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Prime People PlcUNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 _____________________________________________________________________________ FORM 20-F (Mark One) REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 _____________________________________________________________________________ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 OR TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _____________________ to _____________________ OR SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of event requiring this shell company report _____________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ Commission file number: 000-50841 _____________________________________________________________________________ 51job, Inc. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) N/A (Translation of Registrant’s name into English) Cayman Islands (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) Building 3 No. 1387, Zhang Dong Road Shanghai 201203 People’s Republic of China (Address of principal executive offices) Rick Yan, Chief Executive Officer Telephone: +(86-21) 6160-1888 Facsimile: +(86-21) 6879-6233 Building 3 No. 1387, Zhang Dong Road Shanghai 201203 People’s Republic of China (Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person) _____________________________________________________________________________ Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of Each Class American Depositary Shares, each representing two common shares, par value US$0.0001 per share Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (The NASDAQ Global Select Market) Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None. Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None. _____________________________________________________________________________ Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: 56,473,949 common shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes No If this is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer Accelerated filer Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing: International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board U.S. GAAP Other If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. Item 17 Item 18 If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes No TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................... FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ................................................................................................... PART I Item 1. Item 2. Item 3. Item 4. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers ............................................. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable ...................................................................... Key Information .......................................................................................................... Information on the Company....................................................................................... Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments ........................................................................................ Item 5. Item 6. Item 7. Item 8. Item 9. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects........................................................... Directors, Senior Management and Employees........................................................... Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions ................................................... Financial Information .................................................................................................. The Offer and Listing .................................................................................................. Item 10. Additional Information ................................................................................................ Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk ..................................... Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities................................................ PART II Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies ...................................................... Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.......... Item 15. Controls and Procedures .............................................................................................. Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert .............................................................................. Item 16B. Code of Ethics ............................................................................................................. Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services ...................................................................... Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees ................................... Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers ...................... Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant............................................................. Item 16G. Corporate Governance ................................................................................................. PART III Item 17. Financial Statements .................................................................................................... Item 18. Financial Statements .................................................................................................... Item 19. Exhibits........................................................................................................................ Page ii iii 1 1 1 24 39 39 55 62 66 66 67 73 74 76 76 76 77 77 77 77 77 78 78 79 79 79 i INTRODUCTION Unless otherwise indicated, references in this annual report to: “ADRs” are to the American depositary receipts that evidence our ADSs; “ADSs” are to our American depositary shares, each of which represents two common shares; “China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding for the purpose of this annual report Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; “Nasdaq” are to the Nasdaq Global Select Market; “RMB” are to Renminbi, the legal currency of the PRC; “shares” or “common shares” are to our common shares, with par value US$0.0001 per share; “U.S. GAAP” are to the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America; and “US$” are to U.S. dollars, the legal currency of the United States of America. Unless the context indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our” and “51job” refer to 51job, Inc., its predecessor entities and subsidiaries, and, in the context of describing our operations, also include our affiliated entities. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, references in this annual report to: “51net” are to 51net.com Inc.; “AdCo” are to Shanghai Qianjin Advertising Co., Ltd.; “AdCo Subsidiaries” are to the subsidiaries of AdCo that conduct advertising businesses; “Qian Cheng” are to Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd.; “RAL” are to Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd.; “Run An” are to Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd.; “Tech JV” are to Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; “Wang Cai AdCo” are to Shanghai Wang Cai Advertising Co., Ltd.; “Wang Ju” are to Shanghai Wang Ju Human Resource Consulting Co., Ltd.; “WFOE” are to Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.; and “Wuhan AdCo” are to Wuhan Mei Hao Qian Cheng Advertising Co., Ltd. Any discrepancies in any table between the amounts identified as total amounts and the sum of the amounts listed therein are due to rounding. This annual report contains translations of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollar amounts at specified rates solely for your convenience. All translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars were made at the noon buying rate in New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Board, which was RMB6.6000 to US$1.00 on December 30, 2010. For further information on exchange rates, see “Item 3. — Key Information — Selected Financial Data — Exchange Rate Information.” This annual report on Form 20-F includes our audited consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and audited consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010. ii FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This annual report on Form 20-F contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including the following risks: market acceptance of our services; our ability to expand into other recruitment and human resource services such as business process outsourcing; our ability to control our operating costs and expenses; our potential need for additional capital and the availability of such capital; behavioral and operational changes of our customers in meeting their human resource needs as they respond to evolving social, economic and political changes in China as well as stock market volatilities; changes in our management team and other key personnel; introduction by our competitors of new or enhanced products and services; price competition in the market for the various human resource services that we provide in China; seasonality of our business; fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies; our ability to develop or introduce new products and services outside of the human resources industry; fluctuations in general economic conditions; and other risks outlined in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including this annual report on Form 20-F and any amendments thereto. These risks are not exhaustive. You should read these statements in conjunction with the risks disclosed in “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors” of this annual report and other risks outlined in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, we operate in an emerging and evolving environment. New risks may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of such risks on our business or the extent to which any risk, or combination of risks, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. iii PART I ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS Not applicable. ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE Not applicable. ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION A. Selected Financial Data The following tables present the selected consolidated financial information for our company. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this annual report. You should read the following information in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this annual report and “Item 5. — Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The historical results presented below do not necessarily indicate results expected for any future period. For the year ended December 31, Selected Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: Revenues: Online recruitment services................. Print advertising .................................. Other human resource related revenues........................................... Total revenues......................................... Net revenues ........................................... Cost of services(1).................................... Gross profit ............................................. Operating expenses(1): 2006 RMB 219,794 389,535 88,524 697,853 659,843 2010 2007 RMB RMB (in thousands, except per share and per ADS data) 2008 RMB 2009 RMB 282,688 430,621 130,957 844,266 799,284 312,121 359,234 189,062 860,417 815,478 332,987 279,467 543,045 277,645 204,666 269,305 817,120 1,089,995 773,947 1,032,219 (294,068) (349,022) (377,487) (305,722) (345,865) 365,775 450,262 437,991 468,225 686,354 Sales and marketing ............................ General and administrative.................. (136,770) (114,322) (181,230) (128,347) (215,228) (125,981) (214,400) (133,511) (277,543) (136,647) Total operating expenses ......................... Income from operations .......................... Income before income tax expense ......... Income tax expense................................. Net income.............................................. Earnings per share: Basic.................................................... Diluted ................................................ Earnings per ADS(2): Basic.................................................... Diluted ................................................ (251,092) (309,577) (341,209) (347,911) (414,190) 114,683 127,901 (28,560) 99,341 140,685 148,979 (45,402) 103,577 96,782 107,777 (31,176) 76,601 120,314 144,717 (32,205) 112,512 272,164 291,742 (57,081) 234,661 1.35 1.35 2.71 2.70 2.03 2.02 4.05 4.03 4.23 4.13 8.46 8.26 1.79 1.76 3.58 3.52 1.84 1.83 3.68 3.66 1 2010 US$ 82,280 42,067 40,804 165,151 156,397 (52,404) 103,993 (42,052) (20,704) (62,756) 41,237 44,203 (8,648) 35,555 0.64 0.63 1.28 1.25 2006 RMB 2007 RMB As of December 31, 2009 2008 RMB RMB (in thousands) 2010 RMB 2010 US$ 180,741 61,658 266,683 34,530 301,213 50,237 240 50,477 250,736 Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: Assets: Cash .................................................. Short-term investments ..................... Total current assets............................ Total non-current assets..................... 868,698 — 919,576 208,039 1,007,520 — 1,075,288 227,878 1,058,310 16,100 1,141,252 233,117 957,407 257,310 1,277,544 234,972 1,192,888 406,943 1,760,110 227,900 Total assets............................................ Liabilities: Total current liabilities ...................... Total non-current liabilities ............... . Total liabilities ..................................... Total shareholders’ equity ..................... Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity ................................................ 1,127,615 1,303,166 1,374,369 1,512,516 1,988,010 139,075 122 139,197 988,418 176,115 516 176,631 1,126,535 146,796 730 147,526 1,226,843 187,366 1,011 188,377 1,324,139 331,571 1,583 333,154 1,654,856 1,127,615 1,303,166 1,374,369 1,512,516 1,988,010 301,213 ______________________ (1) Share-based compensation was included in the consolidated statement of operations data as follows: For the year ended December 31, 2006 RMB 2007 RMB 2008 RMB 2009 RMB 2010 RMB 2010 US$ Cost of services .................................... Operating expenses: . (4,621) (4,931) (in thousands) (4,564) (4,360) (4,082) (618) Sales and marketing .......................... General and administrative................ (3,972) (19,926) (4,241) (20,479) (3,923) (18,947) (3,748) (18,912) (3,509) (16,371) (532) (2,480) (2) Each ADS represents two common shares. Exchange Rate Information We publish our financial statements in Renminbi. This annual report contains translations of certain Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for your convenience. All translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars were made at the noon buying rate in New York for cable transfers of Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Board, which was RMB6.6000 to US$1.00 on December 30, 2010. The noon buying rate on April 1, 2011 was RMB6.5477 to US$1.00. We make no representation that the Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this annual report 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. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China — Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment” and “— The fluctuation of the Renminbi may materially and adversely affect your investment” as well as “Item 11. — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Foreign Exchange Risk” for discussions on our foreign exchange risk and the effects of currency control and fluctuating exchange rates on the value of our ADSs. 2 The following table sets forth information regarding the noon buying rates for the periods indicated. The source of these rates is the Federal Reserve Statistical Release. Noon buying rate of Renminbi per U.S. dollar Period 2006......................................................................... 2007......................................................................... 2008......................................................................... 2009......................................................................... 2010......................................................................... October................................................................ November............................................................ December ............................................................ Period-end 7.8041 7.2946 6.8225 6.8259 6.6000 6.6707 6.6670 6.6000 2011 January ................................................................ February .............................................................. March .................................................................. April (through April 1) ........................................ 6.6017 6.5713 6.5483 6.5477 Average(1) 7.9579 7.5806 6.9193 6.8295 6.7603 6.6678 6.6538 6.6497 6.5964 6.5761 6.5645 6.5477 Low 8.0702 7.8127 7.2946 6.8470 6.8330 6.6912 6.6892 6.6745 6.6364 6.5965 6.5743 6.5477 High 7.8041 7.2946 6.7800 6.8176 6.6000 6.6397 6.6330 6.6000 6.5809 6.5520 6.5483 6.5477 ______________________ (1) Annual averages are calculated from month-end rates. Monthly averages are calculated using the average of the daily rates during the relevant period. B. Capitalization and Indebtedness Not applicable. C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds Not applicable. D. Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business Because we face significant competition in all of our businesses, we may lose market share and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We face significant competition in our online recruitment services, our print advertising and our other human resource related services businesses. Our online recruitment services, conducted through www.51job.com, face intense competition from other dedicated job search websites such as ChinaHR.com, Cjol.com and Zhaopin.com, as well as from local job search websites. In addition, other competitors engaged in print advertising or organizing job fairs have developed or acquired online capabilities. Our city-specific recruitment advertising publication, 51job Weekly, faces competition within all of our markets. Competitors of 51job Weekly are primarily comprised of local newspaper publishers and specialized recruitment advertising publications. Our other human resource related services face significant competition from a variety of Chinese and foreign firms in all of our markets, including certain firms that compete with us in the market for online recruitment and print advertising. In addition, some of the competitors we encounter in our business process outsourcing business are affiliated with local government agencies and have licenses to provide a wider range of services than we do. Many of our competitors or potential competitors have long operating histories, have international strategic partners, have local government sponsorship, may have greater financial, management, technological development, sales, marketing and other resources than we do, and may be able to adopt our business model. As a result of competition, we may experience reduced margins, loss of market share or less use of our services by job seekers and employers. We cannot assure you that existing or future competitors will not develop or offer services and products which provide significant performance, price, creative or other advantages over our services. If we are unable to compete effectively with current or future competitors as a result of these or other factors, our market share and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. 3 New competitors face low entry barriers to our industries, and successful entry by new competitors may cause us to lose market share and materially and adversely affect our results of operations. In the future, we may face competition from new entrants in the recruitment advertising industry and other human resource industries in which we operate. We may face greater competition from Internet portals, newspapers, dedicated recruitment advertising websites and publications, professional and social networking websites, and other human resource services providers who may enter the market for any or all of our services. Our businesses are characterized by relatively low start-up and fixed costs, modest capital requirements, short start-up lead times and an absence of significant proprietary technology that would prevent or significantly inhibit new competitors. As a result, potential market entrants, both in China and from abroad, face relatively low barriers to entry to all of our businesses and in all of our markets. In addition, we believe that there are relatively low existing penetration rates in our markets, and that competitors could acquire significant numbers of customers and establish significant market share within a relatively short period of time. Furthermore, the newspaper and print media industry in China is highly regulated at present which may have the effect of limiting competition and keeping prices, including print advertising prices, at higher levels. Any deregulation of the print media industry may result in increased competition and a material decrease in advertising rates, including the prices we charge for our print advertising services. Increased competition could result in a loss of market share and revenues, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. A slowdown or adverse development in the PRC economy may have a material and adverse impact on our customers, demand for our services and our business. In 2008, significant disruptions in the global financial markets led to a general tightening in the credit markets, lower levels of liquidity, increases in the rates of default and bankruptcy, lower consumer and business spending, and lower consumer net worth. As a result, many of the world’s major economies fell into recession and the Chinese economy experienced a slower rate of economic growth. Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China and a significant majority of our revenues are generated from providing recruitment advertising services for PRC businesses or divisions of foreign firms operating in China. In an environment of slower economic growth, employers may take actions such as hiring fewer permanent employees, engaging in hiring freezes, reducing the number of employees and curtailing spending on print advertising, online recruitment services and other human resource related services. As a result, in the second half of 2008 and the first half of 2009, we experienced a significant reduction in customer demand for our recruitment advertising services, which led to a decrease in sales for our print advertising business and a lower growth rate for our online recruitment services business. If there are slowdowns or other adverse developments in China’s economic growth, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow may be materially and adversely affected. If the use of advertising to conduct recruitment does not achieve broader acceptance in China, we may be unable to expand our recruitment advertising businesses. We believe that the use of advertising services by employers for recruitment is relatively low in China, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises. Other recruitment channels, such as job fairs, personal referrals and professional networks, are also commonly utilized by the private sector in China. As a result, we face challenges in promoting greater use of advertising, which involves, among other things, significant changes in the way that employers disseminate information about jobs, the way that prospective employees search and apply for jobs, and the way in which hiring decisions are made. We cannot assure you that recruitment advertising will achieve broader acceptance in China. Any significant failure of advertising to gain acceptance among employers and job seekers may adversely affect our ability to expand our recruitment advertising businesses. If the Internet, and online advertising in particular, does not achieve broad acceptance in China as a medium for recruitment, our online recruitment services business may be adversely affected. We generate a majority of our revenues from online recruitment services, which are targeted toward employers and job seekers who use the Internet. As part of our online recruitment services, we offer general online advertising on our website, which is an important element in our ability to sell online recruitment advertisements to employers and which generates a material portion of our revenues. China has only recently begun to develop the Internet as a commercial medium and has a low Internet penetration rate relative to most developed countries. Our future results of operations from online recruitment services will depend substantially upon an increase in Internet penetration and an increase in acceptance and use of the Internet for the distribution of services and for the facilitation of commerce in China. In addition, as Internet penetration rates vary widely across the different cities and regions of China, the level of acceptance of online recruitment services may be low in certain geographies for an extended period of time, 4 which may negatively impact our operations in those markets. Moreover, unless they are resolved, telecommunication capacity constraints may impede further development of the Internet to the extent that users experience delays, transmission errors and other difficulties. Any negative perceptions as to the effectiveness of online recruitment services, or online advertising in general, or any significant failure of the Internet to gain acceptance as a medium for recruitment may adversely affect our online recruitment services business. If we are unable to maintain economies of scale with respect to our recruitment advertising businesses, our results of operations from these businesses may be materially and adversely affected. We incur fixed costs relating to website connectivity, maintenance, design and operation in our online business. We also incur fixed costs such as printing, distribution, direct marketing, advertising, management, staff, office, infrastructure and utilities in each of our geographic markets in connection with operating our print advertising business and a network of our local sales offices. Our ability to achieve desired operating margins in our recruitment advertising businesses depends largely on our success in generating a sufficient amount of revenues from recruitment advertisements to offset the associated fixed costs. In addition, to drive employer and job seeker acceptance of www.51job.com and 51job Weekly as attractive media for posting and finding jobs, we need to maintain a critical mass of recruitment advertisements. If we are unable to maintain sufficient economies of scale in any or all of our geographic markets in connection with our recruitment advertising businesses, our results of operations from these businesses may be materially and adversely affected. The market for other human resource related services, including business process outsourcing, remains in the development stage in China and we may be unable to expand such existing services or successfully develop new services in this area. We believe the market for other human resource related services, including business process outsourcing, is at an early stage of development in China. Many employers are unfamiliar with these services and may not accept the value proposition of these service offerings. Processing, tracking, collecting and remitting funds to the applicable regulatory agencies, employees and other third parties are complex operations, and many employers may not trust us with employee data or to make representations and cash payments on their behalf. As such, companies may not be willing to use our services for significant administrative functions and may instead choose to continue to perform such operations in-house. If we are unable to establish a nationwide capability, effectively monitor ongoing changes in PRC laws and regulations, acquire, develop and use up-to-date business and management technology and software, including advanced computer and technology systems that could require significant capital expenditures, and maintain the integrity and security of our systems and process flow, we may be unable to expand our business process outsourcing operations or gain wider customer acceptance for these services. In addition, we rely on a number of third party service providers, including couriers, agents and banks. Failure by these providers, for any reason, to deliver their services in a timely and accurate manner could result in significant disruptions to our business process outsourcing operations, impact our client relationships, harm our brand and result in significant penalties or liabilities to us. In addition, as part of our strategy to be a “one-stop” human resource services provider, we may decide to develop new services in the area of other human resource related services. We cannot assure you that we will be able to deliver new products or services on a commercially viable basis or in a timely manner, or at all. If any of our efforts to develop or operate new human resource related services are unsuccessful, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Our print advertising business provides a material portion of our revenues and any adverse development in this business, including any failure by us to manage the progressing shift in user habits and advertising expenditures from print to online media, could materially and adversely affect our overall results of operations. We generate a material portion of our revenues from our print advertising business, which accounted for 41.8% of our revenues in 2008, 34.2% of our revenues in 2009 and 25.5% of our revenues in 2010. Since 2008, we have experienced a decrease in our print advertising revenues, impacted by a decline in market demand resulting from the global economic and financial market crisis and the slower economic growth in China in 2008 and 2009, as well as the ongoing, progressive shift in user habits and advertising expenditures from print to online media. In 2010, we discontinued print advertising operations in six cities, and we are allocating greater resources to focus on our online recruitment and business process outsourcing businesses. If we are not able to generate sufficient revenues from our online recruitment services or other businesses to offset any loss of revenues from our print advertising business, our overall results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. 5 We are dependent on local newspaper contractors in each of our geographic markets to publish and distribute 51job Weekly. In the PRC, entities engaged in publishing activities are required by the government to have a publishing license. We do not have any publishing licenses. We are, and will continue to be, dependent on contractual arrangements with local newspapers in each of our geographic markets in order to publish and distribute 51job Weekly. Our arrangements with our local newspaper contractors require them to print, publish and distribute 51job Weekly as an insert in their newspaper, and in some cases to contribute marketing support. The term of our agreements with local newspaper contractors is generally two years, and six of these agreements will expire by December 31, 2011. In addition, certain of these agreements are subject to early termination by either party on various grounds. We cannot assure you that our local newspaper contractors will conduct their activities in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing the publishing, distribution and sale of newspapers. In addition, we cannot assure you that: our local newspaper contractors will fulfill their obligations under our agreements; the agreements will be renewed on terms acceptable to us or at all; our current contractors will not, upon termination of our agreements, seek to compete directly against us or establish relationships with one or more of our competitors; or in the event that we wish to do so or it is necessary to do so, we will be able to locate and enter into an agreement with a suitable alternative local newspaper on a timely basis or at all. In addition, we may experience lower levels of readership and circulation if we lose the marketing support of a local newspaper contractor or change the newspaper contractor in one of our markets. Any adverse developments involving our local newspaper contractors could significantly disrupt or impair the publication, promotion and distribution of 51job Weekly and materially and adversely affect our print advertising business. Due to seasonal variations in demand for human resource services, we experience material fluctuations in our revenue streams which affect our ability to predict our quarterly results and which may also cause quarterly results to vary from period to period. We experience material fluctuations in our revenue streams which affect our ability to predict quarterly results. For example, in the periods following the Chinese New Year holiday in the first quarter and the National Day holiday in October, we historically experience an increase in recruitment activity. During these peak periods, demand for recruitment advertising and other human resource related services may or may not rise significantly depending on the needs of employers as well as their perceptions of the job market. In addition, the Chinese New Year holiday is based on the lunar calendar, which varies from year to year and affects our first quarter results and their comparability to financial results of the same quarter in prior years. We also have observed a seasonal slowdown in recruitment activity at calendar year end, which resulted in lower fourth quarter revenues as compared to revenues from the immediately preceding third quarter from 2005 to 2008. Due to these factors, our revenues may vary materially from quarter to quarter and quarterly results may not be comparable to the corresponding periods of prior years. Such uncertainty makes it difficult for us to predict revenues for a particular quarter. Therefore, actual results may differ significantly from our targets or estimated quarterly results, which could cause the price of our ADSs to fall. Our print advertising business is subject to weekly fluctuations which hamper our ability to predict when revenue will ultimately be recognized, if at all. Due to the transactional nature of print advertising, we are unable to predict future revenues with any high degree of certainty. Orders for print advertisements are generally placed week-to-week and advertisers may cancel or postpone their print advertisements within days of publication. We do not recognize revenue until an advertisement is printed in 51job Weekly. Delays or cancellations by advertisers hamper our ability to predict when revenue will ultimately be recognized, if at all. Such uncertainty makes it difficult for us to accurately forecast revenues for a particular quarter. Therefore, actual results may differ significantly from our targets or estimated quarterly results, which could cause the price of our ADSs to fall. We are dependent on our Internet service providers, and we are vulnerable to failures of the Internet, fixed line telecommunications networks in China and our technology platform. Our online businesses are heavily dependent on the performance and reliability of China’s Internet infrastructure, the continual accessibility of bandwidth and servers to our service providers’ networks, and the continuing performance, reliability and availability of our technology platform. 6 We rely on China Telecommunications Corporation, or China Telecom, and China United Network Communications Group Company Limited, or China Unicom, to provide us with bandwidth and server custody service for our services. We are unlikely to have any access to alternative networks or services in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s Internet infrastructure or the fixed telecommunications networks of China Telecom or China Unicom, or if China Telecom or China Unicom otherwise fail to provide such services. In addition, we have no control over the costs of the services provided by China Telecom or China Unicom. If China Telecom or China Unicom fails to provide these services, we would be required to seek other providers, and there is no assurance that we will be able to find alternative providers willing or able to provide high quality services and there is no assurance that such providers will not charge us higher prices for their services. If the prices that we are required to pay for Internet services rise significantly, our results of operations could be adversely affected. If we are unable to protect or promote our brand names and reputation, our business may be materially and adversely affected. If we fail to generate a high volume of recruitment advertisements, maintain our relationships with local newspaper contractors, successfully promote and develop the perception of www.51job.com as a “destination site,” undertake effective marketing and promotional activities, and generally provide high quality services, we may not be successful in protecting or promoting our brand names and reputation in a cost-effective manner or at all. We may dedicate significantly greater resources in the future to advertising, marketing and other promotional efforts aimed at building awareness of our brands. Any significant damage to our reputation, the perceived quality or awareness of our brand names or services, or any significant failure on our part to promote and protect our brand names and reputation could make it more difficult for us to successfully attract job seekers, compete for customers or retain qualified personnel, which may have a material adverse effect on our business. If we are unable to prevent others from using our intellectual property, our business may be materially and adversely affected. Our intellectual property has been, and will continue to be, subject to various forms of theft and misappropriation. Competitors copy and distribute content from our www.51job.com website, from 51job Weekly and from the training materials that we use, and utilize misleadingly similar Internet domain names and URLs in an effort to divert Internet traffic away from our website. We are also susceptible to others copying our business model and methods. The legal protection of trademarks, trade names, copyrighted material, domain names, trade secrets, know-how and other forms of intellectual property in the PRC is significantly more limited than in the United States and many other countries and may afford us little or no effective protection. Preventing unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult, time consuming and expensive. Misappropriation of our content, trademarks and other intellectual property could divert significant business to our competitors, damage our brand name and reputation, and require us to initiate litigation that could be expensive and divert management resources from the operation of our businesses. We rely heavily on our senior management team and key personnel, and the loss of any of their services could severely disrupt our business. Our future success is highly dependent on the ongoing efforts of the members of our senior management and key personnel, in particular on Rick Yan, our chief executive officer. We rely heavily on his management skills and his expertise in consumer products, marketing and technology. We do not maintain key man life insurance on any of our senior management or key personnel, other than Mr. Yan and Kathleen Chien, our chief operating officer and acting chief financial officer. The loss of the services of one or more of our senior executives or key personnel, Mr. Yan in particular, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Competition for senior management and key personnel is intense, and the pool of suitable candidates is very limited, and we may not be able to retain the services of our senior executives or key personnel, or attract and retain senior executives or key personnel in the future. In addition, if Mr. Yan, any other members of our senior management or any of our other key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may not be able to replace them easily and we may lose customers, business partners, key professionals and staff members. Each of our senior executives has entered into an employment agreement with us, which contains confidentiality and non-competition provisions. In the event of a dispute between any of our senior executives and us, we cannot assure you as to the extent, if any, that these provisions may be enforceable in the PRC due to uncertainties involving the PRC legal system. 7 Our business may suffer if we do not successfully manage our current and potential future growth. We have grown significantly since we commenced operations in 1998 and we intend to continue to expand in size and increase the number of services we provide. Our anticipated future growth will place significant demands on our management and operations. Our success in managing this growth will depend to a significant degree on the ability of our executive officers and other members of senior management to operate effectively both independently and as a group, and on our ability to improve and develop our financial and management information systems, controls and procedures. In addition, we will have to successfully adapt our existing systems and introduce new systems, expand, train and manage our workforce, and improve and expand our sales and marketing capabilities. For example, we established a new national sales and customer service call center in Wuhan in February 2010. If we are unable to properly manage our operations in this new call center or our services in existing markets, or the quality of our services deteriorates due to mismanagement, we could significantly damage our brand name and reputation, which would adversely affect our ability to expand our customer base. If we are unable to successfully detect and prevent criminal actions or fraud perpetrated on us, we may be subject to liability and financial loss. The management of our business process outsourcing services involves the collection of payments from our customers and the disbursement of funds on their behalf by our employees and agents. As a result, we are exposed to theft, embezzlement and other criminal and fraudulent activity by our employees, our agents and third parties. For example, we identified some irregularities, non-compliance to contract terms and misappropriation of funds by a third party in Beijing in 2007. If we are unable to successfully detect and prevent criminal or fraudulent activity, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. Because we operate in a new and evolving market, our operating history may not serve as an adequate basis to judge our future prospects and results of operations. Although we have been profitable since 2002, we cannot assure you that we will maintain our profitability or that we will not incur net losses in the future. As we operate in a new and rapidly evolving market, we expect that our operating expenses will increase as we expand in size and increase the scope of services we provide. Any significant delay or failure to realize anticipated revenue growth could result in significant operating losses. We may encounter risks and difficulties including our potential failure to: implement our business model and strategy and adapt and modify them as needed; increase awareness of our brands, protect our reputation and develop customer loyalty; anticipate with any degree of certainty the behavioral and operational changes of our customers that have a significant impact on our business from time to time as they respond to evolving social, economic and political changes in China; manage our expanding operations and service offerings, including the integration of any future acquisitions; maintain adequate control of our expenses; adequately and efficiently operate, maintain, upgrade and develop our website and the other systems and equipment we utilize in providing our services; attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; and anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in the online, print and other markets in which we operate as well as the impact of any changes in government regulation, mergers and acquisitions involving our competitors, technological developments and other significant competitive and market dynamics. If we are not successful in addressing any or all of these risks, our business may be materially and adversely affected. We may not be able to successfully execute future acquisitions or efficiently manage any acquired business. We may decide to expand, in part, by acquiring certain complementary or new businesses in the future. The success of any material acquisition will depend upon several factors, including: our ability to identify and acquire businesses on a cost-effective basis; our ability to integrate acquired personnel, operations, products and technologies into our organization effectively; and our ability to retain and motivate key personnel and to retain the clients of acquired firms. 8 Any such acquisition may require a significant commitment of management time, capital investment and other resources. If we are unable to effectively integrate an acquired business or are required to incur restructuring and other charges to complete an acquisition, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if we use our equity securities as consideration for acquisitions, we may dilute the value of your ADSs. We have not engaged in any material acquisitions in our history. If we are unable to attract and retain qualified personnel, our business process outsourcing, training and executive search businesses may be materially and adversely affected. The success of our business process outsourcing, training and executive search services depends heavily on our ability to attract and retain skilled personnel. Our business of performing traditional human resource department functions such as payroll, benefits and compliance management and related services for customers on an outsourced basis depends on having personnel with expertise in local and national PRC government employment regulations, payroll management and other human resource department functions. The success of our training business depends on personnel with the necessary skills to conduct and support our training seminars and other activities and services in this business. Similarly, our ability to provide high quality executive search services depends on a dedicated team of consultants with expertise and relationships in the geographic markets and industries in which our clients seek candidates. If we are unable to attract and retain critical skilled personnel, our business process outsourcing, training and executive search businesses may be materially and adversely affected. New and future government regulations may significantly increase the number of labor disputes, which may result in higher operating costs for our business process outsourcing business. The PRC Labor Contract Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, establishes restrictions and increases costs for employers, including specific provisions related to fixed-term employment contracts, temporary employment, probation, consultation with the labor union and employee assembly, employment without a contract, dismissal of employees, compensation upon termination and overtime work, and collective bargaining. In addition, under the Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees, which became effective on January 1, 2008, employees who have served more than one year for an employer are entitled to a paid vacation ranging from five to fifteen days, depending on their length of service. Employees who waive such vacation time at the request of employers shall be compensated for three times their regular salaries for each waived vacation day. Following the implementation of the PRC Labor Contract Law, we have observed an increase in the number of labor disputes between employers and workers relating to its interpretation and application. Through our business processing outsourcing business, we provide professional services to manage human resource administrative functions for employers on an outsourced basis. The resolution of such labor disputes may require significant costs and resources, including the time our personnel spend dealing with increased human resource administration and legal issues for which we may not be compensated. If we incur higher operating costs for our business process outsourcing business, our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If we choose to develop or introduce new products and services outside of the human resource services industry in China, these efforts may not be successful, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In August 2007, we entered into an agreement with Recruit Co., Ltd., or Recruit, a privately held human resource and information services company in Japan, to form a new company under Area Link Co., Ltd., or Area Link, which is a holding company affiliated with Recruit, to provide coupon advertising services in China. Under the terms of the agreement as amended in August 2009, we may provide up to RMB32.8 million in financing to Area Link for the coupon company and have the ability to acquire up to 40% of Area Link’s share capital. The amount of financing we have provided to Area Link for the coupon company totaled RMB15.4 million (US$2.3 million) as of December 31, 2010, which would allow us to acquire 26% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment. Because we lack experience and expertise in operating coupon advertising services, we rely on Recruit to manage this business and we cannot assure you that it will be successful. In addition, if under periodic review, we determine that the carrying value of the Area Link investment is not recoverable, we face an impairment loss which may materially impact our consolidated financial statements. We also cannot assure you that we will be able to deliver any other new products or services outside of the human resource services industry on a commercially viable basis or in a timely manner, or at all. If any of our efforts to begin or operate a business outside of the human resource services industry are not successful, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. 9 We may be subject to liability for placing advertisements with content that is deemed inappropriate. PRC laws and regulations prohibit advertising companies from producing, distributing or publishing any advertisement that contains any content that violates laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of the PRC, involves designs of the national flag, national emblem or national anthem or the music of the national anthem of the PRC, is reactionary, obscene, superstitious or absurd, is fraudulent, or disparages similar products. If we are deemed to be in violation of such regulations, we may be subject to penalties including confiscation of the illegal revenues, levying of fines and suspension or revocation of our business license or advertising license, any of which may materially and adversely affect our business. We are subject to potential legal liability from both employers and job seekers with respect to our other human resource related services, in particular our executive search and business process outsourcing businesses. We are exposed to potential claims associated with the recruitment process, including claims by clients seeking to hold us liable for recommending a candidate who subsequently proves to be unsuitable for the position filled, claims by current or previous employers of our candidates alleging interference with employment contracts, claims by candidates against us alleging our failure to maintain the confidentiality of their employment search or alleging discrimination or other violations of employment law or other laws or regulations by our clients, and claims by either employers or their workers alleging the failure of our business process outsourcing services to comply with laws or regulations relating to employment, employee’s insurance or benefits, individual income taxes or other matters. Any such claims, regardless of merit, may force us to participate in time-consuming, costly litigation or investigation, divert significant management and staff attention, and damage our reputation and brand names. We do not maintain insurance coverage for liabilities arising from claims by employers, employees, candidates or third parties. We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if successful, could cause us to pay significant damage awards. Third parties may bring claims against us alleging patent, trademark or copyright infringement, or misappropriation of their creative ideas or formats, or other infringement of their proprietary intellectual property rights. Any such claims, regardless of merit, may involve us in time-consuming, costly litigation or investigation, divert significant management and staff attention, require us to enter into expensive royalty or licensing arrangements, prevent us from using important technologies, business methods, content or other intellectual property, result in monetary liability, or otherwise disrupt our operations. We rely heavily on our information systems, and if our access to technology supporting our information systems is impaired or interrupted, or if we fail to further develop our technology, our operations may be seriously disrupted. Our ability to store, retrieve, process and manage substantial amounts of information, including our client and candidate databases, is an important part of our operations and a critical component of our success. To achieve our strategic objectives and to remain competitive, we must further develop and enhance our information systems. This may require the acquisition of equipment and software and the development, either internally or through independent consultants, of new proprietary software. Our inability to design, develop, implement and utilize, in a cost-effective manner, information systems that provide the capabilities necessary for us to compete effectively, or any interruption or loss of our information processing capabilities, for any reason, could materially disrupt our operations. If we are not able to respond successfully to technological or industry developments, our business may be materially and adversely affected. The market for online products and services is characterized by rapid technological developments, frequent launches of new products and services, the introduction of new business models, changes in customer needs and behavior, and evolving industry standards. These developments may make our existing online recruitment services obsolete or less competitive. In order to respond to such developments, we may be required to undertake substantial efforts and incur significant costs. In the event that we do not successfully respond to such developments in a timely and cost-effective manner, our business may be materially and adversely affected. Computer viruses and “hacking” may cause delays or interruptions on our systems and may reduce use of our services and damage our reputation and brand names. Computer viruses and hacking may cause delays or other service interruptions on our systems. “Hacking” involves efforts to gain unauthorized access to information or systems or to cause intentional malfunctions, loss or 10 corruption of data, software, hardware or other computer equipment. In addition, the inadvertent transmission of computer viruses could expose us to a material risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. Hacking and computer viruses could result in significant damage to our hardware and software systems and databases, disruptions to our business activities, including to our e-mail and other communications systems, breaches of security and the inadvertent disclosure of confidential or sensitive information, interruptions in access to our website through the use of “denial of service” or similar attacks, and other material adverse effects on our operations. We may incur significant costs to protect our systems and equipment against the threat of, and to repair any damage caused by, computer viruses and hacking. Moreover, if a computer virus or hacking affects our systems and is highly publicized, our reputation and brand names could be materially damaged and use of our services may decrease. Our business could be adversely affected if our software contains bugs. Our online systems, including the www.51job.com website, and our other applications, products and systems could contain undetected errors or “bugs” that could adversely affect their performance. Additionally, we regularly update and enhance our website and our other online systems and introduce new versions of our products and applications. The occurrence of errors in any of these may cause us to lose market share, harm our reputation and brand names, and materially and adversely affect our business. We are controlled by a small number of our existing shareholders, whose interests may differ from other shareholders, and our board of directors has the power to discourage a change of control. As of March 31, 2011, the following shareholders beneficially owned approximately 36.4 million common shares: Recruit, which beneficially owned approximately 23.3 million common shares, or 41.2% of our outstanding common shares, and which is affiliated with Hiroyuki Honda, one of our directors; and Rick Yan, our chief executive officer and a director, who beneficially owned approximately 13.1 million, or 22.9% of our outstanding common shares. These shareholders, together with our other executive officers and directors, beneficially owned approximately 39.0 million common shares. Accordingly, Recruit or Mr. Yan individually could have significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. In cases where their interests are aligned and they vote together, these shareholders will also have the power to prevent or cause a change in control. Without the consent of some or all of these shareholders, we may be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us. In addition, these parties could violate their director or employment agreements with us or otherwise violate their fiduciary duties by diverting business opportunities from us to themselves or others. The interests of our largest shareholders may differ from the interests of our other shareholders. In addition, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue common and preferred shares of up to 20% by par value of all issued shares and to fix the powers and rights of these shares, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our common shares. These provisions could have the effect of depriving you of an opportunity to sell your ADSs at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of us in a tender offer or similar transaction. There are significant uncertainties under the tax law in China and our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if we are unable to maintain certain tax statuses. In addition, dividends we receive from our subsidiaries located in the PRC are subject to PRC withholding tax. The Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, or the EIT Law, which became effective January 1, 2008, applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax, or EIT, rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises. For enterprises that were established before the EIT Law was promulgated and were entitled to preferential tax rates under former tax laws and regulations, the EIT Law has granted a grace period of up to five years for these enterprises to gradually transition from their preferential tax rates to the standard rate of 25%. As a result, some of our subsidiaries in the special economic zones of Shanghai’s Pudong area and Shenzhen were subject to an EIT rate of 18% in 2008, 20% in 2009 and 22% in 2010, which is to be increased to 24% in 2011 and 25% in 2012. In December 2009, our subsidiary, Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or Tech JV, was designated by relevant local authorities in Shanghai as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the EIT Law, which is subject to a preferential tax rate of 15% through 2011. Tech JV is entitled to a preferential 15% tax rate as long as it maintains the required qualifications, which is subject to review every three years. We cannot assure you 11 that Tech JV will continue to qualify as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” when it is subject to reevaluation in the future. In addition, there are uncertainties on how the EIT Law and its implementation rules will be enforced, and whether its future implementation may be consistent with its current interpretation. If the EIT rates of some of our PRC subsidiaries increase, our financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected. Under the EIT Law and related regulations, dividends, interests, rent or royalties payable by a foreign-invested enterprise, such as our PRC subsidiaries, to any of its foreign non-resident enterprise investors, and proceeds from the disposition of assets (after deducting the net value of such assets) by such foreign enterprise investor, shall be subject to a 10% withholding tax unless such foreign enterprise investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a reduced rate of withholding tax. Undistributed profits earned by foreign-invested enterprises prior to January 1, 2008 are exempted from any withholding tax. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands which does not have such a tax treaty with China. In addition, according to relevant tax rules in China, foreign-invested enterprises, such as Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or WFOE, Shanghai Wang Ju Human Resource Consulting Co., Ltd., or Wang Ju, and Tech JV, were not subject to city maintenance and construction tax and education expenses surtax in the past; however, the State Council of PRC issued the Notice Regarding Unifying Rules of City Maintenance and Construction Tax and Education Expenses Surtax Applicable to Foreign-invested Enterprises and Domestic Enterprises and Individuals on October 18, 2010, or the State Council Notice No. 35. Under the State Council Notice No. 35, starting from December 1, 2010, the Interim Measures on City Maintenance and Construction Tax promulgated by the State Council in 1985 and the Interim Rules on Levying Education Expenses Surtax promulgated by the State Council in 1986, and relevant rules and measures promulgated thereafter shall also apply to foreign-invested enterprises, foreign enterprises and foreign individuals. Both city maintenance and construction tax and education expenses surtax are levied based on the value-added tax, consumer tax and business tax actually paid by the taxpayer. Depending on the location of the taxpayer, the tax rate of city maintenance and construction tax applicable could be 7%, 5% or 1%, and the tax rate of the education expense surtax applicable is currently 3%. We may be deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, which could subject us to PRC taxation on our global income, and which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, enterprises incorporated under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto management bodies” located within China may be considered PRC “resident enterprises” and therefore subject to an EIT rate of 25% on their worldwide income. Under the implementation regulations issued by the State Council relating to the EIT Law, “de facto management bodies” is defined as the bodies that have material and overall management control over the production and business operations, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. However, it remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will interpret such a broad definition. We are a Cayman Islands holding company and substantially all of our operational management is based in China. To our knowledge, there is a lack of clear guidance regarding the criteria pursuant to which the PRC tax authorities will determine the tax residency of a company under the EIT Law, other than for those enterprises established outside of China whose main holding investors are enterprises established in China, which is available. In addition, the EIT Law also provides that, if a resident enterprise directly invests in another resident enterprise, the dividends received by the investing resident enterprise from the invested enterprise are exempted from income tax, subject to certain conditions. If we are considered to be an enterprise established outside China with “de facto management bodies” located in China and thus a “resident enterprise,” we may be subject to the uniform 25% EIT rate as to our global income, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Under the EIT Law, dividends payable by us to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of our common shares or ADSs may become subject to PRC taxation. If we are considered a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, our shareholders and ADS holders who are deemed “non-resident enterprises” may be subject to an EIT rate of 10% upon the dividends payable by us or upon any gains realized from the transfer of our common shares or ADSs, if such income is deemed derived from China, provided that (i) such foreign enterprise investor has no establishment or place of business in China, or (ii) it has establishment or place of business in China but its income derived from China has no real connection with such establishment or place of business. If we are required under the EIT Law to withhold PRC income tax on dividends payable to our non-PRC investors that are “non-resident enterprises,” or if you are required to pay PRC income tax on any gains realized from the transfer of our common shares or ADSs, the value of your investment in common shares or ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. 12 We face uncertainty from the PRC’s Circular on Strengthening the Management of Enterprise Income Tax Collection of Income Derived by Non-resident Enterprises from Equity Transfers. The PRC State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular on Strengthening the Management of Enterprise Income Tax Collection of Income Derived by Non-resident Enterprises from Equity Transfers, or Circular 698, on December 10, 2009, that addresses the transfer of equity by non-PRC tax resident enterprises. Under this Circular, the overseas controlling party that effectively controls a PRC resident enterprise through an overseas intermediate holding company, and “indirectly transfers” the equity interests in such PRC resident enterprise by selling all shares of the intermediate holding company, is required to report such transfer to the PRC tax authority if the intermediate holding company is located in a foreign jurisdiction that has an effective tax rate of less than 12.5% or does not levy tax on such foreign-sourced capital gains of its residents. If the intermediate holding company mainly serves as tax avoidance vehicle and does not have any reasonable business purpose, the PRC in-charge tax authority may, upon verification of the PRC State Administration of Taxation, disregard the intermediate holding company and re-characterize the equity transfer by referring to its economic essence, and as a result, the overseas controlling party may be subject to a 10% PRC withholding tax for the capital gains realized from the equity transfer. We do not believe that the transfer of our common shares or ADSs by our non-PRC shareholders would be treated as an indirect transfer of equity interests in our PRC subsidiaries subject to Circular 698, as the share transfer is not carried out for the main purposes of avoiding PRC taxes. However, Circular 698 is relatively new and there is uncertainty as to the interpretation and application of Circular 698 by the PRC tax authorities in practice. If you are required to pay PRC withholding tax on the transfer of our common shares or ADSs, your investment in us may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, we cannot predict how Circular 698 will affect our financial condition or results of operations. For example, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 698 or to establish that we should not be taxed under Circular 698, any of which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Our earnings have been and will continue to be adversely affected by changes in our accounting policies, including those related to the expensing of stock options. In 2006, we adopted Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation,” or ASC 718, which requires that stock-based compensation transactions, such as stock option grants, be accounted for using a fair value based method and recognized as expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. We use the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options grants under ASC 718. This method is based upon, among other things, the volatility of our ADSs, which has been historically high. Therefore, the adoption of ASC 718 negatively affects our profitability and the trading price of our ADSs. The implementation of ASC 718 could also limit our ability to continue to use stock options as an incentive and retention tool, which could, in turn, hurt our ability to recruit employees and retain existing employees. Other new accounting pronouncements and varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements have occurred and may occur in the future. The change to existing rules, future changes, if any, or the questioning of current practices may adversely and materially affect our earnings. If we do not appropriately maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our business, results of operations and the market price of our ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. We are subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission, as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules requiring every public company to include a management report on such company’s internal control over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. In addition, an independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. Our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010. See “Item 15. — Controls and Procedures.” However, if we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, our management and our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting at a reasonable assurance level. This could in turn result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and negatively impact the trading price of our ADSs. Furthermore, we have incurred and may need to incur additional costs and use additional management and other resources in an effort to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other requirements going forward. 13 We have no business insurance coverage. Other than insurance for some of our properties, we do not maintain any insurance. We do not have any business liability insurance coverage for our operations. Any business disruption, litigation or natural disaster might result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. We face risks related to health epidemics and other natural disasters. Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of H1N1 flu, avian flu, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, or another epidemic or outbreak. China reported a number of cases of SARS in 2003, which resulted in the closure of many businesses by the PRC government to prevent the transmission of SARS. In recent years, there have been reports of occurrences of avian flu in various parts of China, including a few confirmed human cases and deaths. In 2009, the global spread of H1N1 flu resulted in several confirmed infections and deaths in China. Restrictions on travel resulting from any prolonged outbreak of H1N1 flu, avian flu, SARS or another epidemic or outbreak could adversely affect our ability to market and service new and existing customers throughout China. Our business operations could be disrupted if one of our employees is suspected of having H1N1 flu, avian flu, SARS or another health epidemic, which would require that a certain number of our employees be quarantined and/or our offices be disinfected. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that H1N1 flu, avian flu, SARS or another outbreak harms the Chinese economy in general. We have not adopted any written preventive measures or contingency plans to combat any future outbreak of H1N1 flu, avian flu, SARS or any other epidemic. We are also vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Our servers are hosted in Shanghai and Tianjin. We have backup systems, but we cannot assure you that such backup systems will be adequate if there are problems, or that they will adequately protect us from the effects of fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist acts or similar events. Any of the foregoing events may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures and Internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to provide our services to users. For example, after the Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, we experienced business disruptions and suspended operations of www.51job.com during a three-day national mourning period. We believe that we were not a passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, for our taxable year ending on December 31, 2010, although there can be no assurance in this regard. However, we believe that we may become one in the future, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. investors. Based on the past composition of our income and valuation of our assets, including goodwill, we believe that we were not a PFIC for our taxable year ending on December 31, 2010, although there can be no assurance in this regard. However, due to the volatility of the market price of our common shares, as represented by our ADSs, we believe that we may become one in the future. Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the determination of whether we are a PFIC is made annually. Accordingly, our PFIC status for the current taxable year cannot be determined with certainty until after the close of the current taxable year. In particular, our PFIC status may be determined in large part based on the market price of our common shares, as represented by our ADSs, which is likely to fluctuate and may fluctuate considerably given that the global capital markets have been experiencing extreme volatility. Accordingly, fluctuations in the market price of common shares, as represented by our ADSs, may result in our being a PFIC in the current or any future taxable year. In addition, there exist substantial uncertainties regarding the application, interpretation and enforcement of relevant current and future PRC laws and regulations and their potential effect on our corporate structure and contractual arrangements with certain of our affiliated PRC entities. There can be no assurance that the PRC regulatory authorities will not take a view different from the opinions of our PRC counsel. Further, even if the uncertainties as to PRC laws and regulations did not exist, there are also substantial uncertainties as to the treatment of our corporate structure and ownership of these affiliated PRC entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If it is determined that we do not own the stock of the affiliated PRC entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would likely be treated as a PFIC for our taxable year ending on December 31, 2010 and any taxable year thereafter. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold our ADSs or common shares, such characterization could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to you if you are a U.S. investor. For example, if we are or become a PFIC, our U.S. investors may become subject to increased tax liabilities under U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations, and will become subject to burdensome reporting requirements. Moreover, non-corporate U.S. investors will not be eligible for reduced rates on taxation on any dividends received from us in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013, if we are a PFIC in the taxable year in which such dividends are paid or in the 14 preceding taxable year. See “Item 10. — Additional Information — Taxation — Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations — Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.” Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure If the PRC authorities determine that our past ownership structure was inconsistent with the requirements for operating certain of our businesses, we could be subject to sanctions. The PRC government has regulated foreign ownership in entities providing advertising and human resource related services. Prior to March 2004, PRC laws and regulations prohibited foreign persons from owning a controlling interest in advertising entities. This foreign ownership restriction was subsequently relaxed and foreign persons are now permitted to wholly own advertising entities in China. In addition, until November 2003, there were no PRC laws or regulations explicitly prohibiting or limiting foreign ownership in entities providing human resource related services. Foreign ownership in entities providing human resource related services was limited to 49% beginning in November 2003 and this ownership limitation was increased to 70% since August 2006. Prior to our restructuring in May 2004, 51net.com Inc., or 51net, our British Virgin Islands subsidiary and a foreign entity, owned 99% of Tech JV, which in turn owned, and continues to own, 80% of Shanghai Qianjin Advertising Co., Ltd., or AdCo. AdCo owned, and continues to own, 90% of its principal subsidiaries, or the AdCo Subsidiaries. During this period, Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries conducted a portion of our advertising and human resource services businesses. We have been advised by Jun He Law Offices, our PRC counsel, that the foreign ownership percentage of Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries prior to our restructuring was above the maximum foreign ownership permitted for an entity conducting advertising operations. In addition, we have been advised by our PRC counsel that, prior to our restructuring, the foreign ownership percentage of Tech JV was above the maximum foreign ownership permitted for an entity conducting human resource operations. In May 2004, we restructured our operations to comply with then existing PRC laws and regulations governing foreign ownership in entities conducting advertising and human resource related services. In connection with our restructuring, we informed relevant PRC governmental authorities that, historically, our foreign ownership percentage of Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries was not in compliance with limitations on foreign ownership of entities conducting advertising and human resources operations. However, we have not received any waiver from the PRC government with respect to this past non-compliance. In addition, it is uncertain whether special governmental approval, which we did not obtain, was necessary for the establishment by AdCo of the AdCo Subsidiaries. In connection with our restructuring, we made inquiries with relevant PRC governmental authorities as to whether AdCo was required to obtain such approval before establishing the AdCo Subsidiaries. We have been unable to obtain any governmental ruling or advice on this matter. The PRC government may determine that our ownership structure is or was inconsistent with or insufficient for the proper operation of our businesses, or that our business licenses or other approvals are or were not properly issued or not sufficient. For a discussion of the limitations on foreign ownership governing our businesses, see “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Limitations on Foreign Ownership of Our Businesses.” If we or any of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities were found to be or to have been in violation of PRC laws or regulations governing foreign ownership of advertising or human resource services businesses, the relevant regulatory authorities would likely have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including but not limited to: levying fines; revoking business licenses; restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from our initial public offering and any future offerings to finance our business and operations in China; requiring us to restructure the ownership structure or operations of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities; and/or requiring us to discontinue all or a portion of our business. Any of these or similar actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations or render us unable to conduct a substantial portion of our business operations and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 15 We rely on our agreements with an affiliated entity to provide human resource related services and to act as an Internet content provider, and we rely on agreements with an affiliated entity and its shareholders to receive all of the beneficial interest of this entity. PRC laws and regulations limit foreign investment in entities providing human resource related services and in entities operating as Internet content providers. We provide technical, consulting and human resource related services in conjunction with our affiliated entity, Shanghai Run An Lian Information Technology Consultancy Co., Ltd., or RAL, which is indirectly wholly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang, two executive officers of our company. RAL holds a license to provide human resource related services and we rely on RAL to provide human resource related services to our clients under a contractual arrangement between RAL and our majority owned subsidiary Tech JV. Similarly, RAL holds a license to operate as an Internet content provider. While we provide all of our online recruitment services through Tech JV, we rely on RAL to provide certain Internet content provider services and human resources related services to support Tech JV’s online recruitment services through a contractual arrangement with RAL. We have entered into agreements with RAL’s shareholders which enable us to effectively control RAL. Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries recognize substantially all of our revenues. The minority interests in Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries, which are direct or indirect subsidiaries of Tech JV, are held by Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd., or Qian Cheng, which is indirectly wholly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang. Through agreements with Qian Cheng and its shareholders, we have the substantial ability to control, bear all the economic risks of, and receive all the economic rewards from, Qian Cheng. As a result, we consolidate all of its interests for U.S. GAAP reporting purposes. As we rely on the agreements with RAL and Qian Cheng to enable us to provide certain critical services to our clients as well as to receive all the economic benefits of Qian Cheng, a significant disruption in these contractual relationships as a result of governmental sanction or otherwise could result in our being required to restructure our operations which could result in a significant expenditure of resources. If we are unable to restructure our operations to provide those services through a different entity, we may experience significant disruptions in our ability to provide online recruitment services or human resource related services to our customers. In addition, if we are unable to consolidate the minority interests in Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries, our results of operations would reflect Qian Cheng’s minority interest in these entities which, if not otherwise consolidated, would result in a significant reduction in our reported net income. For a description of our contractual arrangements with these entities, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” Our contractual arrangements with RAL and Qian Cheng may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership of these businesses. Because the percentage of foreign ownership in human resource and Internet content businesses in China is limited under PRC laws and regulations, we depend substantially on RAL, in which we have no direct ownership interest, and its contractual arrangements with us to provide those services. Similarly, we rely on our contractual arrangements with Qian Cheng, in which we have no direct ownership interest, to realize all of the economic rewards from Qian Cheng’s minority interests in Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries. Our contractual arrangements with RAL, Qian Cheng and their respective shareholders may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing control over their operations. RAL may fail to perform its contractual obligations required for us to operate our business, such as keeping in good standing under its business licenses. Qian Cheng and its shareholders may refuse to make payments or otherwise refuse to perform their contractual obligations necessary for us to realize the economic rewards relating to Qian Cheng’s minority interests in Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries. In addition, the contractual arrangements which provide us with the substantial ability to control these entities may be unenforceable and the shareholders of these entities may refuse to renew these contractual arrangements. In any such event, we will have to rely on the PRC legal system to enforce our rights. In many cases, the laws and regulations governing the enforcement and performance of contractual arrangements are significantly more limited than in the United States and many other countries and may afford us little or no effective protection. If we are unable to enforce our rights, we may be unable to operate our human resource and Internet content businesses through RAL or receive all of the economic rewards from Qian Cheng. As a result, we may be required to restructure our operations which would likely entail a significant expenditure of resources. We cannot assure you that any such restructuring would be effective or would not result in similar or other difficulties. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” If we or any of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities were found to be in violation of PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would likely have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including but not limited to: 16 levying fines; revoking business licenses; restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from our initial public offering and any future offerings to finance our business and operations in China; requiring us to restructure the ownership structure or operations of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities; and/or requiring us to discontinue all or a portion of our business. Any of these or similar actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations or render us unable to conduct a substantial portion of our business operations and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The PRC laws and regulations governing our business operations and contractual arrangements are uncertain, and if we are found to be in violation, we could be subject to sanctions. In addition, any changes in such PRC laws and regulations may have a material and adverse effect on our business. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to the laws and regulations governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings. We and our subsidiaries are considered foreign persons or foreign funded enterprises under PRC laws, and, as a result, we are required to comply with PRC laws and regulations, including those governing foreign ownership in the human resource services and Internet content industries. These laws and regulations may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations or amendments may be delayed, resulting in detrimental reliance by foreign investors. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. In addition, the PRC authorities retain broad discretion in dealing with violations of laws and regulations, including levying fines, revoking business licenses and requiring actions necessary for compliance. In particular, licenses, permits and beneficial treatments issued or granted to us by relevant governmental bodies may be revoked at a later time under contrary findings of higher regulatory bodies. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our businesses. We cannot assure you that any such restructuring would be effective or would not result in similar or other difficulties. We may be subject to sanctions, including fines, and could be required to restructure our operations. As a result of these substantial uncertainties, we cannot assure you that we will not be found in violation of any current or future PRC laws or regulations. Under equity pledge agreements, the shareholders of our Chinese affiliated entities have pledged their respective equity interests to us. On March 16, 2007, the PRC Property Law was promulgated and took effect on October 1, 2007. According to the PRC Property Law, a pledge of the equity interest of a company in China cannot be legally established until it is duly registered with the relevant administration of industry and commerce. On September 1, 2008, the Measures on Registration of Pledge of Equity Interest with the Administration of Industry and Commerce was promulgated by the PRC State Administration of Industry and Commerce and took effect on October 1, 2008, which contains the procedure for registration of a pledge of the equity interest of a company. The pledges under the equity pledge agreements between WFOE and the shareholders of Qian Cheng, RAL and Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd., or Run An, are yet to be registered with the relevant administration of industry and commerce, and as such, we cannot assure you about the effectiveness of these pledges. We will make efforts to register the pledges with the administration as soon as practically possible. If we or any of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities or any of our contractual arrangements are found to be or to have been in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would likely have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including but not limited to: levying fines; revoking business licenses; restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from our initial public offering and any future offerings to finance our business and operations in China; requiring us to restructure the ownership structure or operations of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities; and/or requiring us to discontinue all or a portion our business. 17 Any of these or similar actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations or render us unable to conduct a substantial portion of our business operations and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are unable to quantify the likelihood that any sanctions would be imposed or the magnitude of the effect of any such sanctions on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our subsidiaries face limitations on paying dividends or making other distributions to us. We are a holding company and rely substantially on dividends, royalty payments and license fees paid under trademark license agreements and certain other contractual arrangements paid to us by our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC to finance our operations and to pay dividends to our shareholders. These royalty payments and license fees paid under trademark license agreements and certain other contractual arrangements do not require governmental or other third party approval. However, the payment of dividends in China is subject to certain restrictions and taxes. PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC are also required to set aside a portion of their after-tax profits according to PRC accounting standards and regulations to fund certain reserve funds that are not distributable as cash dividends. In addition, the PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of the PRC. We may also experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency. See “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations Relating to Foreign Currency Exchange” and “— Regulations Relating to Dividend Distribution.” If we or any of our subsidiaries are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations through these contractual or dividend arrangements, we may be unable to effectively finance our operations or pay dividends on our common shares. Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China Our business could be affected by changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies. The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past 30 years, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. We cannot assure you that the Chinese economy will continue to grow, or that if there is growth, such growth will be steady and uniform, or that if there is a slowdown, such slowdown will not have a negative effect on our business. For example, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of high inflation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the consumer price index increased 5.9% in 2008, decreased 0.7% in 2009 and increased 3.3% in 2010. To restrain inflation and prevent the economy from overheating, the PRC government has instituted from time to time a number of tightening macroeconomic measures and monetary policies, including increasing interest rates, raising statutory reserve rates for banks and controlling bank lending to certain industries. However, in response to the impact of the global economic and financial market crisis which slowed China’s economic growth rate to 6.8% in the fourth quarter of 2008 and 6.1% in the first quarter of 2009, the PRC government loosened macroeconomic measures and monetary policies and announced an economic stimulus package of RMB4 trillion in November 2008. We cannot assure you that the various macroeconomic measures and monetary policies adopted by the PRC government to guide economic growth and the allocation of resources will be effective in sustaining the fast growth rate of the Chinese economy. In addition, even if these measures benefit the overall Chinese economy, they may impact the hiring behavior of employers and reduce the level of expenditures on human resource services, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. For example, the PRC government could determine to limit the extent to which government controlled entities may use private sector businesses such as ours to service their human resource requirements. The PRC government could determine to develop and support government owned or controlled human resource enterprises in direct competition with us. The PRC government could also determine to more closely regulate the advertising, Internet content delivery or human resource industries, which could impose additional regulatory costs and burdens on us. 18 PRC laws and regulations governing operators of Internet websites are unclear and the regulation of the telecommunications and Internet industries may become more burdensome, and if we are found to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to sanctions. The interpretation and application of existing PRC laws and regulations, the stated positions of the main governing authority, the PRC Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, and the possibility of new laws or regulations being adopted, have created significant uncertainty regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and the businesses and activities of, companies with Internet operations, including those of our company. In particular, the MIIT has stated that the activities of Internet content providers are subject to regulation by various PRC government authorities, depending on the specific activities conducted by the Internet content provider. We cannot be certain that the commercial Internet content provider license issued by the local Shanghai Municipal Telecommunications Bureau and held by RAL will satisfy these requirements. In addition, PRC government regulation of the telecommunications and Internet industries is burdensome and may become even more so. New regulations could increase our costs of doing business and prevent us from efficiently delivering our services. Our failure to comply with applicable PRC Internet regulations could subject us to severe sanctions. In July 2006, the MIIT issued the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Operation of Value Added Telecommunications Business, or the MIIT Notice. According to the MIIT Notice, foreign investors can only operate a telecommunications business in China by establishing a telecommunications enterprise with a valid telecommunications business operation license. Domestic value-added telecommunications services license holders are prohibited from leasing, transferring or selling telecommunications business operation licenses to foreign investors in any form, and from providing any resource, sites or facilities to foreign investors to facilitate the illegal operation of a telecommunications business in China. The MIIT Notice also requires that value-added telecommunications services license holders (including their shareholders) directly own the domain names and registered trademarks used by such value-added telecommunications services license holders in their daily operations. The MIIT Notice further requires each value-added telecommunications services license holder to have the necessary facilities for its approved business operations and to maintain such facilities in the regions covered by its license. In addition, all value-added telecommunications service providers are required to improve network and information security, draft relevant information safety administration regulations and set up networks and information safety emergency plans. The provincial communications administration bureaus in charge of telecommunications services are required to ensure that existing value-added telecommunications services license holders will conduct a self-assessment of their compliance with the MIIT Notice and submit status reports to the MIIT before November 1, 2006. For those who are not in compliance with the requirements above and fail to rectify the noncompliance within the limited period set by provincial communications administration bureaus, the provincial communications administration bureaus may revoke their operating licenses. We have made inquiries with relevant authorities regarding the MIIT Notice and Tech JV, our operating entity which provides online recruitment services, has recently obtained a value-added telecommunications business operation license permitting it to provide information service via the Internet and wireless networks. We plan to further modify our corporate structure to comply with these requirements. The continued growth of the Chinese Internet market depends on the establishment of an adequate telecommunications infrastructure. Although private sector Internet service providers currently exist in China, almost all access to the Internet is maintained through China Telecom and China Unicom under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of the MIIT. In addition, the national networks in China connect to the Internet through a government-controlled international gateway. This international gateway is the only channel through which a domestic user can connect to the international Internet network. We rely on this infrastructure and China Telecom and China Unicom to provide data communications capacity, primarily through local telecommunications lines. We cannot assure you that this infrastructure will be developed. We have no access to alternative networks or services, on a timely basis or if at all, in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s Internet infrastructure or telecommunications networks. The Internet infrastructure in China may not support the demands associated with continued growth in Internet use. The PRC legal system has inherent uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect us. The PRC legal system is based upon written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but are not binding on subsequent cases and have limited value as precedents. Since 1979, the PRC legislative bodies have promulgated laws and regulations dealing with economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. However, the PRC has not developed a fully integrated legal system and the array of new laws and regulations may not be sufficient to cover all aspects of economic activities in the PRC. 19 In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their non-binding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, published government policies and internal rules may have retroactive effects and, in some cases, the policies and rules are not published at all. As a result, we may be unaware of our violation of these policies and rules until some time later. Our contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities are governed by the laws of the PRC. The enforcement of these contracts and the interpretation of the laws governing these relationships is subject to uncertainty. See “— Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure — The PRC laws and regulations governing our business operations and contractual arrangements are uncertain, and if we are found to be in violation, we could be subject to sanctions.” You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China based on United States or other foreign laws against us or our management. We conduct substantially all of our operations in China and the majority of our assets are located in China. In addition, many of our directors and executive officers reside within China. As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the United States or elsewhere outside China upon these directors or executive officers, including with respect to matters arising under U.S. federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws. Moreover, our PRC counsel has advised us that the PRC does not have treaties with the United States or many other countries providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgment of courts. Governmental control of currency conversion may 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, which is currently not a freely convertible currency. Under our current structure, our income will be primarily derived from dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries and other payments such as royalty and licensing fees. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries and our affiliated entities to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends, royalty payments or other fees to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency dominated obligations. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from the transaction, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from appropriate governmental 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 bank loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs. The fluctuation of the Renminbi may materially and adversely affect your investment. The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. In July 2005, the PRC government changed its policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar and permitted the Renminbi to fluctuate within a managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. In May 2007, the PRC government widened the daily trading band from 0.3% to 0.5%. The new policy resulted in an appreciation in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar of approximately 6.5% in 2007, 6.5% in 2008, relatively unchanged in 2009 and 3.3% in 2010. Correspondingly, we reported a loss from foreign currency translation of RMB18.1 million in 2007, RMB17.7 million in 2008, RMB0.2 million in 2009 and RMB6.8 million (US$1.0 million) in 2010. It is possible that the Chinese government could adopt a more flexible currency policy in the future, which could result in further and more significant revaluations of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar or any other foreign currency. As a portion of our assets are denominated in U.S. dollars, any future upward revaluations of the Renminbi will result in charges to our income statement and reductions in the value of these U.S. dollar denominated assets when translated into Renminbi. In addition, as we rely substantially on dividends, royalty payments and other fees paid to us in Renminbi by our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC, any significant downward revaluation of the Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenues and financial condition, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in foreign currency terms. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our common shares or for other business purposes and the U.S. dollar appreciates against the Renminbi, the U.S. dollar equivalent of the Renminbi we convert would be reduced. For further information on our foreign exchange risks and certain exchange rates, see “Item 3. — Key Information — 20 Selected Financial Data — Exchange Rate Information” and “Item 11. — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk — Foreign Exchange Risk.” PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents and employee stock options granted by overseas-listed companies may increase our administrative burden and adversely impact our business and prospects. If our shareholders who are PRC residents fail to make any required registrations or filings under such regulations, we may be unable to distribute profits and may become subject to liability under PRC laws. As part of our growth strategy, we may decide to expand, in part, by acquiring certain complementary or new businesses in the future, including companies incorporated in the PRC. The SAFE issued the Notice on Issues Relating to the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-Raising and Round-trip Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies in October 2005, which became effective in November 2005, and an implementation rule in May 2007, or collectively the SAFE Rules. According to the SAFE Rules, PRC citizens and foreign citizens who reside in China are required to register with the SAFE or its local branch office before establishing or controlling any company outside of China for the purpose of financing the offshore company with their ownership interests in the assets of or their interests in any Chinese enterprise. The offshore companies are referred to in the SAFE Rules as “offshore special purpose companies.” In addition, a PRC resident that is a shareholder of an offshore special purpose company is required to amend its SAFE registration with the local SAFE branch with respect to the offshore special purpose company in connection with the injection of equity interests or assets of a Chinese enterprise in the offshore company or overseas fund raising by the offshore company, or any other material change in the capital of the offshore company, including any increase or decrease of capital, transfer or swap of shares, merger, division, long-term equity or debt investment or creation of any security interest. The SAFE Rules apply retroactively. As a result, Chinese residents who have established or acquired control of offshore companies that have made onshore investments in China in the past are required to complete the relevant registration procedures with the applicable local SAFE authority. If any resident of China fails to register with the SAFE with respect to its ownership of an existing offshore entity, dividends remitted by the onshore entity to its overseas parent may be considered an evasion of foreign exchange purchase rules, and therefore, may be subject to penalties under relevant PRC foreign exchange laws and regulations. In addition, failure to comply with registration procedures may result in restrictions on the relevant onshore entity, including prohibitions on the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and on capital inflow from the offshore entity. Current regulations are still uncertain and unclear. It is possible that the relevant government authorities may promulgate new legislation to interpret, amend or implement the SAFE Rules in various ways. As a result, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of any target PRC business we may acquire, as the case may be, will be able to complete the necessary approval, filings and registrations for a proposed acquisition. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and adversely affect our business and prospects. On March 28, 2007, the SAFE promulgated the Application Procedure of Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Holding Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas-Listed Company, or the Stock Option Rule, to regulate foreign exchange procedures for PRC individuals participating in employee stock holding and stock option plans of overseas companies. Under the Stock Option Rule, a PRC domestic individual must comply with various foreign exchange procedures through a domestic agent institution when participating in any employee stock holding plan or stock option plan of an overseas-listed company. Certain domestic agent institutions, such as the PRC subsidiaries of an overseas-listed company, a labor union of such company that is a legal person or a qualified financial institution, among others things, shall file with the SAFE and be responsible for completing relevant foreign exchange procedures on behalf of PRC domestic individuals, such as applying to obtain the SAFE approval for exchanging foreign currency in connection with owning stock or stock option exercises. Concurrent with the filing of such applications with the SAFE, the PRC subsidiary, as a domestic agent must obtain approval from the SAFE to open a special foreign exchange account at a PRC domestic bank to hold the funds in connection with the stock purchase or option exercise, any returns based on stock sales, any stock dividends issued and any other income or expenditures approved by the SAFE. The PRC subsidiary also is required to obtain approval from the SAFE to open an overseas special foreign exchange account at an overseas trust bank to hold overseas funds used in connection with any stock purchase. Under the Stock Option Rule, all proceeds obtained by PRC domestic individuals from sales of stock shall be fully remitted back to China after relevant overseas expenses are deducted. The foreign exchange proceeds from these sales can be converted into RMB or transferred to the individual’s foreign exchange savings account after the proceeds have been remitted back to the special foreign exchange account opened at the PRC domestic bank. If the stock option is exercised in a cashless exercise, the PRC domestic individuals are required to remit the proceeds to 21 the special foreign exchange account. If we or our PRC optionees fail to comply with these regulations, we or our PRC optionees and their local employers may be subject to fines and legal sanctions. Risks Related to Our ADSs The market price for our ADSs may be volatile. The market prices of the securities of companies with Internet related and online businesses have been extremely volatile and may be subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following: actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; changes or revisions by us to previously released operating and financial targets; announcements by us or our competitors of new services, significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts; conditions in our industry, which is the market for recruitment advertising services and other human resource related services in China; additions or departures of key personnel; fluctuations of exchanges rates between the Renminbi and U.S. dollar; and pending or potential litigation or regulatory investigations. In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies, such as during the recent global economic and financial market crisis. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our ADSs. The future sales, or perceived future sales, by our existing shareholders of a substantial number of our ADSs in the public market or through private transactions could adversely affect the price of our ADSs. If our shareholders sell, or are perceived as intending to sell, substantial amounts of our common shares or ADSs, including those issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, in the public market or through private transactions, the market price of our ADSs could fall. Such sales, or perceived potential sales, might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate. Common shares held by our existing shareholders and our affiliates may also be sold in the public market under, and subject to the restrictions contained in, Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. See “Item 6. — Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Compensation — Stock-Based Compensation Plans” for a description of outstanding options to purchase our common shares. Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution of your holdings. We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary bank will not offer you those rights unless the distribution to ADS holders of both the rights and any related securities is either registered under the Securities Act, or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. Moreover, we may not be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in your holdings. You may not be able to exercise your right to vote. As a holder of ADSs, you may only exercise the voting rights with respect to the underlying common shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, you must vote by giving voting instructions to the depositary. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will vote the underlying common shares in accordance with these instructions. Otherwise, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the shares. Under our fifth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the minimum notice period required for convening either an annual meeting or a general meeting called to vote on matters requiring the approval of two thirds of the voting shares is 20 days. The minimum notice period for other general meetings is 14 days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice to withdraw the shares to allow you to vote with respect to any specific matter. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot 22 assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct 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 the manner of carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and there may be nothing you can do if the shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested. You may not receive distributions on common shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to you. The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on common shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of common shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is inequitable or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, the depositary may determine that it is not feasible to distribute certain property through the mail. Additionally, the value of certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may determine not to distribute such property. We have no obligation to register under U.S. securities laws any ADSs, common shares, rights or other securities received through such distributions. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, common shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive the distribution we make on our common shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may have a material adverse effect on the value of your ADSs. You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs. Your ADSs represented by the ADRs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary thinks it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason. You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law. We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and the majority of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, many of our directors and executive officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and all or a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United States courts against our directors or executive officers. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Cayman Islands Companies Law (2010 Revision), as amended and revised from time to time, and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities 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 English common law, 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 responsibilities 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 has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. The Cayman Islands courts are also unlikely: to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws; and to impose liabilities against us, in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, based on certain civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws that are penal in nature. There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands will in certain circumstances recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits. 23 As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a U.S. company. ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY A. History and Development of the Company We commenced our business in 1998. Since our inception, we have conducted substantially all of our operations in China. In March 2000, our founders incorporated a new holding company, now called 51job, Inc., as an exempted limited liability company in the Cayman Islands under the Cayman Islands Companies Law (2004 Revision). Subsequently, 51job, Inc. acquired 51net.com Inc., or 51net, a British Virgin Islands company, and other subsidiaries to become the holding company of our corporate group. We operate as a foreign investment enterprise in China through our wholly owned subsidiaries, 51net, which is the registered owner of some of our trademarks and our domain name, 51net Beijing and 51net HR, which are both Cayman Islands companies, as well as our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated Chinese entities, the primary ones being: Shanghai Qianjin Advertising Co., Ltd., or AdCo, and AdCo’s one branch office, four majority owned subsidiaries and one jointly owned subsidiary with Tech JV, or, collectively, the AdCo Subsidiaries. AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries hold licenses and permits to conduct advertising businesses; Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd., or RAL, which holds human resource related services and Internet content provision licenses and is wholly owned by Run An; Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or Tech JV, which is allowed to conduct online advertising and holds human resource related services and Internet content provision licenses; Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or WFOE, which is wholly owned by 51net Beijing and owns certain of our trademarks and registered copyrights; Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd., or Qian Cheng, which is our joint venture partner in Tech JV and is wholly owned by Run An; Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd., or Run An, which is jointly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang, two executive officers of our company; Shanghai Wang Cai Advertising Co., Ltd., or Wang Cai AdCo, which is an AdCo Subsidiary jointly owned by AdCo and Tech JV. Wang Cai AdCo and its nine branch offices hold licenses to conduct advertising businesses; Shanghai Wang Ju Human Resource Consulting Co., Ltd., or Wang Ju, which is owned by 51net HR and Run An and holds a license to provide human resource related services; and Wuhan Mei Hao Qian Cheng Advertising Co., Ltd., or Wuhan AdCo, which holds a minority interest in Tech JV and conducts advertising businesses in the city of Wuhan. Substantially all of our business and operations are conducted through Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries. In May 2004, we restructured our operations to comply with then existing PRC laws and regulations governing foreign ownership in entities conducting advertising and human resource related services. For a discussion on our group structure, see “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Organizational Structure.” Our relationships with Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, our affiliated entities, have been governed by a series of agreements. As a result of these agreements, under which we have borne all of the economic risks and received all of the economic rewards in these affiliated entities, the historical financial results of these entities have been consolidated in our financial statements as variable interest entities. For a discussion on the contractual arrangements among our entities, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” We completed the initial public offering of 6,037,500 American depositary shares, each representing two of our common shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, on October 4, 2004. On September 29, 2004, the trading of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “JOBS,” commenced. In August 2007, we entered into an agreement with Recruit to form a new company to provide coupon advertising services in China. 24 Our principal executive offices are located at Building 3, No. 1387, Zhang Dong Road, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +(86-21) 6160-1888. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of 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 National Registered Agents, Inc., located at 875 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 501, New York, New York 10001. Our principal capital expenditures in 2008 were RMB24.3 million and included primarily the purchase of servers and IT equipment, computers and office furnishings. Our principal capital expenditures in 2009 totaled RMB28.7 million and consisted primarily of payments toward the purchase of office space, technology systems, network equipment and furnishings for the establishment of a new call center as well as computers, software and office equipment. Our principal capital expenditures in 2010 consisted of purchases of computers, network equipment, software and other intellectual property rights for a total of approximately RMB23.3 million (US$3.5 million). In 2010, we completed the purchase of nine floors of an office building in Wuhan Optical Valley Software Park in the city of Wuhan, China for RMB23.5 million (US$3.6 million), of which RMB21.4 million was paid in 2009. Our capital expenditure plans for 2011 have not yet been fixed, but we intend to purchase computers, technology-related equipment and software. Capital expenditures in 2010 were funded through operating cash flows and our existing capital resources, and we expect to continue fund our capital expenditures through these means. As of December 31, 2010, we did not have any material commitment for capital expenditure. B. Business Overview We believe that we are a leading nationwide provider of integrated human resource services in China. With a strong focus on recruitment advertising, we closely integrate our online and print operations which enable us to attract a broad base of corporate advertisers, reach a wide and diverse audience of job seekers and aggregate job information from multiple channels and geographies. Based on data available at Alexa.com, www.51job.com had the highest traffic ranking among recruitment websites in China for the three months ended March 31, 2011. We operated print publications across 15 major cities in China as of the date of this annual report. In addition to recruitment advertising services, we also provide other complementary human resource related services, consisting primarily of business process outsourcing, training and executive search services. We aim to be a comprehensive, “one-stop” solution to human resource departments by providing recruitment and other human resource related services to employers through 25 local sales offices and a national sales and customer service call center in Wuhan. Although we provide services to both employers and job seekers, we derive substantially all of our revenues from employers. We receive a majority of our revenues in the form of fees from employers for placing job advertisements on 51job Weekly and www.51job.com. We also receive fees from employers for accessing our www.51job.com resumé database, using our eHire product and engaging our other human resource related services. Our Product and Services We provide a range of human resource services in the following categories: recruitment advertising services, including online recruitment services and print advertising; and other human resource related services, such as business process outsourcing, training and executive search services. We generate a significant majority of our revenues from our recruitment advertising services. Our online recruitment services business generated 36.3% of our revenues in 2008, 40.8% of our revenues in 2009 and 49.8% of our revenues in 2010. Our print advertising business generated 41.8% of our revenues in 2008, 34.2% of our revenues in 2009 and 25.5% of our revenues in 2010. Other human resource related services generated 21.9% of our revenues in 2008, 25.0% of our revenues in 2009 and 24.7% of our revenues in 2010. Recruitment Advertising Services Online Recruitment Services — www.51job.com. We established our online recruitment website, www.51job.com, in 1999. Online recruitment advertisements appear in both Chinese and English on www.51job.com. These advertisements cover many different job categories ranging from professional and middle management positions to clerical, industrial and hourly jobs. Job seekers may search for positions using keywords or based on a number of criteria, including city of employment, industry, job function, job title and job posting date. We regularly maintain and update our www.51job.com with job search, training and general career management content. 25 We believe that www.51job.com is one of the largest dedicated national recruitment websites in China in terms of the number of recruitment advertisements. We also believe that www.51job.com is among the largest in terms of the number of registered job user accounts and posted job seeker resumés, with approximately 47.1 million user accounts established since the launch of our website in 1999 and approximately 39.3 million resumés posted online as of March 31, 2011. We believe that www.51job.com is perceived as a “destination site” by job seekers because of its large volume of advertisements and the job search, training, and general career management and advisory content available on the website. We believe that www.51job.com provides employers with a cost-effective means of reaching their target audience. As our website contains nationwide recruitment advertisements, employers can access a large pool of potential candidates from a wide geographic area. Certain employers post advertisements solely online when they consider the demographics of their target audience to favor the use of the Internet for recruitment advertising. As a result, www.51job.com includes a higher number of technology related positions than 51job Weekly as well as recruitment advertisements targeted at younger job seekers that are more likely to use the Internet. We generally update the advertisements on our website several times each hour, which allows employers to receive responses more rapidly than is generally possible using print advertisements. Employers also use our website as a marketing tool, placing advertising banners, trademarks, logos, website hyperlinks and other forms of advertising to promote their corporate image for a fee that varies depending on the size, graphics, placement and duration. We believe that certain employers view this image promotion as a significant means of attracting online job seekers to their recruitment advertisements on our website. As a result, we believe that our ability to offer these promotional formats is an important element in our ability to attract online recruitment advertising business, which generates a material portion of our revenues. However, in the event of any adverse change in the actual or perceived effectiveness of online image promotion, or online advertising in general, our online recruitment advertising business may be adversely affected. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — If the Internet, and online advertising in particular, does not achieve broad acceptance in China as a medium for recruitment, our online recruitment services business may be adversely affected.” Employers can use our eHire web-based platform to search our job candidate database and download resumés for a fee. In addition, eHire contains other tools that enable employers to manage, organize and streamline the recruitment and hiring process. We also offer website design as an additional value-added service and marketing tool for corporate customers. We can build customized “private label” recruitment websites with the “look and feel” of a dedicated website. We design these sites in-house to client specifications and operate these sites for our clients. These client sites, together with our www.51job.com website, are hosted by China Telecom and China Unicom. The following table sets forth the estimated number of unique employers who used our online recruitment services for the periods indicated. For the year ended December 31, 2008 2010 2009 Estimated unique employers using online recruitment services ............... . 102,562 143,451 214,057 www.51job.com provides job seekers with online tools to search for job opportunities and allows them to: search and review all current recruitment advertisements; receive e-mails of advertisements matching the job seeker’s profile and preferences; submit resumés directly to prospective employers to apply for a desired position; organize and track job related information and applications; and obtain information about upcoming job fairs, career development advice and other job related information. We provide job seekers access to www.51job.com free of charge. We closely coordinate 51job Weekly with our www.51job.com online recruitment website, and we post a significant majority of the recruitment advertisements appearing in 51job Weekly on www.51job.com as well. We place a basic description of a 51job Weekly recruitment advertisement on our website as a complimentary service to our customers. This practice also allows us to introduce our online recruitment website to customers who have only purchased print recruitment advertising to increase potential cross-selling opportunities. 26 Print Advertising — 51job Weekly. 51job Weekly is a city-specific recruitment advertising publication which is published once a week and is distributed as an insert in local newspapers and/or on a stand-alone basis. As of the date of this annual report, 51job Weekly was published in 15 cities across China. The cities where 51job Weekly is published and our newspaper contractor in each city as of the date of this annual report are as follows: Newspaper contractor(1) City Beijing .................... China Trade News Changsha ................ Human Resource News Chengdu ................. Hua Xi Metropolitan News Chongqing .............. Human Resource News Fuzhou.................... Straits Consumer News Guangzhou ............. Guangzhou Youth Daily Hangzhou ............... News Information Daily Harbin..................... Harbin Lifestyle Daily ______________________ (1) English translations of the Chinese names. Newspaper contractor(1) City Nanjing ................... Modern Express Ningbo ...................... Ningbo Evening News Shanghai ................... China Trade News Shenyang .................. Friendly Times Shenzhen .................. Nan Fang Metropolitan News Wuhan....................... News Information Daily Xian .......................... China Merchant News In the city of Kunming, we operate a help-wanted advertising circular called 51job Express, which is similar to 51job Weekly in all aspects except it does not require a newspaper contractor for its publication and distribution. A different version of 51job Weekly is published in each city, with each version containing city-specific recruitment advertisements. We closely coordinate 51job Weekly with our www.51job.com online recruitment website and post a significant majority of the recruitment advertisements appearing in 51job Weekly on www.51job.com as well. 51job Weekly contains recruitment advertisements for the full range of job categories that are available on our website, including sections for professional, middle management and technical personnel. Advertisements placed in 51job Weekly are primarily in Chinese language. Employers use 51job Weekly both as a recruitment tool and as an advertising and publicity medium to promote their brand name and raise their corporate awareness among job seekers. 51job Weekly recruitment advertisements come in a variety of formats, from large, multi-color advertisements using graphics and corporate trademarks, which are often placed by international and large domestic companies, to simple text job announcements, which are typically posted by smaller, local businesses. 51job Weekly is divided into a number of separate sections, with certain sections targeted at higher income and more educated job seekers containing large, colorful advertisements on glossy, high quality paper. Other sections include simpler text-only advertisements targeted at middle and lower income job seekers. The circulation, page dimensions, type of paper used and number of sections appearing in local editions of 51job Weekly differ from city to city. In China, entities engaged in publishing activities are required by the government to have a publishing license. Since we do not have any publishing licenses, we have established an exclusive relationship with a single local newspaper in each market where 51job Weekly is produced. We rely on these newspapers to provide us with printing and publishing services on a contractual basis, generally for a term of two years. These newspapers also generally provide us with distribution and marketing support in our local markets, although we sometimes undertake independent and/or additional marketing. 51job Weekly is distributed as an insert in our contractor’s newspaper in an effort to increase our circulation and help us establish our brand name. As an insert in these newspapers, 51job Weekly is sold at newsstands, kiosks, convenience stores, supermarkets and other venues. We provide point-of-sale vendors with marketing materials such as posters, display racks and other promotional items. We also circulate 51job Weekly independently through our direct marketing campaigns. Our direct marketing includes offering free copies of 51job Weekly at job fairs, in the lobbies of major office buildings, at post offices, on university campuses, outside mass transit stations and in other public areas where the public circulation of newspapers is permitted. We may change our newspaper contractor in a city when we are able to obtain more favorable terms or higher quality service from a different newspaper contractor. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Related to Our Business — We are dependent on local newspaper contractors in each of our geographic markets to publish and distribute 51job Weekly.” The advertising fees that we charge depend on a variety of factors, including the size, placement, format, and use of color and graphics in the advertisement, the length of time the advertisement is to appear, and the city in which the advertisement is placed. Our print advertising revenues are primarily affected by the number of print advertising pages and the fees that we charge. Pricing for specific products can vary significantly from city to city due to local competition, purchasing power and other conditions. 27 Our print advertising business is characterized by seasonal variations and revenues may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter depending on customer demand and needs. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risk Related to Our Business — Due to seasonal variations in demand for human resource services, we experience material fluctuations in our revenue streams which affect our ability to predict our quarterly results and which may also cause quarterly results to vary from period to period.” The following table sets forth the estimated number of print advertising pages we generated and the cities where 51job Weekly was published for the periods and as of the dates indicated. In April 2011, we discontinued the publication of 51job Weekly in Kunming. Estimated number of print advertising pages(1) ........................................ Number of cities where 51job Weekly was published(2)............................ ______________________ (1) (2) As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. 2008 16,512 23 2009 11,661 22 2010 9,544 16 In 2008 and 2009, our print advertising business experienced a significant decrease in page volumes and revenues due primarily to the impact of the global economic and financial crisis as well as a slowdown in economic growth in China on market demand. In addition, in recent years, we believe the growing acceptance of online recruitment services by employers as well as the progressing shift of recruitment advertising expenditures from print to online media has limited the future use and market outlook of print advertising services for recruitment purposes. As a result, we have discontinued the publication of 51job Weekly in several cities since 2010. We may further reduce the number of cities where 51job Weekly is published as we assess market conditions and customer behavior in each city on an ongoing basis. We expect that revenue contribution from our print advertising business will decrease over time. Other Human Resource Related Services Business Process Outsourcing. We perform business process outsourcing services by managing human resource administrative functions for employers on an outsourced basis. Our services to corporate clients mainly consist of social insurance and welfare payment processing, regulatory compliance with local governmental employment regulations and payroll processing. While the market for business process outsourcing services in China is currently limited compared to developed economies like the United States, we believe that there is significant future potential for these services as more companies in China become accustomed to using third parties to perform human resource administrative functions. We continue to build our outsourcing capability and aim to increase the number and type of services we provide. Training. We conduct training seminars in business management, leadership, sales and marketing, human resource, negotiation skills, financial planning and analysis, public administration, manufacturing, secretarial and other skills. We provide our seminars to the general public and on a customized, in-house basis for corporate clients. We license content and materials from third parties for some of the training courses we provide. We also enter into arrangements with certain trainers and lecturers that meet our knowledge, expertise and experience requirements. In addition to classroom-style seminars, we provide outdoor-based training exercises and programs for corporate clients to promote personal development, team building and communication. We believe that our training services build our brand awareness as a provider of comprehensive, integrated human resource services. Executive Search. We provide our eSearch executive search services to employers seeking to fill mid-level professional, managerial and junior executive positions. We generally charge corporate clients a total assignment fee of up to 30% of the candidate’s annual compensation, including in some cases a minimum upfront retainer. We maintain a team of specialized executive search consultants who can access our extensive candidate resumé database that other search firms are restricted from using. Campus Recruitment. We provide campus recruitment services to corporations seeking to recruit college and university students. We assist corporations with recruitment strategy, selection of schools, schedule of campus visits, promotion of their image to students and logistical arrangements. Salary and Other Human Resource Related Surveys. We conduct general and customized salary survey studies with analyses of compensation and benefits packages across various cities, industries and job positions. Human resource departments utilize this data to understand the market for compensation levels and to assist in their determination of compensation and benefits packages. We also conduct surveys on employee retention and other human resource related topics. 28 Human Resource Conferences. We organize and host annual human resource conferences and events in some of our cities. These conferences and events include lectures, seminars, workshops and networking opportunities for human resource professionals. Although we do not generate significant revenues from hosting these conferences and events, this service provides us with exposure to, and interaction with, existing and prospective clients. Other Products. We provide assessment tools to assist human resource departments in evaluating capabilities and dispositions of job candidates and existing employees, in aiding employee placement and in allocating employee resources. We also perform hiring and support services to employers on select recruitment projects. Technology We design and update our website and develop our proprietary software entirely in-house. Our website is hosted by China Telecom and China Unicom, China’s principal telecommunications and Internet service providers. We own the copyrights, software, trademarks and other intellectual property with respect to the design and content of our website, other than the advertisements and trademarks provided by our advertisers. We employ a large staff of website designers and technicians to update and enhance our website as well as to design, build and provide assistance to customers whose recruitment websites we are maintaining. We update the advertisements on our website from our principal executive offices in Shanghai and our customer service center in Wuhan. New recruitment advertisements provided to us by employers who have purchased and registered online accounts generally appear on our website within a few hours. Complimentary online postings for advertisements in 51job Weekly generally appear on www.51job.com for approximately two weeks. From time to time we experience slower Internet service from our Internet service providers as a result of technical difficulties associated with high traffic volumes, computer viruses, the proliferation of “spam” e-mail traffic and other difficulties that generally affect Internet traffic. To date, we have not been subject to significant targeted disruptions or “hacking” and we believe that difficulties we have experienced relating to the speed of the Internet service and web-hosting provided by China Telecom and China Unicom are consistent with the difficulties that affect Internet service in China generally. To date, our website has not gone off-line or been shut down for any significant period of time. We do not believe that our business has been materially disrupted or negatively affected by technical difficulties with respect to our website. However, we cannot assure you that our business will not face material disruptions or damage from spam, viruses, hacking or other technical difficulties. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Computer viruses and “hacking” may cause delays or interruptions on our systems and may reduce use of our services and damage our reputation and brand names;” “— We face risks related to health epidemics and other natural disasters;” and “— We are dependent on our Internet service providers, and we are vulnerable to failures of the Internet, fixed line telecommunications networks in China and our technology platform.” Competition We face significant competition in all of our business lines. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Because we face significant competition in all of our businesses, we may lose market share and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.” Online Recruitment Services We experience intense competition in our online recruitment services businesses from dedicated online recruitment websites and websites affiliated with local job fair operators. With the exception of Zhaopin.com which provides print advertising services in select cities in China, we are not aware of any other online competitor that also operates a significant print advertising business. We view our principal existing online competitors to be ChinaHR.com, Cjol.com and Zhaopin.com, which are primarily dedicated online recruitment websites. None of the well-established nationwide Internet portals, including NetEase.com, QQ.com, Sina.com and Sohu.com, are dedicated providers of recruitment advertising or other human resource products, and each offers a wide variety of other online services. However, any or all of our online or print competitors may decide to allocate significant additional resources to providing recruitment advertising or other human resource services. For example, ChinaHR.com, which is wholly owned by Monster Worldwide, and Zhaopin.com, which is majority owned by Australian online recruitment services provider SEEK Limited, have been purported in public reports to have significantly increased expenditures on sales and marketing activities in China from time to time. As a result of these events, we could encounter significantly increased competition in some or all of our markets. 29 Print Advertising 51job Weekly was published in 15 cities across China as of the date of this annual report. We face competition within all of our markets. Our competitors typically consist of one or more large local newspapers that include a help-wanted section. Our competitors include Beijing Evening News, Guangzhou Daily, Shanghai Talent Market and Shenzhen Special Zone Daily. Other Services We believe the market for business process outsourcing services is in an early stage of development and the competition is generally localized. Our key competitors are typically service agencies affiliated with or sponsored by local government personnel bureaus. In the training services market, we face competition primarily from small, local training firms or individual trainers who specialize in specific areas of expertise. The competition in the executive search services market in China is largely fragmented. Customers Our customers consist of large multinational corporations, large national Chinese corporations and local Chinese enterprises of all sizes. Sales and Marketing Our sales and marketing strategy is focused on promoting our brand names and further establishing our reputation as an integrated provider of high quality human resource services. We utilize various marketing channels to target three key groups: job seekers; employers with hiring and/or training needs; and human resource departments with actual or potential outsourcing needs. Direct Marketing. We target employers principally through direct marketing, which we believe has been highly effective in attracting new customers. As of December 31, 2010, we employed over 1,900 sales and account management representatives that identify and directly contact potential customers via telephone, personal sales visits, the Internet and the mail. We maintain 25 local sales offices and have also established a national sales and customer service call center in Wuhan, which became operational in February 2010. We train our sales staff to cross-sell all of our services and to design comprehensive packages of human resource services for potential clients to meet their specific requirements. In addition, we believe that the personal nature of direct marketing has enabled us to better understand the needs of our existing and prospective customers and helped us to develop new services and products. Event Marketing. We organize customer events, such as recruiting workshops, product information seminars, industry roundtables and networking events, to provide our sales team an opportunity to personally interact with employers and understand their recruitment needs. To attract potential job seekers and build brand awareness, we offer complimentary copies of 51job Weekly at job fairs, at office buildings, and in other public and commercial areas. We believe that offering complimentary copies of 51job Weekly to job seekers is also a highly effective means to cross-promote our www.51job.com website. Mass Media Advertising. We use traditional mass media advertising on a selective basis to increase our brand visibility and corporate image. We advertise through various media, including outdoor advertising on digital displays, billboards, bus stops and buses. In addition, we advertise on print media such as newspapers, magazines, industry publications and telephone directories. Online Marketing. We utilize Internet advertising, such as banner advertisements, keyword and hyperlink purchases and paid listings, to promote our brand names. We also conduct and sponsor online promotion campaigns such as drawings, giveaways and contests to attract traffic and enhance the loyalty of job seekers to our website. Cross-Marketing. We cross-market our brand names, services and products in 51job Weekly and on www.51job.com. We also establish cross-marketing relationships with a variety of partners. In addition, we believe that we benefit from recommendations and referrals by the large base of job seekers and employers who use 51job Weekly and www.51job.com. Media Promotions. We produce surveys and analyses on job market trends and developments that are regularly featured and published in magazines, newspapers and on the Internet. We believe this exposure heightens our corporate image among both employers and job seekers and attracts interest and sales inquiries for our services. 30 Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights We regard our copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights as critical to our business. We rely on trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection, non-competition and confidentiality and/or licensing agreements with our executive officers, clients, contractors and others to protect our intellectual property rights. We have registered our www.51job.com Internet domain name as well as a number of similar domain names in an effort to prevent entities from diverting online traffic away from our website. We have registered trademarks, including 前程无忧, 前程, 51job.com, 无忧工作网, eHire, 网才 and eSearch, with the Trademark Office of the PRC State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC. In January 2010, 前程无忧 was designated a “Well-Known Trademark,” which is the highest recognition for consumer brands granted by the SAIC. In addition, our wholly owned British Virgin Islands subsidiary 51net has registered our trademarks 前程, 51job.com and 前程无忧with the Patents Registry, Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 51net is also the registered owner of our trademarks 前程無憂 and 51job.com with the Intellectual Property Bureau of the Taiwan Ministry of Economy. All of our trademarks and the www.51job.com domain name are owned or registered in the PRC by 51net and WFOE. Under a trademark license agreement between 51net, as licensor, and RAL, as licensee, RAL has the right to use certain trademarks in the PRC, with no right of assignment or sublicense. Under a domain name license agreement between 51net, as licensor, and RAL, as licensee, RAL has the right to use the www.51job.com domain name in connection with the operation of our website. See “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” Our intellectual property is subject to theft and other unauthorized use, and our ability to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use is limited. In addition, we may in the future be subject to claims that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of others. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — If we are unable to prevent others from using our intellectual property, our business may be materially and adversely affected” and “— We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if successful, could cause us to pay significant damage awards.” Regulation Advertising agencies, human resource services firms and Internet content providers are subject to substantial regulation by the Chinese government. An “Internet content provider” is a commercial operator providing the delivery of Internet content. This section sets forth a summary of the most significant PRC regulations that affect the businesses and the industries in which we operate. In addition to laws and regulations that apply generally to advertising agencies, human resource firms and Internet content providers, special limitations apply to foreign ownership of businesses engaged in human resource and Internet content provider services in China. Limitations on Foreign Ownership of Our Businesses Advertising The principal regulations governing foreign ownership of advertising companies in China include: Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue (2007); and Administrative Regulations Concerning Foreign Invested Advertising Enterprises (2008 Revision). Under these regulations, foreign investors are allowed to own 100% of an advertising agency in China subject to certain qualification requirements. However, for those advertising agencies that provide online advertising service, foreign ownership restrictions on the value-added telecommunications business are still applicable. Human Resource Services Companies The principal regulation governing foreign ownership in human resource services companies in China is the Interim Regulations on the Administration of Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture as Human Resource Agencies (2003), as amended in 2005, jointly promulgated by the PRC Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the PRC Ministry of Commerce and the SAIC. Under this regulation, the percentage of foreign ownership in the equity interest of a human resource services company cannot be less than 25% or more than 49%. In August 2006, the PRC government increased the foreign ownership percentage to up to 70%. 31 Value-Added Telecommunications Services and Internet Content Providers In the PRC, entities that coordinate with Internet service providers (such as telecommunications companies) to effect the online placement of content provided by either themselves or third parties are defined as “Internet content providers” and require a special license. Internet content providers are classified as value-added telecommunications businesses. The principal regulations governing foreign ownership in Internet content providers in China include: Administrative Rules for Foreign Investments in Telecommunications Enterprises (2008 Revision); and Foreign Investment Industry Guidance Catalogue (2007). Under these regulations, foreign investors, individually or in the aggregate, are prohibited from owning more than 50% of a PRC entity that provides value-added telecommunications services, which include the service of providing Internet content. In addition, the PRC Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, issued the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in the Operation of Value Added Telecommunications Business, or the MIIT Notice, in July 2006. According to the MIIT Notice, value-added telecommunications services license holders (including their shareholders) shall directly own the domain names and registered trademarks used by such value-added telecommunications services license holders in their daily operations and is prohibited from leasing, transferring or selling the license to foreign investors in any form, and from providing any assistance in forms of resources, sites or facilities to foreign investors that conduct value-added telecommunications business illegally in China. The provincial communications administration bureaus in charge of telecommunications services are required to ensure that existing value-added telecommunications services license holders will conduct a self-assessment of their compliance with the MIIT Notice and to submit status reports to the MIIT before November 1, 2006. For those who are not in compliance with the above requirements and fail to rectify the noncompliance within the limited period set by the provincial communications administration bureaus, the bureaus may revoke their operating licenses. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China — PRC laws and regulations governing operators of Internet websites are unclear and the regulation of the telecommunications and Internet industries may become more burdensome, and if we are found to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to sanctions.” General Regulation of Our Businesses Advertising The SAIC is responsible for regulating advertising activities in the PRC. The principal regulations governing advertising (including online advertising) in China include: Advertising Law (1994); Administration of Advertising Regulations (1987); Implementation Rules on Administration of Advertising Regulations (2004); and Measures for the Administration of Advertising Business Licenses (2005). All enterprises, except for broadcast stations, television stations, newspapers, magazines, non-corporate entities and other entities specified in laws or administrative regulations, are no longer required to obtain a separate advertising license although they are required to apply for inclusion of “advertising services” in their business licenses. Human Resource Human resource services firms in China are mainly regulated by the PRC Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The principal regulation applicable to human resource services firms is the Regulations on Administration of Human Resource Markets (2001, as amended in 2005), jointly promulgated by the PRC Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the SAIC. Under this regulation, any entity providing human resource services in China must obtain a human resource services license from the local administration of human resources and social security at the provincial level. Each of these administrations may adopt rules, with some degrees of variation among provinces, to regulate human resource services operations conducted within the province. 32 Value-Added Telecommunication Services and Online Commerce The delivery of content on our website is subject to PRC laws and regulations applicable to telecommunications and Internet service providers. We are also within the regulatory jurisdiction of various governmental bodies, including the MIIT and the SAIC. The principal regulations applicable to the telecommunications industry and Internet include: Telecommunications Regulations (2000); The Administrative Measures for Telecommunications Business Operating Licenses (2009); and The Internet Information Services Administrative Measures (2000). Under these regulations, the delivery of Internet content provision services is classified as a value-added telecommunications business, and a commercial operator of such services must obtain an Internet content provider license from the appropriate telecommunications authorities. With respect to online commerce, there are no PRC laws that have national applicability to online commerce relating to advertising and human resource services. However, local authorities may impose requirements on online business activities conducted within its jurisdiction, such as registration or filing requirements. Labor and Social Insurance Under the PRC Labor Law effective in 1995 and the PRC Labor Contract Law effective in 2008, a written labor contract must be executed between an employer and an employee. Labor-related regulations and rules of the PRC also stipulate the maximum number of working hours per day and per week as well as the minimum wage standards. In addition, an employer is required to establish occupational safety and sanitation systems, implement the national occupational safety and sanitation rules and standards, and provide employees with workplace safety training. In the PRC, workers dispatched by an employment agency are normally engaged in temporary, auxiliary or substitute work. Under the PRC Labor Contract Law, an employment agency is the employer for workers dispatched by it and shall perform an employer’s obligations toward them. The employment contract between the employment agency and the dispatched workers, and the placement agreement between the employment agency and the company that receives the dispatched workers shall be in writing. Furthermore, the company that accepts the dispatched workers shall bear joint and several liability for any violation of the PRC Labor Contract Law by the employment agencies arising from their contracts with dispatched workers. An employer is obligated to sign an indefinite term labor contract with an employee if the employer continues to employ the employee after two consecutive fixed-term labor contracts. The employer also has to pay compensation to the employee if the employer terminates an indefinite term labor contract. Except where the employer proposes to renew a labor contract by maintaining or raising the conditions of the labor contract and the employee is not agreeable to the renewal, an employer is required to compensate the employee when a definite term labor contract expires. Furthermore, under the Regulations on Paid Annual Leave for Employees issued in December 2007 and effective as of January 2008, an employee who has served an employer for more than one year and less than ten years is entitled to a 5-day paid vacation, those whose service period ranges from 10 to 20 years is entitled to a 10-day paid vacation, and those who has served for more than 20 years is entitled to a 15-day paid vacation. An employee who does not use such vacation time at the request of the employer shall be compensated at three times their normal salaries for each waived vacation day. Under the Regulations on Work-related Injury Insurance effective in 2004 and the Interim Measures Concerning the Maternity Insurance for Enterprise Employees effective in 1995, PRC companies must pay work-related injury insurance premiums and maternity insurance premiums for their employees. On December 20, 2010, the State Council promulgated the amended Regulation on Work-related Injury Insurance that became effective on January 1, 2011. The amendments to this regulation expand the scope of work-related injury to include the injury of employees caused by traffic accidents en route to or from the office not primarily attributable to the employees. Employees are entitled to certain treatments under work-related injury insurance that are calculated based on the circumstances of the work-related injury. Under the Interim Regulations on the Collection and Payment of Social Insurance Premiums effective in 1999 and the Interim Measures concerning the Administration of the Registration of Social Insurance effective in 1999, basic pension insurance, medical insurance and unemployment insurance are collectively referred to as social insurance. Both PRC companies and their employees are required to contribute to the social insurance plans. Under the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Fund effective in 1999, as amended in 2002, PRC companies must register with applicable housing fund management centers and establish a special housing fund account in an entrusted bank. Both PRC companies and their employees are required to contribute to the housing funds. On October 28, 2010, the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the PRC Social Insurance Law, which will become effective on July 1, 2011. The PRC Social Insurance Law specifies that the PRC establishes a social insurance system including basic pension insurance, basic medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, 33 unemployment insurance and maternity insurance. An employer shall pay the social insurance for its employees in accordance with the rates provided under relevant regulations and shall withhold the social insurance that should be assumed by the employees. The authorities in charge of social insurance may request an employer’s compliance and impose sanctions if such employer fails to pay and withhold social insurance in a timely manner. Regulations Relating to Intellectual Property Rights China has adopted comprehensive legislation governing intellectual property rights, including trademarks, patents and copyrights. China has adhered to the main international conventions on intellectual property rights and became a member of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights upon its accession to the WTO in December 2001. The PRC amended its Copyright Law in 2001 to widen the scope of works that are eligible for copyright protection. The amended Copyright Law extends copyright protection to cover Internet activities and products disseminated over the Internet. Copyrighted software is protected under the Copyright Law and other regulations. In addition, there is a voluntary registration system administered by the China Copyright Protection Center. The Copyright Law was further amended in February 2010. Registered trademarks are protected under the Trademark Law adopted in 1982 and revised in 2001. Trademarks can be registered with the Trademark Office of the SAIC for renewable ten-year periods. Trademark license agreements are required to be filed with the Trademark Office of the SAIC for the record, and the failure to complete such filings may cause the trademark license agreements to be unenforceable against bona fide third parties. Domain name disputes are governed by the Measures of China Internet Network Information Center for Resolving Disputes Regarding Domain Names promulgated by the Chinese Internet Network Infrastructure Center, or the CNNIC, on February 14, 2006 and effective on March 17, 2006, under which the CNNIC can authorize domain name dispute resolution institutions to decide disputes. Regulations Relating to Internet Privacy The Constitution of the PRC provides that PRC law protects the freedom and privacy of communications of citizens and that infringement of such rights is not permitted. While PRC laws do not prohibit Internet content providers from collecting personal information of their users, the relevant government authorities have enacted legislation on the use of the Internet that recognizes the protection of personal information from unauthorized disclosure. Under the Regulation on Internet Information Service, Internet information service providers are prohibited from producing, copying, publishing or distributing information that is humiliating or slanderous to others or that trespasses the lawful rights and interests of others. Depending on the nature of their violation, Internet content providers that violate this provision may face criminal charges or be sanctioned by security authorities. In addition, they may be ordered to temporarily suspend their service, or their licenses may be revoked. Under the Administration Regulation on the Internet BBS Service, Internet content providers that provide electronic messaging services must keep users’ personal information confidential and must not disclose such personal information to any third party without the consent of the users, unless the law requires such disclosure. The regulations further authorize the relevant telecommunications authorities to order Internet content providers to rectify an unauthorized disclosure. Internet content providers could be subject to legal liability if the unauthorized disclosure causes damages or losses to the users. To comply with these regulations, we provide subscribers to our website with a range of confidentiality options. They may choose to authorize us to disclose their personal information to third parties, or to instruct us to keep this information strictly confidential. Our systems are designed to maintain information received from these subscribers in accordance with their instructions. However, the PRC government retains the power and authority to order Internet content providers to turn over personal information of Internet users if the users post any prohibited content or engage in illegal activities on the Internet. Regulations Relating to Foreign Currency Exchange The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in the PRC are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, as amended in August 2008. Under these regulations, the Renminbi is freely convertible for payments of current account items, such as trade and service related foreign exchange transactions and dividend payments, but not for expenses of capital, such as direct investment, loan or investment in securities, outside the PRC unless the prior approval of the PRC State Administration for Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made. 34 Under the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may purchase or remit foreign exchange without the approval of the SAFE for trade and service related foreign exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. They may also retain foreign exchange (subject to a cap approved by the SAFE) to satisfy foreign exchange liabilities or to pay dividends. However, the relevant PRC government authorities, which have significant administrative discretion in implementing the laws, may restrict or eliminate the ability of foreign-invested enterprises to purchase and retain foreign currencies in the future. In addition, foreign exchange transactions involving direct investment, loan and investment in securities outside the PRC are subject to limitations and require approvals from the SAFE. Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC Residents Under the SAFE’s Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in Financing and Inbound Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular No. 75, issued on October 21, 2005, (i) a PRC resident, including a PRC resident natural person or a PRC company, shall register with the local branch of the SAFE before it establishes or controls an overseas special purpose vehicle, or SPV, for the purpose of overseas equity financing (including convertible debt financing); (ii) when a PRC resident contributes the assets of or its equity interests in a domestic enterprise to an SPV, or engages in overseas financing after contributing assets or equity interests to an SPV, such PRC resident shall register his or her interest in the SPV and the change thereof with the local SAFE branch; and (iii) when the SPV undergoes a material event outside of China, such as a change in share capital, or merger or acquisition, the PRC resident shall, within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, register such change with the local SAFE branch. PRC residents who are shareholders of SPVs established before November 1, 2005 were required to register with the local SAFE branch before March 31, 2006. Under Circular No. 75, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth above may result in penalties, including restrictions on a PRC subsidiary’s foreign exchange activities in capital accounts and its ability to distribute dividends to the SPV. Regulations Relating to Employee Stock Option Plans On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China promulgated the Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange, and on January 5, 2007, the SAFE further promulgated the implementation rules on those measures. Both became effective on February 1, 2007. According to the implementation rules, if individuals in the PRC participate in any employee stock ownership plan or stock option plan of an overseas-listed company, those individuals must apply as a group through the company or a domestic agency to the SAFE or the appropriate local branch for approval for any foreign exchange-related transactions concerning that plan. On March 28, 2007, the SAFE promulgated the Application Procedure of Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Holding Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas-Listed Company. Under this rule, PRC citizens who are granted stock options by an overseas publicly listed company are required, through a PRC agent or PRC subsidiary of such overseas publicly listed company, to register with the SAFE and complete certain other procedures. In addition, the PRC State Administration of Taxation has issued circulars concerning employee share options. Under these circulars, individuals working in China who exercise share options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. We have obligations to file documents related to employee share options with relevant tax authorities and withhold the individual income taxes of employees who exercise their share options. Regulations Relating to Dividend Distribution The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends paid by wholly foreign owned enterprises and Sino-foreign equity joint ventures include: Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise Law (1986), as amended; Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (1990), as amended; Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law (1979), as amended; Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (1983), as amended; and PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its Implementation Rules (2007). Under these regulations, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are required to set aside certain amounts out of their accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. 35 C. Organizational Structure The following chart sets forth our ownership structure as of the date of this annual report. 51job, Inc. 51job, Inc. 51job, Inc. 51job, Inc. (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) 100% 100% 51net HR 51net HR 51net HR 51net HR (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) 100% 100% 51net Beijing 51net Beijing 51net Beijing 51net Beijing (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) (Cayman Islands) 100% 100% 51net(1) 51net(1) 51net(1) 51net(1) (British Virgin Islands) (British Virgin Islands) (British Virgin Islands) (British Virgin Islands) 70% 70% Wang Ju Wang Ju Wang Ju Wang Ju HR services HR services HR services HR services 30% 30% 100% 100% WFOE WFOE WFOE WFOE Trademarks Trademarks Trademarks Trademarks Overseas Overseas PRC PRC RAL RAL RAL RAL HR and ICP services HR and ICP services HR and ICP services HR and ICP services Qian Cheng Qian Cheng Qian Cheng Qian Cheng 1% 1% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 50% Tech JV(2) Tech JV(2) Tech JV(2) Tech JV(2) Online Online Online Online 80% 80% 49% 49% Run An Run An Run An Run An 50% 50% 50% 50% David David Weimin Jin Weimin Jin Tao Tao Wang Wang 20% 20% 10% 10% 100% 100% AdCo AdCo AdCo AdCo Print advertising Print advertising Print advertising Print advertising 90% 90% AdCo Subsidiaries AdCo Subsidiaries AdCo Subsidiaries AdCo Subsidiaries and others(3) and others(3) and others(3) and others(3) Wuhan AdCo Wuhan AdCo Wuhan AdCo Wuhan AdCo Print advertising Print advertising Print advertising Print advertising ______________________ (1) Includes Shanghai Wang Ju Advertising Co., Ltd., a wholly owned PRC subsidiary of 51net which conducts advertising services. Does not include Wang Jin Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Wuhan Wang Cai Information Technology Co., Ltd., which are wholly owned PRC subsidiaries of 51net with no current operations. Includes the branches of Tech JV as well as Shanghai Qianjin Zhong Cheng Human Resources Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tech JV which conducts human resource services. Includes the subsidiaries and branches of AdCo that conduct advertising businesses. Also includes Wang Cai AdCo, which is jointly owned by AdCo and Tech JV, and Shanghai Cheng An Human Resources Co., Ltd., which is 90% owned by AdCo and 10% owned by Run An. (2) (3) Our subsidiary, 51net, directly holds 50% of the outstanding shares of Tech JV, Qian Cheng directly holds 1% of the outstanding shares of Tech JV, and Wuhan AdCo directly holds the remaining 49% of the outstanding shares of Tech JV. As a result of Qian Cheng’s ownership of Wuhan AdCo, each 51net and Qian Cheng is deemed to effectively hold 50% of the equity interest in Tech JV. Qian Cheng and RAL are wholly owned by Run An. Run An is jointly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang, two executive officers of our company. Our services are currently provided through the following group entities: online recruitment services are provided by Tech JV, which holds licenses to provide human resource related services and has recently obtained a value-added telecommunications business operation license permitting it to provide information service via the Internet and wireless networks; print advertising services are provided by AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries, which are all direct and indirect majority owned PRC subsidiaries of Tech JV; human resource related services are provided by RAL and Wang Ju, which hold licenses to provide human resource related services; and 36 Internet content provider services are provided by RAL, which holds a license to act as an Internet content provider and operates our www.51job.com website. Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries recognize substantially all of our revenues and receive substantially all of the cash payments from our clients. Our relationships with Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, our affiliated entities, have been governed by a series of agreements, under which we have borne all of the economic risks and received all of the economic rewards in these affiliated entities. As a result, the historical financial results of these entities have been consolidated in our financial statements as variable interest entities under ASC 810 “Consolidation,” or ASC 810. In the opinion of Jun He Law Offices, our PRC legal counsel: our current ownership structure is in compliance with existing PRC laws and regulations; the agreements among our subsidiaries, affiliated entities and their respective shareholders are valid and binding, and are enforceable under, and will not result in any violation of, existing PRC laws or regulations, with exception to the effectiveness of the pledges under the equity pledge agreements, which are subject to registration with the relevant administrations of industry and commerce, and the trademark license agreement, which may not be enforceable against bona fide third parties until registration with the relevant trademark administration authorities; and except as otherwise disclosed herein, our current business operations as described in this annual report are not in violation of existing PRC laws, rules and regulations in all material aspects. There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to the laws and regulations governing our business or the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that PRC regulatory authorities will not take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure — The PRC laws and regulations governing our business operations and contractual arrangements are uncertain, and if we are found to be in violation, we could be subject to sanctions” and “— Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China — The PRC legal system has inherent uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect us.” We have been advised by our PRC counsel that the foreign ownership percentage of Tech JV, AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries prior to our restructuring in May 2004 was above the maximum foreign ownership permitted for entities conducting advertising and human resource operations at that time. For a description of the risks associated with our past ownership structure, please see “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure — If the PRC authorities determine that our past ownership structure was inconsistent with the requirements for operating certain of our businesses, we could be subject to sanctions.” We intend to continue to evaluate from time to time the PRC regulatory environment with respect to the foreign ownership of, and foreign participation in, human resource related services and Internet content provider services, and plan to continue to streamline our ownership structure and operations as and when permitted by PRC laws and regulations. Description of the Material Group Entities 51net 51net is an intermediate-level holding company that is the registered owner of some of our trademarks and our domain name and holds direct and indirect equity interests in several of our PRC subsidiaries. Our wholly owned subsidiary 51net is an international business company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Specifically, 51net owns the trademarks 前程无忧, 前程, 51job.com and 无忧工作网 under certain categories specified by relevant PRC trademark regulations, and the domain name www.51job.com. All of these trademarks have been registered with the Trademark Office of the SAIC and are protected under the PRC Trademark Law adopted in 1982 and revised in 2001. For a description of PRC regulations relating to intellectual property rights, see “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations Relating to Intellectual Property Rights.” Tech JV We provide online recruitment services through Tech JV. Tech JV was initially established as an equity joint venture between 51net and Qian Cheng. Before our restructuring in May 2004, 51net held 99% of the equity interest in Tech JV and Qian Cheng held the remaining 1%. Currently, the equity interest in Tech JV is 50% held by 51net, 37 1% held by Qian Cheng and 49% held by Wuhan AdCo. Since Wuhan AdCo is wholly owned by Qian Cheng, each 51net and Qian Cheng holds 50% of the effective equity interest in Tech JV. Because 51net is a British Virgin Islands company, Tech JV is deemed a foreign-invested enterprise and its business activities are subject to the PRC regulatory limitations on foreign ownership as discussed in “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Limitations on Foreign Ownership of Our Businesses.” Tech JV holds human resource related services and Internet content provision licenses. Tech JV has also obtained a permit to conduct online advertising from the SAIC. The scope of its business license also includes software development, multimedia and network system design and information technology. Qian Cheng Qian Cheng is our joint venture partner in Tech JV and holds a 50% effective equity interest in Tech JV. Qian Cheng is an affiliated entity in which we hold no equity interest. Qian Cheng is wholly owned by Run An, which is jointly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang. Qian Cheng holds a license issued by the Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce to provide advertising services, including designing, producing and publishing advertisements for Chinese and multinational companies in China and contracting for advertising projects. RAL We provide human resource related and Internet content provider services through RAL. RAL operates our www.51job.com website. RAL is a PRC limited liability company and is an affiliated entity in which we hold no equity interest. RAL is wholly owned by Run An, which is jointly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang. RAL holds a permit issued by the Shanghai Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, which allows it to provide certain human resource related services. RAL has also obtained a permit from the Shanghai Municipal Telecommunications Bureau, which allows it to provide Internet content provider services applicable to our businesses. AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries We provide print advertising services through AdCo and its branch office, AdCo’s four majority owned subsidiaries and Wang Cai AdCo, a jointly owned subsidiary with Tech JV, or collectively, the AdCo Subsidiaries, located in different cities and provinces in China. AdCo is a PRC equity joint venture company. Tech JV and Qian Cheng own 80% and 20%, respectively, of the equity interest in AdCo. AdCo and the AdCo Subsidiaries have obtained permits from the local administrations for industry and commerce in the cities where they operate, which allow them to conduct advertising business, including the designing and production of advertisements and the contracting of domestic advertising projects. WFOE We provide advertising related technical and consulting services to Qian Cheng and software and web related technical and consulting services to RAL through WFOE, our wholly owned PRC subsidiary. WFOE is registered in the PRC with the relevant regulatory authorities as a wholly foreign owned enterprise. WFOE owns certain of our trademarks and registered copyrights and its principal business is network and software related technical support services. Wang Ju We provide human resource related services through Wang Ju. 51net HR and Run An own 70% and 30%, respectively, of the equity interest in Wang Ju. Because 51net HR is a Cayman Islands company, Wang Ju is deemed a foreign-invested enterprise and its business activities are subject to the PRC regulatory limitations on foreign ownership as discussed in “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Limitations on Foreign Ownership of Our Businesses.” Wang Ju holds a permit issued by the Shanghai Bureau of Human Resources and Social Security, which allows it to provide certain human resource related services. D. Property, Plants and Equipment Our executive offices as well as our principal customer service, marketing, web operations and development facilities are currently located in four buildings at No. 1387, Zhang Dong Road, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China. We maintain a large sales office in downtown Shanghai at 21st Floor, Wen Xin Plaza, 755 Wei Hai Road, Shanghai 200041, People’s Republic of China. We also lease space for our network of sales offices in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Harbin, Hefei, Jinan, Kunming, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Xian and 38 Zhengzhou. As of the date of this annual report, we have leases for office space totaling approximately 25,800 square meters. We believe that we will be able to obtain adequate facilities to accommodate our expansion plans in the near future. In 2010, we completed the purchase of nine floors of an office building at Optical Valley Software Park, Guanshan Avenue, Block E2, Wuhan 430074, People’s Republic of China, for RMB23.5 million (US$3.6 million), of which RMB21.4 million was paid in 2009. This office space is approximately 5,940 square meters and houses our national sales and customer service call center which opened in February 2010. The purchase was funded through operating cash flows and existing capital resources. ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS None. ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and their related notes included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F. This discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors” or in other parts of this annual report. A. Operating Results Overview We believe that we are a leading nationwide provider of integrated human resource services in China. We offer recruitment advertising services which include online recruitment and print advertising services. We also provide other complementary human resource related services, consisting primarily of business process outsourcing, training and executive search services. We aim to be a “one-stop” solution to human resource departments by providing recruitment and other human resource related services to employers. We generate a large majority of our revenues from our recruitment advertising services. For the year ended December 31, 2010, our online recruitment services and print advertising businesses generated 49.8% and 25.5% of our revenues, respectively. Other human resource related services generated 24.7% of our revenues in 2010. Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations The major factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition include: Growth of the Chinese Economy and Demand for Human Resource Services in China. China’s rapid economic growth over the past decade has served as an important catalyst for the development of the human resource services industry. In addition, China’s entry into the World Trade Organization and the proliferation of new enterprises has led to increased market liberalization and competition. As a result, companies in China are increasingly recognizing the need for improved human resource recruitment processes and management, which has driven the demand for human resource services. We expect that our financial results will continue to be affected by the overall growth of the Chinese economy and market demand for human resource services, in particular recruitment services. Impacted by the global economic and financial market crisis, the Chinese economy experienced a lower GDP growth rate of 9% in 2008 and 2009, down from 12% in 2007 and 11% in 2006. As a result of the slowdown in economic activity, we experienced a significant decline in sales for our print advertising services as well as a lower revenue growth rate for our online recruitment services and other human resource related services. Since the second half of 2009, China’s economic growth rate has returned to higher levels and market demand for our services has increased. However, if there are slowdowns or other adverse developments in China’s economic growth in the future, we may experience material changes in market demand and sales. Changes in the Composition of the Chinese Labor Market. As the Chinese economy grows, we believe that China is developing a large skilled and educated labor force. This growing skilled and educated work force is a key segment targeted by employers who use our human resource services as they seek to attract and retain talent to build a competitive advantage. In addition, China’s large labor force is increasingly migrating toward urban centers due to continuing economic development and employer demand. As a result, major metropolitan areas have become the foundation for the growing human resource services 39 Seasonality in the Human Resource Services Market. The human resource services industry is characterized by seasonal fluctuations. Accordingly, these fluctuations, particularly in the seasonal peak recruitment periods following the Chinese New Year holiday in the first quarter and the National Day holiday in October, may cause our results to vary from quarter to quarter. During seasonal peak periods, demand for recruitment advertising and other human resource related services may or may not rise significantly depending on the needs of employers as well as their perceptions of the job market. In addition, the Chinese New Year holiday is based on the lunar calendar, which varies from year to year and affects our first quarter results and their comparability to financial results of the same quarter in prior years. We have also experienced a trend of lower fourth quarter revenues as compared to revenues from the immediately preceding third quarter in previous years. Increasing Acceptance of New Recruitment Channels and Human Resource Services. Many employers in China have traditionally relied on job fairs and/or referrals to recruit employees. While we have experienced growth in our recruitment advertising businesses, the use of advertising services to recruit employees has a limited history in China. In addition, we believe that the concept and use of business process outsourcing services is relatively new in China. Therefore, our ability to successfully increase employer acceptance and adoption of our services materially affects our results of operations. Growing Use of the Internet as a Platform for Providing Human Resource Services. Our results of operations from our online recruitment services in particular will depend substantially upon an increase in Internet penetration and use. According to the CNNIC, the number of Internet users in China has increased from approximately 79 million in 2003 to 457 million in 2010, ranking China as the largest market of Internet users in the world. We believe that continued development of the China’s technology infrastructure, more affordable and diversified means of Internet access, and expanding personal computer ownership will connect an increasingly larger group of job seekers and employers across a wider geographical area as well as facilitate the use of a web-based platform for the delivery of human resource services. Revenues A significant majority of our revenues come from employers who purchase our recruitment advertising services, which is comprised of our online recruitment and print advertising services. We also provide other complementary human resource related services, consisting primarily of business process outsourcing, training and executive search services. The following table sets forth the revenues from our principal lines of business as a percentage of our total revenues for the periods indicated. For the year ended December 31, 2009 2010 2008 Revenues: Online recruitment services.................................................... Print advertising ..................................................................... Other human resource related revenues ................................. 36.3% 41.8 21.9 Total revenues............................................................................... 100.0% 40.8% 34.2 25.0 100.0% 49.8% 25.5 24.7 100.0% The following table sets forth our revenue growth rates by business line for the periods indicated. Online recruitment services.......................................................... Print advertising ........................................................................... Other human resource related revenues........................................ Total revenues............................................................................... 10.4% (16.6) 44.4 1.9% 6.7% (22.2) 8.3 (5.0%) 63.1% (0.7) 31.6 33.4% 2008 compared to 2007 2009 compared to 2008 2010 compared to 2009 40 Recruitment Advertising Revenues We receive recruitment advertising revenues from the fees that employers pay us for our online recruitment services and our print advertising services. Online Recruitment Services Revenues. We generate our online recruitment services revenues from fees we charge employers for placing recruitment and related advertisements on our www.51job.com website and for access to eHire through which our resumé download services and recruitment management tools are available. In addition, we generate online revenues for website design and hosting services that we provide to corporations that wish to maintain their own dedicated recruitment website within www.51job.com. While we do not charge job seekers for accessing and using www.51job.com, certain enhanced services are available to job seekers for a fee. We believe that the increase of our online recruitment services revenues has been characterized by a combination of greater acceptance of the Internet as a recruitment medium in China and our effectiveness in increasing the number of employers using our online recruitment services. In addition, we believe that, by offering online advertising in connection with our print advertising service, we are able to generate higher total revenue per employer while attracting new customers seeking the broader coverage offered by the integration of these two channels and the ability to reach a wider audience of job seekers. We expect the growth of our online recruitment services revenues will be driven more by a greater number of unique employers using these services than increases in average revenue per unique employer. Although the prices we charge for online recruitment services have been generally unchanged in recent years, two offsetting trends affect our average revenue per unique employer. Because new customers tend to use basic, lower priced online recruitment services, significant increases in the number of these customers generally result in higher aggregate online recruitment services revenues but lower average revenue per unique employer. In addition, we may choose to offer introductory packages at reduced prices or provide complimentary trials from time to time, which will also lead to a reduction in average revenue per unique employer. However, our ability to retain customers and migrate them over time to higher priced products has historically offset these factors that reduce our average revenue per unique employer. As more customers become increasingly familiar with our online platform and we build customer loyalty, we may be able to sell them a package of multiple online recruitment services or extend the length of their membership period, both of which increase our average revenue per unique employer. Our ability to retain customers and migrate them to higher priced products or multiple purchases may be adversely affected by, among other things, economic growth and policies in China, market demand for online recruitment services, difficulties we may encounter in developing or launching higher priced services and price competition in the online recruitment services market in China. We define a unique employer as a customer that purchases our online recruitment services during a specified period. We make adjustments for multiple purchases by the same customer within a city to avoid double counting. Each employer is assigned a unique identification number in our management information system. Affiliates and branches of a given employer may, under certain circumstances, be counted as separate unique employers. Our calculation of the number of unique employers is subject to misidentification and other forms of error, including errors in judgment as to appropriate adjustments to be made to the data. We cannot assure you that our methodology, employer identification, calculations and analyses are accurate, or that they yield results that are comparable between periods or give a correct approximation of actual numbers of customers. We generally require that all advertising fees be paid in advance of posting an advertisement on our website, although we may offer credit terms to select clients on a case-by-case basis. Print Advertising Revenues. We generate our print advertising revenues from fees that we charge employers for placing recruitment and related advertisements in local editions of 51job Weekly across our markets in China. We do not receive revenues from the sale of 51job Weekly. The print advertising contracts we enter into with employers are for single or multiple advertisements in one or more markets. In addition, these contracts as well as the time between the signing of a contract and the publishing of an advertisement in 51job Weekly are generally short-term in nature. Our print advertising revenues are primarily affected by the number of print advertising pages and the fees that we charge. In 2008 and 2009, we experienced a decrease in print advertising pages due to a decline in market demand resulting from the global economic and financial market crisis as well as a slowdown in the Chinese economy. In addition, in recent years, we believe the growing acceptance of online recruitment services by employers has limited the future use of print advertising services for recruitment purposes. As a result, we discontinued our print operations in six cities in 2010 where the outlook of the local print advertising market did not meet our expectations. We believe that the future growth in the number of print advertising pages is limited and may decrease if we further reduce the number of cities where 51job Weekly is published. 41 The advertising rates that we charge vary and depend on a number of factors including the size, placement, format and use of color and graphics in the advertisement, the length of time the advertisement is to appear and the market in which the advertisement is placed. Our print advertising rates vary considerably between individual markets due to differences in local competition, purchasing power and other conditions. Historically, the print advertising businesses in our individual markets have not been subject to significant or prolonged price competition. While the prices we charge for print advertising in each city have been generally stable, differences in the relative pricing and page volume contribution by city affect our overall average revenue per page. In 2010, our overall average revenue per page increased significantly due to the discontinuation of print operations in cities where prices were lower than average. Since 2008, we have experienced a decline in print advertising revenues. We believe our print advertising revenues have been affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, economic growth and policies in China, changes in market demand for print advertising services, the size and allocation of employer budgets for print advertising services, and the use of other recruitment channels, such as the Internet. We believe the growing use of the Internet and the progressing shift of recruitment advertising expenditures from print to online media as well as actions, if any, we take to further discontinue print operations will decrease the contribution of our print advertising revenues to our overall revenues. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Our print advertising business provides a material portion of our revenues and any adverse development in this business, including any failure by us to manage the progressing shift in user habits and advertising expenditures from print to online media, could materially and adversely affect our overall results of operations.” We calculate the number of our print advertising pages by physically counting the number of paid advertising pages in each of our editions of 51job Weekly. In calculating the number of paid advertising pages, we make adjustments to take into account differing page sizes and pages with mixed advertising and non-advertising content. This is a manual process that is subject to error, including errors in judgment as to the appropriate adjustments to be made. We cannot assure you that our methodology, page counting, calculations and analyses are accurate, or that they yield results that are comparable between periods or give a correct approximation of the actual revenues we generate per page. As our customers usually place orders for print advertisements on a week-to-week basis, our print advertising business is subject to weekly fluctuations. We do not recognize advertising revenue until an advertisement has been printed in 51job Weekly. As a result, delays or cancellations by advertisers hamper our ability to predict print advertising revenues for future periods and makes it difficult for us to accurately forecast revenues with any degree of certainty. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — Our print advertising business is subject to weekly fluctuations which hamper our ability to predict when revenue will ultimately be recognized, if at all.” We generally require that all advertising fees be paid in advance of posting an advertisement, although we may offer credit terms to select clients on a case-by-case basis. Other Human Resource Related Revenues We generate revenues from our other human resource related services principally from fees paid for contracting our business processing outsourcing services, for attending our training seminars and for engaging our executive search services as well as, to a lesser extent, for using our campus recruitment services, purchasing our studies and reports on compensation and other human resource topics, participating in our industry conferences and utilizing our assessment services. We expect to continue to expand our outsourcing and training businesses and aim to develop additional human resource related services and products for our corporate clients. We believe that these services are an important component of our “one-stop” human resource solutions strategy and enhance our reputation and image as an industry innovator. In addition, we believe our business process outsourcing business may experience less seasonal and cyclical variations in revenues than our recruitment advertising businesses over time. Growth of our other human resource related services will be dependent on our ability to successfully develop, introduce and increase adoption of these types of products and services as well as a relaxation of government regulations in China. We believe the increase in our other human resource related revenues has been primarily driven by growing customer acceptance of these products and services, particularly our business process outsourcing and training services, as well as our sales and marketing efforts. We expect that as we continue to expand the scale and scope of these services and meet growing market demand, revenues generated from these services may increase as a percentage of our overall revenues in the future. 42 Net Revenues and Business Taxes Our net revenues reflect a PRC business tax of 5% and other related surcharges which are levied on our revenues, after certain deductions, generated from services we provide in China. Due to certain local government financial incentives, a portion of these business taxes that we had previously paid was refunded in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and included as other income in our statement of operations. We cannot assure you if or when we will receive such financial incentives in the future. Costs We operate and manage our various businesses as a single segment. In addition, we share operating costs and management resources amongst these businesses. As a result, we do not account for our results of operations on a geographical or other basis, and we are unable to allocate costs among our various businesses. The following table sets forth our cost of services and total operating expenses as a percentage of our net revenues for the periods indicated. For the year ended December 31, 2009 2008 2010 Cost of services .......................................................................... . Total operating expenses ............................................................. (46.3%) (41.8%) (39.5%) (45.0%) (33.5%) (40.1%) Our cost of services as a percentage of our net revenues is affected by our ability to achieve economies of scale and operating efficiencies, particularly in our online recruitment services and print advertising businesses. We believe that as we grow our operations and infrastructure, we can attract new employers and increase cross-selling opportunities with existing customers across our various markets, thereby allowing us to achieve economies of scale as we may be able to realize a higher level of revenues relative to our direct costs. In addition, the expansion of our online recruitment services business requires limited additional fixed costs. Although we expect to increase spending on sales and marketing activities and product development in order to strengthen our brand and enhance our service offerings, we aim to decrease our cost of services and total operating expenses as a percentage of our net revenues in the longer term through greater economies of scale and improved operating efficiencies. However, our ability to achieve these objectives is subject to significant uncertainties, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to decrease these costs as a percentage of our net revenues. Cost of Services Our cost of services primarily consists of employee compensation, printing related expenses and subcontracting expenses. The majority of our employee compensation and other costs of services are largely shared across our various business lines. Printing related expenses include printing, publishing and distribution expenses that we pay to our newspaper contractors. Our printing related expenses are characterized by both fixed and variable components, and these costs have tended not to increase or decrease proportionately to increases or decreases in our print advertising revenues. We pay subcontracting fees to third parties to provide services in connection with our business process outsourcing business. For our online recruitment services business, we have been able to leverage our existing infrastructure to grow our revenues, allowing us to incur limited additional costs relative to the higher revenues we have generated. In spite of the impact of the global economic and financial market crisis as well as a slowdown in economic growth in China, we decreased our cost of services as a percentage of net revenues from 2008 to 2010 primarily through the implementation of cost control, efficiency and productivity measures which reduced our direct costs, in particular our printing related expenses. In addition, our printing related expenses further decreased in 2010 due to the termination of print operations in six cities. Operating Expenses Our operating expenses include sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses. The following table sets forth our operating expenses as a percentage of our net revenues for the periods indicated. 43 For the year ended December 31, 2009 2010 2008 Operating expenses: Sales and marketing.................................................................... General and administrative ......................................................... Total operating expenses ................................................................ (26.4%) (15.4) (41.8%) (27.7%) (17.3) (45.0%) (26.9%) (13.2) (40.1%) Our sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of salaries, commissions and share-based compensation for our sales and marketing staff, advertising and promotion expenses, and expenses for our management and staff related to our daily operations in local markets. The level of sales and marketing expenditures varies in each city annually and is impacted by a number of factors, including competition and our strategic objectives in each market. In addition, the sales and marketing strategies we employ in each city varies depending on our determination of the most effective means to promote our brand and services. Although our spending on sales and marketing activities in 2009 was relatively unchanged compared to 2008, these expenses as a percentage of net revenues increased due to lower revenues in 2009. From 2009 to 2010, our sales and marketing expenses decreased as a percentage of our net revenues as revenue growth outpaced our increased expenditures on employee compensation, salesforce expansion and marketing activities. We expect to invest further resources to strengthen our market position and brand. We also receive marketing support for 51job Weekly from many of our newspaper contractors. However, since we record all costs associated with our relationships with our newspaper contractors under cost of services, our sales and marketing expenses do not reflect costs incurred in connection with this marketing support. Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of employee salaries, bonuses and share-based compensation, building depreciation, office rent and property management fees, administrative office expenses and professional services fees. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of our net revenues increased from 2008 to 2009 due primarily to greater rental and depreciation expenses, which were partially offset by lower office expenses and professional fees. From 2009 to 2010, our general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of our net revenues as revenue growth outpaced the increase in employee compensation and office expenses. As we expand our business and improve our operating and management efficiencies, we aim to lower our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net revenues in the longer term, but due to significant uncertainties, we cannot assure you of our ability to do so. Income Taxation We file separate income tax returns because we, our subsidiaries and our affiliated entities are incorporated in different jurisdictions. Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, we are not subject to income or capital gain taxes. In addition, upon payments of dividends by us to our shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed. Under the current laws of the British Virgin Islands, we are exempt from income tax on foreign derived income. In addition, there are no withholding taxes in the British Virgin Islands. On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress approved and promulgated the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, or the EIT Law, which applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax, or EIT, rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises effective January 1, 2008. For enterprises that were established before the EIT Law was promulgated and were entitled to preferential tax rates under former tax laws and regulations, the EIT Law has granted a grace period of up to five years for these enterprises to gradually transition from their preferential tax rates to the standard rate of 25%. Prior to the promulgation of the EIT Law, we obtained preferential tax treatment from local tax authorities for certain entities: Wang Jin Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Wang Ju, Tech JV and Wang Cai AdCo in Shanghai’s Pudong area; and the branches of Tech JV and Wang Cai AdCo in Shenzhen. As a result, these entities were subject to an EIT rate of 18% in 2008, 20% in 2009 and 22% in 2010, which is to be gradually increased to 24% in 2011 and 25% in 2012. Furthermore, in December 2009, Tech JV was designated by relevant local authorities in Shanghai as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the EIT Law, which is subject to a preferential tax rate of 15% through 2011. Therefore, this entity’s tax rate in 2009 decreased from 20% to 15% in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and from 25% to 15% in other localities. Tech JV is entitled to a preferential 15% tax rate as long as it maintains the required qualifications, which is subject to review every three years. We cannot assure you that Tech JV will continue to qualify as a high technology enterprise when it is subject to reevaluation in the future. The amount of income tax payable by our PRC subsidiaries in the future will depend on various factors, including, among other things, the results of operations and taxable income of, and the statutory tax rate applicable to, 44 each of the subsidiaries, and our effective tax rate depends in part on the extent of each of our subsidiaries’ relative contribution to our consolidated taxable income. As our overseas entities recognize share-based compensation expense and losses from foreign currency translation which are not deductible for PRC tax purposes, our effective tax rate has at times exceeded the statutory rate. Under the EIT Law, dividends payable by a foreign investment enterprise to its foreign investors from profits earned after January 1, 2008 are subject to a 10% withholding tax, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. The Cayman Islands, where we are incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. In addition, under the EIT Law, enterprises organized under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto management bodies” located within China may be considered PRC resident enterprises and therefore subject to an EIT rate of 25% on their worldwide income. Under the implementation regulations issued by the State Council relating to the EIT Law, “de facto management bodies” is defined as the bodies that have material and overall management control over the production and business operations, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. However, it remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will interpret such a broad definition. We are a Cayman Islands holding company and substantially all of our operational management is currently based in China. To our knowledge, there is a lack of clear guidance regarding the criteria pursuant to which the PRC tax authorities will determine the tax residency of a company under the EIT Law. As such, we cannot guarantee that we will not be considered an enterprise established outside China with “de facto management bodies” located in China and thus a “resident enterprise” subject to the uniform 25% EIT rate as to our global income. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — We may be deemed a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, which could subject us to PRC taxation on our global income, and which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.” Some of our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities have accumulated tax loss carryforwards that have not previously been recognized as deferred tax assets because there was significant uncertainty as to whether we would be able to realize the benefit from those loss carryforwards. To the extent permitted by PRC tax rules, we may undertake further reorganizations or transactions among our subsidiaries and affiliated entities or with third parties to utilize some or all of these tax loss carryforwards before they expire, or qualify for additional tax benefits. Critical Accounting Policies We prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities on the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the financial reporting period. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. We consider the policies discussed below to be critical to an understanding of our financial statements as their application assists management in making their business decisions. We operate and manage our various businesses as a single segment. In addition, since our revenues are primarily generated from customers in the PRC, we do not account for our results of operations on a geographical or other basis. Since many of our management and staff provide services with respect to many or all of our businesses, and since our infrastructure and operations are designed to facilitate all of our businesses as an integrated unit, we are unable to allocate costs among our various businesses or present our financial results in terms of multiple business segments. Income Taxes We account for income taxes under the liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We provide a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets to the extent we consider it to be more likely than not that we will be unable to realize all or part of such assets. Our future realization of our deferred tax assets is dependent on many factors, including our ability to generate taxable income within the period during which temporary differences reverse or before our tax loss carryforwards expire, the outlook for the Chinese economy and overall outlook for our industry. We consider these factors at each balance sheet date and determine whether valuation allowances are necessary. 45 We had deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance, of RMB2.7 million, RMB5.3 million and RMB6.9 million (US$1.0 million) as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. As of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, we recognized aggregate valuation allowances of RMB2.1 million, RMB2.1 million and RMB1.5 million (US$0.2 million), respectively. As a result of our current expectations as to our ability to generate taxable income, we currently do not expect to provide significant further valuation allowances with respect to our net deferred tax assets. In the event that unexpected developments prevent us from realizing some or all of our deferred tax assets, we will be required to take a charge against our net income for the period in which such events occur. We adopted ASC 740-10-25 “Income Taxes – Overall – Recognition” to account for uncertainties in income taxes effective January 1, 2007. We have elected to classify interest and penalties related to an uncertain tax position, if any and when required, as general and administrative expenses. As of December 31, 2010, we did not have any tax provisions related to uncertain tax positions or interest and penalties associated with such uncertain tax positions. Revenue Recognition We recognize fees received from providing online recruitment services as revenue ratably over the display period of the contract or when services are provided, collectibility is reasonably assured, and other criteria in accordance with ASC 605 “Revenue Recognition,” or ASC 605, are met. For a transaction involving multiple services, we recognize revenue at relative fair value which is determined based on our regular selling prices charged in unbundled arrangements. Cash received in advance of services are recognized as advance from customers. We recognize fees received from providing print recruitment advertising services as revenue when collectibility is reasonably assured, upon the publication of the advertisements and when other criteria in accordance with ASC 605 are met. Cash received in advance of services are recognized as advance from customers. We recognize fees received from providing other human resource related services as revenue when (i) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, (ii) services are rendered, (iii) the sales price and terms are fixed and determinable, and (iv) the collection of the receivable is reasonably assured, as prescribed by ASC 605. Share-Based Compensation We account for share-based compensation arrangements under ASC 718, which requires companies to expense the value of employee stock options and similar awards. Under ASC 718, share-based compensation is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the vesting period. We recognized share-based compensation expense of RMB27.4 million in 2008, RMB27.0 million in 2009 and RMB24.0 million in 2010 (US$3.6 million) in connection with the grant of options to our employees, executives and directors. Under ASC 718, we applied the Black-Scholes valuation model in determining the fair value of options granted, which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock option, stock price volatility and the pre-vesting option forfeiture rate. Our assumption for expected life takes into account vesting and contractual terms, employee demographics and historical exercise behavior, which we believe are useful reference points. We estimate expected volatility at the date of grant based on historical volatilities of the market price of our ADSs. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of stock options represent our best estimates, but these estimates involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management judgment. As a result, if factors change and we use different assumptions, our share-based compensation expense could be materially different in the future. In addition, we are required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate and only recognize expense for those shares expected to vest. We estimate the forfeiture rate based on historical experience of our stock options that are granted, exercised and forfeited. If our actual forfeiture rate is materially different from our estimate, the share-based compensation expense could be significantly different from what we have recorded in the current period. See note 2(m) to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report for further discussion of stock-based compensation under ASC 718. The guidance provided in ASC 718 may be subject to further interpretation and refinement over time. Basis for Consolidation and Our Relationships with Our Affiliated Variable Interest Entities We consolidate 100% of the interests of all of our subsidiaries and affiliated variable interest entities. We have entered into contractual arrangements with Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An under which we bear all of their economic risk and received all of their economic rewards. In our consolidated financial statements, we have consolidated all of the interests of Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An under ASC 810. Qian Cheng and RAL are wholly 46 owned by Run An. Run An is jointly owed by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang, PRC nationals and executive officers of our company. ASC 810 requires a “variable interest entity” to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of such entity. An entity is considered to be a variable interest entity if certain conditions are present, including where the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Under various agreements with Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, we are considered the primary beneficiary of Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, and all of their interests have been consolidated in our financial statements. In addition, as a result of our consolidation of Qian Cheng, its minority interests in Tech JV and its subsidiaries have been consolidated in our financial statements. All significant transactions and balances between us, our subsidiaries, Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An have been eliminated upon consolidation. In the opinion of Jun He Law Offices, our PRC legal counsel, except as otherwise disclosed in this annual report, these contractual arrangements and our current business operations are not in violation of existing PRC laws, rules and regulations in all material aspects. There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to the laws and regulations governing our business or the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that PRC regulatory authorities will not take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure —The PRC laws and regulations governing our business operations and contractual arrangements are uncertain, and if we are found to be in violation, we could be subject to sanctions” and “— Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China — The PRC legal system has inherent uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect us.” For additional information with respect to our contractual arrangements with Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” Allowances for Doubtful Accounts We provide general and specific provisions for bad debts when facts and circumstances indicate that the receivable is unlikely to be collected. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. Long-Lived Assets Our accounting for long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets, is described in note 2(g) and 2(h) to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. The recorded value of long-lived assets is affected by a number of management estimates, including estimated useful lives, residual values and impairment charges. We assess impairment for long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment.” We assess the recoverability of an asset group based on the undiscounted future cash flows the asset group is expected to generate and recognize an impairment loss when the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset group plus net proceeds expected from the disposition of the asset group, if any, are less than the carrying value of the asset group. If we identify an impairment, we reduce the carrying amount of the asset group to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow approach or, when available and appropriate, to comparable market values. We did not record any impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. If different judgments or estimates had been utilized, material differences could have resulted in the amount and timing of the impairment charge and the related depreciation and amortization charges. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14, which amend ASC 605-25 “Revenue Recognition – Multiple Arrangements” and provide new guidance for revenue recognition for arrangements with multiple deliverables and certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. These ASUs address how to determine whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting, and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated among the separate units of accounting. The new guidance for certain revenue arrangements that include software elements removes non-software components of tangible products and certain software components of tangible products from the scope of existing software revenue guidance, resulting in the recognition of revenue similar to that for other tangible products. These ASUs are effective for fiscal 47 years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. However, companies may be able to adopt as early as interim periods ended September 30, 2009. The guidance may be applied either prospectively from the beginning of the fiscal year for new or materially modified arrangements or retrospectively. The guidance is applicable to us effective January 1, 2011. We do not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our financial statements. In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, which amends ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” to require a number of additional disclosures regarding (i) the different classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value, (ii) the valuation techniques and inputs used, (iii) the activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, and (iv) the transfers between Levels 1, 2, and 3. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-11, which eliminated inconsistencies and outdated provisions and provided the needed clarifications to various topics within ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.” The amendments are effective for the first period beginning after February 2, 2010, except for certain amendments. The amendments to the guidance on accounting for income taxes in reorganizations should be applied to reorganizations for which the date of the reorganization is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. For the reorganizations reflected in interim financial statements issued before the effectiveness of the amendments in this ASU, retrospective application is required. The clarifications of the guidance on the embedded derivatives and hedging are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, and should be applied to existing contracts containing embedded derivative features at the date of adoption. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on our financial statements. In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-13, which updates the guidance in ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation” to clarify that share-based payment awards with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the underlying equity security trades should not be considered to meet the criteria requiring classification as a liability. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is applicable to us effective January 1, 2011. We do not expect the adoption of the amended guidance will have a material impact on our financial statements. 48 Results of Operations The following table sets forth a summary of our audited consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated both in Renminbi and as a percentage of net revenues: Revenues: Online recruitment services.......................... Print advertising ........................................... Other human resource related revenues ....... Total revenues .................................................. Less: Business and related tax.......................... Net revenues .................................................... Cost of services(1)............................................. Gross profit ...................................................... Operating expenses(1): Sales and marketing ..................................... General and administrative........................... Total operating expenses .................................. Income from operations ................................... Loss from foreign currency translation ............ Interest and investment income........................ Other income.................................................... Income before income tax expense .................. Income tax expense.......................................... Net income....................................................... ______________________ (1) Share-based compensation expense: Included in cost of services .......................... Included in operating expenses: 2008 For the year ended December 31, 2009 2010 RMB % RMB % RMB % (in thousands, except percentages) 312,121 359,234 189,062 860,417 (44,939) 38.3 44.0 23.2 105.5 (5.5) 332,987 279,467 204,666 817,120 (43,173) 43.0 36.1 26.5 543,045 277,645 269,305 105.6 (5.6) 1,089,995 (57,776) 815,478 100.0 773,947 100.0 1,032,219 52.6 26.9 26.1 105.6 (5.6) 100.0 (377,487) (46.3) (305,722) (39.5) (345,865) (33.5) 437,991 53.7 468,225 60.5 686,354 66.5 (215,228) (125,981) (341,209) 96,782 (17,732) 26,400 2,327 107,777 (31,176) 76,601 (26.4) (15.4) (41.8) 11.9 (2.2) 3.2 0.3 13.2 (3.8) 9.4 (214,400) (133,511) (347,911) 120,314 (234) 15,083 9,554 144,717 (32,205) 112,512 (27.7) (17.3) (45.0) 15.5 (0.0) 2.0 1.2 18.7 (4.2) 14.5 (277,543) (136,647) (414,190) 272,164 (6,848) 18,713 7,713 291,742 (57,081) 234,661 (26.9) (13.2) (40.1) 26.4 (0.7) 1.8 0.8 28.3 (5.6) 22.7 (4,564) (0.6) (4,360) (0.6) (4,082) (0.4) Sales and marketing ................................. General and administrative....................... (3,923) (18,947) (0.5) (2.3) (3,748) (18,912) (0.5) (2.4) (3,509) (16,371) (0.3) (1.6) 2010 Compared to 2009 Total Revenues. Our total revenues increased 33.4% to RMB1,090.0 million (US$165.2 million) in 2010 from RMB817.1 million in 2009. This increase was primarily driven by growth in revenues from our online recruitment services and other human resource related services, which was partially offset by a decline in our print advertising revenues. We derived our total revenues from: Online Recruitment Services. Our online recruitment services revenues increased 63.1% to RMB543.0 million (US$82.3 million) in 2010 from RMB333.0 million in 2009. This increase was mainly attributable to growth in the number of unique employers using online recruitment services, which was driven by greater customer acceptance of our online products and the expansion of our online sales coverage to five new geographies in 2010, as well as higher average revenue per unique employer. We estimate that the number of unique employers increased 49.2% to 214,057 in 2010 from 143,451 in 2009. Although the prices we charge for our online recruitment services were generally unchanged from 2009 to 2010, our average revenue per unique employer in 2010 increased 9.3% from 2009 driven by a rebound in market demand and increased expenditures on online recruitment services by employers. Print Advertising. Our print advertising revenues decreased 0.7% to RMB277.6 million (US$42.1 million) in 2010 from RMB279.5 million in 2009. This decrease was primarily due to the discontinuation of 51job Weekly in six cities in 2010, which was partially offset by improved market demand in existing cities where we continued to provide print advertising services. We estimate that the number of print advertising pages decreased 18.2% to 9,544 in 2010 from 11,661 in 2009. Although print advertising prices charged in 49 Other Human Resource Related Revenues. Our revenues from other human resource related services increased 31.6% to RMB269.3 million (US$40.8 million) in 2010 from RMB204.7 million in 2009. This increase was primarily driven by growth in our business process outsourcing revenues as we increased the number of employers and employees serviced by us. Revenues from our training, executive search and other services also increased in 2010 as a result of improved market demand. Net Revenues. Our net revenues increased 33.4% to RMB1,032.2 million (US$156.4 million) in 2010 from RMB773.9 million in 2009. Our net revenues reflected our total revenues less the amounts paid as business taxes of RMB57.8 million (US$8.8 million) in 2010 and RMB43.2 million in 2009. Cost of Services. Our cost of services increased 13.1% to RMB345.9 million (US$52.4 million) in 2010 from RMB305.7 million in 2009. This increase was primarily the result of higher wage levels and staff additions in 2010, which was partially offset by a reduction in printing related expenses as we discontinued print operations in six cities. However, our cost of services decreased as a percentage of net revenues in 2010 due primarily to improved operating efficiency and productivity. Our cost of services in 2010 also included share-based compensation expense of approximately RMB4.1 million (US$0.6 million) compared with RMB4.4 million in 2009. Gross Profit. As a result of the above factors, our gross profit increased 46.6% to RMB686.4 million (US$104.0 million) in 2010 from RMB468.2 million in 2009. Our gross profit margin, which is our gross profit as a percentage of net revenues, increased to 66.5% in 2010 compared with 60.5% in 2009. Operating Expenses. Our total operating expenses increased 19.1% to RMB414.2 million (US$62.8 million) in 2010 from RMB347.9 million in 2009. The increase in our operating expenses was primarily due to greater sales and marketing expenses as well as higher general and administrative expenses. Our operating expenses consisted of: Sales and Marketing Expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses increased 29.5% to RMB277.5 million (US$42.1 million) in 2010 from RMB214.4 million in 2009. This increase was principally attributable to higher employee compensation and headcount additions as well as greater advertising and promotion expenses. Our advertising and promotion expenses in 2010 increased 82.2% to RMB58.3 million (US$8.8 million) from RMB32.0 million in 2009. Our sales and marketing expenses in 2010 included share-based compensation expense of RMB3.5 million (US$0.5 million) compared with RMB3.7 million in 2009. General and Administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased 2.3% to RMB136.6 million (US$20.7 million) in 2010 from RMB133.5 million in 2009. This increase was driven primarily by higher personnel and office expenses, which were largely offset by lower rental and share-based compensation expenses. Our general and administrative expenses in 2010 included share-based compensation expense of RMB16.4 million (US$2.5 million) compared with RMB18.9 million in 2009. Loss from Foreign Currency Translation. We recognized a loss from foreign currency translation of RMB6.8 million (US$1.0 million) in 2010 compared with RMB0.2 million in 2009. For more information about China’s foreign exchange policy, see “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations Relating to Foreign Currency Exchange.” Interest and Investment Income. Our interest and investment income increased 24.1% to RMB18.7 million (US$2.8 million) in 2010 from RMB15.1 million in 2009 due to higher interest rates and average balances in our interest bearing bank deposits. Income Tax Expense. Our income tax expense increased 77.2% to RMB57.1 million (US$8.6 million) in 2010 from RMB32.2 million in 2009 primarily due to an increase in our taxable income, which was partially offset by a lower effective tax rate. Our effective tax rate was 19.6% in 2010 compared with 22.3% in 2009 primarily due to an increase in the proportion of taxable income from our entities with lower tax rates as well as a decrease in non tax-deductible share-based compensation expense as a percentage to our income as a whole. Net Income. As a result of the above factors, our net income increased 108.6% to RMB234.7 million (US$35.6 million) in 2010 from RMB112.5 million in 2009. 2009 Compared to 2008 Total Revenues. Our total revenues decreased 5.0% to RMB817.1 million in 2009 from RMB860.4 million in 2008. This decrease was primarily due to a decline in our print advertising revenues which was largely offset by 50 growth in revenues from our online recruitment services and other human resource related services. We derived our total revenues from: Online Recruitment Services. Our online recruitment services revenues increased 6.7% to RMB333.0 million in 2009 from RMB312.1 million in 2008. This increase was mainly attributable to growth in the number of unique employers placing job listings and recruitment advertisements on www.51job.com, which was partially offset by lower average revenue per unique employer. We estimate that the number of unique employers increased 39.9% to 143,451 in 2009 from 102,562 in 2008. The prices we charge for our online recruitment services were generally unchanged from 2008 to 2009. However, our average revenue per unique employer in 2009 decreased 23.7% from 2008 as a result of employers curtailing expenditures on online recruitment services, including by choosing lower priced products, in response to the global economic and financial market crisis as well as a slowdown in the Chinese economy in 2009. Print Advertising. Our print advertising revenues decreased 22.2% to RMB279.5 million in 2009 from RMB359.2 million in 2008. This decrease was primarily due to fewer recruitment advertisements placed in our editions of 51job Weekly, as employers reduced their hiring plans and curtailed expenditures in response to the global economic and financial market crisis as well as a slowdown in the Chinese economy in 2009. We estimate that the number of print advertising pages decreased 29.4% to 11,661 in 2009 from 16,512 in 2008. The decrease in revenues from lower advertisement volumes was partially offset by a 10.2% increase in our overall average revenue per page due to greater revenue contribution from higher priced markets. We did not materially change the prices we charge for print advertising in each local market in 2009. Other Human Resource Related Revenues. Our revenues from other human resource related services increased 8.3% to RMB204.7 million in 2009 from RMB189.1 million in 2008. This increase was primarily attributable to greater business process outsourcing revenues due to growth in the number of corporate customers and their employees we served. Partially offsetting this increase in our business process outsourcing revenues, we experienced lower training and executive search revenues in 2009 as the global economic and financial market crisis as well as the slowdown in the Chinese economy decreased market demand and employer spending for these services. Net Revenues. Our net revenues decreased 5.1% to RMB773.9 million in 2009 from RMB815.5 million in 2008. Our net revenues reflected our total revenues less the amounts paid as business taxes of RMB43.2 million in 2009 and RMB44.9 million in 2008. Cost of Services. Our cost of services decreased 19.0% to RMB305.7 million in 2009 from RMB377.5 million in 2008. This decrease was principally due to cost control and alignment measures we implemented to adjust and streamline our operations and service infrastructure. These measures resulted in a significant reduction in printing related expenses and improvement in operating efficiency in 2009. Our cost of services in 2009 also included share-based compensation expense of approximately RMB4.4 million compared with RMB4.6 million in 2008. Gross Profit. As a result of the above factors, our gross profit increased 6.9% to RMB468.2 million in 2009 from RMB438.0 million in 2008. Our gross profit margin, which is our gross profit as a percentage of net revenues, increased to 60.5% in 2009 compared with 53.7% in 2008. Operating Expenses. Our total operating expenses increased 2.0% to RMB347.9 million in 2009 from RMB341.2 million in 2008. The increase in our operating expenses was primarily due to an increase in general and administrative expenses. Our operating expenses consisted of: Sales and Marketing Expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses decreased 0.4% to RMB214.4 million in 2009 from RMB215.2 million in 2008. This decrease was due to a reduction in advertising and promotion expenses and client entertainment expenses, which was largely offset by higher sales incentives and commissions. Our advertising and promotion expenses in 2009 declined 28.8% to RMB32.0 million from RMB45.0 million in 2008 due to a decrease in spending on brand advertising campaigns and promotional events. Our sales and marketing expenses in 2009 also included share-based compensation expense of RMB3.7 million compared with RMB3.9 million in 2008. General and Administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased 6.0% to RMB133.5 million in 2009 from RMB126.0 million in 2008. This increase was primarily due to higher employee compensation, rental and deprecation expenses which were partially offset by lower travel and entertainment expenses. Our general and administrative expenses in 2009 included share-based compensation expense of RMB18.9 million, relatively unchanged from 2008. 51 Loss from Foreign Currency Translation. We recognized a loss from foreign currency translation of RMB234,000 in 2009 compared with RMB17.7 million in 2008. Interest and Investment Income. Despite higher average balances in our interest bearing bank deposits, our interest and investment income decreased 42.9% to RMB15.1 million in 2009 from RMB26.4 million in 2008 due to lower interest rates. Income Tax Expense. We recorded an income tax expense of RMB32.2 million in 2009 compared with RMB31.2 million in 2008. Our effective tax rate decreased to 22.3% in 2009 from 28.9% in 2008 following the designation of one of our main PRC subsidiaries as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the EIT Law which lowered its tax rate in 2009 from 20% to 15% in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and from 25% to 15% in other localities. Net Income. As a result of the above factors, our net income increased 46.9% to RMB112.5 million in 2009 from RMB76.6 million in 2008. Inflation According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the change of consumer price index in China was 5.9%, (0.7%) and 3.3% in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected in the future by higher rates of inflation in China. For example, certain operating costs and expenses, such as employee compensation and office operating expenses, may increase as a result of higher inflation. Additionally, because a substantial portion of our assets consists of cash and short-term investments, high inflation could significantly reduce the value and purchasing power of these assets. We are unable to hedge our exposures to higher inflation in China. B. Liquidity and Capital Resources Liquidity Our liquidity from 2008 to 2010 has been principally affected by net cash generated from operating activities in addition to our purchases of investments, property, equipment and software as well as our repurchases of ADSs. The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated. For the year ended December 31, 2008 RMB 2009 RMB 2010 RMB (in thousands) Net cash provided by operating activities.............. Net cash used in investing activities...................... Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ............................................................ Net increase (decrease) in cash.............................. 119,867 (48,451) (4,101) 50,790 214,455 (272,904) (42,249) (100,903) 344,208 (174,450) 71,848 235,481 2010 US$ 52,153 (26,432) 10,886 35,679 Cash Flows from Operating Activities. Our net cash provided by operating activities in 2010 was RMB344.2 million (US$52.2 million) compared with RMB214.5 million in 2009. The increase was principally due to the substantial increase in net income to RMB234.7 million (US$35.6 million) in 2010 from RMB112.5 million in 2009 driven by revenue growth of our online recruitment services and other human resource related services businesses; and, the increases in advance from customers and taxes payable, which were partially offset by an increase in prepayments and other current assets. Our net cash provided by operating activities in 2009 was RMB214.5 million compared with RMB119.9 million in 2008. The increase was principally due to the increase in net income to RMB112.5 million in 2009 from RMB76.6 million in 2008 driven by cost control, improved efficiency and a lower effective tax rate; and, the increase in advance from customers. Cash Flows from Investing Activities. Our net cash used in investing activities was RMB174.5 million (US$26.4 million) in 2010 compared with RMB272.9 million in 2009. The decrease was primarily due to fewer purchases of short-term investments, which consist of certificates of deposits with maturities between three months and one year, and a decrease in purchases of property, plant and equipment. 52 Our net cash used in investing activities was RMB272.9 million in 2009 compared with RMB48.5 million in 2008. The increase was primarily due to purchases of short-term investments and the installment payments toward the acquisition of the office space to house our national sales and customer service call center in Wuhan. Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Our net cash provided by financing activities was RMB71.8 million (US$10.9 million) in 2010, compared to net cash used in financing activities of RMB42.2 million in 2009 and RMB4.1 million in 2008. Our net cash from financing activities from 2008 to 2010 has been primarily affected by the repurchase of our ADSs as well as cash received from the exercise of stock options by our employees, executives and directors. Our net cash used in financing activities in 2008 consisted of our repurchase of 136,827 ADSs in the open market, which was partially offset by cash received from the exercise of stock options. In 2009, our net cash used in financing activities increased due to our repurchase of 709,200 ADSs in the open market. Our net cash provided by financing activities in 2010 was mainly due to a substantial increase in cash received from the exercise of stock options, which was partially offset by our repurchase of 167,302 ADSs in the open market. Capital Resources To date, we have primarily financed our operations through cash flows from operating activities, equity investments by certain of our founders, the sale of preferred shares in 2000 and our initial public offering in 2004. We have not financed our operations through significant borrowings, and as of December 31, 2010, we had no material debt obligations outstanding. As of December 31, 2010, we had RMB1,644.7 million (US$249.2 million) in cash, restricted cash and short-term investments held substantially in Renminbi, U.S. dollars and Hong Kong dollars. Our operations are conducted primarily through Tech JV and its subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to finance our operations and any debt that we, or our subsidiaries, may incur is dependent, in part, upon the flow of dividends from, and the payment of royalties and other fees by, our subsidiaries. The payment of dividends in China is subject to restrictions. PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC are also required to set aside a portion of their after-tax profits according to PRC accounting standards and regulations to fund certain reserve funds that are not distributable as cash dividends. Through certain contractual arrangements, we are able to require Qian Cheng to pay us any cash it receives as dividends or other distributions with respect to its minority shareholding in Tech JV and its subsidiaries. Our ability to obtain cash or other assets under these contracts depends on their effectiveness and enforceability. For a description of these agreements and our PRC counsel’s opinion as to their enforceability, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” We believe that our current cash and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs, including our cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures, for the foreseeable future. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. As of December 31, 2010, we did not have any material commitment for capital expenditure. C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc. We employ a large staff of website designers and software developers to design and update our website and create our proprietary software. We did not incur material expenditures with respect to our research and development activities in any of the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 or 2010. For more information on our technology operations, see “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Technology.” D. Trend Information Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010 that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions. E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. In addition, we have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our own shares and classified as shareholder’s equity, or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. Moreover, we do not have any variable interest in any 53 unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or research and development services with us. F. Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010: Total RMB Less than 1 year RMB 1-3 years RMB (in thousands) 3-5 years RMB More than 5 years RMB Publication fee agreements........................ Operating lease obligations ....................... Purchase obligations.................................. Total........................................................... 31,278 51,130 7,505 89,913 27,626 23,638 7,505 58,769 3,652 27,241 — 30,893 — 251 — 251 — — — — We have entered into non-cancelable agreements with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year for the publication of 51job Weekly. The term of our publication fee agreements is generally for two years. Our operating lease obligations consist largely of property lease and management agreements for office premises with terms ranging from one to five years at the time of signing. Our purchase obligations consist primarily of agreements to purchase advertising services from outdoor and Internet media companies. Rental expenses incurred under operating leases were RMB28.9 million in 2008, RMB34.5 million in 2009 and RMB33.2 million (US$5.0 million) in 2010. WFOE, our wholly owned PRC subsidiary, has entered into equity pledge agreements with the respective shareholders of each Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An. Under each of these equity pledge agreements, WFOE has an option, exercisable during a term of ten years, to purchase the equity interests in each of Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, respectively, when and if, and at the lowest price, permitted by PRC law. At the end of the term, if and to the extent these options have not been exercised, WFOE is obligated to purchase the maximum amount of the equity interest in Qian Cheng, RAL and Run An, respectively, as permitted by applicable PRC law. For a detailed description of these equity pledge agreements, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Related Party Transactions — Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities.” We do not have material contractual obligations in currencies other than Renminbi. G. Safe Harbor See “Forward-Looking Statements.” 54 ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES A. Directors and Senior Management The names of our directors and executive officers, their ages as of the date of this annual report and the principal positions with 51job, Inc. held by them are as follows: Name Donald L. Lucas(1) (2)...................... . Rick Yan ......................................... David K. Chao(1) (2) (3)...................... Hiroyuki Honda.............................. James Jianzhang Liang(1) (3) ............ Kathleen Chien ............................... David Weimin Jin ........................... Tao Wang........................................ Jones Haijun Yu.............................. ______________________ (1) Member of audit committee. (2) Member of compensation committee. (3) Member of nominating and corporate governance committee. Age 81 48 44 50 41 41 40 48 38 Position / Title Chairman of the board and independent director Director, chief executive officer, president and secretary Independent director Non-executive director Independent director Chief operating officer and acting chief financial officer Senior vice president Vice president Vice president There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of our company. Biographical Information Donald L. Lucas is the chairman of the board of directors of our company. Mr. Lucas has been an independent director of our company since 2004. Mr. Lucas received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and his Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In 1960, Mr. Lucas began a seven-year participation, including acting as both a general partner and a limited partner with Draper, Gaither & Anderson, the first venture capital firm organized on the West Coast in the United States. Since 1967, Mr. Lucas has been actively engaged in venture capital activities as a private individual. Mr. Lucas currently serves as a board member of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and Oracle Corporation. He also serves as a director for several privately held companies. Mr. Lucas is the former chairman of the board of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy and Research and a Trustee of the University of Santa Clara. Rick Yan is a director, chief executive officer and president of our company. Mr. Yan has been a director and chief executive officer of our company since 2000. Mr. Yan is responsible for our overall strategy and management. Mr. Yan received his Bachelor of Engineering degree and Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Hong Kong and his Master of Business Administration degree with distinction from INSEAD in France. Mr. Yan was an investor and advisor of our company from its inception and prior to his appointment as chief executive officer. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Yan was a Director and the Head of China Practice at Bain & Company, an international strategy consulting company. Mr. Yan joined the firm in London in 1989, returned to Asia and set up Bain & Company’s Hong Kong and Beijing offices in 1991 and 1993, respectively. In his 11-year tenure with Bain & Company, Mr. Yan was widely acknowledged as an expert in the consumer products and technology sectors. Prior to his affiliation with Bain & Company, Mr. Yan worked at Hewlett-Packard in Hong Kong for four years and was awarded Marketing Executive of the Year. David K. Chao is a director of our company. Mr. Chao has been a director of our company since 2000. Mr. Chao received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and East Asian Studies (Anthropology) with high honors from Brown University and his Master of Business Administration degree from Stanford University. Mr. Chao is a co-founder and General Partner of DCM, an early stage technology venture capital firm that manages US$2.0 billion. DCM is headquartered in Menlo Park, California and also has offices in Beijing, China and Tokyo, Japan. Prior to joining DCM, Mr. Chao was a co-founder of Japan Communications, Inc., a public provider of mobile data and voice communications services in Japan. Prior to that, he also worked at McKinsey & Company, Apple Computer and Recruit Co., Ltd. Mr. Chao serves on the boards of directors of numerous DCM portfolio companies. Hiroyuki Honda is a director of our company. Mr. Honda has been a director of our company since July 2006. Mr. Honda received his Bachelor of Law degree in Labor Law from Hokkaido University in 1984. He is a corporate executive vice president of Recruit Co., Ltd., a leading human resource services provider in Japan, and has been a director of Recruit since 2005. Mr. Honda joined Recruit in 1984 and is currently in charge of global business strategy. In over two decades at Recruit, Mr. Honda has acted as General Manager of the Corporate Planning Office 55 and New Generation Business Development Group, and has led Recruit’s human resource related business group. Mr. Honda also serves as a board member of Recruit’s various joint ventures with Toyota Motor Corporation and Yahoo! Japan Corporation. James Jianzhang Liang is a director of our company. Mr. Liang became a director of our company in October 2010. Mr. Liang received his Bachelor and Master degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also attended an undergraduate program at Fudan University. Mr. Liang is a co-founder and the chairman of the board of directors of Ctrip.com International, Ltd., a leading travel service provider of hotel accommodations, airline tickets, packaged tours and corporate travel management in China. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Ctrip from 2000 to January 2006 and has been a member of Ctrip’s board of directors since inception. Prior to founding Ctrip, Mr. Liang held a number of technical and managerial positions with Oracle Corporation from 1991 to 1999 in the United States and China, including the head of the ERP consulting division of Oracle China from 1997 to 1999. Mr. Liang also serves on the board of directors of Home Inns & Hotel Management Inc. Kathleen Chien is chief operating officer and acting chief financial officer of our company. Ms. Chien joined our company in 1999 and served as our chief financial officer from 2004 to March 2009. Ms. Chien received her Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her Master of Business Administration degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining our company, Ms. Chien worked in the financial services and management consulting industries, including three years with Bain & Company in Hong Kong and two years with Capital Securities Corp., a leading investment bank in Taiwan. During her tenure at Bain & Company, Ms. Chien was a consultant to a number of companies on strategic and marketing issues, including entry into the Chinese market and achieving cost and operational efficiencies. While at Capital Securities Corp., Ms. Chien completed a number of equity and equity-linked transactions, including the first ever Swiss-franc convertible bond issuance out of Taiwan, enabling client companies to raise significant capital from the European and U.S. investment community. Ms. Chien currently serves as a board member of ChinaCache International Holdings Ltd. David Weimin Jin is a senior vice president of our company. Mr. Jin joined our company in 2000. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Xidian University. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Jin held sales management positions in large multinational companies in Xian, including three years at Shell (China) Limited and one year with Colgate-Palmolive Co., Ltd. Tao Wang is a vice president of our company. Mr. Wang joined our company in 2000. Mr. Wang received a Bachelor of Science degree in Math from Shandong University and a Master of Engineering degree from the Second Academy under the PRC Ministry of Aerospace Industry. Mr. Wang also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Business School at University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Wang spent four years as a Senior Consultant at Bain & Company. Also, Mr. Wang served as a Representative and the General Manager of a joint venture company in Wuhan for TI Group Asia Pacific. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wang held engineering and project management positions at the Ministry of Aerospace Industry in China. Jones Haijun Yu is a vice president of our company. Mr. Yu joined our company in 1998. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Wuhan University and in Business Management from Beijing Jiaotong University. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Yu worked as a technician with Guangzhou Zengcheng Biochemical Engineering Company for one year. B. Compensation Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers We pay our chairman an annual fee of US$20,000 and each of our other non-executive directors an annual fee of US$15,000. In addition, our non-executive directors receive a fee of US$2,000 for each board meeting attended in person and US$1,000 for each committee meeting attended in person, or US$1,000 for each board meeting attended by conference call and US$500 for each committee meeting attended by conference call. Our directors are also reimbursed for reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending board meetings in person. There are no arrangements between us and our directors providing for special benefits upon our directors’ termination of service. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the aggregate cash compensation to our non-executive directors as a group was approximately US$76,500 (RMB504,900). In 2010, we granted 30,048 options to acquire common shares to an independent director. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the aggregate cash compensation to our executive officers as a group was approximately RMB8.3 million (US$1.3 million). We granted options to acquire an aggregate of 411,264 common shares to our executive officers in 2010. 56 Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance We maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for our directors and officers. Employment Agreements We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. The terms of these agreements are substantially similar to each other. Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is employed at will, and their employment may be terminated, with or without cause, by either party. These agreements do not provide for any special termination benefits, nor do we have other arrangements with these executive officers for special termination benefits. Each executive officer has agreed to hold in strict confidence and not to use, except for the benefit of our company, any proprietary information, technical data, trade secrets and know-how of our company or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party, including our affiliated entities and our subsidiaries, received by our company. Each of these executive officers has also agreed not to engage in any other employment, occupation, consulting or other business activity directly related to the business in which we are involved, or engage in any other activities that conflict with his or her obligations to us during the term of his or her employment. For the 12-month period after any of these executive officers’ termination of employment with us for any reason, such officer is prohibited from recruiting any of our employees or soliciting or inducing our employees to leave their employment with us. Stock-Based Compensation Plans In 2000, our board of directors and shareholders adopted our 2000 stock option plan, or our 2000 Option Plan. In April 2009, our board of directors adopted our 2009 share option plan, or our 2009 Option Plan, which received shareholder approval in August 2009. Under these plans, our directors, officers and other employees and consultants are eligible to acquire common shares under options. The purposes of our option plans are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to employees, directors and consultants and to promote the success of our business. Under our 2000 Option Plan, 4,010,666 common shares were reserved for issuance at the time of adoption. In February 2004, our board of directors and shareholders approved an increase in the number of authorized shares reserved to 5,530,578 common shares. In July 2006, our board of directors and shareholders approved a further increase of 2,000,000 common shares, increasing the total number of authorized shares under our 2000 Option Plan to 7,530,578 common shares. Our 2000 Option Plan has a term of ten years but may be terminated earlier by our board of directors. Under our 2009 Option Plan, we are authorized to issue up to 5,000,000 common shares. Our 2009 Option Plan has a term of ten years but may be terminated earlier by our board of directors. Stock options granted under our option plans may be incentive stock options, or ISOs, which are intended to qualify for favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment under the provisions of Section 422 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or non-qualified stock options, or NSOs, which do not so qualify. The compensation committee of our board of directors administers our option plans. Subject to the provisions of our option plans and, in the case of a committee, the specific duties delegated by the board of directors to such committee, and subject to the approval of any relevant authorities, the board of directors or the committee so appointed has the authority in its discretion to determine, among other things, the fair market value of the common shares, select optionees, determine the number of common shares to be covered by each award granted under our option plans, and the terms and conditions of any options or stock purchase rights granted under our option plans. Stock options granted under our option plans become exercisable at a rate of not less than 20% per year over five years from the date of the option grant. In the event of the termination of service of an optionee, the unvested portion of a stock option is forfeited and the vested portion terminates within the period of time as specified in the option agreement and, in the absence of a specified time in the option agreement, within twelve months following the optionee’s termination in the case of the optionee’s disability or death, and three months following the optionee’s termination in all other cases. In the event of a merger of our company, each outstanding stock option may be assumed or an equivalent option or right may be substituted by the successor corporation. In the event the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the stock option, the outstanding stock options will automatically vest and become exercisable for a period of 15 days, after which the stock options will terminate. The following table summarizes the options granted to our directors, executive officers and other employees under our option plans during the periods indicated. 57 Common shares underlying options granted Exercise price US$ Date of grant Date of expiration 100,032 91,200 81,600 64,800 64,800 144,000 608,400 144,000 1,298,832 100,032 40,032 91,200 81,600 64,800 64,800 717,600 1,160,064 100,032 100,032 81,600 64,800 64,800 30,048 769,200 1,210,512 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.00 9.245 9.00 4.535 May 1, 2008 May 1, 2008 May 1, 2008 May 1, 2008 May 1, 2008 February 27, 2008 May 1, 2008 September 30, 2008 April 30, 2014 April 30, 2014 April 30, 2014 April 30, 2014 April 30, 2014 February 26, 2014 April 30, 2014 September 29, 2014 3.955 April 30, 2009 3.955 April 30, 2009 3.955 April 30, 2009 3.955 April 30, 2009 3.955 April 30, 2009 3.955 April 30, 2009 3.955 April 30, 2009 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 April 29, 2015 8.97 8.97 8.97 8.97 8.97 19.06 8.97 April 5, 2010 April 5, 2010 April 5, 2010 April 5, 2010 April 5, 2010 October 12, 2010 April 5, 2010 April 4, 2016 April 4, 2016 April 4, 2016 April 4, 2016 April 4, 2016 October 11, 2016 April 4, 2016 Granted in 2008 Rick Yan .............................. Kathleen Chien .................... David Weimin Jin ................ Tao Wang............................. Jones Haijun Yu................... Other employees.................. Granted in 2009 Rick Yan .............................. David K. Chao..................... Kathleen Chien .................... David Weimin Jin ................ Tao Wang............................. Jones Haijun Yu................... Other employees.................. Granted in 2010 Rick Yan .............................. Kathleen Chien .................... David Weimin Jin ................ Tao Wang............................. Jones Haijun Yu................... James Jianzhang Liang ........ Other employees.................. C. Board Practices The directors will hold office until the next annual general meeting of shareholders and until such director’s successor is elected and duly qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. We have no specific policy with respect to director attendance at our board meetings, committee meetings or annual general meetings of shareholders. Board Committees To enhance our corporate governance, we have established three committees under the board of directors: the audit committee, the nominating and corporate governance committee and the compensation committee. We have adopted a charter for each of these committees. The committees have the following functions and members. Audit Committee Our audit committee reports to the board of directors regarding the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm, the scope and results of our annual audits, compliance with our accounting and financial policies and management’s procedures and policies relating to the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. Our audit committee charter requires its members to satisfy applicable Nasdaq corporate governance rules on independence. The members of our audit committee are Donald L. Lucas, who acts as the chairman of our audit committee, David K. Chao and James Jianzhang Liang. Our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Lucas, Chao and Liang are “independent directors” within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and meet the criteria for independence set forth in Section 10A(m)(3)(B)(i) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. 58 Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things: the appointment, evaluation, compensation, oversight and termination of the work of our independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting); ensuring that it receives from our independent auditor a formal written statement attesting to the auditor’s independence and describing all relationships between the auditor and us; pre-approving any audit and non-audit services, including tax services, to be provided by our independent auditor in accordance with Nasdaq rules; reviewing our annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and our independent auditor; reviewing with our independent auditor all critical accounting policies and practices to be used by us in preparing our financial statements, all alternative treatments of financial information within U.S. GAAP, and other material communications between our independent auditor and management; reviewing our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management; reviewing, with management and counsel, any legal matters that may have a material impact on us and any material reports or inquiries from regulatory or governmental agencies; and establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, auditing matters or potential violations of law, and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters or potential violations of law. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Our nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board of directors in identifying individuals qualified to become members of our board of directors and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The current members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are James Jianzhang Liang, who acts as the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee, and David K. Chao. Our board of directors has determined that all members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are “independent directors” within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and meets the criteria for independence set forth in Section 10A(m)(3)(B)(i) of the Exchange Act. Our nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for, among other things: identifying and recommending to the board nominees for election or re-election to the board, or for appointment to fill any vacancy; reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board in light of the characteristics of independence, age, skills, experience and availability of service to us; reviewing the continued board membership of a director upon a significant change in such director’s principal occupation; identifying and recommending to the board the names of directors to serve as members of the audit committee and the compensation committee, as well as the nominating and corporate governance committee itself; advising the board periodically with respect to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of corporate governance and on any corrective action to be taken; establishing criteria and processes for, and leading the board and each committee of the board in, its annual performance self-evaluation; reviewing and approving policies and procedures with respect to proposed transactions between us and our related parties, and approving in advance all such related-party transactions; and monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. Compensation Committee Our compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure of our directors and executive officers, including all forms of compensation to be provided to our directors and executive 59 officers. In addition, the compensation committee reviews stock compensation arrangements for all of our other employees. Members of the compensation committee are not prohibited from direct involvement in determining their own compensation. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his or her compensation is deliberated. The current members of our compensation committee are David K. Chao, who acts as the chairman of the committee, and Donald L. Lucas. Our board of directors has determined that all members of our compensation committee are “independent directors” within the meaning of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) and meet the criteria for independence set forth in Section 10A(m)(3)(B)(i) of the Exchange Act. Our compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things: approving and overseeing the total compensation package for our executives; reviewing and making recommendations to the board with respect to the compensation of our directors; reviewing and approving corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our chief executive officer, evaluating the performance of our chief executive officer in light of those goals and objectives, and setting the compensation level of our chief executive officer based on this evaluation; reviewing the results of, and procedures for, the evaluation of the performance of other executive officers; reviewing periodically and making recommendations to the board regarding any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements, and administering these plans; reviewing and making recommendations to the board regarding all new employment, consulting, retirement and severance agreements and arrangements proposed for our executives; and selecting peer groups of companies to be used for purposes of determining competitive compensation packages. Duties of Directors Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a duty to act honestly, in good faith and with a view to our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the skills they actually possess and the care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association. The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others: convening shareholders’ annual general meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at such meetings; declaring dividends and distributions; appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers; exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registering of such shares in our share register. Interested Transactions A director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction in which he is interested, provided that the nature of the interest of any director in such contract or transaction shall be disclosed by him at or prior to its consideration and any vote on that matter. A general notice or disclosure to the directors or otherwise contained in the minutes of a meeting or a written resolution of the directors or any committee of directors that a director is a shareholder of any specified firm or company and is to be regarded as interested in any transaction with such firm or company will be sufficient disclosure, and, after such general notice, it will not be necessary to give special notice relating to any particular transaction. Remuneration and Borrowing The directors may determine remuneration to be paid to the directors. The compensation committee will assist the directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure for the directors. We do not provide for any termination benefits for the directors, nor do we have other arrangements with the directors for special termination benefits. The directors may exercise all the powers of our company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and uncalled capital or any part thereof and to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party. 60 Qualification There is no shareholding qualification for directors. Further, shareholding qualification for directors may not be fixed by our company in a general meeting. Terms of Directors and Executive Officers At each annual general meeting of the shareholders of our company, all of our directors at such time are required to retire from office and are eligible for re-election. All of these directors will retain office until the close of such general meeting. Limitation on Liability and Other Indemnification Matters Cayman Islands law allows us to indemnify our directors, officers, auditors and trustee acting in relation to any of our affairs against actions, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses incurred by reason of any act done or omitted in the execution of their duties as our directors, officers, auditors and trustee, except to the extent that it may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Under our fifth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, we may indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such persons in connection with actions, suits or proceedings to which they are party or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their acting as our directors, officers, employees or agents. To be entitled to indemnification, these persons must have acted in good faith and in the best interest or not opposed to the interest of our company and must not have acted in a manner willfully or grossly negligent, and, with respect to any criminal action, they must have had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. Our fifth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provides for indemnification of such person in the case of a suit initiated by our company or in the right of our company. Such indemnification covers expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such suit. There are good faith and other similar conduct requirements for such indemnification rights as those imposed on other types of suits described above. However, if such persons are successful in the merits of the actions, suits or proceedings described above, including suits initiated by or in the right of our company, then they may be indemnified for actual and reasonable expenses without having to meet the conduct requirements. We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors under which we agree to indemnify each of them to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and our articles of association, from and against all costs, charges, expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorney’s fees) incurred in connection with any litigation, suit or proceeding to which such director is or is threatened to be made a party, witness or other participant. Within 20 days after our receipt of a written demand of such director, we will advance funds for the payment of indemnification of these expenses. D. Employees We had 4,669 employees, 3,804 employees and 4,354 employees as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The following table sets forth the number of our employees categorized by function as of December 31, 2010. Sales and account management ................................................................................................... Technology and online operations ............................................................................................... Customer service and production ................................................................................................ Marketing and merchandising .....................................................................................................507 Search and training consultants ................................................................................................... General and administrative.......................................................................................................... Total............................................................................................................................................. 1,984 707 648 137 371 4,354* ______________________ * Includes 616 temporary, part-time and contract employees. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes or any difficulty in recruiting staff for our operations. Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining agreements or labor unions. 61 E. Share Ownership There are no different voting rights among our shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company. For information regarding the share ownership of our directors and officers, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — Major Shareholders.” For information as to stock options granted to our directors, executive officers and other employees, see “— Compensation — Stock-Based Compensation Plans.” ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS A. Major Shareholders The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common shares as of March 31, 2011: by each of our directors and executive officers; and each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our common shares. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power a person has with respect to the common shares. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 56,581,719 common shares outstanding as of March 31, 2011 and the number of common shares underlying options held by such person as of that date. Except as otherwise noted, the address of each person listed in the table is c/o 51job, Inc., Building 3, No. 1387, Zhang Dong Road, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China. Common shares beneficially owned Directors and executive officers: Rick Yan ................................................................................................ Kathleen Chien ...................................................................................... David K. Chao(1).................................................................................... Tao Wang............................................................................................... David Weimin Jin .................................................................................. Jones Haijun Yu..................................................................................... Hiroyuki Honda(2).................................................................................. Donald L. Lucas .................................................................................... James Jianzhang Liang .......................................................................... All directors and executive officers as a group...................................... Principal shareholders: Recruit Co., Ltd.(2) ................................................................................. Rick Yan ................................................................................................ ______________________ (1) (2) Number 13,075,555 1,732,528 379,511 207,100 72,726 67,900 57,496 39,096 — 15,631,912 23,325,231 13,075,555 % 22.9 3.0 * * * * * * — 27.0 41.2 22.9 The address of David K. Chao is 2420 Sand Hill Road, Suite 200, Menlo Park, CA 94025. The address for Hiroyuki Honda and Recruit Co., Ltd. is GranTokyo South Tower, 1-9-2 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6640, Japan. * Less than 1%. As of March 31, 2011, 2,168,416 of our common shares, representing 3.8% of our common shares outstanding, were beneficially owned by a total of eight holders of record with addresses in the United States. As of the same date, 10,854,298 of our ADSs, representing 21,708,596 common shares, or 38.4% of our common shares outstanding, were held by a total of seven registered holders of record with addresses in the United States. Since certain of these common shares and ADSs were held by brokers or other nominees, the number of record holders in the U.S. may not be representative of the number of beneficial holders or their country of residence. In April 2006, entities affiliated with DCM, Rick Yan, Michael Lei Feng and Norman Lui, and Kathleen Chien entered into a share purchase agreement with Recruit. Michael Lei Feng and Norman Lui are co-founders and former executive officers of our company. Under the terms and conditions of the share purchase agreement, Recruit purchased 23,325,231 common shares from these shareholders during the period from April 2006 to June 2009. 62 B. Related Party Transactions Contractual Arrangements Among Our Group Entities The PRC government has regulated foreign ownership of advertising, human resource related services and Internet content provision businesses. As a result, relationships and economic arrangements among our subsidiaries, affiliated entities and their respective shareholders are governed by a series of agreements. The material agreements which govern the relationships and economic arrangements among our group entities are illustrated in the following chart and described in greater detail below. Call option for Qian Cheng’s Call option for Qian Cheng’s 1% shareholding in Tech JV, 1% shareholding in Tech JV, 20% shareholding in AdCo 20% shareholding in AdCo and shareholdings in the AdCo and shareholdings in the AdCo Subsidiaries Subsidiaries 51net 51net 51net 51net Domain name license Domain name license Payments Payments Qian Cheng Qian Cheng Qian Cheng Qian Cheng Tech JV Tech JV Tech JV Tech JV Technical and Technical and consulting services consulting services Payments Payments • Share pledge • Share pledge • Consents • Consents • Call option/Purchase obligation • Call option/Purchase obligation HR and ICP HR and ICP services services Payments Payments Technical and Technical and consulting services consulting services RALRAL RALRAL WFOEWFOE WFOEWFOE Payments Payments • Share pledge • Share pledge • Consents • Consents • Call option/Purchase obligation • Call option/Purchase obligation Technical and Technical and consulting services consulting services Payments Payments • Share pledge • Share pledge • Consents • Consents • Call option/Purchase obligation • Call option/Purchase obligation Run An Run An Run An Run An Technical and Consulting Service Agreements Qian Cheng Technical and Consulting Service Agreement. WFOE and Qian Cheng have entered into a technical and consulting service agreement dated as of May 3, 2004 under which WFOE has the exclusive right to provide advertising related technical and consulting services to Qian Cheng. Qian Cheng will pay service fees to WFOE based on the extent and nature of the services provided by WFOE, as set forth in invoices issued by WFOE to Qian Cheng from time to time. The agreement has a term of ten years and may be extended with the consent of the parties. This agreement is not subject to early termination, other than by WFOE solely upon a default by Qian Cheng. Qian Cheng has no early termination rights with respect to this agreement. RAL Technical and Consulting Service Agreement. WFOE and RAL have entered into a technical and consulting service agreement dated as of May 3, 2004 under which WFOE has the exclusive right to provide software and web related technical and consulting services to RAL. RAL will pay service fees to WFOE based on the extent and nature of the services provided by WFOE, as set forth in invoices issued by WFOE to RAL from time to time. The agreement has a term of ten years and may be extended with the consent of the parties. This agreement is not subject to early termination, other than by WFOE solely upon a default by RAL. RAL has no early termination rights with respect to this agreement. Run An Technical and Consulting Service Agreement. WFOE and Run An have entered into a technical and consulting service agreement dated as of September 11, 2007 under which WFOE has the exclusive right to provide software and web related technical and consulting services to Run An. Run An will pay service fees to WFOE based on the extent and nature of the services provided by WFOE, as set forth in invoices issued by WFOE to Run An from time to time. The agreement has a term of ten years and may be extended with the consent of the parties. This agreement is not subject to early termination, other than by WFOE solely upon a default by Run An. Run An has no early termination rights with respect to this agreement. Equity Pledge Agreements Qian Cheng Equity Pledge Agreement. As security for Qian Cheng’s obligations under the technical and consulting service agreement, the shareholders of Qian Cheng have pledged all of their equity interest in Qian Cheng 63 to WFOE under an equity pledge agreement dated as of May 3, 2004. Upon the occurrence of certain defaults by Qian Cheng as defined in the Qian Cheng equity pledge agreement, including any default by Qian Cheng in respect of any provisions of the Qian Cheng technical and consulting service agreement, WFOE, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the right to sell the pledged equity interest. The shareholders of Qian Cheng have agreed that they will not dispose of the pledged equity interest or take any actions that will prejudice WFOE’s interest under the Qian Cheng equity pledge agreement. The pledge cannot be released until the discharge of all of Qian Cheng’s obligations under the Qian Cheng technical and consulting service agreement. The parties have further agreed that WFOE has the right to approve the appointment of directors and to recommend candidates to the board for positions of the general manager and senior executives of Qian Cheng. The board may only choose from the candidates so recommended by WFOE. In addition, during the ten-year term of the agreement, WFOE has the option to purchase the equity interest in Qian Cheng to the maximum extent permitted under PRC laws. Upon the expiration of the term, if and to the extent the option has not been exercised, WFOE is obligated to purchase the equity interest in Qian Cheng to the extent permitted under PRC laws. In all cases, the purchase price shall be the lowest price permitted under PRC laws. RAL Equity Pledge Agreement. As security for RAL’s obligations under the technical and consulting service agreement, the shareholders of RAL have pledged all of their equity interest in RAL to WFOE under an equity pledge agreement dated as of May 3, 2004. Upon the occurrence of certain defaults by RAL as defined in the RAL equity pledge agreement, including any default by RAL in respect of any provisions of the RAL technical and consulting service agreement, WFOE, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the right to sell the pledged equity interest. The shareholders of RAL have agreed that they will not dispose of the pledged equity interest or take any actions that will prejudice WFOE’s interest under the RAL equity pledge agreement. The pledge cannot be released until the discharge of all of RAL’s obligations under the RAL technical and consulting service agreement. The parties have further agreed that WFOE has the right to approve the appointment of directors and to recommend candidates to the board for positions of the general manager and senior executives of RAL. The board may only choose from the candidates so recommended by WFOE. In addition, during the ten-year term of the agreement, WFOE has the option to purchase the equity interest in RAL to the maximum extent permitted under PRC laws. Upon the expiration of the term, if and to the extent the option has not been exercised, WFOE is obligated to purchase the equity interest in RAL to the extent permitted under PRC laws. In the case of an option held by a foreign entity, PRC law requires that the exercise price of the option be determined at the time of exercise by reference to the appraised value of the underlying equity interest. The exercise price determined by the parties may not be significantly lower than this appraised value and must also be approved by relevant PRC regulatory authorities. To comply with these regulations, the parties to the RAL equity pledge agreement have agreed that the exercise price of the equity interest in RAL shall be the lowest price permitted by PRC law. Run An Equity Pledge Agreement. As security for Run An’s obligations under the technical and consulting service agreement, the shareholders of Run An have pledged all of their equity interest in Run An to WFOE under an equity pledge agreement dated as of September 11, 2007. Upon the occurrence of certain defaults by Run An as defined in the Run An equity pledge agreement, including any default by Run An in respect of any provisions of the Run An technical and consulting service agreement, WFOE, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the right to sell the pledged equity interest. The shareholders of Run An have agreed that they will not dispose of the pledged equity interest or take any actions that will prejudice WFOE’s interest under the Run An equity pledge agreement. The pledge cannot be released until the discharge of all of Run An’s obligations under the Run An technical and consulting service agreement. The parties have further agreed that WFOE has the right to approve the appointment of directors and to recommend candidates to the board for positions of the general manager and senior executives of Run An. The board may only choose from the candidates so recommended by WFOE. In addition, during the ten-year term of the agreement, WFOE has the option to purchase the equity interest in Run An to the maximum extent permitted under PRC laws. Upon the expiration of the term, if and to the extent the option has not been exercised, WFOE is obligated to purchase the equity interest in Run An to the extent permitted under PRC laws. In the case of an option held by a foreign entity, PRC law requires that the exercise price of the option be determined at the time of exercise by reference to the appraised value of the underlying equity interest. The exercise price determined by the parties may not be significantly lower than this appraised value and must also be approved by relevant PRC regulatory authorities. To comply with these regulations, the parties to the Run An equity pledge agreement have agreed that the exercise price of the equity interest in Run An shall be the lowest price permitted by PRC law. Other Agreements Loan Agreements. Tech JV has entered into loan agreements dated as of September 11, 2007 with David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang, two of our executive officers, with the sole and exclusive purpose to fund the 64 capitalization of Run An. A loan amount of RMB3.0 million was provided to each individual to acquire a 50% equity interest in Run An. The term of the interest-free loan agreements is ten years from the date thereof. Tech JV and RAL Cooperation Agreement. Tech JV and RAL have entered into a cooperation agreement dated as of May 3, 2004 under which RAL agrees to provide human resource related services to Tech JV’s customers and post human resource related information on its website www.51job.com, and Tech JV agrees to pay RAL an amount equal to the direct operating costs incurred by RAL, plus a 5% margin. In addition, Tech JV agrees to provide technical support to RAL in connection with its provision of human resource related services and the development, construction and maintenance of RAL’s website. The cooperation agreement has a term of ten years and may be extended with the consent of the parties. Domain Name License Agreement. 51net has entered into a domain name license agreement with RAL dated as of May 3, 2008 under which 51net has granted to RAL the right to use the www.51job.com domain name in the PRC in connection with RAL’s operation of its website. RAL is not permitted to assign its right under this agreement to any third party. The license fee to be paid under the domain name license agreement will be agreed to by both parties. The domain name license agreement has a term of ten years and is renewable upon the written consent of 51net. Call Option Agreement. 51net has entered into a call option agreement with Qian Cheng dated as of August 1, 2002, and supplemented and amended as of May 3, 2004, under which 51net or its designee is granted an irrevocable option to purchase all of Qian Cheng’s equity interest in Tech JV and AdCo for RMB1.2 million or, if such purchase price is not permissible under the applicable PRC laws, the lowest price permitted under then applicable PRC laws. In addition, Qian Cheng granted 51net an irrevocable option to purchase any and all of its equity interests in the AdCo Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Wuhan AdCo, at the lowest price permitted under PRC laws. The call option agreement has a term of ten years, which may be extended upon written consent of the parties. In the opinion of Jun He Law Offices, our PRC legal counsel, the agreements among our subsidiaries, affiliated entities and their respective shareholders are valid and binding, and are enforceable under, and will not result in any violation of, existing PRC laws or regulations, with exception to the effectiveness of the pledges under the equity pledge agreements, which are subject to registration with the relevant administrations of industry and commerce, and the trademark license agreement, which may not be enforceable against bona fide third parties until registration with the relevant trademark administration authorities. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including but not limited to the laws and regulations governing our business or the enforcement and performance of our contractual arrangements in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that PRC regulatory authorities will not take a view contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China — The PRC legal system has inherent uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect us.” Stock Option Grants We have granted options to purchase common shares in our company to certain of our employees, directors and officers under our share option plans. As of December 31, 2010, there were outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 3,756,450 common shares in our company. For a description of our share option plans and these option grants, see “Item 6. — Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Compensation — Stock-Based Compensation Plans.” Investment in Coupon Advertising Services Company with Recruit In August 2007, we entered into an agreement with Recruit to form a new company under Area Link to provide coupon advertising services in China. Under the agreement as amended in August 2009, we may provide up to RMB32.8 million in financing to Area Link for the coupon company and have the ability to acquire up to 40% of Area Link’s share capital. The coupon company launched its inaugural issue in Shanghai in September 2007. We do not participate in the management of this company, but we can and have nominated two of the five directors to the board of the coupon company. The amount of financing we have provided to Area Link for the coupon company totaled RMB15.4 million (US$2.3 million) as of December 31, 2010, which would allow us to acquire 26% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment. C. Interests of Experts and Counsel Not applicable. 65 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information See “Item 18. — Financial Statements” for our audited consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report. Legal Proceedings From time to time, we undertake legal action against entities that misappropriate the content of our www.51job.com website, including recruitment advertisements and the design of our website, our brands and trademarks, materials from our training courses and other proprietary intellectual property. Our intellectual property is subject to theft and other unauthorized use, and our ability to protect our intellectual property is limited. In addition, we may in the future be subject to claims that we have infringed the intellectual property rights of others. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business — We may be exposed to infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which, if successful, could cause us to pay significant damage awards.” Dividend Policy Since the incorporation of our company in 2000, we have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common shares. We have historically retained earnings to finance operations and the expansion of our business. The timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend, among other things, on our future results of operations and cash flow, our future prospects, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries and our affiliated entities, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Any future dividends on our common shares would be declared by and subject to the discretion of our board of directors. Holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive dividends, if any, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as holders of common shares, less the fees and expenses payable under the deposit agreement, and after deduction of any applicable taxes. B. Significant Changes We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING A. Offer and Listing Details Our ADSs, each representing two of our common shares, have been trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market since September 29, 2004. Our ADSs are traded under the symbol “JOBS.” The following table provides the high and low trading prices for our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for (i) the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, (ii) each of the nine most recent fiscal quarters and (iii) each of the most recent six months. 66 Annual highs and lows 2006....................................................................................................... 2007....................................................................................................... 2008....................................................................................................... 2009....................................................................................................... 2010....................................................................................................... Quarterly highs and lows First quarter 2009 .................................................................................. Second quarter 2009 .............................................................................. Third quarter 2009................................................................................. Fourth quarter 2009 ............................................................................... First quarter 2010 .................................................................................. Second quarter 2010 .............................................................................. Third quarter 2010................................................................................. Fourth quarter 2010 ............................................................................... First quarter 2011 .................................................................................. Monthly highs and lows October 2010 ......................................................................................... November 2010 ..................................................................................... December 2010...................................................................................... January 2011.......................................................................................... February 2011........................................................................................ March 2011............................................................................................ April 2011 (through April 8).................................................................. B. Plan of Distribution Not applicable. C. Markets Sales price Low US$ 12.70 14.02 6.00 6.00 15.31 6.00 6.51 10.76 13.13 15.31 16.64 18.67 35.05 49.80 35.05 42.75 47.54 49.80 54.34 50.54 61.04 High US$ 31.90 25.44 20.50 20.50 55.50 7.93 12.20 15.38 20.50 20.35 23.30 39.19 55.50 64.55 47.48 51.84 55.50 61.28 64.55 64.45 68.55 Our ADSs, each representing two of our common shares, have been trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market since September 29, 2004 under the symbol “JOBS.” D. Selling Shareholders Not applicable. E. Dilution Not applicable. F. Expenses of the Issue Not applicable. ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A. Share Capital Not applicable. B. Memorandum and Articles of Association We incorporate by reference into this annual report the description of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contained in our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Commission on September 29, 2004. Our shareholders adopted our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association at an extraordinary shareholder meeting on April 26, 2004. 67 C. Material Contracts Except for the agreement discussed below, we have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4. — Information on the Company” or elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F. In August 2007, we entered into a cooperation agreement with Recruit to form a new company under Area Link to provide coupon advertising services in China. Under the agreement as amended in August 2009, we may provide up to RMB32.8 million in financing to Area Link for the coupon company and have the ability to acquire up to 40% of Area Link’s share capital. The amount of financing we have provided to Area Link for the coupon company totaled RMB15.4 million (US$2.3 million) as of December 31, 2010, which would allow us to acquire 26% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment. D. Exchange Controls See “Item 4. — Information on the Company — Business Overview — Regulation — Regulations Relating to Foreign Currency Exchange.” E. Taxation The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, People’s Republic of China and United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or common shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or common shares, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws. Cayman Islands Taxation According to Maples and Calder, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, 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 our company levied by the Government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties that may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of, the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands are not party to any double taxation treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands. People’s Republic of China Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, enterprises incorporated under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto management bodies” located within China may be considered PRC “resident enterprises” and therefore subject to an EIT rate of 25% on their worldwide income. Under the implementation regulations issued by the State Council relating to the EIT Law, “de facto management bodies” is defined as the bodies that have material and overall management control over the production and business operations, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. However, it remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will interpret such a broad definition. We are a Cayman Islands holding company and substantially all of our operational management is currently based in China. To our knowledge, there is a lack of clear guidance regarding the criteria pursuant to which the PRC tax authorities will determine the tax residency of a company under the EIT Law, other than for those enterprises established outside of China whose main holding investors are enterprises established in China, which is available. It is unclear whether we may be considered to be a “resident enterprise” by PRC tax authorities, which would make us subject to the uniform 25% EIT rate as to our global income. If we are considered a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, our shareholders and ADS holders who are deemed “non-resident enterprises” may be subject to an EIT rate of 10% upon the dividends payable by us or upon any gains realized from the transfer of our common shares or ADSs, if such income is deemed derived from China, provided that (i) such foreign enterprise investor has no establishment or place of business in China, or (ii) it has establishment or place of business in China but its income derived from China has no real connection with such establishment or place of business. Moreover, under the EIT Law and related regulations, dividends payable by a foreign-invested enterprise, such as our PRC subsidiaries, to any of its foreign non-resident enterprise investors shall be subject to a 10% withholding tax unless such foreign enterprise investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a reduced rate of withholding tax. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands which does not have such a tax treaty with China. 68 Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations The following summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder, as defined below, of the ownership and disposition of our ADSs or common shares as of the date of this annual report. Except where noted, this summary deals only with ADSs and common shares that are held as capital assets by U.S. Holders. This summary does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders that are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including: dealers in securities or currencies; regulated investment companies; financial institutions; real estate investment trusts; insurance companies; tax-exempt organizations; persons holding ADSs or common shares as part of a hedging, integrated or conversion transaction, constructive sale or straddle; traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting; persons liable for alternative minimum tax; partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes; persons who own or are deemed to own 10% or more of our voting shares; or persons whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar. This summary is based in part on representations by the depositary and assumes that each obligation under the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms. Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and U.S. Treasury regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be replaced, revoked or modified, possibly on a retroactive basis, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. A U.S. Holder that holds or is considering the disposition of ADSs or common shares should consult its own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction in light of the particular circumstances of the U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of ADSs or common shares that is a U.S. person. A U.S. person is a person who is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: an individual citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation, regardless of its source; or a trust if it is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. If a partnership holds ADSs or common shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of a partnership holding ADSs or common shares should consult its own tax advisors. The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and the issuer of the security underlying the ADS may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits for U.S. Holders of ADSs. Such actions would also be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax, described below, applicable to dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders. Accordingly, the analysis of the creditability of foreign taxes and the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, each described below, could be affected by actions taken by intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and our company. 69 ADSs In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder of ADSs will be treated as the owner of the underlying common shares that are represented by such ADSs. Deposits and withdrawals of common shares in exchange for ADSs will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation. Distributions on ADSs or Common Shares Subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below, the gross amount of the distributions on the ADSs or common shares (including amounts withheld to reflect PRC withholding taxes, if any) will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as dividends to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Such income will be includable in a U.S. Holder’s gross income as ordinary income on the day actually or constructively received by a U.S. Holder, in the case of common shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADSs. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations under U.S. federal income tax law. Subject to certain limitations, dividends paid to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, in taxable years beginning before January 1, 2013 will be eligible for a reduced rate of taxation if we are deemed to be a “qualified foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A qualified foreign corporation includes: a foreign corporation that is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States which the U.S. Treasury determines to be satisfactory for these purposes and which includes an exchange of information program; and a foreign corporation if its shares with respect to which a dividend is paid or its ADSs backed by such shares are readily tradable on an established securities market within the United States, but does not include an otherwise qualified corporation that is a passive foreign investment company, or a PFIC, in the taxable year in which the dividends are paid or the preceding taxable year. We believe that we will be a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid on our ADSs for so long as (i) we are not a PFIC and (ii) the ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market or a national securities exchange in the United States, and thus are considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market. However, our status as a qualified foreign corporation may change. In addition, subject to the following sentence, we do not believe that dividends that we pay on our common shares that are not represented by ADSs currently meet the conditions required for these reduced tax rates. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC “resident enterprise” under the PRC tax law, we may be eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC, and if we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our common shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by ADSs, would be subject to the reduced rates of taxation. Non-corporate U.S. Holders that do not meet at minimum holding period requirement during which they are not protected from the risk of loss or that elect to treat the dividend income as “investment income” pursuant to section 163(d)(4) of the Code will not be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation regardless of our status as a qualified foreign corporation. In addition, the rate reduction will not apply to dividends if the recipient of a dividend is obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. This disallowance applies even if the minimum holding period has been met. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules to their particular circumstances. Under the PRC tax law, if the dividends paid by us are deemed to be derived from sources within the PRC, a U.S. Holder may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid with respect to the ADSs or common shares. Subject to certain conditions and limitations, PRC withholding taxes on dividends, if any, may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. Dividends paid on the ADSs or common shares will be treated as income from sources outside the United States and generally will constitute “passive category income” for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Furthermore, in certain circumstances, if a U.S. Holder has held the ADSs or common shares for less than a specified minimum period during which it is not protected from risk of loss, or is obligated to make payments related to the dividends, the U.S. Holder will not be allowed a foreign tax credit for any PRC withholding taxes imposed on dividends paid on the ADSs or common shares. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances. To the extent that the amount of any distribution exceeds our current or accumulated earnings and profits for a taxable year, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, the distribution will first be treated as a tax-free return of capital, causing a reduction in the adjusted basis of the ADSs or common shares (thereby increasing the amount of gain, or decreasing the amount of loss, a U.S. Holder would recognize on a subsequent disposition of the ADSs or common shares), and the balance in excess of adjusted basis will be taxed as capital gain. However, we do not expect to provide U.S. Holders of common shares or ADSs with information regarding the amount of our current 70 or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, U.S. Holders should generally expect distributions to be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes (as discussed above). Distributions of ADSs or common shares that are received as part of a pro rata distribution to all of our common shareholders (including ADS holders) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax. The basis of the new ADSs or common shares so received will be determined by allocating a U.S. Holder’s basis in the old ADSs or common shares between the old ADSs or common shares and the new ADSs or common shares received, based on their relative fair market values on the date of distribution. Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of ADSs or Common Shares Subject to the discussion under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below, upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of ADSs or common shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition and the adjusted tax basis of the U.S. Holder in the ADSs or common shares. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in an ADS or a common share will be, in general, the price it paid for that ADS or common share. The capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of sale, exchange or other disposition, the U.S. Holder has held the ADS or common share for more than one year. Net long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, are eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss that a U.S. Holder recognizes generally will be treated as gain or loss from sources within the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. However, in the event that we are deemed to be a PRC “resident enterprise” under the PRC tax law, we may be eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC. Under that treaty, if any PRC tax was to be imposed on any gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the ADSs or common shares, the gain may be treated as PRC-source income. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a foreign withholding tax is imposed on a disposition of ADSs or common shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances. Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules Based on the past composition of our income and valuation of our assets, including goodwill, we believe that we were not a PFIC for our taxable year ending on December 31, 2010, although there can be no assurance in this regard. However, due to the volatility of the market price of our common shares, as represented by our ADSs, under recent market conditions, we believe that we may be a PFIC for our current taxable year or that we may become one in the future. Under the Code, the determination of whether we are a PFIC is made annually. Accordingly, our PFIC status for the current taxable year cannot be determined with certainty until after the close of the current taxable year. In particular, our PFIC status may be determined in large part based on the market price of our common shares, as represented by our ADSs, which is likely to fluctuate (and may fluctuate considerably given that the global capital markets have been experiencing extreme volatility). Accordingly, fluctuations in the market price of our common shares, as represented by our ADSs, may result in our being a PFIC in the current or any future taxable year. In addition, as described under “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure,” there exist substantial uncertainties regarding the application, interpretation and enforcement of relevant current and future PRC laws and regulations and their potential effect on our corporate structure and contractual arrangements with certain of our affiliated PRC entities. There can be no assurance that the PRC regulatory authorities will not take a view different from the opinions of our PRC counsel. Further, even if the uncertainties as to PRC laws and regulations did not exist, there are also substantial uncertainties as to the treatment of our corporate structure and ownership of these affiliated PRC entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If it is determined that we do not own the stock of the affiliated PRC entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would likely be treated as a PFIC for our taxable year ending on December 31, 2010 and any taxable year thereafter. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which U.S. Holders hold our ADSs or common shares, the U.S. Holders will be subject to special tax rules discussed below. In general, we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which either (i) at least 75% of our gross income for the taxable year is passive income or (ii) at least 50% of the value (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) of our assets held during the taxable year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents (other than rents and royalties derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and not derived from a related person). If we own at least 25% by value of the equity shares of another corporation, we will be treated for purposes of the PFIC tests as owning a proportionate share of the assets of the other corporation, and as receiving directly a proportionate share of the other corporation’s income. 71 If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or common shares, unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election or a qualified electing fund election, as discussed below, such U.S. Holder will be subject to the following special tax rules. Gain realized upon the sale or disposition of ADSs or common shares and distributions made to a U.S. Holder by us during a taxable year with respect to the ADSs or common shares that are “excess distributions” (defined generally as the excess of the amount received with respect to the ADSs or common shares in the taxable year over 125% of the average amount received in the shorter of either the three preceding years or a U.S. Holder’s holding period before the taxable year) must be allocated ratably to each day of the U.S. Holder’s holding period. The amount allocated to the current taxable year or any year before we became a PFIC will be included as ordinary income in a U.S. Holder’s gross income for that year. The amount allocated to other prior taxable years will be taxed as ordinary income at the highest rate in effect for the class of U.S. Holder, corporate or non-corporate, in that prior year and the tax is subject to an interest charge at the rate applicable to deficiencies in income taxes. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year and any of our non-United States subsidiaries is also a PFIC, a U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries. In addition, non-corporate U.S. Holders will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividends received from us in taxable years beginning prior to January 1, 2013, if we are a PFIC in the taxable year in which such dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year. In certain circumstances, instead of being subject to the excess distribution rules discussed above, a U.S. Holder may make an election to include gain on the ADSs or common shares of a PFIC as ordinary income under a mark-to-market method, provided that the ADSs or common shares are regularly traded on a qualified exchange. Under current law, the mark-to-market election is only available for ADSs or common shares that are regularly traded within the meaning of U.S. Treasury regulations on certain designated U.S. exchanges and foreign exchanges that meet trading, listing, financial disclosure and other requirements to be treated as a qualified exchange under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. The Nasdaq Global Select Market is a qualified exchange but no assurance can be given that the ADSs will be regularly traded for the purposes of the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes an effective mark-to-market election, the U.S. Holder will include each year as ordinary income, rather than capital gain, the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s ADSs or common shares at the end of the taxable year over such U.S. Holder’s adjusted basis in the ADSs or common shares, and will be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of these ADSs or common shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder’s basis in the ADSs or common shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. Any gain or loss on the sale of the ADSs or common shares will be ordinary income or loss, except that this loss will be ordinary loss only to the extent of the previously included net mark-to-market gain. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ADSs or common shares are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or the Internal Revenue Service consents to the revocation of the election. Instead of being subject to the excess distribution rules discussed above, a U.S. holder of shares in a PFIC alternatively may elect to have the company treated as a qualified electing fund, provided that the company provides certain information to make such an election effective. However, this option will not be available to U.S. Holders because we do not intend to provide such information to U.S. Holders. If a U.S. Holder owns ADSs or common shares during any year that we are a PFIC, the U.S. Holder must file an annual report. A U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisors concerning the availability and the making of a mark-to-market election and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding the ADSs or common shares if we are deemed to be a PFIC in any taxable year. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding In general, unless a U.S. Holder belongs to a category of certain exempt recipients, information reporting requirements will apply to distributions on ADSs or common shares made within the United States and to the proceeds of sales of ADSs or common shares that are effected through the U.S. office of a broker or the non-U.S. office of a broker that has certain connections with the United States. Backup withholding may apply to these payments if a U.S. Holder fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status, 72 fails to report in full dividend and interest income or, in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax, provided the U.S. Holder furnishes the required information to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner. F. Dividends and Paying Agents Not applicable. G. Statements by Experts Not applicable. H. Documents on Display We have previously filed with the Commission our registration statement on Form F-1 and prospectus under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to our ADSs. We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The registration statements, reports and other information so filed can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Each year, we furnish our shareholders with an annual report containing a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. I. Subsidiary Information Not applicable. ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Interest Rate Risk Our exposure to interest rate risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the interest income generated by excess cash deposited in banks. As of December 31, 2010, we had cash, restricted cash and short-term investments totaling RMB1,644.7 million (US$249.2 million). Cash consists of cash on hand and in banks. Restricted cash consists of cash proceeds from the exercise of share options by our employees, executives and directors held in a bank account which have yet to be transmitted to them. Short-term investments consist of certificates of deposit with maturities between three months and one year. The carrying amounts of cash, restricted cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable and other receivables represent our principal exposure to credit risk in relation to our financial assets. As of December 31, 2010, approximately 17% of our cash were held in uninsured accounts at major financial institutions located in the United States and the remainder in uninsured accounts located in China and Hong Kong that we believe are of acceptable credit quality. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge interest rate risk. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates, although our future interest income may fluctuate in line with changes in interest rates. The risk associated with fluctuating interest rates is principally confined to our cash deposits in banks, and, therefore, our exposure to interest rate risk is minimal. 73 A hypothetical 10% increase in the average applicable interest rate for our demand deposits would result in an increase of approximately RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) in interest income from the assumed average cash, restricted cash and short-term investments balance in 2010. Foreign Exchange Risk Substantially all of our revenue generating operations are transacted in the Renminbi, which is not fully convertible into foreign currencies, and a significant portion of our liabilities are denominated in Renminbi. As a result, the conversion of our revenues is subject to PRC regulatory restrictions on currency conversion and we are exposed to risks posed by fluctuations in the foreign exchange market. The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. In July 2005, the PRC government changed its policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the Renminbi is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This resulted in an appreciation in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar of approximately 6.5% in 2008, relatively unchanged in 2009 and 3.3% in 2010. Correspondingly, we recognized a loss from foreign currency translation of RMB17.7 million in 2008, RMB0.2 million in 2009 and RMB6.8 million (US$1.0 million) in 2010. However, it is possible that the Chinese government could adopt a more flexible currency policy in the future. As a portion of our assets are denominated in U.S. dollars, future upward revaluations of the Renminbi could result in charges to our income statement and reductions in the value of these assets. In addition, as we rely entirely on dividends, royalty payments and other fees paid to us in Renminbi by our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC, future downward revaluations of the Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our cash flows, revenues and financial condition, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in foreign currency terms. Based on the amount of our cash, restricted cash and short-term investments denominated in U.S. dollar as of December 31, 2010, a 10% change in the exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar would result in an increase or decrease of RMB28.2 million (US$4.3 million) in our cash, restricted cash and short-term investments. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. See “Item 3. — Key Information — Risk Factors — Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China — The fluctuation of the Renminbi may materially and adversely affect your investment.” ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES A. Debt Securities Not applicable. B. Warrants and Rights Not applicable. C. Other Securities Not applicable. D. American Depositary Shares Fees Paid by Our ADS Holders ADS holders will be charged a fee for each issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from distributions of shares, rights and other property, and for each surrender of ADSs in exchange for deposited securities. The fee in each case is $5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued or surrendered. The following additional charges will be incurred by the ADS holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing shares or by any party surrendering ADSs or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADSs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADRs), whichever is applicable: a fee of US$1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers of certificated or direct registration ADRs, in each case, on the books of the depositary; a fee of $0.02 or less per ADS (or portion thereof) for any cash distribution made pursuant to the deposit agreement; 74 a fee of $0.02 per ADS (or portion thereof) per year to cover such expenses as are incurred by the depositary in administering our ADS program (which fee shall be assessed against holders of ADSs as of the record date set by the depositary not more than once each calendar year and is payable in the manner described in the next succeeding provision); any other charge payable by any of the depositary, any of the depositary’s agents, including, without limitation, the custodian, or the agents of the depositary’s agents in connection with the servicing of our shares or other deposited securities (which charge will be assessed against registered holders of our ADSs as of the record date or dates set by the depositary and will be payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such registered holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions); a fee for the distribution of securities, such fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (treating all such securities as if they were shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by the depositary to those holders entitled thereto; stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges; cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at the request of the ADS holders; transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfer of deposited securities on any applicable register in connection with the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities; expenses of the depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars; and such fees and expenses as are incurred by the depositary (including without limitation expenses incurred in connection with compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment) in delivery of deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation. We will pay all other charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the depositary. The fees described above may be amended from time to time. Fees and Payments from the Depositary to Us In 2010, we received from our depositary, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a reimbursement of US$120,000 for our expenses incurred in connection with the advancement of our ADR and investor relations programs, including legal fees, investor relations expenses, and other expenses related to our ongoing compliance with Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. In addition, the depositary waived costs payable by us of US$51,191 related to the maintenance of the ADR program, database subscription fees and other services. The depositary has agreed to reimburse us for our expenses incurred in connection with our ADR and investor relations programs in the future. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement is not related to the amount of fees the depositary collects from ADS holders. 75 ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES None. PART II ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS Not applicable. ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Disclosure Controls and Procedures As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on that evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for our company. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Included in our internal control over financial reporting are policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations from our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to consolidated financial statement preparation and presentation and may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, our management has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010. Our independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company, has audited the effectiveness of our company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, as stated in its report, which appears on page F-2 of this Form 20-F. Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting There were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 76 ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT Our board of directors has concluded that Mr. Donald L. Lucas, an independent director, meets the criteria for an “audit committee financial expert” as established by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Item 6. — Directors, Senior Management and Employees — Board Practices.” ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller and any other persons who perform similar functions for us. We have posted our code of business conduct and ethics on our website at http://ir.51job.com. ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES The following table sets forth the audit fees in connection with the professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company, our principal external auditors, for the periods indicated. Audit fees relate to aggregate fees billed for the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our quarterly financial results. We did not pay any audit related, tax related or other fees to our auditors during the periods indicated below. 2009 RMB 2010 RMB (in thousands) 2010 US$ Audit fees ....................................................................................... 3,533 3,749 568 Pre-Approved Policies and Procedures Our audit committee pre-approves audit engagement terms and fees prior to the commencement of any audit work, other than that which may be necessary for the independent auditors to prepare the proposed audit approach, scope and fee estimates. The independent auditors annually submit to us a written proposal that details all audit and audit related services. Audit fees are fixed and contained in the proposal, and the audit committee reviews the nature and dollar value of services to be provided under such proposal. Any revisions to such proposal after the engagement has begun are reviewed and pre-approved by the audit committee. ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES Not applicable. ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS In September 2008, our board of directors and shareholders approved a share repurchase program, which provided authorization to purchase up to US$25 million worth of our outstanding ADSs. Since the inception of the program, we have purchased 1,013,329 ADSs, or 2,026,658 common shares, through open-market transactions for an aggregate consideration of approximately US$10.9 million, including transaction fees. 77 The following table sets forth certain information related to purchases made by us of our ADSs under the program in 2010: Period . January 2010 ............................... February 2010 .............................. March 2010 .................................. April 2010 .................................... May 2010 ..................................... June 2010 ..................................... July 2010...................................... August 2010................................. September 2010 ........................... October 2010................................ November 2010............................ December 2010 ............................ ______________________ (1) Total number of ADSs purchased — — 77,776 47,447 31,049 5,300 5,730 — — — — — Average price paid per ADS RMB(1) US$ — — — — 119.86 18.16 120.65 18.28 131.47 19.92 132.40 20.06 135.76 20.57 — — — — — — — — — — Total number of ADSs purchased as part of publicly announced program Approximate dollar value of ADSs that may yet be purchased under the program 846,027 846,027 923,803 971,250 1,002,299 1,007,599 1,013,329 1,013,329 1,013,329 1,013,329 1,013,329 1,013,329 US$ 17,237,000 17,237,000 15,824,000 14,957,000 14,338,000 14,232,000 14,114,000 14,114,000 14,114,000 14,114,000 14,114,000 14,114,000 RMB(1) 113,764,000 113,764,000 104,438,000 98,716,000 94,960,000 93,931,000 93,152,000 93,152,000 93,152,000 93,152,000 93,152,000 93,152,000 The translations of U.S. dollar amounts into Renminbi amounts have been made at the noon buying rate in effect on December 30, 2010, which was US$1.00 to RMB6.6000. See “Introduction” and “Part I. — Item 3. — Key Information — Selected Financial Data — Exchange Rate Information.” ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT Not applicable. ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(a)(3) permits foreign private issuers like us to follow “home country practice” with respect to certain corporate governance matters. We are committed to a high standard of corporate governance and we do not believe that there are any significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those of U.S. domestic companies under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. In March 2010, we received a letter from Nasdaq stating that due to the death of our independent director, Dr. Xiaoyue Chen, we did not comply with Nasdaq’s independent director and audit committee requirements as set forth in Listing Rule 5605. In October 2010, following the appointment of James Jianzhang Liang as an independent director and a member of our audit committee, we returned to full compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements. 78 PART III ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18. ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The consolidated financial statements for 51job, Inc. and its subsidiaries are included at the end of this annual report. ITEM 19. EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibits Description 1.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Specimen of Share Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Specimen of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2004) Form of Deposit Agreement among 51job, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Depositary, and Holders and Beneficial Holders from time to time of American Depositary Shares evidenced by American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, including the form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-117254) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to American Depositary Shares representing common shares on July 9, 2004) 2000 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) 2009 Share Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 from our Form 6-K (File No. 000-50841) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2009) Form of Employment, Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Form of Investor Rights Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Loan Agreements dated as of September 11, 2007 between Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Technical and Consulting Service Agreement dated as of May 3, 2004, as amended as of July 2, 2004, between Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. and Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) 79 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 Technical and Consulting Service Agreement dated as of May 3, 2004, as amended as of July 2, 2004, between Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd. and Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Technical and Consulting Service Agreement dated as of September 11, 2007 between Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co. Ltd. and Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Equity Pledge Agreement dated as of May 3, 2004 between Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Equity Pledge Agreement dated as of May 3, 2004 between Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Equity Pledge Agreement dated as of September 11, 2007 between Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and the shareholders of Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Investment Capital Transfer Agreement dated as of September 11, 2007 among the shareholders of Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Share Transfer Agreement dated as of November 20, 2007 among the shareholders of Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Share Transfer Agreement dated as of November 12, 2007 between the shareholders of Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Cooperation Agreement dated as of May 3, 2004 between Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. and Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) Supplemental Agreement to the Cooperation Agreement effective as of April 1, 2007 between Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. and Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2007) Domain Name License Agreement dated as of May 3, 2008 between Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. and 51net.com Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2009) Call Option Agreement dated as of August 1, 2002, as supplemented and amended as of May 3, 2004, between Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd. and 51net.com Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) 80 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 8.1* 11.1 12.1* 12.2* 13.1* 13.2* 15.1* 15.2* 15.3* Share Transfer Agreement dated as of April 26, 2009 between 51net.com Inc. and Wuhan Mei Hao Qian Cheng Advertising Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.20 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2010) Share Transfer Agreement dated as of June 19, 2009 between Shanghai Qianjin Advertising Co., Ltd. and Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2010) Cooperation Agreement dated as of August 9, 2007, as amended as of March 27, 2008, between 51job, Inc. and Recruit Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 28, 2008) Amendment No. 2 to the Cooperation Agreement dated as of August 28, 2009 between 51job, Inc. and Recruit Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2010) List of subsidiaries of 51job, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-117194) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 7, 2004) CEO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CFO Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CEO Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CFO Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Consent of Maples and Calder Consent of Jun He Law Offices Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company ______________________ * Filed with this annual report on Form 20-F. 81 SIGNATURES The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf. 51job, Inc. /s/ Rick Yan By: Name: Rick Yan Title: President and Chief Executive Officer Date: April 11, 2011 82 51JOB, INC. INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ..................................................................... Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010................................................................................................. Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 ........................................................... Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010.................................................................................................................................. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010.......... Page F-2 F-3 F-4 F-5 F-6 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010........................................................................................................................................... F-7 Additional Information – Financial Statement Schedule I ....................................................................... F-23 F-1 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of 51job, Inc.: In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, of changes in shareholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of 51job, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedule, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in Item 15 of this Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedule and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions. A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company Shanghai, the People’s Republic of China April 11, 2011 F-2 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 51JOB, INC. Note Revenues: Online recruitment services................................ Print advertising ................................................. Other human resource related revenues ............. Total revenues ........................................................ Less: Business and related taxes ............................ Net revenues .......................................................... Cost of services(1)................................................... Gross profit ............................................................ Operating expenses(1): Sales and marketing ........................................... General and administrative ................................ Total operating expenses ........................................ . Income from operations ........................................ Loss from foreign currency translation ................. . Interest and investment income.............................. Other income.......................................................... Income before income tax expense ........................ Income tax expense................................................ 8 Net income............................................................. Other comprehensive income: Currency translation adjustments ....................... Comprehensive income.......................................... Earnings per share: 12 — Basic.............................................................. — Diluted .......................................................... Earnings per ADS(2): — Basic.............................................................. — Diluted .......................................................... Weighted average number of shares outstanding: — Basic.............................................................. — Diluted .......................................................... (1) Share-based compensation: Included in cost of services ................................ Included in operating expenses — Sales and marketing ...................................... — General and administrative............................ (2) Each ADS represents two common shares. 2008 RMB (in thousands, except share, per share and per ADS data) 2010 US$ (Note 2(c)) 2009 RMB 2010 RMB 312,121 359,234 189,062 860,417 (44,939) 815,478 (377,487) 437,991 (215,228) (125,981) (341,209) 96,782 (17,732) 26,400 2,327 107,777 (31,176) 76,601 332,987 279,467 204,666 817,120 (43,173) 773,947 (305,722) 468,225 (214,400) (133,511) (347,911) 120,314 (234) 15,083 9,554 144,717 (32,205) 112,512 543,045 277,645 269,305 1,089,995 (57,776) 1,032,219 (345,865) 686,354 (277,543) (136,647) (414,190) 272,164 (6,848) 18,713 7,713 291,742 (57,081) 234,661 374 76,975 13 112,525 246 234,907 1.35 1.35 2.71 2.70 2.03 2.02 4.05 4.03 4.23 4.13 8.46 8.26 82,280 42,067 40,804 165,151 (8,754) 156,397 (52,404) 103,993 (42,052) (20,704) (62,756) 41,237 (1,038) 2,835 1,169 44,203 (8,648) 35,555 37 35,592 0.64 0.63 1.28 1.25 56,581,719 56,709,513 55,559,252 55,768,866 55,485,256 56,814,503 55,485,256 56,814,503 (4,564) (4,360) (4,082) (3,923) (18,947) (3,748) (18,912) (3,509) (16,371) (618) (532) (2,480) The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. F-3 51JOB, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2010 Note 2009 RMB 2010 RMB (in thousands, except share and per share data) 2010 US$ (Note 2(c)) ASSETS Current assets: Cash ........................................................................................ Restricted cash ........................................................................ Short-term investments ........................................................... Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of RMB2,620 and RMB1,965 as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively) ....................................................... Prepayments and other current assets...................................... Deferred tax assets, current ..................................................... 2(d) 2(d) 2(f) 3 4 8 957,407 — 257,310 17,946 39,899 4,982 1,192,888 44,888 406,943 33,386 75,256 6,749 180,741 6,801 61,658 5,058 11,402 1,023 Total current assets...................................................................... 1,277,544 1,760,110 266,683 Long-term investments ............................................................... 2(f), 11 Property and equipment, net ....................................................... Intangible assets, net ................................................................... Other long-term assets ................................................................ Deferred tax assets, non-current.................................................. 5 6 8 Total non-current assets............................................................... 15,912 181,943 5,301 31,531 285 234,972 15,433 202,699 4,805 4,853 110 227,900 2,338 30,712 728 735 17 34,530 Total assets................................................................................. 1,512,516 1,988,010 301,213 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable .................................................................... Salary and employee related accrual ....................................... Taxes payable.......................................................................... Advance from customers......................................................... Other payables and accruals.................................................... 7 Total current liabilities ................................................................ Deferred tax liabilities, non-current ........................................ 8 Total liabilities ............................................................................ Commitments and contingencies ................................................ 13 Shareholders’ equity: Common shares (US$0.0001 par value per share; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 55,126,859 and 56,473,949 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively)......................................... Additional paid-in capital........................................................ Statutory reserves .................................................................... Accumulated other comprehensive income............................. Retained earnings.................................................................... 2(p) 9,896 28,095 15,696 118,277 15,402 187,366 1,011 188,377 — 46 902,124 7,368 1,067 413,534 15,551 39,543 39,795 186,191 50,491 331,571 1,583 333,154 — 47 997,933 6,811 1,313 648,752 Total shareholders’ equity ........................................................... Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity................................. 1,324,139 1,654,856 1,512,516 1,988,010 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 2,356 5,991 6,030 28,210 7,650 50,237 240 50,477 — 7 151,202 1,032 199 98,296 250,736 301,213 F-4 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 51JOB, INC. Common shares Number of shares Par value RMB Additional paid-in capital RMB Statutory reserves RMB Accumulated other comprehensive income RMB Retained earnings RMB Total shareholders’ equity RMB F - 5 Balance as of January 1, 2008....................................... 56,519,471 Exercise of share options .............................................. Share-based compensation............................................ Repurchase and retirement of common shares.............. Appropriation of statutory reserves............................... Currency translation adjustments.................................. Net income.................................................................... Balance as of December 31, 2008................................. Exercise of share options .............................................. Share-based compensation............................................ Repurchase and retirement of common shares.............. Appropriation of statutory reserves............................... Currency translation adjustments.................................. Net income.................................................................... Balance as of December 31, 2009................................. Exercise of share options .............................................. Share-based compensation............................................ Repurchase and retirement of common shares.............. Reversal of statutory reserves ....................................... Currency translation adjustments.................................. Net income.................................................................... Balance as of December 31, 2010................................. Balance as of December 31, 2010 (US$ Note 2(c)) ...... 132,322 — (273,654) — — — 56,378,139 167,120 — (1,418,400) — — — 55,126,859 1,681,694 — (334,604) — — — 56,473,949 56,473,949 47 0 — (0) — — — 47 0 — (1) — — — 46 1 — (0) — — — 47 7 (in thousands, except share data) 894,019 5,991 2,147 27,434 (6,248) — — — — — — 956 — — 680 — — — — 374 — 225,798 1,126,535 — — — (956) — 76,601 2,147 27,434 (6,248) — 374 76,601 917,352 6,947 1,054 301,443 1,226,843 5,062 27,020 (47,310) — — — — — — 421 — — — — — — 13 — — — — (421) — 112,512 5,062 27,020 (47,311) — 13 112,512 902,124 7,368 1,067 413,534 1,324,139 93,147 23,962 (21,300) — — — 997,933 151,202 — — — (557) — — 6,811 1,032 — — — — 246 — 1,313 199 — — — 557 — 234,661 93,148 23,962 (21,300) — 246 234,661 648,752 1,654,856 98,296 250,736 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 51JOB, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 2008 RMB 2009 RMB 2010 RMB 2010 US$ (Note 2(c)) (in thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income for the year ............................................... Adjustments for: Share-based compensation ...................................... Depreciation............................................................ Amortization of intangible assets............................ Allowance (Reversal of allowance) for doubtful accounts .............................................................. Loss due to disposal of fixed assets......................... Loss from foreign currency translation ................... Deferred tax expense (benefit) ................................ Changes in operating assets and liabilities: (Increase) Decrease in accounts receivable ............. (Increase) Decrease in prepayments and other current assets....................................................... Increase (Decrease) in accounts payable................. Increase (Decrease) in salary and employee related accrual ..................................................... Increase (Decrease) in taxes payable....................... Increase in advance from customers ....................... Increase (Decrease) in other payables and accruals ............................................................... Increase (Decrease) in other long-term assets ......... Net cash provided by operating activities.................... Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of short-term investments............................. Purchase of property and equipment ........................... Purchase of intangible assets ....................................... Purchase of long-term investments.............................. Net cash used in investing activities............................ Cash flows from financing activities: Repurchase and retirement of common shares ............ Proceeds from the exercise of share options................ Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities..... 76,601 27,434 23,776 2,243 — 915 17,732 3,623 10,182 (11,864) (63) (6,694) (20,161) 12,104 (15,275) (686) 119,867 (16,100) (24,336) (43) (7,972) (48,451) (6,248) 2,147 (4,101) Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash......... (16,525) Net increase (decrease) in cash ................................. Cash, beginning of year............................................. Cash, end of year ....................................................... 50,790 1,007,520 1,058,310 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid during the years for: 112,512 234,661 35,555 27,020 28,877 2,314 1,075 94 234 (2,259) 23,962 27,326 2,061 (28) 61 6,848 (1,020) 503 (15,412) 5,097 (817) 5,725 2,359 30,638 2,463 (1,380) 214,455 (241,210) (28,747) (2,947) — (272,904) (47,311) 5,062 (42,249) (205) (100,903) 1,058,310 (35,357) 5,657 11,448 13,946 67,914 354 1,787 344,208 (149,633) (23,253) (1,564) — (174,450) (21,300) 93,148 71,848 (6,125) 235,481 957,407 957,407 1,192,888 3,631 4,140 312 (4) 9 1,038 (155) (2,335) (5,357) 857 1,734 2,113 10,290 54 271 52,153 (22,672) (3,523) (237) — (26,432) (3,227) 14,113 10,886 (928) 35,679 145,062 180,741 Income taxes ........................................................... 48,735 34,417 49,519 7,503 Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities: Accrual related to purchase of property, equipment and software ............................................................ (788) (991) (989) (144) Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities: Restricted cash related to the exercise of share options..................................................................... — — 44,888 6,801 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. F-6 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) 1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of 51job, Inc. (the “Company”), its subsidiaries, which principally consist of 51net Beijing, 51net HR, 51net.com Inc. (“51net”), Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“Tech JV”), Shanghai Qianjin Advertising Co., Ltd. (“AdCo”), Shanghai Wang Cai Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Wang Cai AdCo”), Shanghai Wang Ju Human Resource Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Wang Ju”) and Qian Cheng Wu You Network Information Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd. (“WFOE”), and certain variable interest entity (“VIE”) subsidiaries, which consist of Beijing Run An Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (“Run An”), Beijing Qian Cheng Si Jin Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Qian Cheng”) and Shanghai Run An Lian Information Consultancy Co., Ltd. (“RAL”). The Company, its subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Group.” The Group is an integrated human resource services provider in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”) and is principally engaged in recruitment related advertising services, including Internet recruitment services and the production of a city-specific publication of advertisement listings as newspaper inserts. The Group also provides other human resource related services, such as business process outsourcing, training and executive search. 2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES (a) Basis of Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported years. Management estimates include those related to accounts receivable allowances, fair values of options to purchase the Company’s common shares and deferred tax valuation allowance. Management bases the estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. Actual results may materially differ from those estimates. (b) Basis of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and the variable interest entities of which the Company is the primary beneficiary. All significant transactions and balances between the Company, its subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation. A subsidiary is an entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls 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; to cast majority of votes at the meeting of the board of directors or to govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders. The Company has adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810 “Consolidation” for all periods presented. It requires VIEs to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entity. An entity is considered to be a VIE if certain conditions are present, such as if the equity investors in the entity do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or the entity does not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Prior to January 1, 2010, in determining whether the Company or its subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the Company considered whether it has the rights to a majority of the economic benefits and obligation to absorb a majority of the expected losses. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company also considered whether it has the power to direct activities that are significant to the VIE's economic performance, including the power to appoint senior management, right to direct company strategy, power to approve capital expenditure budgets, and power to establish and manage ordinary business operation procedures and internal regulations and systems. F-7 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) As of December 31, 2009 and 2010 and for all years presented, the Company is the primary beneficiary of three VIEs, Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL, which were established in January 1997, February 1999 and April 2004, respectively. Run An and Qian Cheng were in existence prior to the establishment of the Company and are considered predecessors of the Group. The Company does not have any ownership interest in the VIE subsidiaries, but through certain arrangements as described below, the Company receives all of the economic benefits, absorbs all of the expected losses and has the power to direct activities that are significant to the VIEs. As a result of the Company’s consolidation of Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL for all periods presented, 100% of the interest of Tech JV and AdCo are included in the consolidated financial statements. Management monitors the regulatory risk associated with these contractual arrangements. See Note 15 for further discussion. The adoption of the new consolidated guidance effective January 1, 2010 did not impact the Company’s financial statements. Run An holds Internet content provider and human resource service licenses and is also licensed to provide training services. Run An is jointly owned by David Weimin Jin and Tao Wang, two executive officers of the Company. As of December 31, 2010, the registered capital of Run An was RMB6,000 and its accumulated loss was RMB1,380. Qian Cheng holds an advertisement license necessary for recruitment advertising services. Qian Cheng is wholly owned by Run An. As of December 31, 2010, the registered capital of Qian Cheng was RMB1,500 and its accumulated loss was RMB770. RAL holds a permit issued by the Shanghai human resources and social security bureau which allows it to conduct human resource related business including the collection and launch of, and consulting services related to human resource supply and demand information (online human resource intermediary service). RAL also obtained a permit from the Shanghai municipal telecommunications administration bureau that allows it to provide Internet information services that do not relate to news, publishing, education, healthcare, medicine and medical appliances. RAL conducts the Group’s other human resource related services and operates as an Internet content provider. RAL is wholly owned by Run An. As of December 31, 2010, the registered capital of RAL was RMB1,000 and its accumulated loss was RMB207. The Group has entered into various agreements as related to its VIE subsidiaries. The key provisions of the agreements with the Company or its subsidiaries and the VIE subsidiaries or its shareholders are as follows: Technical and Consulting Service Agreements. WFOE has entered into technical and consulting service agreements with Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL, respectively, under which WFOE has the exclusive right, subject to certain exceptions, to provide technical services to Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL for service fees. The technical and consulting service agreements have a term of ten years and can only be terminated by WFOE during the term. Such term is renewable upon the expiration of the agreement. Pledge and Control Agreements. As security for Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL’s obligations under the technical and consulting service agreements, the shareholders of Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL have pledged all of their equity interest in Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL to WFOE. According to the pledge agreement, WFOE has the right to sell the pledged equity. Additionally, the shareholders of Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL have agreed that they will not dispose of the pledged equity or take any actions that will prejudice WFOE’s interest under the equity pledge agreements. They have further agreed that they will obtain WFOE’s consent regarding material decisions concerning the operation of Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL, including the distribution of profits, the incurrence of debt and the appointment of directors. Additionally, WFOE has the right to recommend candidates to the board for the positions of general manager and senior executives of Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL. Under such pledges, WFOE is obliged to purchase any and all of the equity interest in Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL from their shareholders, if permitted by the PRC laws. The pledges cannot be released until the discharge of all of Run An, Qian Cheng and RAL’s obligations under the respective technical and consulting service agreement. F-8 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) (c) Foreign Currencies The Group’s functional and reporting currency is the Renminbi (“RMB”). Transactions denominated in currencies other than RMB are translated into RMB at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into RMB using the applicable exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China at the balance sheet dates. All such exchange gains and losses are included in the consolidated statements of operations. The exchange differences for translation of group companies’ balances where RMB is not their functional currency are included in cumulative translation adjustments, which is a separate component of shareholders’ equity in the consolidated financial statements. The unaudited United States dollar (“US$”) amounts disclosed in the accompanying financial statements are presented solely for the convenience of the readers. Translations of amounts from RMB into United States dollars for the convenience of the reader were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.6000 on December 30, 2010, representing the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate on December 30, 2010, or at any other rate. (d) Cash and Restricted Cash Cash represents cash on hand and demand deposits placed with banks or other financial institutions. Restricted cash represents cash proceeds from the exercise of share options by the Company’s employees, executives and directors held in a bank account which have yet to be transmitted to them. Included in the cash and restricted cash balances as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 are amounts denominated in United States dollars totaling US$26,384 and US$42,695, respectively (equivalent to approximately RMB180,155 and RMB282,756, based on the RMB to US$ exchange rate quoted by the People’s Bank of China on December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively). The Group receives substantially all of its revenues in RMB, which currently is neither a freely convertible currency nor can it be freely remitted out of China. (e) Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable is presented net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company provides general and specific provisions for bad debts when facts and circumstances indicate that the receivable is unlikely to be collected. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. (f) Investments Short-term investments consisted of certificates of deposit with maturities between three months and one year. Long-term investments consisted of non-interest bearing loans to Area Link Co., Ltd. (“Area Link”), which is the holding company of a coupon advertising services company in China. Area Link is affiliated with Recruit Co., Ltd. (“Recruit”), a shareholder of the Company (Note 11). The repayment dates of these loans are August 30, 2017 and August 30, 2018. As a condition for issuance of the loan, the Company has the right to acquire common stock for up to 40% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment at the Company’s request. The investment is carried at original cost less impairment, if any. At December 31, 2010, the carrying amount of the loans would enable the Company to acquire 26% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment. The investment is subject to a periodic impairment review whenever circumstances indicate the carrying value of the long-term investment may not be recoverable. F-9 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) (g) Property and Equipment Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis to allocate the cost of the assets to their estimated residual value over the following estimated useful lives: Estimated useful lives Land use rights ......................................................................... 42.25 to 50 years Building.................................................................................... 20 years Leasehold improvements.......................................................... Lesser of the lease period or the estimated useful life Electronic equipment*.............................................................. 3 to 5 years Furniture and fixtures ............................................................... 5 years Motor vehicles.......................................................................... 5 years Other assets .............................................................................. 5 years * Beginning July 1, 2009, the Company reduced the useful life of certain office electronic equipment, such as computers, printers and facsimile machines, from five years to three years with no residual value due to an increase in replacement frequency. The change was applied prospectively and resulted in an increase of RMB4,045 in depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2009. (h) Intangible Assets Intangible assets include purchased computer software and licenses and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which range from three to ten years. (i) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Group has adopted ASC 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment,” which addresses the financial accounting and reporting for the recognition and measurement of impairment losses for long-lived assets. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amount of an asset group may not be recoverable. The recoverability of an asset group is based on the undiscounted future cash flows the asset group is expected to generate and recognize an impairment loss when the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset group plus net proceeds expected from the disposition of the asset group, if any, are less than the carrying value of the asset group. If the Group identifies an impairment, the Group reduces the carrying amount of the asset group to its estimated fair value based on a discounted cash flow approach or, when available and appropriate, to comparable market values. No impairment of long-lived assets was recognized in 2008, 2009 and 2010. (j) Revenue Recognition Online Recruitment Services Revenues The Group provides online recruitment advertising and other technical services through its www.51job.com website. The average display period of online recruitment services normally ranges from one week to one year. Fees for its online recruitment advertisement and other technical services are recognized as revenue ratably over the display period of the contract or when services are provided, collectibility is reasonably assured, and other criteria in accordance with ASC 605 “Revenue Recognition” (“ASC 605”) are met. For a transaction involving multiple services, the Company recognizes revenue at relative fair value which is determined based on the Company's regular selling prices charged in unbundled arrangements. Cash received in advance of services are recognized as advance from customers. Print Advertising Revenues The Group provides recruitment advertising services through a weekly newspaper which is distributed in various cities of the PRC. Arrangements for recruitment advertisement on the weekly newspaper are generally short-term in nature. Fees for these types of print recruitment advertising services are recognized as revenue when collectibility is reasonably assured, upon the publication of the advertisements and when other criteria in accordance with ASC 605 are met. Cash received in advance of services are recognized as advance from customers. F-10 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) Other Human Resource Related Revenues The Group also provides other value-added human resource products, such as business process outsourcing, training, executive search and other services. Revenue is recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, (ii) services are rendered, (iii) the sales price and terms are fixed and determinable, and (iv) the collection of the receivable is reasonably assured, as prescribed by ASC 605. Business and Related Taxes The Company’s subsidiaries and its VIE subsidiaries are subject to business taxes and related surcharges on the revenues earned for services provided in the PRC. The applicable rate of business taxes is 5% after certain deductions. In the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, business taxes and related surcharges for revenues earned are deducted from gross revenues to arrive at net revenues. (k) Cost of Services Cost of services consist primarily of payroll compensation and related employee costs, printing and publishing expenses, subcontracting fees and other expenses incurred by the Group which are directly attributable to the rendering of the Group’s recruitment advertising and other human resource services. (l) Sales and Marketing Expenses Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of the Group’s sales and marketing personnel payroll compensation and related employee costs and advertising and promotion expenses. Advertising and promotion expenses generally represent the cost of promotions to create or stimulate a positive image of the Group or a desire for the Group’s services. Advertising and promotion expenses are charged to the consolidated statements of operations when incurred and totaled RMB45,002, RMB32,022 and RMB58,332 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. (m) Share-Based Compensation The Company accounts for share-based compensation arrangements with employees in accordance with ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation.” It requires the Company to measure at the grant date the fair value of the stock-based award and recognize compensation costs, net of estimated forfeitures, on a straight-line basis, over the requisite service period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. Risk-free interest rates are based on U.S. Treasury yield for the terms consistent with the expected life of award at the time of grant. Expected life takes into account vesting and contractual terms, employee demographics and historical exercise behavior, which the Company believes are useful reference points. The assumption for expected dividend yield is consistent with the Company’s current policy of no dividend payout. The Company estimates expected volatility at the date of grant based on historical volatilities of the market price of its American depositary shares (“ADSs”). Forfeiture rate is estimated based on historical forfeiture patterns and adjusted to reflect future change in circumstances and facts, if any. If actual forfeitures differ from those estimates, the Company may need to revise those estimates used in subsequent periods. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the fair value of options granted was estimated with the following assumptions: Risk-free interest rate .......................................................... . Expected life (years)............................................................. Expected dividend yield ....................................................... Volatility ............................................................................... Weighted average of fair value per option at grant date ....... 2.57%-2.80% 4 0% 50%-55% RMB24.40 2008 2009 1.70% 4 0% 60% RMB12.70 2010 0.87%-2.26% 4 0% 50% RMB24.96 F-11 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) (n) Operating Leases Leases where substantially all the rewards and risks of ownership of assets remain with the leasing company are accounted for as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases, net of any incentives received by the Group from the leasing company, are charged to the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease periods. (o) Taxation The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purposes. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion of, or all of, the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company adopted ASC 740-10-25 ”Income Taxes – Overall – Recognition” to account for uncertainties in income taxes effective January 1, 2007. The Company has elected to classify interest and penalties related to an uncertain tax position, if any and when required, as general and administrative expenses. As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, the Company did not have any interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as there were no uncertain tax positions. (p) Statutory Reserves With the exception of Tech JV which is 50% owned by 51net, a British Virgin Islands company, and Wang Ju which is majority owned by 51net HR, a Cayman Islands company, all subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC are required on an annual basis to make an appropriation of retained earnings as statutory common reserve fund equal to 10% of after-tax profit, calculated in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Appropriations are classified in the consolidated balance sheet as statutory common reserve fund, and are recorded beginning in the first period in which after-tax profits exceed all prior year accumulated losses. Once the total statutory common reserve fund reaches 50% of the registered capital of the respective companies, further appropriations are discretionary. The statutory common reserve fund can be used to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses of the respective companies. The Group’s statutory common reserve fund is not distributable to shareholders except in the event of liquidation. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Group’s subsidiaries made total appropriations to their statutory common reserve fund of RMB796, RMB364 and RMB250, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Group also made a reversal of RMB546 from the common statutory reserve fund to retained earnings due to the closure of two subsidiaries. In addition, with the exception of Tech JV, Wang Ju, WFOE and Wang Jin Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., all subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC are required on an annual basis to set aside at least 5% of after-tax profit, calculated in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations, to the statutory common welfare fund, which can be used for staff welfare of the Group. The Group’s subsidiaries made total appropriations to their statutory common welfare fund of RMB160, RMB57 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Group also made a reversal of RMB261 from the statutory common welfare fund to retained earnings due to the closure of two subsidiaries. Tech JV and Wang Ju are required on an annual basis to make appropriations of retained earnings, calculated in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations, to non-distributable statutory reserves, comprising of enterprise statutory reserve, employees’ bonus and welfare fund and enterprise expansion fund. The percentages of the appropriation are determined by the boards of directors of Tech JV and Wang Ju. During the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, Tech JV and Wang Ju did not make any appropriations to these statutory reserves. Appropriations to the statutory common reserve fund and the statutory common welfare fund are accounted for as a transfer from retained earnings to the statutory reserves. There are no legal requirements in the PRC to fund these reserves by transfer of cash to any restricted accounts, and the Group does not do so. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. F-12 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) (q) Dividend Dividends are recognized when declared. PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries can only distribute dividends after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves (Note 2(p)). Aggregate net assets of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries not distributable in the form of dividends to the parent as a result of the aforesaid PRC regulations were approximately RMB518,158, or 31.3% of total consolidated net assets, as of December 31, 2010. However, the PRC subsidiaries may transfer such net assets to the Company by other means, including through royalty and trademark license agreements or certain other contractual agreements, at the discretion of the Company without third party consent. Condensed parent company data is contained in Financial Statement Schedule I. (r) Earnings Per Share In accordance with ASC 260 “Earnings Per Share,” basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders as adjusted for the effect of dilutive common equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares consist of the common shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding share options (using the treasury stock method). (s) Fair Value Measurement Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” (“ASC 820”). ASC 820 clarifies the definition of fair value, prescribes methods for measuring fair value, establishes a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used to measure fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: Level 1 – Observable inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities Level 2 – Include other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace Level 3 – Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity ASC 820 describes three main approaches to measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities: (i) market approach; (ii) income approach and (iii) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated from market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that would currently be required to replace an asset. (t) Segment Reporting The Group operates and manages its business as a single segment. As the Group primarily generates its revenues from customers in the PRC, no geographical segments are presented. (u) Stock Repurchase When the Company’s common shares are repurchased for retirement, the excess of cost over par value is charged entirely to additional paid-in capital. F-13 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) (v) Recent Accounting Pronouncements In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14, which amend ASC 605-25 “Revenue Recognition – Multiple Arrangements” and provide new guidance for revenue recognition for arrangements with multiple deliverables and certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. These ASUs address how to determine whether an arrangement involving multiple deliverables contains more than one unit of accounting, and how the arrangement consideration should be allocated among the separate units of accounting. The new guidance for certain revenue arrangements that include software elements removes non-software components of tangible products and certain software components of tangible products from the scope of existing software revenue guidance, resulting in the recognition of revenue similar to that for other tangible products. These ASUs are effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. However, companies may be able to adopt as early as interim periods ended September 30, 2009. The guidance may be applied either prospectively from the beginning of the fiscal year for new or materially modified arrangements or retrospectively. The guidance is applicable to the Company effective January 1, 2011. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements. In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, which amends ASC 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” to require a number of additional disclosures regarding (i) the different classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value, (ii) the valuation techniques and inputs used, (iii) the activity in Level 3 fair value measurements, and (iv) the transfers between Levels 1, 2, and 3. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements. In February 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-11, which eliminated inconsistencies and outdated provisions and provided the needed clarifications to various topics within ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.” The amendments are effective for the first period beginning after February 2, 2010, except for certain amendments. The amendments to the guidance on accounting for income taxes in reorganizations should be applied to reorganizations for which the date of the reorganization is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. For the reorganizations reflected in interim financial statements issued before the effectiveness of the amendments in this ASU, retrospective application is required. The clarifications of the guidance on the embedded derivatives and hedging are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2009, and should be applied to existing contracts containing embedded derivative features at the date of adoption. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements. In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-13, which updates the guidance in ASC 718 “Compensation – Stock Compensation” to clarify that share-based payment awards with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the underlying equity security trades should not be considered to meet the criteria requiring classification as a liability. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is applicable to the Company effective January 1, 2011. The Company does not expect the adoption of the amended guidance will have a material impact on its financial statements. 3. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE . Accounts receivable ........................................................................................... Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts................................................................ 2009 RMB 20,566 (2,620) 17,946 2010 RMB 35,351 (1,965) 33,386 F-14 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) The movement of allowance for doubtful accounts is analyzed as follows: Balance at beginning of period............................................ . Additions .............................................................................. Reversals .............................................................................. Collections............................................................................ Write-offs ............................................................................. Balance at end of period ....................................................... 4. PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS 2008 RMB 3,879 — — (143) (953) 2,783 2009 RMB 2,783 1,075 — — (1,238) 2,620 2010 RMB 2,620 — (28) — (627) 1,965 2009 RMB 2010 RMB Rental and other deposits.................................................................................... . Prepayments for rental and others ....................................................................... Employee advances ............................................................................................. Payments made on behalf of customers .............................................................. Prepaid insurance premium ................................................................................. Interest income receivable................................................................................... Prepaid business tax ............................................................................................ Others .................................................................................................................. Total..................................................................................................................... 5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Land and building................................................................................................ Leasehold improvements..................................................................................... Electronic equipment........................................................................................... Furniture and fixtures .......................................................................................... Motor vehicles..................................................................................................... Other assets ......................................................................................................... Less: accumulated depreciation........................................................................... . Net book value.................................................................................................... 1,972 5,639 1,725 11,869 2,245 4,191 11,340 918 39,899 2009 RMB 170,274 12,052 69,159 10,325 4,991 3,759 (88,617) 181,943 2,931 6,628 3,138 47,660 1,945 4,399 7,504 1,051 75,256 2010 RMB 193,767 12,778 80,417 10,276 4,764 9,109 (108,412) 202,699 Depreciation expense was RMB23,776, RMB28,877 and RMB27,326 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. Loss due to disposal of fixed assets was RMB915, RMB94 and RMB61 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. 6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS Computer equipment software............................................................................. Acquired training licenses ................................................................................... Internally developed software ............................................................................. Less: accumulated amortization .......................................................................... . Net book value.................................................................................................... 2009 RMB 18,097 6,571 1,569 (20,936) 5,301 2010 RMB 19,290 3,522 — (18,007) 4,805 F-15 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) Amortization expense was RMB2,243, RMB2,314 and RMB2,061 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The Company will record estimated amortization expenses of RMB1,460, RMB1,252, RMB1,234, RMB707 and RMB152 for the years ending December 31, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. 7. OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUALS Professional service fees..................................................................................... . Office expenses ................................................................................................... Deposit from customers....................................................................................... Revenue from newspaper sales collected on behalf of newspaper contractors ... Payables to employees related to net proceeds from share options exercised ..... Others .................................................................................................................. 2009 RMB 3,748 3,512 4,418 625 2,257 842 Total.................................................................................................................... . 15,402 2010 RMB 3,804 3,926 6,617 495 34,735 914 50,491 8. TAXATION Cayman Islands Under the current laws of Cayman Islands, the Company and its subsidiaries that are incorporated in Cayman Islands are not subject to tax on income or capital gain. In addition, upon payments of dividends by those companies to their shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed. British Virgin Islands Under the current laws of British Virgin Islands, the Company’s subsidiary that is incorporated in British Virgin Islands is not subject to tax on income or capital gain. In addition, upon payments of dividends by that company to its shareholders, no British Virgin Islands withholding tax will be imposed. Hong Kong The Company’s subsidiary that is incorporated in Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong profits tax at a rate of 16.5% on its assessable profit. China In March 2007, the National People’s Congress enacted the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China (“EIT Law”) effective January 1, 2008. The EIT Law, among other things, imposes a unified income tax rate of 25% for both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises. However, the EIT Law provides a five-year transitional period for those entities established before March 16, 2007, which enjoyed a favorable income tax rate of less than 25% under the previous income tax laws, to gradually increase their rates to 25%. Under this grandfather provision, the Group’s entities of Wang Jin Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Wang Ju, Tech JV and Wang Cai AdCo incorporated in Shanghai’s Pudong area, and the branches of Tech JV and Wang Cai AdCo located in Shenzhen were subject to an enterprise income tax (“EIT”) rate of 18% in 2008, 20% in 2009 and 22% in 2010, which is to be increased to 24% in 2011 and 25% in 2012. In December 2009, Tech JV was designated by relevant local authorities in Shanghai as a “High and New Technology Enterprise” under the EIT Law, which is subject to a preferential tax rate of 15% through 2011. Therefore, Tech JV’s tax rate in 2009 decreased from 20% to 15% in Shanghai and Shenzhen, and from 25% to 15% in other localities, effective retroactively as of January 1, 2009. Tech JV is entitled to a preferential 15% tax rate as long as it maintains the required qualifications, which is subject to review every three years. F-16 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) The EIT Law also imposes a 10% withholding income tax (“WHT”) for dividends declared out of the profits earned after January 1, 2008 by a foreign investment enterprise (“FIE”) to its immediate holding company outside China. For certain treaty jurisdictions such as Hong Kong which has signed tax treaties with the PRC, the WHT rate is 5%. Since the Company intends to permanently reinvest earnings to further expand its businesses in mainland China, its FIEs do not intend to declare dividends to its immediate foreign holding entities in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, as of December 31, 2010, the Company has not recorded any withholding tax on the retained earnings of its FIEs in China. Composition of Income Tax Expense The current and deferred portion of income tax expense included in the consolidated statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are as follows: Current income tax expense ................................................. Deferred tax expense (benefit) ............................................. Income tax expense .............................................................. 2008 RMB 27,553 3,623 31,176 2009 RMB 34,464 (2,259) 32,205 2010 RMB 58,101 (1,020) 57,081 Reconciliation of the Differences Between Statutory Tax Rate and the Effective Tax Rate Reconciliation between the statutory EIT rate in the PRC and the Group’s effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are as follows: EIT statutory rate.................................................................................. Difference in EIT rates of certain subsidiaries ..................................... Non-deductibility of expenses incurred outside the PRC..................... Other permanent differences ................................................................ Reversal of valuation allowance........................................................... Effective EIT rate of the Group ............................................................ 25% (6%) 10% 2% (2%) 29% 25% (8%) 5% 1% (1%) 22% 25% (8%) 3% 1% (1%) 20% 2008 2009 2010 Significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2009 and 2010 are as follows: 2009 RMB 2010 RMB Deductible temporary differences related to other payables and accruals .......... Deductible temporary differences related to provision for doubtful accounts.... Total current deferred tax assets ......................................................................... Less: Valuation allowance .................................................................................. Net current deferred tax assets............................................................................ Tax loss carryforwards ....................................................................................... Total non-current deferred tax assets.................................................................. Less: Valuation allowance .................................................................................. Net non-current deferred tax assets .................................................................... Total deferred tax assets ..................................................................................... Taxable temporary differences related to depreciation period............................ Total non-current deferred tax liabilities ............................................................ Total deferred tax liabilities................................................................................ 4,522 575 5,097 (115) 4,982 2,310 2,310 (2,025) 285 5,267 (1,011) (1,011) (1,011) 6,404 426 6,830 (81) 6,749 1,527 1,527 (1,417) 110 6,859 (1,583) (1,583) (1,583) F-17 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, valuation allowances were provided on the deferred tax assets to the extent that management believed it was more likely than not that such deferred tax assets would not have been realized in the foreseeable future. Valuation allowances were also provided because it was more likely than not that the Group will not be able to utilize certain tax loss carryforwards generated by certain subsidiaries or VIE subsidiaries. As those entities continue to generate tax losses and tax planning strategies are not available to utilize those tax losses in other group companies, management believes it is more likely than not that such losses will not be utilized before they expire. However, certain valuation allowance was reversed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 when the Group generated sufficient taxable income to utilize the deferred tax assets. If events occur in the future that prevent the Group from realizing some or all of its deferred tax assets, an adjustment to the valuation allowances will be recognized when such events occur. In the PRC, tax loss carryforwards generally expire after five years. Tax loss carryforwards in the amount of RMB624 as of December 31, 2010 will expire beginning 2014. The following represents a roll-forward of the valuation allowance for each of the years: Balance at beginning of period............................................ . Additions .............................................................................. Reversals .............................................................................. Balance at end of period ....................................................... 9. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION 2008 RMB 6,505 347 (4,752) 2,100 2009 RMB 2,100 492 (452) 2,140 2010 RMB 2,140 5 (647) 1,498 In September 2000, the Company adopted a share option plan (“2000 Option Plan”) which provides for the issuance of up to 4,010,666 common shares. The total number of common shares reserved under the 2000 Option Plan was increased to 5,530,578 in February 2004 and to 7,530,578 in July 2006. On April 30, 2009, the Company adopted a new share option plan (“2009 Option Plan”). The 2009 Option Plan provides for the issuance of up to 5,000,000 common shares. Under the option plans, the directors may, at their discretion, issue share options to purchase the Company’s common shares to any senior executives, directors, employees or consultants of the Group. The share options are granted at the fair market value of the common shares at the date of grant and can be exercised within six years from the date of grant. The following table summarizes the Company’s share option activities for the year ended December 31, 2010: Outstanding at January 1, 2010 ................................... Granted .................................................................... Exercised ................................................................. Forfeited .................................................................. Outstanding at December 31, 2010 ............................. Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2010..... Exercisable at December 31, 2010 .............................. Weighted average exercise price US$7.45 US$9.22 US$8.26 US$6.00 US$7.75 US$7.78 US$7.76 Number of shares 4,464,672 1,210,512 (1,681,694) (237,040) 3,756,450 3,488,312 1,527,148 Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) Aggregate intrinsic value (thousands) 3.78 3.72 2.58 US$63,404 US$58,748 US$25,751 The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day in 2010 and the exercise price for in-the-money options. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 was RMB1,890, RMB4,717 and RMB120,424 (US$18,246), respectively. F-18 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) As of December 31, 2010, there was RMB43,091 (US$6,529) of unrecognized share-based compensation cost related to non-vested share options. That deferred cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of 2.64 years. To the extent the actual forfeiture rate is different from the original estimate, actual share-based compensation related to these awards may be different from the expectation. For the year ended December 31, 2010, total cash received from the exercise of share options amounted to RMB93,149 (US$14,113). A summary of non-vested share option activity for the year ended December 31, 2010 is presented below: Non-vested at January 1, 2010 .......................................................................... Granted .......................................................................................................... Vested ............................................................................................................ Forfeited ........................................................................................................ Non-vested at December 31, 2010 .................................................................... Expected to vest at December 31, 2010............................................................. Number of shares 2,230,409 1,210,512 (974,579) (237,040) 2,229,302 1,961,164 Weighted average grant-date fair value US$2.98 US$9.22 US$3.29 US$2.73 US$3.30 US$3.33 There were no capitalized share-based compensation costs for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Share-based compensation expense with respect to the share option plans recognized during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, totaled RMB27,434, RMB27,020 and RMB23,962 (US$3,631), respectively. The total fair value of share options vested during the year ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 was RMB23,851, RMB29,297 and RMB21,153 (US$3,205), respectively. 10. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS The full-time employees of the Company’s subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries that are incorporated in the PRC are entitled to staff welfare benefits including medical care, welfare subsidies, unemployment insurance and pension benefits. These companies are required to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries in accordance with the relevant regulations, and make contributions to the state-sponsored welfare, pension and medical plans out of the amounts accrued for these benefits. The total amounts charged to the consolidated statements of operations for such employee benefits amounted to RMB52,632, RMB58,932 and RMB64,684 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. The PRC government is responsible for the welfare and medical benefits and ultimate pension liability to these employees. 11. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION In August 2007, the Company entered into a cooperation agreement with Recruit, which is a shareholder of the Company, to form a new company under Area Link to provide coupon advertising services in China. Under the agreement as amended in August 2009, the Company may provide up to RMB32,800 in financing to Area Link for the coupon company and has the ability to acquire up to 40% of Area Link’s share capital. The Company provided financing in the amount of RMB7,972, nil and nil in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, to Area Link under the cooperation agreement. F-19 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) 12. EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share have been calculated for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 as follows: 2008 RMB 2009 RMB (in thousands, except share and per share data) 2010 RMB Numerator: Net income .............................................................................. . 76,601 112,512 234,661 Denominator: Denominator for basic earnings per share — weighted average common shares outstanding ..................... Effect of dilutive share options................................................. 56,581,719 127,794 . Denominator for diluted earnings per share ............................ 56,709,513 55,559,252 209,614 55,768,866 55,485,256 1,329,247 56,814,503 Basic earnings per share ........................................................... . Diluted earnings per share ....................................................... 1.35 1.35 2.03 2.02 4.23 4.13 The Company excluded outstanding share options of 3,164,709 in 2008, 3,688,627 in 2009 and 1,341,778 in 2010 from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because the exercise prices of these share options were greater than or equal to the average market value of the common shares. These options could be included in the calculation in the future if the average market value of the common shares increases and is greater than the exercise price of these options. 13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES Publication Fee and Operating Lease Commitments The Group has entered into non-cancelable agreements with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year for the publication of 51job Weekly, the rental and property management of office premises and for the lease of office equipment. Future minimum payments with respect to these agreements for the twelve months ending December 31 of the coming years are as follows: 2011 ................................................ 2012................................................ 2013................................................ 2014................................................ 2015................................................ Publication fees RMB Operating lease – Office premises RMB Operating lease – Others RMB 27,626 2,488 1,164 — — 31,278 21,621 15,457 10,555 185 46 47,864 2,017 1,193 36 20 — 3,266 Total RMB 51,264 19,138 11,755 205 46 82,408 Rental expenses for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 were RMB28,872, RMB34,501 and RMB33,204, respectively. Contractual Purchase Obligations The Group’s contractual purchase obligations consist of agreements to purchase advertising services from outdoor and Internet media companies. Future minimum payments with respect to these agreements for the twelve months ending December 31, 2011 are RMB7,505. F-20 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) Contingencies There are uncertainties regarding the legal basis of the Group’s ability to operate the Internet content service. Although the PRC has implemented a wide range of market-oriented economic reforms, the telecommunication, information and media industries as well as certain sectors of the human resource service industries remain highly regulated. Not only are restrictions currently in place, but also regulations are unclear regarding in what specific segments of these industries companies with foreign investors, including the Company, may operate. Therefore, the Group might be required to limit the scope of its operations in the PRC, and this could have an adverse effect on the Group’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Tech JV obtained an advertising license in May 2000, when Tech JV was a 98% foreign owned entity, and a license to conduct human resource services in September 2002, when Tech JV was a 99% foreign owned entity. During the period from the date Tech JV acquired these licenses to the Group’s restructuring in May 2004, Tech JV and its licensed PRC subsidiaries conducted all of the advertising and human resource related services. Following the acquisition of these licenses and commencing these operations, the PRC government enacted laws limiting foreign ownership in entities conducting advertising and human resource related services. The PRC government has permitted 100% foreign ownership of advertising businesses since December 2005 and has limited the foreign ownership of human resource services companies to no more than 70% since August 2006. The PRC government has not published an official ruling with respect to the status of foreign ownership arrangements that were established prior to the enactment of these limitations and which may be above these limitations. Prior to the restructuring in May 2004, the ownership percentage of Tech JV was above the maximum foreign ownership permitted for an entity conducting advertising and human resource operations. In addition, there is uncertainty regarding the regulation of PRC subsidiaries in which subsidiaries of foreign owned PRC entities invest, such as the subsidiaries of AdCo which are engaged in advertising businesses. The PRC government may determine that the Group’s ownership structure was inconsistent with or insufficient for the proper operation of the Group’s businesses, or that the Group’s business licenses or other approvals were not properly issued or not sufficient. In the opinion of management with the advice of outside counsel, the likelihood of loss in respect of the Group’s current or past ownership structure is remote. 14. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Financial instruments of the Group are primarily comprised of cash, restricted cash, short-term investments, accounts receivable, long-term investments and payables. In accordance with ASC 820, cash, restricted cash, accounts receivable and payables are classified within Level 1 and their carrying values approximated their estimated fair values due to the short-term maturities of these instruments. Short-term investments, which consist of time deposits, are classified within Level 1 and the carrying values approximated their estimated fair values because such deposits bear market interest rates. Long-term investments, which consist of non-interest bearing loans to Area Link, are classified within Level 1 and the carrying values approximated their estimated fair values based on loan characteristics. 15. CERTAIN RISKS AND CONCENTRATION Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, short-term and long-term investments, and accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2009 and 2010, substantially all of the Group’s cash and short-term investments were held in major financial institutions located in the United States, the PRC and Hong Kong which management believes are of high credit quality. Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and denominated in RMB, and are derived from revenues earned from operations arising in the PRC. Management believes credit risk on accounts receivable is moderate due to the diversity of its services and customers. The Group’s sales and purchase and expense transactions are generally denominated in RMB and a significant portion of the Group’s liabilities are denominated in RMB. RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. In the PRC, foreign exchange transactions are required by law to be transacted only by authorized financial institutions at exchange rates set by the People’s Bank of China. F-21 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$, except share and per share data) The Group is subject to regulatory risks, which include the interpretation of current tax laws, the legality of its corporate structure and the scope of its operations in the PRC, which may result in limitations on the Group’s ability to conduct business in the PRC. In addition, the Group conducts some of its operations in China through three variable interest entities and consolidates them pursuant to a series of contractual arrangements. If the PRC government finds that these contractual arrangements do not comply with applicable laws and regulations, it may require the Group to restructure its operations entirely. The Group’s business, operating results and financial condition could also be materially and adversely affected by significant political, economic and social uncertainties in the PRC. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of net revenues during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010. No individual customer accounted for more than 10% of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2009 and 2010. F-22 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE I 51JOB, INC. CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 Note 2008 RMB 2009 RMB 2010 RMB 2010 US$ (Note 4) (in thousands) Net revenues .......................................................... Cost of services ...................................................... Gross profit ............................................................ Total operating expenses ........................................ Loss from operations............................................. . Equity in profit of subsidiary companies, net......... Loss from foreign currency translation .................. Interest income....................................................... Other expense ........................................................ . Income before income tax expense ....................... Income tax expense................................................ Net income for the year.......................................... 1 — — — (30,247) (30,247) 118,380 (17,317) 5,851 (66) 76,601 — 76,601 — — — (28,760) (28,760) 141,198 (215) 376 (87) 112,512 — 112,512 — — — (24,434) (24,434) 265,623 (6,673) 260 (115) 234,661 — 234,661 — — — (3,702) (3,702) 40,246 (1,011) 39 (17) 35,555 — 35,555 F-23 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE I CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2009 AND 2010 51JOB, INC. Note 2009 RMB 2010 2010 US$ (Note 4) RMB (in thousands, except share and per share data) ASSETS Current assets: Cash ....................................................................................... Restricted cash ....................................................................... Receivables due from related parties...................................... Prepayments and other current assets..................................... Total current assets..................................................................... Long term receivables due from related parties ......................... Long-term investments .............................................................. Investment in subsidiaries .......................................................... Total non-current assets.............................................................. Total assets................................................................................ 2 2 3 1 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities: Due to related parties ............................................................. Other payables and accruals................................................... 2 Total current liabilities ............................................................... Total liabilities ........................................................................... Shareholders’ equity: Common shares (US$0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 55,126,859 and 56,473,949 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2009 and 2010, respectively) ............................................................. Additional paid-in capital....................................................... Accumulated other comprehensive income............................ Retained earnings, including statutory reserves ..................... Total shareholders’ equity .......................................................... Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity................................ 177,266 — 3,467 70 180,803 318,403 15,912 814,777 243,229 34,411 3,350 44 281,034 318,403 15,433 1,080,281 1,149,092 1,414,117 1,329,895 1,695,151 2,911 2,845 5,756 5,756 4,773 35,522 40,295 40,295 46 902,124 1,067 420,902 47 997,933 1,313 655,563 1,324,139 1,654,856 1,329,895 1,695,151 36,853 5,214 507 7 42,581 48,243 2,338 163,679 214,260 256,841 723 5,382 6,105 6,105 7 151,202 199 99,328 250,736 256,841 F-24 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE I 51JOB, INC. CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 Net cash provided by operating activities...................... Net cash used in investing activities.............................. Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities....... Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash........... Net increase (decrease) in cash ................................... Cash, beginning of year............................................... Cash, end of year ......................................................... 2008 RMB 2009 RMB 2010 RMB 2010 US$ (Note 4) (in thousands) 548 (7,972) (4,101) (16,484) (28,009) 246,046 218,037 1,693 — (42,249) (215) (40,771) 218,037 177,266 239 — 71,849 (6,125) 65,963 177,266 243,229 36 — 10,886 (928) 9,994 26,859 36,853 F-25 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE I 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$ unless otherwise stated) 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The condensed financial statements of 51job, Inc. (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America except for accounting of the Company’s subsidiaries and certain footnote disclosures as described below. The Company is generally a holding company of certain subsidiaries and variable interest entities (collectively “Subsidiaries”). The Company records it investment in its Subsidiaries under the equity method of accounting as prescribed in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 323 “Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures.” Such investment is presented on the balance sheet as “Investment in subsidiaries” and 100% of the Subsidiaries’ profit or loss as “Equity in profit of subsidiary companies, net” on the statement of operations. The Subsidiaries did not pay any dividend to the Company for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information relating to the operations of the Company and, as such, these statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company. 2. RELATED PARTY BALANCES Balances with related parties for the periods indicated are as follows: Receivables due from related parties: 51net HR.......................................................................................................... 51net Beijing.................................................................................................... 51net.com Inc. ................................................................................................. Long term receivables due from related parties: 51net.com Inc. ................................................................................................. Due to related parties: Qianjin Network Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ..................... Shanghai Qianjin Advertising Co., Ltd............................................................ 2009 RMB 2010 RMB 746 52 2,669 3,467 318,403 321,870 529 2,382 2,911 722 50 2,578 3,350 318,403 321,753 713 4,060 4,773 The amounts due from 51net.com Inc. relate to cash payments made by the Company to 51net.com Inc. for investment in the Company’s PRC entities. The amounts are unsecured, non-interest bearing and have no definite terms. 3. LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS Long-term investments consisted of non-interest bearing loans to Area Link Co., Ltd. (“Area Link”), which is the holding company of a coupon advertising services company in China. Area Link is affiliated with Recruit Co., Ltd. (“Recruit”), a shareholder of the Company. The repayment dates of these loans are August 30, 2017 and August 30, 2018. As a condition for issuance of the loan, the Company has the right to acquire common stock for up to 40% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment at the Company’s request. The investment is carried at original cost less impairment, if any. At December 31, 2010, the carrying amount of the loans would enable the Company to acquire 26% of Area Link’s share capital in lieu of repayment. The investment is subject to a periodic impairment review whenever circumstances indicate the carrying value of the long-term investment may not be recoverable. F-26 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE I 51JOB, INC. NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2009 AND 2010 (Amounts expressed in thousands of RMB and US$ unless otherwise stated) 4. FOREIGN CURRENCIES The unaudited United States dollar (“US$”) amounts disclosed in the financial statement are presented solely for the convenience of the readers. Translations of amounts from Renminbi (“RMB”) into United States dollars for the convenience of the reader were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.6000 on December 30, 2010, representing the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of RMB as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Board. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted into US$ at that rate on December 30, 2010, or at any other rate. F-27 (This page is intentionally left blank)
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