the ADSs offered hereby. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, you do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of the ADSs.

 

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You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by our minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England and Wales, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands have a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. In addition, while under Delaware law, controlling shareholders owe fiduciary duties to the companies they control and their minority shareholders, under Cayman Islands law, our controlling shareholders do not owe any such fiduciary duties to our company or to our minority shareholders. Accordingly, our controlling shareholders may exercise their powers as shareholders, including the exercise of voting rights in respect of their shares, in such manner as they think fit, subject only to very limited equitable constraints, including that the exercise of voting rights to amend the memorandum or articles of association of a Cayman company must be exercised in good faith for the benefit of the company as a whole.

Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other than the memorandum and articles of association) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of this offering to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.

Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. If we choose to follow home country practice, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States. For a discussion of significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see “Description of Share Capital—Differences in Corporate Law.”

Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.

We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in China. In addition, most of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these

 

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individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Cayman Islands and China, see “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities.” However, the deposit agreement gives you the right to submit claims against us to binding arbitration, and arbitration awards may be enforceable against us and our assets in China even when court judgments are not.

ADSs holders may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under the deposit agreement, which could result in less favorable outcomes to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.

The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial for any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws.

If we or the depositary were to oppose a jury trial based on this waiver, the court would have to determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of the case in accordance with applicable state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court. However, we believe that a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision is generally enforceable, including under the laws of the State of New York, which govern the deposit agreement, or by a federal or state court in the City of New York, which has non-exclusive jurisdiction over matters arising under the deposit agreement. In determining whether to enforce a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver, courts will generally consider whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. We believe that this would be the case with respect to the deposit agreement and the ADSs. It is advisable that you consult legal counsel regarding the jury waiver provision before investing in the ADSs.

If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of ADSs bring a claim against us or the depositary in connection with matters arising under the deposit agreement or the ADSs, including claims under federal securities laws, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us or the depositary. If a lawsuit is brought against us or the depositary under the deposit agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have, including outcomes that could be less favorable to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.

Nevertheless, if this jury trial waiver is not permitted by applicable law, an action could proceed under the terms of the deposit agreement with a jury trial. No condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or the ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs or by us or the depositary of compliance with any substantive provision of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The voting rights of holders of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to direct the voting of the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs.

As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our Post-IPO MAA provide that we may (but are not obliged to) each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting. As a holder of ADSs, you will not have any direct right to attend general meetings of our shareholders or to cast any votes at such meetings. You will only be able to exercise the voting rights which attach to the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs indirectly by giving voting instructions to the depositary in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit

 

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agreement, you may vote only by giving voting instructions to the depositary, as holder of the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary may try to vote the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs in accordance with your instructions. If we ask for your instructions, then upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will try to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with those instructions. If we do not instruct the depositary to ask for your instructions, the depositary may still vote in accordance with instructions you give, but it is not required to do so. You will not be able to directly exercise any right to vote with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares unless you withdraw the shares and become the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice of the meeting to enable you to withdraw the shares underlying your ADSs and become the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting to allow you to attend the general meeting and to vote directly with respect to any specific matter or resolution to be considered and voted upon at the general meeting. In addition, under our fourth amended and restated articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of this offering, for the purposes of determining those shareholders who are entitled to attend and vote at any general meeting, our directors may close our register of members and/or fix in advance a record date for such meeting, and such closure of our register of members or the setting of such a record date may prevent you from withdrawing the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs and becoming the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date, so that you would not be able to attend the general meeting or to vote directly. Where any matter is to be put to a vote at a general meeting, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and to deliver our voting materials to you, if we ask it to. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting material in time to ensure you can direct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out your voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to direct how the shares underlying your ADSs are voted and you may have no legal remedy if the shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.

Our dual-class share structure with different voting rights will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our Class A ordinary shares and the ADSs may view as beneficial.

We have adopted a dual-class share structure such that our ordinary shares will consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, which will become effective immediately upon the completion of this offering. In respect of matters requiring the votes of shareholders, each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to three votes. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. We will sell Class A ordinary shares represented by the ADSs in this offering.

NetEase, Dr. Zhou and certain individual minority shareholders who are our employees will collectively beneficially own all of our issued and outstanding Class B ordinary shares immediately upon the completion of this offering. Based on the initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus, these Class B ordinary shares will constitute approximately         % of our total issued and outstanding share capital and         % of the aggregate voting power of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately upon the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, and the issuance and sale of Class A ordinary shares in connection with the concurrent private placements to Orbis. In particular, Class B ordinary shares owned by NetEase will constitute approximately     % of our total issued and outstanding share capital and     % of the aggregate voting power of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately upon the completion of this offering under the same assumptions.

As a result of this dual-class share structure and the concentration of ownership, NetEase and the other holders of the Class B ordinary shares as a group will have significant influence over our business, including decisions regarding mergers, consolidations, liquidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets,

 

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election of directors and other significant corporate actions. They may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could have the effect of depriving our other shareholders of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and may reduce the price of the ADSs. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions that holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.

You may experience dilution of your holdings due to the inability to participate in rights offerings.

We may, from time to time, distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire securities. However, we cannot make such rights available to you in the United States unless we register both the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not distribute rights to holders of ADSs unless the distribution and sale of rights and the securities to which these rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act with respect to all holders of ADSs, or are registered under the provisions of the Securities Act. The depositary may, but is not required to, attempt to sell these undistributed rights to third parties, and may allow the rights to lapse. We may be unable to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to these rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have a registration statement declared effective. Accordingly, holders of the ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution of their holdings as a result.

You may be subject to limitations on the transfer of your ADSs.

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

We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we remain an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.

We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to U.S. domestic public companies.

Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:

 

   

the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K;

 

   

the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

 

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the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

 

   

the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.

We will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the NYSE. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information that would be made available to you were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of the NYSE and, as a result, can rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.

We are a “controlled company” as defined under the rules of the NYSE since NetEase beneficially owns more than 50% of our total voting power. For so long as we remain a controlled company under this definition, we are permitted to elect to rely, and currently we intend to rely, on certain exemptions from corporate governance rules, including:

 

   

an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors; and

 

   

an exemption from the rule that our director nominees must be selected or recommended solely by independent directors.

As a result, you will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements.

As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the NYSE corporate governance listing standards.

As a Cayman Islands exempted company listed on the NYSE, we are subject to corporate governance listing standards of NYSE. However, NYSE rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. We currently intend to follow Cayman Islands corporate governance practices in lieu of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE that listed companies must have a majority of independent directors. To the extent that we choose to follow home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would enjoy under NYSE corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

We may be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for the current or any future taxable year, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors in the ADSs or our Class A ordinary shares.

In general, a non-U.S. corporation is a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year in which (i) 50% or more of the average value of its assets (generally determined on a quarterly basis) consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income, or the Assets Test, or (ii) 75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income. For purposes of the above calculations, a non-U.S. corporation that owns, directly or indirectly, at least 25% by value of the shares of another corporation is treated as if it held its proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation and received directly its proportionate share of the

 

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income of the other corporation. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties and certain gains. Cash is a passive asset for these purposes. Goodwill of a non-U.S. corporation is generally characterized as active if it is associated with business activities that produce active income, unless for U.S. federal income tax purposes the non-U.S. corporation is a “controlled foreign corporation”, or CFC, that is not publicly traded “for the taxable year”. If a non-U.S. corporation is a CFC that is not publicly traded for the taxable year, its PFIC status under the Assets Test must be determined by using the U.S. tax basis of its assets rather than their fair market value and therefore the market value of its goodwill generally will be disregarded.

Generally, a non-U.S. corporation is a CFC if more than 50% of its shares’ voting power or value is owned directly, indirectly or constructively after applying certain constructive ownership attribution rules, by 10% “United States shareholders.” Under recent changes to the constructive ownership attribution rules, it is possible that NetEase’s ownership of our shares could be attributed downward to a U.S. subsidiary of NetEase, such that we may be a CFC even though we are not controlled by any “United States shareholders.” Under recently proposed Treasury regulations, we will not be treated as publicly traded for the current taxable year because we were not publicly traded on the majority of days of the current taxable year. Accordingly, if we are a CFC under the constructive ownership attribution rules and we are not considered publicly traded for the current taxable year we will be PFIC for the current taxable year. Prospective U.S. investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the application of the PFIC rules to their investment in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, and in making their investment decision, should be willing to bear the risks of investing in a PFIC.

If we were not considered a CFC for the taxable year for purposes of the PFIC rules then based on the expected composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets, including goodwill, which is based on the expected price of the ADSs in this offering, we would not have expected to be a PFIC for our current taxable year. U.S. investors should consult their tax advisers to determine whether a “deemed sale” or “mark-to-market” election may be advisable to purge any PFIC taint for future taxable years.

Our PFIC status for any taxable year is an annual determination that can be made only after the end of that year. We will hold a substantial amount of cash following this offering and our PFIC status will depend on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which, except as may be the case for the current taxable year as described above) may be determined, in part, by reference to the market price of the ADSs, which could be volatile). Moreover, it is not entirely clear how the contractual arrangements between us and our VIEs will be treated for purposes of the PFIC rules, and we may be or become a PFIC if our VIEs are not treated as owned by us for these purposes. In addition, the extent to which our goodwill should be characterized as an active asset is not entirely clear. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for our current or any future taxable year even if we are not treated as a CFC. If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. taxpayer held ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, the U.S. taxpayer generally will be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences, including increased tax liability on disposition gains and “excess distributions” and additional reporting requirements. See “Taxation—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” and “potential,” among others.

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this prospectus and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to of various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to:

 

   

general economic, political, demographic and business conditions in China and globally;

 

   

our ability to implement our growth strategies;

 

   

the success of operating initiatives, including advertising and promotional efforts and new product and content development by us and our competitors;

 

   

our ability to develop and apply our technologies to support and expand our content and product offerings;

 

   

the expected growth of the intelligent learning industry in China and globally;

 

   

our ability to compete and conduct our business in the future;

 

   

our ability to offer new learning content;

 

   

the availability of qualified personnel and the ability to retain such personnel;

 

   

competition in the intelligent learning industry in China;

 

   

changes in government policies and regulations;

 

   

other factors that may affect our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; and

 

   

other risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors.”

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments or to release publicly any revisions to these statements in order to reflect later events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to receive total estimated net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis of approximately US$             million, or approximately US$             million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs in full, based on the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis for the following purposes:

 

   

to further invest in technology and product development;

 

   

to expand our branding and marketing efforts;

 

   

to further grow our user base; and

 

   

to satisfy other general corporate purposes.

If an unforeseen event occurs or business conditions change, we may use the proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis differently than as described in this prospectus. In utilizing the proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through loans or capital contributions, and to our VIEs only through loans, and only if we satisfy the applicable government registration and approval requirements. The relevant filing and registration processes for capital contributions typically take approximately eight weeks to complete. The filing and registration processes for loans typically take approximately four weeks or longer to complete. While we currently see no material obstacles to completing the filing and registration procedures with respect to future capital contributions and loans to our PRC subsidiaries or loans to our VIEs, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete these filings and registrations on a timely basis, or at all. For more information about such requirements, see “Regulation—Regulation Related to Foreign Exchange” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using the proceeds of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and to make loans to our VIEs, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.” Additionally, while there is no statutory limit on the amount of capital contribution that we can make to our PRC subsidiaries, loans provided to our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC are subject to certain statutory limits. See “Regulation—Regulation on Foreign Debt” for more information about such statutory limits. With respect to our PRC subsidiaries, the maximum amount of the loans that they can acquire in the aggregate from outside China is (i) zero under the Traditional Foreign Debt Mechanism calculated based on the amounts of total investment and registered capital of our PRC subsidiaries as of June 30, 2019; or (ii) RMB21.9 million (US$3.2 million) under the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism calculated based on our PRC subsidiaries’ net assets as of June 30, 2019 under PRC GAAP under the assumption that the loans are denominated in foreign currencies with duration of more than one year. With respect to our VIEs, the maximum amount of the loans that they can obtain in aggregate from outside China is approximately RMB29.3 million (US$4.3 million) under the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism calculated based on our VIEs’ net assets as of June 30, 2019 under PRC GAAP under the assumption that the loans are denominated in foreign currencies with duration of more than one year.

We are able to use all of the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis for investment in our operations in the PRC by funding our PRC subsidiaries through capital contributions which is not subject to any statutory limit on the amount under PRC laws and regulations. We expect that the net proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis to be used in the PRC will be in the form of RMB and, therefore, our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs will need to convert any capital contributions or loans from U.S. dollars into Renminbi in accordance with applicable PRC laws and regulations. All of the net

 

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proceeds from this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis would be available for investment in our operations in the PRC, subject to the foregoing statutory limits on the amount of loans provided to our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC and the laws and regulations on the conversion from U.S. dollars into Renminbi.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have not previously declared or paid any cash dividend or dividend in kind and we have no plan to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future on our shares or the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.

We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We rely principally on dividends from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. See “Regulation—Regulation Related to Foreign Exchange” and “Risk Factors—Risk Related to Doing Business in China—Foreign exchange control may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.”

Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. If we pay any dividends on our ordinary shares, we will pay those dividends which are payable in respect of the Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs to the depositary, as the registered holder of such Class A ordinary shares, and the depositary then will pay such amounts to the ADS holders in proportion to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs held by such ADS holders, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. See “Description of American Depositary Shares.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The table below sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2019:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on a pro forma basis to give effect to (i) the conversion of 6,814,815 issued and outstanding preferred shares and 2,867,640 issued and outstanding ordinary shares into 9,682,455 Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (ii) the automatic conversion of a total of 89,132,360 issued and outstanding ordinary shares into the same number of Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

   

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the conversion of 6,814,815 issued and outstanding preferred shares and 2,867,640 issued and outstanding ordinary shares into 9,682,455 Class A ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (ii) the automatic conversion of a total of 89,132,360 issued and outstanding ordinary shares into the same number of Class B ordinary shares immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iii) the issuance and sale of             Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADSs by us in this offering and the issuance and sale of              Class A ordinary shares in connection with the concurrent private placements to Orbis at an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price shown on the front cover of this prospectus, as adjusted to reflect the ADS-to-Class A ordinary share ratio), and the receipt of approximately US$             million in estimated net proceeds, considering an offering price of US$             per ADS (the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus), after deduction of the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and the use of proceeds therefrom, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs.

 

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You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the information under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

    As of June 30, 2019  
    Actual     Pro forma     Pro forma as adjusted(1)  
    RMB     US$     RMB     US$     RMB     US$  
    (in thousands, except for shares and par value data)  

Mezzanine equity

           

Series A preferred shares (US$0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, 6,814,815 shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis, and none outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis)

    481,808       70,183       —         —        

Total mezzanine equity

    481,808       70,183       —         —        

Ordinary shares (US$ 0.0001 par value, 490,000,000 shares authorized, 92,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2019; and 500,000,000 shares authorized, 98,814,815 shares issued and outstanding on a pro forma or a pro forma as adjusted basis)

    58       8       —         —        

Class A ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; none outstanding on an actual basis, 9,682,455 issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis, and              issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis)

    —         —         7       1      

Class B ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; none outstanding on an actual basis, 89,132,360 issued and outstanding on a pro forma basis, and              issued and outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis)

    —         —         56       8      

Additional paid-in capital(2)

    209,754       30,555       691,557       100,737      

Accumulated deficit

    (1,470,722     (214,235     (1,470,722     (214,235    

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    501       73       501       73                                        

Statutory reserves

    292       43       292       43      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Youdao, Inc.’s shareholders’ deficit(2)

    (1,260,117     (183,556     (778,309     (113,373                                      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

    (778,309     (113,373     (778,309     (113,373    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Notes:

(1)

The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only. Our additional paid-in capital, total Youdao, Inc.’s shareholders’ deficit and total capitalization following the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis are subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

(2)

Assuming the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus remains the same, and after deduction of underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, a US$1.00 change in the assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS (the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus) would, in the case of an increase, increase and, in the case of a decrease, decrease each of additional paid-in capital, total Youdao, Inc.’s shareholders’ deficit and total capitalization by US$             million.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in the ADSs, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per ADS and our net tangible book value per ADS after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the initial public offering price per Class A ordinary share is substantially in excess of the book value per ordinary share attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently issued and outstanding ordinary shares.

Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 was approximately US$(113.2) million, or US$(1.15) per ordinary share on an as-converted basis as of that date and US$             per ADS. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated tangible assets, less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities. Because the Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares have the same dividend and other rights, except the voting and conversion rights, dilution is determined by subtracting net tangible book value per ordinary share as adjusted from the initial public offering price per ordinary shares.

Without taking into account any other changes in such net tangible book value after June 30, 2019, other than to give effect to (i) the conversion of all of our ordinary shares and preferred shares into Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares, as the case may be, on a one-to-one basis which will occur automatically immediately prior to the completion of this offering and (ii) our issuance and sale of ADSs offered in this offering and the issuance and sale of Class A ordinary shares in connection with the concurrent private placements to Orbis, both at an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, after deduction of the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 would have been approximately US$             million, or US$             per ordinary share and US$             per ADS, to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of US$             per ordinary share, or US$             per ADS, to purchasers of ADSs in this offering.

The following table illustrates the dilution at an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, and all ADSs are exchanged for ordinary shares:

 

    

Per ordinary
share

  

Per ADS

Initial public offering price

   US$               

Net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019

   US$(1.23)   

Pro forma net tangible book value after giving effect to the automatic conversion of all of our issued and outstanding Series A preferred shares

   US$(1.15)   

Pro forma net tangible book value as adjusted to give effect to the automatic conversion of all of our issued and outstanding Series A preferred shares and this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis

   US$               

Amount of dilution in net tangible book value to new investors in this offering

   US$               

The pro forma information discussed above is illustrative only.

 

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The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis as of June 30, 2019, the differences between the existing shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number of ordinary shares purchased from us in this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, the total consideration paid and the average price per Class A ordinary share paid at the initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The total number of ordinary shares does not include Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs issuable upon the exercise of the option to purchase additional ADSs granted to the underwriters.

 

            Total Consideration      Average Price
Per Ordinary
Share
     Average Price
Per ADS
 
     Ordinary Shares Purchased      Amount (in
thousands of
US$)
     Percent  
     Number      Percent      US$      US$  

Existing shareholders

                 

New investors

                 

Total

                 

The discussion and tables above also assume no exercise of any stock options outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, there are              Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options, and there are a total of              Class A ordinary shares available for future issuance upon the exercise of grants under our share incentive plan. To the extent that any of these options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors.

 

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

Cayman Islands

We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability. We enjoy the following benefits:

 

   

political and economic stability;

 

   

an effective judicial system;

 

   

a favorable tax system;

 

   

the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and

 

   

the availability of professional and support services.

However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors; and

 

   

Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.

Our constitutional documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and a significant portion of our assets are located in China. A majority of our directors and executive officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

We have appointed Cogency Global Inc. as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.

Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and Tian Yuan Law Firm, our counsel as to PRC law, have advised us, respectively, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and China, respectively, would:

 

   

recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or

 

   

entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel, Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands, will, at common law, recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial

 

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on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For such a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.

PRC

We have been advised by Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would enforce judgments of United States courts or Cayman courts obtained against us or these persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the United States federal and state securities laws. Tian Yuan Law Firm has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. Under the PRC Civil Procedures Law, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law against us in the PRC, if they can establish sufficient nexus to the PRC for a PRC court to have jurisdiction, and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case, and there must be a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the suit. However, it would be difficult for foreign shareholders to establish sufficient nexus to the PRC by virtue only of holding the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.

 

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OUR HISTORY AND CORPORATE STRUCTURE

Our Major Business Milestones

In 2007, we launched our flagship Youdao Dictionary, China’s number one language app in terms of MAUs in the first half of 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan.

In 2011, we launched Youdao Cloudnote, China’s number one independent notetaking tool in terms of MAUs in the first half of 2019, according to Frost & Sullivan.

In 2012, NetEase launched NetEase Cloud Classroom, a platform offering online courses mainly targeting adults in China, which was acquired by us in May 2019.

In 2014, we strategically expanded offerings to include online courses by launching Youdao Classroom, which was rebranded as Youdao Premium Courses in 2016. In the same year, NetEase launched China University MOOC, a platform offering online courses primarily targeting college students and adults in China, which was acquired by us in May 2019.

Between 2016 and 2018, we continued to expand our suite of learning products and services by launching a portfolio of interactive apps catering to various age groups’ learning needs, which currently include Youdao Math, Youdao Vocabulary Builder, Youdao Fun Reading, Youdao Speaking and Youdao Reading, and by launching our smart device offerings, which currently include Youdao Smart Pen, Youdao Dictionary Pen and Youdao Pocket Translator.

Our Corporate History

We commenced our operations in March 2006 through NetEase Youdao Information Technology (Beijing), Co., Ltd., or Youdao Information. In September 2007, Beijing NetEase Youdao Computer System Co., Ltd., or Youdao Computer, was incorporated in the PRC. We conducted our business through both Youdao Information and Youdao Computer and they were then controlled by NetEase.

In 2014, we strategically shifted our focus to the intelligent learning industry. Since then, we have successfully developed a variety of technology-driven learning products and services, including Youdao Premium Courses.

In November 2014, Youdao, Inc., our current ultimate holding company, was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands.

In July 2016, Youdao (Hong Kong) Limited, or Youdao HK, was incorporated under the laws of Hong Kong. Youdao HK currently operates U-Dictionary, an online dictionary and translation app we offer primarily targeting users in selected overseas markets.

Between December 2016 and November 2017, through a number of transactions, we acquired the entire interests in Youdao Information and, through certain contractual arrangements, the control of Youdao Computer.

In April 2018, we issued a total of 6,814,815 Series A preferred shares to certain investors for an aggregate consideration of US$70.0 million. See “Description of Share Capital—History of Securities Issuances—Preferred Shares.”

Due to the restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations on foreign ownership of companies engaged in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses, Youdao Information entered into a series of contractual arrangements, as amended and restated, with each of Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education,

 

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as well as their respective shareholders, through which we obtained control over Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education. Linjiedian Education was incorporated primarily with a view to undertake future businesses that may be subject to foreign investment restrictions under PRC law and currently does not operate any substantial business or hold any material assets. As a result, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of each of Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education. We treat them as our consolidated affiliated entities under U.S. GAAP and have consolidated the financial results of these entities in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We refer to Youdao Information as our wholly foreign owned entity, or WFOE, and to Youdao Computer and Linjiedian Education as our VIEs, in this prospectus. For more details and risks related to our VIE structure, please see “—Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Respective Shareholders” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”

In May 2019, we acquired certain online learning businesses, including NetEase Cloud Classroom, China University MOOC and NetEase Kada, from the NetEase Group, as we believe these offerings generally appeal to different target audiences from, and as a result complement, Youdao Premium Courses, our existing online course brand and enable us to reach a broader student base. Since these businesses were controlled by NetEase both before and after the acquisition, such transactions are accounted for as business combinations under common control. Therefore, our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus include these acquired assets and liabilities at their historical carrying value. In addition, our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus reflect the results of such acquired businesses as if the current corporate structure, including the transfer of business in May 2019, had been in existence throughout the periods presented.

Our Corporate Structure

The following chart shows our corporate structure, including our principal subsidiaries and VIEs, after giving effect to the contemplated issuance and sale of                Class A ordinary shares in this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional ADSs, and the issuance and sale of Class A ordinary shares in connection with concurrent private placements to Orbis, based on an assumed initial public offering price of US$             per ADS, the mid-point of the estimated public offering price range shown on the front cover of this prospectus.

 

 

LOGO

 

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Notes:

 

LOGO

   Equity interest

LOGO

   Contractual arrangements, including the cooperation agreement, operating agreement, equity pledge agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, shareholder voting right trust agreement and loan agreement. See “—Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Respective Shareholders.”
(1)

Beneficial ownership percentages represent beneficial ownership of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, and the concurrent private placements to Orbis. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant, or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person. See also “Principal Shareholders.”

(2)

Voting power percentages represent aggregate voting power of our total issued and outstanding share capital immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, and are calculated by dividing the voting power beneficially owned by such person or group by the voting power of all of our issued and outstanding Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. In respect of matters requiring a shareholder vote, each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to three votes and is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. See also “Description of Share Capital—Ordinary Shares.”

(3)

Youdao HK currently operates our overseas businesses, including U-Dictionary. See “Business—Global Opportunities.”

(4)

Jiankun Zhao, an employee of our company as of the date of this prospectus, holds 15% of NetEase Langsheng’s equity interests. As of the date of this prospectus, Mr. Zhao also holds a vested option to purchase additional 15% equity interest of NetEase Langsheng.

(5)

Shareholders of Linjiedian Education are William Lei Ding, our director (who is also the chief executive officer, a director and a principal shareholder of NetEase, our controlling shareholder), and Feng Zhou, our Chief Executive Officer and director, each holding 99% and 1%, respectively, of Linjiedian Education’s equity interests.

(6)

Shareholders of Youdao Computer are William Lei Ding, our director (who is also the chief executive officer, a director and a principal shareholder of NetEase, our controlling shareholder), and Feng Zhou, our Chief Executive Officer and director, each holding approximately 71% and 29%, respectively, of Youdao Computer’s equity interests.

Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Our VIEs’ Respective Shareholders

Current PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in value-added telecommunication services and certain other businesses. We are a company registered in the Cayman Islands. Youdao Information, our PRC subsidiary, is considered a foreign-invested enterprise. To comply with the foregoing restrictions imposed by PRC laws and regulations on foreign investments, we conduct a significant portion of our businesses in China through Youdao Computer, one of our VIEs in the PRC, based on a series of contractual arrangements between us and our VIEs and their respective shareholders. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we exert effective control over, and are considered the primary beneficiary of, our VIEs and consolidate their operating results in our financial statements under the U.S. GAAP. In 2017 and 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, the amount of revenues generated by our VIEs accounted for approximately 87.9%, 82.9% and 79.6%, respectively, of our total net revenues. As a result, our ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our subsidiaries which, in turn, depends on the payment of service fees to our PRC subsidiaries by our VIEs in the PRC pursuant to certain contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, our VIEs and our VIEs’ shareholders. In 2017 and 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, the amount of service fees paid to our PRC subsidiaries from our VIEs was RMB233.7 million, RMB395.2 million (US$57.6 million) and RMB236.6 million (US$34.5 million), respectively. We expect that the amounts of such service fees will increase in the foreseeable future as our PRC business continues to grow.

The following is a summary of the contractual arrangements by and among Youdao Information, Youdao Computer and the shareholders of Youdao Computer. The contractual arrangements by and among Youdao Information, Linjiedian Education and the shareholders of Linjiedian Education, except for the Cooperation Agreement, are substantially similar to the corresponding contractual arrangements as discussed below. For the complete text of these contractual arrangements, please see the copies filed as exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

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In the opinion of Tian Yuan Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel, the contractual arrangements described below are valid, binding and enforceable under current PRC law. However, our PRC legal counsel has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to VIE structures will be adopted or if adopted, how they would affect our VIE structure. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government authorities find that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our value-added telecommunication services and other business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in such businesses, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. Additionally, these contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with effective control over our VIEs. If our VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under such contractual arrangements, we could be limited in our ability to enforce such contractual arrangements that give us effective control over our business operations in the PRC and may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure will be effective. Additionally, the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us is limited by certain PRC legal restrictions on the payment of dividends by PRC companies and foreign exchange control, among others, which prevent us from having unfettered access to our PRC subsidiaries’ and VIEs’ revenues. Our access to our VIEs’ revenues is also limited since we do not have direct ownership in our VIEs and have to rely on the payment of service fees by our VIEs to our PRC subsidiaries. For a more detailed description of the risks related to these contractual arrangements and our corporate structure, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”

Cooperation Agreements

Youdao Computer and Youdao Information entered into a cooperation agreement, or the Youdao Computer Cooperation Agreement, on July 1, 2015. Under the Youdao Computer Cooperation Agreement, Youdao Information has agreed to provide the following services to Youdao Computer:

 

   

the development of computer software (including, but not limited to, producing online advertisement and distribution and maintenance of software) and technical support and maintenance for computer software operation;

 

   

the design, development, update and upgrade of platforms for online advertisement; and

 

   

the provision of technology support, including, but not limited to, server maintenance, development of server software and related maintenance and updates.

Youdao Computer has agreed to share its monthly income (after tax and expenses) with Youdao Information in accordance with certain formulas as specified in the Youdao Computer Cooperation Agreement. The Youdao Computer Cooperation Agreement was effective from July 1, 2015 and will continue to be effective unless it is terminated, in case of a material breach of the agreement, by written notice of the non-breaching party.

Linjiedian Education and Youdao Information entered into a cooperation agreement, or the Linjiedian Education Cooperation Agreement, on January 18, 2019, pursuant to which Youdao Information has agreed to provide the following services to Linjiedian Education:

 

   

the development of computer software (including, but no limited to information management software and other technical software) and technical support and maintenance for computer software operation;

 

   

Licensing of software, trademark, domains, technical secrets and other associated intellectual property rights; and

 

   

The provision of R&D services in relation to education courseware and teaching support services.

Linjiedian Education has agreed to share its monthly income (after tax and expenses) with Youdao Information in accordance with certain formulas as specified in the Linjiedian Education Cooperation

 

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Agreement. The Linjiedian Education Cooperation Agreement was effective from January 18, 2019 and will continue to be effective unless it is terminated, in case of a material breach of the agreement, by written notice of the non-breaching party.

Operating Agreements

To ensure the successful performance of the various agreements between the parties, each of William Lei Ding and Feng Zhou, the shareholders of Youdao Computer, entered into an operating agreement with Youdao Computer and Youdao Information, with each agreement taking effect from September 26, 2016. Under the operating agreements, each of Youdao Computer, Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou agreed that, except for transactions in the ordinary course of business, Youdao Computer will not enter into any transaction that would materially affect the assets, liabilities, rights or operations of Youdao Computer without the prior written consent of Youdao Information. Youdao Information also agreed that it would provide performance guarantees and, at its discretion, guarantee loans for working capital purposes to the extent required by Youdao Computer for its operations. As counter-guarantee, Youdao Computer agreed to pledge the account receivable in its operations and all of its assets to Youdao Information, which pledge has not been implemented as of the date of this prospectus. Furthermore, each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou agreed that, upon instruction from Youdao Information, he would appoint candidates recommended by Youdao Information as Youdao Computer’s board members, president, chief financial officer and other senior executive officers. The term of each operating agreement is 20 years from the date of execution and can be extended with the written consent of Youdao Information.

Equity Pledge Agreements

Each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou, the shareholders of Youdao Computer, has entered into an equity pledge agreement with Youdao Information, with each agreement taking effect from September 26, 2016. Under such equity pledge agreements, each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou pledged his respective equity interest in Youdao Computer to Youdao Information to secure his obligations under the applicable loan agreement, exclusive purchase option agreement, shareholder voting right trust agreement, and operating agreement. Each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou further agreed not to transfer or pledge his respective equity interest in Youdao Computer without the prior written consent of Youdao Information. Each of the equity pledge agreements will remain binding until the respective pledger, Mr. Ding or Dr. Zhou, as the case may be, discharges all his obligations under the above-mentioned agreements. As of the date of this prospectus, the equity pledges under such Equity Pledge Agreements have been registered with competent PRC regulatory authority.

Exclusive Purchase Option Agreements

Each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou, the shareholders of Youdao Computer, has entered into an exclusive purchase option agreement with Youdao Information and Youdao Computer, with each agreement taking effect from September 26, 2016. Under the exclusive purchase option agreements, each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou granted Youdao Information an option to purchase all or a portion of his respective equity interest in Youdao Computer at a price equal to the original and any additional paid-in capital paid by him. In addition, under each exclusive purchase option agreement, Youdao Computer has granted Youdao Information an option to purchase all or a portion of the assets held by Youdao Computer or its subsidiaries at a price equal to the net book value of such assets. Each of Youdao Computer, Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou agreed not to transfer, mortgage or permit any security interest to be created on any equity interest in or assets of Youdao Computer without the prior written consent of Youdao Information. Each exclusive purchase option agreement shall remain in effect until all of the equity interests in or assets of Youdao Computer have been acquired by Youdao Information or its designee or until Youdao Information unilaterally terminates the agreement by written notice.

Shareholder Voting Right Trust Agreements

Each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou, the shareholders of Youdao Computer, has entered into a shareholder voting right trust agreement with Youdao Information, with each agreement taking effect from September 26,

 

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2016. Under the shareholder voting right trust agreements, each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou agreed to irrevocably entrust a person designated by Youdao Information to represent him to exercise all the voting rights and other shareholders’ rights to which he is entitled as a shareholder of Youdao Computer. Each shareholder voting right trust agreement shall remain effective for as long as Mr. Ding or Dr. Zhou, as applicable, remains a shareholder of Youdao Computer unless Youdao Information unilaterally terminates the agreement by written notice.

Loan Agreements

Each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou, the shareholders of Youdao Computer, has entered into a loan agreement with Youdao Information, with each agreement taking effect from September 26, 2016. Under these loan agreements, Youdao Information provided each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou with an interest-free loan. The proceeds from the loans were used by each of Mr. Ding and Dr. Zhou to pay the consideration to acquire their respective equity interest in Youdao Computer. The loans can be repaid by transferring each of Mr. Ding’s and Dr. Zhou’s respective equity interest in Youdao Computer to Youdao Information or its designee or through such other method as Youdao Information shall determine. The term of each of the Loan Agreements is 10 years from the date of such agreement and will be automatically extended for a further 10-year term unless otherwise decided by Youdao Information.

 

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OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH NETEASE

NetEase, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTES), or NetEase, our controlling shareholder, is a leading internet technology company in China, dedicated to providing online services centered around content, community, communication and commerce. NetEase develops and operates some of China’s most popular mobile and PC-client games, e-commerce businesses and advertising services, as well as a variety of other innovative businesses.

Historically, we cooperated with NetEase in a number of areas, such as user acquisition and IT infrastructure. See “Related Party Transactions” for more information about our related party transactions with the NetEase Group. We have also obtained loans, which are generally repayable within one year, from the NetEase Group to fund our business operations. As of June 30, 2019, we had outstanding interest-bearing short-term loans payable to NetEase in the amount of RMB878.0 million (US$127.9 million), which constituted a substantial portion of our current liabilities. Pursuant to a share subscription agreement dated April 12, 2018, NetEase has agreed to extend annually the term of such loans in the aggregate amount of no less than RMB841 million on terms and conditions no less favorable to us as those as at the date of such share subscription agreement until the earlier of (i) the consummation of an initial public offering of our company; and (ii) the termination of our current shareholders agreement. See also “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We have significant working capital requirements and have historically experienced working capital deficits. If we continue to experience working capital deficits in the future, our business, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” and “Related Party Transactions.”

NetEase will remain our controlling shareholder immediately upon the completion of this offering and the concurrent private placements to Orbis, holding         % of the total voting power of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs. As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance rules. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely on certain exemptions from corporate governance rules, including, among others, (i) an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors; and (ii) an exemption from the rule that our director nominees must be selected or recommended solely by independent directors.

We are subject to certain risks associated with our relationship with NetEase, including potential conflicts of interest that may arise between NetEase and us in a number of areas. For more information about such risks, see “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Relationship with NetEase.”

Business Cooperation Agreements

In connection with this offering, we have entered into a series of business cooperation agreements with NetEase, including a master transaction agreement, a transitional services agreement, a non-competition agreement, a cooperation framework agreement and an intellectual property license agreement (collectively, the “Business Cooperation Agreements”), which are expected to become effective upon the completion of this offering. The following is a summary of the key terms of the Business Cooperation Agreements. For the complete text of the forms of these agreements, please see the copies included as exhibits to the registration statement filed with the SEC of which this prospectus is a part.

Master transaction agreement

We have entered into a master transaction agreement with NetEase to govern certain key aspects of our relationship with NetEase, including the allocation of liabilities, indemnity and engagement of independent auditors.

 

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Pursuant to the master transaction agreement, we are responsible for, among other things, the liabilities associated with the “Online Learning Business,” which is defined to include the online learning products and online learning services offered by us as of the date of the master transaction agreement, excluding the NetEase open online courses and the K-12 curriculum course offered by the NetEase Group as of the date of the non-competition agreement and certain other specified businesses, and NetEase is responsible for, among other things, the liabilities arising on or after June 30, 2019 associated with the “NetEase Business,” which is defined to include the business conducted by the NetEase Group as of the date of the master transaction agreement and any business that is derived from such businesses.

The master transaction agreement requires each of NetEase and us to indemnify the other party for breaches of the terms of the master transaction agreement and the other Business Cooperation Agreements, as well as liabilities arising from any such misstatements or omissions in each party’s SEC filings relating to information provided by such party to the other party in writing.

Additionally, subject to certain exceptions, we have agreed to use our reasonable efforts to engage the same independent registered public accounting firm used by NetEase until the first NetEase fiscal year-end following the earlier of (i) the first date when the NetEase Group no longer owns at least 20% of the voting power of our then outstanding voting securities and (ii) the first date when NetEase, together with the other members of the NetEase Group, cease to be the largest beneficial owner of our then outstanding voting securities. We refer to such earlier date as the “Control Ending Date.” We have also agreed to maintain the same fiscal year as NetEase until the Control Ending Date.

The master transaction agreement will automatically terminate five years after the Control Ending Date. It can also be terminated early or extended by mutual written consent of NetEase and us. The termination of the master transaction agreement will not affect the validity and effectiveness of the other Business Cooperation Agreements.

Transitional services agreement

Under the transitional services agreement, NetEase has agreed that, during the service period as described below, NetEase will provide us with various corporate support and services such as legal support, human resources support, financial reporting, internal control and internal audit support, technology and operational support, and administrative support. The price to be paid for the services provided under the transitional services agreement is calculated by multiplying the sum of the actual “direct costs” and “indirect costs” of providing such services by 100% plus a reasonable mark-up rate as determined by NetEase. Direct costs include labor-related compensation and travel expenses, materials and supplies consumed in and agency fees arising from performing the services. Indirect costs include office occupancy, information technology support and other overhead costs of the departments incurring the direct costs of providing the services.

The transitional service agreement provides that the performance of a service according to the agreement will not subject the provider of such service to any liability whatsoever except as directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the service provider. Liability of the provider for gross negligence or willful misconduct is limited to the lower of the price paid for the particular service, the cost of the service’s recipient performing the service itself or the service recipient’s cost of obtaining the service from a third party during the remainder of the service period. Under the transitional services agreement, the service provider of each service is indemnified by the recipient against all third-party claims relating to provision of services or the recipient’s material breach of a third-party agreement, except where the claim is directly caused by the service provider’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

We may terminate the transitional services agreement with respect to all or part of the services by giving 90-day prior written notice to NetEase, paying it all fees accrued through the termination, and reimbursing it with

 

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any termination costs actually incurred by NetEase as a result of the termination, such as any costs owed to third-party providers. NetEase may terminate the transitional services agreement with respect to all or part of the services by giving us a 90-day prior written notice on or after the Control Ending Date or at any time if we breach any material provision of such agreement and fail to cure such breach within 30 calendar days after receiving NetEase’s written notice. The service period under the transitional services agreement commences upon the completion of this offering and will end on the earliest of (i) the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering, (ii) one year after the Control Ending Date, (iii) the date the transitional services agreement is terminated by NetEase or us, whichever is earlier.

Non-competition agreement

Under the non-competition agreement, NetEase and we have each agreed to be subject to certain non-compete restrictions during a “Non-competition Period,” which will start from the completion of this offering and end on the earlier of (i) five years after the Control Ending Date; (ii) the date on which the ADSs cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange; and (iii) the tenth anniversary of the completion of this offering. Specifically:

 

   

NetEase has agreed not to compete with us in the provision of the Online Learning Business, provided that such non-compete restrictions shall not prevent the NetEase Group from (i) engaging in the Online Learning Business through us or on our behalf, (ii) continuing to engage in the NetEase Business, (iii) owning a non-controlling interest in any company engaging in any business that is of the same nature as the Online Learning Business, or (iv) engaging in any other business that we and NetEase may agree from time to time.

 

   

We have agreed not to compete with NetEase in the NetEase Business or business of a similar nature, provided that such non-compete restrictions shall not prevent us from (i) engaging in the NetEase Business or business of a similar nature through or on behalf of NetEase, (ii) continuing to engage in any business that we operate as of the date of the non-competition agreement, (iii) owning a non-controlling interest in any company engaging in any business that is of the same nature as the NetEase Business, and (iv) engaging in any other business that we and NetEase may agree from time to time.

The non-competition agreement provides that if there is any ambiguity in the scope of business subject to the foregoing non-compete restrictions, the interpretations of NetEase shall prevail.

In addition, we and NetEase have each undertaken to each other that during the Non-competition Period, should a party have a business or investment opportunity relating to the other party’s businesses covered by the foregoing non-compete restrictions, it shall notify the other party of such opportunity in writing. If the party receiving the notice elects not to or otherwise fails to take up the opportunity within 30 days, the notifying party may proceed to take up such business or investment opportunity.

The non-competition agreement also provides for a mutual non-solicitation obligation that neither NetEase nor we may, during the Non-competition Period, hire, or solicit for hire, any active employees of or individuals providing consulting services to the other party, or any former employees of or individuals providing consulting services to the other party within six months of the termination of their employment or consulting services, without the other party’s consent, except for solicitation activities through generalized non-targeted advertisement not directed to such employees or individuals that do not result in a hiring within the Non-competition Period. In addition, during the Non-competition Period, we and NetEase have each agreed not to solicit business falling within the other party’s business scope from the other party’s customer, supplier, distributor or similar third parties.

Cooperation framework agreement

Under the cooperation framework agreement, we and NetEase have agreed to cooperate with each other in the marketing and promotion of each other’s services and products on our respective platforms. Also, NetEase

 

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has agreed to purchase our translation services and to allow its users to log on our platforms with their NetEase Passports. We have agreed to purchase from NetEase certain products and services, including but not limited to NetEase’s online payment system, cloud-base security solutions and procurement of certain inventory or fixed assets, and to lease real properties from NetEase, in each case as we see fit. The cooperation framework agreement will become effective on the date of completion of this offering and will expire on the earlier of (i) the fifteenth anniversary of the effective date of such agreement or (ii) five year after the Control Ending Date.

Intellectual property license agreement

Under the intellectual property license agreement, we and NetEase grant to each other a worldwide, fully paid-up, non-sublicensable (subject to certain specified exceptions), non-transferable, limited and non-exclusive license of certain intellectual properties for a royalty as agreed by both parties solely to use, reproduce, modify, prepare derivative works of, perform, display, or otherwise exploit the licensed intellectual property within the term of such agreement.

Under the intellectual property license agreement, the intellectual property licensed by NetEase to us include the intellectual property that is in use by us as of the date of the intellectual property license agreement and any improvement thereof, and the intellectual property licensed by us to NetEase includes the intellectual property that is in use by NetEase as of the date of the agreement or is or will be needed by NetEase for the NetEase Business, as well as any improvement of the foregoing intellectual property. In addition, to the extent permitted under applicable laws and regulations and not violating NetEase’s contractual obligations owed to a third party, NetEase grants us a license to use the user registration information pertaining to its user registration system free of charge solely for use in connection with the Online Learning Business.

During the term of the intellectual property license agreement, we and NetEase have each agreed to provide to the other party the support services reasonably requested in connection with the intellectual property licensed under such agreement. Such maintenance and support services shall be provided pursuant to the service levels consistent with past practice, and may be charged at reasonably allocated costs on fair and reasonable terms to be mutually agreed upon by the parties.

This agreement will be effective on the completion of this offering and expire on the earlier of (i) the fifteen anniversary of the effective date of such agreement, and (ii) one year after the Control Ending Date with respect to the sharing of information and data and user registration information, or five years after the Control Ending Date with respect to other licenses under such agreement.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and selected consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following selected consolidated statements of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2019 and selected consolidated cash flow data for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this Selected Consolidated Financial Data section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2017     2018     2018     2019  
    RMB     %     RMB     US$     %     RMB     %     RMB     US$     %  
    (in thousands, except for percentages, shares and per share data)  

Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations:

                   

Net revenues

    455,746       100.0       731,598       106,570       100.0       327,155       100.0       548,543       79,904       100.0  

Cost of revenues(1)

    (293,807     (64.5     (515,133     (75,038     (70.4     (219,541     (67.1     (389,585     (56,749     (71.0
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

    161,939       35.5       216,465       31,532       29.6       107,614       32.9       158,958       23,155       29.0  

Operating expenses

                   

Sales and marketing expenses(1)

    (136,412     (29.9     (213,405     (31,086     (29.2     (94,301     (28.8     (186,136     (27,114     (33.9

Research and development expenses(1)

    (133,092     (29.2     (184,020     (26,806     (25.1     (80,697     (24.7     (111,184     (16,196     (20.3

General and administrative expenses(1)

    (22,476     (4.9     (38,177     (5,561     (5.2     (15,749     (4.8     (23,784     (3,465     (4.3
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    (291,980     (64.0     (435,602     (63,453     (59.5     (190,747     (58.3     (321,104     (46,775     (58.5
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (130,041     (28.5     (219,137     (31,921     (29.9     (83,133     (25.4     (162,146     (23,620     (29.5

Interest income/(expense), net

    (29,327     (6.4     (23,507     (3,424     (3.2     (13,057     (4.0     (12,362     (1,801     (2.3

Others, net

    598       0.1       44,643       6,503       6.1       17,904       5.5       8,253       1,202       1.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss before tax

    (158,770     (34.8     (198,001     (28,842     (27.0     (78,286     (23.9     (166,255     (24,219     (30.3

Income tax expenses

    (5,162     (1.1     (11,294     (1,645     (1.6     (4,465     (1.4     (1,639     (239     (0.3
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (163,932     (35.9     (209,295     (30,487     (28.6     (82,751     (25.3     (167,894     (24,458     (30.6

Net (income)/loss attributable to non-controlling interests shareholders

    30,355       6.6       385       56       0.0       678       0.2       (481     (70     (0.1
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to the Company

    (133,577     (29.3     (208,910     (30,431     (28.6     (82,073     (25.1     (168,375     (24,528     (30.7

Accretions of convertible redeemable preferred shares to redemption value

    —         —         (30,311     (4,415     (4.1     (10,105     (3.1     (21,156     (3,081     (3.9
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company

    (133,577     (29.3     (239,221     (34,846     (32.7     (92,178     (28.2     (189,531     (27,609     (34.6

Net loss per ordinary share

                   

Basic

    (2.04       (2.80     (0.41       (1.16       (2.06     (0.30  

Diluted

    (2.04       (2.80     (0.41       (1.16       (2.06     (0.30  

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating net loss per ordinary share

                   

Basic

    65,387,160         85,346,790       85,346,790         79,208,193         92,000,000       92,000,000    

Diluted

    65,387,160         85,346,790       85,346,790         79,208,193         92,000,000       92,000,000    

 

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Notes:

(1)

The following table sets forth the allocation of our share-based compensation expenses. These expenses were allocated to us based on awards granted to our employees pursuant to NetEase’s 2009 RSU Plan. See also “Related Party Transactions—Other Related Party Transactions with NetEase.”

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,      For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017      2018      2018      2019  
     RMB      RMB      US$      RMB      RMB      US$  
     (in thousands)  

Cost of revenues

     2,220        3,055        446        1,187        907        132  

Sales and marketing expenses

     289        350        51        256        780        114  

Research and development expenses

     2,773        2,735        398        1,174        41        6  

General and administrative expenses

     8        36        5        12        399        58  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     5,290        6,176        900        2,629        2,127        310  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents our selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019.

 

     As of December 31,     As of June 30,  
     2017     2018     2019  
                 Actual     Pro forma(1)  
     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     US$     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

              

Cash and cash equivalents

     39,831       41,738       6,080       52,317       7,621       52,317       7,621  

Accounts receivable, net

     65,121       80,562       11,735       167,389       24,383       167,389       24,383  

Total current assets

     144,981       595,068       86,682       611,232       89,036       611,232       89,036  

Total assets

     161,853       619,617       90,258       639,461       93,148       639,461       93,148  

Contract liabilities

     94,531       177,536       25,861       242,475       35,320       242,475       35,320  

Short-term loans from NetEase Group

     878,000       878,000       127,895       878,000       127,895       878,000       127,895  

Total current liabilities

     1,119,850       1,300,398       189,425       1,416,401       206,322       1,416,401       206,322  

Total liabilities

     1,119,850       1,300,398       189,425       1,416,401       206,322       1,416,401       206,322  

Total mezzanine equity

     —         460,652       67,102       481,808       70,183       —         —    

Total shareholders’ deficit

     (957,997     (1,141,433     (166,269     (1,258,748     (183,357     (776,940     (113,174

Total liabilities, mezzanine equity and shareholder’s deficit

     161,853       619,617       90,258       639,461       93,148       639,461       93,148  

 

(1)

On a pro forma basis to reflect the conversion of all of our outstanding preferred shares on a one-for-one basis into ordinary shares, as if such conversion had occurred as of June 30, 2019.

 

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The following table presents our selected consolidated cash flow data for the periods indicated.

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2017     2018     2018     2019  
     RMB     RMB     US$     RMB     RMB     US$  
     (in thousands)  

Selected Consolidated Cash Flow Data:

            

Net cash used in operating activities

     (87,138     (100,330     (14,615     (38,619     (200,804     (29,252

Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities

     (10,836     (374,000     (54,479     (403,408     135,364       19,719  

Net cash provided by financing activities

     107,765       475,117       69,209       465,866       75,643       11,019  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     —         1,120       163       626       376       55  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     9,791       1,907       278       24,465       10,579       1,541  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year/period

     30,040       39,831       5,802       39,831       41,738       6,080  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year/period

     39,831       41,738       6,080       64,296       52,317       7,621  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the section entitled “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

We’re the leading intelligent learning company in China, with over 100.0 million average total MAUs in the first half of 2019.

Starting from online dictionary and translation tools, we offer a comprehensive suite of learning products and services catering to people’s learning needs throughout their lives. Today, for tens of millions of people, Youdao is their go-to destination for looking up a word, translating a foreign language, preparing for an exam, and picking up a new skill. Through technology, we enrich the lives of people of all ages every day, guiding them on their journey of pursuing knowledge and sharing ideas.

We generate net revenues from learning services and products, primarily from our online courses. We also generate net revenues from sales of subscription packages of our online knowledge tools and interactive learning apps, sales of smart devices, and licensing of technologies and solutions to business customers. In addition to learning services and products, we also generate a substantial portion of our net revenues from online marketing services.

Our net revenues increased by 67.7% from RMB327.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 to RMB548.5 million (US$79.9 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, we recorded net losses of RMB82.8 million and RMB167.9 million (US$24.5 million), respectively. Our net revenues increased by 60.5% from RMB455.7 million in 2017 to RMB731.6 million (US$106.6 million) in 2018. In 2017 and 2018, we recorded net losses of RMB163.9 million and RMB209.3 million (US$30.5 million), respectively.

Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations

We operate in China’s intelligent learning industry, and our financial condition and results of operations are influenced by the macroeconomic factors affecting this industry, such as China’s economic growth, the continued penetration of internet and mobile services and the development of technology, all of which have allowed Chinese people to spend more on learning. Our financial condition and results of operations are also affected by a number of emerging market and technology trends, such as the integration of technology with learning, the emergence of new learning scenarios, and the competition for high-quality teaching resources. In addition, as we have historically generated, and expect to continue to generate, a significant portion of our net revenues from sales of online marketing services, our results of operations are also affected by the general factors affecting our advertisers and their advertising budgets.

Our financial condition and results of operations may also be affected by changes in the PRC regulatory environment, including, for example, the uncertainties relating to filing or licensing requirements applicable to online course providers and the limitations on foreign investments in online course providers, as well as potential tightened regulation on online advertising. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Certain aspects of our business operations may be deemed not to be in full compliance with PRC regulatory requirements regarding online private education. Additionally, we are subject to risks relating to the uncertainties

 

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in the implementation of these requirements and additional regulatory requirements and restrictions regarding online private education.” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Our advertising content may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.”

In 2017 and 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, we recorded net losses of RMB163.9 million, RMB209.3 million (US$30.5 million) and RMB167.9 million (US$24.5 million), respectively. In order to achieve profitability, we plan to (i) continue to expand our online course offerings to increase both our paid student enrollments and gross billings per paid student enrollment; (ii) generate additional revenues by exploring a range of different monetization channels, such as offering more paid content through our interactive learning apps and sales of smart devices; and (iii) further control our costs and expenses. There can be no assurance that we will succeed in these activities, and we may not be able to generate revenues sufficient to achieve profitability. We may even experience higher operating and net losses in the short term. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Industry — We have a history of net losses and we may not achieve profitability in the future.”

Specifically, we believe that our financial condition and results of operations are also affected by a number of company-specific factors, including the factors discussed below.

Our ability to continue to integrate technology into our products and services

We have a strong ability to integrate technology with learning, which is a critical differentiating advantage for us and also a key factor that affects our revenue and financial results. Having invested heavily in technological innovations, we have successfully developed industry-leading proprietary technologies in optical character recognition (OCR), neural machine translation (NMT), language data mining and data analytics and continue to integrate them into our comprehensive suite of learning products and services. Going forward, we will continue to increase our investments in developing and upgrading our technology with a focus on optimizing our products and services. We believe our ability to grow our business significantly depends on our ability to continue to integrate technology with our learning products and services and to offer smarter and better learning products and services.

Our ability to grow our user base and drive user engagement and loyalty

We have built a massive and highly engaged user base. We track the average total MAUs of our platform as a key metric to measure the size of our user base and their overall engagement levels. Our average total MAUs increased from 73.7 million in 2017 to 96.4 million in 2018 and from 93.1 million in the first half of 2018 to 105.0 million in the first half of 2019, primarily driven by our overall business growth as a result of our continuous efforts to expand our learning product and service offerings and improve user experience. We believe that our business growth is affected by our ability to continue to grow our user base and improve their experience with our products and services. Historically, we were able to scale our business in a cost-effective manner as we generated quality leads from the large and loyal user base of our knowledge tools, such as Youdao Dictionary, to enroll in Youdao Premium Courses, and converted them into paid student enrollments, and we expect this trend to continue in the foreseeable future.

We are strategically focused on engaging more young users and students, particularly those in the K-12 age group, and serving their lifelong learning needs. We believe that this benefits our long-term growth as it allows us to capture more of their lifelong learning needs starting from an early age through offering high-quality online courses and other learning products and services.

We use Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User to measure student engagement and loyalty. The charts below reflect the Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User by cohort of our students in primary and secondary school grades who have enrolled in our Youdao Premium Courses, on a quarterly basis from the first quarter of 2018 through the second quarter of 2019 and on a monthly basis from January 2018 through August 2019. Each

 

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of the lines in the charts represents how the number of Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User of a particular cohort grows over time as the cohort matures.

“Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User” of a cohort is calculated as the total cumulative number of paid courses enrolled by that cohort since their initial purchases divided by the number of unique students in that cohort. We believe that the Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User of cohorts in primary and secondary school grades is a meaningful engagement metric since these students represent a significant portion of our total student base with strong learning needs throughout their school years, which gives us the opportunity to serve them at multiple points along their lifelong learning journeys.

 

Quarterly Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User by cohort of Youdao Premium Courses    Monthly Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User by cohort of Youdao Premium Courses
LOGO    LOGO

Across cohorts, the Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User continued to grow as the cohorts mature, indicating a consistent trend throughout the periods presented. We believe that this trend demonstrates our increasing value proposition to our students and their parents as they continue to increase spending on our online courses. We expect our Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User to grow in the foreseeable future as our cohorts mature and as we continue to offer additional high-quality courses that address their lifelong learning needs. In addition, more recent cohorts generally started with higher initial Cumulative Paid Enrollments Per User than earlier cohorts, which we believe is driven by the continued growth of our online courses in both scale and quality. Moreover, the slope of the more recent cohorts’ curves have generally become steeper than those of the earlier cohorts, indicating our increasing repurchase rates and student engagement and loyalty throughout the periods presented and our enhancing cross-selling capability.

Our ability to increase our paid student enrollments

We generate a significant and increasing portion of our net revenues from our online courses. As a result, our results of operations and financial condition are affected by the number of our paid student enrollments.We believe that our paid student enrollments are primarily affected by the number of our paying students which is in turn influenced by a range of factors, such as our ability to attract prospective students through offering high-quality courses and learning experiences and to convert students of non-paid courses into paid student enrollments, as well as pricing of our courses. In 2017 and 2018 and the first half of 2019, the numbers of paying students of Youdao Premium Courses were approximately 229 thousand, 361 thousand and 208 thousand, respectively.

 

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Our management continually reviews paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses to evaluate the overall performance and growth trends of our online courses, since we have historically generated the vast majority of our paid student enrollments from Youdao Premium Courses. In the first half of 2018 and 2019, our paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses were approximately 318 thousand and 338 thousand, respectively, indicating an increase of 6.4%. During the same periods, our K-12 paid student enrollments increased by 80.8% from approximately 58 thousand in the first half of 2018 to 105 thousand in the first half of 2019. In 2017 and 2018, our paid student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses were approximately 418 thousand and 643 thousand, respectively, representing an increase of 54.0%. During the same periods, our K-12 paid student enrollments increased by 34.8% from 93 thousand in 2017 to 126 thousand. In the first half of 2018 and 2019, our Youdao Premium Courses had 9.3 million and 12.1 million total student enrollments, respectively. In 2017 and 2018, our Youdao Premium Courses had 10.0 million and 21.4 million total student enrollments, respectively. Paid student enrollments as a percentage of total student enrollments for Youdao Premium Courses decreased from 4.2% in 2017 to 3.0% in 2018 and from 3.4% in the first half of 2018 to 2.8% in the first half of 2019, primarily because we strategically expanded our offering of free or low-cost trial courses to promote our Youdao Premium Courses to prospective students. As a key growth strategy, we intend to continue to invest substantially in growing our paid student enrollments, especially those in K-12 courses, for Youdao Premium Courses. See “Business—Our Offerings—Learning Services—Online Courses—Youdao Premium Courses—K-12 Courses” for details.

Our ability to increase gross billings per paid student enrollment

Our results of operations and financial position are also affected by level of gross billings we are able to generate from our paid student enrollments. From the first half of 2018 to the first half of 2019, our gross billings per paid student enrollment of Youdao Premium Courses increased by 47.8% from approximately RMB508 to approximately RMB751 (US$109.4), which was primarily due to the increase in sales of our K-12 courses and foreign language courses, which generally have a higher level of gross billings per paid student enrollment than other courses. From 2017 to 2018, our gross billings per paid student enrollment of Youdao Premium Courses increased by 53.8% from approximately RMB363 to approximately RMB559 (US$81.4), which was primarily due to increased contribution to our course mix from courses with relatively higher gross billings per paid student enrollment, such as our K-12 courses, as well as our ability to charge higher tuition fees for certain popular courses.

We determine our pricing primarily based on our assessment of the market demand, as well as certain other factors, such as the associated costs and expenses and the prices and availability of competing courses, among other things. Based on these factors, we believe that there is still considerable room for us to increase our gross billings per paid student enrollment while remaining competitive in the foreseeable future. We believe that this is driven by the increasing willingness of students and, in the case of K-12 courses, the students’ parents, to pay for quality online courses, as well as our ability to deliver a compelling learning experience and quality teaching.

Our ability to broaden monetization channels

In addition to online courses, we also monetize our massive user base by offering online marketing services, which has represented and is expected to continue to represent a significant portion of our net revenues. Therefore, our financial condition and results of operations depend on our ability to increase the spend by our advertisers, which in turn is affected by a number of factors, including the engagement of our audience and the quality of that engagement, the number and diversity of our advertisers, the effectiveness of our advertising products and our ability to measure that effectiveness for our advertisers.

We also generate revenues from other sources, including the licensing of our technologies and solutions, sales of subscription packages of our online knowledge tools, such as Youdao Dictionary and Youdao Cloudnote, and sales of smart devices, such as the recently launched Youdao Cloud Pen, and we intend to continuously explore additional monetization opportunities in the future. For example, we intend to leverage our content development capabilities to expand our course offerings while adopting favorable pricing strategies, particularly

 

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in the K-12 sector, and to increase sales of paid courses through our interactive learning apps, such as Youdao Math. We also plan to develop and launch new smart devices and license our technologies and solutions to a broader range of business customers. See “Business—How We Approach the Future.” Our endeavors to broaden our monetization channels are expected to affect our results of operations and financial conditions.

Our ability to manage our costs and expenses effectively

Our results of operations are affected by our ability to control our costs. In 2017 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, a substantial portion of our cost of revenues consisted of the revenue shared with certain popular instructors, as well as salaries and other benefits paid to our faculty members, as we continued to expand and enhance our online course offerings. We expect that in the foreseeable future we will be able to further optimize our faculty’s compensation structure and realize greater economies of scales and cost synergies.

Our total student enrollments of Youdao Premium Courses significantly increased in 2018 and the first half of 2019, primarily because we strategically expanded our offering of free or low-cost trial courses to promote our paid courses to prospective students. The offering of such trial courses did not result in substantial incremental costs and expenses associated with course development, faculty and course materials as they generally cover the same subject areas as our paid courses and are delivered by the same instructors who teach the corresponding paid courses and are not compensated with additional fees for the trial courses they teach. We believe that offering trial courses provides us with a cost-effective way to attract more students to our paid courses, both from the existing user base of our broader offerings as well as new students who have not used our products or services before, and we plan to continue to expand our trial course offering and increase our sales and marketing spending to convert student enrollments of our trial courses into paid student enrollments.

Historically, we have been able to maintain our sales and marketing expenses as a relatively low percentage of our net revenues, due to our strong brand reputation and the resulting word-of-mouth referrals. This is demonstrated by our success in monetizing the huge user bases of our online knowledge tools through enrollments in Youdao Premium Course and our other offerings. As a result, our ability to sell and market our products and services cost-effectively depends on our ability to continue to leverage our existing brand value, grow and monetize our use bases, and improve our sales and marketing efficiency.

We have also incurred substantial research and development expenses as we built and continue to improve our technologies to deliver greater value to our users and students. We plan to continue making significant investments in technology, which is expected to affect our results of operations and financial condition.

In May 2019, we acquired certain online course-related businesses, including NetEase Cloud Classroom, China University MOOC and NetEase Kada, from the NetEase Group, as we believe these offerings generally appeal to different target audiences from, and as a result complement, Youdao Premium Courses, our existing online course brand and enable us to reach a broader student base. See “Related Party Transactions—Acquisition of Online Learning Businesses from NetEase.” These acquired businesses had historically incurred significant losses prior to their acquisition by us and may continue to incur losses as an integrated part of our existing businesses, and we may incur additional costs integrating them with our existing operations, which may have a short-term negative impact on our results of operations. As we continue to integrate such businesses, we expect to achieve operational synergies and cost savings in the long run by, among others, (i) providing technology and other operational support to the acquired businesses to reduce their expenses incurred in acquiring such services from third parties; (ii) promoting cross selling between the online courses offered by our existing businesses and the acquired businesses; and (iii) consolidating redundant internal functions to reduce payroll and other related costs.

Key Components of Results of Operations

Net Revenues

We have two reportable segments: (i) learning services and products, and (ii) online marketing services. We identify our reportable segments based on the organizational units used by management to monitor performance

 

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and make operating decisions. See our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for additional information regarding our two reportable segments.

The following table sets forth a breakdown of our net revenues, in absolute amounts and as percentages of total net revenues, for the periods indicated.

 

    For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2017     2018     2018     2019  
    RMB     %     RMB     US$     %     RMB     %     RMB     US$     %  
    (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Net Revenues

                   

Learning services and products

    149,915       32.9       428,716       62,450       58.6       199,081       60.9       314,802       45,856       57.4  

Online marketing services

    305,831       67.1       302,882       44,120       41.4       128,074       39.1       233,741       34,048       42.6  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net revenues

    455,746       100.0       731,598       106,570       100.0       327,155       100.0       548,543       79,904       100.0  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Learning services and products. We currently generate the majority of the net revenues of learning services and products from our online courses, including Youdao Premium Courses, NetEase Cloud Classroom and China University MOOC. In 2017 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, the net revenues generated from our online courses were RMB115.0 million, RMB329.4 million (US$48.0 million), RMB158.0 million and RMB228.2 million (US$33.2 million), respectively, accounting for approximately 76.7%, 76.8%, 79.3% and 72.5%, respectively, of the total net revenues of learning services and products. During the same periods, the net revenues generated from Youdao Premium Courses were RMB89.1 million, RMB284.2 million (US$41.4 million), RMB137.1 million and RMB191.3 million (US$27.9 million), respectively, accounting for the vast majority of the total net revenues of our online courses.

The gross billings from our online courses are generated from the tuition fees we receive from our students. We generally bill our students for the entire course tuition upfront at the time of sale of our course packages which could be up to two months before the course actually starts. The tuition fees we collect are initially recorded as deferred revenue and are recognized proportionally over an average of the learning periods of different online courses. The learning period of an online course refers to the period during which the online course is delivered plus the estimated period following the completion of the course during which the students view playback of the course recordings. The learning periods of our Youdao Premium Courses generally range from one month to 12 months. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019, we had deferred revenue of RMB64.1 million, RMB129.1 million (US$18.8 million) and RMB185.6 million (US$27.0 million), respectively, from our online courses. For a reconciliation of our gross billings and net revenues, see “—Non-GAAP Financial Measure.”

In addition to online courses, we also generate net revenues from learning services and products from (i) other learning services, including (a) the licensing of technologies and solutions, including through Youdao Smart Cloud, to business customers, and (b) sales of subscription packages to users of our online knowledge tools, such as Youdao Dictionary and Youdao Cloudnote, as well as certain interactive learning apps, that allow them to access additional functions, content and privileges; and (ii) sales of smart devices, which currently mainly include Youdao Dictionary Pen and Youdao Pocket Translator.

Online marketing services. We generate net revenues of online marketing services through the provision of different formats of advertisement, including but not limited to banners, text-links, videos, logos, buttons and rich media. Most of our online marketing services are advertising solutions based on performance-based pricing, including those charged on a cost-per-click, or CPC, basis. In 2017 and 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, we generated 84.4%, 76.9% and 82.3%, respectively, of the net revenues of our online marketing services from performance-based advertising services. We also offer brand advertising services, which are focused on building advertisers’ brand awareness and presence through their logos and other visual aspects. Our

 

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brand advertising services are typically charged as a fixed amount of advertising fees based on the duration of the placement.

We use the number of performance-based advertisers as a key performance metric for our online marketing services segment given that the revenues generated from performance-based advertising services have historically accounted for a significant majority of our online marketing revenues. In 2017 and 2018 and for the first half of 2019, we had approximately 3,000, 1,800 and 2,200 performance-based advertisers, respectively. We also monitor average total MAUs as an indirect performance metric for our online marketing services segment as we consider it to be a driving factor for the attractiveness of our online marketing services.

Cost of revenues

Our cost of revenues of learning services and products consist primarily of (i) costs associated with our faculties, including the salaries and other benefits paid to our instructors, teaching assistants and course development personnel and the fees paid to certain of our instructors pursuant to revenue sharing arrangements; (ii) costs of course materials, such as textbooks and exercise books, that we distribute to students of our online courses; (iii) cost relating to the sales of our smart devices; and (iv) server and bandwidth costs.

Our cost of revenues of online marketing services consist primarily of (i) traffic acquisition costs, which consists primarily of payments to third parties that distribute our advertisers’ advertisements through such third parties’ internet properties; and (ii) payroll-related expenses, which consist primarily of the salaries and other benefits paid to our operation personnel that support our online marketing services.

The following table sets forth a breakdown of our cost of revenues, in absolute amounts and as percentages of total cost of revenues and total net revenues, for the periods indicated.

 

    For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2017     2018     2018     2019  
    RMB     % of
total
cost of
revenues
    % of
total net
revenues
    RMB     US$     % of
total
cost of
revenues
    % of
total net
revenues
    RMB     % of
total
cost of
revenues
    % of
total net
revenues
    RMB     US$     % of
total
cost of
revenues
    % of
total net
revenues
 
    (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Cost of revenues

                           

Learning services and products

    139,600       47.5       30.7       335,127       48,817       65.1       45.8       143,506       65.4       43.9       236,810       34,495       60.8       43.2  

Online marketing services

    154,207       52.5       33.8       180,006       26,221       34.9       24.6       76,035       34.6       23.2       152,775       22,254       39.2       27.8  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total cost of revenues

    293,807       100.0       64.5       515,133       75,038       100.0       70.4       219,541       100.0       67.1       389,585       56,749       100.0       71.0  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

We recorded gross profit of RMB161.9 million and RMB216.5 million (US$31.5 million), respectively, in 2017 and 2018, and RMB107.6 million and RMB159.0 million (US$23.2million), respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019.

For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, our overall gross margin was 32.9% and 29.0%, respectively. During the same periods, the gross margin of learning services and products was 27.9% and 24.8%, respectively, and the gross margin of online marketing services was 40.6% and 34.6%, respectively. In 2017 and 2018, our overall gross margin was 35.5% and 29.6%, respectively. During the same periods, the gross margin of learning services and products was 6.9% and 21.8%, respectively, and the gross margin of online marketing services was 49.6% and 40.6%, respectively. Historically, we made substantial investments in building our

 

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faculty and expanding our online course offerings. As our online course offerings continue to grow and to attract more students, we expect that we will be able to optimize our faculty’s compensation structure and achieve greater economies of scale in respect of course development. As a result, we expect the gross margin of learning services and products to improve in the foreseeable future. We expect the gross margin of online marketing services to stabilize in the long term, although we may experience significant fluctuations in the short term.

Operating expenses

The following table sets forth a breakdown of our operating expenses, in absolute amounts and as percentages of total operating expenses and as percentages of the total net revenues, for the periods indicated.

 

    For the Year Ended December 31,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2017     2018     2018     2019  
    RMB     % of
total
operating
expenses
    % of
total net
revenues
    RMB     US$     % of
total
operating
expenses
    % of
total net
revenues
    RMB     % of
total
operating
expenses
    % of
total net
revenues
    RMB     US$     % of
total
operating
expenses
    % of
total net
revenues
 
    (in thousands, except for percentages)  

Operating expenses

                       

Sales and marketing expenses

    136,412       46.7       29.9       213,405       31,086       49.0       29.2       94,301       49.4       28.8       186,136       27,114       58.0       33.9  

Research and development expenses

    133,092       45.6       29.2       184,020       26,806       42.2       25.1       80,697       42.3       24.7       111,184       16,196       34.6       20.3  

General and administrative expenses

    22,476       7.7       4.9       38,177       5,561       8.8       5.2       15,749       8.3       4.8       23,784       3,465       7.4       4.3  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    291,980       100.0       64.0       435,602       63,453       100.0       59.5       190,747       100.0       58.3       321,104       46,775       100.0       58.5  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Sales and marketing expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of (i) expenses relating to our marketing and branding activities, including expenses relating to our online traffic acquisition channels, and (ii) payroll-related expenses, which consist primarily of the salaries and other benefits paid to our sales and marketing personnel. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to increase in the foreseeable future, including rapid increases in the short-term, as we invest heavily in our sales, branding and marketing efforts to increase our student and user bases. In particular, as we began to strategically increase our spending on online traffic acquisition channels in the second quarter of 2019 in order to attract new users and students, we expect to see further increases in sales and marketing expenses at least through the remaining quarters of 2019.

Research and development expenses. Our research and development expenses consist primarily of (i) payroll-related expenses, which primarily include the salaries and other benefits paid to our R&D and related personnel; (ii) fees paid to outside vendors for their software testing and other services; and (iii) rentals of premises occupied by our R&D and related personnel. We expect our research and development expenses to increase in the foreseeable future as we continue to invest substantially in technology to enhance our users’ and students’ learning experience.

General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of (i) payroll-related expenses, which primarily include the salaries and other benefits paid to our management and administrative personnel; and (ii) fees paid to third-party professional service providers. We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase in the foreseeable future as we incur additional costs as a result of operating as a public company.

 

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Taxation

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty.

There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Cayman Islands does not impose withholding tax on dividend payments.

Hong Kong

Our subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong was subject to Hong Kong profits tax at a rate of 16.5% for taxable income earned in Hong Kong before April 1, 2018. Starting from the financial year commencing on April 1, 2018, the two-tiered profits tax regime took effect, under which the tax rate is 8.25% for assessable profits on the first HK$2 million and 16.5% for any assessable profits in excess of HK$2 million.

PRC

Our subsidiaries and VIEs in China are companies incorporated under PRC law and, as such, are subject to PRC enterprise income tax on their taxable income in accordance with the relevant PRC income tax laws. Pursuant to the PRC EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate is generally applicable to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises, except where a special preferential rate applies. Entities qualifying as High and New Technology Enterprises (“HNTE”) qualify for a preferential tax rate of 15% subject to a requirement that they re-apply for HNTE status every three years. Youdao Information was qualified as a HNTE in 2015 initially and extended the qualification in 2018, and subject to a preferential tax rate of 15% since 2015 to 2020. As of June 30, 2019, Youdao Information was in an accumulative loss status. The enterprise income tax is calculated based on the entity’s global income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards.

Pursuant to the applicable PRC provision regulations and corresponding implementation rules on VAT, our major subsidiaries and VIEs are generally subject to VAT at a rate of 6% of revenues earned. We are also subject to cultural development fee on the provision of advertising services in China with an applicable rate of 3% based on the advertising services revenue. The entities that are engaged in the sale of learning products are generally required to pay VAT at a rate of 17% or other applicable value added tax rate implemented by the provision regulation of the gross sales proceeds received, less any creditable value added tax already paid or borne by the taxpayer. Pursuant to further VAT reform implemented from May 1, 2018, all industries that were previously subject to VAT at a rate of 17% were adjusted to 16% and further adjusted to 13% since April 2019.

As a Cayman Islands holding company, we may receive dividends from our PRC subsidiaries through Youdao HK. The PRC EIT Law and its implementing rules provide that dividends paid by a PRC entity to a nonresident enterprise for income tax purposes is subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of 10%, subject to reduction by an applicable tax treaty with China. Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, the withholding tax rate in respect to the payment of dividends by a PRC enterprise to a Hong Kong enterprise may be reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10% if the Hong Kong enterprise directly holds at least 25% of the PRC enterprise and certain other conditions are met. Pursuant to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on the Issues concerning the Application of the Dividend Clauses of Tax Agreements, or SAT Circular 81, a Hong Kong resident enterprise must meet the following conditions, among others, in order to apply the reduced withholding tax rate: (i) it must be a company; (ii) it must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC resident enterprise; and (iii) it must have directly owned such required percentage in the PRC resident enterprise throughout the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends. In August

 

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2015, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Administrative Measures for Nonresident Taxpayers to Enjoy Treatment under Tax Treaties, or SAT Circular 60, which became effective on November 1, 2015. SAT Circular 60 provides that nonresident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax. Instead, nonresident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty benefits are met, directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate, and file necessary forms and supporting documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities. Accordingly, Youdao HK may be able to benefit from the 5% withholding tax rate for the dividends it receives from its PRC subsidiaries, if it satisfies the conditions prescribed under SAT Circular 81 and other relevant tax rules and regulations. However, according to SAT Circular 81 and SAT Circular 60, if the relevant tax authorities consider the transactions or arrangements we have are for the primary purpose of enjoying a favorable tax treatment, the relevant tax authorities may adjust the favorable withholding tax in the future.

If our holding company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of China were deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the PRC EIT Law, it would be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders.”

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. We continually evaluate these judgments and estimates based on our own historical experience, knowledge and assessment of current business and other conditions, our expectations regarding the future based on available information and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, which together form our basis for making judgments about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application.

The selection of critical accounting policies, the judgments and other uncertainties affecting application of those policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions are factors that should be considered when reviewing our financial statements. We believe the following accounting policies involve the most significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements. You should read the following description of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included in this prospectus.

Basis of Presentation

In May 2019, we acquired certain online course-related business, including NetEase Cloud Classroom, China University MOOC and NetEase Kada, from the NetEase Group. Since these business were controlled by NetEase both before and after acquisition, such transactions are accounted for as business combination under common control. Therefore, our consolidated financial statements were retrospectively adjusted to reflect the results of such acquired businesses as if they had been acquired throughout the periods presented. There was no change in the basis of presentation of the financial statement resulting from such acquisition. The assets and liabilities have been stated at historical carrying amounts.

Consolidation of VIEs

Subsidiaries are those entities in which we, directly or indirectly, control more than one half of the voting power, has the power to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors, or to cast a

 

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majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors, or has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders.

A VIE is an entity in which we, or any of our subsidiaries, through contractual arrangements, has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, bears the risks of and enjoys the rewards normally associated with ownership of the entity, and therefore we or our subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the entity.

All significant intercompany balances and transactions within the group have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Revenue Recognition

We adopted ASC 606—“Revenue from Contracts with Customers” for all periods presented. According to ASC 606, revenues from contracts with customers are recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services, reduced by estimates for return allowances, promotional discounts, rebates and Value Added Tax (“VAT”).

Learning services and products

Online courses

Our online courses are delivered in live streaming or pre-recorded format. With respect to our live streaming courses, when the delivery of the course is completed, we also provide the students with “playback services” that give them unlimited access to recordings of the course within a specified period of time. The live streaming of the course and the playback services, as well as other teaching activities associated with the course, are highly interdependent and interrelated in the context of the contract and are only considered accessory services to the online live streaming courses, and therefore are not distinct and are not sold standalone. As a result, a live streaming course is accounted for as a single performance obligation which is satisfied over its learning period. The learning period of a live streaming course refers to the period during which the course is delivered plus the estimated period following the completion of the course during which the students view playback of the course recordings. The revenues generated from our live streaming courses are recognized ratably over an average of the learning periods of our live streaming courses. We consider the average length of period during which students typically spend time on viewing the courses, as well as other learning behavior patterns, to arrive at the best estimates for the length of the period during the students view playback of the course recordings. With respect to a pre-recorded course, the learning period refers to the estimated period during which the course is viewed by students. The net revenues generated from our pre-recorded courses are recognized ratably over an average of the learning periods of such courses.

The estimated weighted average duration of learning periods for live streaming courses and pre-recorded courses are approximately seven months and nine months, respectively.

We offer refund options for students of our online courses. Our refund policy is based on a number of factors, including the total length of the course and whether the course has started when the refund request is made, among other things. See “Business—How We Generate Revenues—Tuitions” for more information about our refund policy. We determine the transaction price to be earned by estimating the refund liability based on historical refund ratio on a portfolio basis using the expected value method. In the event that the actual amount of refund made exceeds our estimates, such excessive amount will be deducted from net revenues. We also provide discount coupons to our students for use in purchases on online courses, which are treated as a reduction of revenue when the related transaction is recognized.

 

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Smart devices

Along with certain online courses, we also offer smart devices, such as Youdao Smart Pen, to facilitate students’ learning experience. We have determined that the smart devices are separate performance obligations under ASC 606, as customers can benefit from smart devices on their own and our promises to deliver smart devices is separately identifiable from the online courses. We determine stand-alone selling price to each performance obligation in the approach of expected cost plus margin. Revenue from sales of Youdao Smart Pen is recognized when they are delivered to end customers.

We also sell other smart devices, such as Youdao Dictionary Pen to customers through retailers or distributors. We recognize revenues for such sales when the control of the goods is transferred to the end customer, which generally occurs upon the delivery of such products to the respective retailers or distributors.

Fee-based premium services

Fee-based premium services primarily include our online knowledge tools, such as Youdao Dictionary and Youdao Cloudnote, and enterprise services, such as Youdao Smart Cloud. We collect prepaid subscription fees from subscribing users of our online knowledge tools. Such subscription fees are deferred and recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the subscription period, during which customers can access such services. The revenues derived from Youdao Smart Cloud and other enterprise services are generally recognized on a consumption basis or ratably over the service period, as applicable.

Online marketing services

We derive our online marketing revenues principally from short-term contracts. The online marketing services with display period, the contracts may consist of multiple performance obligations with a typical term of less than three months. Each performance obligation generally represents different formats of advertisement, including but not limited to banners, text-links, videos, logos, buttons and rich media. Under arrangements where we have multiple performance obligations, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation using the relative stand-alone selling price. We generally determine stand-alone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers. If the performance obligation has not been sold separately, we estimate the stand-alone selling price by taking into consideration of the pricing for advertising areas of our platform with a similar popularities and advertisements with similar formats and quoted prices from competitors as well as other market conditions. Considerations allocated to each performance obligation is recognized as revenue over the individual advertisement display period, on a straightline basis, which is usually within three months.

We also enter into cost-per-click, or CPC, advertising arrangements with customers, under which we recognize revenues based on the number of actions completed resulted from the advertisements, including but not limited to when users click on links. We provide a technology enhanced advertising solution to advertisers, including advising advertisers to optimize delivery strategies, choose delivery channels and spaces, select key words, etc. These advertising planning services are not distinct and not considered separate performance obligations, but rather part of the advertising performance obligations.

Our online marketing services expand distribution of advertisers’ promotional links and advertisements by leveraging traffic on third parties’ internet properties, including web content, software, and mobile applications. We are the primary obligor to our advertisers. Payments made to operators of third-party internet properties are included in the traffic acquisition costs.

Certain customers may receive volume rebates, which are accounted for as variable consideration. We estimate annual expected revenue volume with reference to their historical results and reduce revenues recognized.

 

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Practical expedients

We have used the following practical expedients as allowed under ASC 606:

 

  (i)

The effects of a significant financing component has not been adjusted for contracts which we expect, at contract inception, that the period between when we transfer a promised good or service to the customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less.

 

  (ii)

We applied the portfolio approach in determining the learning period for the customer given that the effect of applying a portfolio approach to a group of students’ behaviors would not differ materially from considering each one of them individually.

Contract liabilities

Contract liabilities refer to the deferred revenue and refund liability. Deferred revenue is relating to the tuition fees for our online courses received from students and fees we receive from customers in online marketing services and fee-based premium services for which our revenue recognition criteria have not been met. Refund liability represents the consideration collected by us which we expect to refund to our customers according to refund policy.

Share-based Compensation and Fair Value of Our Ordinary Shares

We grant options to our employees, directors and consultants with performance conditions and service conditions. In accordance with ASC 718—“Compensation-Stock Compensation”, we determine that grants of options to directors, employees and consultants are classified as equity awards and are measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the awards.

We adopt the binomial option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The determination of the fair value is affected by the fair value of ordinary shares as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables, including the expected share price volatility, actual and projected employee share option exercise behavior, risk free interest rates and expected dividends. The fair value of the ordinary shares is assessed using the income approach/discounted cash flow method, with a discount for lack of marketability, given that the shares underlying the awards were not publicly traded at the time of grant. Share-based compensation expenses for share options granted with service conditions are recorded net of estimated forfeitures using graded vesting method during the service period requirement, such that expenses are recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to ultimately vest. For share options granted with service condition and the occurrence of an initial public offering of our company as performance condition, cumulative share-based compensation expenses for the options that have satisfied the service condition will be recorded upon the completion of this offering.

We also recognize compensation expenses on restricted share units, or RSUs, granted by NetEase to our employees RSUs are measured based on the fair market value of the underlying stock on the dates of grant. Share-based compensation expenses related are then recorded for the number of RSUs expected to vest on a graded-vesting basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period.

Youdao 2015 Share Incentive Plan

Share-based compensation

We adopted an employee share incentive plan, or the 2015 Plan, in February 2015, which was amended in April 2018. For key terms of the 2015 Plan, see “Management—Share Incentive Plan.”

 

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The following table sets forth the fair value of our ordinary shares underlying the options granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan estimated at different times with the assistance from an independent valuation firm:

 

Date of Options Grant

  Options
Granted
    Exercise Price     Fair Value of
Options
    Fair Value of
Ordinary
Shares
    DLOM     Discount Rate     Type of
Valuation
 

February 11, 2015

    4,837,000     US$ 1.5     US$ 0.10     US$ 0.50       25     30     Retrospective  

May 12, 2016

    2,398,000     US$ 2.0     US$ 0.09     US$ 0.59       25     30     Retrospective  

January 17, 2017

    1,879,000     US$ 2.5     US$ 0.08     US$ 0.59       25     30     Retrospective  

September 20, 2017

    100,000     US$ 3.0     US$ 0.11     US$ 0.84       20     29     Retrospective  

January 24, 2018

    1,592,000     US$ 3.0     US$ 0.33     US$ 1.39       20     27     Retrospective  

January 25, 2019

    1,290,500     US$ 3.5     US$ 3.82     US$ 6.35       10     20     Retrospective  

May 30, 2019

    300,000     US$ 3.5     US$ 4.61     US$ 7.29       10     19     Retrospective  

The fair value of each option granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019 is estimated on the date of grant using the following assumptions:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31,      For the Six
Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2017      2018      2019  

Expected volatility

     48.00%-51.00%        48.10%        46.50%-46.90%  

Expected dividends yield

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