The9 Limited
Annual Report 2012

Plain-text annual report

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 20-F (Mark One) (cid:0) REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 ⌧ (cid:0) (cid:0) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 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: 001-34238 THE9 LIMITED (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 No. 3, 690 Bibo Road Zhang Jiang Hi-Tech Park Pudong New Area, Pudong Shanghai 201203 People’s Republic of China (Address of principal executive offices) George Lai, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +86-21-5172-9999 Facsimile number: +86-21-5172-9903 Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road Zhang Jiang Hi-Tech Park Pudong New Area, Pudong 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 one ordinary shares, par value $0.01 per share Name of each exchange on which registered Nasdaq Global Market Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None (Title of Class) Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None (Title of Class) Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. 28,783,929 ordinary shares, par value $0.01 per share, as of December 31, 2012. Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities (cid:0) ⌧ Act. Yes No If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to (cid:0) ⌧ 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 ⌧ (cid:0) 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes No ⌧ (cid:0) 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): (cid:0) ⌧ (cid:0) Large accelerated filer Accelerated filer Non-accelerated filer Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing: ⌧ US GAAP International Financial Reporting Standards as issued (cid:0) by the International Accounting Standards Board (cid:0) 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. (cid:0) (cid:0) 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 (cid:0) ⌧ Exchange Act). Yes No (APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) (cid:0) (cid:0) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. YES NO TABLE OF CONTENTS KEY INFORMATION OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS INTRODUCTION PART I Item 1. Item 2. Item 3. Item 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY Item 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS Item 5. Item 6. Item 7. Item 8. Item 9. 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 MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS FINANCIAL INFORMATION THE OFFER AND LISTING 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 Item 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE PART III Item 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Item 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Item 19. EXHIBITS 1 2 2 2 2 30 44 44 62 69 72 73 74 86 86 87 87 88 88 90 90 90 91 91 91 91 92 92 92 92 92 INTRODUCTION In this annual report, unless otherwise indicated, (1) the terms “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our” and “The9” refer to The9 Limited and, as context may require, its subsidiaries and our affiliated entities, (2) the terms “affiliated entities” refer to our affiliated PRC entities, namely Shanghai The9 Information Technology Co., Ltd., or Shanghai IT, and Shanghai Huopu Cloud Computing Terminal Technology Co., Ltd., or Huopu Cloud, as well as our other affiliated entities, namely Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement Co., Ltd., or Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement, Shanghai Jiushi Interactive Network Technology Co., Ltd., or Jiushi, and Shanghai Mengxiang Hulian Digital Technology Co., Ltd., (3) the terms “shares” and “ordinary shares” refer to our ordinary shares, and “ADSs” refers to our American Depositary Shares, each of which represents one ordinary share, and “ADRs” refers to the American Depositary Receipts, which evidence our ADSs, (4) “China” and “PRC” refer to the People’s Republic of China, and solely for the purpose of this annual report, excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, (5) all references to “RMB” and “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China and all references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars,” “US$” and “$” are to the legal currency of the United States, (6) all discrepancies in any table between the amounts identified as total amounts and the sum of the amounts listed therein are due to rounding, and (7) all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB in this annual report were made at a rate of RMB6.2301 to US$1.00, representing the noon buying rate in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB, as certified for customs purposes by the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board as of December 31, 2012. Such translations have been provided for the convenience of the reader only and should not be construed as representations that the RMB amounts represent, or have been or could be converted into, United States dollars at that or any other rate. We and certain selling shareholders of our company completed the initial public offering of 6,075,000 ADSs, each representing one ordinary share, par value US$0.01 per share, on December 20, 2004. On December 15, 2004, we listed our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, under the ticker symbol “NCTY.” 1 Item 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS Not Applicable. Item 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE PART I Not Applicable. Item 3. KEY INFORMATION A. Selected Financial Data The following table presents selected consolidated financial information for our company. You should read the following information in conjunction with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with those statements, which are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2009 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2008, 2009 and 2010 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which are not included in this annual report. 2008 RMB 2009 RMB Year Ended December 31, 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 (1) US$ RMB (in thousands, except for share and per ADS) Consolidated Statement of Operation Data Revenues Sales taxes Net revenues Cost of services Gross profit (loss) Operating expenses Other operating income Profit (loss) from operations Interest income Other income (expense), net Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit, gain on investment disposal, impairment loss on investments and share of loss in equity investments Income tax (expense) benefit Income (loss) before gain on investment disposal, (6,089) (5,676) 102,838 (103,257) (419) (42,113) 760,516 (712,473) 48,043 1,806,130 802,629 108,514 112,466 163,581 (9,147) 106,377 154,434 (39,118) (69,416) 67,259 85,018 26,256 (1,468) (94,639) 24,788 1,711,491 (11,142) (997,949) 713,542 13,646 (578,993) (530,884) (353,365) (477,284) (677,529) (108,751) 19 (95,086) 3,497 746 120 134,549 (482,841) (353,784) (384,032) (592,391) 30,416 21,786 23,183 56,691 4,644 19,259 (18,967) 30,501 61,840 25,993 (653) — — — 172,273 (390,500) (311,342) (354,269) (565,961) — (7,368) (47,929) 5,536 — impairment loss on investments and share of loss in equity investments Gain on investment disposal Impairment loss on investments Share of loss in equity investments 124,344 (384,964) (318,710) (354,269) (565,961) 44,435 15,726 (3,244) (6,347) 6,828 (196,116) (10,713) — (22,412) (2,556) — (25,922) (2,241) — (3,342) 2 (90,843) — (90,843) 2,524 (520) (1,019) Net income (loss) Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares Net income (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares per (2) share Basic Diluted 2008 RMB 2009 RMB Year Ended December 31, 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 RMB US$ (1) (in thousands, except for share and per ADS) 96,181 (655) (89,858) (7,355) 96,836 (405,152) (499,612) (284,330) (514,002) (82,503) (518,711) (313,176) (559,826) (19,099) (28,846) (45,824) (409,932) (4,780) 3.50 3.50 (15.94) (15.94) (19.89) (19.89) (11.39) (11.39) (20.98) (20.98) (3.37) (3.37) Net income (loss) attributable to holders of ordinary shares per ADS (3) Basic Diluted Consolidated Balance Sheet Data Cash and cash equivalents Non-current assets Total assets Total current liabilities Total equity Total liabilities and equity 3.50 3.50 (15.94) (15.94) (19.89) (19.89) (11.39) (11.39) (20.98) (20.98) (3.37) (3.37) 2008 RMB 2009 RMB Year Ended December 31, 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 RMB US$ (1) (in thousands, except for per share and per ADS) 522,161 2,152,586 1,675,081 1,416,189 1,071,726 554,279 88,968 769,023 460,228 447,730 71,886 3,263,009 2,324,958 1,857,339 1,628,894 1,112,345 178,544 543,767 311,525 317,713 50,996 2,719,242 2,013,450 1,535,217 1,251,831 749,212 120,257 3,263,009 2,324,958 1,857,339 1,628,894 1,112,345 178,544 311,508 295,886 316,319 (1) Translation from RMB amounts into U.S. dollars was made at a rate of RMB6.2301 to US$1.00 for the convenience of the reader only. See “— Exchange Rate Information.” (2) We adopted authoritative guidance regarding accounting for non-controlling interests on January 1, 2009, retrospectively. (3) Each ADS represents one ordinary share. Exchange Rate Information Our business is primarily conducted in China and almost all of our revenues are denominated in RMB. This annual report contains translations of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars based on the noon buying rate in the city of New York for cable transfers of RMB, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for period ends indicated through December 2008 and the H.10 weekly statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board for period ends indicated from and after January 2009. For the convenience of the readers only, this annual report contains translations of some RMB or U.S. dollar amounts for 2012 at US$1.00 to RMB6.2301, which was the noon buying rate in effect as of December 31, 2012. The prevailing rate on April 5, 2013 was US$1.00 to RMB6.2005. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, the rates stated below, or at all. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Future movements in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the RMB may adversely affect the value of our ADSs.” 3 The following table sets forth information concerning exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar for the periods indicated. These rates are provided solely for your convenience and are not necessarily the exchange rates that we used in this annual report or will use in the preparation of our other periodic reports or any other information to be provided to you. Noon Buying Rate Period 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 October November December January February March April (through April 5, 2013) Period end Average (1) 6.8225 6.8259 6.6000 6.2939 6.2301 6.2372 6.2265 6.2301 6.2186 6.2213 6.2108 6.2005 6.9193 6.8295 6.7603 6.4475 6.2990 6.2627 6.2338 6.2328 Low 7.2946 6.8470 6.8330 6.6364 6.3879 6.2877 6.2454 6.2502 High 6.7800 6.8176 6.6000 6.2939 6.2221 6.2372 6.2221 6.2251 6.2215 6.2323 6.2154 6.2008 6.2303 6.2438 6.2246 6.2078 6.2134 6.2213 6.2105 6.1962 (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 Company and Our Industry We may continue to incur losses and negative cash flows from operating activities in the future and may not return to profitability. Our license to operate WoW expired in June 2009. As a result, we incurred a net loss of RMB518.7 million, RMB313.2 million and RMB559.8 million ($89.9 million) in the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, as we have not identified a product to replace the WoW game and we continue to incur product development, sales and marketing expenses for our new products. We expect our operating expenses to increase as we develop new products and expand our operations. Our ability to achieve profitability depends on the competitiveness of our products and services as well as our ability to control costs and to provide new products and services to meet the demands of our customers. Due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with our business, we may not be able to achieve profitability in the short-term or long-term. If we continue to incur losses and fail to achieve profitability in the future, the market price of our ADSs could decline. In addition, our cash and cash equivalent decreased from RMB1,416.2 million as of December 31, 2010 to RMB1,071.7 million as of December 31, 2011, and further decreased to RMB554.3 million (US$89.0 million) as of December 31, 2012, primarily due to the cash outflow from operating activities associated with the product development and sales and marketing efforts for our new games. We may continue to incur losses and negative cash flows from operating activities, which will have material and adverse effect on our business, liquidity and financial condition. 4 If we are unable to successfully establish new relationships with online game developers and maintain a satisfactory relationship with the online game developers that have licensed games to us, our future results of operations and profitability will be materially impacted. We rely heavily on our relationships with online game developers that have licensed games to us. Despite our effort to expand our capacity to develop our own proprietary games, we significantly rely and will continue to significantly rely on our relationships with, among others, game licensors such as Sony Online Entertainment LLC, or SOE. The licenses of the games we now operate generally have terms ranging from three to five years, and may or may not be renewed upon expiration. As an illustration, until June 2009, we had relied heavily on our relationship with Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. which permitted our subsidiary, China The9 Interactive Limited, or C9I, to operate WoW, in China through cooperation with Shanghai IT, our affiliated PRC entity. Our agreement with Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., which expired on June 7, 2009, accounted for approximately 88% of our total revenues in 2009. On November 22, 2010, our license agreement with HanbitSoft Inc., or HanbitSoft, and IMC Games Co., Ltd. to operate Granado Espada expired and was not renewed. Our game licenses may also be terminated before expiration. For example, on December 2, 2010, we entered into an agreement with EA Swiss Sàrl to terminate the EA Sports™ FIFA Online 2 license, which would otherwise have expired in May 2012. We ceased to operate the game in China in October 2011. Our exclusive licenses from SOE to operate certain massively multiplayer online role playing games, or MMORPGs, including Free Realms, Planetside 2 and PoxNora, in Korea were terminated in October 2012. In order for our business strategy to be successful in the near term, we will need to obtain new online game licenses and renew existing licenses, in addition to developing proprietary games that are attractive to users. Our business depends significantly upon our licenses to operate online games in China. Therefore, our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially impacted if we are unable to obtain new online game licenses in the future. In addition, if we are unable to maintain a satisfactory relationship with the online game developers resulting in licenses not being renewed or licenses being prematurely terminated, or should any of these game licensors either establish similar or more favorable relationships with our competitors in violation of their contractual arrangements with us, or otherwise, our operating results and our business would be harmed. We cannot assure you that any of our online game licensors will renew their license agreements with us, or grant us a license for any new online games that they will develop or make available to us expansion packs for existing games. Any deterioration in our relationships with our online game licensors could harm our future results of operations or the growth of our business. Our business is intensely competitive and “hit” driven. If we do not deliver new “hit” products to the market, or if consumers prefer our competitors’ products or services over those we provide, our operating results will suffer. We operate in a highly competitive and dynamic market, and our future success depends not only on the popularity of our existing online games but also, in large part, on our ability to develop and introduce new games that are attractive to our customers. To achieve this, we will need to anticipate and effectively adapt to rapidly changing consumer tastes and preferences and technological advances. The development of new games can be very difficult and requires high levels of innovation. We do not have a proven track record of developing proprietary MMORPGs, massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game, or MMOFPSs, web games, social games or mobile games. While new products are regularly introduced, only a small number of “hit” titles account for a significant portion of total revenue in our industry. There is no assurance that any new game, proprietary, licensed or otherwise, to be introduced by us from time to time, including those named in “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Products and Services,” could become “hit” products and widely accepted by the customers and the market. “Hit” products offered by our competitors may take a larger share of the market than we anticipate, which could cause revenues generated by our products to fall below expectations. If our competitors develop more successful products, or offer similar products at lower price points or pursuant to payment models viewed as offering a better value than we do, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. 5 Also, in order to maintain the life span of our new online games, which we believe is typically four to five years for successful online games or two to three years for most other online games, we need to continue to develop and release upgrades to our new online games. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify appropriate games or enter into arrangements with those game developers to offer these games in China on terms acceptable to us or at all, or that we can maintain the expected life span of our new online games. If we are not able to license, develop or acquire additional attractive online games with lasting appeal to users, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We may not be able to recover our market share and profitability as we operate in a highly competitive industry and compete against many companies. There are currently over 100 online game operators in China. We expect that, given the relatively low barriers to entry, more companies will enter the online game industry in China and a wider range of online games will be introduced to the Chinese market. Our competitors vary in size and include large companies, many of which have significantly greater financial, marketing and game development resources and name recognition than we have, such as Tencent Inc., Shanda Games Limited, Netease.com, Inc., Perfect World Co., Ltd., Changyou.com Limited and Giant Interactive Group. As a result, we may not be able to devote adequate resources to designing, developing or acquiring new games, undertaking extensive marketing campaigns, adopting aggressive pricing policies, paying high compensation to game developers or compensating independent game developers to the same degree as certain of our competitors do. Our competitors may introduce new business methods from time to time. If these new business methods turn to be more attractive to customers than the business methods we currently use, our customers may switch to our competitors’ games, and we may lose market share. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully against new or existing competitors, or against new business methods implemented by them. In addition, the increasing competition we anticipate in the online game industry may also reduce the number of our users or the growth rate of our user base or reduce the game points spending for in-game premiums. All of these competitive factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and prevent us from recovering market share and profitability. Illegal game servers, unauthorized character enhancements and other infringements of our intellectual property rights, as well as theft of in-game goods, could harm our business and reputation and materially and adversely affect our results of operation. With the increase in the number of online game players in China, we have faced the risks of illegal game servers, unauthorized character enhancements and other infringements of our intellectual property rights as well as the risk of theft of in-game goods purchased by our customers. Our historical results of operations were materially and adversely affected by illegal game servers. Although we have adopted a number of measures to address illegal server usage, misappropriation of our game server installation software and the establishment of illegal game servers could harm our business and reputation and materially and adversely affect our results of operations. From time to time, we have detected a number of players who have gained an unfair advantage by installing tools that fraudulently facilitate character progression. We have installed software patches designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to our execution files. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to identify and eliminate new illegal game servers, unauthorized character enhancements or other infringements of our intellectual property rights in a timely manner, or at all. The deletion of unauthorized character enhancements requires the affected players to restart with a new character from the starting level, and this may cause some of these players to cease playing the game altogether. If we are unable to eliminate illegal servers, unauthorized character enhancements or suffer other infringement of our intellectual property rights, our players’ perception of the reliability of our games may be negatively impacted, which may reduce the number of players using our games, shorten the lifespan of our games and adversely affect our results of operations. 6 Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by the downturn in the global or Chinese economy. The global financial markets experienced significant disruptions in 2008 and the effect of the crisis still persists. China’s economy has also faced challenges. To the extent that there have been improvements in some areas, it is uncertain whether such recovery is sustainable. Since we currently derive substantially all of our revenues from China, our business and prospects may be affected by economic conditions in China. Moreover, a slowdown in the global or Chinese economy or the recurrence of any financial disruptions in any jurisdiction, such as the European Union, may have a material and adverse impact on available financing. The weakness in the economy could erode investors’ confidence, which constitutes the basis of the equity markets. The recent financial turmoil affecting the financial markets and banking system may significantly restrict our ability to obtain financing in the capital markets or from financial institutions on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. We are uncertain about the extent to which the recent global financial and economic crisis and slowdown of the Chinese economy may impact our business in the long term. There is a risk that our business, results of operations and prospects would be materially and adversely affected by the global economic downturn and the slowdown of the Chinese economy. We face the risks of changing consumer preferences and uncertainty about market acceptance of our new products. The online game industry is relatively new and constantly evolving in China. Customer demand for and market acceptance of our online games is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. Our future operating results will depend on numerous factors beyond our control. These factors include: • • • • • • • the popularity of new online games that we operate; the introduction of new online games competing with or replacing our existing online games; general economic conditions, particularly economic conditions affecting discretionary consumer spending; changes in customer tastes and preferences; the availability of other forms of entertainment; critical reviews and public tastes and preferences, all of which change rapidly and cannot be predicted; and customer demand for our in-game items. Our ability to plan for product development and distribution and promotional activities will be significantly affected by our ability to anticipate and adapt to relatively rapid changes in consumer tastes and preferences. Currently, one of the most popular types of online games in China are MMORPGs. However, there is no assurance that MMORPGs will continue to be popular in China or that their popularity will not be surpassed by new and different types of online or other games in the future. For example, other types of online games, such as MMOFPS, web games, social games and mobile games have been gradually gaining popularity among game players since 2009. A decline in the popularity of online and mobile games in general or the MMORPGs that we operate will likely adversely affect our business and prospects. In addition, we expect that as we introduce new games, a certain portion of our existing customers will switch to the new games. If this transfer of players from our existing games exceeds our expectations, we may have to adjust our marketing, pricing and other business plans and, as a result, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. 7 Future acquisitions may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business and our results of operations. Selective acquisitions form a part of our strategy to further expand our business. For example, in 2010 we acquired the majority interest in Red 5 Studios, Inc., or Red 5, to further strengthen our online game development capabilities. We believe that integration of a new company’s operations and personnel into ours will require the significant attention of our management. The diversion of our management’s attention away from our business and any difficulties encountered in the integration process could have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business. In addition, we have increasingly relied on our acquired subsidiaries to develop our own proprietary games. For example, Red 5 is developing Firefall, a MMOFPS game, which we expect to launch the open beta testing in 2013. If our acquired subsidiaries are unable to develop, launch and operate games that are commercially successful and appeal to game players, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We intend to selectively acquire companies, technologies and personnel that are complementary to our existing business. Our ability to grow through future acquisitions, investments or organic means will depend on the availability of suitable acquisitions and investment candidates at an acceptable cost, our ability to compete effectively to attract these candidates, and the availability of financing to complete large acquisitions. We may face significant competition in acquiring new businesses or companies, which may hinder the execution of our growth strategy. Future acquisitions or investments could result in a potential dilutive issuance of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, impairment losses or amortization expenses related to goodwill and other intangible assets, each of which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. The benefits of an acquisition or investment may also take considerable time to develop and we cannot be certain that any particular acquisition or investment will produce its intended benefits. Future acquisitions would also expose us to potential risks, including risks associated with the assimilation of new operations, technologies and personnel, unforeseen or hidden liabilities, the diversion of resources from our existing businesses, sites and technologies, the inability to generate sufficient revenue to offset the costs and expenses of acquisitions, and potential loss of, or harm to, our relationships with employees, customers, licensors and other suppliers as a result of the integration of new businesses. Future equity investments may have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business. We expand our business in part through selective equity investments. To date, we have acquired equity interests in various online game developers, operators, and mobile game or application platforms. Equity investments create a unique problem in that we are often limited in our ability to manage the products and strategies of the companies in which we invest. The diversion of our management’s attention away from our business and any difficulties encountered in managing our interests in the respective investees could have an adverse effect on our ability to manage our business. In addition, we may not recover our equity investments if the companies in which we invest do not perform well and equity investments could result in the incurrence of impairment losses, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Undetected programming errors or flaws in our games could harm our reputation or decrease market acceptance of our games, which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Our games may contain errors or flaws, which may only be discovered after their release, particularly as we launch new games or introduce new features to existing games under tight time constraints. If our games contain programming errors or other flaws, our customers may be less inclined to continue playing our games or to recommend our games to other potential customers, and may switch to our competitors’ games. Undetected programming errors and game defects can disrupt our operations, adversely affect the gaming experience of our users, harm our reputation, cause our customers to stop playing our games, divert our resources and delay market acceptance of our games, any of which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. We may not be able to prevent others from infringing upon our intellectual property rights, which may harm our business and expose us to litigation. We regard our proprietary software, domain names, trade names, trademarks and similar intellectual properties as critical to our success. Intellectual property rights and confidentiality protection in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. Monitoring and preventing the unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive. The steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our proprietary technology. Any misappropriation could have a negative effect on our business and operating results. We may need to resort to court proceedings to enforce our intellectual property rights in the future. Litigation relating to our intellectual property might result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention away from our business. See “— Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.” 8 We may not be able to obtain additional financing to support our business and operations, and our equity or debt financings may have an adverse effect on our business operations and share price. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for the foreseeable future. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changes in business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. We expect to incur more product development costs to develop our proprietary online games and Internet Protocol TV games and digital TV games, or TV games, mobile games and web and social games. If our internal financial resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek additional financing through the issuance of equity securities or through debt financing. Such financing may result in dilution to our existing shareholders’ interests or an increase in our debt service obligations. Incurrence of additional indebtedness could also result in operating and financing covenants restricting our business operations. In addition, we cannot assure you that any such future financing will be available to us in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Any failure to maintain a stable and effective online payment system could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Online payment systems in China are developing fast and a growing number of consumers are using such systems than in previous years. We rely on our internally-developed online payment system, Pass9, for sales of our online game services to consumers. Although our online payment systems are designed to support various third-party Internet payment channels in China, our online payment systems may be disrupted by system failure, programming errors, computer hackers or any failure or disruption from the Internet payment channels. See “— Our business may be harmed if our technology becomes obsolete or if our system infrastructure fails to operate effectively.” In addition, we cannot assure you that we will continue to maintain favorable relationships with third-party Internet payment channels. If we fail to maintain a stable and favorable relationship with these channels, or otherwise fail to effectively maintain our online payment systems, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Any failure to maintain a stable and efficient distribution network could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We rely on a network of distributors throughout China for sales of our online game services, including our online game points, to our customers. As a result, a substantial portion of our sales are carried out via a distribution network composed of third-party distributors. Our national distributor sells its prepaid cards to over 30,000 local distributors and Internet cafés throughout China, which in turn sell the cards to end users. End users can purchase our online game points with the prepaid cards. Currently, Beijing Huiyuan Net Technology Co., Ltd. is our sole national distributor. We do not have long-term agreements with our distributor. A delay or failure by our distributor to successfully market these products may adversely affect our business and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we will continue to maintain favorable relationships with our distributor. If we fail to maintain a stable and efficient distribution network, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. We rely on services and licenses from third parties to carry out our businesses, and if there is any negative development in these services or licenses, our end users may cease to use our products and services. In addition to our online payment systems and distribution systems for which we significantly rely on third party services, we also rely on third-party services and licenses for our operations. For example, we rely on third party licenses for some of the software underlying our technology platform, and we rely on China Telecom’s Internet data centers to host our servers. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Pricing, Distribution and Marketing.” In addition, we expect to continue to derive a considerable amount of our revenues from our licensed online games in the near term. 9 Any interruption or any other negative development in our ability to rely on these services and licenses, such as material deterioration of quality of the third party services or the loss of intellectual property relating to the license held by our licensors, could have a material and adverse impact on our business operations. In particular, our game licensors may be subject to intellectual property rights claims with respect to the games or software licensed to us. If such licensors cannot prevail on the legal proceedings brought against them, we could lose the right to use the licensed games or software. Furthermore, if our arrangements with any of these third parties are terminated or modified against our interest, we may not be able to find alternative solutions on a timely basis or on terms favorable to us. If any of these events occur, our end users may cease using our products and services, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Unexpected network interruptions caused by system failures or other internal or external factors may lead to user attrition, revenue reductions and may harm our reputation. Any failure to maintain satisfactory performances, reliability, security and availability of our network infrastructure may cause significant harm to our reputation and our ability to attract and maintain users. The system hardware for our operations is located in several cities in China. We maintain our backup system hardware and operate our back-end infrastructure in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanjing, Qingdao, Nantong and Hong Kong. Server interruptions, breakdowns or system failures in the cities where we maintain our servers and system hardware, including failures that may be attributable to sustained power shutdowns, or other events within or outside our control that could result in a sustained shutdown of all or a material portion of our services, could adversely impact our ability to service our users. Our network systems are also vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, fire, flood, earthquake, power loss, telecommunications failures, computer hacking and similar events. We maintain property insurance policies covering our servers, but do not have business interruption insurance. Our business may be harmed if our technology becomes obsolete or if our system infrastructure fails to operate effectively. The online game industry is subject to rapid technological change. We need to anticipate the emergence of new technologies and games, assess their acceptance and make appropriate investments. If we are unable to do so, new technologies in online game programming or operations could render our games obsolete or unattractive. We use our internally developed Pass9 system and other software systems that support nearly all aspects of our billing and payment transactions. Our business may be harmed if we are unable to upgrade our systems fast enough to accommodate future traffic levels, avoid obsolescence or successfully integrate any newly developed or acquired technology with our existing systems. Capacity constraints could cause unanticipated system disruptions and slower response times, affecting data transmission and game play. These factors could, among other things, cause us to lose existing or potential customers and existing or potential game development partners. We have been and may be subject to future intellectual property rights claims or other claims, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our financial and management resources away from our business. There is no assurance that our online games or other content posted on our websites or our mobile games do not or will not infringe upon patents, valid copyrights or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. We may be subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time relating to the intellectual property of others. For example, in May 2012, the Supreme Court of China affirmed a judgment against us and other defendants in a lawsuit filed by Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd., which ruled that WoW client installation packages sold by us in 2007 contained fonts that infringed Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd.’s intellectual property rights. Based on the Supreme Court’s judgment, we are required to compensate Beijing Founder Electronics Co., Ltd. an aggregate amount of RMB2.2 million (US$0.4 million). See “Item 8. Financial Information — A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal Proceedings.” 10 Some of our employees were previously employed at other companies, including our current and potential competitors. We also intend to hire additional personnel to expand our product development and technical support teams. To the extent these employees have been involved in research at our company similar to research in which they had been involved at their former employers, we may become subject to claims that such employees have used or disclosed trade secrets or other proprietary information of their former employers. In addition, our competitors may file lawsuits against us in order to gain an unfair competitive advantage over us. If any such claim arises in the future, litigation or other dispute resolution proceedings may be necessary to retain our ability to offer our current and future games, which could result in substantial costs and diversion of our financial and management resources. Furthermore, if we are found to have violated the intellectual property rights of others, we may be enjoined from using such intellectual property, incur additional costs to license or develop alternative games and be forced to pay fines and damages, each of which may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. We experience fluctuations in quarterly operating results. Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and will continue to fluctuate in the future. These fluctuations in operating results depend on a variety of factors, including the timing of new game launches and the expiration of existing game licenses. Other factors include the demand for our products and the products of our competitors, the level of usage of illegal game servers, the level of usage of the Internet, the size and rate of growth of the online game market and development and promotional expenses related to the introduction of new products. In addition, because our game software is susceptible to unauthorized character enhancements, we may periodically delete characters that are enhanced with unauthorized modifications. This has caused some affected customers to stop playing the respective game, which, in the aggregate, may cause our operating results to fluctuate. To a significant degree, our operating expenses are based on planned expenditures and our expectations regarding prospective customer usage. Failure to meet our expectations could disproportionately and adversely affect our operating results in any given quarter. As a result, we believe that our historical operating results may not necessarily be indicative of our future results. Our business depends substantially on the continuing efforts of our senior executives, and our business may be severely disrupted if we lose their services. Our future success depends heavily upon the continued services of our senior executives. We rely on their expertise in business operations, technology support and sales and marketing and on their relationships with our shareholders and distributors. We do not maintain key-man life insurance for any of our key executives. If one or more of our key executives are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily or at all. As a result, our business may be severely disrupted, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we may incur additional expense to recruit and train personnel. Each of our executive officers has entered into an employment agreement with us, which contains confidentiality and non- competition provisions. If any disputes arise between our executive officers and us, we cannot assure you the extent to which any of these agreements could be enforced in China, where these executive officers reside and hold most of their assets, in light of uncertainties with the PRC legal system. See “— Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.” If we are unable to attract, train and retain key individuals and highly skilled employees, our business may be adversely affected. As our business expands, we need to hire and retain additional qualified employees, including skilled and experienced online game developers. Since our industry is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talent, we may need to offer higher compensation and other benefits in order to retain key personnel in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to attract or retain the qualified game developers or other key personnel that we will need to achieve our business objectives. 11 PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign ownership of Internet content provision, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing licenses, and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the application and implementation of PRC laws and regulations. We are a Cayman Islands company and, as such, we are classified as a foreign enterprise under PRC laws. Various regulations in China currently restrict foreign or foreign-owned entities from holding certain licenses required in China to provide online game operation services over the Internet, including Internet content provision, or ICP, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing licenses. In light of such restrictions, we primarily rely on Shanghai IT, one of our affiliated PRC entities, to hold and maintain the licenses necessary for the operation of our online games in China. In July 2006, the Ministry of Information Industry (which has subsequently been reorganized as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology), or MIIT, issued a notice entitled “Notice on Strengthening Management of Foreign Investment in Operating Value-Added Telecommunication Services,” or the New MII Notice, which prohibits ICP license holders from leasing, transferring or selling a telecommunications business operating license to foreign investors in any form, or providing resources, sites or facilities to any foreign investors for their illegal operation of a telecommunications business in China. The notice also requires that ICP license holders and their shareholders directly own the domain names and trademarks used by such ICP license holders in their daily operations. The notice further requires each ICP 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 telecommunication service providers are required to maintain network and information security in accordance with the standards set forth under relevant PRC regulations. The local authorities in charge of telecommunications services are required to ensure that existing ICP license holders conduct a self-assessment of their compliance with the New MII Notice and submit status reports to MIIT before November 1, 2006. Since the New MII Notice was issued, we have transferred to Shanghai IT all of the domain names used in our daily operations and certain trademarks used in our daily operations, as required under the New MII Notice. All relevant transfers have been completed and relevant approvals have been obtained. In September 2009, the General Administration of Press and Publication, Radio, Film and Television, or GAPPRFT (formerly known as the General Administration of Press and Publication, or GAPP), promulgated the Circular Regarding the Implementation of the Department Reorganization Regulation by State Council and Relevant Interpretation by State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform to Further Strengthen the Administration of Pre-approval on Online Games and Approval on Import Online Games, or the GAPP Circular, which provides that foreign investors shall not control or participate in PRC online game operation businesses indirectly or in a disguised manner by establishing joint venture companies or entering into relevant agreements with, or by providing technical supports to, such PRC online game operation companies, or by inputting the users’ registration, account management or game card consumption directly into the interconnected gaming platform or fighting platform controlled or owned by the foreign investor. It is not clear whether the regulatory authority of GAPPRFT applies to the regulation of ownership structures of online game companies based in China and online game operation in China. Other government agencies that have regulatory jurisdiction over the online game operations in China, such as the Ministry of Culture and MIIT, did not join GAPP in issuing the GAPP Circular. To date, the GAPPRFT has not issued any interpretation of the GAPP Circular. It is not yet clear how this GAPP Circular will be implemented. Subject to the interpretation and implementation of the GAPP Circular, the ownership structure and the business operation models of our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated PRC entities comply with all applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and no consent, approval or license is required under any of the existing laws and regulations of China for their ownership structure and business operation models except for those which we have already obtained or which would not have a material adverse effect on our business or operations as a whole. There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that PRC government authorities will ultimately take a view that is consistent with the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. For example, the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, promulgated the Rules of Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System of Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors in August 2011, or the MOFCOM Security Review Rules, to implement the Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Establishing the Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors promulgated on February 3, 2011, or Circular No. 6. The MOFCOM Security Review Rules came into effect on September 1, 2011 and replaced the Interim Provisions of the Ministry of Commerce on Matters Relating to the Implementation of the Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors promulgated by MOFCOM in March 2011. According to these circulars and rules, a 12 security review is required for mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors having ‘‘national defense and security’’ concerns and mergers and acquisitions by which foreign investors may acquire the ‘‘de facto control’’ of domestic enterprises having ‘‘national security’’ concerns. In addition, when deciding whether a specific merger or acquisition of a domestic enterprise by foreign investors is subject to the security review, MOFCOM will look into the substance and actual impact of the transaction. The MOFCOM Security Review Rules further prohibit foreign investors from bypassing the security review requirement by structuring transactions through proxies, trusts, indirect investments, leases, loans, control through contractual arrangements or offshore transactions. There is no explicit provision or official interpretation stating that our online game operation services falls into the scope subject to the security review, and there is no requirement for foreign investors in those merger and acquisition transactions already completed prior to the promulgation of Circular No. 6 to submit such transactions to MOFCOM for security review. As we have already obtained the ‘‘de facto control’’ over our affiliated PRC entities prior to the effectiveness of these circulars and rules, we do not believe we are required to submit our existing contractual arrangement to MOFCOM for security review. However, we are advised by our PRC legal counsel that, as these circulars and rules are relatively new and as there is a lack of clear statutory interpretation on the implementation of the same, there is no assurance that MOFCOM will have the same view as we do when applying these national security review-related circulars and rules. We have been further advised by our PRC counsel that if we, any of our PRC subsidiaries or affiliated PRC entities are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, including the New MII Notice and the GAPP Circular, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities, would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including: • • • • • • • revoking the business and operating licenses of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud; confiscating our income, the income of Shanghai IT or Huopu Cloud; discontinuing or restricting the operations of any related-party transactions among us, Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud; limiting our business expansion in China by way of entering into contractual arrangements; imposing fines or other requirements with which we may not be able to comply; requiring Shanghai IT, Huopu Cloud or us to restructure our corporate structure or operations; or requiring Shanghai IT, Huopu Cloud or us to discontinue any portion or all of our operations related to online games. The imposition of any of these penalties could result in a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business and on our results of operations. If any of these penalties results in our inability to direct the activities of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud that most significantly impact their economic performance, and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, we may not be able to consolidate Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We rely on contractual arrangements for our operations in China, which may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership. We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to operate our online game business and other ICP related businesses. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud as direct ownership. From the legal perspective, if Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and spend other resources to enforce such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief and claiming damages. For example, if the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to us or our designee when we exercise the call option pursuant to the Call Option Agreements, or if such shareholders otherwise act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal action to compel it to fulfill their contractual obligations, which could be time consuming and costly. 13 These contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud contributed in aggregate 99.0%, 96.9 % and 94.6%, respectively, of our total net revenues. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected, and we may not be able to consolidate the financial results of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We believe that our option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, when and to the extent permitted by PRC law, or request any existing shareholder of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to transfer all or part of the equity interest in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to another PRC person or entity designated by us at any time in our discretion, and the rights under the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreements that the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud have granted to us, effectively enable us to have the ability to cause the related contractual arrangements to be renewed when needed. However, if we are not able to effectively enforce these agreements or otherwise renew the relevant agreements when they expire, our ability to receive the economic benefits of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud may be adversely affected. Our ability to enforce the Equity Pledge Agreements between us and the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud may be subject to limitations based on PRC laws and regulations. Pursuant to the Equity Pledge Agreements with the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, such shareholders agreed to pledge their equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to secure their performance under the relevant contractual arrangements. The equity pledges of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud under these Equity Pledge Agreements have been registered with the relevant local administration for industry and commerce pursuant to the new PRC Property Rights Law. According to the PRC Property Rights Law and PRC Guarantee Law, the pledgee and the pledgor are prohibited from making an agreement prior to the expiration of the debt performance period to transfer the ownership of the pledged equity to the pledgee when the obligor fails to pay the debt due. However, under the PRC Property Rights Law, when an obligor fails to pay its debt when due, the pledgee may choose to either conclude an agreement with the pledgor to obtain the pledged equity or seek payments from the proceeds of the auction or sell-off of the pledged equity. If Shanghai IT, Huopu Cloud or their respective shareholders fail to perform their obligations secured by the pledges under the equity pledge agreements, one remedy in the event of default under the agreements is to require the pledgor to sell the equity interests of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud in an auction or private sale and remit the proceeds to our wholly owned subsidiaries in China, net of related taxes and expenses. Such an auction or private sale may not result in our receipt of the full value of the equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. We consider it very unlikely that the public auction process would be undertaken since, in an event of default, our preferred approach is to ask The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., or The9 Computer, our PRC wholly owned subsidiaries and a party to the Call Option Agreements, to replace or designate another PRC person or entity to replace the existing shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud pursuant to the direct transfer option we have under the option agreement. In addition, in the registration forms of the local branch of State Administration for Industry and Commerce for the pledges over the equity interests under the Equity Pledge Agreements, the amount of registered equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud pledged to us was stated as RMB23,000,000 and RMB50,000,000, respectively, which represent 100% of the registered capital of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, respectively. The Equity Pledge Agreements with the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud provide that the pledged equity interest shall constitute continuing security for any and all of the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities under all of the contractual arrangements and the scope of pledge shall not be limited by the amount of the registered capital of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. However, it is possible that a PRC court may take the position that the amount listed on the equity pledge registration forms represents the full amount of the collateral that has been registered and perfected. If this is the case, the obligations that are supposed to be secured in the Equity Pledge Agreements in excess of the amount listed on the equity pledge registration forms could be determined by the PRC court as unsecured debt, which takes last priority among creditors and often does not have to be paid back at all. We do not have agreements that pledge the assets of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud for the benefit of us. 14 Our contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities may result in adverse tax consequences to us. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that our contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud were not made on reasonable or arm’s length commercial terms or otherwise. If this were to occur, they may adjust our income and expenses for PRC tax purposes in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of costs and expenses recorded by Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, which could adversely affect us by: (i) increasing the tax liability of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud without reducing our other PRC subsidiaries’ tax liability, which could further result in late payment fees and other penalties to Shanghai IT or Huopu Cloud for underpaid taxes; or (ii) limiting the ability of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to maintain preferential tax treatments and other financial incentives. We may not be able to get approval for renewing our current foreign games, or for licensing new foreign games, if the PRC regulatory authorities promote a policy of domestic online or mobile game development and tighten approval criteria for online or mobile game imports. Our business depends heavily on licensing and operating foreign games and will continue to do so in the near future. In the past, such foreign games mainly included MMORPGs or casual games. With mobile social gaming being one of our new businesses, our business will also depend on licensing foreign mobile games. Since 2004, relevant government authorities have promulgated several circulars, according to which the development of domestically developed online games, including mobile games, will be strategically supported by the PRC government. For example, in July 2005, MIIT and the Ministry of Culture issued the Opinion on Development and Management of Online Games, or the Opinion. The Opinion provided that domestic software development companies, network service providers and content providers will be encouraged, guided and supported to develop and promote self-developed and self- owned online games so that such games can take up a leading position in the domestic market and expand into the international market. The government will also encourage the development of derivative products to domestic online games. In support of this policy, GAPPRFT may tighten approval criteria for online game imports in an effort to protect the development of domestic online game enterprises, as well as to limit the influence of foreign culture on Chinese youth. If GAPPRFT implements such rules and policies, we may not be able to get approval for renewing our current foreign game licenses or for licensing new foreign games, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Failure to obtain or renew approvals or filings for online games and mobile games we operate may adversely affect our operations or subject us to penalties. The Ministry of Culture has promulgated laws and regulations that require, among other things, (i) the review and prior approval of all new online games licensed from foreign game developers and related license agreements, (ii) the review of patches and updates with substantial changes of games which have already been approved, and (iii) the filing of domestically developed online games. Furthermore, online games, regardless of whether imported or domestic, will be subject to content review and approval by GAPPRFT prior to the commencement of games operations in China. Failure to obtain or renew approvals or complete filings for online games or mobile games may materially delay or otherwise affect a game operator’s plan to launch new games, and the operator may be subject to fines, the restriction or suspension of operations of the related games or revocation of licenses in the event that the relevant governmental authority believes that the violation is severe. We obtained all the necessary approvals from, and completed the necessary filings with, the Ministry of Culture and GAPP for operations of applicable games. Consistent with the general practice of the mobile game industry in China, we have not yet completed filings with the Ministry of Culture and GAPPRFT for our mobile games before we commenced our mobile game operations. From time to time, we also rely on certain third party licensors of domestically developed online games to obtain approvals and complete filings with the PRC regulatory authorities. If we or any such third party licensors fail to obtain the required approvals or complete the filings, we may not be able to continue the operation of such games. If any such negative event occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. 15 We depend on Shanghai IT to hold certain operating licenses. If Shanghai IT or its shareholders violate our contractual arrangements, our business could be disrupted and our reputation may be harmed. Because the PRC government restricts our ownership of ICP, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing businesses in China, we primarily depend on Shanghai IT, one of our affiliated PRC entities in which we have no ownership interest, to hold and maintain certain licenses necessary for our business operations. Our relationship with Shanghai IT is governed by a series of contractual arrangements that are intended to provide us with effective control over these entities, but these contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing control as direct ownership of these businesses. For example, the shareholders of Shanghai IT could violate their contractual arrangement with us, or otherwise become unable to perform its contracts with us. As a result, we may lose the licenses required for our online game operations and our reputation and business could be harmed. The principal shareholders of our affiliated PRC entities have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business. We have two affiliated PRC entities, namely Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. Yong Wang, our vice president, and Wei Ji, one of our employees, are the principal shareholders of Shanghai IT. Our senior legal director, Junping Han, and finance director, Wei Xiong, are the principal shareholders of Huopu Cloud. Thus, there may be conflicts of interest between their respective duties to our company as employees and their respective shareholder interests in these affiliated PRC entities. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, these persons will act in our best interests or that conflicts of interests will be resolved in our favor. These persons could violate their legal duties, including duties under their non-competition or employment agreements with us, by engaging in activities that are not in the best interest in our company, such as diverting business opportunities from us. In any such event, we would have to rely on the PRC legal system to enforce these agreements. Any legal proceeding could result in the disruption of our business, diversion of our resources and the incurrence of substantial costs. See “— Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.” Our subsidiaries in China are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments. From time to time, we may rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries in China to fund our operations, such as paying dividends to our shareholders or meeting obligations under any indebtedness incurred by us or our overseas subsidiaries. Current PRC regulations restrict our subsidiaries in China from paying dividends in the following two principal aspects: (i) our subsidiaries in China are only permitted to pay dividends out of their respective after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations, and (ii) these entities are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund statutory reserve funds until the cumulative total of the allocated reserves reaches 50% of registered capital, and a portion of their respective after-tax profits to their staff welfare and bonus reserve funds as determined by their respective boards of directors or shareholders. These reserves are not distributable as dividends. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Government Regulations.” Further, if these entities incur debt on their behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. Our inability to receive dividends or other payments from our PRC subsidiaries may adversely affect our ability to continue to grow our business and make cash or other distributions to the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs. In addition, failure to comply with relevant State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, regulations may restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us. See “— Risks Related to Doing Business in China — PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders or us to penalties and fines, and limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital, distribute profits to us, or otherwise adversely affect us.” We may not be able to successfully implement our growth strategies. Our objective is to become a leading developer and operator of multi-platform games in China. In order to achieve this objective, we are primarily focusing on developing proprietary games and obtaining licenses to games. We plan to further enhance our game development capability and the diversity of our game portfolio and pipeline through selective game studio acquisitions primarily in the U.S. and in China. We also plan to operate our proprietary games in selected overseas market. Since 2010, we have invested in developing our mobile game business. We have primarily used licensed mobile social gaming platform software and licensed mobile games from other developers. We have relied on OpenFeint Inc., or OpenFeint, for the license of our mobile social gaming platform software, and our business partners include mobile game developers, telecom carriers and cell phone manufacturers. 16 Our business strategies may involve the development and marketing of new services and products for which there are no established markets in China or in which we lack experience and expertise. As a result, 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, or that we will be able to successfully implement our other growth strategies. If any of these occur, our competitiveness may be harmed and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We could be liable for breaches of security on our websites and fraudulent transactions by users of our websites. Currently, a portion of our transactions are conducted through our websites. In such transactions, secure transmission of confidential information (such as customers’ credit card numbers and expiration dates, personal information and billing addresses) over public networks is essential to maintain consumer confidence. Our current security measures may not be adequate to safeguard against fraudulent transactions. Security breaches could expose us to litigation and possible liability for failing to secure confidential customer information and could harm our reputation and ability to attract customers. Existing major shareholders have substantial control over us and could delay or prevent a change in corporate control. Incsight Limited, or Incsight, a company wholly-owned by Jun Zhu, our chairman and chief executive officer, and Bosma Limited, or Bosma, the two largest shareholders of our company, collectively own a significant percentage of our outstanding ordinary shares. Incsight and Bosma have entered into a voting agreement to vote together with respect to the election of our directors. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — C. Board Practices — Voting Agreement.” As a result, these shareholders will continue to exert significant control over all matters requiring shareholder approval, including but not limited to, the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. This voting power could delay or prevent an acquisition of our company on terms that other shareholders may desire. In addition, the rights of minority shareholders and the fiduciary obligations of directors and majority shareholders in the Cayman Islands may not be as extensive as those in the United States or elsewhere, and the ability to assert shareholder rights may be comparatively limited. New income tax laws may increase our tax burden or the tax burden on the holders of our shares or ADSs, and tax benefits available to us may be reduced or repealed, causing the value of your investment in us to suffer. Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC are subject to enterprise income tax, or EIT, on the taxable income as reported in their respective statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China, or EIT Law, which was approved by the National People’s Congress on March 16, 2007. The EIT Law went into effect as of January 1, 2008, which unified the tax rate generally applicable to both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC. Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC are generally subject to EIT at a statutory rate of 25%. However, some subsidiaries that are located in the Pudong New District of Shanghai and were established before March 2007 currently enjoy five-year transitional EIT rates, which equate to phase-in rates of 18%, 20%, 22%, 24% and 25% for the five years from 2008 to 2012 according to local practice. Our subsidiaries and affiliated entities that hold a High and New Technology Enterprise, or HNTE, qualification are entitled to enjoy a 15% preferential EIT rate. In April 2007, China The9 Interactive (Beijing) Limited, or C9I Beijing, received approval from governmental authorities to be classified as a HNTE. This classification allowed C9I Beijing to enjoy an EIT exemption for the period from 2007 to 2009, and a 50% reduction of the statutory rate in the period from 2010 to 2012. In addition, Shanghai IT also applied and received approval from government authorities to be classified as a HNTE. This approval allowed Shanghai IT to enjoy a 15% preferential EIT rate for the period from 2008 to 2010. However, in April 2008, government authorities announced the new implementation rules for application and assessment of HNTEs. Each qualified HNTE needs to re-apply for this qualification according to the new implementation rules. In particular, the HNTE qualification is generally valid for a term of three years after the issuance of the approval certificate, and the enterprise is required to apply for re-examination before the end of the term. As a result, C9I Beijing reapplied and received approvals for the HNTE qualification and related preferential tax rates during the period from 2008 to 2010 from the government authorities. 17 However, C9I Beijing did not apply for renewal of its HNTE qualification after it expired in 2010 and therefore was not entitled to enjoy the 15% preferential EIT rate for the years 2011 and 2012. In addition, in October 2011, Shanghai IT reapplied for the HNTE qualification and received approval from the governmental authorities. It has applied with the local tax authorities for the approval of the 15% preferential EIT rate for 2011-2013 and we obtained such approval in 2012. However, we cannot assure you that our PRC subsidiaries or affiliated entities will meet these criteria and continue to be qualified as HNTEs if we apply to the tax authorities in the future. Moreover, unlike the tax regulations effective before 2008, which specifically exempted withholding taxes on dividends payable to non-PRC investors from foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC, the EIT Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding income tax rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and the governments of other countries or regions. While the Tax Agreement between the PRC and Hong Kong provides dividends paid by a foreign-invested enterprise in the PRC to its corporate shareholder, which is considered a Hong Kong tax resident, will be subject to withholding tax at the rate of 5% of total dividends, this is limited to instances where the corporate shareholder directly holds at least 25% of the shares of the company that is to pay dividends for at least twelve consecutive months immediately prior to receiving the dividends and meets certain other criteria prescribed by the relevant regulations. Entitlement to a lower tax rate on dividends according to tax treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions is further subject to approval of the relevant tax authority. Furthermore, the State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, promulgated the Notice on How to Understand and Determine the Beneficial Owners in Tax Agreement in October 2009, or Circular 601, which provides guidance for determining whether a resident of a contracting state is the “beneficial owner” of an item of income under China’s tax treaties and tax arrangements. According to Circular 601, a beneficial owner generally must be engaged in substantive business activities. An agent or conduit company will not be regarded as a beneficial owner and, therefore, will not be qualified for treaty benefits. A conduit company normally refers to a company that is set up for the purpose of avoiding or reducing taxes or transferring or accumulating profits. In June 2012, SAT further promulgated the Announcement on Determining the Beneficial Owners in Tax Agreement, or Circular 30, which provides that the tax authorities shall make the decision based on a comprehensive consideration of all determining factors provided in Circular 601 rather than the status of a single determining factor. We cannot assure you that any dividends to be distributed by our subsidiaries to us or by us to our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders, whose jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China providing a different withholding arrangement, will be entitled to the benefits under the relevant withholding arrangement. In addition, the EIT Law deems an enterprise established offshore but having its management organ in the PRC as a “resident enterprise” that will be subject to PRC tax at the rate of 25% of its global income. Under the Implementation Rules of the EIT Law, the term “management organ” is defined as “an organ which has substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operation, personnel, accounting, properties and other factors.” On April 22, 2009, the SAT further issued a notice regarding recognizing an offshore-established enterprise controlled by PRC shareholders as a resident enterprise according to its management organ, or Circular 82. According to Circular 82, a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group shall be deemed a PRC resident enterprise, if (i) the senior management and the core management departments in charge of its daily operations are mainly located and function in the PRC; (ii) its financial decisions and human resource decisions are subject to the determination or approval of persons or institutions located in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, minutes and files of board meetings and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) more than half of the directors or senior management with voting rights reside in the PRC. On August 3, 2011, SAT issued the Administrative Measures of Enterprise Income Tax of Chinese-Controlled Offshore Incorporated Resident Enterprises (Trial), or SAT Bulletin 45, which further clarified the detailed procedures for determining resident status under Circular 82, competent tax authorities in charge and post-determination administration of such resident enterprises. Although our offshore companies are not controlled by any PRC company or PRC company group, we cannot assure you that we will not be deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law and thus be subject to PRC EIT on our global income. 18 According to the EIT Law and its implementation rules, dividends are exempted from income tax if such dividends are received by a resident enterprise on equity interests it directly owns in another resident enterprise. However, foreign corporate holders of our shares or ADSs may be subject to taxation at a rate of 10% on any dividends received from us or any gains realized from the transfer of our shares or ADSs if we are deemed to be a resident enterprise or if such income is otherwise regarded as income from “sources within the PRC.” The EIT Law empowers the PRC State Council to enact appropriate implementing rules and measures and there is no guarantee that we or our subsidiaries will be entitled to any of the preferential tax treatments. Nor can we assure you that the tax authorities will not, in the future, discontinue any of our preferential tax treatments, potentially with retroactive effect. Any significant increase in the EIT rate under the EIT Law applicable to our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated entities, or the imposition of withholding taxes on dividends payable by our subsidiaries to us, or an EIT levy on us or any of our subsidiaries or affiliated entities registered outside the PRC, or dividends or capital gains received by our shareholders due to shares or ADSs held in us will have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial conditions and the value of investments in us. We are required to pay value added tax as a result of recent tax reform in various regions in China and we may be subject to similar tax treatments elsewhere in China. On November 16, 2011, the Ministry of Finance and the SAT jointly issued the Circular on the Pilot Program for the Collection of Value Added Tax Instead of Business Tax, or Circular 110, and the Circular on the Pilot Program for the Collection of Value Added Tax Instead of Business Tax in the Transportation and Certain Modern Service Sectors in Shanghai, or Circular 111, which became effective on January 1, 2012. Pursuant to Circular 110 and Circular 111, a tax reform pilot program came into effect in Shanghai, which was chosen by the PRC government as the first pilot city for such reform. Starting from January 1, 2012, companies which are designated by Shanghai local tax authorities as operating in certain modern service sectors are required to pay value added tax, or VAT, in lieu of business tax. On July 31, 2012, the Ministry of Finance and the SAT jointly issued the Circular on the Pilot Program for the Collection of Value Added Tax Instead of Business Tax in the Transportation and Certain Modern Service Sectors in Eight Cities and Provinces such as Beijing, or Circular 71, which further extended areas subject to the pilot program to cover Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu province, Anhui province, Zhejiang province, Fujian province, Hubei province and Guangdong province. As a result of the pilot program, some of our services provided by Shanghai IT and Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement are subject to VAT at the rate of 6%. Shanghai IT and Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement (from August 2012), as General VAT Payers under the applicable tax regulations, may reduce their VAT payable amount by the VAT which they paid in connection with its purchasing activities, or its Input VAT. All services provided by C9I Beijing, Jiushi, Jiutuo (Shanghai) Information Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai The9 Educational Software Technology Co., Ltd. and Huopu Cloud shall be subject to VAT at the rate of 3%, and these companies as Small-scale VAT Payers under the applicable tax regulations may not reduce their VAT payable by their Input VAT. As Circular 110, Circular 111 and Circular 71 are newly introduced and there is significant uncertainty relating to the interpretation and enforcement of such circulars by the national and the local tax authorities and other relevant authorities. In addition, such tax reform, in the form of pilot programs or otherwise, may be extended to other regions in which we operate. As a result, we may be subject to more unfavorable tax treatment with respect to our business operations as a result of the VAT reform, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. Strengthened scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on our acquisition strategy. In connection with the EIT Law, the Ministry of Finance and SAT jointly issued, on April 30, 2009, the Notice on Issues Concerning Process of Enterprise Income Tax in Enterprise Restructuring Business, or Circular 59. On December 10, 2009, the SAT issued the Notice on Strengthening the Management on Enterprise Income Tax for Non-resident Enterprises Equity Transfer, or Circular 698. Both Circular 59 and Circular 698 became effective retroactively on January 1, 2008. Under the two circulars, non- PRC-resident enterprises may be subject to income tax on capital gains generated from their transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under Circular 59 and Circular 698 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the equity interests transferred and the cost of the investment. In addition, by promulgating and implementing the circulars, the PRC tax authorities have strengthened their scrutiny over the direct or indirect transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise by a non-PRC-resident enterprise. For example, Circular 698 specifies that the PRC SAT is entitled to redefine the nature of an equity transfer where offshore vehicles are interposed for tax- avoidance purposes and without reasonable commercial purpose. Since we pursue acquisitions as one of our growth strategies, and have conducted and may conduct acquisitions involving complex corporate structures, the PRC tax authorities may, at their discretion, adjust the capital gains or request us to submit additional documentation for their review in connection with any of our acquisitions, thus causing us to incur additional acquisition costs. 19 We have adopted a shareholders rights plan, which, together with the other anti-takeover provisions of our articles of association, could discourage a third party from acquiring us, which could limit our shareholders’ opportunity to sell their shares, including ordinary shares represented by our ADSs, at a premium. On January 8, 2009, our board of directors adopted a shareholder rights plan. Under the rights plan, one right was distributed with respect to each of our ordinary shares outstanding at the close of business on January 22, 2009. In the event that, subject to limited exceptions, a person or group obtains beneficial ownership of 15% or more of our voting securities (including by acquisition of our ADSs representing ordinary shares), or enters into an acquisition transaction without the approval of our board of directors, such person or group will become the acquiring person under the plan. As a result, these rights will entitle the holders, other than the acquiring person, to purchase upon the exercise of such right the number of our ordinary shares having a market value of two times the then current purchase price associated with the right. For example, at a purchase price of $14.50 per right, each right not owned by an acquiring person would entitle its holder to purchase $29.00 worth of our ordinary shares for $14.50. This rights plan and the other anti-takeover provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. Our existing authorized ordinary shares confer on the holders of our ordinary shares equal rights, privileges and restrictions. The shareholders have, by virtue of adoption of our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, authorized the issuance of shares of par value of US$0.01 each without specifying any special rights, privileges and restrictions. Therefore, our board of directors may, without further action by our shareholders, issue ordinary shares, or issue shares of such class and attach to such shares special rights, privileges or restrictions, which may be different from those associated with our ordinary shares. Preferred shares could also be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue ordinary shares or preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. We have limited business insurance coverage in China. The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. Insurance companies in China offer limited business insurance products. As a result, we do not have any business liability or disruption insurance coverage for our operations in China. Any business disruption, litigation or natural disaster might result in our incurring substantial costs and the diversion of our resources. Some of our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China engaged in certain business activities beyond the authorized scope of their respective licenses, and if they are subject to administrative penalties or fines, our operating results may be adversely affected. Some of our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China engaged in business activities that were not within the authorized scope of their respective licenses. Shanghai IT’s current ICP license, which is requisite for its online gaming business, was issued on May 4, 2010, and is effective until May 4, 2015. Although Shanghai IT’s current main business is online games, it provides an ancillary bulletin board service which is mainly used for communications among online game players and does not affect the operations of Shanghai IT. Shanghai IT has not obtained approval for the license for bulletin board services. The relevant PRC authorities have the authority to impose administrative fines or other penalties for violations, which may in turn adversely affect our operating results. Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and the trading price of our ADSs. We are subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management in its annual report that contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of such company’s internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, beginning with the year ended December 31, 2007, we have been required to receive an independent registered public accounting firm’s report on the effectiveness of our company’s internal controls over financial reporting. 20 Our management has concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective as of December 31, 2012. However, if we fail to maintain effective internal controls 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 controls over financial reporting at a reasonable assurance level. This could result in a loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial conditions which in turn could negatively impact the trading price of our ADSs and result in lawsuits being filed against us by our shareholders or otherwise harm our reputation. Furthermore, we have incurred and anticipate that we will continue to incur considerable costs and use significant management time and other resources in an effort to comply with Section 404 and other requirements of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act. The audit report included in this annual report is prepared by auditors who are not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, you are deprived of the benefits of such inspection. Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in our annual reports filed with the SEC, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and as a firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), or the PCAOB, is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Because our auditors are located in the PRC, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the PRC authorities, our auditors are not currently inspected by the PCAOB. Inspections of other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside China have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. This lack of PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditor’s audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements. We may be adversely affected by the outcome of the administrative proceedings brought by the SEC against five accounting firms in China. Recently, the SEC commenced administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 against the Chinese affiliates of the ‘‘big four’’ accounting firms, including our auditors, and also against BDO China Dahua. The Rule 102(e) proceedings initiated by the SEC relate to these firms’ failure to produce documents, including audit workpapers, to the request of the SEC pursuant to Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as the auditors located in the PRC are not in a position lawfully to produce documents directly to the SEC because of restrictions under PRC law and specific directives issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission. As the administrative proceedings are ongoing, it is impossible to determine their outcome or the consequences thereof to us. The issues raised by the proceedings are not specific to our auditors. or to us, but affect equally all audit firms based in China and all China-based businesses with securities listed in the United States. However, if the administrative judge were to find in favor of the SEC under the proceeding and depending upon the remedies sought by the SEC, these audit firms could be barred from practicing before the SEC. As a result, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which may result in their delisting. Moreover, any negative news about the proceedings against these audit firms may erode investor confidence in China-based, United States listed companies and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected. 21 We may be subject to risks relating to certain cash advances to our related parties due to PRC legal restrictions. As of December 31, 2012, we had outstanding balance of RMB22.3 million (US$3.6 million) of cash advances to our related parties. PRC laws generally do not permit companies that do not possess financial service business licenses to extend loans directly to other companies (including affiliates), without through entrusted loan service provided by commercial banks or through other intermediate financial agency. None of our subsidiaries, variable interest entities and affiliates possesses such a financial service license nor proceeded through a financial agency when it extended loans to, or received loans from, its related parties. If PRC authorities enforce these restrictions, such authorities may declare these loans void, require the forfeiture of any interest paid or levy fines or other penalties upon the parties involved, among other remedies and as a result materially and adversely affect our financial conditions. We face risks related to health epidemics and other natural disasters. Our business could be adversely affected by H1N1 and H5N7, or swine influenza, avian flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, or another epidemic or outbreak. An outbreak of swine influenza in Mexico in the summer of 2009 spread to China and there have been confirmed cases of swine influenza in China. Any prolonged recurrence of swine influenza, avian flu, SARS or other adverse public health developments in China may have a material adverse effect on our business operations. Our operations may be impacted by a number of health-related factors, including, among other things, quarantines or closures of our offices which could severely disrupt our operations, the sickness or death of our key officers and employees and closure of Internet cafés and other public areas where people access the Internet. Any of the foregoing events or other unforeseen consequences of public health problems could adversely affect our business and results of operations. We have not adopted any written preventive measures or contingency plans to combat any future outbreak of swine influenza, avian flu, SARS or any other epidemic. In addition, other major natural disasters may also adversely affect our business by, for example, causing disruptions of the Internet network or otherwise affecting access to our games, or resulting in damages to our facilities. Risks Related to Doing Business in China Our business may be adversely affected by public opinion and government policies in China. Currently, most of our recurring users are young males, including students. Due to the higher degree of user loyalty to MMORPGs, easy access to PCs and Internet cafés, and lack of more appealing forms of entertainment in China, many teenagers frequently play online games. This may result in these teenagers spending less time on, or refraining from, other activities, including education and sports. Internet cafés, which are currently the most important outlets for online games, have been criticized by the general public in China as exerting a negative influence on young people. Due primarily to such adverse public reaction, some local governments in China have tightened their regulation of Internet café operations through, among other things, limiting the number of new operating licenses issued and further reducing the hours during which Internet cafés are permitted to be open for business. Also, local and higher-level governmental authorities may from time to time decide to more strictly enforce the customers’ age limit and other requirements relating to Internet cafés as a result of the occurrence of, and the media attention on, gang fights, arson or other incidents in or related to Internet cafés. As a significant portion of our customers’ access our games from Internet cafés, any restrictions placed on Internet café operations could result in a reduction of the amount of time our customers spend on our online games or a reduction or slowdown in the growth of our customer base, thus adversely affecting our business and results of operations. In April 2007, various governmental authorities, including GAPP, MIIT, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant authorities jointly issued a circular concerning the mandatory implementation of an “anti-fatigue system” in online games, which aims to protect the physical and psychological health of minors. This circular required all online games to incorporate an “anti-fatigue system” and an identity verification system, both of which have limited the amount of time that a minor or other user may continuously spend playing an online game. We have implemented such “anti-fatigue” and identification systems on all of our online games as required. Since March 2011, various governmental authorities, including MIIT, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant authorities have jointly launched the “Online Game Parents Guardianship Project for Minors,” which allows parents to require online game operators to take relevant measures to limit the time spent by the minors playing online games and the minors’ access to their online game accounts. Further strengthening of these systems, or enactment by the PRC government of any additional laws to further tighten its administration over the Internet and online games or its supervision of Internet cafés may result in less time spent by customers or fewer customers playing our online games, which may materially and adversely affect our business results and prospects for future growth. 22 Adverse changes in economic and political policies of the PRC government could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could adversely affect our business. We conduct substantially all of our business operations in China. As the gaming industry is highly sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending, it tends to decline during general economic downturns. Accordingly, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects are subject to a significant degree to economic, political and legal developments in China. China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including with respect to 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 twenty years, growth has been uneven across different regions and among various economic sectors of China. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic development and guide the allocation of resources. While some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, they may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. As the PRC economy is increasingly intricately linked to the global economy, it is affected in various respects by downturns and recessions of major economies around the world, such as the recent financial services and economic crises of these economies. The various economic and policy measures the PRC government enacts to forestall economic downturns or shore up the PRC economy could affect our business. The PRC economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. Although the PRC government has implemented measures since the late 1970s emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China are still owned by the PRC government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency- denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Since late 2003, the PRC government implemented a number of measures, such as raising interest rates and bank reserve requirements to place additional limitations on the ability of commercial banks to make loans, in order to contain the growth of specific segments of China’s economy that it believed to be overheating. These actions, as well as future actions and policies of the PRC government, could materially affect our liquidity and access to capital and our ability to operate our business. The laws and regulations governing the online game industry in China are developing and subject to future changes. If we fail to obtain or maintain all applicable permits and approvals, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected. The online game industry in China is highly regulated by the PRC government. Various regulatory authorities of the PRC central government, such as the State Council, MIIT, GAPPRFT, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Public Security, are empowered to issue and implement regulations governing various aspects of the online games industry. We are required to obtain applicable permits or approvals from different regulatory authorities in order to provide online games to our customers. For example, an Internet content provider must obtain a value-added telecommunications business operating license for ICP, or ICP License, in order to engage in any commercial ICP operations within China. In addition, an online games operator must also obtain a license from the Ministry of Culture and a license from GAPPRFT in order to distribute games through the Internet. Furthermore, an online game operator is required to obtain approval from the Ministry of Culture in order to distribute virtual currencies for online games such as prepaid value cards, prepaid money or game points. If we fail to obtain or maintain any of the required filings, permits or approvals in the future, we may be subject to various penalties, including fines and the discontinuation or restriction of our operations. Any such disruption in our business operations would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. 23 As the online games industry is at an early stage of development in China, new laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to require additional licenses and permits other than those we currently have, and may address new issues that arise from time to time. For example, a new rule issued in June 2009 requires existing online game operators, such as our company, to obtain additional approval from the Ministry of Culture for the issuance of virtual currencies to users for online game services within three months. We obtained the approval on November 20, 2009. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to the online gaming industry. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to timely obtain any new license required in the future, or at all. While we believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect, we cannot assure you that we will not be found in violation of any current or future PRC laws and regulations. Intensified government regulation of Internet cafés could limit our ability to maintain or increase our revenues and expand our customer base. In April 2001, the PRC government began tightening its supervision of Internet cafés, closing down unlicensed Internet cafés, and required those remaining open to install software to prevent access to sites deemed subversive and required web portals to sign a pledge not to host subversive sites. Furthermore, the PRC government’s policy, which encourages the development of a limited number of national and regional Internet café chains and discourages the establishment of independent Internet cafés, may slow the overall growth of Internet cafés. Currently, the issuance of Internet café licenses is subject to the overall planning of the Ministry of Culture and the local governments in respect of the total number and location of Internet cafés. Since 2004, the grant of new Internet café licenses has been suspended from time to time, and was again suspended in 2007. The PRC government maintains strict controls on the granting of new licenses. As Internet cafés are the primary venue for users to play our games, any reduction in the number, or any slowdown in the growth of, Internet cafés in China will limit our ability to maintain or increase our revenues and expand our customer base, which will in turn materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. Regulation and censorship of information disseminated over the Internet in China may adversely affect our business, and we may be liable for information displayed on, retrieved from, or linked to our Internet websites. The PRC government has adopted certain regulations governing Internet access and the distribution of news and other information over the Internet. Under these regulations, Internet content providers and Internet publishers are prohibited from posting or displaying over the Internet content that, among other things, violates PRC laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of China, or is obscene, superstitious, fraudulent or defamatory. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in the revocation of ICP and other required licenses and the closure of the concerned websites. The website operator may also be held liable for such prohibited information displayed on, retrieved from or linked to such website. The Ministry of Culture has promulgated laws and regulations that reiterate the government’s policies to prohibit the distribution of games with violence, cruelty or other elements that are believed to have the potential effect of instigating crimes, and to prevent the influx of harmful cultural products from overseas. The Ministry of Culture has promulgated laws and regulations that require, among other things, (i) the review and prior approval of (i) all new online games licensed from foreign game developers and related license agreements, (ii) the review of patches and updates with substantial changes of games which have already been approved, and (iii) the filing of domestically developed online games. Furthermore, online games, regardless of whether imported or domestic, will be subject to content review and approval by GAPPRFT prior to the commencement of games operations in China. Failure to obtain or renew approvals or to complete filings for online games or mobile games may materially delay or otherwise affect game operator’s plans to launch new games, and the operator may be subject to fines, restriction or suspension of operations of the related games or revocation of licenses in the event that the relevant governmental authority believes that the violation is severe. We obtained the necessary approvals from and completed necessary filings with the Ministry of Culture and GAPP for operations of our games as applicable. Consistent with the general practice of the mobile game industry in China, we have not yet completed filings with the Ministry of Culture and GAPPRFT for our mobile games before we commenced our mobile game operations. If any such negative event occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. 24 In addition, MIIT has published regulations that subject website operators to potential liability for content included on their websites and the actions of users and others using their websites, including liability for violations of PRC laws prohibiting the dissemination of content deemed to be socially destabilizing. The Ministry of Public Security has the authority to order any local Internet service provider to block any Internet website maintained outside China at its sole discretion. Periodically, the Ministry of Public Security has stopped the dissemination over the Internet of information which it believes to be socially destabilizing. The State Secrecy Bureau, which is directly responsible for the protection of State secrets of the PRC government, is authorized to block any website it deems to be leaking state secrets or failing to meet the relevant regulations relating to the protection of state secrets in the dissemination of online information. As these regulations are relatively new and subject to interpretation by the relevant authorities, it may not be possible for us to determine in all cases the type of content that could result in liability for us as a website operator. In addition, we may not be able to control or restrict the content of other Internet content providers linked to or accessible through our websites, or content generated or placed on our websites by our users, despite our attempt to monitor such content. To the extent that regulatory authorities find any portion of our content objectionable, they may require us to limit or eliminate the dissemination of such information or otherwise curtail the nature of such content on our websites, which may reduce our user traffic and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we may be subject to significant penalties for violations of those regulations arising from information displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our websites, including a suspension or shutdown of our operations. Future movements in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the RMB may adversely affect the value of our ADSs. We are exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency exposures. Our payments to overseas game developers and a portion of our financial assets are denominated in U.S. dollars while currently almost all of our revenues are denominated in RMB, the legal currency in China. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions and China’s foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a managed band based on market supply and demand and by reference to a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy has resulted in an approximately more than 30% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar since the introduction of new policy. Our revenues and costs are mostly denominated in RMB, while a portion of our financial assets are denominated in U.S. dollars. We rely substantially on dividends and other fees paid to us by our subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China. Any significant appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar may adversely affect our cash flows, revenues, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in U.S. dollars. For example, an appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would make any new RMB denominated investments or expenditures more costly to us, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for such purposes. Restrictions on currency exchange in China limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively, make dividend payments and meet our foreign currency denominated obligations. Currently, substantially all of our revenues are in RMB. Restrictions on currency exchange in China limit our ability to utilize revenue generated in RMB to fund our business activities outside China, make dividend payments in U.S. dollars, or obtain and remit sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our foreign currency-denominated obligations, such as paying license fees and royalty payments. The principal regulation governing foreign currency exchange in China is the Foreign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended. Under such rules, the RMB is generally freely convertible for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for direct investment, loans or investment in securities outside China unless the prior approval of SAFE is obtained. Although the PRC government regulations now allow greater convertibility of RMB for current account transactions, significant restrictions still remain. For example, foreign exchange transactions under our PRC subsidiaries’ capital account, including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated obligations, remain subject to significant foreign exchange controls and the approval of SAFE. These limitations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures. We cannot be certain that the PRC regulatory authorities will not impose more stringent restrictions on the convertibility of the RMB, especially with respect to foreign exchange transactions. 25 PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders or us to penalties and fines, and limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital, distribute profits to us, or otherwise adversely affect us. On October 21, 2005, SAFE issued the Notice on Issues Relating to the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-raising and Reverse Investment Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or Notice 75, which became effective as of November 1, 2005. According to Notice 75, prior registration with the local SAFE branch is required for PRC residents to establish or to control an offshore company for the purposes of financing that offshore company with assets or equity interests in an onshore enterprise located in the PRC. An amendment to registration or filing with the local SAFE branch by such PRC resident is also required for the injection of equity interests or assets of an onshore enterprise in the offshore company or overseas funds raised by such offshore company, or any other material change involving a change in the capital or assets of the offshore company. Moreover, Notice 75 applies retroactively. As a result, PRC residents who have established or acquired control of offshore companies that have made onshore investments in the PRC in the past are required to complete the relevant registration procedures with the local SAFE branch by March 31, 2006. Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration requirements set forth in Notice 75 or the rules implementing Notice 75 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the increase of its registered capital, the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore entity, and may also subject the relevant onshore companies and PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations. Since May 2007, SAFE has further issued relevant guidance to its local branches with respect to the operational process for SAFE registration, which standardized more specific and stringent supervision of the registration relating to Notice 75 and imposed obligations on onshore subsidiaries of offshore special purpose companies to coordinate with and supervise the beneficial owners of the offshore entity who are PRC residents to complete the SAFE registration process and to disclose or make reports to SAFE for such shareholdings of PRC residents in certain circumstances. We have requested all of our shareholders who, based on our knowledge, are PRC residents or whose ultimate beneficial owners are PRC residents to comply with all applicable SAFE registration requirements. However, we have no control over our shareholders. We cannot assure you that the PRC beneficial owners of our company and our subsidiaries have completed the required SAFE registrations or complied with other related requirements. Nor can we assure you that they will be in full compliance with the SAFE registration in the future. Any non-compliance by the PRC beneficial owners of our company and our subsidiaries may subject us or such PRC resident shareholders to fines and other penalties. It may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries and our subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits or make other payments to us. Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us. We conduct our business primarily through our subsidiaries and affiliated entities incorporated in China. These entities are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China and, in particular, laws applicable to wholly- foreign owned enterprises. In addition, we depend on Shanghai IT to honor its service agreement with us. Almost all of these agreements are governed by PRC law and disputes arising out of these agreements are expected to be decided by arbitration in China. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, since the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to us. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. 26 We may not be able to pursue growth through strategic acquisitions in China due to complicated procedures under PRC laws and regulations for foreign investors to acquire PRC companies. In recent years, certain PRC laws and regulations have established procedures and requirements that are expected to make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. These laws and regulations include, without limitation, the Rules on the Merger and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, and the Anti-Monopoly Law and the MOFCOM Security Review Rules. In some instances, MOFCOM needs to be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. The approval by MOFCOM may also need to be obtained in circumstances where overseas companies established or controlled by PRC enterprises or residents acquire affiliated domestic companies. PRC laws and regulations also require certain merger and acquisition transactions to be subject to merger control review or security review. The MOFCOM Security Review Rules, effective from September 1, 2011, provide that, when deciding whether a specific merger or acquisition of a domestic enterprise by foreign investors shall be subject to the security review by MOFCOM, the principle of substance over form shall be applied. In particular, foreign investors are prohibited from bypassing the security review requirement by structuring transactions through proxies, trusts, indirect investments, leases, loans, control through contractual arrangements or offshore transactions. If the business of any target company that we expect to acquire becomes subject to the security review, we may not be able to successfully complete the acquisition of such company, either by equity or asset acquisition, capital contribution or through any contractual arrangement. Complying with the requirements of the PRC laws and regulations to complete acquisition transactions could become more time-consuming and complex. Any required approval, such as approval by MOFCOM, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to grow our business or increase our market share. The limited use of personal computers in China and the relatively high cost of Internet access with respect to per capita gross domestic product may limit the development of the Internet in China and impede our growth. Although the use of personal computers in China has increased in recent years, the penetration rate for personal computers in China is significantly lower than in the United States and other developed countries. Furthermore, despite a decrease in the cost of Internet access in China due to a decrease in the cost of personal computers and the introduction and expansion of broadband access, the cost of Internet access in China still remains relatively high compared to the average per capita income. The limited use of personal computers in China and the relatively high cost of Internet access may limit the growth of our business. In addition, there is no assurance that there will not be any increase in Internet access or telecommunication fees in China. If that happens, the number of our users may decrease and the growth of our user base may be materially impeded. The continued growth of China’s Internet market depends on the establishment of adequate telecommunications infrastructure. Although private sector Internet service providers currently exist in China, almost all access to the Internet is maintained through state-owned telecommunication operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of China’s MIIT. In addition, the national networks in China connect to the Internet through government-controlled international gateways. These government- controlled international gateways are the only channel through which a domestic PRC user can connect to the international Internet network. We rely on this infrastructure to provide data communications capacity primarily through local telecommunications lines. Although the government has announced plans to aggressively develop the national information infrastructure, we cannot assure you that this infrastructure will be developed as planned or at all. In addition, we will have no access to alternative networks and services, on a timely basis if at all, in the event of any infrastructure disruption or failure. The Internet infrastructure in China may not support the demands necessary for the continued growth in Internet usage. 27 Risks Related to Our Shares and ADSs We were a passive foreign investment company for the taxable year ended December 31, 2012, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares. Based on the market price of our ADSs and the value and composition of our assets, we believe we were a “passive foreign investment company,” or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 2012. In addition, it is likely that one or more of our subsidiaries were also PFICs for such year. A non-U.S. corporation will be a PFIC for any taxable year if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income, or (2) at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. We must make a separate determination after the close of each taxable year as to whether we were a PFIC for that year. Because the value of our assets for purposes of the PFIC test will generally be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares, our PFIC status will depend in large part on the market price of the ADSs or ordinary shares, which may fluctuate significantly. Because we believe we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2012, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to U.S. Holders (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — U.S. Federal Income Taxation”) of our ADSs or ordinary shares with respect to any “excess distribution” received from us and any gain from a sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. See “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — U. S. Federal Income Taxation — Passive Foreign Investment Company.” The future sales or issuance of a substantial number of our ADSs or ordinary shares could adversely affect the price of our ADSs. If our shareholders sell substantial amounts of our ADSs, including those issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, in the public market, the market price of our ADSs could fall. Such sales also 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. If any existing shareholder or shareholders sell a substantial amount of ordinary shares, the prevailing market price for our ADSs could be adversely affected. In addition, we may issue additional ordinary shares or ADSs for future acquisitions. If we pay for our future acquisitions in whole or in part with additionally issued ordinary shares or ADSs, your ownership interest in our company would be diluted and this, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the price of our ADSs. The market price for our ADSs may be volatile. The market price for our ADSs is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following: • actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; • • • • • • • announcements of new games by us or our competitors; changes in financial estimates by securities analysts; price fluctuations of publicly traded securities of other China-based companies engaging in Internet-related services or other similar businesses; conditions in the Internet or online game industries; changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other Internet or online game companies; announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the RMB; 28 • • addition or departure of key personnel; and pending and potential litigation. 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. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of our ADSs. You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and our ability to protect our rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and by the Companies Law (2012 Revision) and common law of 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 precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and provides significantly less protection to investors. Therefore, our public shareholders may have more difficulties protecting their interests in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States. In addition, shareholders of Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action before the federal courts of the United States. As a result, our shareholders may not be able to protect their interests if they are harmed in a manner that would otherwise enable them to sue in a United States federal court. Your ability to bring an action against us or against our directors and officers, or to enforce a judgment against us or them, will be limited because we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, because we conduct a substantial portion of our operations in China and because the majority of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and we conduct a substantial portion of our operations through our wholly-owned subsidiaries and affiliated entities in China. Most of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States and most of the assets of those persons are located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the Cayman Islands or in China in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. You may not be able to exercise your right to vote. As a holder of ADSs, you may instruct the depositary of our ADSs to vote the shares underlying your ADSs but only if we ask the depositary to request your instruction. Otherwise, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about a shareholders’ meeting enough in advance to withdraw the shares. Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a shareholders’ meeting may be convened by us on seven business days’ notice. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. Pursuant to the amended and revised Deposit Agreement dated November 2010 that we entered into with our depositary, if after complying with the procedures set forth in the agreement, the depositary does not receive instructions from the owner of a receipt on or before the instruction date, the depositary shall vote such deposited securities in accordance with the recommendations of our board of directors as advised by our company in writing. 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, if any such action or non- action is in good faith. 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 request. 29 Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings. We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make rights available to you in the United States unless we register the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Also, under the deposit agreement, the depositary bank will not make rights available to you unless the distribution to ADS holders of both the rights and any related securities are 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. The depositary may, but is not required to, sell such undistributed rights to third parties in this situation. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in your holdings. You may not receive distributions on ordinary 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 ordinary shares or other deposited securities after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. We have no obligation to register ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities under U.S. securities laws. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive the distribution we make on our ordinary 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 deem 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. Item 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY A. History and Development of the Company We were incorporated in the Cayman Islands on December 22, 1999 under the name GameNow.net Limited and were renamed The9 Limited in February 2004. We formed GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited, or GameNow, on January 17, 2000 in Hong Kong, as a wholly-owned subsidiary. We have historically conducted our operations in large part through The9 Computer, a direct wholly- owned subsidiary of GameNow in China. Due to the current restrictions on foreign ownership of ICP, Internet culture operation and advertising businesses in China, currently, we primarily rely on the following two affiliated entities in holding certain licenses and approvals necessary for our business operations through a series of contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT and its shareholders: • • Shanghai IT, which holds ICP, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing licenses. Current shareholders of Shanghai IT include Yong Wang, our vice president, and Wei Ji, one of our employees; Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement (a wholly owned subsidiary of Shanghai IT), whose business license permits it to conduct advertisement operations. Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement is a subsidiary of Shanghai IT. 30 In addition in December 2010, Huopu Cloud, another affiliated PRC entity, was incorporated to provide services for our online game operations. Huopu Cloud has obtained ICP and Internet culture operation license. Huopu Cloud’s current shareholders include Junping Han, our senior legal director, and Wei Xiong, our finance director. We do not hold any equity interest in Shanghai IT or Huopu Cloud. However, each of the individual shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud has entered into a shareholder voting proxy agreement with us, under which each such shareholder has irrevocably granted any parties designated by us the power to exercise voting rights on all matters to which he or she is entitled to vote. Each such shareholder has also entered into a call option agreement with us, pursuant to which we and any other parties designated by us would be entitled to acquire all or part of the equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud to the extent permitted by the then-effective PRC laws and regulations, for the minimum amount of consideration permissible under applicable PRC laws and regulations. From the establishment of Shanghai IT in 2000 to May 2005, we extended interest-free loans in an aggregate amount of RMB23.0 million to Jun Zhu,the former shareholders of Shanghai IT, and Yong Wang, in connection with capitalizing and increasing the registered capital of Shanghai IT. Under an agreement entered into between Jun Zhu, Wei Ji and other parties thereto in November 2011, Jun Zhu assigned all his respective rights and obligations with respect to the loans to Wei Ji. In December 2010, we extended interest-free loans in an aggregate amount of RMB50.0 million to the shareholders of Huopu Cloud, in connection with capitalizing the registered capital of Huopu Cloud. These loans are repayable upon demand. The existing shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, Yong Wang and Wei Ji, Junping Han and Wei Xiong, have pledged all of their equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud in favor of us under an equity pledge agreement, respectively. Each of the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud has registered the pledge of its equity interests with the relevant local administration for industry and commerce pursuant to the new PRC Property Rights Law. In the event of a breach of any term in the loan agreement or any other agreement by either Shanghai IT or Huopu Cloud or their shareholders, we will be entitled to enforce our rights as a pledgee under the equity pledge agreement. In April 2010, we acquired a controlling interest in Red 5, an online game developer based in the United States, through the investment in its preferred shares. We then continued to acquire additional equity interest of Red 5 from its existing shareholders. As of December 31, 2012, on an as-converted basis, we own approximately 81% of the equity interest in Red 5. Red 5 is developing Firefall, a MMOFPS game, which we expect to launch the open beta testing in 2013. Our principal executive office is located at Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China, and our telephone number is +86-21-5172-9999. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of CARD Corporate Services Ltd, Zephyr House, Mary Street, PO Box 709 George Town, Grand Cayman. Our agent for service of process in the United States is CT Corporation System located at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011. In addition to our operational headquarters in Shanghai, we currently have operational subsidiaries located in the U.S., Singapore and South Korea. We also have small branch offices in China including Beijing, Chengdu, Nanjing, Shenyang, Wuhan and Xi’an. For the list of licensed and proprietary games of our company as of the date of this annual report, see “— B. Business Overview — Products and Services.” B. Business Overview We primarily operate MMORPGs and other games that we own or license in China. Since February 2005, we have launched, among others, eight MMORPGs and other games including web games, social games and mobile games. We commercially launched WoW, a MMORPG licensed from Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in China in June 2005 through China The9 Interactive (Shanghai) Limited, or C9I Shanghai, and Shanghai IT. Since WoW’s commercial launch, we had relied on the game as a major source of revenue. After the non-renewal of the WoW license, we continued to operate our other licensed and proprietary games, such as Soul of The Ultimate Nation, or SUN, Q Jiang San Guo, Winning Goal and Winning Dunk. We also devote substantial resources to develop our proprietary games, including Firefall, a MMOFPS, and Qiji2, a MMORPG, and expect to launch the open beta testing for both games in 2013. In addition, we also obtained exclusive licenses to operate other games in mainland China, including Planetside 2 which we expect to launch in 2013. For a description of the games we own or hold licenses to operate, see “— B. Business Overview — Products and Services.” 31 As mobile games have become increasingly popular in China, we are also developing our mobile social gaming platform business. We established a mobile business unit in April 2010 and started to expand our business into the mobile Internet field. In December 2010, we also entered into a license agreement with OpenFeint to use its mobile social gaming platform software in China for a term of five years. In April 2011, we launched The9 Game Zone, a mobile social gaming platform in China powered by OpenFeint. By the end of 2012, the number of the registered members of The9 Game Zone had exceeded 20 million. We also launched several proprietary mobile online games developed by our in-house development team. We generate our online game service revenues primarily through an item-based revenue model, under which players play games for free, but they are charged for in-game items, such as performance-enhancing items, clothing and accessories. Our customers typically access our online games through PCs at home or in Internet cafés, or in the case of mobile phones, through cell phones and other mobile devices. They purchase in-game items primarily through our online payment systems, or by using prepaid cards purchased at various retail outlets or online points purchased at one of the more than 100,000 Internet cafés throughout China which have subscribed to our internally developed Pass9 system. Pass9 is a proprietary, fully integrated online membership management and payment system, which offers one-stop account management and payment services to our customers and facilitates our payment arrangements with distributors and Internet cafés. To ensure quality customer service and seamless operations, we maintain a powerful technology platform consisting of numerous servers and network devices located in eleven Internet data centers throughout China. We plan to further expand the size and capabilities of our development team by recruiting additional talented program developers, game designers and graphic artists. We also plan to introduce new game features and improve operations infrastructure to meet evolving customer tastes and expectations. In addition, as part of our business strategies, we will continue to explore opportunities to acquire online game studios that have strong game development capabilities. Products and Services Online Games We offer online games including MMORPGs, MMOFPSs, web games, social games, mobile games and TV games, that we have licensed or developed. Our other products and services include game operating support, training and advertisement and short message services. In a typical MMORPG or MMOFPS, thousands of players play in the same game world at the same time. MMORPG and MMOFPS players can select a specific character to compete with in the game with which they develop experience and enhance game attributes, which can be carried over into the next higher game levels. MMORPGs and MMOFPSs incorporate many cutting-edge technology features, including: • • • sophisticated 3D graphics which create captivating screen scenes; player upgrading system which allows players to attain higher game attributes with their characters as they develop experience and enhanced game capabilities over time; and instant messaging system which allows players to communicate with each other during the game and form groups with other players, thereby coordinating their game skills to achieve collective objectives. As of December 31, 2012, we owned or had exclusive licenses to operate the following major MMORPGs, MMOFPSs, web games and social games and other games in China and other countries: Game SUN Winning Goal Q Jiang San Guo Winning Dunk ReXueWuShuang Firefall Planetside 2 Qiji 2 Developer/ Licensor Webzen, Inc. The9 The9 The9 The9 The9 Description 3D MMORPG Web and social game Social game Web game Web game 3D MMOFPS Status Commercially launched in China in May 2007 Commercially launched in China in July 2010 Commercially launched in China in October 2010 Commercially launched in China in June 2012 Commercially launched in China in August 2012 In beta testing and commercial sales of founder’s packs in August 2012 Sony Online Entertainment LLC The9 32 3D MMOFPS In localization process 3D MMORPG In limited beta testing • • • • • • SUN. In December 2005, we entered into an agreement with Webzen Inc., or Webzen, a game developer in South Korea, pursuant to which we obtained an exclusive license from Webzen to operate SUN, a 3D MMORPG, in mainland China. SUN was commercially launched in May 2007. In March 2013, we entered into a termination agreement with Webzen to terminate the SUN game license in June 2013. Winning Goal. We commercially launched our proprietary game Winning Goal in July 2010 in mainland China as both social and web versions. We licensed a web version of Winning Goal to game operators in Southeast Asia, North America, and other countries. We also launched a social version of Winning Goal on different social websites in China and other countries, including the major SNS platforms such as Sina Weibo, Tencent and Facebook. Q Jiang San Guo. We commercially launched our proprietary social game Q Jiang San Guo in October 2010 in different social websites in China and other countries. Winning Dunk. We commercially launched our proprietary game Winning Dunk in June 2012 in mainland China in its web version. In January 2013, we licensed the game to certain game operators in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. ReXueWuShuang. We commercially launched our proprietary web game ReXueWuShuang in August 2012 in China. Firefall. Since our acquisition of Red 5 in April 2010, Red 5 devoted substantially all of its operating activities to the development of Firefall, a MMOFPS. Red 5 had previously entered into a game development and licensing agreement with Webzen, a third-party operator, in February 2006. In September 2011, pursuant to a series of assignment arrangements, Webzen assigned the license of Firefall to Red 5 Singapore Pte. Ltd., or Red 5 Singapore, one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. Upon the assignment, Red 5 Singapore replaced Webzen and became a party under the game development and licensing agreement between Red 5 and Webzen, including the publishing rights in all of the countries worldwide other than the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as all the intellectual properties related to Firefall. Red 5 will continue to have the publishing right of Firefall in the United States, Canada and Europe. Webzen will no longer be involved in marketing and publishing Firefall in any geographic region. As part of the assignment arrangement, we paid US$10.0 million and guaranteed to pay US$12.7 million to Webzen. We also pledged certain intellectual property in relation to the game to secure the guaranteed amount. As of December 31, 2012, the amount payable for 2013 was estimated to be US$5.3 million (RMB32.9 million). In addition, Webzen will also share certain future revenues generated from the licensing and royalties of Firefall for a certain period of time. 33 In November 2011, Red 5 Singapore granted a six-year license of Firefall to Garena Online Private Limited for exclusive distribution rights in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and the Philippines, for US$23 million plus any royalties payable. This represents an important step in the global rollout of Firefall. Currently, the game is in close beta testing and we expect to launch the open beta testing in 2013. Red 5 started to sell founder’s packs, a promotional package to attract players, in August 2012. Planetside 2. In June 2010, we obtained an exclusive license from SOE, an online game developer, to operate Planetside 2 in mainland China and Hong Kong. We are in the process of localizing this game in China and Hong Kong, which is expected to be commercially launched in 2013. Qiji 2. We are currently developing our own proprietary game, Qiji 2, a 3D MMORPG, which is in limited beta testing now. We expect to launch the game in 2013. Web Game Platform and Social Games. We set up a web game platform www.9c.com, which enables our customers to access a wide range of web games including Winning Goal, Winning Dunk and other web games we jointly operate with other game companies. We also launched social games including Q Jiang San Guo and Winning Goal 2 on different social platforms in both China and other countries to provide social games to our customers. • • • In 2012, we ceased operating World of Fighter, Atlantica and Kingdom Heroes 2 Online. We also terminated the following exclusive licenses: • ShenXianZhuan and Investment in Fire Rain. In September 2012, due to the weaker than expected performance of ShenXianZhuan, a MMORPG, we restructured our investment in and terminated certain contractual arrangement with Hangzhou Fire Rain Network Technology Co., Ltd., or Fire Rain, which primarily focused on the development of ShenXianZhuan. As a result of the restructuring, we terminated the license to operate ShenXianZhuan and deconsolidated Fire Rain in 2012. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions.” • Era Zero and Investment in Wanyouyl. In 2012, due to its unsatisfactory testing result, we restructured our investment in and terminated certain contractual arrangement with Shenzhen Wanyouyinli Technology Co., Ltd., or Wanyouyl. As a result of the restructuring, we terminated the license to operate Era Zero, a 3D MMORPG developed by Wanyouyl, and deconsolidated Wanyouyl in 2012. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions.” In preparation for the commercial launch of a new game, we conduct “closed beta testing” of the game to resolve operational issues, which is followed by “open beta testing” in which we allow our registered users to play without removing their in-game data to ensure the performance consistency and stability of our operating systems. We can choose to start charging users at the close of beta testing or at a later stage at our discretion. Our online games are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our users can access our online games from any location with an Internet connection. Substantially all of our users in China access the game servers either from PCs at home or at Internet cafés equipped with multiple personal computers that have Internet access. Currently, a significant portion of our users access the game through Internet cafés throughout China which sell prepaid game cards or prepaid game points to their customers. To offset the impact of the limited use of online and credit card payment systems in China, we have introduced Pass9, a prepaid game playing time purchase and management system. See “— B. Business Overview — Membership Management and Payment System.” 34 Mobile Game Platform. We established a mobile business unit in April 2010 and started to expand our business into the mobile Internet field. In December 2010, we also entered into a license agreement with OpenFeint, a developer and operator of a leading mobile social gaming network, to use its mobile social gaming platform software in China for a term of five years. In April 2011, we launched The9 Game Zone, a mobile social gaming platform in China powered by OpenFeint. By the end of 2012, the number of registered members of The9 Game Zone had exceeded 20 million. We also launched several proprietary mobile online games developed by our in-house development team. Our partners in the mobile internet industry in 2012 included domestic and overseas game developers, local telecom carriers, mobile device manufacturers and third party distribution channels. TV Game Platform. We have contracts with several Chinese telecom carriers and radio, film and television operators for the development and maintenance of TV game platforms operated on Internet protocol television and digital television. In January 2013, we entered into an investment agreement with Shanghai Zhongxing Communication Technology Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Ruigao Information Technology Co., Ltd., pursuant to which the parties will establish a joint venture in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, for developing and operating IPTV game platforms, TV games and other related business. The joint venture was established in February 2013. Other Products and Services. Our other products and services mainly consist of game operating support, training and advertisement and short message services. Game Operating Support, Training and Advertising Services. Our game operating support, training and advertising services primarily relate to providing game operating support, including payment collection and processing, smart phone application programming training and other online game -related technical support. SMS. Leveraging our existing user base, we offer several different SMS products and subscription packages that enable our users to, among other things, transmit and receive SMS messages, receive password protection and other value-added services. Membership Management and Payment System We established Pass9 in China, a pioneering integrated membership management and payment system in early 2001, which allows us to maintain a single customer database that contains each customer’s profile and payment history. Pass9 provides one-stop service to our customers, distributors and developers. Pass9 provides our customers with an integrated platform to log in, pay and use any of the fee-based products and services we offer. It also allows our distributors to sell our online points to Internet cafés, and enables Internet cafés to check the balance of their points and pay us on their customers’ behalf. In addition, Pass9 provides our game development partners with a simple interface with which to integrate their games into our system. Our integrated membership management and payment system also incorporates a variety of community-building features, such as chat rooms, which provide registered users a platform to interact in real-time groups or one-on-one discussions, and bulletin boards which allow registered users to post notes or inquiries and respond to other users’ notes or inquires. We believe these features encourage user congregation on our site and facilitate player interaction for the games we offer. Customer Service Since our inception, we have continuously focused on providing excellent customer service in order to retain our existing customers and to attract new customers. Our online games customers can access our customer service center via phone or e-mail at any time, or visit our visitor center in Shanghai during regular business hours. We have in-game game masters dedicated to each of the online games that we operate. Game masters are responsible for organizing in-game events, troubleshooting and actively and continuously monitoring the online game environment. Game masters are available to respond to players’ inquiries, to initiate the bug reporting and removal processes, as well as to identify, record and deal with players’ inappropriate behavior such as dishonesty, fraud or other conducts that violates our rules and policies. We believe that positioning game masters to monitor the gaming environment is important to us to maintain customer loyalty and to efficiently address any technical problems that may arise. 35 Purchase of In-game Items A customer can purchase in-game items through any of the following methods: Prepaid Cards. A customer can purchase prepaid cards at retail outlets including convenience stores, supermarkets and bookstores across China. Prepaid Online Points. Over 100,000 Internet cafés across China have subscribed to our self-developed eSales System, which is part of our Pass9 system and enables an Internet café to buy prepaid online points from our distributors and in turn sell these same points to their customers. Online Payment. A customer can access online games free of charge and buy in-game items online by charging a payment directly to a credit or debit card. Pricing, Distribution and Marketing Pricing. We price our in-game virtual items near the end of the free testing period based on several factors, including the prices of other comparable games, the technological and other features of the game, and the targeted marketing position of the game. Our prepaid game cards are offered in a variety of denominations to provide users with maximum flexibility. Distribution. Due to the limited availability of online payment systems in China, a substantial portion of our sales are carried out via a distribution network composed of third-party distributors. We sell our in-game items and game playing time primarily through sales of our online game points to end users via Beijing Huiyuan Net Technology Co., Ltd., a national online distributor. Beijing Huiyuan Net Technology Co., Ltd. sells its prepaid cards to over 30,000 local distributors and Internet cafés throughout China, which in turn sell them to end users. End users can purchase our online game points with the prepaid cards. In addition, we also directly sell game points through our game players’ online accounts. Marketing. Our overall marketing strategy is to rapidly attract new customers and increase revenues from recurring customers. The marketing programs and promotional activities that we employ to promote our games include: Advertising and Online Promotion. We place advertisements in many game magazines and on online game sites, which are updated regularly. Promotion and Endorsement. We also promote our game products through promotional and endorsement arrangement with Shanghai Shenhua Liansheng Football Club Co., Ltd., or Shenhua. Mr. Zhu Jun, our chairman and chief executive officer and one of our principal shareholders, is one of the major shareholders of Shenhua. For example, jerseys used by soccer players of Shenhua for soccer games and press conferences bear the name and logo of our games. Shenhua players also participate in product promotion and sales initiatives of our games. In addition, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Yves Drogba Tebily also provided endorsement and promotion of our games Firefall and Planetside 2, respectively. Cross-Marketing. We have cross-marketing relationships with major consumer brands, technology companies and major telecom carriers. We believe that our cross-marketing relationships with well-known companies will increase the recognition of our online game brands. On-Site Promotion. We distribute free game-related posters, promotional prepaid cards for beginners, game-related souvenirs such as watches, pens, mouse pads and calendars at trade shows, selected Internet cafés and computer stores. In-Game Marketing. We conduct “in-game” marketing programs from time to time, including online adventures for grand prizes. 36 Game Development and Licensing We believe that the online game industry in China will continue its recent pattern of developing increasingly sophisticated online games tailored to the local market. In order to remain competitive, we are focusing on developing new proprietary online games, mobile games and web games. Our product development team is responsible for game design, technical development and art design. We also plan to further enhance our game development capability and diversify our game portfolio and pipeline through selective acquisitions of game studios primarily in the U.S. and China. Our licensing process begins with a preliminary screening, review and testing of a game, followed by a cost analysis, negotiations and ultimate licensing of a game, including all regulatory and approval processes. A team is then designated to conduct “closed beta testing” of the game to resolve operational matters, followed by “open beta testing” during which our registered users may play the game without removing their in-game data to ensure performance consistency and stability of our operation systems. Testing generally takes three to six months, during which time we commence other marketing activities. Technology We aim to build a reliable and secure technology infrastructure to fully support our operations, and we maintain separate technology networks for each of our games. Our current technology infrastructure consists of the following: • • • servers and network devices located in eleven Internet data centers throughout China as of December 31, 2012; proprietary software, including game monitor tools, that are integrated with our websites and customer service center operations; and hardware platform and server sites primarily consisting of Inspur, Hewlett-Packard/Compaq, Dell and IBM servers; EMC, IBM storage systems, H3C and Cisco network equipment. We have a network operation team responsible for the stability and security of our network. The team monitors our server and works to detect, record, analyze and solve problems that arise from out network. In addition, we frequently upgrade our game server software to ensure the stability of our operations and to reduce the risks of hacking. Competition Our major competitors include, but are not limited to, online game operators in China. These include Tencent Inc. (which operates Dungeon and Fighter, Cross Fire, League of Legends and QQ Dance), Shanda Games Limited (which operates Legend of Mir and Dragon Nest), NetEase.com, Inc. (which operates WoW, Westward Journey Online and Fantasy Westward Journey), Changyou.com Limited (which operates Tian Long Ba Bu and Lu Ding Ji), Perfect World, Co. Ltd. (which operates Perfect World, Zhu Xian and Shen Diao Xia Lv) and Giant Interactive Group (which operates ZT Online and Giant Online). As we are in the process of developing our mobile social gaming platform business, we anticipate facing competition in the mobile game industry. For example, mobile service providers, handset companies or other parties may introduce mobile platforms or other business models that compete with us. The competition we face primarily relates to our user-base, relationships with content developers, mobile device manufacturers, mobile service providers, key technologies as well as research and development capabilities. Our existing and potential competitors may compete with us on marketing activities, quality of online games and sales and distribution networks. Some of our existing and potential competitors have greater financial and marketing resources than us. For a discussion of risks relating to competition, see “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — We may not be able to recover our market share and profitability as we operate in a highly competitive industry and compete against many companies.” 37 Intellectual Property Our intellectual property rights include trademarks and domain names associated with the name “The9” in China and copyright and other rights associated with our websites, technology platform, self-developed software and other aspects of our business. We regard our intellectual property rights as critical to our business. We rely on trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection, non-competition and confidentiality agreements with our employees, and license agreements with our partners, to protect our intellectual property rights. We require our employees to enter into agreements requiring them to keep confidential all information relating to our customers, methods, business and trade secrets during and after their employment with us and assign their inventions developed during their employment to us. Our employees are required to acknowledge and recognize that all inventions, trade secrets, works of authorship, developments and other processes made by them during their employment are our property. We have registered our domain names with third-party domain registration entities, and have legal rights over these domain names through Shanghai IT, our affiliated PRC entity. We conduct our business under the “The9 Limited” brand name and “The9” logo. Legal Proceedings See “Item 8. Financial Information — A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information — Legal Proceedings.” Government Regulations Current PRC laws and regulations impose substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of the online gaming and ICP businesses in China. As a result, we conduct our online gaming and ICP businesses in China through contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT, Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement and Huopu Cloud, our affiliated PRC entities. Shanghai IT is owned by Yong Wang and Wei Ji, both of whom are PRC citizens. Huopu Cloud is owned by Junping Han and Wei Xiong, both of whom are also PRC citizens. In the opinion of our PRC counsel, Zhong Lun Law Firm, subject to the interpretation and implementation of the GAPP Circular, the ownership structure and the business operation models of our PRC subsidiaries and our affiliated PRC entities comply with all applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and no consent, approval or license is required under any of the existing laws and regulations of China for their ownership structure and business operation models except for those which we have already obtained or which would not have a material adverse effect on our business or operations as a whole. As the online games industry is at an early stage of development in China, new laws and regulations may be adopted from time to time to require additional licenses and permits other than those we currently have, and address new issues that arise from time to time. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to the online games industry. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The laws and regulations governing the online game industry in China are developing and subject to future changes. If we fail to obtain or maintain all applicable permits and approvals, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected.” Regulations on Internet Content Provision Service, Online Gaming and Internet Publishing Our provision of online game-related content on our websites is subject to various PRC laws and regulations relating to the telecommunications industry, Internet and online gaming, and is regulated by various government authorities, including MIIT, the Ministry of Culture, GAPPRFT and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. The principal PRC regulations governing the ICP industry as well as the online gaming services in China include: • • Telecommunications Regulations (2000); The Administrative Rules for Foreign Investments in Telecommunications Enterprises (2001), as amended in 2008; 38 • • • • • • The Administrative Measures for Telecommunications Business Operating License (2009); The Administrative Measures for Internet Information Services (2000), as amended in 2011; The Tentative Measures for Administration of Internet Culture (2003), as amended and reissued in 2011; The Tentative Measures for Administration of Internet Publication (2002); The Tentative Measures for Administration of Online Games (2010); and The Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue (2011). In July 2006, MIIT issued the New MII Notice. The New MII Notice prohibits ICP license holders from leasing, transferring or selling a telecommunications business operating license to any foreign investors in any form, or providing any resource, sites or facilities to any foreign investors for their illegal operation of telecommunications businesses in China. The notice also requires that ICP license holders and their shareholders directly own the domain names and trademarks used by such ICP license holders in their daily operations. The notice further requires each ICP 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 the value-added telecommunication service providers are required to maintain network and information security in accordance with the standards set forth under relevant PRC regulations. The local authorities in charge of telecommunications services are required to ensure that existing ICP license holders conduct a self-assessment of their compliance with the New MII Notice and submit status reports to MIIT before November 1, 2006. For those which are not in compliance with the above requirements and further fail to rectify the situation, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion to adopt one or more measures against them, including but not limited to revoking their operating licenses. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign ownership of Internet content provision, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing licenses, and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the application and implementation of PRC laws and regulations.” Under these regulations, a foreign investor is currently prohibited from owning more than 50% of the equity interest in a PRC entity that provides value-added telecommunications services. ICP services are classified as value-added telecommunications businesses, and a commercial operator of such services must obtain a ICP License from the appropriate telecommunications authorities in order to carry on any commercial ICP operations in China. With respect to the online gaming industry in China, since online games fall into the definition of “Internet culture products” under The Tentative Measures for Internet Culture Administration (2011), a commercial operator of online games must, in addition to obtaining the ICP License, obtain an Internet culture operation license from the appropriate culture administrative authorities for its operation of online games. Furthermore, according to The Tentative Measures for Internet Publication Administration (2002), the provision of online games is deemed an Internet publication activity. Therefore, approval from the appropriate press and publication administrative authorities as an Internet publisher or cooperation with a licensed Internet publisher is required for an online game operator to carry on its online gaming businesses in China. Furthermore, online games and mobile games, regardless of whether imported or domestic, shall be subject to a content review and approval by or a filing with the Ministry of Culture and GAPPRFT prior to commencement of operations in China. GAPPRFT and MIIT jointly impose a license requirement for any company that intends to engage in Internet publishing, defined as any act by an Internet information service provider to select, edit and process content or programs and to make such content or programs publicly available on the Internet. Furthermore, the distribution of online game cards and CD-keys for online gaming programs is subject to a licensing requirement. Shanghai IT holds the license necessary to distribute electronic publications, which allows it to distribute prepaid cards and CD-Keys for the games we operate. We sell our prepaid cards and CD-Keys through third-party distributors, which are responsible for maintaining requisite licenses for distributing our prepaid cards and CD Keys in China. 39 On February 15, 2007, fourteen governmental authorities, including the Ministry of Culture, MIIT, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, jointly issued a circular entitled Circular for Further Strengthening the Administration of Internet Café and Online Games. This circular gave the PBOC administrative authority over virtual currencies issued by online game operators for use by players in online games to avoid the potential impact such virtual currencies may have on the real-world financial systems. According to this circular, the volume that may be issued and the purchase of such virtual currencies must be restricted, and virtual currency must not be used for the purchase of any physical products, refunded with a premium or otherwise illegally traded. The Notice of Strengthening the Management of Virtual Currency of Online Games promulgated by the Ministry of Culture and the MOFCOM on June 4, 2009 and the Tentative Measures for Administration of Online Games promulgated by the Ministry of Culture on June 3, 2010 impose more restrictions and requirements on online game operators that issue virtual currencies. According to the above regulations, an online game operator which issues virtual currency used for online game services shall apply for approval from the Ministry of Culture. An online game operator shall further report detailed rules of issuance for virtual currencies, such as distribution scope, pricing, and terms for refunds and shall make certain periodic and supplementary filings as required by the relevant regulations. In addition, under the new rules, online game operators are prohibited from assigning game tools or virtual currency to users by way of drawing lots, random samplings or other arbitrary means in exchange for users’ cash or virtual currency. The new rules also require that service agreements entered into between online game operators and end users contain the general terms of a standard online game service agreement issued by the Ministry of Culture. In September 2009, GAPP further promulgated the GAPP Circular, which provides that foreign investors are prohibited from making investment and engaging in online game operation services by setting up foreign-invested enterprises in China. Further, foreign investors shall not control and participate in PRC online game operation businesses indirectly or in a disguised manner by establishing joint venture companies or entering into agreements with or providing technical support to such PRC online game operation companies, or by inputting the users’ registration, account management, game cards consumption directly into the interconnected gaming platform or fighting platform controlled or owned by the foreign investor. It is not clear whether the regulatory authority of GAPPRFT applies to the regulation of ownership structures of online game companies based in China and online game operation in China. Other government agencies that have regulatory jurisdiction over the online game operations in China, such as the Ministry of Culture and MIIT, did not join GAPP in issuing the GAPP Circular. To date, GAPPRFT has not issued any interpretation of the GAPP Circular. It is not yet clear how this GAPP Circular will be implemented. The relevant governmental authorities have broad discretion to adopt one or more of administrative measures against companies now in compliance with these measures, including revoking relevant licenses and relevant registration. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign ownership of Internet content provision, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing licenses, and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the application and implementation of PRC laws and regulations.” The operation of SMS in China is classified as a value-added telecommunication business and SMS service providers shall obtain the relevant value-added telecommunication business permits. Furthermore, MIIT has promulgated rules requiring ICP license holders that provide online bulletin board services to register with, and obtain approval from, the relevant telecommunication authorities. Regulations on Internet Content The PRC government has promulgated measures relating to Internet content through a number of ministries and agencies, including MIIT, the Ministry of Culture and GAPPRFT. These measures specifically prohibit Internet activities, including the operation of online games that result in the publication of any content which is found to, among other things, propagate obscenity, gambling or violence, instigate crimes, undermine public morality or the cultural traditions of the PRC, or compromise State security or secrets. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The laws and regulations governing the online game industry in China are developing and subject to future changes. If we fail to obtain or maintain all applicable permits and approvals, our business and operations could be materially and adversely affected.” If an ICP license holder violates these measures, the PRC government may revoke its ICP license and shut down its websites. 40 In April 2007, various governmental authorities, including GAPP, MIIT, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant authorities jointly issued a circular concerning the mandatory implementation of an “anti-fatigue system” in online games, which was aimed at protecting the physical and psychological health of minors. This circular required all online games to incorporate an “anti-fatigue system” and an identity verification system, both of which have limited the amount of time that a minor or other user may continuously spend playing an online game. We have implemented such “anti-fatigue” and identification systems on all of our online games as required. Since March 2011, various governmental authorities, including the Ministry of Culture, MIIT, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security, and other relevant authorities have jointly launched the “Online Game Parents Guardianship Project for Minors”, which allows parents to require online game operators to take relevant measures to limit the time spent by the minors on playing online games and the minors’ access to their online game accounts. Additional requirements for anti-fatigue and identification systems in our games, as well as the implementation of any other measures required by any new regulations the PRC government may enact to further tighten its administration of the Internet and online games, and its supervision of Internet cafés, may limit or slow down our prospects for growth, or may materially and adversely affect our business results. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Our business may be adversely affected by public opinion and government policies in China.” Internet content in China is also regulated and restricted from a state security standpoint. The National People’s Congress, China’s national legislative body, has enacted a law that may subject to criminal punishment in China any effort to: (1) gain improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance; (2) disseminate politically disruptive information; (3) leak state secrets; (4) spread false commercial information; or (5) infringe intellectual property rights. The Ministry of Public Security has promulgated measures that prohibit the use of the Internet in ways which, among other things, results in a leakage of state secrets or a spread of socially destabilizing content. The Ministry of Public Security has supervision and inspection rights in this regard, and we may be subject to the jurisdiction of the local security bureaus. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Regulation and censorship of information disseminated over the Internet in China may adversely affect our business, and we may be liable for information displayed on, retrieved from, or linked to our Internet websites.” If an ICP license holder violates these measures, the PRC government may revoke its ICP license and shut down its websites. Regulations on Internet Cafés Internet cafés are required to obtain a license from the Ministry of Culture and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and are subject to requirements and regulations with respect to location, size, number of computers, age limit of customers and business hours. Although we do not own or operate any Internet cafés, many Internet cafés distribute our virtual pre- paid cards. The PRC government has enacted laws to intensify its regulation and administration of Internet cafés, which are currently the primary venue for our users to play online games. Intensified government regulation of Internet cafés could restrict our ability to maintain or increase our revenues and expand our customer base. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Intensified government regulation of Internet cafés could limit our ability to maintain or increase our revenues and expand our customer base.” Regulations on Privacy Protection PRC laws and regulations do not prohibit Internet content providers from collecting and analyzing personal information from their users. We require our users to accept a user agreement whereby they agree to provide certain personal information to us. PRC law prohibits Internet content providers from disclosing to any third parties any information transmitted by users through their networks unless otherwise permitted by law. If an Internet content provider violates these regulations, MIIT or its local bureaus may impose penalties and the Internet content provider may be liable for damages caused to its users. 41 Import Regulations Our ability to obtain licenses for online games from abroad and import them into China is regulated in several ways. We are required to register with the MOFCOM any license agreement with a foreign licensor that involves an import of technologies, including online game software into China. Without that registration, we may not remit licensing fees out of China to any foreign game licensor. In addition, the Ministry of Culture requires us to submit for its content review and/or approval any online games we want to license from overseas game developers or any patch or updates for such game if it contains substantial changes. If we license and operate games without that approval, the Ministry of Culture may impose penalties on us, including revoking the Internet culture operation license required for the operation of online games in China. Also, pursuant to a jointly issued notice in July 2004, GAPP and the State Copyright Bureau require us to obtain their approval for imported online game publications. Furthermore, the State Copyright Bureau requires us to register copyright license agreements relating to imported software. Without the State Copyright Bureau registration, we cannot remit licensing fees out of China to any foreign game licensor and we are not allowed to publish or reproduce the imported game software in China. Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights The State Council and the State Copyright Bureau have promulgated various regulations and rules relating to the protection of software in China. Under these regulations and rules, software owners, licensees and transferees may register their rights in software with the State Copyright Bureau or its local branches and obtain software copyright registration certificates. Although such registration is not mandatory under PRC law, software owners, licensees and transferees are encouraged to go through the registration process and registered software rights may receive better protection. We have registered all of our in-house developed online games with the State Copyright Bureau. Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange and Dividend Distribution Foreign Currency Exchange. Foreign currency exchange regulation in China is primarily governed by the following rules: • Foreign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended; and • Administration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange (1996). Pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Administration Rules (1996), as amended, the RMB is generally freely convertible for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not for direct investment, loans, investment in securities, or other transactions through a capital account outside China unless the prior approval of SAFE is obtained. Furthermore, foreign investment enterprises in China in general may purchase foreign exchange without the approval of SAFE for trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing these transactions. Foreign investment enterprises that need foreign exchange for the distribution of profits to their shareholders may effect payment from their foreign exchange account or purchase and pay foreign exchange at the designated foreign exchange banks to their foreign shareholders by producing board resolutions for such profit distribution. Under the Administration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange (1996)s, based on their needs, foreign investment enterprises are permitted to open foreign exchange settlement accounts for current account receipts and payments of foreign exchange along with specialized accounts for capital account receipts and payments of foreign exchange at certain designated foreign exchange banks. Dividend Distribution. The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends of foreign holding companies include: • The Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (1986), as amended; and • Administrative Rules under the Foreign Investment Enterprise Law (2001). 42 Under these regulations, foreign investment enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, foreign investment enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the cumulative total of the allocated reserve funds reaches 50% of an enterprise’s registered capital and a portion of their respective after-tax profits to their staff welfare and bonus reserve funds as determined by their respective board of directors or shareholders. These reserves are not distributable as dividends. Regulations on Foreign Exchange in Certain Onshore and Offshore Transactions On October 21, 2005, SAFE issued the Notice 75 which became effective as of November 1, 2005. According to Notice 75: • prior to establishing or assuming control of an offshore company for the purposes of financing that offshore company with assets or equity interests in an onshore enterprise in the PRC, each PRC resident must complete the overseas investment foreign exchange registration procedures with the local SAFE branch; • an amendment to the registration with the local SAFE branch is required to be filed by any PRC resident that directly or indirectly holds interests in that offshore company upon either (1) the injection of equity interests or assets of an onshore enterprise in the offshore company, or (2) the completion of any overseas fundraising by such offshore company; and • an amendment to the registration with the local SAFE branch is also required to be filed by such PRC resident when there is any material change involving a change in the capital of the offshore company. Under the relevant rules, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Notice 75 or the rules implementing Notice 75 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including an increase of its registered capital, the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore entity, and may also subject the relevant onshore company and PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations. Since May 2007, SAFE has further issued relevant guidance to its local branches with respect to the operational process for SAFE registration, which standardized more specific and stringent supervision on the registration relating to Notice 75 and imposed obligations on onshore subsidiaries of offshore special purpose companies to coordinate with and supervise the beneficial owners of the offshore entity who are PRC residents to complete the SAFE registration process. As a result of the uncertainties relating to the interpretation and implementation of Notice 75, we cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or strategies. For example, our present or future PRC subsidiaries’ ability to conduct foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, may be subject to compliance with such SAFE registration requirements by relevant PRC residents, over whom we have no control. In addition, we cannot assure you that any such PRC residents will be able to complete the necessary approval and registration procedures required by the SAFE regulations. We have requested all of our shareholders who, based on our knowledge, are PRC residents or whose ultimate beneficial owners are PRC residents to comply with all applicable SAFE registration requirements, but we have no control over our shareholders. We cannot assure you that the PRC beneficial owners of our company and our subsidiaries have completed the required SAFE registrations. Nor can we assure you that they will be in full compliance with the SAFE registration in the future. Any non-compliance by the PRC beneficial owners of our company and our subsidiaries may subject us or such PRC resident shareholders to fines and other penalties. It may also limit our ability to contribute additional capitals to our PRC subsidiaries and our subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits or make other payments to us. 43 C. Organizational Structure The following diagram illustrates our organizational structure, the place of formation, ownership interest of each of our significant subsidiaries and affiliated entities that operate our major game platforms in China as of the date of this annual report: D. Property, Plants and Equipment Our headquarters are located on premises comprising approximately 14,000 square meters in an office building in Shanghai, China. We purchased the office building in which our headquarters are located, and lease all of our other premises from unrelated third parties. In addition, we have subsidiaries located in the U.S., Singapore and South Korea and small branch offices in Beijing, Nanjing, Wuhan, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shenyang, China. Our equipment consists substantially of numerous servers and network devices located in eleven Internet data centers throughout China. 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 in this annual report. This report contains forward-looking statements. See “— H. Safe Harbor.” In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information provided under the caption “Risk Factors” in this annual report. We caution you that our businesses and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. 44 A. Operating Results Until approximately mid-2009, we derived substantially all of our revenues through our wholly-owned subsidiary C9I and its operation of WoW in China through cooperation with Shanghai IT. Our license to operate the WoW game in China expired on June 7, 2009, and as a result, our revenue decreased significantly. Since the non-renewal of the WoW license, we have depended more on our relationships with other game licensors. To broaden our product offerings, we have obtained exclusive licenses to operate additional online games in China. In addition, we have devoted further resources to developing our proprietary games. We also expect to increasingly rely on these proprietary games for our future growth. We established a mobile business unit in April 2010 and started to expand our business into the mobile Internet field. In December 2010, we also entered into a license agreement with OpenFeint, a developer and operator of a leading mobile social gaming network, to use its mobile social gaming platform software in China for a term of five years. In April 2011, we launched The9 Game Zone, which is a mobile social gaming platform in China powered by OpenFeint. By the end of 2012, the number of the registered members of The9 Game Zone had exceeded 20 million. We also launched several proprietary mobile online games developed by our in-house development team. Our partners in the mobile internet industry in 2012 includes domestic and overseas game developers, local telecom carriers, mobile device manufacturers and third party distribution channels. Our revenues increased to RMB163.6 million (US$26.3 million) in 2012 from RMB112.5 million in 2011. Our net loss was RMB514.0 million (US$82.5 million) in 2012 and RMB284.3 million in 2011. The major factors affecting our results of operations and financial conditions include: • our revenues’ composition and sources of revenues; our cost of services; our operating expenses; and other operating income. • • • Revenue Composition and Sources of Revenue. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, we generated substantially all of our revenues from online game services, and the remaining portion of our revenues from other services. The following table sets forth our revenues generated from providing online game services and other services, both as absolute amounts and as percentages of total revenues for the periods indicated. Revenue: Online game services Other revenues Total revenues For the year Ended December 31, 2010 2011 2012 RMB % RMB % RMB US$ % (in thousands, except percentages) 106,472 98.1 109,047 97.0 157,391 25,263 96.2 3.8 108,514 100.0 112,466 100.0 163,581 26,257 100.0 3.0 6,190 3,419 2,042 994 1.9 Online Game Services. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, revenues from our online game services amounted to RMB106.5 million, RMB109.0 million and RMB157.4 million (US$25.3 million), respectively. The increase in revenue from 2011 to 2012 was mainly due to the increase in revenues from PC online games driven by an increase in our average quarterly revenue per paying user. We primarily generate our online game service revenues through item-based revenue models. Under an item-based revenue model, players of our games play the games for free, but are charged for purchases of in-game items, such as performance-enhancing items, clothing and accessories. Thus, we generate revenues through the sale of such in-game premium features that players use game points to purchase. The distribution of points to end users is typically made through sales of prepaid game cards and prepaid online points. Fees from prepaid game cards and prepaid online points are deferred when initially received. This revenue is recognized over the life of the premium features or as the premium features are consumed. Future usage patterns may differ from the historical usage patterns on which the virtual items and services consumption model is based. We will continue to monitor the operational statistics and usage patterns affecting our recognition of these revenues. 45 Other Revenues. Other revenues mainly include game operating support, smart phone application programming trainings, advertisement revenues and short message services revenues. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, our other revenues amounted to RMB2.0 million, RMB3.4 million and RMB6.2 million (US$1.0 million), respectively. Cost of Services. Our cost of services consists of costs directly attributable to rendering our services, including online game royalties, payroll, depreciation, maintenance and rental of Internet data center sites, depreciation and amortization of computer equipment and software, production costs for prepaid game cards, intangible assets amortization and other overhead expenses directly attributable to the services we provide. Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses consist primarily of product development expenses, sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, impairment expenses and loss recorded in connection with our restructuring of investments in and termination of certain contractual arrangements with Fire Rain and Wanyouyl. Product Development Expenses. Our product development expenses consist primarily of compensation to our product development personnel, outsourced research and development expenses, equipment and software depreciation charges and other expenses for the development of online games. Our product development expenses amounted to RMB139.4 million, RMB212.1 million and RMB301.5 million (US$48.4 million) for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. We expect that our product development expenses will remain relatively stable at the current level in the near future as most of our proprietary online games have entered into their final stages of development. Sales and Marketing Expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising and marketing expenses incurred to promote our games and compensation expenses relating to our sales and marketing personnel. Our sales and marketing expenses amounted to RMB63.3 million, RMB90.5 million and RMB187.0 million (US$30.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Marketing expenses generally increase during the periods when we launch our new games. For example, we plan to launch Planetside2, Firefall and Qiji2 in 2013, which will result in the increase in our sales and marketing expenses. General and Administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and travel expenses for our administrative staff, depreciation of property and equipment, entertainment expenses, administrative office expenses, as well as fees paid to professional service providers for auditing and legal services. General and administration expenses amounted to RMB112.7 million, RMB174.7 million and RMB170.4 million (US$27.3 million) for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. We expect general and administrative expenses including share-based compensation expenses will remain relatively stable at the current level in the near future. Impairment. Impairment charges relate to the impairment of certain equipment and intangible assets. Impairment expenses amounted to RMB37.9 million, nil and RMB0.6 million (US$0.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements. We recorded a loss of RMB18.1 million (US$2.9 million) in 2012 in connection with our restructuring of investments in and termination of certain contractual arrangements with Fire Rain and Wanyouyl. As a result of the restructuring, we deconsolidated these entities in 2012. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions.” Other operating income. Our other operating income in 2011 consists of the income generated from the release under applicable laws of our liability relating to the unactivated WoW game point cards in 2011, which amounted to RMB26.0 million. We recorded RMB0.1 million rental income as other operating income in 2012. 46 Holding Company Structure We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands and rely primarily on dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries and our affiliates in China for our cash requirements. Current PRC regulations restrict our affiliated entities and subsidiaries from paying dividends in the following two principal aspects: (i) our affiliated entities and subsidiaries in China are only permitted to pay dividends out of their respective accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations; and (ii) these entities are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain capital reserves until the cumulative total of the allocated reserves reach 50% of registered capital, and a portion of their respective after-tax profits to their staff welfare and bonus reserve funds as determined by their respective boards of directors. These reserves are not distributable as dividends. See “Item 4. Information on the Company — B. Business Overview — Government Regulations.” In addition, failure to comply with relevant SAFE regulations may restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to make dividend payments to us. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders or us to penalties and fines, and limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital, distribute profits to us, or otherwise adversely affect us.” Income and Sales Taxes The National People’s Congress of the PRC adopted and promulgated the EIT Law on March 16, 2007. The EIT Law went into effect as of January 1, 2008, and unified the tax rate generally applicable to both domestic and foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC. Our company’s subsidiaries and affiliated entities in the PRC are generally subject to EIT at a statutory rate of 25%. However, some subsidiaries that are located in the Pudong New District of Shanghai, including The9 Computer and C9I Shanghai, and which were established before March 2007, can enjoy five-year transitional reduced EIT rates, which refer to the phase-in rates of 18%, 20%, 22%, 24% and 25% for the five years from 2008 to 2012 according to local practice. Our subsidiaries that hold a HNTE qualification are entitled to enjoy a 15% preferential EIT rate. In April 2007, C9I Beijing received approval from governmental authorities to be classified as a HNTE. This classification allowed C9I Beijing to enjoy an EIT exemption for the period from 2007 to 2009, and a 50% reduction of the statutory rate in the period from 2010 to 2012. In addition, Shanghai IT also applied and received approval from government authorities to be classified as a HNTE. This approval allowed Shanghai IT to enjoy a 15% preferential EIT rate for the period from 2008 to 2010. However, in April 2008, government authorities announced the new implementation rules for application and assessment of HNTEs. Each qualified HNTE needs to re-apply for this qualification according to the new implementation rules. In particular, the HNTE qualification is generally valid for a term of three years after the issuance of the approval certificate, and the enterprise is required to apply for re-examination before the end of the term. As a result, C9I Beijing reapplied and received approvals for the HNTE qualification and related preferential tax rates during the period from 2008 to 2010 from the government authorities. However, C9I Beijing did not apply for renewal of its HNTE qualification after it expired in 2010 and was therefore not entitled to enjoy the 15% preferential EIT rate for the years 2011 and 2012. In addition, in October 2011, Shanghai IT reapplied for the HNTE qualification and received approval from the governmental authorities. It has applied with the local tax authorities for the approval of the 15% preferential EIT rate for 2011-2013 and we obtained such approval in 2012. However, we cannot assure you that our PRC subsidiaries or affiliated entities will meet these criteria and continue to be qualified as HNTEs if we apply to the tax authorities in the future. In addition, under the EIT Law, enterprises organized under the laws of their respective jurisdictions outside the PRC may be classified as either “non-resident enterprises” or “resident enterprises.” Non-resident enterprises are subject to withholding tax at the rate of 20% with respect to their PRC-sourced dividend income if they have no establishment or place of business in the PRC or if such income is not related to their establishment or place of business in the PRC, unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and the governments of other countries or regions. The State Council has reduced the withholding tax rate to 10% in the newly promulgated implementation rules of the EIT Law. As we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we may be regarded as a “non-resident enterprise.” We hold equity interests in certain PRC subsidiaries through subsidiaries in Hong Kong. According to the Tax Agreement between the PRC and Hong Kong, dividends paid by a foreign- invested enterprise in the PRC to its corporate shareholder in Hong Kong holding 25% or more of its equity interest may be subject to withholding tax at the maximum rate of 5% if certain criteria are met. Entitlement to such lower tax rate on dividends according to tax treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions is further subject to approval of relevant tax authority. 47 Furthermore, the SAT promulgated Circular 601 which provides guidance for determining whether a resident of a contracting state is the “beneficial owner” of an Item of income under China’s tax treaties and tax arrangements. According to Circular 601, a beneficial owner generally must be engaged in substantial business activities. An agent or conduit company will not be regarded as a beneficial owner and, therefore, will not qualify for treaty benefits. The conduit company normally refers to a company that is set up for the purpose of avoiding or reducing taxes or transferring or accumulating profits. In June 2012, SAT further promulgated Circular 30 which provides that the tax authorities shall make the decision based on comprehensive consideration of all determining factors provided in Circular 601 rather than the status of a single determining factor. We cannot assure you that any dividends to be distributed by us or by our subsidiaries to our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders whose jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China providing a different withholding arrangement will be entitled to the benefits under the relevant withholding arrangement. The EIT law deems an enterprise established offshore but having its management organ in the PRC as a “resident enterprise” that will be subject to PRC tax at the rate of 25% of its global income. Under the Implementation Rules of the New Enterprise Income Tax Law, the term “management organ” is defined as “an organ which has substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operation, personnel, accounting, properties and other factors.” On April 22, 2009, the SAT further issued Circular 82. According to Circular 82, a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group shall be deemed a PRC resident enterprise, if (i) the senior management and the core management departments in charge of its daily operations are mainly located and function in the PRC; (ii) its financial decisions and human resource decisions are subject to the determination or approval of persons or institutions located in the PRC; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, minutes and files of board meetings and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (iv) more than half of the directors or senior management with voting rights reside in the PRC. On August 3, 2011, SAT issued SAT Bulletin 45 which further clarified the detailed procedures for determination of the resident status provided in Circular 82, competent tax authorities in charge and post-determination administration of such resident enterprises. Although our offshore companies are not controlled by any PRC company or PRC company group, we cannot assure you that we will not be deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law and thus be subject to PRC EIT on our global income. According to the EIT Law and its implementation rules, dividends are exempted from income tax if such dividends are received by a PRC resident enterprise on equity interests it directly owns in another PRC resident enterprise. However, foreign corporate holders of our shares or ADSs may be subject to taxation at a rate of 10% on any dividends received from us or any gains realized from the transfer of our shares or ADSs if we are deemed to be a resident enterprise or if such income is otherwise regarded as income “sourced within the PRC.” See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — New income tax laws may increase our tax burden or the tax burden on the holders of our shares or ADSs, and tax benefits available to us may be reduced or repealed, causing the value of your investment in us to suffer.” With respect to sales taxes, before December 31, 2011, all the services provided by our PRC subsidiaries were subject to business taxes at the rate of 5%. In October, 2011, China’s Ministry of Finance and the SAT jointly issued the Circular 110 to launch the VAT reform pilot program in Shanghai. Following the Circular 110, the Ministry of Finance and the SAT jointly issued the Circular 111 in November 2011 to provide detailed implementation rules for the program. The two circulars, which would be effective from January 1, 2012, stipulated that certain services, subject to the pilot programs, shall be subject to VAT instead of business tax. On July 31, 2012, the Ministry of Finance and the SAT jointly issued Circular 71 which further extended areas subject to the pilot program to cover Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu province, Anhui province, Zhejiang province, Fujian province, Hubei province and Guangdong province. As a result of the pilot program, some of our services provided by Shanghai IT and Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement are subject to VAT at the rate of 6%. Shanghai IT and Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement (from August 2012), as General VAT Payers under the applicable tax regulations, may reduce their Input VAT. All services provided by C9I Beijing, Jiushi, Jiutuo (Shanghai) Information Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai The9 Educational Software Technology Co., Ltd. and Huopu Cloud shall be subject to VAT at the rate of 3%, and these companies as Small-scale VAT Payers under the applicable tax regulations may not reduce their VAT payable by their Input VAT. Our subsidiaries in the United States are registered in California and are subject to U.S. federal corporate marginal income tax at a rate of 34% and state income tax at a rate of 8.84%, respectively. 48 Critical Accounting Policies We prepare financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or 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 revenue 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 are believed to be 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. Some of our accounting policies require higher degrees of judgment than others in their application. 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. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, or VIEs. PRC laws and regulations, including the GAPP Circular, currently prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of Internet-related businesses. We believe, consistent with the view of our PRC legal counsel, that our current structure complies with these foreign ownership restrictions, subject to the interpretation and implementation of the GAPP Circular. Specifically, we operate our business through Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud and have entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud and their equity owners. See the contractual arrangements set forth in “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions.” As a result of these contractual arrangements, we are entitled to receive service fees for services provided to Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud for an amount determined at our discretion, up to 90% of PRC entities’ profits. In addition, the equity owners of record for these entities have pledged all their equity interests in the VIEs to us as collateral for all of their payments due to the wholly-owned foreign enterprise, or WOFE, and to secure performance of all obligations of the VIEs and their shareholders under various agreements. In addition, the agreements provide that any dividend distributions made by the VIEs, if any, are required to be deposited in an escrow account over which we have exclusive control. Moreover, through the Call Option Agreements and Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreements, each shareholder of the VIEs granted WOFE or any third parties designated by the WFOE an irrevocable power of attorney to act on all matters pertaining to the VIEs. We believe that the terms of the Call Option Agreements are currently exercisable and legally enforceable under the PRC laws and regulations. We also believe that the minimum amount of consideration permitted by the applicable PRC law to exercise the options does not represent a financial barrier or disincentive for us to exercise our rights under the Call Option Agreements. A simple majority vote of our board of directors is required to pass a resolution to exercise our rights under the Call Option Agreements, for which consent of the shareholder of the VIEs is not required. As a result of the totality of these arrangements, we have both the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the VIEs economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of or right to receive benefits from the VIEs that are significant to Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. As a result, we concluded we are the primary beneficiary of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud and as such Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud are consolidated VIEs of our company. The GAPP Circular reiterates and reinforces the long-standing prohibition of foreign ownership of Internet-related publication businesses via direct, indirect or disguised methods. However, it is not clear whether the regulatory authority of GAPPRFT applies to the regulation of ownership structures of online game companies based in China and online game operation in China. In addition, the GAPP Circular does not specifically invalidate VIE agreements, and we are not aware of any online game companies adopting similar contractual arrangements as ours having been penalized or ordered to terminate such arrangements since the GAPP Circular first became effective. Therefore, we believe that our ability to direct the activities of Shanghai IT that most significantly impact our economic performance is not affected by the GAPP Circular. Any changes in PRC laws and regulations that affect our ability to control Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud might preclude us from consolidating Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud in the future. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — PRC laws and regulations restrict foreign ownership of Internet content provision, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing licenses, and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the application and implementation of PRC laws and regulations.” 49 Revenue Recognition Online game services We earn revenue from provision of online game operation services on our game servers and third party platform and from games licensing business in overseas market. We recognize revenues when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services are delivered or performed, our price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Online game operation services on our game servers We generate revenue primarily from the sale of our prepaid game cards and prepaid online points for our online game services products to distributors who in turn ultimately sell them to customers. We utilize a virtual item/service consumption model to recognize revenue. Under this model, we generate online game service revenues through the sale of in-game premium features. In this model, players can access our basic games free of charge and then may purchase game points to acquire in-game premium features. The distribution of points to players is typically made through sales of prepaid game cards and prepaid online points. Fees of prepaid game cards and prepaid online points are deferred when initially received. This revenue is recognized over the life of the premium features or as the premium features are consumed. For in-game premium features that are immediately consumed, revenue is recognized upon consumption. For premium features with a stated expiration time, which ranges from one to 90 days, revenue is recognized ratably over the period starting from when the feature is first used to the expiration time. For perpetual features with no predetermined expiration, revenue is recognized ratably over the estimated average lives of the perpetual features, which are typically less than one year. When estimating the average lives of the in-game perpetual features, we considers the average period that players typically play the game, other player behavior patterns, and factors including the acceptance and popularity of expansion packs, promotional events launched, and market conditions. Future usage patterns of players may differ from the historical usage patterns on which the virtual item / service consumption revenue recognition model is based. We continually monitor the operational statistics and usage patterns. Online game services over third party platform For social games, TV games and certain web games, while they are also adopting the virtual item / service consumption model, these games are launched on the third party game platforms and mobile carriers. Revenues from social and web games operated through third party game platforms are recognized upon consumption of the in-game premium features with the amount net of remittance to the third party game platforms as we do not set the pricing of the in-game currency of the third party game platforms. Revenue from TV games operated through telecom carrier is recognized upon consumption of the in-game premium features with the gross amount received by telecom carrier as we are the primary obligor of the game operation. The remittance to telecom carrier is recognized as costs of services when incurred. Overseas licensing revenue We licenses our proprietary online games to operators in overseas markets from which we receive license fees and royalty income in connection with their operation of the games. License fee revenue is recognized over the license period upon the commercialization of the game in the overseas market. Royalty income is recognized when earned, provided that collectability is reasonably assured. Other revenues Other revenues include those generated from game operating support, training and advertisement and short message services. 50 Game operating support, training and advertisement Game operating support, training and advertisement revenue include revenues generated from providing technical support services, including website development and construction, hardware and software support, smart phone application programming training, maintenance and advertisements to other customers. These revenues are recognized when delivery of the website advertisement has occurred or when services have been rendered and the collection of the related fees is reasonably assured. Short message services Our contracts with various Chinese mobile carriers for the transmission of wireless short messaging services related to our games. Revenue is recognized in the period in which services are performed, provided that no significant obligation remains, collection of receivables is reasonably assured and the amount can be accurately estimated. Income Taxes. We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred taxes are determined based upon the differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes at currently enacted statutory tax rates for the 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 of change. A valuation allowance is provided on deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized. Realization of the future tax benefits related to the deferred tax assets is dependent on many factors, including our ability to generate taxable income within the period during which the temporary differences reverse or our tax loss carry forwards expire, the outlook for the PRC economic environment, and the overall future industry outlook. We consider these factors in reaching our conclusion on the recoverability of the deferred tax assets and determine the valuation allowances necessary at each balance sheet date. We recognize the impact of an uncertain income tax position at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. As of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, we did not have any material liability for uncertain tax positions. Our policy is to recognize, if any, tax-related interest as interest expenses and penalties as income tax expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, we did not have any material interest and penalties associated with tax positions. Intangible assets. Our intangible assets consist primarily of acquired game licenses and acquired game development costs from business combination. Acquired game licenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful economic life of the relevant online game or license period, which range from two to seven years. Amortization of upfront licensing fees commences upon the monetizationof the related online game. Acquired in-process research and development costs were recorded as acquired game development cost upon completion of the research and development efforts and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful economic life of the relevant online game. Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as a result of an acquisition we make. Goodwill is not amortized, but tested for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. In December of each year, we test impairment of goodwill at the reporting unit level and recognize impairment in the event that the carrying value exceeds the fair value of each reporting unit. Goodwill impairment assessment requires significant judgment, including assumptions used to determine the fair value of the reporting units. We determine the fair value of our reporting units based on the present value of estimated future cash flows of the reporting units. If the carrying amount is in excess of the fair value, step two requires the comparison of the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill. Any excess of the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is recorded as an impairment loss. After completing our annual impairment reviews during the fourth quarter of 2010, 2011 and 2012, the reporting unit that was subject to the annual impairment testing had a fair value which exceeded its respective carrying value by a significant margin with no risk of failing the first step of the impairment test. We concluded that goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. 51 Share-Based Compensation. Under our Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan, we granted a total of 3,887,382 and 92,000 options under our Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan to our employees and directors in 2010 and 2011, respectively. No option was granted in 2012. We measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for stock-based compensation measured at the grant date fair value of the award. For the awards that are modified, we determine the incremental cost as the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before its terms are modified, measured based on the share price and other pertinent factors at that date. We recognize the compensation costs, net of the estimated forfeiture, on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award, which generally ranges from two to four years. Forfeiture rates are estimated based on historical forfeiture patterns and adjusted to reflect future changes in circumstances and facts, if any. If actual forfeitures differ from those estimates, the estimates may be revised in subsequent periods. We use historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. Determining the fair value of stock options requires significant judgment. We measure the fair value of the stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with assumptions made regarding expected term, volatility, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield. The expected term represents the period of time that the awards granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected term is determined based on historical data on employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior, or the “simplified” method for stock option awards with the characteristics of “plain vanilla” options for 2010 and 2011. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of our ordinary shares. Risk-free interest rate is based on US government bonds issued with maturity terms similar to the expected term of the stock-based awards. While we paid a discretionary cash dividend in January 2009, we do not anticipate paying any recurring cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, on December 8, 2010, we granted 1,500,000 ordinary shares to Jun Zhu, which will only be vested if our company achieves certain income targets and the shares are not entitled to receive dividends until they become vested. We considered the grant of ordinary shares as an incentive to retain Mr. Jun Zhu’s services with our company. The awarded non-vested shares would be valid for five years from December 8, 2010. The fair value of the granted non-vested shares is US$6.48 per share, the market price on the date of grant. We record share-based compensation expenses for these performance-based awards based upon our estimate of the probable outcome at the end of the performance period (i.e., the estimated performance against the performance targets). We periodically adjust the cumulative share-based compensation recorded when the probable outcome for these performance-based awards is updated based upon changes in actual and forecasted operating results. Our actual performance against the performance targets could differ materially from our estimates. In May 2011, the Board of Directors granted 30,000 ordinary shares to each of our four non-executive directors, of which 10,000 ordinary shares vest for each director on July 1 of each year from 2011 to 2013 so long as such director continues his service as of such date. An aggregate of 40,000 ordinary shares and 40,000 ordinary shares vested in July 2011 and July 2012, respectively. The fair value of the shares granted was US$6.03 per share, being the market price on the date of the grant. In February 2006, Red 5 adopted a Stock Incentive Plan, or Red 5 Stock Incentive Plan, under which Red 5 may grant to its employees, director and consultants stock options to purchase common stocks or restricted stocks of Red 5. Red 5 granted options to purchase an aggregate of 28,963,258 shares of common stock under the Red 5 Stock Incentive Plan from April 6, 2010 to December 31, 2012. In September 2012, Red 5 granted an aggregate of 6,122,435 restricted common stocks to two directors of Red 5 including Mr. Zhu for their services to Red 5. We measure the share-based compensation based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date. We measure the fair value of the stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with assumptions made regarding the fair value of the common stock, expected term, volatility, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield. In July 2011, we granted 20% non-vested equity interest of Jiushi, our newly-established affiliated entity wholly owned by Huopu Cloud, to two of our employees as incentive to retain these two employees’ services with Jiushi for next three years. We measure the share-based compensation based on the fair value of the award as of the grant date. We measure the fair value of the granted equity interest as the proportional amount of the paid in capital of the newly established entity attributable to these two employees. 52 Share-based compensation expenses of RMB30.2 million, RMB53.3 million and RMB37.4 million (US$6.0 million) were recognized for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, for options and warrants granted to our company’s employees and directors. Impairment of Equity Investment. We assess our equity investments for other-than-temporary impairment by considering factors as well as all relevant and available information including, but not limited to, current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the investee, including current earnings trends, and other company-specific information including recent financing rounds. Impairment provision relating to investment in an equity investee of RMB196.1 million, nil and RMB3.2 million (US$0.5 million) was recognized in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Impairment of Long-lived Assets and Intangible Assets. We review long-lived assets and intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. We assess the recoverability of long-lived assets and intangible assets (other than goodwill) by comparing the carrying amount to the estimated future undiscounted cash flow associated with the related assets. We recognize impairment of long-lived assets and intangible assets in the event that the net book value of such assets exceeds the estimated future undiscounted cash flow attributable to such assets. We use estimates and judgment in our impairment tests, and if different estimates or judgments had been utilized, the timing or the amount of the impairment charges could be different. Impairment charges relating to long-lived assets amounting to RMB4.9 million, nil and nil were recognized in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Impairment charges relating to intangible assets amounting to RMB33.0 million, nil and RMB0.6 million (US$0.1 million) were recognized in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Refund of WoW game points. As a result of non-renewal of WoW license on June 7, 2009, we announced a refund plan in connection with unactivated WoW game point cards. According to the plan, unactivated WoW game point card holders are eligible to receive a cash refund from us. We recorded a liability in connection with both unactivated points cards and activated but unconsumed point cards of approximately RMB200.4 million, of which RMB4.0 million was refunded in 2009. Upon the loss of the WoW license, we concluded that the nature of the obligation substantively changed from deferred revenue, for which we had the ability to satisfy the underlying performance obligation, to an obligation to refund players for their unconsumed points. Thus, we have accounted for this refund liability by applying the relevant derecognition guidance when determining the proper accounting treatment. In accordance with this guidance, the refund liability associated with these WoW game points, to the extent not refunded, will be recorded as other operating income after we are legally released from the obligation to refund amounts under the applicable laws. As we announced the refund plan on September 7, 2009, the statute of limitations of the creditors (in this case the game players with claims for refund of unactivated WoW game point cards) to assert their claims for refund is two years from such date under applicable laws and thus our legal liability relating to the unactivated WoW game point cards was extinguished on September 7, 2011 and the associated liability amounting to RMB26.0 million (US$4.2 million) was recognized as other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2011. With respect to the remaining refund liability, based on current PRC laws, to the extent not refunded, we, in consultation with legal counsel, have determined that we will be legally released from this liability in 2029, which represents 20 years from the date of discontinuation of WoW in 2009. However, if management were to publicly announce a refund policy, we would be legally released from any remaining liability for these activated, but unconsumed points, sooner than 20 years. To date, we have determined not to publicly announce any refund policy with respect to this remaining liability, and no refunds have been claimed. The remaining refund liability relating to the activated, but unconsumed WoW game points is RMB170.0 million (US$27.3 million) as of December 31, 2012. 53 Results of Operations The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated. 2010 (RMB) Year Ended December 31, 2012 2011 (RMB) (RMB) 2012 (US$) (1) Consolidated Statement of Operation Data Revenues: Online game services Other revenues Sales taxes Net revenues Cost of services Gross profit (loss) Operating expenses: Product development Sales and marketing General and administrative Impairment of equipment and intangible assets Loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements Total operating expenses Other operating income Loss from operations Interest income Other income (expense), net Income tax (expense) benefit Gain on investment disposal Impairment loss on investments Share of loss in equity investments Net loss Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net loss attributable to holders of ordinary shares 106,471,474 2,042,108 (5,675,992) 102,837,590 (103,256,343) (418,753) (139,431,649) (63,290,886) (112,692,772) (37,949,452) 0 (353,364,759) 0 (353,783,512) 23,183,239 19,258,286 (7,368,020) 6,827,900 (196,115,321) (10,713,295) (518,710,723) (19,099,129) (499,611,594) 3,418,618 (6,089,044) 109,046,980 157,390,602 25,262,933 993,654 (1,468,251) 106,376,554 154,433,815 24,788,336 (39,117,993) (69,415,631) (11,141,977) 67,258,561 85,018,184 13,646,359 6,190,562 (9,147,349) 120,000 25,993,004 0 (569,139) 0 (18,093,999) (212,121,930) (301,471,091) (48,389,447) (90,496,700) (187,011,621) (30,017,435) (174,665,299) (170,382,896) (27,348,340) (91,353) (2,904,287) (477,283,929) (677,528,746) (108,750,862) 19,261 (384,032,364) (592,390,562) (95,085,242) 3,496,878 745,404 0 2,524,164 (520,657) (1,018,836) (313,175,960) (559,826,125) (89,858,289) (28,846,029) (45,824,033) (7,355,264) (284,329,931) (514,002,092) (82,503,025) 30,416,367 21,785,899 4,643,937 0 44,434,802 15,725,792 (3,243,744) (6,347,447) 0 (3,341,607) (652,993) (165) (1) Translation from RMB amounts into U.S. dollars was made at a rate of RMB6.2301 to US$1.00 for the convenience of the reader only. See “— Exchange Rate Information.” Year 2012 Compared to Year 2011 Revenues. Our revenues increased by 45.4% from RMB112.5 million in 2011 to RMB163.6 million (US$26.3 million) in 2012, primarily due to the increase in revenues generated from our online game services. Online Game Services. Our revenues from our online game services increased by 44.3% from RMB109.0 million in 2011 to RMB157.4 million (US$25.3 million) in 2012. The increase was primarily due to the increase in revenues from PC online games which increased from RMB94.6 million in 2011 to RMB131.0 million (US$21.0 million) in 2012. The increase was primarily due to the combined effect of the increase in our average quarterly revenue per paying user from RMB215 in 2011 to RMB299 (US$48) in 2012 and the decrease in our average quarterly paying user from 113,507 in 2011 to 102,293 in 2012. The decrease in average quarterly paying users was in line with the decrease in average quarterly active users from 3,979,667 in 2011 to 2,282,863 in 2012. Such decreases were mainly associated with our commercialized games launched in or before 2010 which have reached the mature stage of their life cycles and are experiencing a decreasing trend in popularity. We expect the revenue from the mature games to continue to decrease, and if we are unable to introduce more popular new games on a timely manner, this decreasing trend will have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The number of quarterly active users refers to the number of users who log into our games at least once during a quarter. The number of average quarterly active users is the average of quarterly active users for each of the four quarters during a year. Quarterly paying user refers to the number of users who purchase virtual currency at least once for our online games during a quarter. Average quarterly paying user is the average of quarterly paying users for each of the four quarters during a year. Quarterly revenue per paying user refers to our revenues from online games during a given quarter divided by the number of the quarterly paying users. Average quarterly revenue per paying user is the average of quarterly revenues per paying users for each of the four quarters during a year. Our revenues from TV games increased from RMB9.2 million in 2011 to RMB18.5 million (US$3.0 million) in 2012. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of average quarterly paying user from 124,536 in 2011 to 157,968 in 2012 and an increase in our average quarterly revenue per paying user from RMB19 in 2011 to RMB30 (US$4.8) in 2012, all due to continuous expansion in our TV game platform and more quality games launched in 2012. Unlike PC online games, our TV games are operated through telecom carriers and we do not maintain information relating to active users pursuant to our cooperation agreements with the telecom carriers. 54 The average quarterly revenue per paying user of our PC online games is significantly higher than that of our TV games because the PC online game players are mostly teenagers with higher spending power while the TV game players are mostly children and elderly people with lower spending power. Other Revenues. Revenues generated from other products and services increased by 81.1% from RMB3.4 million in 2011 to RMB6.2 million (US$1.0 million) in 2012. The increase is mainly due to the increase in our revenue from smart phone application programming trainings. Cost of Services. Cost of services increased by 77.5% from RMB39.1 million in 2011 to RMB69.4 million (US$11.1 million) in 2012. The increase was primarily driven by the amortization of intangible assets relating to Firefall in 2012. The increase also reflected a one-off waiver of royalty payment in relation to a licensed game in 2011. Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased by 42.0% from RMB477.3 million in 2011 to RMB677.5 million (US$108.7 million) in 2012. The increase was primarily attributable to the increases in our product development and sales and marketing expenses. Product Development Expenses. Product development expenses increased by 42.1% from RMB212.1 million in 2011 to RMB301.5million (US$48.4 million) in 2012. The increase was primarily due to our continuous efforts on the in-house game developments, including the development of Firefall by Red 5. Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased by106.7% from RMB90.5 million in 2011 to RMB187.0 million (US$30.0 million) in 2012. The increase in sales and marketing expenses was primarily attributable to the expenses incurred in relation to the promotion of ShenXianZhuan in 2012 and preparation for the introduction of Firefall and Planetside 2. General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by 2.5% from RMB174.7 million in 2011 to RMB170.4 million (US$27.3 million) in 2012, reflecting the decrease of share based compensation in 2012 as we did not grant any share options in 2012 and fully amortized some options granted in prior years. Impairment of Equipment and Intangible Assets. Impairment provision was nil in 2011, compared to RMB0.6 million (US$0.1 million) in 2012 related to the impairment of the license fee of a game. Loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements. We recorded a loss on the restructuring of investments in and termination of certain contractual arrangements with Fire Rain and Wanyouyl, two entities engaging in research and development activities, of RMB18.1 million (US$2.9 million) in 2012. As a result of the restructuring, we deconsolidated these entities in 2012. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions — B. Related Party Transactions.” Other Operating Income. As a result of non-renewal of WoW license in 2009, we announced a refund plan for the unactivated WoW game point cards, which we recorded as liability to customers in September 2009. The legal liability relating to the unactivated WoW game point cards was extinguished in September 2011 under applicable laws and the associated liability amounting to RMB26.0 million was recognized as other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2011. We recorded RMB0.1 million rental income as other operating income in 2012. Interest Income. Net interest income decreased by 28.4% from RMB30.4 million in 2011 to RMB21.8 million (US$3.5 million) in 2012, mainly due to the decrease in our cash balance. Other Income (Expense). Other expenses were RMB0.7 million in 2011, which mainly reflected our foreign exchange loss, compared to other income of RMB4.6 million (US$0.7 million) in 2012, which mainly reflected an exchange gain. Income Tax Benefit (Expenses). Income tax expenses were nil in 2011 and 2012 as we did not have taxable profits in 2011 and 2012. Gain on Investment Disposal. We recorded a gain on investment disposal of RMB44.4 million and RMB15.7 million (US$2.5 million) in 2011 and 2012, respectively, in connection with the disposal of our investments in OpenFeint in 2011. 55 Impairment Loss on Investment. Impairment loss on investment amounted to RMB3.2 million (US$0.5 million) in 2012. In 2011, we did not incur any impairment loss on investment. Net Loss Attributable to Holders of Ordinary Shares. As a result of the cumulative effect of the above factors, net loss attributable to our holders of ordinary shares was RMB514.0 million (US$82.5 million) in 2012, compared to the net loss of RMB284.3 million in 2011. Year 2011 Compared to Year 2010 Revenues. Our revenues increased by 3.6% from RMB108.5 million in 2010 to RMB112.5 million in 2011, primarily due to the increase in revenues generated from our online game services. Online Game Services. Our revenues from our online game services increased by 2.4% from RMB106.5 million in 2010 to RMB109.0 million in 2011. The increase was primarily due to an increase in revenues from TV games, partially offset by a decrease in revenues from PC online games. Our revenues from PC online games decreased from RMB101.8 million in 2010 to RMB94.6 million in 2011, primarily due to a decrease in the number of our average quarterly paying users from 116,203 in 2010 to 113,507 in 2011 and a decrease in our average quarterly revenue per paying user from RMB234 in 2010 to RMB215 in 2011. The decrease in average quarterly paying users was in line with the decrease in our number of average quarterly active users from 5,054,902 in 2010 to 3,979,667 in 2011. Such decreases were mainly associated with our commercialized games launched in or before 2010 which have reached the mature stage of their life cycles and are experiencing a decreasing trend in popularity. We expect the revenue from the mature games to continue to decrease, and if we are unable to introduce more popular new games on a timely manner, this decreasing trend will have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The number of quarterly active users refers to the number of users who log into our games at least once during a quarter. The number of average quarterly active users is the average of quarterly active users for each of the four quarters during a year. Quarterly paying user refers to the number of users who purchase virtual currency at least once for our online games during a quarter. Average quarterly paying user is the average of quarterly paying users for each of the four quarters during a year. Quarterly revenue per paying user refers to our revenues from online games during a given quarter divided by the number of the quarterly paying users. Average quarterly revenue per paying user is the average of quarterly revenues per paying users for each of the four quarters during a year. Our revenues from TV games increased from RMB3.8 million in 2010 to RMB9.2 million in 2011. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of average quarterly paying users from 62,013 in 2010 to 124,536 in 2011 and an increase in our average quarterly revenue per paying user from RMB13 in 2010 to RMB19 in 2011, all due to continuous expansion in our TV game platform and more quality games launched in 2011. Unlike PC online games, our TV games are operated through telecom carriers and we do not maintain information relating to active users pursuant to our cooperation agreements with the telecom carriers. The average quarterly revenue per paying user of our PC online games is significantly higher than that of our TV games because the PC online game players are mostly teenagers with higher spending power while the TV game players are mostly children and elderly people with lower spending power. Other Revenues. Revenues generated from other products and services increased by 67.4% from RMB2.0 million in 2010 to RMB3.4 million in 2011. The increase is mainly due to the increase in revenues from game operating support and advertisement services. Cost of Services. Cost of services decreased by 62.1% from RMB103.3 million in 2010 to RMB39.1 million in 2011. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in royalties paid, as we had more in-house developed games in our games portfolio in 2011 compared to 2010, and there was a one-off waiver of royalty payment in relation to a licensed game in 2011. Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased by 35.1% from RMB353.4 million in 2010 to RMB477.3 million in 2011. The increase was primarily attributable to the increases in our product development, general and administrative and sales and marketing expenses. 56 Product Development Expenses. Product development expenses increased by 52.1% from RMB139.4 million in 2010 to RMB212.1 million in 2011. The increase was primarily due to our continuous efforts on the in-house game developments, including the development of Firefall by Red 5. Sales and Marketing Expenses. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 43.0% from RMB63.3 million in 2010 to RMB90.5 million in 2011. The increase in sales and marketing expenses was primarily attributable to the expenses incurred in relation to the launch of ShenXianZhuan and preparation for the introduction of Firefall. General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased by 55.0% from RMB112.7 million to RMB174.7 million in 2011, reflecting the increase of share based compensation in 2011 and expenses incurred in connection with the expansion of our overseas subsidiaries in the U.S. and Singapore. Impairment of Equipment and Intangible Assets. Impairment provision was RMB37.9 million in 2010 related to impairment on certain licenses obtained and fixed assets, compared to nil in 2011. Other Operating Income. As a result of non-renewal of WoW license in 2009, we announced a refund plan for the unactivated WoW game point cards, which we recorded as liability to customers in September 2009. The legal liability relating to the unactivated WoW game point cards was extinguished in September 2011 under applicable laws and the associated liability amounting to RMB26.0 million was recognized as other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2011. Interest Income. Net interest income increased by 31.0% from RMB23.2 million in 2010 to RMB30.4 million in 2011, mainly due to the increase of interest rates in banks in China. Other Income (Expense). Other income is RMB19.3 million in 2010, compared to other expenses of RMB0.7 million in 2011, mainly due to the decrease of subsidies received and the increase of foreign exchange loss. Income Tax Benefit (Expenses). Income tax expenses were nil in 2011 compared to income tax expenses of RMB7.4 million in 2010. The change was primarily due to the change in deferred tax. Gain on Investment Disposal. In 2011, we recorded a gain on investment disposal of RMB44.4 million, in connection to the disposal of our investments in OpenFeint in 2011. Impairment Loss on Investment. In 2011, we did not incur any impairment loss on investment. We had RMB196.1 million of such losses in 2010. Net Loss Attributable to Holders of Ordinary Shares. As a result of the cumulative effect of the above factors, net loss attributable to our holders of ordinary shares was RMB284.3 million in 2011, compared to the net loss of RMB499.6 million in 2010. B. Liquidity and Capital Resources We are a holding company and conduct our operations primarily through our subsidiaries and affiliated PRC entities in China. As a result, our cash requirements and our ability to pay dividends principally depend upon dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries, which in turn are derived principally from earnings generated by our affiliated PRC entities. Specifically, The9 Computer (one of our subsidiaries in China) obtains funds from the PRC entities in the form of payments under the exclusive technical service agreements, pursuant to which The9 Computer is entitled to determine the amount of payment. We acknowledge that the PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies, and in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. However, under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, we are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE. Approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. 57 Furthermore, if our subsidiaries or any newly formed subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf, the agreements governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Restrictions on currency exchange in China limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively, make dividend payments and meet our foreign currency denominated obligations.” Current PRC regulations restrict our affiliated entities and subsidiaries from paying dividends in the following two principal aspects: (i) our affiliated entities and subsidiaries in China are only permitted to pay dividends out of their respective accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations; and (ii) these entities are required to allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain capital reserves until the cumulative total of the allocated reserves reaches 50% of registered capital, and a portion of their respective after-tax profits to their staff welfare and bonus reserve funds as determined by their respective boards of directors. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, companies may not distribute the reserve funds as cash dividends except upon a liquidation of these subsidiaries. In addition, dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries could be delayed as we may only distribute such dividends upon completion of annual statutory audits of the subsidiaries. We have not directed our PRC subsidiaries or affiliated entities to distribute any dividends to-date As of December 31, 2012, our unrestricted net assets that would be available to our parent holding company if it were to pay dividends or to satisfy any cash obligations of our parent company amounted to RMB629.2 million (US$101.0 million), which includes RMB136.7 million (US$21.9 million) attributable to PRC subsidiaries. The aggregate net assets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, as reflected on our statutory accounts, including registered capital and statutory reserves, is approximately RMB113.7 million and RMB82.7 million (US$13.3 million), respectively, higher than the amount determined under U.S. GAAP. Cash Flows and Working Capital Historically, we financed our operations primarily through the proceeds from: the sale of our Series A convertible preferred shares in April 2000, the convertible loans received from our principal shareholders in October 2001 and October 2002, our initial public offering of our ADSs in December 2004, the equity investment received from EA International (Studio) and Publishing Ltd. in May 2007 as well as the cash generated from our operating activities. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, we had RMB1,071.7 million and RMB554.3 million (US$89.0 million) in cash and cash equivalents, respectively. The decrease of the cash and cash equivalents from 2011 to 2012 was primarily due to the cash used in our operating activities particularly for product development and sales and marketing, and, to a lesser extent, the capital expenditure we made in 2012. The following table sets forth the summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated: Net cash used in operating activities Net cash used in investing activities Net cash used in financing activities Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year For the year Ended December 31, 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 RMB US$ (247,552) (7,114) (507) (3,719) (258,892) 1,675,081 1,416,189 (in thousands) (270,894) (41,291) (21,571) (10,707) (344,463) 1,416,189 1,071,726 (489,190) (22,173) (7,084) 1,000 (517,447) 1,071,726 554,279 (78,521) (3,559) (1,137) 161 (83,056) 172,024 88,968 58 Operating Activities Net cash used in operating activities was RMB489.2 million (US$78.5 million) in 2012, compared to RMB270.9 million in 2011 and RMB247.6 million in 2010. The increase of net cash used in operating activities from 2011 to 2012 was mainly due to an increase in cash outflow associated with product development and sales and marketing expenses. In particular, the net cash used in operating activities in 2012 primarily reflected a net loss of RMB559.8 million (US$89.9 million) in 2012, partially offset by the adjustments for a stock-based compensation expenses of RMB37.4 million (US$6.0 million). The net cash used in operating activities in 2011 primarily reflected a net loss of RMB313.2 million in 2011 and an adjustment for gain on investment disposal of RMB44.4 million, partially offset by the adjustments for a stock-based compensation expenses of RMB53.3 million. The increase of net cash used in operating activities from 2010 to 2011 was mainly due to the increase in operating expenses, primarily for product development. In particular, the net cash used in operating activities in 2010 primarily reflected a net loss of RMB518.7 million, partially offset by an impairment loss on investments of RMB196.1 million in 2010. Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities was RMB22.2 million (US$3.6 million) in 2012, compared to RMB41.3 million in 2011 and RMB7.1 million in 2010. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities from 2011 to 2012 mainly reflected a decrease in our equity investments and purchase of intangible assets in 2012 compared to 2011. In particular, the net cash used in or generated from investing activities in 2012 primarily included, among other things, (i) cash used for capital expenditures including purchase of property, equipment and software of RMB27.6 million (US$4.4 million), purchase of intangible assets of RMB7.5 million (US$1.2 million) and prepayment and deposits paid for property, equipment and software of RMB4.3 million (US$0.7 million), (ii) cash paid in equity investments of RMB13.6 million (US$2.2 million), and (iii) proceeds from refund of investment of RMB29.1 million (US$4.7 million) and proceeds from disposal of cost method investee of RMB10.3 million (US$1.6 million) in 2012. The net cash used in or generated from investing activities in 2011 primarily included, among other things, (i) cash used for capital expenditure including purchase of property, equipment and software of RMB17.6 million, purchase of intangible assets of RMB73.1 million and prepayment and deposits paid for property, equipment and software of RMB28.6 million, (ii) cash paid in equity investments and available-for-sale investments of RMB34.0.million and (iii) proceeds from refund of investment of RMB28.0 million and proceeds from disposal of cost method investee of RMB71.5 million. The increase in net cash used in investing activities from 2010 to 2011 mainly reflected the acquisition of the Firefall game license from Webzen and prepayment and deposits paid for property, equipment and software, partially offset by the proceeds from the sale of our investment in OpenFeint in 2011. In particular, the net cash used in or generated from investing activities in 2010 primarily included, among other things, (i) cash used for capital expenditure including purchase of property, equipment and software of RMB7.9 million and purchase of intangible assets of RMB12.3 million, (ii) cash paid to acquire equity investees and available-for-sale investments of RMB39.1 million, and (iii) proceeds of refund of upfront license fee of RMB41.9 million. Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities in 2012 was RMB7.1 million (US$1.1 million), primarily attributable to payment for accounts payable related to the purchase of intangible assets. Net cash used in financing activities in 2011 was RMB21.6 million, primarily attributable to our ADS repurchase program in 2011. Net cash used in financing activities in 2010 amounted to RMB0.5 million, primarily due to a purchase of additional equity interest in subsidiary in 2010. As a result of non-renewal of WoW license on June 7, 2009, we announced a refund plan in connection with unactivated WoW game point cards. According to the plan, unactivated WoW game point card holders are eligible to receive a cash refund from us. We recorded a liability in connection with both unactivated points cards and activated but unconsumed point cards of approximately RMB200.4 million, of which RMB4.0 million was refunded in 2009. Upon the loss of the WoW license, we concluded that the nature of the obligation substantively changed from deferred revenue, for which we had the ability to satisfy the underlying performance obligation, to an obligation to refund players for their unconsumed points. Thus, we have accounted for this refund liability by applying the relevant derecognition guidance when determining the proper accounting treatment. In accordance with this guidance, the refund liability associated with these WoW game points, to the extent not refunded, will be recorded as other operating income after we are legally released from the obligation to refund amounts under the applicable laws. As we announced the refund plan on September 7, 2009, the statute of limitations of the creditors (in this case the game players with claims for refund of unactivated WoW game point cards) to assert their claims for refund is two years from such date under applicable laws and thus our legal liability relating to the unactivated WoW game point cards was extinguished on September 7, 2011 and the associated liability amounting to RMB26.0 million was recognized as other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2011. With respect to the remaining 59 refund liability, based on current PRC laws, to the extent not refunded, we, in consultation with legal counsel, has determined that we will be legally released from this liability in 2029, which represents 20 years from the date of discontinuation of WoW in 2009. However, if management were to publicly announce a refund policy, we would be legally released from any remaining liability for these activated, but unconsumed points, sooner than 20 years. To date, we have determined not to publicly announce any refund policy with respect to this remaining liability, and no refunds have been claimed. The remaining refund liability relating to the activated, but unconsumed WoW game points is RMB170.0 million (US$27.3 million) as of December 31, 2012. We have engaged an agent to facilitate the refund to the game point card holders and game point distributors. As of December 31, 2012, the balance of the advance payment to the agent was RMB34.3 million (US$5.5 million). In February 2012, we entered into an agreement with the agent pursuant to which the agent will ensure a refund of the remaining advance to us in five installments in five years. We received the first installment of RMB8.6 million (US$1.4 million) in February 2012, and the second installment of RMB8.6 million (US$1.4 million) in March 2013. We have sufficient cash balances as of December 31, 2012 to meet our operating cash flow requirements and to enable our company to meet its obligations and to pay off liabilities as and when they fall due for the coming twelve months. We actively manage our cash balances by controlling the level of discretionary spending on product development and sales and marketing. Capital Expenditures We incurred capital expenditures of RMB20.2 million, RMB119.2 million and RMB46.5 million (US$7.5 million) in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The capital expenditures principally consisted of purchases of servers, computers and other items related to our network infrastructure and license fees. If we license new games or enter into strategic joint ventures or acquisitions, we may require additional funds for necessary capital expenditures. C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc. Our research and development efforts are primarily focused on the development of our proprietary online games, the localization of licensed games from foreign developers, and the maintenance of our websites. Our research and development expenses were RMB139.4 million, RMB212.1 million and RMB301.5million (US$48.4 million) in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. 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, 2012 to December 31, 2012 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions. E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements We do not have any outstanding derivative financial instruments, off-balance sheet guarantees, interest rate swap transactions or foreign currency forward contracts. We do not engage in trading activities involving non-exchange traded contracts. F. Contractual Obligations We have entered into leasing arrangements related to the use of certain office premises and Internet data centers. The following table sets forth our commitments under operating leases as of December 31, 2012: Operating Lease Obligations 18,244,762 60 Total Less than 1 year Payment Due by Period 1-2 years (RMB) 1,123,617 17,010,169 3-5 years More than 5 years 110,976 — G. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, has issued an authoritative pronouncement related to testing indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, for impairment. Under the pronouncement, entities testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment would have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the asset. If an entity determines, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is not more likely than not impaired, a quantitative fair value calculation would not be needed. The amendments are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a significant effect on our consolidated financial statements. H. Safe Harbor This annual report on Form 20-F contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “estimate,” “is/are likely to” or other and similar expressions. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: • • • • • • • • • our ability to successfully launch and operate additional online games licensed by us in China; our ability to license, develop or acquire additional online games that are attractive to users; the maintenance and expansion of our relationships with online game developers, including our existing licensors; uncertainties in and the timeliness of obtaining necessary governmental approvals and licenses for operating any new online game; risks inherent in the online game business; risks associated with our future acquisitions and investments; our ability to compete successfully against our competitors; risks associated with our corporate structure and the regulatory environment in China; and other risks outlined in our filings with the SEC including this annual report on Form 20-F. These risks are not exhaustive. We operate in an emerging and evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is impossible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any specific factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and you should read these statements in conjunction with the risk factors disclosed in “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors.” We do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. 61 Item 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES A. Directors and Senior Management The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report. Directors and Executive Officers Jun Zhu Cheung Kin Au-Yeung Davin Alexander Mackenzie Chao Y. Wang (1)(2) Ka Keung Yeung George Lai Swun Woo Park Chris Shen Yong Wang (1)(2) (1)(2) Age Position/Title Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Director Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director Chief Finance Officer Vice President Vice President Vice President 46 64 52 48 53 36 39 44 46 (1) Member of Audit Committee. (2) Member of Compensation Committee. Each of our officers will hold office until such officer’s successor is elected and duly qualified, or until such officer’s death, bankruptcy, insanity, resignation or removal. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of our company. For the terms of our directors, see “— C. Board Practices — Terms of Directors.” Biographical Information Jun Zhu is one of our co-founders. He has served as the chairman of our board of directors and chief executive officer since our inception. Prior to founding The9, Mr. Zhu co-founded Flagholder New Technology Co. Ltd., an information technology company based in China, in 1997, and served as its director from 1997 to 1999. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Zhu worked at QJ (U.S.A.) Investment, Ltd., a trading company in the United States. Mr. Zhu attended an undergraduate program at Shanghai Jiaotong University. Cheung Kin Au-Yeung has served as our director since December 2007. Mr. Au-Yeung currently also serves as a member of the board of directors and the audit committee of Xueda Education Group, a NYSE-listed company. He joined Morningside Group in 1996 to oversee its PRC portfolio operations. While with Morningside, he served on the board of directors of Media Partners International Holdings Inc. from June 2001 to November 2005, and was seconded to Sohu.com as chief operating officer from July 1999 to December 1999. Mr. Au-Yeung has over twenty years of operating experience in mainland China, and prior to joining Morningside, he ran the greater China operations of several multinational companies for more than sixteen years as general manager. Mr. Au-Yeung holds an MBA and an MS in Physics from Indiana University. Davin Alexander Mackenzie has served as our independent director since July 2005. Mr. Mackenzie is currently a consultant of Spencer Stuart Beijing Office, a renowned global executive search company. Mr. Mackenzie currently also serves as a member of the board of directors, audit committee and compensation committee of AsiaInfo-Linkage Inc. and a member of the board of directors and audit committee of Mecox Lane Limited, each a Nasdaq-listed company. Mr. Mackenzie is also a director of Sports Beijing, a non-profit recreational youth sports organization, and a director of Mountain Hazelnut Ventures, a private agricultural company. From 2009 to 2011, Mr. Mackenzie was the Beijing representative of Brocade Capital Limited, a private equity advisory firm that he founded in 2009. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. Mackenzie was the managing director and Beijing representative of Arctic Capital Limited, a pan-Asia private equity advisory firm. Between 2000 and 2008, Mr. Mackenzie held the same positions in Peak Capital LLC, another private equity investment and advisory firm that focuses on the China market. Prior to co-founding Peak Capital, Mr. Mackenzie worked with the International Finance Corporation, a private sector arm of The World Bank Group, for seven years, including four years as the resident representative for China and Mongolia. Mr. Mackenzie has also worked at Mercer Management Consultants in Washington, D.C, and at First National Bank of Boston in Taiwan. Mr. Mackenzie received a bachelor’s degree in Government from Dartmouth College. He received a master’s degree in international studies and an MBA degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Mackenzie has also completed the World Bank Executive Development Program at Harvard Business School. 62 Chao Y. Wang has served as our independent director since December 2004. Mr. Wang is the founding partner and chief executive officer of ChinaEquity Investment Co., a China-based independent venture capital firm which focuses on the technology, media and telecommunications sectors in China. Before founding ChinaEquity in 1999, Mr. Wang spent twelve years in the investment banking and financial services industry with Chase, Standard & Poors, Morgan Stanley and the China Development Bank. During that time, he served as the head of Morgan Stanley’s Beijing operations for three years. Mr. Wang presently serves on the board of directors of several companies including Origo Sino-India Plc, Rising Tech Co. and Infront Sport Media. Mr. Wang holds a bachelor’s degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and an MBA degree from Rutgers University. Mr. Wang has also attended the Senior Executive Program of Harvard University and Tsinghua University. Ka Keung Yeung has served as our independent director since July 2005. Mr. Yeung is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited, or Phoenix, a listed company in Hong Kong, and is in charge of corporate finance and administration. He is also the company secretary and qualified accountant. Mr. Yeung joined Phoenix in March 1996 and is in charge of all of Phoenix’s internal and external financial management and arrangements and also supervises administration and personnel matters. Mr. Yeung also serves as a director of Phoenix New Media, a subsidiary of Phoenix and a company listed on the NYSE. Mr. Yeung graduated from the University of Birmingham and is qualified as a chartered accountant. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he worked at Hutchison Telecommunications and STAR in the fields of finance and business development. George Lai has served as our chief financial officer since July 2008. Prior to joining us, Mr. Lai worked for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu since 2000. Mr. Lai worked in several different Deloitte offices, including Hong Kong, New York and Beijing. During his eight years at Deloitte, Mr. Lai played key roles in the audit function in a number of IPO projects in the United States and China. He also assisted public companies in the United States, Hong Kong and China with a wide range of accounting matters. Mr. Lai received his bachelor of business administration, with a focus in professional accountancy, from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mr. Lai holds various accounting professional qualifications, including from AICPA, FCCA and HKICPA. Swun Woo (Tony) Park has served as our vice president since January 2007. Prior to joining us, Mr. Park served as the president of international business at HanbitSoft, a leading game developer and publisher in South Korea. Since April 2002, he has served in various management roles at HanbitSoft, including business development, strategic planning, marketing and brand management, game studio management, localization & technical operations, joint venture management, as well as investor relations. Prior to joining HanbitSoft, Mr. Park worked as a venture capitalist at ADL Partners from April 2000 to April 2002, and as a management consultant at Arthur D. Little from December 1998 to April 2000. Mr. Park received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Korea University. Chris Shen has served as our vice president since January 2006. Mr. Shen joined The9 in August 2005 as our senior director of marketing and is in charge of our mobile social gaming platform and marketing and public relations activities. Prior to joining us, Mr. Shen served as the group account director and account director for several renowned advertising agencies in Shanghai and Taipei, mainly serving multinational companies in various industries, such as consumer goods, financial services and retail. During the past twelve years, Mr. Shen helped numerous local and international brands plan and execute various marketing initiatives. Mr. Shen received his bachelor’s degree in management science from the National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. Yong Wang has served as our vice president since January 2007. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Wang served as the senior director of our customer service department. From December 2001 to April 2005, he served as the director of our sales department and led our sales department by strengthening the national distribution network for our pre-paid game cards. Prior to joining us, Mr. Wang worked as a business development manager at East Asia International Trader Company from 1999 to 2000, and as a supervisor of the general business department at East Assets Trading Co., Ltd. from 1992 to 1999. Mr. Wang graduated from the Shanghai Mechanical College. 63 B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers In 2012, the aggregate cash compensation paid to our executive officers was approximately RMB7.7 million (US$1.2 million). We paid a total of RMB1.2 million (US$0.2 million) in cash to our non-executive directors for their services in 2012. No director or executive officer is entitled to any severance benefits upon termination of his or her employment with or appointment by our company. In May 2011, our Board of Directors granted 30,000 ordinary shares to each of our four non-executive directors, of which 10,000 ordinary shares vest for each director on July 1 of each year from 2011 to 2013 so long as such director continues his services as of such date. An aggregate of 40,000 and 40,000 ordinary shares vested in July 2011 and 2012, respectively. The fair value of the shares granted was US$6.03 per share, being the market price on the date of the grant. We recorded share-based compensation of RMB2.3 million and RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Share Incentive Plan Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan Our board of directors and our shareholders have adopted and approved an Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan in order to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and to promote the success of our business. As of March 31, 2013, we have reserved 6,449,614 shares under the 2004 option plan, of which 3,415,741 ordinary shares were outstanding. The following table provides a summary of the options granted to our directors, executive officers and other individuals as a group under our Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan as of April 12, 2013 and remained outstanding. Jun Zhu Yong Wang Chris Shen Chao Y. Wang Ka Keung Yeung Davin Alexander Mackenzie Cheung Kin Au-Yeung Swun Woo Park George Lai All Directors and Senior Executive Officers as a Group † Other Individuals as a Group (other than those listed above) Total Number of Ordinary Shares Underlying Options Granted 1,600,000 † Exercise Price Range (in US$) 5.13 Expiration date August 27, 2015 * 5.13-6.07 August 27, 2015 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-7.36 March 6, 2012 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-7.36 March 6, 2012 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-7.36 March 6, 2012 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-7.36 March 6, 2012 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-7.36 November 17, 2013 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-6.07 August 27, 2015 – December 11, 2015 * 5.13-7.36 November 17, 2013 – December 11, 2015 2,600,000 5.13-7.36 March 6, 2012 – December 11, 2015 3,397,316 5.13-30.90 March 6, 2012 – December 11, 2015 † Excluding 2,298,561 options forfeited as of the date of this annual report pursuant to the terms of our Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan. * The options held by each of these directors and officers represent less than 1% of our total outstanding shares. 64 Termination of Options. Where the option agreement permits the exercise or purchase of the options granted for a certain period of time following the recipient’s termination of service with us, or the recipient’s disability or death, the options will terminate to the extent not exercised or purchased on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the options, whichever occurs first. Administration. Our stock option plan is administered by our board of directors or an option administrative committee designated by our board of directors and constituted to comply with applicable laws. In each case, our board of directors or the committee it designates will determine the provisions, terms and conditions of each option grant, including, but not limited to, the option vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, form of payment upon settlement of the award, payment contingencies and satisfaction of any performance criteria. Vesting Schedule. Options granted under our stock option plan vest over a two to four year period following a specified vesting commencement date. In general, the options granted will vest over the vesting period on a monthly basis, subject to the recipient of the options continuing to be employed by us on each vesting date. Option Agreement. Options granted under our stock option plan are evidenced by an option agreement that contains, among other things, provisions concerning exercisability and forfeiture upon termination of employment or consulting arrangements, as determined by our board. In addition, the option agreement also provides that options granted under our stock option plan are subject to a 180-day lock-up period following the effective date of a registration statement filed by us under the Securities Act, if so requested by us or any representative of the underwriters in connection with any registration of the offering of any of our securities. Option Exercise. The term of options granted under our stock option plan may not exceed five years from the date of grant. The consideration to be paid for our shares upon exercise of an option or purchase of shares underlying the option will be determined by the plan administrator and may include cash, check, ordinary shares, a promissory note, consideration received by us under a cashless exercise program implemented by us in connection with our stock option plan, or any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. Third-Party Acquisition. If a third party acquires us through the purchase of all or substantially all of our assets, a merger or other business combination, all outstanding options or share purchase rights will be assumed or equivalent options or rights substituted by the successor corporation or parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the options or share purchase rights, all options or share purchase rights will become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to such transaction and all unexercised awards will terminate unless, in either case, the awards are assumed by the successor corporation or its parent. Changes in Capitalization and Other Adjustments. If we shall at any time increase or decrease the number of outstanding shares, or change in any way the rights and privileges of our outstanding shares, by means of a payment or a stock dividend or any other distribution upon such ordinary shares, or through a stock split, subdivision, consolidation, combination, reclassification or recapitalization involving such ordinary shares, then in relation to the ordinary shares that are covered by the options granted or available under the plan and are affected by one or more of the above events, the number, rights and privileges shall be increased, decreased or changed in like manner as if such ordinary shares had been issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable at the time of such occurrence. Termination of Plan. Unless terminated earlier, our stock option plan will expire in 2024. Our board of directors has the authority to amend, alter, suspend or terminate our stock option plan. However, no such action may (i) impair the rights of any optionee unless agreed by the optionee and the stock option plan administrator, or (ii) affect the stock option plan administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it under our stock option plan. 65 C. Board Practices Board of Directors Our board of directors consists of the following five directors: Jun Zhu, Cheung Kin Au-Yeung, Chao Y. Wang, Davin Mackenzie and Ka Keung Yeung. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification. A director may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract or arrangement in which he is materially interested so long as he has disclosed the nature of the interest at a meeting of the directors. A director may exercise all the powers of our company to borrow money, mortgage its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any obligation of our company or of any third party. Committees of the Board of Directors Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Messrs. Chao Y. Wang, Davin A. Mackenzie and Ka Keung Yeung, all of whom satisfy the “independence” definition under Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. Marketplace Rules, or the Nasdaq Rules, and the audit committee independence standard under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. All the members of our audit committee meet the “financial expert” definition of the Nasdaq Rules. The audit committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things: • • • • • • • selecting the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; reviewing and approving all proposed related-party transactions; discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter; meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; reporting regularly to the full board of directors; and such other matters that are specifically delegated to our audit committee by our board of directors from time to time. Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Messrs. Chao Y. Wang, Davin A. Mackenzie and Ka Keung Yeung, all of whom meet the “independence” definition under the Nasdaq Rules. The compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure of our executive officers, including all forms of compensation to be provided to our executive officers. The compensation committee will be responsible for, among other things: • • • • • reviewing and determining the compensation for our five most senior executives; reviewing the compensation of our other employees and recommending any proposed changes to the management; reviewing and approving director and officer indemnification and insurance matters; reviewing and approving any employee loans in an amount equal to or greater than US$60,000 (or such amount as from time to time announced by the relevant regulatory bodies as requiring the approval of the Committee); and reviewing periodically and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, employee pensions and welfare benefits plans. 66 Duties of Directors Under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a fiduciary duty of loyalty to act honestly in good faith with a view to our best interests. Our directors also have a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such 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. Terms of Directors Our board of directors is currently divided into three classes with different terms. This provision would delay the replacement of a majority of our directors and would make changes to the board of directors more difficult than if such provision were not in place. The three independent directors were re-elected at our 2012 annual general meeting and each of them is serving a three-year term until the 2015 annual general meeting or until his successor is duly elected and qualified, whichever is earlier. Upon expiration of the term of office of each class, succeeding directors in each class will be elected for a term of three years. Directors may be removed from office by ordinary resolution of shareholders at any time before the expiration of his/her term. Pursuant to the natural expiration of the directorial terms, elections for directors would be held on the date of the annual general meeting of shareholders. We may remove a director from office by ordinary resolution. Voting Agreement On November 26, 2004, Incsight and Bosma, our two largest shareholders, entered into a voting agreement with respect to the election of our board of directors. Both parties have agreed to vote their respective shares to ensure that our board of directors consists of: (i) one director designated by Incsight, so long as it holds 5% or more of our total outstanding shares, which is currently Jun Zhu; (ii) one director designated by Bosma, so long as it holds 5% more of our total outstanding shares, which is currently Cheung Kin Au- Yeung; (iii) two individuals mutually acceptable to Incsight and Bosma, but who are not otherwise affiliated with either of them, our company or any of our shareholders; and (iv) an additional individual who is not affiliated with either Incsight, Bosma, our company or any of our shareholders. Both parties agreed to vote to ensure that none of the directors elected pursuant to the voting agreement shall be removed from office, except for cause or unless by the affirmative vote of both parties. In addition, each of Incsight and Bosma agrees to elect one or two individuals designated by the other party as directors so long as each of them holds not less than 20% of the total issued shares of our company. The voting agreement shall continue until both parties mutually agree in writing to terminate it. D. Employees As of December 31, 2012, we had 695 employees, including 78 in management and administration, 36 in our customer service centers, 173 in game operations, sales and marketing, and 408 in product development, including supplier management personnel and technical support personnel. We had 738 and 876 employees as of December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. We consider our relations with our employees to be good. E. Share Ownership As of March 31, 2013, there were 28,783,929 ordinary shares outstanding, including 5,700,031 ordinary shares issued to The Bank of New York Mellon, our ADS depositary, to facilitate our future issuance of ADSs upon the exercise of options under our share incentive plan. The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of March 31, 2013 by: • • each of our directors and executive officers who are also our shareholders; and each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our ordinary shares. 67 Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned (2) (1) Number % Directors and Executive Officers: Jun Zhu (3) Cheung Kin Au-Yeung Davin Alexander Mackenzie Chao Y. Wang Ka Keung Yeung George Lai Swun Woo Park Chris Shen Yong Wang All Directors and Senior Executive Officers as a Group Principal Shareholders: Incsight Limited (5) Bosma Limited (6) (4) 7,226,214 * * * * * * * * 8,122,047 5,847,334 4,612,522 25.1% * * * * * * * * 28.2% 20.3% 16.0% Less than 1% of our total outstanding shares. * (1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 31, 2013, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. (2) Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 28,783,929 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2013, as well as the shares underlying share options and warrants exercisable by such person or group within 60 days from March 31, 2013. (3) Consists of (i) 5,847,334 ordinary shares held by Incsight Limited, a British Virgin Islands company 100% owned by Mr. Zhu, as jointly reported by Incsight Limited and Jun Zhu and (ii) options to purchase 1,378,880 shares held by Mr. Zhu as of March 31, 2013. The business address for Mr. Zhu is Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China. Includes ordinary shares, ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of options and restricted shares, held by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. (4) (5) Ordinary shares held by Incsight Limited, a British Virgin Islands company 100% owned by Jun Zhu, our chairman and chief executive officer, as jointly reported by Incsight Limited and Jun Zhu. The business address for Incsight Limited is Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, People’s Republic of China. (6) Consists of 4,145,065 ordinary shares and 467,457 ADSs held by Bosma Limited, as reported by Bosma Limited on the Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2009. Bosma Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation, is wholly- owned by Morningside VC Limited, a British Virgin Islands corporation, which is in turn wholly-owned by The HCB Trust, an Isle of Man trust, the trustee of which is Dunn Investments Limited, an Isle of Man corporation. Dunn Investments Limited controls indirectly, through The HCB Trust, a 100% interest in Bosma Limited, and as a result has the sole power to vote and dispose of the shares of The9 Limited held by Bosma Limited. Dunn Investments Limited is controlled by its board of directors, consisting of Lorna Irene Cameron and Philip Alvaro Salazar, both of whom expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares held by Bosma Limited. The address for Bosma Limited is Pasea Estate, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. As of March 31, 2013, approximately 65.91% of the issued and outstanding shares were held by the record shareholders in the United States, including 18,971,530 ADSs, representing 18,971,530 ordinary shares, held by the Bank of New York Mellon, our ADS depositary. None of our shareholders has different voting rights from other shareholders as of the date of this annual report. We are currently not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company. 68 Item 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS A. Major Shareholders Please refer to “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.” B. Related Party Transactions Arrangements with Affiliated PRC Entities Current PRC laws and regulations impose substantial restrictions on foreign ownership of entities involved in ICP, Internet culture operation, Internet publishing businesses and advertising in China, which include online game operations. Therefore, we conduct part of our activities through a series of agreements with Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. Shanghai IT holds the requisite licenses and approvals for conducting ICP, Internet culture operation and Internet publishing businesses in China. Huopu Cloud holds certain assets and operates certain businesses. Shanghai IT is owned by Yong Wang, our vice president, and Wei Ji, one of our employees. Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement, which is wholly-owned by Shanghai IT, holds the requisite business license for an advertising entity in China. Huopu Cloud is owned by Junping Han, our senior legal director, and Wei Xiong, our finance director. We have obtained the exclusive right to benefit from Shanghai IT’s licenses and approvals. In addition, through a series of contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT, Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement, Huopu Cloud and their respective shareholders, we are able to direct and control the operation and management of Shanghai IT, Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement and Huopu Cloud. We believe that the individual shareholders of Shanghai IT, Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement and Huopu Cloud will not receive material personal benefits from these agreements except as shareholders or employees of The9 Limited. We do not believe we could have obtained these agreements, taken as a whole, from unrelated third parties. Because of the uncertainty relating to the legal and regulatory environment in China, the terms of most of the agreements were not defined unless terminated by the parties thereto. According to our PRC counsel, Zhong Lun Law Firm, subject to the interpretation and implementation of the GAPP Circular, these agreements, except those that have already been terminated, are valid, binding and enforceable under the current laws and regulations of China. The principal provisions of these agreements are described below. Domain Name License Agreement. We granted Shanghai IT the right to use the domain name www.the9.com for its hosting of The9 City and its provision of Internet content in China. The relevant license agreement was terminated when we transferred the domain name to Shanghai IT. Exclusive Technical Service Agreement. We provide Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud with technical services for the operation of computer software and related businesses, including the provision of systematic solutions for the operation of Internet websites, the rental of computer and Internet facilities, daily maintenance of Internet servers and databases, the development and update of relevant computer software, and all other related technical and consulting services. Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud pay service fees to us based on their actual operating results at a service fee equal to 90% of all operating profit generated by Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. We are the exclusive provider of these services to Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. According to the relevant PRC rules and regulations, related party transactions should be negotiated at the arm’s length basis and apply reasonable transfer pricing methods. However, the determination of service fees is under the sole discretion of us. These agreements do not have specific clauses on renewal but do have an initial term of 20 years (with the earliest expiration date being December 31, 2029). By virtue of the governance rights we maintains over Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, through the terms of the other agreements noted above, we are able to unilaterally renew, extend or amend the service agreements at our discretion. Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreements. Each of the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud has entered into a Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement with us, under which each shareholder of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud irrevocably grants any third parties designate by us the power to exercise all voting rights to which he/she is entitled as a shareholder of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, including the right to attend shareholders meetings, to exercise voting rights and to appoint directors, a general manager, and other senior management of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. The power of proxy is irrevocable and may only be terminated at our discretion. We have also entered into a similar agreement with the shareholder of Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement. 69 Call Option Agreements. We entered into a call option agreement with each of the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, under which the parties irrevocably agreed that, at our sole discretion, we and/or any third parties designated by us will be entitled to acquire all or part of the equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, to the extent permitted by the then-effective PRC laws and regulations. The consideration for such acquisition will be the price equal to the lower of the amount of the registered capital of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud (as the case may be) and the minimum amount permissible by the then- applicable PRC law. The shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud have also agreed not to enter into any transaction, or fail to take any action, that would substantially affect the assets, liabilities, equity, operations or other legal rights of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud without our prior written consent, including, without limitation, declaration and distribution of dividends and profits; sale, assignment, mortgage or disposition of, or encumbrances on, the Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud’s equity; merger or consolidation; creation, assumption, guarantee or incurrence of any indebtedness; entering into other materials contracts. The agreements shall not expire until such time as we acquire all equity interests of Shanghai IT or Huopu Cloud subject to applicable PRC laws. We and the shareholder of Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement have entered into a similar call option agreement. Loan Agreements. From 2002 to May 2005, we provided an aggregate of RMB23.0 million in loan to the then shareholders of Shanghai IT for the purposes of capitalizing and increasing the registered capital of Shanghai IT. Such loan agreement was assumed by the current shareholders of Shanghai IT when Jun Zhu transferred the equity interest in Shanghai IT to Wei Ji in 2011. In December 2010, we provided an aggregate of RMB50.0 million loan to the shareholders of Huopu Cloud, for the purposes of capitalizing the registered capital of Huopu Cloud. Pursuant to the terms of these loan agreements, we granted an interest-free loan to each shareholder of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud for the explicit purpose of making a capital contribution to Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. The loans have an unspecified term and will remain outstanding for the shorter of the duration of The9 Computer or that of the Shanghai IT or Huopu Cloud (as the case may be), or until such time that we elect to terminate the agreement (which is at our sole discretion) at which point the loans are payable on demand. Such loan shall only become immediately due and payable when we send a written notice to the borrowers requesting repayment. Currently, Yong Wang and Wei Ji have pledged all of their equity interests in Shanghai IT in favor of us under an equity pledge agreement. Junping Han and Wei Xiong have pledged all of their equity interests in Huopu Cloud in favor of us under an equity pledge agreement. In the event of a breach of any term in the loan agreements or any other agreements by either Shanghai IT, Huopu Cloud or its shareholders, we will be entitled to enforce our rights as a pledgee under the agreement. We and the shareholder of Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement have entered into a similar loan agreement. Equity Pledge Agreements. To secure the full performance by Shanghai IT, Huopu Cloud or its shareholders of their respective obligations under the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement, the Call Option Agreement and the Loan Agreement, the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud have pledged all of their equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, respectively, in favor of us under an equity pledge agreement. In addition, the dividend distributions to the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud, if any, will be deposited in an escrow account over which we have exclusive control. The pledge shall remain effective until all obligations under such agreements have been fully performed. The shareholder has the obligation to maintain ownership and effective control over the pledged equity. Under no circumstances, without our prior written consent, may the shareholder transfer or otherwise encumber any equity interests in Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud. If any event of default as provided for therein occurs, The9 Computer, as the pledgee, will be entitled to dispose of the pledged equity interests through transfer or assignment and use the proceeds to repay the loans or make other payments due under the above loan agreements up to the loan amounts. Each of the shareholders of Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud has registered the pledge of its equity interests with the relevant local administration for industry and commerce pursuant to the new PRC Property Rights Law. In the event of a breach of any term in the above agreements by either Shanghai IT, Huopu Cloud or its shareholders, we will be entitled to enforce our pledge rights over such pledged equity interests to compensate for any and all losses suffered from such breach. A similar equity pledge agreement was also entered into by and between us and the individual shareholder of Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement. Arrangements with Fire Rain and Wanyouyl Fire Rain. In February 2009, we made an investment and purchased 20% equity interests in Fire Rain, a company engaged in research and development of ShenXianZhuan, a MMORPG. We also obtained an exclusive license from Fire Rain to operate ShenXianZhuan in mainland China. In January 2010, we purchased an additional 5% equity interest and increased our shareholding in Fire Rain to 25%. ShenXianZhuan was commercially launched in China in August 2011 and we were entitled to 80% of the revenues from the game since then. Through certain contractual arrangements, we also provided loans in support of Fire Rain’s business operations. Pursuant to our then contractual arrangement with Fire Rain, we have the power to make decisions that most significantly affect Fire Rain’s operations and effectively assumed a majority of economic risks associated with it, and has the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive returns that are significant to Fire Rain. As such, we were the primary beneficiary of Fire Rain and have included it in our consolidated financial statements. 70 In late 2012, due to the weaker than expected performance of the game developed by Fire Rain, we decided to restructure our investments in, and terminate certain contractual arrangements with, Fire Rain, which resulted in the return of the game license and the cessation of providing additional financial support to Fire Rain. The game operations will be controlled directly by Fire Rain prospectively. As a result of the restructuring and change in contractual arrangements, we no longer have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Fire Rain’s operations, and as such we ceased to be the primary beneficiary of Fire Rain. As a result, we deconsolidated Fire Rain on the date the restructuring and change in contractual arrangements happened. As of the date of deconsolidation, we retained a 25% equity interest and contractual rights to receive repayment of game development expenditures of RMB17 million (US$2.7 million) and a contractual right to receive 20% of the gross revenues generated by the game. The total loss on deconsolidation of Fire Rain was RMB12.4 million (US$2.0 million), of which RMB1.3 million (US$0.2 million) relates to the loss from remeasurement of the 25% retained equity interest. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements included in this annual report on Form 20-F for more information regarding the deconsolidation of Fire Rain. Of the advancement of RMB17.0 million (US$2.7 million) we made to Fire Rain, RMB4.5 million (US$0.7 million) was repaid in January 2013. In addition, certain cash advances to Fire Rain secured by the personal guarantee of the spouse of a third-party shareholder of Fire Rain. In April 2013, we agreed that such shareholder will transfer a 33.5% equity interest in Fire Rain to us and in return we will release the personal guarantee provided. After the share transfer, we expect to own approximately 58.5% of the equity interest in Fire Rain. Wanyouyl. From July 2009 to June 2010, we made an investment in and purchased 20% equity interest in Wanyouyl, a company engaged in research and development of Era Zero. We also obtained an exclusive global license from Wanyouyl to operate Era Zero. Through certain contractual arrangements, we also provided loans in support of Wanyouyl’s business operations. Pursuant to our then contractual arrangement with Wanyouyl, we established the power to make decisions that most significantly affect Wanyouyl’s operations and effectively assumed a majority of economic risks associated with the entity, and had the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive returns that are significant to Wanyouyl. As such, we were the primary beneficiary of Wanyouyl and have consolidated the entity in our consolidated financial statements until September 2012. In late 2012, due to its unsatisfactory testing result, we restructured the investments in and contractual arrangement with Wanyouyl through certain transactions. In particular, we terminated the product development and license agreement with Wanyouyl and sold our equity interest in Wanyouyl to a third party for a consideration of RMB3.0 million (US$0.5 million). We retained a contractual right to receive 20% of future revenues of Era Zero developed by Wanyouyl, subject to a cap of RMB10 million (US$1.6 million). We deconsolidated Wanyouyl as a result of these transactions and recorded a total loss on deconsolidation of RMB5.7 million (US$0.9 million). Stock Option Grants See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers — Share Incentive Plan — Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan.” Investments or Agreements entered into with Affiliated Entities In January 2012, we entered into a cooperative agreement with Shenhua for endorsing and promoting Firefall for a term of two years. Shenhua is a long-established leading soccer team in the Chinese Super League, the highest tier of professional soccer association in China. Mr. Zhu Jun, our chairman and chief executive officer and one of our principal shareholders, is one of the major shareholders of Shenhua. Under the agreement, Shenhua players will wear jerseys bearing the name and logo of Firefall or other games as designated by us in all domestic and international soccer games and also make appearances at press conferences and product promotion and sales initiatives for Firefall or other games as designated by us and participate in other activities for promoting Firefall or other games as designated by us. The9 paid Shenhua RMB32 million (US$5.1 million) for the promotion services. In addition, in January 2012, we entered into an endorsement agreement with Nicolas Anelka, a famous soccer player who played for Shenhua at that time, for endorsement and promotion of Firefall for a consideration of EUR2.7 million (RMB21.9 million). 71 We paid EUR2.7 million (RMB21.9 million) to Nicolas Anelka in January 2012. In August 2012, we entered into an endorsement agreement with Didier Yves Drogba Tebily, a famous soccer player who played for Shenhua at that time, for endorsement and promotion of Planetside 2 for one year for a consideration of EUR3.1 million (RMB24.3million). We paid EUR3.1 million (RMB24.3 million) to Didier Yves Drogba Tebily in August 2012. In April 2012, we entered into a loan agreement with Beijing Linkage Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing Linkage, our related party in which we own 45% equity interest. Pursuant to the loan agreement, we made a loan in the amount of RMB6.8 million (US$1.1 million) to Beijing Linkage for it to make capital increase in its invested company. There were RMB5.3 million (US$0.8 million) loan outstanding as of December 31, 2012. In March 2013, we entered into another loan agreement with Beijing Linkage, pursuant to which we made another loan in the amount of RMB4.5 million (US$0.7 million) to Beijing Linkage for providing working capital to its invested company. C. Interests of Experts and Counsel Not applicable. Item 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information We have appended consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report. Legal Proceedings On June 18, 2007, Beijing Beida Founder Electronics Company filed a lawsuit in the Beijing High Court against two other companies and two wholly-owned subsidiaries of us, alleging that the defendants had, through a game that the two subsidiaries licensed and are operating, infringed its intellectual property rights with respect to certain of its copyrighted fonts. The plaintiff in the case demanded, among others, that the defendants cease such alleged infringing use and pay RMB100 million for its alleged losses. We intend to assert our rights in the court of law. Based on the on-going assessment by our management and external legal counsel, the management believes that the likelihood for us to pay compensation is probable and the amount of compensation and legal fees estimated by management and external legal counsel is measurable. The lawsuit was heard on November 26, 2009 by the Beijing Superior Court. We asserted our rights in the court. On February 3, 2010, the court issued a judgment against us and other defendants in the lawsuits for infringing certain intellectual property rights of the plaintiff. Based on the court’s judgment, we shall pay a total of RMB1.6 million in compensation to the plaintiff. Subsequently, we and the plaintiff filed an appeal challenging the judgment. As of December 31, 2009, we had accrued RMB6.1 million for this litigation, including legal fees, based on the case development. We have paid RMB4.5 million and RMB1.2 million in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and further accrued RMB2.8 million and RMB0.3 million for compensation and legal fees relating to this litigation during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, respectively. In May 2012, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court’s judgment and ordered us and other defendants to pay RMB2.2 million (US$0.4 million) to the plaintiff. In September 2012, we made the payment to the plaintiff in compliance with the judgment. We paid RMB4.5 million, RMB1.2 million and RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) for legal fee related to the litigation in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In May 2011, Diego Maradona, a former Argentina soccer star, filed a lawsuit in the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court against Shanghai IT and a third-party company in China, alleging that the defendants used his name and image in a web and social game operated by us without his authorization. In July 2011, the plaintiff amended his complaint to include The9 Computer as a defendant. The plaintiff in the case demanded, among others, that the defendants to pay RMB20 million for his alleged losses. In consultation with our external PRC legal counsel, we estimate that it is probable that we would lose the lawsuit and the contingent loss was estimated to be approximately RMB2 million, which estimate is made based on, among other relevant factors, remedies for other similar civil lawsuits. Accordingly, we accrued a contingent loss of RMB2 million in the year ended December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, we believed that it was remote that the court would adjudicate a fine exceeding the amount that it has recognized. 72 Other than the foregoing, we are not currently a party to any material litigation or other legal proceeding and are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation or other legal proceeding that may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Dividend Policy We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business. Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether we will distribute dividends in the future. Even if our board of directors determines to distribute dividends, the form, frequency and amount of our dividends will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions, legal restrictions and other factors as the board of directors may deem relevant. Any dividend we declare will be paid to the holders of ADSs, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, less the fees and expenses payable under the deposit agreement. Any dividend we declare will be distributed by the depositary bank to the holders of our ADSs. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars. B. Significant Changes Except as otherwise disclosed in this annual report, 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. Offering and Listing Details Our ADSs, each representing one ordinary share, have been listed on the Nasdaq Global Market since December 15, 2004. Our ADSs are traded under the symbol “NCTY.” The following table provides the high and low trading prices for our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market for the periods specified. Annual High and Low 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Quarterly High and Low First Quarter 2011 Second Quarter 2011 Third Quarter 2011 Fourth Quarter 2011 First Quarter 2012 Second Quarter 2012 Third Quarter 2012 Fourth Quarter 2012 Monthly High and Low October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 (through April 10, 2013) 73 Sales Price High Low 28.50 16.64 8.66 8.49 7.98 9.97 6.28 3.70 2.90 2.71 8.49 7.70 6.30 8.28 7.98 6.82 5.98 4.74 4.74 3.75 3.83 3.33 3.03 3.05 2.70 6.03 4.85 3.48 2.90 5.35 4.10 4.38 2.71 3.60 2.71 2.90 2.79 2.75 2.53 2.53 B. Plan of Distribution Not applicable. C. Markets Our ADSs, each representing one ordinary share, have been listed on the Nasdaq Global Market since December 15, 2004 under the symbol “NCTY.” 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 are a Cayman Islands company and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law (2012 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, which is referred to as the Companies Law below. As of the date of this annual report, our authorized share capital is US$2,500,000, consisting of 250,000,000 ordinary shares, par value of US$0.01 each. The following are summaries of material provisions of our currently effective amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Companies Law insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. Ordinary Shares General. All of our outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders may freely hold and vote their shares. Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Law. Voting Rights. Each ordinary share is entitled to one vote on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by any shareholder or shareholders together holding at least ten percent of the shares given a right to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of holders of not less than one-third of all outstanding shares entitled to vote. Shareholders’ meetings shall, if required by the Companies Law, be held annually. Annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings may be convened by our board of directors on its own initiative. Extraordinary general meetings shall be convened by our board of directors upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate at least 33% of our voting share capital. Advance notice of at least seven business days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other shareholders meetings. 74 An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting and includes a unanimous written resolution expressly passed as a special resolution. A special resolution is required for important matters such as a change of name, a decrease of our share capital, or amending the memorandum and articles of association. Holders of the ordinary shares may effect certain changes by ordinary resolution, including an increase of our share capital, the consolidation and division of all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing share capital, and the cancellation of any shares. Transfer of Shares. Subject to the restrictions of our articles of association, as applicable, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board. The transferor shall be deemed to remain the holder of the shares until the name of the transferee is entered in the register of members in respect thereof. Liquidation. On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares as the liquidator deems fair. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately. Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture. Redemption of Shares. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Law and our articles of association, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined by our board of directors. Variation of Rights of Shares. All or any of the special rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, be varied either with the written consent of a majority of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of an ordinary resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See “— H. Documents on Display.” Differences in Corporate Law The Companies Law is modeled after that of English law but does not follow recent English law statutory enactments. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders. Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes: • • a “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company; and a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by: • a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company; and 75 • such other authorizations, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies together with a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares if they follow the required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. The fair value of the shares will be determined by the Cayman Islands court if it cannot be agreed among the parties. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures. In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that: • • • • the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been met; the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question; the arrangement is such that a businessman would reasonably approve; and the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law. When a take-over offer is made and accepted by holders of 90.0% of the shares affected within four months, the offerer may, within a two month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion. If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares. Shareholders’ Suits. The Cayman Islands courts can be expected to follow English case law precedents. The Cayman Islands courts can be expected to apply and follow common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) that permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against the company or a derivative action in the name of the company to challenge (1) an act that is outside the company’s corporate powers or that is illegal, (2) an act constituting a fraud against the minority shareholders where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company, and (3) an action requiring a resolution passed by a qualified or special majority that has not been obtained. Directors’ Fiduciary Duties. Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation, he must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to 76 have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation. As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes the following duties to the company — a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit out of his position as director (unless the company permits him to do so) and a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his personal interest or his duty to a third party. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not Exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, there are indications that the English and Commonwealth courts are moving towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Cayman Islands law and our articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held. Shareholder Proposals. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings. Cayman Islands law and our articles of association allow our shareholders holding not less than 33 per cent of the paid up voting share capital of the company to requisition a shareholder’s meeting. Cumulative Voting. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands law, our articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. Removal of Directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation may be removed with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our articles of association, directors can be removed with or without cause, but only by the vote of a majority of the holders of our shares voting at a meeting or the unanimous written resolution of all shareholders. Transactions with Interested Shareholders. The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquiror to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquiror of a Delaware public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors. 77 Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders. Dissolution; Winding Up. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. Under the Companies Law, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up only by a special resolution, or by an ordinary resolution on the basis that our company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due. Variation of Rights of Shares. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our articles of association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class only with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of such class or with the sanction of a resolution passed by at least a majority of the holders of such class present in person or by proxy at a separate general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. Amendment of Governing Documents. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, our memorandum and articles of association may be amended with the vote of at least two-third holders of our shares at a meeting or the unanimous written resolution of all shareholders. Anti-Takeover Provisions in Memorandum and Articles of Association. Some provisions of the memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that: • authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and create a classified board of directors pursuant to which our directors are elected for staggered terms, which means that • shareholders can only elect, or remove, a limited number of directors in any given year. However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company. Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by foreign law or by our memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our Memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed. Inspection of Books and Records. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, any shareholder of a corporation may for any proper purpose inspect or make copies of the corporation’s stock ledger, list of shareholders and other books and records. Holders of our shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or corporate records. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. 78 Shareholder Rights Plan On January 8, 2009, our board of directors declared a dividend of one ordinary share purchase right, or a Right, for each of our ordinary shares outstanding at the close of business on January 22, 2009. See “Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.” C. Material Contracts 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. D. Exchange Controls China’s government imposes control over the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on rates announced by the PBOC. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old 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 change in policy has resulted in an approximately more than 30% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar since the introduction of new policy. While the international reaction to the RMB revaluation has generally been positive, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar. Pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Control Regulations issued by the State Council on January 29, 1996, and effective as of April 1, 1996 (and amended on January 14, 1997 and August 5, 2008) and the Administration of Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange Regulations which came into effect on July 1, 1996 regarding foreign exchange control, or the Regulations, conversion of RMB into foreign exchange by foreign investment enterprises for current account items, including the distribution of dividends and profits to foreign investors of foreign invested enterprises, is typically permissible. Foreign investment enterprises are permitted to remit foreign exchange from their foreign exchange bank account in China on the basis of, inter alia, the terms of the relevant joint venture contracts, articles of association, and the board resolutions declaring the distribution of the dividend and payment of profits. On January 14, 1997, the State Council amended the Foreign Exchange Control Regulations and added, among other things, an important provision, as Article 5 provides that the state shall not impose restrictions on recurring international current account payments and transfers. Conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and remittance of foreign currencies for capital account items, including direct investment, loans and security investment, is still subject to the approval of SAFE, in each such transaction. Under the Regulations, foreign investment enterprises are required to open and maintain separate foreign exchange accounts for capital account items (but not for other items). In addition, foreign investment enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business upon the production of valid commercial documents and, in some cases, such as capital account item transactions, document approval from SAFE. Currently, foreign investment enterprises are required to apply to SAFE for “foreign exchange registration certificates for foreign investment enterprises” (which are granted to foreign investment enterprises, upon fulfilling specified conditions and which are subject to review and renewal by SAFE on an annual basis). Usually, with such foreign exchange registration certificates and required underlying transaction documents, or with approval documents from the SAFE if the transactions are under capital account (which are obtained on a transaction-by-transaction basis), foreign-invested enterprises may enter into foreign exchange transactions at banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business to obtain foreign exchange for their needs. E. Taxation The following summary of the material Cayman Islands and U. S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary 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 ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws. 79 Cayman Islands Taxation In the opinion of our Cayman Islands counsel, Maples and Calder, 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. No Cayman Islands stamp duty will be payable unless an instrument is executed in, brought to, or produced before a court of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties which are applicable to payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands. U. S. Federal Income Taxation The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) under current law of an investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares. This discussion applies only to U.S. Holders that hold the ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets (generally, property held for investment) and have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. This discussion is based on the tax laws of the United States in effect as of the date of this annual report and on U.S. Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed as of the date of this annual report, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences described below. The following discussion does not deal with the tax consequences to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as: • • • • • • • • • • • • • banks and other financial institutions; insurance companies; regulated investment companies; real estate investment trusts; broker-dealers; traders that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting; U.S. expatriates or entities subject to the U.S. anti-inversion rules; tax-exempt entities; persons liable for alternative minimum tax; persons holding an ADS or ordinary share as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction; persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock; partnerships or other pass-through entities, or persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through such entities; or persons who acquired ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation. In addition, the discussion below does not address any tax consequences arising out of the 3.8% Medicare tax on “net investment income.” 80 INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL TAX RULES TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL AS THE STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. AND OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF ADSs OR ORDINARY SHARES. The discussion below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to you if you are a beneficial owner of ADSs or ordinary shares and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes: • • • • an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized 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 that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. If a partnership (or other entity taxable as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will depend on the status of such partner and the activities of such partnership. The discussion below assumes that the representations contained in the deposit agreement are true and that the obligations in the deposit agreement and any related agreement have been and will be complied with in accordance with their terms. If you hold ADSs, you should be treated as the holder of the underlying ordinary shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes. 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 beneficial ownership of the underlying security (for example, pre-releasing ADSs to persons that do not have beneficial ownership of the securities underlying the ADSs). Accordingly, the creditability of any foreign tax credits or the availability of the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders (as discussed below), could be affected by actions taken by intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holders of ADSs and our company if as a result of such actions the holders of ADSs are not properly treated as beneficial owners of underlying ordinary shares. Passive Foreign Investment Company Based on the market price of our ADSs and the value and composition of our assets, we believe we were a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 2012. A non-U.S. corporation will be a PFIC for any taxable year if either: • • at least 75% of its gross income for such year is passive income; or at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). We will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of the stock. In applying this rule, however, it is not clear whether the contractual arrangements between us and our affiliated entities will be treated as ownership of stock. 81 We must make a separate determination after the close of each taxable year as to whether we were a PFIC for that year. Because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test generally will be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares, our PFIC status will depend in large part on the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares, which may fluctuate significantly. Based on the market price of our ADSs and our retention of a significant amount of cash during the taxable year ended December 31, 2012, we believe we were a PFIC for such year. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to you for all succeeding years during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, unless we cease to be a PFIC and you make a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable. If such election is made, you will be deemed to have sold the ADSs or ordinary shares you hold at their fair market value and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the rules described in the following two paragraphs. After the deemed sale election, so long as we do not become a PFIC in a subsequent taxable year, your ADSs or ordinary shares with respect to which such election was made will not be treated as shares in a PFIC and you will not be subject to the rules described below with respect to any “excess distribution” you receive from us or any gain from an actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. You are strongly urged to consult your tax advisors as to the possibility and consequences of making a deemed sale election if we cease to be a PFIC and such election becomes available to you. For each taxable year that we are treated as a PFIC with respect to you, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” you receive and any gain you recognize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the ADSs or ordinary shares, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules, if you receive any excess distribution or recognize any gain from a sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares: • • • the excess distribution or recognized gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares; the amount allocated to the current taxable year, and any taxable years in your holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and the amount allocated to each other taxable year will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, for each such year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year. The tax liability for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or excess distribution cannot be offset by any net operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) from the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares cannot be treated as capital, even if you hold the ADSs or ordinary shares as capital assets. If we are treated as a PFIC with respect to you for any taxable year, to the extent any of our subsidiaries are also PFICs or we make direct or indirect equity investments in other entities that are PFICs, you will be deemed to own shares in such lower-tier PFICs that are directly or indirectly owned by us in that proportion that the value of the ADSs or ordinary shares you own bears to the value of all of our ADSs or ordinary shares, and you may be subject to the rules described in the preceding two paragraphs with respect to the shares of such lower-tier PFICs that you would be deemed to own. It is likely that one or more of our subsidiaries were PFICs for the taxable year ended December 31, 2012. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries. A U.S. Holder of marketable stock (as defined below) of a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election for such stock to elect out of the PFIC rules described above regarding excess distributions and recognized gains. If you make a valid mark-to-market election for the ADSs or ordinary shares, you will include in income for each year that we are a PFIC an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ADSs or ordinary shares as of the close of your taxable year over your adjusted basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. You will be allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ADSs or ordinary shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. However, deductions will be allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to- market gains on the ADSs or ordinary shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under 82 a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, will be treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment will apply to the deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss on the ADSs or ordinary shares, as well as to any loss from the actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such ADSs or ordinary shares. Your basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make a mark-to-market election, any distributions that we make generally would be subject to the tax rules discussed below under “— Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on the ADSs or Ordinary Shares,” except that the lower tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income would not apply. The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in greater than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. The ADSs are currently listed on Nasdaq, which is a qualified exchange or other market for these purposes. Consequently, if the ADSs remain listed on Nasdaq and are regularly traded, and you are a holder of ADSs, we expect the mark-to-market election would be available to you if we are a PFIC (as we believe we were for 2012). Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for equity interests in any lower-tier PFICs that we own, a U.S. Holder may continue to be subject to the PFIC rules described above regarding excess distributions and recognized gains with respect to its indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax advisors as to the availability and desirability of a mark-to-market election, as well as the impact of such election on interests in any lower-tier PFICs. Alternatively, a U.S. Holder of stock in a PFIC may make a “qualified electing fund” election with respect to such corporation to elect out of the PFIC rules described above regarding excess distributions and recognized gains. A U.S. Holder that makes a qualified electing fund election with respect to a PFIC generally will include in income such holder’s pro rata share of the corporation’s income on a current basis. However, you may make a qualified electing fund election with respect to your ADSs or ordinary shares only if we furnish you annually with certain tax information, and we currently do not intend to prepare or provide such information. Unless otherwise provided by the U.S. Treasury, each U.S. shareholder of a PFIC is required to file an annual report containing such information as the U.S. Treasury may require. If we are a PFIC (as we believe we were for 2012), you should consult your tax advisors regarding any reporting requirements that may apply to you. YOU ARE STRONGLY URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF OUR BEING A PFIC FOR 2012 ON YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR ADSs AND ORDINARY SHARES AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION OF THE PFIC RULES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING A MARK-TO-MARKET ELECTION. Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions on the ADSs or Ordinary Shares Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, the gross amount of any distribution we make to you with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be includible in your gross income as dividend income on the date of receipt by the depositary, in the case of ADSs, or by you, in the case of ordinary shares, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as computed under U.S. federal income tax principles). The dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations. To the extent the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, (as computed under U.S. federal income tax principles) such excess amount will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in your ADSs or ordinary shares, and then, to the extent such excess amount exceeds your tax basis, as a capital gain. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U. S. federal income tax principles, any distribution paid will generally be treated as a “dividend” for U. S. federal income tax purposes. With respect to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders, dividends will be taxed at the lower capital gains rate applicable to “qualified dividend income,” provided that (1) the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable, are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or we are eligible for the benefits of a qualifying income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program, (2) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to you for the taxable year in which the dividend was paid and the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. Under Internal Revenue Service authority, common or ordinary shares, or ADSs representing such shares, are considered 83 for the purpose of clause (1) above to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on Nasdaq, as are our ADSs (but not our ordinary shares). Based on existing guidance, it is unclear whether the ordinary shares will be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, because only the ADSs, and not the underlying ordinary shares, will be listed on a securities market in the United States. We believe, but we cannot assure you, that dividends we pay on the ordinary shares that are represented by ADSs, but not on the ordinary shares that are not so represented, will, subject to applicable limitations, be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation. If we are treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes under the EIT Law (see “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — New income tax laws may increase our tax burden or the tax burden on the holders of our shares or ADSs, and tax benefits available to us may be reduced or repealed, causing the value of your investment in us to suffer”), we may be eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower capital gains rate applicable to qualified dividend income for dividends paid with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares. Dividends will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If the dividends are taxed as qualified dividend income (as discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation in general will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income and divided by the highest tax rate normally applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by us with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will constitute “passive category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.” If PRC withholding taxes apply to dividends paid to you with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares (see “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — New income tax laws may increase our tax burden or the tax burden on the holders of our shares or ADSs, and tax benefits available to us may be reduced or repealed, causing the value of your investment in us to suffer”), subject to certain conditions and limitations, such PRC withholding taxes may be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and you should consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit in your particular circumstances, including the effects of any applicable income tax treaties. Taxation of Disposition of the ADSs or Ordinary Shares Subject to the PFIC rules discussed above, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an ADS or ordinary share equal to the difference between the amount realized (in U.S. dollars) for the ADS or ordinary share and your tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the ADS or ordinary share. If the consideration you receive for the ADS or ordinary share is not paid in U.S. dollars, the amount realized will be the U.S. dollar value of the payment received. In general, the U.S. dollar value of such a payment will be determined on the date of receipt of payment if you are a cash basis taxpayer and on the date of disposition if you are an accrual basis taxpayer. However, if the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable, are treated as traded on an established securities market and you are either a cash basis taxpayer or an accrual basis taxpayer who has made a special election, you will determine the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized in a foreign currency by translating the amount received at the spot rate of exchange on the settlement date of the sale. The gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, including an individual U.S. Holder, that has held the ADS or ordinary share for more than one year, you generally will be eligible for reduced tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss that you recognize on a disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes (in the case of loss, subject to certain limitations). However, if we are treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes and PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares (see “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Company and Our Industry — New income tax laws may increase our tax burden or the tax burden on the holders of our shares or ADSs, and tax benefits available to us may be reduced or repealed, causing the value of your investment in us to suffer”), a U.S. Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC may elect to treat the gain as PRC source income for foreign tax credit purposes. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of gain or loss in your particular circumstances, including the effect of any applicable income tax treaties. 84 Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Dividend payments with respect to ADSs or ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be subject to information reporting to the Internal Revenue Service and possible U.S. backup withholding at a rate of 28%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder that furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification on Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or that is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders that are exempt from backup withholding should still complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service and furnishing any required information in a timely manner. U.S. Holders who are individuals generally will be required to report our name, address and such information relating to an interest in the ADSs or ordinary shares as is necessary to identify the class or issue of which your ADSs or ordinary shares are a part. These requirements are subject to exceptions, including an exception for ADSs or ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions and an exception applicable if the aggregate value of all ‘‘specified foreign financial assets’’ (as defined in the Code) does not exceed US$50,000. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules. F. Dividends and Paying Agents Not applicable. G. Statement by Experts Not applicable. H. Documents on Display We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Copies of reports and other information, when so filed, may be inspected without charge and may be obtained at prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC. The SEC also maintains a web site 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. 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. Our financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We will furnish our shareholders with annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. I. Subsidiary Information For a listing of our subsidiaries, see “Item 4. Information on the Company — C. Organizational Structure.” 85 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 invested in bank deposits. We have not used any derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio or for cash management purposes. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. However, our future interest income may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates. Foreign Exchange Risk. We are exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency exposures. Our payments to overseas developers and a portion of our financial assets are denominated in U.S. dollars and other foreign currencies while almost all of our revenues are denominated in RMB, the legal currency in China. We have not used any forward contracts or currency borrowings to hedge our exposure to foreign currency risk. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on rates set by PBOC. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade- old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. This change in policy has resulted in an approximately more than 30% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar since the introduction of new policy. While the international reaction to the RMB revaluation has generally been positive, there remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt an even more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar. Any significant revaluation of RMB may adversely affect our cash flows and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in U.S. dollars. For example, an appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar would make any new RMB denominated investments or expenditures more costly to us, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for such purposes. An appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar would also result in foreign currency translation losses for financial reporting purposes when we translate our U.S. dollar denominated monetary assets into RMB, as the RMB is our functional and reporting currency. Foreign exchange transactions under our capital account, including principal payments with respect to foreign currency- denominated obligations, continue to be subject to significant foreign exchange controls and the approval of SAFE. These limitations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financing, or to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures. See “Item 3. Key Information — D. Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Restrictions on currency exchange in China limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively, make dividend payments and meet our foreign currency denominated obligations.” Item 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES A. Debt Securities Not applicable. B. Warrants and Rights Not applicable. C. Other Securities Not applicable. D. American Depositary Shares The Bank of New York Mellon, our ADS depositary, collects its fees for delivery and surrender of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deductions from cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary may generally refuse to provide fee-attracting services until its fees for those services are paid. 86 Persons depositing or withdrawing shares must pay: $5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) For: • • Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates $0.02 (or less) per ADS • Any cash distribution to ADS registered holders A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs • Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities that are distributed by the depositary to ADS registered holders $0.02 (or less) per ADS per calendar year • Depositary services Registration or transfer fees Expenses of the depositary • • Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement) • Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADS or share underlying an ADS, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes • As necessary Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities • As necessary The depositary has agreed to reimburse us for expenses we incur that are related to the administration and maintenance of our ADS facility including, but not limited to, investor relations expenses, the annual Nasdaq Stock Market continued listing fees or any other program related expenses every year. There are limits on the amount of expenses for which the depositary will reimburse us, but the amount of reimbursement available to us is not related to the amounts of fees the depositary collects from investors. We have received US$0.2 million for the year 2012, after deducting withholding tax, from the depositary as reimbursement for legal fees and administrative expenses. Item 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES None. 87 PART II Item 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS Shareholder Rights Plan On January 8, 2009, our board of directors declared a dividend of one ordinary share purchase right, or a Right, for each of our ordinary shares outstanding at the close of business on January 22, 2009. As long as the Rights are attached to the ordinary shares, we will issue one Right (subject to adjustment) with each new ordinary share so that all such ordinary shares will have attached Rights. When exercisable, each Right will entitle the registered holder to purchase from us one ordinary share at a price of US$19.5 per ordinary share, subject to adjustment. The Rights will expire on January 8, 2019, subject to our right to extend such date and are exercisable only if a person or group obtains ownership of or announces a tender offer for 15% or more of our voting securities (including our company’s ADSs representing ordinary shares). Upon exercise, all Rights holders except the potential acquirer will be entitled to acquire our shares or the acquirer’s shares at a discount. We are entitled to redeem the Rights in whole at any time on or before the acquisition by a person or group of 15% or more of our voting securities (which for these purposes include ADSs representing ordinary shares), or exchange the Rights, in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one ordinary share, and of other securities, cash or other assets deemed to have the same value as one ordinary share, per Right, subject to adjustment. The Rights were not distributed in response to any specific effort to acquire control of our company. Use of Proceeds Not Applicable. Item 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Disclosure Controls and Procedures Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, which is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of December 31, 2012. Based on that evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on the evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, performed prior to our filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. 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) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: • pertain to maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; 88 • 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 of our management and directors; and 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. A material weakness is a deficiency (within the meaning of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 5, An Audit of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Performed in Conjunction with An Audit of Financial Statements, or PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 5), or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. 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. Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, management believes that, as of December 31, 2012, our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria. Our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP was formerly known as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. At the direction of the government of the PRC in accordance with applicable PRC laws and regulations, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. has restructured as a new partnership and changed its name to Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, which succeeded for all purposes and assumed all of the obligations and rights of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu CPA, Ltd. with effect from January 1, 2013. That attestation report appears below. Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The9 Limited: We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of The9 Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. 89 A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 of the Company and our report dated April 18, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements. /s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Shanghai, China April 18, 2013 Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the year ended December 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Item 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — C. Board Practices.” Item 16B. CODE OF ETHICS Our board of directors has adopted a code of ethics that applies to our directors, officers, employees and agents, including certain provisions that specifically apply to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, senior finance officer, controller, vice presidents and any other persons who perform similar functions for us. We hereby undertake to provide to any person, without charge, a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics within ten working days after we receive such person’s written request. Item 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accounts LLP, our principal external auditors for the periods indicated below. Audit fees (1) Audit-related fees (2) Tax fees (3) 2011 RMB 4,424,423 — 643,073 2012 RMB 4,965,566 — 179,133 US$ 797,028 — 28,753 90 (1) (2) (3) “Audit fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our principal auditors for the audit of our annual financial statements. “Audit-related fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for assurance and related services by our principal auditors that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit fees.” “Tax fees” means the fees billed for tax compliance services, including the preparation of tax returns and tax consultations. The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services as described above, other than those for de minimus services which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. Item 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES Not applicable. Item 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS Period 12/1/2012-12/31/2012 1/1/2013-1/31/2013 2/1/2013-2/28/2013 3/1/2013-3/31/2013 4/1/2013-4/11/2013 Total Total number of ADSs repurchased 40,492 201,621 1,008,968 190,147 142,948 1,584,176 Average price paid per ADS (2) 3.26 3.02 2.75 2.73 2.59 2.78 Total number of ADSs purchased as part of publicly announced (1) program 40,492 201,621 1,008,968 190,147 142,948 1,584,176 Approximate dollar value of ADSs that may yet be purchased under the program 9,866,503 9,251,750 6,469,297 5,945,025 5,570,138 5,570,138 (1) In December 2012, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program under which we may purchase up to US$10 million of our ADSs over the next 12 months on the open market and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. (2) Average price paid per ADS repurchased is the execution price, excluding commissions paid to brokers. Item 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT Not applicable. Item 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands and our corporate governance practices are governed by applicable Cayman Islands law. In addition, because our ADSs are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, we are subject to corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq. However, Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5615(a)(3) permits foreign private issuers like us to follow “home country practice” with respect to certain corporate governance matters, and we may decide to follow the “home country practice” on a case-by-case basis. We are committed to a high standard of corporate governance. As such, we endeavor to comply with most of the Nasdaq corporate governance practices and believe that we are currently in compliance with the NASDAQ corporate governance practices. 91 Item 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE Not applicable. Item 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18. PART III Item 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The consolidated financial statements for The9 Limited and its subsidiaries are included at the end of this annual report. Item 19. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Document 1.1 2.1 2.2 2.3 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Registrant as currently in effect (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Specimen American Depositary Receipt of The Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 Amendment No.2 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 9, 2004) Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares of The Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Form of Deposit Agreement dated as of December 20, 2004, as amended and restated as of January 16, 2009, as further amended and restated as of March 20, 2009, and as further amended and restated as of 2010 among The Registrant, The Bank of New York Mellon as Depositary, and all Owners and Beneficial Owners from time to time of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 of our Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (file No. 333-156635) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2010) Amended 2004 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 from our Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 (file No. 333-127700) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2010) Form of Indemnification Agreement with the Registrant’s directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 Amendment No. 1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2004) Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and a Senior Executive Officer of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 Amendment No. 1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2004) Translation of Exclusive Technical Support Service Agreement, dated January 14, 2004, between Shanghai IT and The9 Computer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333- 120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) 92 Exhibit Number 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 Document Translation of Master Agreement, dated January 1, 2004, among 9Webzen Shanghai, The9 Computer and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Translation of Form of Call Option Agreement among The9 Computer, Shanghai IT and other parties therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 Amendment No.1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2004) Translation of Form of Equity Pledge Agreement among The9 Computer, Shanghai Advertisement and the other parties therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2004) Translation of Form of Loan Agreement between The9 Computer and a shareholder of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 Amendment No.1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 30, 2004) Translation of Domain Name License Agreement, dated January 1, 2004, between GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333- 120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Joint Venture Agreement, dated September 10, 2002, between Webzen Inc. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 000-53051) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Subscription and Purchase Agreement, dated April 2, 2004, by and among The Registrant, Object Software Limited and other parties thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Shareholders’ Agreement, dated April 16, 2004, by and among The Registrant, Object Software Limited and its shareholders party thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Memorandum of Agreement, dated November 9, 2004, between The Registrant and Object Software Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Software License Agreement, dated September 20, 2004, among HanbitSoft, Inc., IMC Games, Co., Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333- 120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) 93 Exhibit Number 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 Document Translation of Mystina Online Cooperative Agreement, dated July 19, 2004, between Lager (Beijing) Information Co., Ltd and The Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Translation of Capital Subscription Agreement, dated October 19, 2004, among Beijing Wanwei Sky Technology Co., Ltd., its shareholders and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 from our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (file No. 333-120810) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 26, 2004) Translation of Shanghai Municipality Property Lease Commodity Housing Pre-lease Contract, dated May 17, 2005, between The9 Computer and Shanghai Zhangjiang Port of Microelectronics Co. Ltd., with respect to the premises where the Registrant’s principal executive offices are located (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.22 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Translation of Presale Agreement, dated March 17, 2005, between The9 Computer and Shanghai Zhangjiang Port of Microelectronics Co. Ltd (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.23 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Loan Agreement, dated December 25, 2004, between China Interactive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.24 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Share Purchase Agreement, dated December 25, 2004, between China Interactive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.25 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Loan Agreement, dated April 4, 2005, between China Interactive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Pledge of Shares, dated April 4, 2005, between China Interactive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.27 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Option, dated April 4, 2005, between China Interactive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.28 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Share Purchase Agreement, dated August 26, 2005, between China Interactive (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.29 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Share Purchase Agreement, dated December 14, 2005, between GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited and Webzen Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.30 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) 94 Exhibit Number 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 Document Addendum to Joint Venture Agreement, dated December 16, 2005, between Webzen Inc. and GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.31 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) List of Counterparties and Translation of Form of Shanghai Municipality Commodity Property Sale Contract (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Translation of Share Transfer Agreement, dated August 14, 2006, between Qin Jie, Yong Wang, Zhu Jun and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.33 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Translation of Novation Agreement, dated August 14, 2006, between Qin Jie, Yong Wang, Zhu Jun, The9 Computer and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.34 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Translation of Supplementary Agreement between Yong Wang, Zhu Jun and The9 Computer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.35 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2006) Translation of Form of Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement among The9 Computer, Shanghai IT and its shareholders (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.31 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Translation of Exclusive Technical Support Service Agreement dated December 13, 2010 between Huopu Cloud and The9 Computer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.32 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement dated December 13, 2010 among Junping Han, Wei Xiong and The9 Computer with respect to Huopu Cloud (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.33 from our Annual Report on Form 20- F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Translation of Equity Pledge Agreement dated January 6, 2011 among Junping Han, Wei Xiong and The9 Computer with respect to Huopu Cloud (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.34 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Translation of Loan Agreement dated December 13, 2010 among Junping Han, Wei Xiong and The9 Computer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.35 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Translation of Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement dated December 13, 2010 among Junping Han, Wei Xiong, Huopu Cloud and The9 Computer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.36 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2011) Translation of Equity Transfer Agreement dated October 25, 2011 between Jun Zhu and Wei Ji (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.37 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) 95 Exhibit Number 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 4.43 4.44* 8.1* 11.1 12.1* 12.2* 13.1** 13.2** 15.1* Document Translation of Equity Pledge Agreement dated November 24, 2011 between Yong Wang and The9 Computer with respect to Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.38 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) Translation of Equity Pledge Agreement dated November 24, 2011 between Wei Ji and The9 Computer with respect to Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.39 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) Translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement dated November 24, 2011 among Yong Wang, Wei Ji and The9 Computer with respect to Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.40 from our Annual Report on Form 20- F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) Translation of Loan Agreement dated November 24, 2011 among Yong Wang, Wei Ji and The9 Computer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.41 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) Translation of Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement dated November 24, 2011 among Yong Wang, Wei Ji, The9 Computer and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.42 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) Translation of Novation Agreement dated November 25, 2011 among Jun Zhu, Wei Ji, Yong Wang, The9 Computer and Shanghai IT (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.43 from our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2012) Translation of Exclusive Technical Service Agreement, dated December 15, 2010, between Shanghai IT and The9 Computer List of Significant and Other Principal Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities of the Registrant Amended Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.1 to our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2005) Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Consent of Maples and Calder 96 Exhibit Number 15.2* 15.3* 101**† Consent of Zhong Lun Law Firm Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Document Financial information of the registrant for the year ended December 31, 2012 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012; (ii) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012; and (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. * ** † Filed with this Form 20-F. Furnished with this Form 20-F. XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections. 97 The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf. SIGNATURES The9 Limited By: /s/ Jun Zhu Name: Jun Zhu Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Date: April 18, 2013 [Signature Page to 20-F] INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THE9 LIMITED Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 Page F-2 F-3 F-4 F-5 F-8 F-10 F-1 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of The9 Limited: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The9 Limited and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our 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 audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2011 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2012, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 18, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. /s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Shanghai, China April 18, 2013 F-2 THE9 LIMITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 AND 2012 Revenues: Online game services Other revenues Sales taxes Net revenues Cost of services Gross profit (loss) Operating expenses: Product development Sales and marketing General and administrative Impairment of equipment and intangible assets Loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements Total operating expenses Other operating income Loss from operations Interest income, net Other (expenses) income, net Loss before income tax expense, gain on investment disposal, impairment loss on investments and share of loss in equity investments Income tax expense Loss before gain on investment disposal, impairment loss on investments and share of loss in equity investments Gain on investment disposal Impairment loss on investments Share of loss in equity investments Net loss Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net loss attributable to holders of ordinary shares Net loss Other comprehensive loss: Unrealized loss on available-for-sale investments Currency translation adjustments Comprehensive loss Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Comprehensive loss attributable to holders of ordinary shares Net loss attributable to holders of ordinary shares per share—Basic and diluted Weighted average number of shares outstanding—Basic and diluted 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 RMB 2012 US$ (Note 3) 2,042,108 3,418,618 106,471,474 109,046,980 157,390,602 25,262,933 993,654 108,513,582 112,465,598 163,581,164 26,256,587 (1,468,251) 102,837,590 106,376,554 154,433,815 24,788,336 (39,117,993) (69,415,631) (11,141,977) (103,256,343) 67,258,561 85,018,184 13,646,359 (418,753) (6,089,044) (9,147,349) 6,190,562 (5,675,992) (139,431,649) (63,290,886) (212,121,930) (301,471,091) (48,389,447) (90,496,700) (187,011,621) (30,017,435) (112,692,772) (174,665,299) (170,382,896) (27,348,340) (37,949,452) 0 (569,139) 0 0 (18,093,999) (91,353) (2,904,287) (353,364,759) (477,283,929) (677,528,746) (108,750,862) 19,261 (353,783,512) (384,032,364) (592,390,562) (95,085,242) 3,496,878 745,404 30,416,367 21,785,899 4,643,937 23,183,239 19,258,286 25,993,004 (652,993) 120,000 0 (311,341,987) (354,268,990) (565,960,726) (90,842,960) 0 (7,368,020) (165) 0 44,434,802 15,725,792 (3,243,744) (6,347,447) (318,710,007) (354,269,155) (565,960,726) (90,842,960) 2,524,164 (520,657) (1,018,836) (313,175,960) (559,826,125) (89,858,289) (7,355,264) (28,846,029) (45,824,033) (284,329,931) (514,002,092) (82,503,025) (313,175,960) (559,826,125) (89,858,289) 6,827,900 (196,115,321) (10,713,295) (518,710,723) (19,099,129) (499,611,594) (518,710,723) 0 (3,341,607) 0 (4,304,857) 0 (2,511,883) (521,222,606) (19,514,314) (9,085) (157,254) (317,480,817) (560,862,434) (90,024,628) (7,402,357) (29,279,528) (46,117,427) (501,708,292) (288,201,289) (514,745,007) (82,622,271) (56,600) (979,709) (19.89) 25,121,679 (11.39) (3.37) 24,956,197 24,494,046 24,494,046 (20.98) The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. F-3 THE9 LIMITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND 2012 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Short term investment Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of 2011: nil, 2012: RMB26,834 Advances to suppliers Prepayments and other current assets Prepaid royalties Deferred costs Total current assets Restricted cash Investments in equity investees Available-for-sale investments Property, equipment and software Goodwill Intangible assets Land use right Other long-term assets Total assets LIABILITIES Current liabilities: December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 1,071,725,828 0 554,278,809 88,967,883 140,824 877,350 0 1,168,666,004 10,054,911 3,365,755 66,060,141 15,556,270 1,903,099 2,507,452 15,621,678 336,195 2,094,525 76,022,204 12,202,405 2,378,827 14,820,331 144,614 900,961 664,615,858 106,678,200 118,451 76,017,792 12,201,696 1,008,892 6,285,500 64,575,315 10,365,053 10,011,247 1,606,916 155,049,811 24,887,211 74,115,115 11,896,296 9,781,027 60,936,775 1,628,894,072 1,112,345,372 178,543,742 72,051,143 6,342,100 60,513,021 10,035,775 159,493,400 76,036,026 75,756,603 737,959 Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of 18,844,789 and 19,753,814 as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2012, respectively) Other taxes payable (including other taxes payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of 3,042,253 and 1,487,795 as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2012, respectively) Advances from customers (including advances from customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of 16,115,067 and 7,119,429 as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2012, respectively) Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of 12,011,822 and 12,827,945 as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2012, respectively) Refund of game points (including refund of game points of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of 169,998,682 as of both December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2012) Other payables and accruals (including other payables and accruals of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of 23,037,145 and 22,014,045 as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2012, respectively) Total current liabilities Long-term accounts payables (including Long-term accounts payables of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil as of both December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012) Deferred tax liabilities, non-current (including deferred tax liabilities, non- current of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil as of both December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012) Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies (Note 28) EQUITY 44,149,842 54,947,197 8,819,633 5,797,785 4,148,647 665,904 27,010,571 17,878,053 2,869,625 16,661,791 20,255,327 3,251,204 169,998,682 169,998,682 27,286,670 47,906,323 311,524,994 50,484,656 8,103,346 317,712,562 50,996,382 60,016,072 39,912,925 6,406,466 5,521,837 377,062,903 5,508,341 884,150 363,133,828 58,286,998 The9 Limited shareholders’ equity Ordinary shares (US$0.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, 24,456,805 and 24,484,634 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012, respectively) Additional paid-in capital Statutory reserves Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated deficit The9 Limited shareholders’ equity Noncontrolling interest Total equity Total liabilities and equity 1,996,367 1,997,390 28,071,982 (6,710,971) 28,071,982 (5,968,056) 320,603 2,110,986,623 2,148,416,134 344,844,566 4,505,864 (1,077,185) (872,306,210) (1,386,308,302) (222,517,825) 785,466,233 126,076,023 1,262,780,706 (36,254,689) (5,819,279) (10,949,537) 749,211,544 120,256,744 1,251,831,169 1,628,894,072 1,112,345,372 178,543,742 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. F-4 B a l a n c e a s o f o p t i o n s e x e r c i s e o f s t o c k s u b s i d i a r y u p o n I s s u a n c e o f s h a r e s b y a n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t s u b s i d i a r i e s a t t r i b u t a b l e t o C a p i t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o D i s s o l u t i o n o f t w o V I E s n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t h o l d e r s o f s u b s i d i a r y f r o m P u r c h a s e o f s h a r e s o f a c o m p e n s a t i o n I s s u a n c e o f o r d i n a r y o p t i o n e x e r c i s e s h a r e s f r o m s t o c k E m p l o y e e s h a r e b a s e d f r o m a n a c q u i s i t i o n n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t R e c o g n i t i o n o f C o m p r e h e n s i v e l o s s a d j u s t m e n t s C u r r e n c y t r a n s l a t i o n N e t l o s s 2 0 1 0 B a l a n c e a s o f J a n u a r y 1 , 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 6 , 9 8 1 , 3 9 2 ) 5 , 5 6 4 5 2 3 , 5 8 6 0 2 7 , 8 6 4 , 3 1 2 2 , 5 0 2 1 6 6 8 4 , 8 3 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 , 1 2 1 , 6 4 5 2 , 0 5 1 , 7 1 2 2 , 0 6 9 , 6 1 6 , 9 7 5 2 8 , 0 7 1 , 9 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 2 , 0 9 6 , 6 9 8 ) 0 0 ( 4 9 9 , 6 1 1 , 5 9 4 ) ( 8 8 , 3 6 4 , 6 8 5 ) D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 0 2 5 , 1 2 4 , 1 4 7 2 , 0 5 1 , 8 7 8 2 , 0 9 1 , 1 1 3 , 8 8 3 2 8 , 0 7 1 , 9 8 2 ( 2 , 0 9 6 , 6 9 8 ) ( 5 8 7 , 9 7 6 , 2 7 9 ) F - 5 , 1 , 5 3 1 1 6 4 7 6 6 , , 4 0 5 2 0 0 1 , 1 , 5 3 5 , 2 1 6 , 7 6 7 , 5 5 6 4 , 1 1 0 2 6 , 6 6 6 , ( 6 9 8 1 3 9 2 ) , 5 2 3 5 8 6 , 0 , 2 7 8 6 4 3 1 2 , , 6 9 8 1 3 9 2 , , ( 2 1 0 0 9 4 6 ) , , ( 1 1 2 2 3 2 5 ) , , 2 3 1 5 6 0 5 , ( 2 , 1 0 0 , 9 4 6 ) ( 5 9 8 , 7 3 9 ) 3 0 , 1 7 9 , 9 1 7 0 , ( 5 0 1 7 0 8 2 9 2 ) , 0 , 1 5 4 1 7 8 7 0 , , ( 1 9 5 1 4 3 1 4 ) , , 2 , 0 1 1 3 7 5 9 8 4 , , 2 0 7 3 6 1 7 , , ( 4 9 9 6 1 1 5 9 4 ) , , ( 1 9 0 9 9 1 2 9 ) , , ( 2 0 9 6 6 9 8 ) , , ( 4 1 5 1 8 5 ) 1 5 , 4 1 7 , 8 7 0 ( 5 2 1 , 2 2 2 , 6 0 6 ) ( 2 , 5 1 1 , 8 8 3 ) 2 , 0 1 3 , 4 4 9 , 6 0 1 ( 5 1 8 , 7 1 0 , 7 2 3 ) , 8 5 0 0 4 0 8 5 , 0 0 4 F O R T H E Y E A R S E N D E D D E C E M B E R 3 1 , 2 0 1 0 , 2 0 1 1 A N D 2 0 1 2 C O N S O L I D A T E D S T A T E M E N T S O F C H A N G E S I N E Q U I T Y T H E 9 L I M I T E D s h a r e s N u m b e r o f R M B P a r v a l u e R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B T h e 9 L m i i t e d s h a r e h o l d e r ’ s e q u i t y ( U S $ 0 0 1 . p a r v a l u e ) O r d i n a r y s h a r e s p a i d - i n c a p i t a l A d d i t i o n a l r e s e r v e s S t a t u t o r y i n c o m e c o m p r e h e n s i v e o t h e r A c c u m u l a t e d ( d e f i c i t ) e a r n i n g s R e t a i n e d l i m i t e d T h e 9 a t t r i b u t a b l e t o E q u i t y i n t e r e s t N o n c o n t r o l l i n g T o t a l E q u i t y D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 1 2 4 , 4 5 6 , 8 0 5 1 , 9 9 6 , 3 6 7 2 , 1 1 0 , 9 8 6 , 6 2 3 2 8 , 0 7 1 , 9 8 2 ( 5 , 9 6 8 , 0 5 6 ) ( 8 7 2 , 3 0 6 , 2 1 0 ) F - 6 , 1 , 2 6 2 7 8 0 7 0 6 , , ( 1 0 9 4 9 5 3 7 ) , 1 , 2 5 1 , 8 3 1 , 1 6 9 B a l a n c e a s o f o p t i o n s e x e r c i s e o f s t o c k s u b s i d i a r y u p o n I s s u a n c e o f s h a r e s b y a n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t s u b s i d i a r i e s a t t r i b u t a b l e t o C a p i t a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t h o l d e r s o f s u b s i d i a r y f r o m P u r c h a s e o f s h a r e s o f a c o m p e n s a t i o n R e p u r c h a s e a n d I s s u a n c e o f o r d i n a r y o p t i o n e x e r c i s e s h a r e s f r o m s t o c k E m p l o y e e s h a r e b a s e d r e t i r e m e n t o f A D S s n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t N e t l o s s I s s u a n c e o f C o m p r e h e n s i v e l o s s a d j u s t m e n t s C u r r e n c y t r a n s l a t i o n 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 1 2 , 7 4 1 , 1 0 4 ) 4 , 0 4 4 1 , 5 6 5 , 7 4 9 5 1 , 3 5 8 , 8 2 0 ( 7 2 8 , 8 1 6 ) ( 5 9 , 4 3 1 ) ( 2 1 , 0 2 7 , 7 2 2 ) 6 1 , 4 7 4 3 , 9 2 0 7 1 2 , 9 5 3 s h a r e s N u m b e r o f R M B P a r v a l u e 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 3 , 8 7 1 , 3 5 8 ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 2 8 4 , 3 2 9 , 9 3 1 ) , ( 1 2 7 4 1 1 0 4 ) , , 1 2 7 4 1 1 0 4 , , 1 5 6 5 7 4 9 , , ( 2 7 7 1 3 8 9 ) , , 5 1 3 5 8 8 2 0 , , 1 9 1 2 7 0 0 , , ( 2 1 0 8 7 1 5 3 ) , 7 1 6 8 7 3 , 0 , 2 3 9 5 0 0 0 , 0 0 , ( 2 8 8 2 0 1 2 8 9 ) , , ( 3 8 7 1 3 5 8 ) , , ( 2 8 4 3 2 9 9 3 1 ) , , ( 2 9 2 7 9 5 2 8 ) , , ( 2 8 8 4 6 0 2 9 ) , , ( 4 3 3 4 9 9 ) ( 1 , 2 0 5 , 6 4 0 ) 0 5 3 , 2 7 1 , 5 2 0 ( 2 1 , 0 8 7 , 1 5 3 ) 7 1 6 , 8 7 3 ( 3 1 7 , 4 8 0 , 8 1 7 ) ( 4 , 3 0 4 , 8 5 7 ) R M B ( 3 1 3 , 1 7 5 , 9 6 0 ) 2 , 3 9 5 , 0 0 0 , 4 0 4 4 5 7 5 4 , 6 1 9 T h e 9 L m i i t e d s h a r e h o l d e r ’ s e q u i t y ( U S $ 0 . 0 1 p a r v a l u e ) O r d i n a r y s h a r e s p a i d - i n c a p i t a l A d d i t i o n a l r e s e r v e s S t a t u t o r y i n c o m e c o m p r e h e n s i v e o t h e r A c c u m u l a t e d ( d e f i c i t ) e a r n i n g s R e t a i n e d l i m i t e d T h e 9 a t t r i b u t a b l e t o E q u i t y i n t e r e s t N o n c o n t r o l l i n g T o t a l E q u i t y R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B B a l a n c e a s o f d a t a , N o t e 3 ) ( ( U S $ e x c e p t s h a r e D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 2 4 , 4 8 4 , 6 3 4 3 2 0 , 6 0 3 3 4 4 , 8 4 4 , 5 6 6 4 , 5 0 5 , 8 6 4 ( 1 , 0 7 7 , 1 8 5 ) ( 2 2 2 , 5 1 7 , 8 2 5 ) , 1 2 6 0 7 6 , 0 2 3 T h e a c c o m p a n y i n g n o t e s a r e a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e s e c o n s o l i d a t e d f i n a n c i a l s t a t e m e n t s . F - 7 D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 2 4 , 4 8 4 , 6 3 4 1 , 9 9 7 , 3 9 0 2 , 1 4 8 , 4 1 6 , 1 3 4 2 8 , 0 7 1 , 9 8 2 ( 6 , 7 1 0 , 9 7 1 ) ( 1 , 3 8 6 , 3 0 8 , 3 0 2 ) , 7 8 5 4 6 6 , 2 3 3 , ( 5 8 1 9 2 7 9 ) , , ( 3 6 2 5 4 6 8 9 ) , 1 2 0 , 2 5 6 , 7 4 4 7 4 9 , 2 1 1 , 5 4 4 B a l a n c e a s o f o p t i o n s T e r m i n a t i o n o f c o n t r a c t u a l e x e r c i s e o f s t o c k s u b s i d i a r y u p o n I s s u a n c e o f s h a r e s b y a R & D V I E s a r r a n g e m e n t s w i t h c o m p e n s a t i o n E m p l o y e e s h a r e b a s e d r e t i r e m e n t o f A D S s C h a n g e i n e q u i t y i n t e r e s t a t t r i b u t a b l e t o n o n c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r e s t R e p u r c h a s e a n d I s s u a n c e o f o r d i n a r y C o m p r e h e n s i v e l o s s o p t i o n e x e r c i s e s h a r e s f r o m s t o c k a d j u s t m e n t s C u r r e n c y t r a n s l a t i o n i n v e s t m e n t N e t l o s s U n r e a l i z e d l o s s o n a v a i l a b l e – f o r - s a l e s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 , 2 6 5 0 3 , 9 3 3 , 2 4 7 3 3 , 4 1 5 , 9 4 1 ( 4 0 , 4 9 2 ) ( 3 , 3 0 2 ) ( 8 3 6 , 2 3 9 ) 6 8 , 3 2 1 4 , 3 2 5 9 1 3 , 2 9 7 s h a r e s N u m b e r o f R M B P a r v a l u e 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ( 6 8 6 , 3 1 5 ) ( 5 6 , 6 0 0 ) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 , 3 9 3 3 , 2 4 7 , 3 3 4 1 5 , 9 4 1 ( 8 3 9 , 5 4 1 ) 9 1 7 , 6 2 2 ( 5 1 4 7 4 5 , , 0 0 7 ) 0 , 2 0 7 8 2 4 3 1 , , ( 3 9 3 3 2 4 7 ) , , 3 9 6 2 4 3 3 , , ( 4 6 1 1 7 4 2 7 ) , 0 0 2 0 , 7 8 2 , 4 3 1 3 7 , 3 7 8 , 3 7 4 ( 8 3 9 , 5 4 1 ) 9 1 7 , 6 2 2 0 ( 5 6 0 , 8 6 2 , 4 3 4 ) ( 6 8 6 , 3 1 5 ) , ( 2 9 3 3 9 4 ) ( 9 7 9 , 7 0 9 ) ( 5 6 , 6 0 0 ) 0 ( 5 6 , 6 0 0 ) 3 , 2 6 5 6 5 8 3 , 9 2 3 0 ( 5 1 4 , 0 0 2 , 0 9 2 ) ( 5 1 4 0 0 2 , , 0 9 2 ) , ( 4 5 8 2 4 0 3 3 ) , ( 5 5 9 , 8 2 6 , 1 2 5 ) T h e 9 L m i i t e d s h a r e h o l d e r ’ s e q u i t y ( U S $ 0 . 0 1 p a r v a l u e ) O r d i n a r y s h a r e s p a i d - i n c a p i t a l A d d i t i o n a l r e s e r v e s S t a t u t o r y i n c o m e c o m p r e h e n s i v e o t h e r A c c u m u l a t e d ( d e f i c i t ) e a r n i n g s R e t a i n e d l i m i t e d T h e 9 a t t r i b u t a b l e t o E q u i t y i n t e r e s t N o n c o n t r o l l i n g T o t a l E q u i t y R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B R M B THE9 LIMITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 AND 2012 Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss Adjustments for: Deferred taxes (Gain) loss on disposal of property, equipment and software Impairment of intangible assets Impairment loss on investments Impairment on equipment Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and software Amortization of land use right Amortization of intangible assets Share of loss in equity investments Gain on investment disposal Allowance for doubtful accounts Provision for up front prepaid royalties and deferred costs Provision for due from related party Provision for prepayments and other current assets Loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements Exchange loss (gain) Stock based compensation expense Issuance of noncontrolling interest Change in accounts receivable Change in due from related party Change in advances to suppliers Change in prepayments and other current assets Change in prepaid royalties Change in deferred costs Change in other long-term assets Change in accounts payable Change in income tax payable Change in other taxes payable Change in advances from customers Change in deferred revenue Change in refund of game points Change in other payables and accruals Net cash used in operating activities F-8 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 RMB 2012 US$ (Note 3) (518,710,723) (313,175,960) (559,826,125) (89,858,289) 7,407,081 (984,264) 33,020,462 196,115,321 4,928,990 0 2,334,725 0 0 0 0 (140,163) 569,139 3,243,744 0 0 (22,498) 91,353 520,657 0 1,920,911 (1,898,715) 0 0 0 523,968 26,834 865,340 0 2,045,397 23,856,884 1,920,911 10,012,288 10,713,295 (6,827,900) 0 5,518,917 1,285,845 200,000 1,082,591 4,527,477 30,179,917 0 (9,792,038) (175,421) (10,086,545) 11,804,104 (21,134,410) (1,395,336) (18,016,107) 4,163,941 (29,947) (2,044,225) (2,052,793) 7,574,705 — (10,614,609) 14,914,744 20,266,129 3,252,938 1,920,910 308,327 1,958,630 10,662,892 1,711,512 6,347,447 1,018,836 3,341,607 (44,434,802) (15,725,792) (2,524,164) 4,308 138,897 0 328,309 0 18,093,999 2,904,287 10,574,954 (304,765) 53,271,520 37,378,374 5,999,643 2,395,000 0 (6,903,864) (1,108,147) 657,341 0 0 11,455,907 (24,363) (5,241,174) (11,418,586) (1,832,809) (26,599) 160,854 523,816 (38,735) 0 (481,003) (491,568) 627,327 0 601,457 (247,551,589) (270,894,564) (489,190,063) (78,520,419) (699,541) 1,008,838 6,999,964 (18,019,185) 0 1,672,970 19,908,926 (1,846,378) (25,993,004) 5,575,476 (165,712) 1,002,138 3,263,426 (241,324) 0 (2,996,695) (3,062,517) 3,908,307 0 3,747,136 0 (151,783) 0 Cash flows from investing activities Increase in restricted cash Purchase of short term investment Acquisition, net of cash acquired Net cash disposed of upon deconsolidation of VIEs Proceeds from disposal of cost method investee Cash paid to acquire equity investees and available-for-sale investments Extension of loans receivable Collection of loans receivable Proceeds from disposal of available-for-sale investments Proceeds from disposal of property, equipment and software Proceeds from refund of Investment Proceeds from refund of upfront license fees Prepayment and deposits paid for property, equipment and software Purchase of property, equipment and software Purchase of intangible assets Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Purchase of additional equity interest in subsidiary Proceeds from stock option exercise Proceeds from exercise of stock options of a subsidiary Repurchase of ADSs Payment for accounts payable related to purchase of intangible assets Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash Net change in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents, end of year Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid for income taxes Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: Accrual related to purchase of property, equipment and software Accrual related to purchase of intangible assets and related withholding taxes Receivable on refund of investment in an equity investee Receivable on refund of upfront licensing fees 2010 RMB 2011 RMB 2012 RMB 2012 US$ 0 0 (7,512,404) (2,207,437) 0 (39,093,200) (2,000,000) 13,660,000 6,827,900 1,500,000 0 41,873,102 0 0 0 0 71,528,002 (737,959) (877,350) 0 (118,451) (140,824) 0 (6,413,031) (1,029,363) 10,256,199 1,646,233 (33,984,340) (3,000,000) 2,025,000 0 81,171 28,019,115 13,245,400 (13,557,840) (2,176,183) (842,683) (5,250,000) 481,533 3,000,000 0 0 260,020 1,619,951 29,098,880 4,670,692 0 0 0 (7,856,721) (12,305,541) (7,114,301) (28,565,286) (17,566,350) (73,073,785) (41,291,073) (4,295,338) (689,449) (27,558,433) (4,423,433) (7,457,601) (1,197,028) (22,172,522) (3,558,936) (598,739) 85,004 6,666 0 (1,205,640) 716,873 4,619 (21,087,153) 0 917,622 3,923 (839,541) 0 147,289 630 (134,756) 0 (507,069) (3,719,092) (258,892,051) (7,166,649) (1,150,326) 0 (7,084,645) (1,137,163) (21,571,301) 160,545 1,000,211 (10,706,528) (344,463,466) (517,447,019) (83,055,973) 1,675,081,345 1,416,189,294 1,071,725,828 172,023,856 1,416,189,294 1,071,725,828 554,278,809 88,967,883 1,839 165 0 0 886,319 3,102,167 2,647,168 424,900 8,609,510 66,227,000 13,245,400 80,021,430 36,351,373 0 72,854,780 11,693,998 7,252,493 1,164,105 0 0 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. F-9 THE9 LIMITED NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010, 2011 AND 2012 1. ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of The9 Limited (the “Company”), which was incorporated on December 22, 1999 in the Cayman Islands, its subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIE subsidiaries” or “VIEs”). The Company’s principal subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries are as follows as of December 31, 2012: Name of entity GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited (“GameNow Hong Kong”) The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (“The9 Computer”) China The9 Interactive Limited (“C9I”) China The9 Interactive (Shanghai) Limited (“C9I Shanghai”) 9Dream Limited (“9Dream”) China The9 Interactive (Beijing) Limited (“C9I Beijing”) Jiu Jing Era Information Technology (Beijing) Limited (“Jiu Jing”) Jiu Tuo (Shanghai) Information Technology Limited (“Jiu Tuo”) China Crown Technology Limited (“China Crown Technology”) Asian Way Development Limited (“Asian Way”) New Star International Development Limited (“New Star”) The9 Development Center Limited (“TDC”) TDC (Asia) Limited (“TDC Asia”) Date of incorporation January-00 Place of incorporation Hong Kong Relationship Subsidiary Interest held Direct Indirect 100% June-00 PRC Subsidiary — October-03 Hong Kong Subsidiary — February-05 PRC Subsidiary July-05 March-07 April-07 July-07 Hong Kong Subsidiary 100% — PRC PRC PRC Subsidiary Subsidiary Subsidiary — — — November-07 Hong Kong Subsidiary November-07 Hong Kong Subsidiary January-08 Hong Kong Subsidiary 100% 100% 100% Hong Kong Subsidiary 100% June-08 April-09 F-10 British Virgin Islands Subsidiary — 100% — 100% 100% 100% — 100% 100% 100% — — — — Name of entity Red 5 Studios, Inc. (“Red 5”) Red 5 Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“Red 5 Singapore”) The9 Interactive, Inc. (“The9 Interactive”) The9 Korea Co., Ltd. (“The9 Korea”) Red 5 Korea Co., Ltd. (“Red 5 Korea”) Shanghai The9 Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai IT”) Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement”) Shanghai Huopu Cloud Computing Terminal Technology Co., Ltd. (“Huopu Cloud”) Shanghai Jiushi Interactive Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Jiushi”) Shanghai Mengxiang Hulian Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (“Mengxiang Hulian”) Shanghai Fire Wing Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Fire Wing”) Date of incorporation June-05 April-10 June-10 February-11 Novermber-10 September-00 Place of incorporation USA Singapore USA Korea Korea PRC April-07 PRC December-10 July-11 December-11 January-12 PRC PRC PRC PRC Shanghai The9 Education Software Technology Co., Ltd. (“The9 Education”) May-12 PRC Interest held Relationship Direct Subsidiary — Subsidiary 100% Subsidiary 100% Subsidiary 100% Subsidiary 100% Indirect 81% (Note 5) — — — — VIE subsidiary Wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai IT VIE subsidiary Wholly-owned subsidiary of Huopu Cloud VIE subsidiary Wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai IT Wholly-owned subsidiary of Shanghai IT None (Note 4) None None (Note 4) None None (Note 4) None None The Company, its subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries are collectively referred to as “the Group”. The Group is principally engaged in the development and operation of online games and internet related businesses, including massively multiplayer online role playing games (“MMORPGs”), web games, social games, mobile games and TV games. The Group launched licensed MMORPGs as well as proprietary MMORPGs, including Soul of Utimate Nation and Shen Xian Zhuan and web and social games including Winning Goal, Q Jiang San Guo, Winning Dunk and ReXueWuShuang, in mainland China. The Group also started monetization on one proprietary game, Firefall, a massively multiplayer online first-person shooter game (“MMOFPS”), in the United States in 2012. In 2011, the Group launched The9 Game Zone, which is a mobile game platform in mainland China. F-11 2. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES <1> Basis of presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). Significant accounting policies followed by the Group in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements are summarized below. The Group suffered loss and cash outflows from operations for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, subsequent to the non-renewal of World of Warcraft (“WoW”) license in 2009. During the year of 2012, the Group’s net cash outflows from operations was RMB 489.2 million (US$78.5 million). The Group expects to continue to incur product development, and sales and marketing expenses for licensed and proprietary new games. The Group currently depend on a limited number of games for substantially all of the Group’s revenues and are making significant investments in the development of new games. If any of these games incur any adverse developments or if the Group is unable to develop, purchase or license additional games that are attractive to users and result in overall revenue growth, the Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. The Group regards the going concern assumption as appropriate as the Group plans to launch several MMORPGs and MMOFPSs, web and social games during the year ending December 31, 2013, which are expected to be accretive to the Group’s operating results and cash flows from operations. Management also has the ability to manage the cash balances by controlling the level of discretionary spending on product development and sales and marketing, and believes the Group will be able to satisfy its liabilities in the normal course of business. As a result, the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Group will continue as a going concern. <2> Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiary and VIEs in which it has a controlling financial interest. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated from the date on which the Company obtained control and continue to be consolidated until the date that such control ceases. A controlling financial interest is typically determined when a company holds a majority of the voting equity interest in an entity. However, if the company demonstrates its ability to control the VIEs through its rights to all the residual benefits of the VIEs and its obligation to fund losses of the VIEs then the entity is consolidated. All intercompany balances and transactions between the Company, its subsidiary and VIEs have been eliminated in consolidation. PRC laws and regulations currently prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of Internet-related business. In September 2009, the General Administration of Press and Publication (“GAPP”) further promulgated the Circular Regarding the Implementation of the Department Reorganization Regulation by State Council and Relevant Interpretation by State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform and the Further Strengthening of the Administration of Pre-approval on Online Games and Approval on Import Online Games, or the GAPP Circular. It is not clear that the regulatory authority of the GAPP applies to the regulation of ownership structures of online game companies based in the PRC. While the GAPP Circular is applicable to the Group and its business in terms of publication and pre-approval of online games, to date, GAPP has not issued any interpretation of Section 4 of the GAPP Circular to specifically invalidate VIE agreements and, to the Group’s knowledge, has not taken any enforcement action under Section 4 of the GAPP Circular against any of the companies that rely on contractual arrangements with VIEs to operate online games in the PRC. Therefore, the Group believes that its ability to direct the activities of VIEs that most significantly impact their economic performance is not affected by the GAPP Circular. F-12 <3> Use of estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affected the reported amount of the assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported revenues and expenses during the reported periods. Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements include the valuation of non-marketable equity investments and determination of other-than temporary impairment, revenue recognition, assessment of recoverability of long-lived assets and goodwill impairment, share-based compensation expense, consolidation of VIEs, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets and contingencies. Such accounting policies are impacted significantly by judgments, assumptions and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, and actual results could differ materially from these estimates. <4> Foreign currency translation The Group’s reporting currency is Renminbi (“RMB”). The Group’s functional currency with the exception of its subsidiaries, Red 5, The9 Interactive, Red 5 Singapore, Red5 Korea and The9 Korea, is the RMB. The functional currency of Red 5, The9 Interactive, Red 5 Singapore, Red5 Korea and The9 Korea is United States Dollar (“US$”, or “US dollars”), United States Dollar, Singapore Dollar, Korean Won and Korean Won, respectively. Assets and liabilities of Red 5, The9 Interactive, Red 5 Singapore, Red5 Korea and The9 Korea are translated at the current exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”) in effect at the balance sheet dates. Equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates and revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during the reporting period to RMB. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency translation to reporting currency are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of changes in equity for the years presented. Transactions denominated in currencies other than functional currencies, are translated into functional currencies at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). The aggregate foreign exchange net (loss) gain was RMB (4.5) million, RMB(10.6) million and RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into functional currencies using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet dates. All such exchange gains and losses are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). F-13 <5> Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and highly-liquid investments with an original maturity date of three months or less. At December 31, 2011 and 2012, cash equivalents were comprised primarily of bank deposits. Included in cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2011 and 2012 are amounts denominated in US Dollars totaling US$16.1 million and US$8.3 million, respectively. The RMB is not a freely convertible currency. The PRC State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People’s Bank of China, controls the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies. The value of the RMB is subject to changes in central government policies and to international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in China’s foreign exchange trading system market. The Company’s aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents denominated in RMB amounted to RMB959.9 million and RMB499.5 million (US$80.2 million) as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. <6> Short term investments Short term investments represent the bank time deposits with original maturities longer than three months and less than one year. <7> Allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts receivable mainly consist of receivables from prepaid card distributors and third party game platforms, and are recorded net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Group determines the allowances for doubtful accounts when facts and circumstances indicate that the receivable is unlikely to be collected. Allowances for doubtful accounts are charged to general and administrative expenses. If the financial condition of the Group’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. The Company provided allowance for doubtful accounts of RMB nil, RMB nil and RMB 0.03 million in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In 2011, the Company wrote off uncollectable accounts receivable of RMB22.2 million, which had been fully provided for in 2009. F-14 <8> Prepaid royalties and deferred costs Royalties paid to the licensors of games are initially recognized as prepaid royalties when paid and subsequently recognized as deferred costs upon the customers’ online registration and activation of their cards or online points. Royalties payable to the licensors or receivable from collection agents upon customers’ charging their accounts are initially recorded as deferred costs upon the customers’ online registration and activation of their cards or online points. Deferred costs are then ultimately recognized as cost of services in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) based upon the actual consumption of game premium features or usage of the game playing time by the customers or when the likelihood that the Group would provide further services to those customers becomes remote. <9> Restricted cash Restricted cash mainly represents cash held in a designated bank account for the sole purpose to guarantee the performance of a service agreement with a third party platform. Due to the contractual terms of the restriction, the balance has been classified as a non- current asset. <10> Investments in equity investees Equity investments are comprised of investments in privately held companies. The Group uses the equity method to account for an equity investment over which it has the ability to exert significant influence but does not otherwise control. The Group records equity method investments at the cost of acquisition, plus the Group’s share in undistributed earnings and losses since acquisition. For equity investments over which the Group does not have significant influence or control, the cost method of accounting is used. The Group assesses its equity investments for impairment on a periodic basis by considering factors including, but not limited to, current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the investees including current earnings trends, the technological feasibility of the investee’s products and technologies, the general market conditions in the investee’s industry or geographic area, factors related to the investee’s ability to remain in business, such as the investee’s liquidity, debt ratios, and cash burn rate and other company-specific information including recent financing rounds. If it has been determined that the equity investment is less than its related fair value and that this decline is other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the investment is adjusted downward to reflect these declines in value. <11> Available-for-sale investments Investments in debt and equity securities are, on initial recognition, classified into the three categories: held-to-maturity securities, trading securities and available-for-sale securities. Debt securities that the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and reported at amortized cost. Debt and equity securities that are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term are classified as trading securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Debt and equity securities not classified as either held-to-maturity securities or trading securities are classified as available-for-sale securities and reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Group did not hold trading securities or held- to-maturity securities. F-15 When there is objective evidence that an available-for-sale investment is impaired, the cumulative losses from declines in fair value that had been recognized directly in other comprehensive income are removed from equity and recognized in earnings. When the available-for-sale investment is sold, the cumulative fair value adjustments previously recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income are recognized in the current period operating results. When the Group determines that the impairment of an available-for-sale equity security is other-than-temporary, the Group recognizes an impairment loss in earnings equal to the difference between the investment’s cost and its fair value at the balance sheet date of the reporting period for which the assessment is made. When other-than-temporary impairment has occurred for an available-for-sale debt security and the Group intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis less any current-period credit loss, an impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the investment’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the balance sheet date. The new cost basis will not be changed for subsequent recoveries in fair value. To determine whether a loss is other-than-temporary, the Group reviews the cause and duration of the impairment, the extent to which fair value is less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the Group’s intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery of its amortized cost. <12> Property, equipment and software Property, equipment and software are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Leasehold improvements The shorter of respective term of the leases or the estimated useful lives of the leasehold improvements Computer and equipment Software 3 to 4 years 5 years Office furniture and fixtures 3 years Motor vehicles Office buildings 5 years 10 to 20 years F-16 <13> Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired as a result of the Group’s business acquisition. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it might be impaired. In September 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an authoritative pronouncement related to testing goodwill for impairment. The guidance permits us to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is “more likely than not” that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The Company adopted this pronouncement since 2012. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Group completes a two-step goodwill impairment test in December of each year. The first step compares the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not considered to be impaired and the second step will not be required. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step compares the implied fair value of goodwill to the carrying value of a reporting unit’s goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in a manner similar to accounting for a business combination with the allocation of the assessed fair value determined in the first step to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit. The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill. This allocation process is only performed for purposes of evaluating goodwill impairment and does not result in an entry to adjust the value of any assets or liabilities. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess in the carrying value of goodwill over the implied fair value of goodwill. <14> Intangible assets Intangible assets consist primarily of acquired game licenses and acquired game development costs from business combinations. Acquired game licenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful economic life of the relevant online game or license period, which range from two to seven years. Amortization of acquired game licenses commences upon the monetization of the related online game. The Group recognizes intangible assets acquired through business acquisitions as assets separate from goodwill if they lived until completion or abandonment of the associated research and development efforts. The acquired In-process research and development costs were recorded as acquired game development cost upon completion of the research and development efforts and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful economic life of the relevant online game. Amortization of acquired game development cost commences upon the monetization of the related online game. <15> Land use right Land use right represents operating lease prepayments to the PRC’s land bureau for usage of the parcel of land where the Group’s office building is located. Amortization is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated land use right period of 44 years. F-17 <16> Impairment of long-lived assets The Group evaluates its long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable or that the useful life is shorter than the Group had originally estimated. The Group assesses the recoverability of the long-lived assets by comparing the carrying amount to the estimated future undiscounted cash flow expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group would recognize an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. The impairment test consists of a comparison of the fair value of the intangible asset to its carrying amount. If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized equal in amount to that excess. <17>Revenue recognition Online game services The Group earns revenue from provision of online game operation services to players on the Group’s game servers and third party platform and overseas licensing of the online game to other operators. The Group recognizes revenues when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, services are delivered or performed, our price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Online game services to players on the Group’s game server The Group sells its prepaid game cards and prepaid online points for its online game products to distributors who in turn ultimately sell them to players. The Group adopts virtual item / service consumption model for the online game services. Players can access certain games free of charge, but may purchase game points to acquire in-game premium features. The distribution of points to players is typically made by sales of prepaid game cards and prepaid online points. Fees for prepaid game cards and prepaid online points are deferred when received. Revenue is recognized over the estimated life of the premium features or as the premium features are consumed. For in-game premium features that are immediately consumed, revenue is recognized upon consumption. For premium features with a stated expiration time, which range from one to 90 days, revenue is recognized ratably over the period starting from when the feature is first used to the expiration time. For perpetual features with no predetermined expiration, revenue is recognized ratably over the estimated average lives of the perpetual features, which are typically less than one year. When estimating the average lives of the in- game perpetual features, the Group considers the average period that players typically play the game, other player behavior patterns, and factors including the acceptance and popularity of expansion packs, promotional events launched, and market conditions. Future usage patterns of players may differ from the historical usage patterns on which the virtual item / service consumption revenue recognition model is based. The Group continually monitors the operational statistics and usage patterns. F-18 Online game operation services over third party platform For social games, TV games and certain web games, while they are also adopting the virtual item / service consumption model, these games are launched on the third party game platforms and telecom carriers. Revenue from social and web games operated through third party game platforms are recognized upon consumption of the in-game premium features with the amount net of remittance to the third party game platforms as the Group does not set the pricing of the in-game currency of the third party game platforms. Revenue from TV games operated through telecom carriers is recognized upon consumption of the in-game premium features with the gross amount received by telecom carriers as the Group is the primary obligor of the game operation. The remittance to telecom carrier is recognized as costs of services when incurred. Overseas licensing revenue The Group licenses proprietary online games to operators in overseas market and receives license fees and royalty income in connection with their operation of the games. License fee revenue is recognized over the license period upon the commercialization of the game in the overseas market. Royalty income is recognized when earned, provided that collectability is reasonably assured. Other revenues Other revenues include those generated from game operating support, training and advertisement and short message services. Game operating support, training and advertisement Game operating support, training and advertisement revenue include revenues generated from providing technical support services, including website development and construction, hardware and software support, training, maintenance and advertisements to customers. These revenues are recognized when delivery of the service and advertisement has occurred or when services have been rendered and the collection of the related fees is reasonably assured. F-19 Short message services The Group contracts with various Chinese mobile carriers for the transmission of wireless short messaging services related to the Group’s games. Revenue is recognized in the period in which services are performed, provided that no significant obligation remains, collection of receivables is reasonably assured and the amount can be accurately estimated. Sales Tax The Group is subject to business tax at a rate of 5% and related surcharges on revenues earned in the PRC. Sales tax and related charges for revenues earned from the sale of online points are recognized as sales tax in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) and are deducted from gross revenues to arrive at net revenues. In July 2012, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation jointly issued a circular regarding the pilot collection of value-added tax (“VAT”) in lieu of business tax in certain areas and industries in the PRC. Such VAT pilot program is to be phased in Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Tianjin, Zhejiang, and Hubei between September and December 2012. Starting from August 2012, certain subsidiaries and VIEs became subject to VAT at the rates of 6% or 3%, on certain service revenues which were previously subject to business tax. <18>Advances from customers, deferred revenue, and deferred costs Online points that have been sold but not activated are recognized as advances from customers. Online points that have been activated but for which online game services will be rendered in the future are recognized as deferred revenue. Deferred revenue is recognized as income based upon the actual consumption of in-game premium features by players or when the likelihood that the Group would provide further online game service to those customers is remote. Direct service costs, primarily, prepaid royalties, related to deferred revenue and advances from customers are also deferred. Deferred service costs are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) in the period in which the related online game’s prepaid fees are recognized as revenue. The Group licenses proprietary games to operators in other countries and receives license fees and royalty income. License fee received in advance of the monetization of the game is recorded in advances from operators. <19>Cost of services Cost of services consists primarily of online game royalties, payroll, depreciation, maintenance and rental of Internet data center sites, depreciation and amortization of computer equipment and software, production costs for prepaid game cards, intangible assets amortization and other overhead expenses directly attributable to the services provided. F-20 <20>Product development costs For software development costs, including online games, to be sold or marketed to customers, the Group expenses software development costs incurred prior to reaching technological feasibility. Once a software product has reached technological feasibility, all subsequent software costs for that product are capitalized until that product is released for marketing. After an online game is released, the capitalized product development costs are amortized over the estimated product life. To date, the Group has essentially completed its software development concurrently with the establishment of technological feasibility, and, accordingly, no costs have been capitalized. For website and internally used software development costs, the Group expenses all costs that are incurred in connection with the planning and implementation phases of development and costs that are associated with repair or maintenance of the existing websites and software. Costs incurred in the application and infrastructure development phase are capitalized and amortized over the estimated product life. Since the inception of the Group, the amount of internally generated costs qualifying for capitalization has been immaterial and, as a result, all website and internally used software development costs have been expensed as incurred. Product development costs consist primarily of outsourced research and development expenses, payroll, depreciation charge and other overhead expenses for the development of the Group’s proprietary games. Other overhead product development costs include costs incurred by the Group to develop, maintain, monitor, and manage its websites. <21>Sales and marketing expenses Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of advertising and promotional expenses, payroll and other overhead expenses incurred by the Group’s sales and marketing personnel. Advertising expenses in the amount of RMB23.5 million, RMB32.8 million and RMB85.3 million (US$13.7 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, were expensed as incurred. <22>Government grants Unrestricted government subsidies from local government agencies allowing the Group full discretion to utilize the funds were RMB23.5 million, RMB1.2 million and RMB0.7 million (US$0.1 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, which were recorded in other income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). <23>Share-based compensation The Group measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for stock-based compensation at the grant date fair value of the share-based awards. The fair value of the share awards were measured using the fair value of shares, while the fair value of the options or equity warrants were measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions made regarding expected term, volatility, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield. For the options awarded by private subsidiaries of the Group, the fair value of shares is estimated based on the equity value of the subsidiary. The Group evaluates the fair value of the subsidiary by making judgments and assumptions about the projected financial and operating results of the subsidiary. Once the equity value of the subsidiary is determined, it is allocated (as applicable) into the various classes of shares and options using the option-pricing method, which is one of the generally accepted valuation methodologies. F-21 The expected term represents the period of time that stock-based awards granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected term of stock-based awards granted is determined based on historical data on employee exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatilities of the Company’s ordinary shares. Risk-free interest rate is based on United States (“US”) government bonds issued with maturity terms similar to the expected term of the stock-based awards. The Group recognizes compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, on all share-based awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally a one-to-four year vesting period. Forfeiture rate is estimated based on historical forfeiture patterns and adjusted to reflect future changes in circumstances and facts, if any. If actual forfeitures differ from those estimates, the estimates may need to be revised in subsequent periods. The Group uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures and record stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest. <24>Leases Leases for which substantially all of the risks and rewards 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 and comprehensive income (loss) on a straight-line basis over the lease periods. <25>Income taxes Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable to the Group as enacted by the relevant tax authorities. Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred taxes are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities at currently enacted statutory tax rates for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized as income in the period of change. A valuation allowance is provided on deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized. The total income tax provision includes current tax expenses under applicable tax regulations and the change in the balance of deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Group recognizes the impact of an uncertain income tax position at the largest amount that is more-likely-than not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. Income tax related interest is classified as interest expenses and penalties as income tax expense. F-22 <26>Noncontrolling interest A noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary or VIE of the Group represents the portion of the equity (net assets) in the subsidiary or VIE not directly or indirectly attributable to the Group. Noncontrolling interests is presented as a separate component of equity in the consolidated balance sheet and modifies the presentation of net income by requiring earnings and other comprehensive income (loss) to be attributed to controlling and noncontrolling interest. <27>Earnings (loss) per share Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to the holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the holders of ordinary shares as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary share equivalents, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares and dilutive ordinary share equivalents outstanding during the period. Ordinary share equivalents of stock options and warrants are calculated using the treasury stock method. However, ordinary share equivalents are not included in the denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-dilutive, such as in a period in which a net loss is recorded. <28>Segment reporting The Group has one operating segment whose business is developing and operating online games and related services. The Group’s chief operating decision maker is the chief executive officer, who reviews consolidated results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. As the Group primarily generates all its revenues from customers in the PRC and almost all the Group’s long lived assets are located in the PRC, no geographical segments are presented. <29> Certain risks and concentration Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and prepayments and other current assets. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, substantially all of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents were held by major financial institutions, which management believes are of high credit worthiness. F-23 Due to the limited availability of online payment systems in China, a substantial portion of the Group’s sales are carried out via a distribution network composed of third-party distributors. The Group sells in-game items primarily through sales of prepaid cards and prepaid online points to its customers via Beijing Huiyuan Net Technology Co., Ltd., a national online distributor. Accounts receivable from this national online distributor represent 9% and 12% of the Group’s total accounts receivable as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2012, respectively. <30>Acquisitions The Group measures the consideration it transfers at fair value, which is calculated as the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of the assets transferred, liabilities incurred to former owners of the acquiree, and equity instruments issued. The costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any noncontrolling interests. Contingent consideration is measured at fair value and recorded as a liability. The excess of (i) the total cost of acquisition, fair value of the noncontrolling interests and acquisition-date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree is recorded as goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognized directly in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss). <31>Fair value measurements Fair value is the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and it considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. The fair value measurement guidance provides a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement as follows: Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets that the management has the ability to access at the measurement date. Level 2 inputs include quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs). F-24 Level 3 inputs include unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that reflect management’s assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset. The management develops these inputs based on the best information available, including their own data. <32>Financial instruments Financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investment, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term accounts payable. The carrying value of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investment, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their market values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The carrying value of long term accounts payable approximates its fair value as the impact to discount the long term payable with interest rate is insignificant. The Group does not use derivative instruments to manage risks. <33>Recent accounting pronouncements In July 2012, the FASB has issued an authoritative pronouncement related to testing indefinite-lived intangible assets, other than goodwill, for impairment. Under the pronouncement, entities testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment would have the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of the asset. If an entity determines, on the basis of qualitative factors, that the indefinite-lived intangible asset is not more likely than not impaired, a quantitative fair value calculation would not be needed. The amendments are effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a significant effect on the Group’s consolidated financial statements. 3. CONVENIENCE TRANSLATION The Group, with the exception of its subsidiary, Red 5, The9 Interactive, Red 5 Singapore, Red5 Korea and The9 Korea, maintains its accounting records and prepares its financial statements in RMB. The United States dollar (“US dollar” or “US$”) amounts disclosed in the accompanying financial statements are presented solely for the convenience of the readers at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.2301, 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 Bank of New York, on December 31, 2012. Such translations should not be construed as representations that the RMB amounts represent, or have been or could be converted into, United States dollars at that or any other rate. F-25 4. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES The Group is the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs, including i) Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud which were designed by the Group to comply with PRC regulations that prohibit direct foreign ownership of businesses that operate online games in the PRC, and ii) Hangzhou Fire Rain Network Technology Co., Ltd.(“Fire Rain”), Shenzhen Wanyouyinli Technology Co., Ltd. (“Wanyouyl”) and Mengxiang Hulian, which are start-up research and development companies (“R&D VIEs”) developing games funded by the Group. Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud Shanghai IT and Huopu Cloud are VIEs of the Group, which were designed by the Group to comply with PRC regulations that prohibit direct foreign ownership of businesses that operate online and TV games in the PRC. The game operation was primarily performed by Shanghai IT. There are a few key contractual arrangements between The9 Computer (the “WOFE”) and related VIEs that provide the Group with a controlling financial interest over the VIEs and upon which the Group concluded that it is required to consolidate these entities pursuant to the guidance in ASC 810. A summary of the contractual agreements referenced above is as follows: 1) 2) Loan Agreement. The WOFE entered into loan agreements with each shareholder of the relevant VIEs. Pursuant to the terms of these loan agreements, the WOFE granted an interest-free loan to each shareholder of the VIEs for the explicit purpose of making a capital contribution to the VIEs. The loans have an unspecified term and will remain outstanding for the duration of WOFE or until such time that the WOFE elects to terminate the agreement (which is at the WOFE’s sole discretion) at which point the loans are payable on demand. The shareholders of the VIEs may not prepay all or any portion of the loans without the WOFE’s prior written request. Equity Pledge Agreement. The shareholders of the VIEs entered into equity pledge agreements with the WOFE. Under the equity pledge agreements, the shareholders of the VIEs pledged all of their equity interests in the VIEs to the WOFE as collateral for all of their payments due to the WOFE and to secure performance of all obligations of the VIEs and their shareholders under the above loan agreements. In addition, the dividend distributions to the shareholders of VIEs, if any, will be deposited in an escrow account over which the WOFE has exclusive control. The pledge shall remain effective until all obligations under such agreements have been fully performed. The shareholder has the obligation to maintain ownership and effective control over the pledged equity. Under no circumstances, without the prior written consent of the WOFE, may the shareholder transfer or otherwise encumber any equity interests in the VIEs. If any event of default as provided for therein occurs, the WOFE, as the pledgee, will be entitled to dispose of the pledged equity interests through transfer or assignment and use the proceeds to repay the loans or make other payments due under the above loan agreements up to the loan amounts. F-26 3) Call Option Agreement. The VIEs and their shareholders entered into equity call option agreements with the WOFE. Pursuant to such agreements, the shareholders of the VIEs grant the WOFE an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase the shares of VIEs at a purchase price equal to the amount of the registered capital of the VIE or the loan provided by the WOFE, permissible by the then-applicable PRC laws and regulations. WOFE may exercise such right at any time during the term of the agreement. Moreover, under the call option agreements, neither the VIEs nor their shareholders may take actions that could materially affect the VIEs’ assets, liabilities, operations, equity or other legal rights without the prior written approval of the WOFE, including, without limitation, declaration and distribution of dividends and profits; sale, assignment, mortgage or disposition of, or encumbrances on, the VIE’s equity; merger or consolidation; acquisition of and investment in any third-party entities; creation, assumption, guarantee or incurrence of any indebtedness; entering into other materials contracts. The agreements shall not expire until such time as the WOFE acquires all equity interests of the relevant VIEs subject to applicable PRC laws. 4) 5) Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement. Each of the VIE’s shareholders executed an irrevocable power of proxy to appoint the WOFE as the attorney-in-fact to act on his or her behalf on all matters pertaining to the VIEs and to exercise all of his or her rights as a shareholder of the VIEs, including the right to attend shareholders meetings, to exercise voting rights and to appoint directors, a general manager, and other senior management of the VIEs. The power of proxy is irrevocable and may only be terminated at the discretion of the WOFE. Exclusive Technical Service Agreement. Under the exclusive technical service agreement, the VIEs agreed to engage the WOFE as their exclusive provider of technology consulting and other services for a service fee equal to 90% of all operating profit generated by the VIEs. According to the relevant PRC rules and regulations, related party transactions should be negotiated at the arm’s length basis and apply reasonable transfer pricing methods. However, the determination of service fees is under the sole discretion of the WOFE. These agreements do not have specific clauses on renewal but do have an initial term of 20 years (with the earliest expiration date being December 31, 2029). By virtue of the governance rights the WOFE maintains over the VIEs, through the terms of the other agreements noted above, the Company is able to unilaterally renew, extend or amend the service agreements at its discretion. F-27 The Group shall be deemed to have a controlling financial interest in a VIE if it has both of the following characteristics: a. The power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and b. The obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. In determining the Group has “the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance,” the Group looked to the specific provisions of the Call Option Agreement and Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement. These agreements, as summarized above, provide the WOFE effective control over all of the corporate and operating decisions of the VIEs, and as such, the Group’s management concluded that the WOFE has the requisite power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance. In assessing the Group’s obligation to absorb losses, the Group notes that it has funded through the loan agreements all of the entities’ share capital and also provides financial support as necessary to the entities through intercompany transactions. The Group’s rights to receive economic benefits that are significant to the VIEs are embodied firstly in the Equity Pledge Agreements that secure the equity owners’ obligations under the relevant agreements, and ascribes to the WOFE all of the economic benefits of the equity interests including rights to any dividends declared. Secondly, the Exclusive Technical Service Agreement further secures the ability of WOFE to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from each of the VIEs on behalf of the Group. In conclusion, because the Group, through its wholly owned subsidiary The9 Computer, has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIEs that most significantly affect the VIE’s economic performance and (2) the right to receive benefits from the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs, it has been deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and has consolidated the respective VIEs since the date of execution of such agreements. Shareholders of the VIEs may potentially have conflicts of interest with the Company, and they may breach their contracts with the PRC subsidiaries or cause such contracts to be amended in a manner contrary to the interests of the Company. As a result, the Company may have to initiate legal proceedings, which involve significant uncertainty. Such disputes and proceedings may significantly disrupt the Company’s business operations and adversely affect the Company’s ability to control the VIEs. In light of the fact that most of the shareholders of the VIEs are directors, officers, shareholders or employees of the Company or the PRC subsidiaries, management is of the view that the risk that misaligned interests may lead to deconsolidation in the foreseeable future is remote and insignificant. F-28 PRC laws and regulations currently limit foreign ownership of companies that provide Internet content services, which include operating online games. In addition, foreign invested enterprises are currently not eligible to apply for the required licenses for operating online games in the PRC. The Company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and is considered a foreign entity under the PRC laws. Due to restrictions on foreign ownership of the provision of online games, the Company is dependent on the licenses held by Shanghai IT to conduct its online games business through its subsidiary in the PRC. Shanghai IT holds the necessary licenses and approvals that are essential for the online game business. The9 Computer has entered into contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT for use of its relevant licenses and websites. Shanghai IT is principally owned by certain shareholder and employee of the Company. Pursuant to certain other agreements and undertakings, the Company in substance controls Shanghai IT. In the opinion of the Company’s directors, the Company’s current ownership structures and its contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT, and its equity owners as well as its operations, are in compliance with all existing PRC laws and regulations. However, there may be changes and other developments in the PRC laws and regulations or their interpretation. Specifically following the recent promulgation of the GAPP Circular, it is unclear whether the authorities will deem our VIE structure and contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT as an “indirect or disguised” way by foreign investors to gain control over or participate in domestic online game operators, and challenge our VIE structure accordingly. Accordingly, the Company cannot be assured that the PRC government authorities will not take a view in the future contrary to the opinion of the Company’s directors. If the current ownership structures of the Group and its contractual arrangements with Shanghai IT are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the Group may be required to restructure its ownership structure and operations in the PRC to comply with changing or new PRC laws and regulations. The Group has concluded that the aforementioned contractual arrangements are legally enforceable and provide the Group with full control of the VIEs. However, the aforementioned contractual arrangements with the VIEs and their respective shareholders are subject to risks and uncertainties: • The VIEs or their shareholders could fail to obtain the proper operating licenses or fail to comply with other regulatory requirements. As a result, the PRC government could impose fines, new requirements or other penalties on the VIEs or the Group, mandate a change in ownership structure or operations for the VIEs or the Group, restrict the VIEs or the Group’s use of financing sources or otherwise restrict the VIEs or the Group’s ability to conduct business. The aforementioned contractual agreements may be unenforceable or difficult to enforce. The equity pledge agreements • may be deemed improperly registered or the VIEs or the Group may fail to meet other requirements. Even if the agreements are enforceable, they may be difficult to enforce given the uncertainties in the PRC legal system. F-29 • • The PRC government may declare the aforementioned contractual agreements invalid. They may modify the relevant regulation, have a different interpretation of such regulations, or otherwise determine that the Group or the VIEs have failed to comply with the legal obligations required to effectuate such contractual arrangements. It may be difficult to finance the VIEs by means of loans or capital contributions. Loans from our offshore parent company to the VIEs must be approved by the relevant PRC government body and such approval may be difficult or impossible to obtain. Because the VIEs are domestic PRC enterprises owned by nominee shareholders, the Group is not likely to finance their activities by means of direct capital contributions either. If the Company, its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including requiring the Company to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring such as forcing the Company to transfer its equity interest in the PRC subsidiaries to a domestic entity or invalidating the VIE agreements. If the PRC government authorities impose penalties which cause the Company to lose its rights to direct the activities of and receive economic benefits from the VIEs, the Company may lose the ability to consolidate and reflect in its financial statements the results of operation of the VIEs. The Company, however, does not believe such actions would result in the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the WFOEs or VIEs. R&D VIEs Fire Rain, Wanyouyl and Mengxiang Hulian are primarily start-up research and development companies (the “R&D companies”) developing games funded by the Group. Fire Rain and Wanyouyl primarily engaged in the development of MMORPGs since 2009 and Mengxiang Hulian has started the development of web and mobile game beginning in 2011. The Group had arrangements with each of Fire Rain, Wanyouyl and Mengxiang Hulian whereby the Group provided substantial financial support and obtained equity interests in these entities. The Group has acquired or has an option to acquire the exclusive licenses in Mainland China or worldwide for the games under development by these entities. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Group held equity interest of 25% and 25% of Fire Rain, 20% and nil of Wanyouyl and 20% and 20 % of Mengxiang Hulian, respectively. Under the above arrangements with the R&D companies, the Group has the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the entities’ operations and effectively assumed a majority of economic risks associated with these entities, and has the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive returns that are significant to these entities. As such, prior to the reconsideration events discussed below, the Group is the primary beneficiary of these entities and has included them in its consolidated financial statements since their respective dates of incorporation. F-30 In late 2012, due to the weaker than expected performance of the game developed by Fire Rain, the Group decided to terminate certain contractual arrangements with Fire Rain, which resulted in the return of the game license and the cessation of providing additional financial support to Fire Rain. The game operations will be controlled directly by Fire Rain prospectively. As a result of the change in contractual arrangements, the Group no longer has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Fire Rain’s operations, and as such the Group ceased to be the primary beneficiary of Fire Rain and deconsolidated Fire Rain on the date the contractual arrangements were terminated. As of the date of deconsolidation, the Group retained its 25% equity interest and contractual rights to receive repayment of game development expenditures of RMB 17 million (US$ 2.7 million) and a contractual right to receive 20% of the gross revenues generated by the game. Upon termination of the original VIE arrangements, the Group concluded that RMB 4.5 million (US$ 0.7 million) out of RMB 17 million (US$ 2.7 million) as cash previously advanced to the VIE would be repaid by Fire Rain and considered such amount in the determination of the loss associated with such termination. The RMB 4.5 million (US$ 0.7 million) was received in January 2013. The Group also determined that the fair value of the retained 25% equity interest in Fire Rain was approximately nil. The Group measured the fair value of the investment based on a discounted cash flow approach. The discounted cash flow analysis is a level 3 fair value measurement that requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, including projected revenue, expenses, capital expenditures and other costs, and discount rates calculated based on the weighted average cost of capital, which includes various factors, such as risk-free rate, equity risk premium, size premium, and other risk factors. The total loss on deconsolidation of Fire Rain was RMB12.4 million (US$ 2.0 million), of which RMB 1.3 million (US$ 0.2 million) relates to the loss from remeasurement of the 25% retained interest. The total loss was recorded in loss on termination of VIE arrangements. After deconsolidation, Fire Rain remains aVIE and a related party of the Group of which the Group does not constitute as its primary beneficiary. Given the Group made full provision of any remaining receivable due from Fire Rain, the Group’s maximum loss exposure as a result of the involvement with Fire Rain would be nil. In addition, as Fire Rain was incorporated as limited liability company under the PRC Company Law, creditors of Fire Rain do not have recourse to the general credit of the Group for any of the liabilities of Fire Rain. In late 2012, in a series of contemplated transactions, the Group terminated the product development and license agreement with Wanyouyl and sold its entire equity interest in Wanyouyl to a third party for consideration of RMB 3.0 million (US$ 0.5 million). The Group retained its contractual right to receive 20% of future revenues of a game developed by Wanyouyl, subject to a cap of RMB10.0 million (US$1.6 million). The Group deconsolidated Wanyouyl as a result of these transactions and recorded a total loss on deconsolidation of RMB 5.7 million (US$0.9 million), which is recognized in Loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements. Summary financial information of the VIE subsidiaries included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with intercompany balances and transactions eliminated are as follows: Total assets Total liabilities December 31, 2011 December 31, 2012 RMB RMB 1,086,447,994 243,049,758 223,569,019 233,201,710 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 35,885,302 37,431,455 F-31 Revenue Net loss December 31, 2010 RMB 101,808,411 (50,392,716) December 31, 2011 RMB 103,128,242 (44,008,489) December 31, 2012 RMB 146,100,548 (163,422,412) December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 23,450,755 (26,231,106) The VIEs contributed an aggregate of 99.0%, 96.9% and 94.6% of the consolidated net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The Company’s operations not conducted through contractual arrangements with the VIE primarily consist of its product development on Firefall in the United States. As of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, the VIEs accounted for an aggregate of 66.7% and 20.1%, respectively, of the consolidated total assets, and 64.5% and 64.2%, respectively, of the consolidated total liabilities. There are no consolidated VIE’s assets that are collateral for the VIE’s obligations and can only be used to settle the VIE’s obligations. Relevant PRC laws and regulations restrict the VIE from transferring a portion of its net assets, equivalent to the balance of its statutory reserve and its share capital, to the Company in the form of loans and advances or cash dividends. Please refer to Note 26 for disclosure of restricted net assets. F-32 5. ACQUISITION On April 6, 2010, the Group, through New Star, closed the acquisition of 39,766,589 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock of Red 5, an online game developer based in the US. The purchase price consisted of US$1.84 million paid in January 2010 to purchase 16,229,470 shares of outstanding series A convertible preferred stock from existing shareholders and US$15 million to purchase 23,537,119 shares of newly issued Series A convertible preferred stock, of which US$8 million was paid in 2010 and US$7 million was paid in 2011. As a result, the Company owned approximately 82% of the equity interest of Red 5 on an as-converted basis and became the controlling shareholder of Red 5 as of April 6, 2010. The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase business combination and the results of operations from the acquisition date have been included in the Group’s consolidated financial statements subsequent to the acquisition date. The allocation of the purchase price of US$16.84 million (RMB114.9 million) is as follows: Cash Subscription receivable Fixed assets Identifiable intangible assets: In-process research and development Backlog Goodwill Other assets Liabilities assumed Deferred tax liability Noncontrolling interest at fair value Total RMB 11,876,274 95,549,799 3,650,947 12,285,000 2,730,000 10,870,537 1,968,347 (2,599,092) (5,981,135) (15,417,870) 114,932,807 The excess of purchase price over tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed was recorded as goodwill. The acquired goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. In addition, the Group is contingently liable to pay up to US$3.65 million (RMB24.9 million) if certain former Red 5 employees fulfill employment contracts with the Company ranging from two to four years. Such amounts are being recorded as compensation expense on a straight line basis over the requisite service period. Subsequent to April 6, 2010, the Group acquired 777,723 and 2,020,601 shares of common stock of Red 5 from the noncontrolling interest holders for US$0.1 million (RMB0.6 million) and US$0.2 million (RMB1.4 million) cash in 2010 and 2011, respectively. In September 2012, Red 5 issued restricted common stock to two directors of Red 5 (Note 23). The equity interest of the Group was diluted to approximately 81% as of December 31, 2012 due to the vesting of restricted common stock. As of the date of acquisition, Red 5 was in the process of fulfilling its obligations under a game development and license agreement executed in 2006 and amended in 2009 between Red 5 and a third party game publisher to develop an online game (Firefall) in exchange for cash consideration from the third party operator. The Group has settled the game development and license agreement with the third party operator. Please refer to Note 12. F-33 The Group measured the fair value of in-process research and development of the Game based on multi-period excess earnings method, which is the present value of the projected cash flows that are expected to be generated by the existing intangible asset after reduction by an estimated fair rate of return on contributory assets necessary to realize the projected earnings attributable to the intangible asset. Backlog was valued using the multi-period excess earnings method based on the discounted cash flows to be generated from the rights and obligations under the agreement with the third party operator. The discounted cash flow model requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, including estimated costs to complete the game development, estimated game launch schedule, projected revenues, expenses, capital expenditures and other costs, and discount rates calculated based on the weighted average cost of capital, which includes various factors, such as risk-free rate, equity risk premium, size premium, and other risk factors. Acquisition-related costs amounted to RMB0.2 million and were included in general and administrative expenses in the year ended December 31, 2010. The following unaudited pro forma information summarizes the results of operations of the combined entity for the year ended December 31 2010, as if the acquisition of Red 5 has occurred on January 1, 2010. The following pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have occurred had the acquisition of Red 5 been completed at the beginning of the periods indicated, nor is it indicative of future operating results: Pro forma for 2010 Revenue RMB 108,513,582 Net Loss RMB (532,673,479) Revenue and net loss from Red 5 since the acquisition date included in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2010 was nil and RMB46.2 million, respectively. 6. PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS Prepayments and other current assets are as follows: Receivable from equity method investee (Note 24) Receivable from cost method investee (Note 8 <1>) Accrued interest income Prepayments and deposits Others F-34 December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB 0 29,081,174 2,689,359 17,511,127 16,778,481 66,060,141 9,750,000 7,252,493 942,304 48,341,591 9,735,816 76,022,204 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 1,564,983 1,164,106 151,250 7,759,360 1,562,706 12,202,405 7. PREPAID ROYALTIES AND DEFERRED COSTS Due to weaker than expected operating performance of certain games, the Group recognized an impairment loss for prepaid royalties of RMB5.5 million, nil and RMB0.9 million (US$0.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011, and 2012, respectively. The impairment charges of prepaid royalties and deferred cost were included in cost of services in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). 8. INVESTMENTS IN EQUITY INVESTEES The Group’s investments in equity investees comprise the following: Investments accounted for under equity method: Object Software Limited * 9Webzen Limited * Beijing Linkage Technology Co., Ltd. (“BLT”) Shanghai Jichuang Network Technology Co., Beijing Boran Lexiang Technology Co., Ltd. Ltd. (“Jichuang”)* (“Boran Lexiang”)* Fire Rain (Note 4) Guangzhou Man Cheng Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Man Cheng”) Tandem Fund II, L.P. (“Tandem Fund”) Investments accounted for under cost method: Shanghai Institute of Visual Art of Fudan University (“SIVA”) G10 Entertainment Corporation (“G10”) OpenFeint Inc. ( “OpenFeint”) CrowdStar Inc. (“Crowdstar”) Total December 31, 2011 December 31, 2012 RMB RMB December 31, 2012 US$ ( Note 3) 0 0 9,706,069 2,816,574 2,018,339 0 0 0 6,827,820 0 0 1,095,941 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5,544,105 6,135,706 889,890 984,848 10,000,000 24,892,921 0 22,617,240 72,051,143 10,000,000 24,892,921 0 22,617,240 76,017,792 1,605,111 3,995,589 0 3,630,317 12,201,696 Share ownership as of December 31, 2012 % 18.6% 30% 45% 30% 15% 25% 10% 12.3% 1.2% 13.7% 0% 2.3% * The Group has assessed the recoverability of the investments and fully impaired the balances in the respective periods listed. F-35 <1> G10 In April 2008, the Group, through China Crown Technology, invested US$38.3 million in cash to subscribe 3,031,232 preferred shares issued by G10, an established Korean online game developer and operator, which accounted for less than 20% of the equity interest in G10 on an as converted basis. The preferred shares are convertible, non-redeemable and with a liquidation preference. Considering the liquidation preference is substantive and not available to common shares, the preferred shares are not in substance common shares and equity accounting is not applicable. On the other hand, considering the preferred shares are non-redeemable, they are not debt securities. Accordingly, the Group accounted for the investment in G10 under cost method, with an amount of US$39.5 million, including US$1.2 million transaction cost. Pursuant to the Series B Preferred Share Subscription Agreement entered into between G10 and the Group, the purchase price would be reduced by up to US$25.0 million if G10’s consolidated net income does not reach the predetermined target for the period from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. The target was not met in the predetermined period, which would result in a purchase price reduction of US$25.0 million under the Share Subscription Agreement. After further negotiations, both parties reached a settlement agreement in November 2010 whereby the purchase price was reduced by US$10.0 million, payable in 26 equal monthly installments beginning in February 2011. A Korean bank issued an irrevocable guarantee to the Group, guaranteeing payment of up to US$10.0 million of G10’s obligation under the settlement agreement. The adjustment to the purchase price was accounted for as a reduction in the carrying value of the underlying investment at the time of the settlement. As of December 31, 2012, RMB7.3 million (US$1.2 million) receivable due in 2013 was recorded in prepayments and other current assets. As G10’s performance was less than satisfactory, which indicates that a decrease in value of the Group’s investment may be other than temporary, the Group performed an impairment assessment and recognized an impairment loss of RMB184.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2010. The Group measured the fair value of the investment based on a combination of discounted cash flow approach and market approach. Discounted cash flow approach is used for G10 and its non-public subsidiaries. Market approach is used for its public subsidiary based on the market capitalization of the subsidiary. Key assumptions included the probabilities of liquidation and conversion, discounted cash flow and the lack of marketability discount rate. The discounted cash flow analysis requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, including estimated costs to complete game development, estimated game launch schedule, projected revenue, expenses, capital expenditures and other costs, and discount rates calculated based on the weighted average cost of capital, which including various factors, such as risk-free rate, equity risk premium, size premium, and other risk factors. In December 2011, pursuant to the agreements between the shareholders of G10 and T3 Entertainment Co., Ltd. (“T3”), a wholly- owned subsidiary of G10, G10 was spun off and the shareholders of G10 became shareholders of T3 at the same shareholding percentage. In February 2012, the changes in shareholding structures of G10 and T3 was completed and the Group owned 32,290 ordinary shares of T3, which reflects the same percentage of equity the Group owned in G10 on an as converted basis. F-36 The Group performed an impairment assessment and determined that there is no impairment in the investment as of December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. <2> OpenFeint In July 2010, the Group, through Asian Way, invested US$4.0 million in the form of cash to subscribe 987,654 Series 3 preferred stocks issued by OpenFeint, a San Francisco-based company that develops mobile games and operates OpenFeint, a leading mobile social platform for smart phones. The investment accounted for less than 20% of OpenFeint on an as converted basis. In April 2011, together with all the then existing shareholders of OpenFeint, the Group sold all of its Series 3 preferred stocks of OpenFeint to a third party for US$13.4 million (RMB84.4 million) cash consideration, among which US$ 2.5 million was withheld and placed in an escrow account to secure any indemnification claims. Due to the uncertainty in collectability of proceeds from the escrow account, the Group only recorded US$10.9 million (RMB68.7 million) cash receipt as consideration and recognized a gain on investment disposal of RMB44.4 million (US$7.1 million) for the year ended December 31, 2011. In 2012, the Group received notice from the stockholder representative that additional proceeds were being released from the escrow account. As the additional gain was then crystalized, the Group recognized the additional gain on investment disposal of RMB 15.7 million (US$ 2.5 million) for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2012, RMB10.2 million (US$1.6 million) was received, and the remaining amount was received shortly after year end. In December 2010, the Group entered into a software license agreement with OpenFeint for the Group to launch and operate OpenFeint and its related software for five years after commercial launch in the PRC. The Group launched The9 Game Zone powered by OpenFeint in April 2011. <3> CrowdStar In May and November 2011, the Group invested US$2.5 million and US$1 million cash, respectively, to subscribe 118,030 and 47,212 Series 2 preferred stocks issued by CrowdStar, a SanFrancisco-based social and mobile game company, which accounted for less than 20% of its total outstanding equity on an as converted basis. The preferred stocks are convertible, non-redeemable, have a liquidation preference and do not have a readily determinable fair value. The Group performed an impairment assessment and determined that there is no impairment in the investment as of December 31, 2012. <4> Tandem Fund In April 2012, the Group invested US$ 1.2 million to Tandem Fund with the total commitment of US$ 4.0 million and became a Limited Partner (“LP”) of the fund. Tandem Fund is a venture capital focusing on mobile business industry at early stages. By investing in the Fund, the Group aims to enjoy the development of mobile business and seek opportunity for business cooperation with the Fund’s investees. The Group is required to record such investment via fair value at each reporting period. As of December 31, 2012, the fair value of the Fund was reported as US$ 7.9 million and the Group recorded 12.3% of such fair value based on its ownership. F-37 9. AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE INVESTMENTS Investment in Youjia Group Limited. (“Youjia”) In November 2011, the Group acquired 925,926 redeemable and convertible preferred shares of Youjia, a mobile social application developer based in the PRC, for a consideration of US$1.0 million. The Group’s investment represented 6.67% of Youjia’s equity interest on an as converted basis. The Group recorded the investment in Youjia as an available-for-sale investment as the redeemable convertible preference share is in substance a debt security. As of December 31, 2012, the Group determined that the fair value of the investment in Youjia (Note 16) approximated the carrying value of RMB 6.3 million. 10. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE Property, equipment and software and related accumulated depreciation and amortization are as follows: December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB Office buildings Computer and equipment Leasehold improvements Office furniture and fixtures Motor vehicles Software Construction in progress Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization Net book value 64,488,993 193,354,191 7,903,060 9,558,048 13,012,578 16,957,721 1,150,000 (245,911,570) 60,513,021 67,482,202 170,034,382 15,492,417 13,467,292 9,443,462 17,746,626 0 (229,091,066) 64,575,315 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 10,831,640 27,292,400 2,486,704 2,161,649 1,515,780 2,848,530 0 (36,771,650) 10,365,053 Depreciation and amortization charges for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 amounted to RMB23.9 million, RMB14.9 million and RMB20.3 million (US$3.3 million), respectively. The Group recorded impairment of RMB4.9 million, nil and nil on equipment in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, as detailed at Note 15. 11. GOODWILL The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 are as follows: Balance at January 1, 2011 Translation difference Balance at December 31, 2011 Write-off fully impaired goodwill Translation difference Balance at December 31, 2012 Balance at December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) F-38 Gross Amount RMB 40,748,074 (512,548) 40,235,526 (30,199,751) (24,528) 10,011,247 1,606,916 Accumulated Impairment Loss RMB (30,199,751) 0 (30,199,751) 30,199,751 0 0 0 Net Amount RMB 10,548,323 (512,548) 10,035,775 0 (24,528) 10,011,247 1,606,916 In 2005, the Group recognized goodwill of RMB30.2 million and intangible assets of RMB283.7 million in connection with the acquisition of equity interest in C9I. There was no change in the carrying amount of goodwill from the initial recognition date to December 31, 2008. Due to the expiration of WoW license, related goodwill was fully impaired during the year ended December 31, 2009. In 2010, the Group recognized goodwill of RMB10.9 million in connection with the business combination of Red 5 (Note 5). 12. INTANGIBLE ASSETS Gross carrying amount, accumulated amortization and net book value of the intangible assets as of December 31 are as follows: <1> Intangible assets subject to amortization Acquired game licenses Acquired game development cost Less: Accumulated amortization Impairment provision Translation difference Net book value of intangible assets subject to amortization December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB 186,793,796 0 (38,432,377) 0 (209,639) 148,151,780 154,640,722 12,285,000 (10,119,873) (569,138) (1,186,900) 155,049,811 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 24,821,547 1,971,879 (1,624,352) (91,353) (190,510) 24,887,211 In 2011 and 2012, RMB 40.3 million and RMB 39.0 million (US$6.3million) acquired game licenses were expired, respectively, and were written off from the cost basis and accumulated amortization. Since its acquisition by the Group on April 6, 2010, Red 5 has been substantially devoting its operating activities to fulfill its obligations under a game development and license agreement executed in 2006 and amended in 2009 between Red 5 and a third party game publisher to develop Firefall in exchange for cash consideration from the third party publisher. Prior to the acquisition, Red 5 received a total of US$24.7 million cash consideration as an advance recoupable against future royalties payable to Red 5. Red 5 retained the ownership of the game and granted the third party publisher an exclusive, non-transferable term license to market and distribute the game and host the game to customers in specified regions after Red 5 completes the game development. Red 5 continues to perform its obligations under the agreement post-acquisition, including the provision of post-contract customer support for the hosted version of the game to the third party publisher during the term of the license. The initial term of the agreement is from February 2006 through the fifth anniversary of the first commercial release of the initial game. Thereafter, the agreement can be renewed in two-year terms. F-39 In September 2011, Red5 Korea, Red 5 Singapore and Red5 entered into a series of agreements with the third party game publisher. Pursuant to the agreement, Red 5 Singapore were substituted in full for the third party publisher as a party under the game development and license agreement between Red 5 and the third party game publisher, including the exclusive , non-transferable term license to market and distribute the game and host the game to customers in specified regions. Under the agreements, the Group paid US$10.0 million (RMB 62.9 million) and guaranteed an additional payment of US$12.7 million (RMB 79.9 million) to the third party game publisher due within four years. In addition, the Group is subject to additional contingent payments to be calculated based on certain percentages of the proceeds received from future game licensing and royalties, if any. The total consideration paid, including the US$10 million (RMB62.9 million) and the guaranteed amount of US$12.7 million (RMB79.9 million), was recorded as acquired game license and the contingent payments will be recorded as cost of services when incurred. The amount payable which is expected to due on or before December 31, 2013 amounted to US$ 5.3 million (RMB 32.9 million) was recorded in accounts payable under current liabilities. The remaining unpaid amount was recorded in long-term accounts payable. The Group pledged the intellectual property in relation to the game to secure the guaranteed amount. Following this license acquisition, the previously recognized backlog of US$ 0.4 million in relation to the game development and license agreement acquired in Red 5 acquisition was reclassified to acquired game licenses as it was considered to be additional cost to acquire the game license paid in prior year. Amortization expense related to intangible assets was RMB10.0 million, RMB2.0 million and RMB 10.7 (US$1.7 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, the estimated aggregate amortization expense from existing intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows: 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total RMB 22,958,741 22,583,476 22,583,476 22,583,476 22,583,476 113,292,645 US$ (Note 3) 3,685,132 3,624,898 3,624,898 3,624,898 3,624,898 18,184,724 F-40 <2> Intangible assets not subject to amortization In-process research and development Translation difference Net book value of intangible assets not subject to amortization December 31, 2011 RMB 12,285,000 (943,380) 11,341,620 December 31, 2012 RMB December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 0 0 0 0 0 0 The acquired in-process research and development costs were reclassified as acquired game development cost upon completion of the research and development efforts in 2012. The Group recorded impairment on intangible assets of RMB 33.0 million, nil and RMB 0.6 million (US$0.1 million) for acquired game licenses in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, which was recorded in the impairment of equipment and intangible assets line item in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), as detailed in note 15. 13. LAND USE RIGHT Gross carrying amount, accumulated amortization and net book value of land use right are as follows: Land use right Less: accumulated amortization Net book value December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB 85,160,349 (9,124,323) 76,036,026 85,160,349 (11,045,234) 74,115,115 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 13,669,178 (1,772,882) 11,896,296 Amortization charge for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012 amounted to RMB1.9 million, RMB1.9 million and RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million), respectively. 14. OTHER LONG-TERM ASSETS Other long-term assets are as follows: Deferred employee compensation Prepayment and deposits for property, equipment and software Receivable from cost method investee (Note 8 (1)) Receivable from WoW game points refund agent (Note 19) Others Total F-41 December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB 10,708,214 5,459,354 28,565,286 7,270,199 28,651,292 561,612 75,756,603 32,819,483 0 22,188,652 469,286 60,936,775 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 876,287 5,267,890 0 3,561,524 75,326 9,781,027 15. IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS The operating losses of certain games were trigger events for long-lived assets impairment analyses. The Group determined its long- lived asset groups, which the Group considers to be “held and used” in its operations, based upon certain factors including assessing the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. The asset groups consist of the Group’s operating assets for respective games and entity-wide assets such as the Group’s office building and land use right. For asset groups related to games, estimates of future cash flows developed during the revision of the original budgets by taking into consideration of lower than expected projected operating performance as well as market acceptance of games that have not been commercially launched and expected future game operations, indicated certain asset groups of the Company may not recover their carrying value. As a result of the Group’s impairment analysis, asset groups associated with certain games and licensing fees paid for certain games that the Group has not commercially launched were identified as being impaired. Accordingly, an impairment provision was recognized equal to the excess of the carrying value over the fair value of the associated assets. The Group determined the fair value of the assets group using the income approach, a level 3 fair value measurement. The income approach included the use of a discounted cash flow model, which required assumptions of projected revenues, expenses, capital expenditures and other costs, as well as a discount rate calculated based on the risk profile of the Group. The impairment charges were recognized as follows: (i) Due to weaker than expected operating performance of certain games, the Group recognized impairment provisions on computer equipment and upfront licensing fees of RMB4.9 million and RMB21.5 million , respectively, in 2010. No such impairment provision was made in 2011 and 2012. A significant factor for the internally developed income approach is forecasting performance and revenue from the games. The Group continued to monitor the actual revenue performance versus forecast revenue. Due to the lower than expected market acceptance of the games and the following content updates, certain games experienced significantly lower than expected user levels and revenue. (ii) The Group has been monitoring its licensed games that have not commercially launched, including but not limited to their market acceptance and operational performance in other regions where they are commercially launched and operated by other operators. The Group incorporates these factors into its continuous evaluation of the forecasted results of the respective games and taking into account the Group’s expected commercial launch and cash flows in the evaluation of potential impairment of the carrying value of upfront licensing fees. Based on the Group’s impairment tests, impairment provisions on upfront licensing fees of RMB11.5 million, nil and RMB0.6 million (US$0.1 million) were recognized in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. F-42 16. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis The Group’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis consisted of the following as of December 31, 2012: Available-for-sale investment—Youjia (Note 9) 0 Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Quoted Price in Active Markets for Identified assets (Level 1) RMB RMB 0 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) RMB 6,285,500 The Group determined the fair value of its investment in Youjia as of December 31, 2012 based on the price from an independent third-party transaction in September 2012 with comparable terms. For recurring fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3), the following table presents the changes in the Group’s available-for-sale investments that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Group did not have other assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant Level 3 inputs during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Balance at the beginning of the year Purchases Unrealized loss recognized in other comprehensive income Impairment losses included in earnings Balance at the end of the year Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) 2011 RMB 2010 RMB 0 0 0 0 0 0 6,342,100 0 0 6,342,100 F-43 2012 RMB 6,342,100 0 (56,600) 0 6,285,500 Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis The following table displays assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of December 31, 2012. There is no impairment loss on assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the years ended December 31, 2011. Investment in Fire Rain Investment in Jichuang Investment in Boran Lexiang Upfront licensing fees Total Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Year Ended December 31, 2012 Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) RMB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) RMB 0 0 0 0 0 Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) RMB 0 0 0 0 0 Total Losses 1,313,067 1,341,153 1,902,591 569,139 5,125,950 Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in measuring the fair value of the Group’s investment in Fire Rain when the Group terminated its original VIE arrangements with Fire Rain. The Group measured the fair value of the investment based on discounted cash flow approach. The discounted cash flow analysis requires the use of significant unobservable inputs, including projected revenue, operating expenses, capital expenditures and a discount rate calculated based on the weighted average cost of capital. The net present value derived from such discounted cash flow model based on a discount rate of 30.5% was nil, thus, management determined that such investment was fully impaired and the impairment charges were included in loss on termination of R&D VIE arrangements (Note 4) on the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended December 31, 2012. Given the unsatisfying results of Jichuang and Boran Lexiang’s research and development activities, the Group tested its investment in the two equity investee for impairment as of December 31, 2012. The fair value of such investments was measured as nil given the operations of both investees were substantially discontinued as a result of insufficient cash flow. Thus, the Group deemed the carrying amount of the investments was fully impaired and recorded such impairment in loss in equity investment for the year ended December 31, 2012. The less than satisfactory performance of certain games indicated that the carrying amounts of intangible assets and property and equipment may not be recoverable. The Group tested the long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment. As a result of the long-lived asset impairment tests, upfront licensing fees held and used with a carrying amount of RMB0.6 million, respectively, were fully impaired, with the resulting impairment charges included in earnings for the year ended December 31, 2012. 17. TAXATION Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands Under the current tax laws of the Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands, the Company and its subsidiaries are not subject to tax on their income or capital gains. In addition, upon payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed. Hong Kong The Group’s subsidiaries in Hong Kong did not have assessable profits that were derived in Hong Kong during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Therefore, no Hong Kong profit tax has been provided for in the years presented. F-44 Singapore The Group’s subsidiaries in Singapore did not have assessable profits that were derived in Singapore during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Therefore, no Singapore income tax has been provided for in the years presented. The PRC The Group’s subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries in the PRC are subject to Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) on the taxable income as reported in their respective statutory financial statements adjusted in accordance with the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law(“EIT Law”), which went into effect as of January 1, 2008. The Group’s subsidiaries and VIE subsidiaries in the PRC are generally subject to EIT at a statutory rate of 25%. However, the subsidiaries that are located in the Pudong New District of Shanghai enjoy five-year transitional EIT rates, which refer to the phase-in rates of 18%, 20%, 22%, 24% and 25% for the 5 years from 2008 to 2012 and the subsidiaries that hold a “High and New Technology Enterprise” (“HNTE”) qualification are subject to a 15% preferential EIT rate. In April 2008, certain government authorities announced the new implementation rules for application and assessment of HNTE. Every qualified HNTE company is required to re-apply for this qualification according to the new implementation rules. The HNTE qualification is valid for three years and could be renewed for another 3 year period. In October 2008, C9I Beijing re-applied for the HNTE qualification and received approval for the HNTE qualification and related preferential tax rates during the period of 2008- 2010 from the government authorities. However, C9I Beijing did not receive approval for renewal of its HNTE qualification after it expired in 2010 and was not entitled to enjoy the 15% preferential EIT rate for the years 2011 and 2012. Total tax savings of C9I Beijing were nil for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In November 2008, Shanghai IT received approval from certain government authorities to be qualified as a HNTE. This approval entitles Shanghai IT to enjoy a 15% preferential EIT rate during the period from 2008 to 2010. The HNTE qualification is valid for three years and every qualified HNTE company is required to re-apply for it in the three years after receiving approval. In October 2011, Shanghai IT renewed its HNTE qualification and obtained approval in 2012, which entitles Shanghai IT to enjoy a preferential EIT rate of 15% during the period from 2011 to 2013. Total tax savings of Shanghai IT were nil for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. F-45 United States The Group’s subsidiaries in the U.S. are registered in the state of California and are subject to U.S. federal corporate marginal income tax rate of 34% and state income tax rate of 8.84%, respectively. Composition of income tax benefit (expense) The current and deferred portions of income tax expense included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) are as follows: Current income tax (expense) benefit China Other jurisdictions Deferred taxation China Other jurisdictions Change in valuation allowance China Other jurisdictions Income tax (expense) benefit 2010 RMB For the year ended December 31, 2011 RMB 2012 RMB 2012 US$ (Note 3) 39,061 39,061 0 131,458,011 56,671,847 74,786,164 (138,865,092) (64,078,928) (74,786,164) (7,368,020) (165) (165) 0 56,216,109 20,125,336 36,090,773 (56,216,109) (20,125,336) (36,090,773) (165) 0 0 0 135,199,657 62,228,916 72,970,741 (135,199,657) (62,228,916) (72,970,741) 0 0 0 0 21,701,041 9,988,429 11,712,612 (21,701,041) (9,988,429) (11,712,612) 0 Reconciliation of the differences between statutory tax rate and the effective tax rate Reconciliation between the statutory EIT rate and the Group’s effective tax rate is as follows: For the year ended December 31, 2010 For the year ended December 31, 2011 For the year ended December 31, 2012 PRC Statutory EIT rate Effect of different tax rates in other jurisdictions Change of prior year deferred tax assets Change of valuation allowance (Income) not subject to tax and non-deductible expenses, net Effect of tax holidays Effect of future tax rate change Effect of expired net operating loss carry forwards Effective EIT rate 25% (4%) 0% (15%) (9%) (1%) 3% 0% (1%) F-46 25% 1% (5%) (19%) 1% 0% 0% (3%) 0% 25% 0% 0% (25%) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% Significant components of deferred tax assets Temporary differences related to expenses and accruals Temporary differences related to provision for advances to suppliers Temporary differences related to provision for doubtful accounts Temporary differences related to prepaid royalties Other Total current deferred tax assets Less: Valuation allowance Net current deferred tax assets Temporary differences related to depreciation, amortization, and impairment of equipment and intangible assets Startup expenses and advertising fee Temporary differences related to research and development credits Temporary differences related to equity investment Foreign tax credits Temporary differences related to provision for prepayment for equipment Tax loss carry forwards Total non-current deferred tax assets Less: Valuation allowance Net non-current deferred tax assets Total deferred tax assets Significant components of deferred tax liabilities Temporary differences related to amortization of intangible assets Movement of valuation allowance on deferred tax assets December 31, 2011 RMB 4,719,622 December 31, 2012 RMB 4,466,370 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 716,902 0 2,421,809 388,727 0 4,495,406 1,721,596 10,936,624 (10,936,624) 0 3,132,359 0 4,140,842 14,161,380 (14,161,380) 0 502,778 0 664,651 2,273,058 (2,273,058) 0 13,139,782 9,818,616 6,567,863 19,011,503 1,054,215 3,051,557 5,368,367 5,619,339 15,563,223 1,011,966 9,263,766 15,525,185 162,432 1,486,937 2,491,964 5,000,000 247,897,899 302,407,226 (302,407,226) 0 0 5,000,000 378,001,844 434,382,127 (434,382,127) 0 0 802,555 60,673,479 69,723,139 (69,723,139) 0 0 December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 5,521,837 5,508,341 884,150 Balance at January 1 Increase in valuation allowance Balance at December 31 For the year ended December 31, 2011 For the year ended December 31, 2012 RMB RMB 257,127,741 56,216,109 313,343,850 313,343,850 135,199,657 448,543,507 For the year ended December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 50,295,156 21,701,041 71,996,197 F-47 For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, additional valuation allowance of approximately RMB56.2 million and RMB135.2 million was provided respectively. The Group considers positive and negative evidence to determine whether some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will more likely than not be realized. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry forward periods, the Group’s experience with tax attributes expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. Valuation allowances have been established for deferred tax assets based on a more-likely-than-not threshold. The Group’s ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on its ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carry forward periods provided for in the tax law. As of December 31, 2012, the Group’s PRC subsidiaries had net operating loss carry forwards of RMB862.2 million, of which RMB16.5 million, RMB126.3 million, RMB230.6 million, RMB197.8 million and RMB291.0 million will expire in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. The Group has provided a full valuation allowance as it is not more likely than not that the net operating losses can be utilized before expiry. As of December 31, 2012, Red 5 had net operating loss carry forwards for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately US$63.6 million and US$63.9 million, respectively, which will begin to expire in 2026 and 2016, respectively. Red 5 also had credits for increasing research activities available to offset future federal and state taxes payable of approximately US$0.1 million and US$0.1 million, respectively, that will begin to expire in 2026 for federal purposes and which have no expiration for state purposes. Red 5 had foreign tax credits for federal purposes of approximately US$2.5 million, which begin to expire in 2016. Pursuant to US tax laws and regulations, the utilization of an acquired entity’s net operation losses and credits are subject to annual limitation computed based on the fair value of the acquired entity. As a result of the limitation, the Group provided a full valuation allowance as it is not more likely than not that the net operating losses and credits carried forward can be utilized before expiry. In accordance with the Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”), dividends, which arise from profits of foreign invested enterprises (“FIEs”) earned after January 1, 2008, are subject to a 10% withholding income tax. In addition, under tax treaty between the PRC and Hong Kong, if the foreign investor is incorporated in Hong Kong and qualifies as the beneficial owner, the applicable withholding tax rate is reduced to 5%, if the investor holds at least 25% in the FIE, or 10%, if the investor holds less than 25% in the FIE. A deferred tax liability should be recognized for the undistributed profits of PRC companies unless the Company has sufficient evidence to demonstrate that the undistributed dividends will be reinvested and the remittance of the dividends will be postponed indefinitely. The Group plans to indefinitely reinvest undistributed profits earned after December 31, 2007 from its China subsidiaries in its operations in the PRC. Therefore, no withholding income taxes for undistributed profits of the Company’s subsidiaries have been provided as of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Under applicable accounting principles, a deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting basis over tax basis in a domestic subsidiary. However, recognition is not required in situations where the tax law provides a means by which the reported amount of that investment can be recovered tax-free and the enterprise expects that it will ultimately use that means. The Group has not recorded any such deferred tax liability attributable to the undistributed earnings of its financial interests in VIEs because these entities do not have any accumulated earnings as of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. F-48 The Group made its assessment of the level of authority for each tax position (including the potential application of interests and penalties) based on the tax positions’ technical merits, and measured the unrecognized benefits associated with the tax positions. The Group did not have any unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2010 or 2011 and 2012. The Group does not anticipate that unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Group did not have any material interest and penalties associated with its tax positions. According to PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer or withholding agent. The statute of limitations will be extended five years under special circumstances, which are not clearly defined (but an underpayment of tax liability exceeding RMB0.1 million is specifically listed as a special circumstance). In the case of a related party transaction, the statute of limitations is ten years. There is no statute of limitations in the case of tax evasion. From inception to 2012, the Group is subject to examination of the PRC tax authorities. Red 5’s federal income tax returns and state income tax returns for 2005 through 2012 are open tax years, subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. 18. OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUALS Other payables and accruals are as follows: Staff cost related payables Professional services Product development services Marketing and promotion Others December 31, 2011 RMB December 31, 2012 RMB 27,419,504 10,613,150 3,090,913 1,692,630 5,090,126 47,906,323 26,147,447 6,746,476 5,447,604 4,195,359 7,947,770 50,484,656 December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) 4,196,955 1,082,884 874,401 673,402 1,275,704 8,103,346 F-49 19. REFUND OF WOW GAME POINTS As a result of the loss of the WoW license on June 7, 2009 , the Group announced a refund plan in connection with unactivated WoW game point cards, which the Group recorded as advance from customers. According to the plan, unactivated WoW game point card holders are eligible to receive a cash refund from the Group. The Group recorded a liability in connection with both unactivated points cards and activated but unconsumed point cards of approximately RMB200.4 million, of which RMB4.0 million was refunded in 2009. Upon the loss of the WoW license, the Group concluded the nature of the obligation substantively changed from deferred revenue, for which the Group had the ability to satisfy the underlying performance obligation, to an obligation to refund players for their unconsumed points. The Group has accounted for this refund liability by applying the derecognition guidance specified in ASC 405- 20. In accordance with this guidance, the refund liability associated with these WoW game points, to the extent not refunded, will be recorded as other operating income after the Group is legally released from the obligation to refund amounts under the applicable laws. In consultation with its legal counsel, the Group concluded the legal liability relating to the unactivated WoW game point cards was extinguished in September 2011 on the basis that the legal liability lapsed two years from the date the Group publicly announced the refund policy that applied to these cards. Accordingly, the associated liability amounting to RMB26.0 million (US$4.2 million) was recognized as other operating income for the year ended December 31, 2011. With respect to the remaining refund liability, based on current PRC laws, to the extent not refunded, the Company, in consultation with legal counsel has determined that it will be legally released from this liability in September 2029, which represents 20 years from the discontinuation of WoW in 2009. However, if the Group were to publicly announce a refund policy, the Group would be legally released from any remaining liability for these activated, but unconsumed points sooner than 20 years. To date, the Group has determined not to publicly announce any refund policy with respect to this remaining liability, and no refunds have been claimed. The remaining refund liability relating to the activated, but unconsumed WoW game points is RMB170.0 million (US$27.3 million) as of December 31, 2012. In 2009, the Group engaged an agent to facilitate the refund to game players and provided an advance payment to the agent for RMB43.3 million for this purpose. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, RMB0.4 million, nil and nil were refunded to game point card holders through the agent, respectively. In February 2012, the Group entered into an agreement with the agent pursuant to which the agent will refund the advance to the Group in installments over a five year period after deducting any further refunds paid to game point card holders. As of December 31, 2012, the balance of the advance payment to the agent was RMB34.3 million (US$5.5 million). The current portion of RMB8.6 million (US$1.4 million) was recorded in prepayments and other current assets and the present value of the long-term portion amounting to RMB22.2 million (US$3.6 million) was recorded in other long-term assets, respectively. 20. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM In June 2011, the Company’s Board approved share buyback of up to US$25 million of its ADSs, This share repurchase program has been terminated in November 2011. Under this share repurchase program, the Company spent an aggregate purchase consideration of approximately US$3.4 million and repurchased approximately 0.7 million shares of its ADSs as of December 31, 2011, which were retired by the Company. In December 2012, the Company’s Board approved share buyback of up to US$10 million of its ADSs over the next 12 months. Under this share repurchase program, the Company spent an aggregate purchase consideration of approximately US$0.1 million and repurchased approximately 0.04 million shares of its ADSs as of December 31, 2012. As of April 11, 2013, the company spent a further aggregate purchase consideration of approximately US$4.3 million and repurchased approximately 1.5 million shares of ADSs. F-50 21. SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN On January 8, 2009, the Company adopted a shareholder rights plan. The shareholder rights plan is designed to protect the best interests of the Company and its shareholders by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of the Company in a tender offer or similar hostile transaction. The shareholder rights plan was amended on March 9, 2009. Pursuant to the terms of the shareholder rights plan, as amended, one right was distributed with respect to each ordinary share of the Company outstanding at the close of business on January 22, 2009. The rights will become exercisable only if a person or group (the “Acquiring Person”) obtains ownership of 15% or more of the Company’s voting securities (including by acquisition of the Company’s ADSs representing ordinary shares) (a “Triggering Event”), subject to certain exceptions. In the case of a Triggering Event, the rights plan entitles shareholders other than the Acquiring Person to purchase, for an exercise price of US$19.50, a number of shares with a value twice that of the exercise price. The number of shares each such shareholder will be entitled to purchase is equal to the product of (i) the number of shares then owned by such shareholder and (ii) two times the exercise price divided by the then current market price per share. The rights plan will continue in effect until January 8, 2019, unless the plan is terminated by the Company or the rights are redeemed by the Company before the plan expires. 22. 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 through a PRC government-mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan. These companies are required to accrue for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries in accordance with the relevant regulations, and to make contributions to the state- sponsored pension and medical plans out of the amounts accrued for medical and pension benefits. The total amounts charged to the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income(loss) for such employee benefits amounted to RMB24.8 million, RMB24.3 million and RMB33.7 million (US$5.4 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The PRC government is responsible for the medical benefits and ultimate pension liability to these employees. 23. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION 23.1 Stock options granted by the Company On December 15, 2004, in connection with its initial public offering, the Company adopted a share option plan (“2004 Option Plan”). As of December 31 2012, the total number of ordinary shares reserved in the 2004 Option Plan was 6,449,614 shares. The maximum contractual term of the awards under this plan shall be no more than five years from the date of grant. The options granted under this plan shall be at the money on the date of grant and typically vest over a three-year period, with one third of the options to vest on the each of the anniversary after the grant date. F-51 As of December 31, 2012, options to purchase 3,415,741 ordinary shares were outstanding and options to purchase 1,928,177 ordinary shares were available for future grant under the 2004 Option Plan. The following table summarizes the Company’s share option activities with its employees and directors: Outstanding at January 1, 2012 Exercised Forfeited Outstanding at December 31, 2012 Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2012 Exercisable at December 31, 2012 Number of Options 3,806,615 (28,321) (362,553) 3,415,741 3,379,045 2,561,937 Weighted-Average Exercise Price Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) US$ US$ US$ US$ US$ US$ 5.64 5.13 7.83 5.41 5.41 5.41 3.60 2.70 2.70 2.66 Aggregate Intrinsic Value US$ 6,351,833 Nil Nil Nil The options expected to vest are estimated by applying the pre-vesting forfeiture rate assumptions to total unvested options. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the year was US$4,579, US$41,165 and US$31,563 for year ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the years 2010 and 2011 was US$2.23 and US$1.92, respectively. The fair value of the share options were measured on the respective grant dates based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model, with assumptions made regarding expected term and volatility, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. No options were granted during year 2012. F-52 Risk-free interest rate Expected life (years) Expected dividend yield Volatility Fair value of options at grant date For the year ended December 31, 2010 0.77%-1.03% 3.25 0 59.24%-60.71% US$2.13-US$2.58 US$ For the year ended December 31, 2011 0.33% 3.25 0 57.90% 1.92 For the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011 and 2012, the Company recorded share-based compensation of RMB24.0 million, RMB17.9 million and RMB16.3 million (US$2.6 million), respectively, for options granted to the Company’s employees and directors, including incremental compensation cost due to modification of option exercise price in September 2009. As of December 31, 2012, there was approximately RMB11.5 million (US$1.9 million) unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested options. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 0.79 years. Total unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures. 23.2 Ordinary shares granted to Incsight Limited (“Incsight”) Incsight is a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands and wholly owned by Mr. Jun Zhu, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. On December 8, 2010, as approved by the Board of Directors, the Company granted 1,500,000 ordinary shares to Incsight, subject to performance conditions, of which 500,000 shares granted will vest when the Group achieves breakeven and 1,000,000 shares will vest when the Group’s cumulative profit reaches US$5 million in a quarter subsequent to the quarter in which the Group breaks even. The ordinary shares granted are not entitled to receive dividends until vested. The Board considered the grant of ordinary shares as an incentive to retain Mr. Zhu’s services with the Group. The awarded nonvested shares would be valid for five years from December 8, 2010. It is considered probable the performance targets will be met. The fair value of the granted nonvested shares was US$6.48 per share, the market price on the date of grant. The Group recorded share-based compensation of RMB3.9 million, RMB30.8 million and RMB14.5 million (US$2.3 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. F-53 23.3 Ordinary shares granted to non-executive directors In May 2011, the Board of Directors granted 30,000 ordinary shares to each of the Group’s four non-executive directors, which 10,000 ordinary shares vest for each director on July 1 of each year from 2011 to 2013 so long as such directors continue their services during the period. An aggregate of 40,000 ordinary shares vested in July 2011 and 2012, respectively. The fair value of the shares granted was US$6.03 per share, being the market price on the date of the grant. The Group recorded share-based compensation of RMB2.3 million and RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. 23.4 Stock options granted by TDC In September 2008, TDC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Group, approved its 2008 Stock Option Plan (“TDC Option Plan”) that provides for the issuance of up to 30,000 ordinary shares. The share option plan has a term of eight years unless terminated earlier by its shareholders and Board of Directors. On October 1, 2008, TDC granted 18,961,000 options to Mr. Zhu and certain employees of TDC to purchase 18,961 ordinary shares of TDC. Those options will vest over four years commencing from January 1, 2008. The exercise price of the options is HK$0.1 per option. The options will expire on December 31, 2015. The following table summarizes the TDC’s share option activities with Mr. Zhu and TDC employees: Outstanding at January 1, 2012 Forfeited Outstanding at December 31, 2012 Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2012 Exercisable at December 31, 2012 Number of Options 16,611,000 (371,000) Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Option HK$ HK$ 0.10 0.10 16,240,000 HK$ 0.10 16,240,000 16,240,000 HK$ HK$ 0.10 0.10 Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) 4.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 Aggregate Intrinsic Value Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil The options expected to vest are estimated by applying the pre-vesting forfeiture rate assumptions to total unvested options. The intrinsic value as of December 31, 2012 is calculated as the difference between the estimated fair value at December 31, 2012 and the exercise price of the shares. F-54 TDC recorded share-based compensation of RMB0.5 million, RMB0.4 million and nil for options granted for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The share-based compensation was recorded as a component of noncontrolling interest in the consolidated financial statements. 23.5 Stock options and ordinary shares granted by Red 5 In February 2006, Red 5 adopted a Stock Incentive Plan (“Red 5 Stock Incentive Plan”) under which Red 5 may grant to its employees, director and consultants stock option to purchase common stock or restricted stock. As of April 6, 2010 and December 31, 2010, 13,626,955 shares were reserved under Red 5 Stock Incentive Plan. In September, 2011, Red 5 further increased the number of common stocks reserved to 22,855,591 shares. If an option shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, the reserved shares subject to such option shall again be available for subsequent option grants under the plan. From the inception of this plan to December 31, 2012, Red 5 granted a total of 28,963,258 options to its employees and directors at the exercise price ranging from US$0.0001 to US$0.2450 per share, which vest over four years commencing from grant date. Options expire within a period of not more than ten years from the grant date. An option granted to a person who is a greater than 10% shareholder on the date of grant may not be exercisable more than five years after the grant date. As of December 31, 2012, option to purchase 21,533,673 share of common stock were outstanding and options to purchase 251,632 shares of common stock were available for future grant. The following table summarizes the Red 5’s share option activities with its employees and directors: Outstanding at January 1, 2012 Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding at December 31, 2012 Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2012 Exercisable at December 31, 2012 Number of Options 19,684,602 1,921,422 (5,000) (67,351) 21,533,673 21,506,496 9,302,929 Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Option US$ US$ US$ US$ US$ US$ US$ 0.129 0.116 0.124 0.137 0.128 0.128 0.132 F-55 Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term (years) 4.95 Aggregate Intrinsic Value US$ 74,867 4.19 US$ 21,815 4.19 3.61 US$ 21,815 US$ 21,815 The options expected to vest are estimated by applying the pre-vesting forfeiture rate assumptions to total unvested options. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the period from April 6, 2010 to December 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2012 were US$14,141, US$3,507 and nil, respectively. The fair value of options granted ranged from US$0.012 to US$0.149, measured on the grant date based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model with assumptions made regarding expected term and volatility, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield: Risk-free interest rate Expected life (years) Expected dividend yield Volatility 1.10%-5.00% 5.00-6.00 0 38.89%-69.36% In September 2012, Red 5 granted 6,122,435 restricted common stocks to two directors of Red 5 including Mr. Zhu for their services to Red 5. 60% of the restricted common stocks were vested on the grant date. The remaining stocks shall become vested in a series of 36 successive equal monthly installments upon grantees’ completion of each month of service to Red 5 over the 36-month period measured from the grant date. Red 5 recorded share-based compensation of RMB1.8 million, RMB1.5 million and RMB4.0 million (US$0.6 million) for options and restricted common stocks granted for the period from April 6, 2010 to December 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. The share-based payment awards were recorded as a component of noncontrolling interest in the consolidated financial statements. As of December 31, 2012, there was approximately RMB4.8 million (US$0.8 million) of unrecognized compensation cost, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested share-based awards granted to Red 5 grantees. This cost is expected to be recognized over 2.63 years. Total unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures. 23.6 Nonvested equity interest of Jiushi granted to employees In July 2011, the Group granted 20% equity interest of the newly established Jiushi to two employees as an incentive to retain these two employees’ services, which they will earn over three-year period. The fair value of the granted equity interest was estimated to be RMB2.2 million. The Group recorded share-based compensation of RMB0.4 million and RMB0.7 million (US$0.1 million) for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2012, respectively. F-56 24. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND BALANCES 24.1 Transaction with Shanghai Shenhua Liansheng Football Club Co., Ltd. (“Shenhua”) and its players In January 2012, the Group entered into a cooperative agreement with Shenhua, for endorsing and promoting Firefall and other games as designated by the Group (the “Games”) for a term of two years. Shenhua is a long-established leading soccer team in the Chinese Super League, the highest tier of professional soccer association in China. Under the agreement, Shenhua players shall wear jerseys bearing the name and logo of the Games in all domestic and international soccer games as well as make appearances at press conferences, product promotion, sales initiatives for the Games, and participate in other activities for promoting the Games as requested by the Group. The Group has paid Shenhua RMB32.0 million (US$ 5.1million) for the promotion services. The Group amortized the prepayment on a straight line basis over the contract period and the remaining balance as of December 31, 2012 was RMB 16.0 million (US$2.6million). In January 2012, the Group entered into endorsement agreements with Nicolas Anelka (“Anelka”), a globally famous soccer player who played for Shenhua at that time. The agreement was for endorsement and promotion of Firefall for a consideration of EUR2.7 million (RMB21.9 million). In August 2012, the Group entered into another endorsement agreement with Didier Drogba (“Drogba”), also a famous soccer player played for Shenhua at the time, for endorsement and promotion of Planetside 2, a MMOFPS game, for consideration of EUR3.1 million (RMB24.3 million). The Group has paid the consideration to Anelka and Drogba in January and August 2012, respectively. The Group is amortizing the prepayment on a straight line basis over the contract period and the remaining balance as of December 31, 2012 was nil and RMB14.2 million (US$2.3 million), respectively. In January 2013, Drogba announced that he had signed a contract to play for another soccer team. As a result of such subsequent event, the Group has made a preliminary assessment that there was no impact of such change on the value of his endorsement of Planetside 2 for the remaining contact period, but will continue to monitor the execution of the contract. As Mr. Zhu, the Chairman and chief executive officer of the Company and a major shareholder of the Company, is also a major shareholder of Shenhua, the endorsement and promotion transactions with Shenhua, Anelka and Drogba constituted related party transactions. 24.2 Transaction with equity investee The9 Computer, Shanghai IT and 9Webzen Limited (Shanghai) (“9Webzen Shanghai”), a subsidiary of 9Webzen Hong Kong, entered into a series of agreements in connection with operating a game in China and providing services to customers jointly. The9 computer and Shanghai IT share revenue from 9Webzen Shanghai according to the joint service agreements. Due to long outstanding and uncertainty on the recoverability for the amount due from 9Webzen Shanghai, the Group stopped recognizing revenue pursuant to the agreements with 9Webzen Shanghai in 2010 and made full provision for the outstanding receivable due from 9Webzen Shanghai which amounted to RMB1.3 million as of December 31, 2010. In 2012, after further negotiation with 9Webzen Shanghai, the Group collected RMB1.8 million (US$0.3 million) from 9Webzen Shanghai, including RMB1.3 million receivable and RMB0.5 million unrecognized revenue in 2010. There were no other transactions between the Group and 9Webzen Shanghai in 2011 and 2012, respectively. F-57 In April 2012, the Group entered into an agreement with BLT, a 45% equity investee of the Group, to provide a loan which amounted to RMB6.8 million (US$1.1 million) for its capital injection in a joint venture with 45% equity held by BLT. The loan is secured by the equity interest in the joint venture owned by BLT. There were RMB5.3 million (US$0.8 million) loans outstanding as of December 31 2012, In March 2013, the Group entered into an additional loan agreement and provided an further RMB4.5 million (US$0.7 million) in loans to BLT to support the need for working capital. The loan is secured by the equity interests in BLT owned by the founders of BLT. According to the amended agreement with Fire Rain, the Group returned the acquired game license and no longer has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Fire Rain’s operations. The Group has retained a contractual right to 20% of the revenue generated from the game. From the date of deconsolidation to December 31, 2012, the Group received RMB0.8 million (US$0.1 million) as its share of revenue from its Fire Rain’s game operation. In addition, subsequent to year-end, the Group received RMB 4.5 million (US$0.7 million) in repayment of the game development proceeds provided by the Group. 25. LOSS PER SHARE Loss per share is calculated as follows: Numerator: Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders Denominator: Denominator for basic and diluted loss per share – weighted-average shares outstanding Loss per share—Basic and diluted For the year ended December 31, 2010 RMB For the year ended December 31, 2011 RMB For the year ended December 31, 2012 RMB For the year ended December 31, 2012 US$ (Note 3) (499,611,594) (284,329,931) (514,002,092) (82,503,025) 25,121,679 24,956,197 24,494,046 24,494,046 (19.89) (11.39) (20.98) (3.37) F-58 The Company had 6,048,078, 5,865,811 and 4,915,741 stock options, warrants and nonvested shares outstanding as of December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, which were excluded in the computation of diluted loss per share in the periods presented, as their effect would have been anti-dilutive due to the net loss reported in such periods. 26. RESTRICTED NET ASSETS In accordance with the regulations in the PRC and their respective articles of association, The9 Computer, C9I Shanghai, C9I Beijing, Jiu Tuo, Jiu Jing (as foreign invested enterprises) and the Group’s domestic VIE subsidiaries incorporated in the PRC are required to make an appropriation of statutory reserve from retained earnings equal to at least 10% of their respective after-tax profits, calculated in accordance with the PRC accounting standards and regulations. Appropriations are classified in the consolidated balance sheet as statutory reserves and are recorded upon board resolution on the appropriations. Appropriations to these reserves are not required after these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the respective companies. In addition, at the discretion of the respective boards of directors: (1) The9 Computer, C9I Shanghai, C9I Beijing, Jiu Tuo and Jiu Jing may allocate a portion of their after-tax profit to the enterprise expansion fund or staff welfare and bonus reserve, and (2) the above VIE subsidiaries may allocate a portion of their respective after-tax profits to discretionary surplus reserve. The use of staff welfare and bonus reserve is restricted to employee welfare benefits and is not available for distribution to equity owners except in liquidation. Appropriations to the staff welfare and bonus reserve are charged to income as general and administrative expense, and any unutilized balance is included in current liabilities. These statutory reserves are not transferable to the Company in the form of dividends, advances, or loans. 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. PRC regulations currently permit payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. The9 Computer, C9I Shanghai, C9I Beijing, Jiu Tuo and Jiu Jing and the Company’s VIE subsidiaries can only distribute dividends after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to statutory reserves. Additionally, as the Company does not have any direct ownership in the VIE subsidiaries, the VIE subsidiaries cannot directly distribute dividends to the Company. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, there was no appropriation of statutory reserves. F-59 27. NONCONTROLLING INTEREST As of December 31, 2012, the Group’s non-controlling interest mainly included equity interests in Red 5 and Mengxiang Hulian and equity awards granted as compensation by the Group’s subsidiaries. The following schedule shows the effects of changes in the ownership interest of The9 Limited in its subsidiaries on equity attributed to The9 Limited for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Net loss attributable to The9 Limited Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interest Increase in The9 Limited’s additional paid-in capital for issuance of shares by Red 5 upon stock option exercise Increase in The9 Limited’s additional paid-in capital for purchase of common shares of Red 5 from holders of noncontrolling interest Decrease in The9 Limited’s additional paid-in capital for capital contribution to Red 5 and Mengxiang Hulian Change in The9 Limited’s additional paid- in capital for adjustment on noncontrolling interest due to change in ownership interest* Change from net loss attributable to The9 Limited and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests December 31, 2010 RMB December 31, 2011 RMB (499,611,594) (284,329,931) December 31, 2012 RMB (514,002,092) 5,564 4,044 3,265 523,586 1,565,749 (6,981,392) (12,741,104) 0 0 0 0 3,933,247 (506,063,836) (295,501,242) (510,065,580) * The amount is primarily due to the vesting of restricted stock by noncontrolling interest holders. F-60 28. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 28.1 Operating lease commitments The Group has entered into operating lease arrangements relating to the use of certain premises and internet data centers. Future minimum lease payments for non-cancellable operating leases as of December 31, 2012 are as follows: 2013 2014 2015 RMB 17,010,169 1,123,617 110,976 18,244,762 US$ (Note 3) 2,730,320 180,353 17,813 2,928,486 Total rental expenses amounted to RMB18.4 million, RMB21.2 million and RMB25.6 million (US$4.1 million) for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. 28.2 Contingencies On June 18, 2007, Beijing Beida Founder Electronics Company filed a lawsuit in the Beijing High Court against two other companies and two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Group, alleging that the defendants had, through a game that the two subsidiaries licensed and are operating, infringed its intellectual property rights with respect to certain of its copyrighted fonts. The plaintiff in the case demanded, among others, that the defendants cease such alleged infringing use and pay RMB100 million for its alleged losses. The Group intends to assert its rights in the court of law. Based on the on-going assessment by the Group’s management and external legal counsel, the management believes that the likelihood for the Group to pay compensation is probable and the amount of compensation and legal fees estimated by management and external legal counsel is measurable. The lawsuit was heard on November 26, 2009 by the Beijing Superior Court. The Group asserted its rights in the court. On February 3, 2010, the court issued a judgment against the Group and other defendants in the lawsuits for infringing certain intellectual property rights of the plaintiff. Based on the court’s judgment, the Group shall pay a total of RMB1.6 million in compensation to the plaintiff. Subsequently, the plaintiff filed an appeal challenging the judgment. In May 2012 the Supreme Court issued a judgment ordering the Group and other defendants to pay RMB2.2 million (US$0.4 million) to the plaintiff. In September 2012 the Group made the payment to the plaintiff in compliance with the judgment. The Group has paid RMB4.5 million, RMB1.2 million and RMB1.9 million (US$0.3 million) for legal fee related to the litigation in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively. In May 2011, Diego Maradona filed a lawsuit in the Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court against Shanghai IT and a third party company in China, alleging that the defendants used his name and image in a web and social game operated by the Group without his authorization. In July 2011, the plaintiff amended his complaint to include The9 Computer as a defendant. The plaintiff in the case demanded, among other things, that the defendants pay RMB20 million for its alleged losses. In consultation with its external PRC legal counsel, the Group estimates that it is probable that the Group would lose the lawsuit and the contingent loss was estimated to be approximately RMB2 million (US$0.3 million), which estimate is made based on, among other relevant factors, remedies for other similar civil lawsuits. Accordingly, the Group recorded a contingent loss of RMB2 million (US$0.3 million) in the year ended December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011 and 2012, the Company believed that it was remote that the court would adjudicate a fine exceeding the amount that it had recognized. F-61 The Group may be subject to legal or administrative proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Group does not believe that any currently pending legal or administrative proceeding to which the Group is a party will have a material adverse effect on the business or financial condition. 29. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS In January 2013, the Group entered into an investment agreement with Shanghai Zhongxing Communication Technology Enterprise Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Ruigao Information Technology Co., Ltd., pursuant to which the parties will establish a joint venture in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, for the purpose of developing and operating TV game platforms, TV games and other related businesses. The Group contributed RMB5.2 million (US$0.8 million) to the joint venture, which accounted for 51.5% of the registered capital of the joint venture. The joint venture was established in February 2013 with 51.5% equity interest owned by the Group. The Group made certain cash advances to its previously consolidated VIE, Fire Rain (Note 4), which were secured by the personal guarantee of one of Fire Rain’s third-party shareholders. In April 2013, the Group and that individual shareholder entered into an agreement pursuant to which that individual shareholder will transfer their 33.5% equity interest in Fire Rain to the Group and in return the Group will release them from the personal guarantee provided in connection with the cash advances. After this share transfer, the Group will own approximately 58.5% of the equity of Fire Rain. F-62 Exhibit 4.44 This is an English Translation Execution Copy Exclusive Technical Service Agreement by and between Shanghai The9 Information Technology Co., Ltd. and The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. December 15, 2010 Exclusive Technical Service Agreement This Exclusive Technical Service Agreement (hereinafter this “Agreement”) is entered into between the following Parties on December 15, 2010: 1. Shanghai The9 Information Technology Co., Ltd (hereinafter “Party A”) Registered address: Legal representative: 2. The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Party B”) Registered address: Room 103, Building 3, No. 690 Bibo Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai Legal representative: Wang Yong (In this Agreement, Party A and Party B are referred to collectively as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”.) RECITAL WHEREAS, Party A is a company with limited liability incorporated and legally existing in Shanghai, the PRC, which is primarily engaged in online game development, technical support and other related services. WHEREAS, Party B is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated and legally existing in Shanghai, the PRC, and it scope of business is as follows: development and production of computer software, hardware and external equipment, sale of self- produced products, provision of related technical consulting and technical service, provision of consulting service relating to corporate management, and provision of investment consulting service. WHEREAS, Party A is in need of any technical services provided by Party B with respect to Party A’s Business (defined as below), and Party B agrees to provide such services to Party A. THEREFORE, the Parties have reached the following agreement upon friendly consultations: Article 1 Definition 1.1 Unless otherwise required herein or except as otherwise construed in the context, the following terms in this Agreement shall be interpreted to have the following meanings: “Party A’s Business” shall mean all business activities being operated and developed by Party A and those operated and developed by it at any time during the term hereof, including but not limited to the business of online game development, technical support and other related services by Party A. “Service” shall mean any service provided by Party B to Party A in connection with Party A’s Business on an exclusive basis within the business scope of Party B, including but not limited to: (1) granting a license to Party A to use any software necessary for Party A’s Business, in which Party B has a legal right; 1 (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) providing Party A with a comprehensive operation plan and solution for information technology/operation and management that is necessary for Party A’s Business; being responsible for the day-to-day management, maintenance and updating of hardware equipment and data room/software resources and client resources; being responsible for the development, maintenance and updating of application software that is necessary for Party A’s Business; providing training for the relevant business personnel of Party A; assisting Party A in conducting technical information collection/ related industry investigation and research; providing consulting service relating to marketing and management of assets (including without limitation, tangible assets and intangible assets, such as trademarks, technologies, goodwill and public relation); providing consulting service relating to personnel management and internal administrative management; providing consulting services, and other business and operation in relation thereto; (10) providing any other relevant services required by Party A from time to time. “Annual Business Plan” shall mean the business development plan and budget report of Party A for the next calendar year as prepared by Party A before November 30 of each year in accordance with this Agreement with the assistance of Party B. “Service Fee” shall mean all fees that shall be paid by Party A to Party B under Article 3 hereof for any Service provided by Party B. “Equipment” shall mean any and all equipment owned or purchased from time to time by Party B, which is used for the purpose of providing the Service. “Business Related Technologies” shall mean any and all software and technologies developed by Party A in connection with Party A’s Business on the basis of the Service provided by Party B hereunder. “Customer Information” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article 6.1 hereof. “Confidential Information” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article 6.2 hereof. 2 “Defaulting Party” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article 11.1 hereof. “Default” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article 11.1 hereof. “Party’s Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Article 13.5 hereof. 1.2 Any reference to any laws and regulations (hereinafter the “Laws”) herein shall be deemed: (1) to include the references to the amendments, changes, supplements and reenactments of such Laws, irrespective of whether they take effect before or after the formation of this Agreement; and (2) to include the references to other decisions, notices and regulations enacted in accordance therewith or effective as a result thereof. 1.3 Except as otherwise stated in the context herein, all references to an article, clause, item or paragraph shall refer to the relevant part of this Agreement. Article 2 Service 2.1 During the term hereof, Party B shall provide the Service to Party A with due care and diligence based on the demand of Party A’s Business and according to the specific requirements of Party A from time to time. 2.2 2.3 For the purpose of providing good Service, Party B shall grant to Party A the right to use any hardware Equipment for computers and networks that is necessary for Party A’s Business. Party B shall be equipped with all Equipment and personnel that are reasonably necessary for the provision of the Service, and shall purchase and acquire new Equipment and employ additional personnel based on the Annual Business Plan and according to the reasonable requirements of Party A so as to satisfy the needs of Party B for the provision of good Service to Party A in accordance with this Agreement. 2.4 For the purpose of providing the Service hereunder, Party B shall communicate and exchange with Party A all information relating to Party A’s Business. 2.5 Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, Party B shall have the right to designate any third party to provide any or all of the Services hereunder or perform any obligations of Party B hereunder on its behalf. Party A hereby agrees that Party B shall have the right to transfer to any third party all of its rights and obligations hereunder. Article 3 Fees 3.1 In respect of the Service provided by Party B hereunder, Party A shall pay the Service Fees to Party B in the manner set forth below: 3.1.1 the performance Service Fee that is equivalent to 90% of the remaining amount of the Service income of Party A for the year in which such income is generated after deducting the costs of Party A’s Business as agreed upon by the Parties; and 3 3.1.2 3.1.3 3.1.4 the Service Fee, as separately agreed by the Parties, for the provision of any specific technical Service and consulting Service by Party B from time to time upon request by Party A. the Parties agree that the period for exemption of the performance Service Fee shall be from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012, during which Party B shall exempt Party A from the payment of any performance Service Fee incurred under Article 3.1.1 above as its support for the new business development of Party A. at the end of each year, the Parties shall calculate and confirm the actual amount of the Service Fees required to be settled according to the payment requirements described above. In the event of any change of the above due to the change of actual business situation, a written contract shall be signed by the Parties in respect thereof. 3.2 Party B may require Party A to make compensation in respect of any depreciation on the Equipment actually provided by Party B to Party A for use according to the actual situation. 3.3 The Parties agree to pay the Service Fees pursuant to the following requirements: 3.3.1 Unless otherwise exempted by Party B, Party A shall pay the fixed Service Fee to Party B on monthly basis according to the payment notice issued by Party B to Party A. Party A shall pay the fixed Service Fee under Article 3.1.1 hereof to Party B prior to the tenth (10 ) business day of each month; th 3.3.2 Unless otherwise exempted by Party B, Party A shall pay the performance Service Fee annually according to the payment notice issued by Party B to Party A. After the close of each fiscal year of Party A, Party A and Party B shall calculate and verify the performance Service Fee actually payable by Party A based on the total income before taxation of Party A for the preceding year as confirmed in the audit report issued by an accounting firm registered in China as agreed by the Parties. Party A shall, within fifteen (15) business days after the issue of the audit report, pay the corresponding performance Service Fee to Party B. Party A undertakes to Party B that it will provide all necessary information and assistance to the above accounting firm, and will procure such accounting firm to complete and issue to the Parties the audit report for the preceding year within thirty (30) business days after the close of each calendar year. 3.3.3 The payment method of the Service Fee under Article 3.1.3 hereof shall be determined separately by the Parties. 3.4 3.5 Party A shall pay all the Service Fees as scheduled to the bank account designated by Party B pursuant to the requirement of this Article. Party B shall notify Party A in writing of any change of its bank account within seven (7) business days prior to such change. The Parties agree that any payment of the above Service Fees shall, in principle, not cause operating difficulty to any Party in the year when such payment is made. For the above purpose and to the extent of realizing the above principle, Party B may agree to postpone any payment of the Service Fees by Party A, or upon mutual consultation, adjust the payment ratio and/or specific amount of the Service Fees payable by Party A to Party B under Article 3.1 hereof in writing. 3.6 The Service Fees that shall be paid by Party A to Party B under Article 3.1.3 shall be determined separately by the Parties according to the nature of the Service and workload. 4 Article 4 Obligations of Party A 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 The Service provided by Party B hereunder shall be exclusive. During the term of this Agreement and without the prior written consent of Party B, Party A shall not sign any agreement with any other third parties, nor accept, in any other form, other Services provided to it by such third parties that are identical or similar to the Service of Party B. Party A shall, before November 30 of each year, provide Party B with the Annual Business Plan for next year that has been confirmed by Party A so that Party B can prepare Service plans in respect thereof and increase any software, Equipment, personnel and technical service capacity required by it. Where Party A requires Party B to increase additional Equipment or personnel on an ad hoc basis, it shall negotiate with Party B at least fifteen (15) days prior to such increase so as to reach a unanimous agreement between the Parties. To facilitate the provision of the Service by Party B, Party A shall provide Party B with the relevant information required by it in a timely manner according to the requirements of Party B. Party A shall pay the Service Fees in full to Party B as scheduled in accordance with Article 3 hereof. Party A shall maintain its good reputation, actively expand its business and strive for the optimization of its interest. 4.6 During the term hereof, Party A agrees to cooperate with Party B and its parent companies (including direct or indirect) to conduct an audit on connected transactions and all other audits, and to provide Party B, its parent companies or any auditor entrusted by them with the information and materials relating to the operation of Party A, its business, clients, finance and employees. Party A also grants its consent to the disclosure of such information and materials by the parent companies of Party B for the satisfaction of any regulatory requirements of the countries on which their securities are listed. Article 5 Intellectual Property 5.1 Any intellectual property originally owned by Party B or obtained during the term hereof, including the intellectual property of work products created during the provision of the Service shall be the property of Party B. 5.2 As the development of Party A’s Business is premised on the Service provided by Party B hereunder, Party A agrees to make the following arrangements in respect of the Business Related Technologies developed by Party A on the basis of such Service: (1) (2) if the Business Related Technologies are further developed by Party A due to the entrustment of Party B, or jointly developed by Party A and Party B, their ownership and the right to apply for patent in relation thereto shall belong to Party B. if the Business Related Technologies are further developed solely by Party A, the ownership of such Business Related Technologies shall belong to Party A, provided that (A) Party A shall inform Party B of the details of such technologies in a timely manner and provide Party B with the relevant information required by it; (B) if Party A intends to license or transfer such technologies, it shall first transfer such technologies or grant an exclusive license in respect thereof to Party B subject to the mandatory requirements of the Laws of the PRC. Party B may use such technologies within the specific scope of transfer or authorization (but Party B shall have the right to decide whether to accept the transfer or license); Party A shall only transfer the ownership of such technologies or grant a license in respect thereof to any third party on the conditions not more favorable than those offered to Party B (including but not limited to the transfer price or license fee) when Party B gives up the pre-emptive right in 5 respect of the ownership of such technology or an exclusive license to use the same, and shall guarantee that such third parties will fully comply and perform the obligations of Party A hereunder; (C) save for the circumstances described in (B) above, Party B shall have the right to request for the purchase of such technologies during the term hereof; Party A shall give its consent to such purchase request made by Party B subject to the mandatory requirements of the Laws of the PRC, and the purchase price shall be the lowest price permitted by the Laws of the PRC then in force. 5.3 If Party B is licensed to use the Business Related Technologies exclusively pursuant to paragraph (2) of Article 5.2 hereof, such license shall be made according to the following requirements: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) the term of the license shall not be less than five (5) years (from the effective date of the relevant license agreement); the scope of the license shall be set at the greatest possible extent; during the term of the license and within scope thereof, no Party (including Party A) other than Party B shall in any way use or license others to use such technologies; without violating the conditions set forth in paragraph (3) of Article 5.3, Party A shall have right to decide in its sole discretion to grant further licenses to other third parties in respect of such technologies; upon expiry of the license, Party B shall have the right to request for the renewal of the license agreement, and Party A shall give its consent in respect thereof. The terms of the license agreement shall remain unchanged, except for those changes agreed by Party B. 5.4 Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of Article 5.2 above, all applications for patent with respect to any Business Related Technologies set forth in such paragraph shall be made according to the following requirements: (1) (2) (3) if Party A intends to apply for patent with respect to any Business Related Technologies set forth in such paragraph, it shall obtain the prior written consent from Party B. Party A shall only apply for patent on its own or transfer such right to application to any third party when Party B gives up to purchase such right to application for the Business Related Technologies. To the extent that Party A transfers the right to application for patent as described above, Party A shall guarantee that such third party will fully comply and perform the obligations of Party A hereunder; the conditions on which Party A transfers the right to application for patent to a third party (including but not limited to the transfer price) shall not be more favorable than those offered to Party B under paragraph (3) of this Article 5.4. during the term of this Agreement, Party B may at any time require Party A to make an application for patent with respect to such Business Related Technologies, and has the discretion to decide whether to purchase the right of such patent application. Upon request by Party B, Party A shall transfer such right to application for patent to Party B subject to the mandatory requirements of the Laws of the PRC, and the transfer price shall be the lowest price permitted by the Laws of the PRC then in force; Party B shall make patent applications after obtaining the right to application for patent with respect to the Business Related Technologies. On obtaining the patent, Party B shall become the legitimate owner of such patent. 6 5.5 Each of the Parties warrant to the other Party that it will indemnify the other Party against any and all economic losses suffered by the other Party due to its infringement of others’ intellectual property right (including copyright, trademark, patent right and proprietary technologies). Article 6 Obligation of Confidentiality 6.1 During the term of this Agreement, all Customer Information relating to Party A’s Business and the Service provided by Party B, as well as other relevant materials (hereinafter the “Customer Information”) shall be jointly owned by the Parties. 6.2 Regardless of whether this Agreement has terminated or not, the Parties shall keep in strict confidence all the trade secrets, proprietary information and customer information and all other information of a confidential nature about the other Parties known by them during the execution and performance of this Agreement (hereinafter collectively the “Confidential Information”). Unless a prior written consent is obtained from the Party disclosing the Confidential Information or unless it is required to be disclosed to third parties according to the relevant laws and regulations or the requirement of the country on which any affiliate of a Party is listed, the Party receiving the Confidential Information shall not disclose to any third party any Confidential Information. The receiving Party shall not use or indirectly use any Confidential Information other than for the purpose of performing this Agreement. 6.3 The following information shall not be deemed as Confidential Information: (a) (b) (c) any information that has been legally known by receiving Party before as evidenced by written documents; any information entering the public domain not attributable to the fault of the receiving Party; or any information lawfully acquired by the receiving Party through other sources after its receipt of such information. 6.4 The receiving Party may disclose the Confidential information to its relevant employees, agents or professionals retained by it. However, the receiving Party shall ensure that the aforesaid personnel shall comply with the relevant terms and conditions of this Agreement and be responsible for any liability incurred in connection with any breach by such personnel of the relevant terms and conditions hereof. 6.5 Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, the effect of this Article shall not be affected by the termination of this Agreement. Article 7 Representations and Warranties by Party A Party A hereby represents and warrants to Party B as follows: 7.1 It is a company with limited liability duly incorporated and legally existing under the Laws of the PRC with an independent legal person status, has full and independent legal status and legal capacity to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and may act independently as a party to lawsuit. 7.2 It has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all the other documents to be signed by it in relation to the transaction referred to herein, and has the full power and authority to complete the transaction referred to herein. This Agreement shall be executed and delivered by it legally and properly. This Agreement constitutes the legal and binding obligations on it and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. 7 7.3 7.4 7.5 It has the complete business licenses necessary for its operation as of the effective date hereof and adequate rights and qualifications to operate Party A’s Business being conducted by it in China. It shall, within fifteen (15) business days after the close of each quarter, provide Party B with the financial statements of such quarter and the budget for the next quarter, and shall, within thirty (30) business days after the close of each year, provide Party B with the financial statement of such year and the budget for the next year. It shall notify Party B promptly of any circumstance that has or may have a material adverse effect on Party A’s Business and its operation, and shall use its best effort to prevent the occurrence of such circumstance and/or increase of losses. 7.6 Without the written consent of Party B, Party A shall not in any way dispose of any asset that is of significance to Party A, nor change the existing shareholding structure of Party A. 7.7 Once Party B makes a written request, Party A shall use all its trade receivables and/or all other assets that are legally owned and may be disposed of by it at that time in the manner permitted by the Laws then in effect as the guarantee for the performance of its payment obligation under Article 3 hereof. 7.8 It shall indemnify and hold Party B harmless against all losses suffered or likely to be suffered by it due to the provision of the Service by Party B, including without limitation, any loss resulting from any litigation, demand, arbitration or claim by any third party against it or from administrative investigation or penalty by government authorities, provided, however, that no indemnification is available for any losses caused by a willful default or gross negligence of Party B. Article 8 Representations and Warranties by Party B Party B hereby represents and warrants to Party A as follows: 8.1 It is a company with limited liability duly incorporated and legally existing under the Laws of the PRC with an independent legal person status. It has full and independent legal status and legal capacity to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and may act independently as a party to lawsuit. 8.2 9.1 9.2 It has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and all the other documents to be signed by it in relation to the transaction referred to herein, and has the full power and authority to complete the transaction referred to herein. This Agreement shall be executed and delivered by it legally and properly. This Agreement constitutes the legal and binding obligations on it and is enforceable against it in accordance with its terms. Article 9 Term of Agreement This Agreement shall be formed from the date on which it is duly signed by the Parties. This Agreement shall, once formed, have retrospective effect from January 1, 2010. Unless otherwise expressly agreed herein or the Parties agree in writing to terminate this Agreement, this Agreement shall have a term of twenty (20) years. The Parties shall, within three months prior to the expiry of their respective business terms, complete all formalities in relation to the approval and registration for the extension of their business terms so that the term of this Agreement can be continued. 9.3 Upon termination hereof, Party A and Party B shall continue to observe their respective obligations under Article 6 hereof. 8 10.1 Any notice, request, demand and other correspondences required by this Agreement or made in accordance with this Agreement shall be delivered in writing to the relevant Party. 10.2 Any such notice or other correspondences shall be deemed to have been delivered, if sent by facsimile or telex, when it is sent, and if delivered in person, when it is delivered, and if sent by post, five (5) days after it was posted. Article 10 Notice Article 11 Liabilities for Breach of Contract 11.1 The Parties agree and confirm that, if any Party (hereinafter the “Defaulting Party”) substantially violates any of the provisions herein or substantially fails or delays to perform any of the obligations hereunder, such violation or failure shall constitute a default under this Agreement (hereinafter a “Default”), and the non-defaulting Party shall have the right to require the Defaulting Party to rectify such Default or take remedial measures within a reasonable period. If the Defaulting Party fails to rectify such Default or take remedial measures within such a reasonable period or within ten (10) days after the non- defaulting Party notifies the Defaulting Party in writing and require it to rectify the Default, then the non-defaulting Party shall have the right to decide: (1) to terminate this Agreement and require the Defaulting Party to make compensation for all damages; or (2) to require the performance by the Defaulting Party of its obligations hereunder compulsorily and demand the Defaulting Party to make compensation for all damages. 11.2 Notwithstanding Article 11.1 above, the Parties agree and confirm that in no circumstances shall Party A terminate this Agreement for whatever cause, unless otherwise required by the Laws or herein. 11.3 Notwithstanding any other provisions herein, the effect of this Article shall not be affected by the termination of this Agreement. Article 12 Force Majeure If, due to earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire, war, computer virus, design defect of instrumental software, internet hacking, change of polices or Laws, and other events of force majeure that are unforeseeable or the consequences of which are unpreventable or unavoidable, the ability of a Party to perform this Agreement is directly affected or it fails to perform this Agreement pursuant to the conditions agreed by the Parties, the Party affected by such an event of force majeure shall notify the other Party immediately of the same by facsimile and, within thirty (30) days after notifying the other Party, provide a detailed account of the event of force majeure and the documentation showing the reasons for its being unable to perform or its delay in the performance of this Agreement. Such documentation shall be issued by a public notary organization in the locality of such event of force majeure. The Parties shall, in accordance with the extent to which the performance of this Agreement is affected by an event of force majeure, decide on whether the performance of part of the obligations hereunder shall be waived or delayed. The Parties shall not be liable for making compensation for any economic loss suffered by them due to the event of force majeure. 9 Article 13 Miscellaneous 13.1 This Agreement is executed in Chinese in two (2) originals, with one (1) original to be retained by each Party hereto. 13.2 The formation, effectiveness, performance, amendment, interpretation and termination of this Agreement shall be governed by the Laws of the PRC. 13.3 Any disputes arising out of and in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved through consultations among the Parties. If the Parties cannot reach an agreement regarding such disputes within thirty (30) days of their occurrence, such disputes shall be submitted to China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration in Beijing in accordance with the arbitration rules of such Commission currently in force at the time when the application for arbitration is made, and the arbitration award shall be final and binding on the Parties. 13.4 None of the rights, powers and remedies granted to any Party by any provisions herein shall preclude any other rights, powers and remedies available to such Party at Laws and under the other provisions of this Agreement, nor shall the exercise by a Party of its rights, powers and remedies preclude any exercise by such Party of its other rights, powers and remedies. 13.5 No failure or delay by a Party in exercising any of its rights, powers and remedies hereunder or in accordance with Laws (hereinafter the “Party’s Rights”) shall result in a waiver thereof, nor shall the waiver of any single or partial exercise of the Party’s Rights preclude such Party from exercising such rights in any other way and exercising the other Party’s Rights. 13.6 The headings of the provisions herein are for reference only, and in no circumstances shall such headings be used for or affect the interpretation of the provisions hereof. 13.7 Each provision contained herein shall be severable and independent from each of other provisions, and if at any time any one or more provisions herein become(s) invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions herein shall not be affected as a result thereof. 13.8 Any amendments or supplements to this Agreement shall be made in writing, and shall become effective only when duly signed by the Parties to this Agreement. 13.9 Unless otherwise agreed herein, no Party shall transfer any of its rights and/or obligations hereunder to any third parties without the prior written consent of the other Party. 13.10 This Agreement shall be binding on the legal successors of the Parties. 13.11 The Parties undertake that they will legally declare and pay all taxes on the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, respectively. 13.12 This Agreement is the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes all previous oral and written agreements, contracts, understandings and communications existing between the Parties with respect to such subject matter. [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank] 10 IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Parties have caused this Exclusive Technical Service Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written. [Signature Page] Party A: Shanghai The9 Information Technology Co., Ltd. (Company chop) [Chop affixed] Signature: /s/ Wang Yong Name: Wang Yong Position: Legal Representative Party B: The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Company chop) [Chop affixed] Signature: /s/ Wang Yong Name: Wang Yong Position: Legal Representative Exclusive Technical Service Agreement – Signature Page Significant and Other Principal Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities of The Registrant Exhibit 8.1 Wholly-owned subsidiaries Name of Subsidiary GameNow.net (Hong Kong) Limited China The9 Interactive Limited 9Dream Limited China Crown Technology Limited The9 Development Center Limited Asian Way Development Limited New Star International Development Limited TDC (Asia) Limited Red5 Singapore Pte. Ltd. (formerly known as The9 Singapore Pte. Ltd.) The9 Interactive, Inc. The9 Korea Co., Ltd. Red5 Korea, LLC The9 Computer Technology Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. China The9 Interactive (Shanghai) Limited China The9 Interactive (Beijing) Limited Jiu Jing Era Information Technology (Beijing) Limited Jiu Tuo (Shanghai) Information Technology Limited Majority-owned subsidiaries Name of Subsidiary Red 5 Studios, Inc. Red 5 Studios Entertainment Holdings Limited Red 5 Studios Entertainment Ireland Limited Affiliated entities Jurisdiction of Incorporation Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong British Virgin Islands Singapore Delaware, USA Korea Korea China China China China China Jurisdiction of Incorporation Delaware, USA Ireland Ireland Name of Subsidiary Shanghai Huopu Cloud Computing Terminal Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai The9 Information Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Jiucheng Advertisement Co., Ltd. Shanghai Jiushi Interactive Network Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Fire Wing Information Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai The9 Educational Software Technology Co., Ltd. Jurisdiction of Incorporation China China China China China China Exhibit 12.1 Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 I, Jun Zhu, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of The9 Limited. (the “Company”); 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: April 18, 2013 By: /s/ Jun Zhu Name: Jun Zhu Title: Chief Executive Officer Exhibit 12.2 Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 I, George Lai, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of The9 Limited (the “Company”); 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The Company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The Company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: April 18, 2013 By: /s/ George Lai Name: George Lai Title: Chief Financial Officer Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Exhibit 13.1 In connection with the Annual Report of The9 Limited (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Jun Zhu, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: April 18, 2013 By: /s/ Jun Zhu Name: Jun Zhu Title: Chief Executive Officer Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Exhibit 13.2 In connection with the Annual Report of The9 Limited (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, George Lai, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: April 18, 2013 By: /s/ George Lai Name: George Lai Title: Chief Financial Officer [Letterhead of Maples and Calder] Exhibit 15.1 Our ref: JJH\604835\6028963v1 Direct +852 3690 7444 Email jack.huang@maplesandcalder.com The9 Limited Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road Zhang Jiang Hi-Tech Park Pudong New Area, Pudong Shanghai 201203 People’s Republic of China April 18, 2013 Dear Sirs, The9 Limited (the “Company”) We consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Cayman Islands Taxation” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20- F for the year ended December 31, 2012, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the month of April 2013. Yours faithfully /s/ Maples and Calder Maples and Calder [Letterhead of Zhong Lun Law Firm] Exhibit 15.2 April 18, 2013 The9 Limited Building No. 3, 690 Bibo Road Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park Pudong New Area, Pudong Shanghai 201203 People’s Republic of China Dear Sirs, We consent to the reference to our firm under the headings of “Government Regulations” and “Arrangements with Affiliated PRC Entities” in The9 Limited’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for year ended December 31, 2012, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the month of April 2013. Yours faithfully, /s/ Zhong Lun Law Firm Zhong Lun Law Firm [Letterhead of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP] CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM Exhibit 15.3 We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-127700, No. 333- 156306 and No. 333-168780) of The9 Limited of our reports dated April 18, 2013 relating to the consolidated financial statements of The9 Limited and the effectiveness of The9 Limited’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F of The9 Limited for the year ended December 31, 2012. /s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Shanghai China April 18, 2013 

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