As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 8, 2010
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NETEASE.COM, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
| Cayman Islands | Not Applicable | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
26/F, SP Tower D
Tsinghua Science Park Building 8
No. 1 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District
Beijing 100084, People’s Republic of China
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
NetEase.com, Inc. 2009 Restricted Share Unit Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc.
400 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10017
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(212) 750-6474
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | x. | Accelerated filer | ¨. | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ¨. (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨. | |||
Copies to:
Paul W. Boltz, Jr., Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
Suite 1601, Chater House
8 Connaught Road Central
Hong Kong S.A.R.
(852) 3664 6519
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered (1) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||||
| Ordinary Shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (2) |
323,694,050(3) | US$1.5922 (4) | US$515,385,666 (4) | US$36,747 (4) | ||||
| (1) | Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement includes an indeterminate number of additional shares which may be offered and issued to prevent dilution from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions as provided in the above-referenced plan. |
| (2) | These shares may be represented by the Registrant’s American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each of which represents 25 ordinary shares. American Depositary Shares issuable upon deposit of the securities registered hereby have been registered under separate registration statements on Form F-6 (Registration Nos. 333-11738 and 333-115868). |
| (3) | These shares are to be offered under the NetEase.com, Inc. 2009 Restricted Share Unit Plan (the “Plan”). |
| (4) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Pursuant to Rule 457(h) and Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price is calculated as the product of 323,694,050 shares issuable under the Plan multiplied by the average of the high and low prices for the Registrant’s ADSs, as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 4, 2010, or US$39.805. |
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
| ITEM 1. | PLAN INFORMATION.* |
| ITEM 2. | REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.* |
| * | The information required by Item 1 and Item 2 of Part I of Form S-8 is omitted from this filing in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the introductory note to Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in this Part I will be delivered to the participants in the Plan covered by this Registration Statement as required by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. |
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
| ITEM 3. | INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE. |
The following documents filed by NetEase.com, Inc. (the “Registrant”) with Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) are incorporated as of their respective dates in this Registration Statement by reference:
| (a) | The Registrant’s latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on June 30, 2009 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008; |
| (b) | All other reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) since December 31, 2008; and |
| (c) | The description of the Registrant’s ordinary shares which is contained in its Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act on March 27, 2000, including any amendment or report subsequently filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with Commission rules shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
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| ITEM 4. | DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 5. | INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 6. | INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. |
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company’s articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
Article 125 of the Registrant’s articles of association provide that the Registrant may indemnify its directors, officers and trustee acting in relation to any of its affairs against actions, proceedings, costs, charges, losses, damages and expenses incurred by reason of any act done or omitted in the execution of their duty in their capacities as such, except if they acted in a willfully negligent manner or defaulted in any action against them.
All of the Registrant’s current directors and officers have entered into indemnification agreements in which the Registrant agrees to indemnify, to the fullest extent allowed by Cayman Islands law, the Registrant’s charter documents or other applicable law, those directors and officers from any liability or expenses, unless the liability or expense arises from the director’s or the officer’s own willful negligence or willful default. The indemnification agreements also specify the procedures to be followed with respect to indemnification.
The Registrant has obtained a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures the Registrant’s directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment under certain circumstances.
| ITEM 7. | EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED. |
Not applicable.
| ITEM 8. | EXHIBITS. |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). |
| 3.3 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant dated as of June 6, 2003 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 000-30666) for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Commission on June 27, 2003). |
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| 4.1 | Specimen American Depositary Receipt of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). |
| 4.2 | Specimen Stock Certificate of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). |
| 4.3 | Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, The Bank of New York and holders of the American Depositary Receipts (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-6EF (File No. 333-115868) filed with the Commission on May 26, 2004). |
| 5.1* | Opinion of Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands counsel to the Registrant, regarding the legality of the ordinary shares being registered. |
| 10.1* | The Registrant’s 2009 Restricted Share Unit Plan. |
| 23.1* | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. |
| 23.2 | Consent of Maples and Calder (contained in Exhibit 5.1). |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration Statement). |
| * | Filed herewith. |
| ITEM 9. | UNDERTAKINGS. |
| (a) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: |
| (i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
| (ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement; and |
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| (iii) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to that information in the Registration Statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement;
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (b) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (c) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Beijing, China on January 8, 2010.
| NETEASE.COM, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ William Lei Ding | |
| Name: | William Lei Ding | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints, severally and not jointly, Mr. William Lei Ding and Mr. Onward Choi, with full power to act alone, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ William Lei Ding |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| William Lei Ding | ||||
| /s/ Onward Choi |
Acting Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Onward Choi | ||||
| /s/ Alice Cheng |
Director |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Alice Cheng | ||||
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| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Denny Lee |
Director |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Denny Lee | ||||
| /s/ Joseph Tong |
Director |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Joseph Tong | ||||
| /s/ Lun Feng |
Director |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Lun Feng | ||||
| /s/ Michael Leung |
Director |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Michael Leung | ||||
| /s/ Michael Tong |
Director |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Michael Tong | ||||
| /s/ Jasmine Marrero |
Authorized Representative in the United States |
January 8, 2010 | ||
| Name: | Jasmine Marrero | |
| Title: | Manager, Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc. |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
| EXHIBIT NUMBER |
DESCRIPTION | |
| 3.1 | Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). | |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). | |
| 3.3 | Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Association of the Registrant dated as of June 6, 2003 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 20-F (File No. 000-30666) for the year ended December 31, 2002 filed with the Commission on June 27, 2003). | |
| 4.1 | Specimen American Depositary Receipt of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). | |
| 4.2 | Specimen Stock Certificate of the Registrant (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-11724) filed with the Commission on May 15, 2000). | |
| 4.3 | Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, The Bank of New York and holders of the American Depositary Receipts (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form F-6EF (File No. 333-115868) filed with the Commission on May 26, 2004). | |
| 5.1* | Opinion of Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands counsel to the Registrant, regarding the legality of the ordinary shares being registered. | |
| 10.1* | The Registrant’s 2009 Restricted Share Unit Plan. | |
| 23.1* | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | |
| 23.2 | Consent of Maples and Calder (contained in Exhibit 5.1). | |
| 24.1 | Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page of this Registration Statement). | |
| * | Filed herewith. |
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Exhibit 5.1
| Our ref | AEO\302157\3600767v4 | |
| Direct tel | +852 2971 3081 | |
| alice.ooi@maplesandcalder.com |
NetEase.com, Inc.
26/F, SP Tower D
Tsinghua Science Park Building 8
No. 1 Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District
Beijing 100084 People’s Republic of China
4 January 2010
Dear Sirs
NetEase.com, Inc.
We have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be filed by NetEase.com, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated with limited liability (the “Registrant”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of an amount of ordinary shares of the Registrant (the “Shares”) for issuance pursuant to its 2009 Restricted Share Unit Plan (as adopted and effective on 17 November 2009) (the “Plan”).
As Cayman Islands counsel to the Registrant, we have examined the corporate authorisations of the Registrant in connection with the Plan and the issue of the Shares by the Registrant pursuant thereto. We have assumed that the Shares will be issued in accordance with the Plan and the resolutions authorising the issue.
It is our opinion that the Shares to be issued by the Registrant have been duly and validly authorised, and when issued, sold and paid for in the manner described in the Plan and in accordance with the relevant resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Registrant (or any committee to whom the Board of Directors have delegated their powers with respect to administration of the Plan) and the appropriate entries entered in the Register of Members of the Registrant, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and further consent to all references to us in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
Yours faithfully,
/s/ Maples and Calder
Maples and Calder
Exhibit 10.1
NETEASE.COM, INC.
2009 RESTRICTED SHARE UNIT PLAN
1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business.
2. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply as used herein and in the individual Award Agreements except as defined otherwise in an individual Award Agreement. In the event a term is separately defined in an individual Award Agreement, such definition shall supersede the definition contained in this Section 2.
(a) “Administrator” means the Board or any of the Committees appointed to administer the Plan.
(b) “ADS” means an American Depositary Share of the Company, each of which represents twenty-five (25) Ordinary Shares as of the effective date of the Plan.
(c) “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
(d) “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of U.S. federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the laws of the Cayman Islands and the People’s Republic of China, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
(e) “Assumed” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed by the Company or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the purchase price thereof, if applicable, which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award.
(f) “Award” means the grant of a Restricted Share Unit under the Plan.
(g) “Award Agreement” means the written agreement evidencing the grant of an Award executed by the Company and the Grantee, including any amendments thereto.
(h) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(i) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(j) “Committee” means any committee composed of members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
(k) “Company” means NetEase.com, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands, or any successor entity that adopts the Plan in connection with a Corporate Transaction.
(l) “Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.
(m) “Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated. In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws. A Grantee’s Continuous Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Grantee provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity. Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, in the event of any spin-off of a Related Entity, service as an Employee, Director or Consultant for such Related Entity following such spin-off shall be deemed to be Continuous Service for purposes of the Plan and any Award under the Plan. An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.
(n) “Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions to which the Company is a party:
(i) a reorganization or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated;
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including the capital stock of the Company’s subsidiary corporations) in connection with the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(iii) any reorganization in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such reorganization; or
(iv) acquisition by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more
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than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities, but excluding any such transaction that the Administrator determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.
(o) “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.
(p) “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right entitling the Grantee to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Ordinary Shares.
(q) “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.
(r) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(s) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Shares determined as follows:
(i) If the Shares are listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market or The NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such Shares (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Shares are listed (as determined by the Administrator) on the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Shares are regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Shares on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith.
(t) “Grantee” means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an Award under the Plan.
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(u) “Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(v) “Ordinary Share” means an ordinary share, US$0.00001 par value, of the Company.
(w) “Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(x) “Plan” means this 2009 Restricted Share Unit Plan.
(y) “Related Entity” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, as well as any entity which is deemed a variable interest entity of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary under applicable accounting principles.
(z) “Replaced” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction the Award is replaced with a comparable share award or a cash incentive program of the Company, the successor entity (if applicable) or Parent of either of them which preserves the compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or a more favorable) vesting schedule applicable to such Award. The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
(aa) “Restricted Share Units” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon the passage of time or the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator. Restricted Share Units may or may not be granted with Dividend Equivalent Rights.
(bb) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto.
(cc) “Share” means an Ordinary Share or an ADS.
(dd) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 9 below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards is 323,694,050 Shares. The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Shares.
(b) For purposes of calculating the number of Ordinary Shares issued under the Plan (and for purposes of calculating any limit set forth herein), the issuance of an ADS shall be deemed to be equal to a number of Ordinary Shares determined by multiplying (i) the number of ADSs issued by (ii) the ADS Multiplier. For purposes of the previous sentence, “ADS Multiplier” means the number of Ordinary Shares corresponding to one (1) ADS.
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(c) Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award) which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan. Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at the lower of their original purchase price or their Fair Market Value at the time of repurchase, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan. To the extent not prohibited by the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (or other established stock exchange or national market system on which the Shares are traded) or Applicable Law, any Shares covered by an Award which are surrendered (i) in payment of the Award purchase price or (ii) in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations incident to the purchase of an Award shall be deemed not to have been issued for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards under the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.
4. Administration of the Plan.
(a) Plan Administrator.
(i) Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers. With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.
(ii) Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees. With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws. Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. The Board may authorize one or more Officers to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Board determines from time to time.
(iii) Administration Errors. In the event an Award is granted in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection (a), such Award shall be presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;
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(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder;
(vi) to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s written consent;
(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any notice of award or Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;
(viii) to grant Awards to Employees, Directors and Consultants employed in different countries on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Plan; and
(ix) to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.
The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Administrator shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Administrator; provided that the Administrator may not exercise any right or power reserved to the Board. Any decision made, or action taken, by the Administrator or in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.
(c) Indemnification. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board and any Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be defended and indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law on an after-tax basis against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding
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that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same.
5. Eligibility. Awards may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants. An Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards.
6. Terms and Conditions of Awards.
(a) Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of Restricted Share Unit to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.
(b) Conditions of Award. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award including, but not limited to, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria. The performance criteria established by the Administrator may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following: (i) increase in share price, (ii) earnings per share, (iii) total shareholder return, (iv) operating margin, (v) gross margin, (vi) return on equity, (vii) return on assets, (viii) return on investment, (ix) operating income, (x) net operating income, (xi) pre-tax profit, (xii) cash flow, (xiii) revenue, (xiv) expenses, (xv) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation, (xvi) economic value added and (xvii) market share. The performance criteria may be applicable to the Company, Related Entities and/or any individual business units of the Company or any Related Entity. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award Agreement. In addition, the performance criteria shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards and any extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring item, as determined by the Administrator, occurring after the establishment of the performance criteria applicable to the Award intended to be performance-based compensation. Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of performance criteria in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Grantee’s rights with respect to an Award intended to be performance-based compensation.
(c) Acquisitions and Other Transactions. The Administrator may issue Awards under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution for, outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards in connection with the Company or a Related Entity acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in a Related Entity whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction.
(d) Deferral of Award Payment. The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon satisfaction of performance criteria or other event that absent
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the election would entitle the Grantee to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award. The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.
(e) Separate Programs. The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.
(f) Deferral. If the vesting or receipt of Shares under an Award is deferred to a later date, any amount (whether denominated in Shares or cash) paid in addition to the original number of Shares subject to such Award will not be treated as an increase in the number of Shares subject to the Award if the additional amount is based either on a reasonable rate of interest or on one or more predetermined actual investments such that the amount payable by the Company at the later date will be based on the actual rate of return of a specific investment (including any decrease as well as any increase in the value of an investment).
(g) Early Election. The Award Agreement may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Grantee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to receive the Ordinary Shares underlying any part or all of the Award prior to full vesting of the Award. Any unvested Shares received pursuant to such election may be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company or a Related Entity or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate.
(h) Term of Award. The term of each Award shall be the term stated in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the specified term of any Award shall not include any period for which the Grantee has elected to defer the receipt of the Shares or cash issuable pursuant to the Award.
(i) Transferability of Awards. Awards shall be transferable (i) by will and by the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) during the lifetime of the Grantee, to the extent and in the manner authorized by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may designate one or more beneficiaries of the Grantee’s Award in the event of the Grantee’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Administrator.
(j) Time of Granting Awards. The date of grant of an Award shall for all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator.
7. Award Purchase Price, Consideration and Taxes.
(a) Purchase Price. The purchase price, if any, for an Award shall be determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Award issued pursuant to Section 6(c), above, the purchase price for the Award shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the relevant instrument evidencing the agreement to issue such Award.
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(b) Consideration. Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon purchase of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator. In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following:
(i) cash;
(ii) check;
(iii) surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate purchase price of the Shares as to which said Award shall be purchased;
(iv) at the determination of the Administrator, the provision of prior services to the Company or any Related Entity; or
(v) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
The Administrator may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard forms of Award Agreement described in Section 4(b)(iv), or by other means, grant Awards which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment for the Shares or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.
(c) Taxes. No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any U.S. or non-U.S., federal, state, provincial, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of Shares. Upon vesting of an Award the Company shall withhold or collect from the Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, including, but not limited to, by surrender of the whole number of Shares covered by the Award sufficient to satisfy the minimum applicable tax withholding obligations incident to the vesting of an Award (reduced to the lowest whole number of Shares if such number of Shares withheld would result in withholding a fractional Share with any remaining tax withholding settled in cash).
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8. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Shares pursuant to the vesting or any other provision of an Award is or may be unlawful under Applicable Laws, the vesting or right to otherwise receive Shares pursuant to the terms of an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Shares under federal or state laws.
9. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company and Section 10 hereof, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the purchase price of each such outstanding Award, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a share split, reverse share split, share dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii) any other transaction with respect to Shares including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or shares, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of shares or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” In the event of any distribution of cash or other assets to shareholders other than a normal cash dividend, the Administrator shall also make such adjustments as provided in this Section 9 or substitute, exchange or grant Awards to effect such adjustments (collectively “adjustments”). Any such adjustments to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards. In connection with the foregoing adjustments, the Administrator may, in its discretion, prohibit the issuance of Shares, cash or other consideration pursuant to Awards during certain periods of time. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award.
10. Corporate Transaction. In the event of a Corporate Transaction each Award which is at the time outstanding under the Plan shall automatically become fully vested and be released from any restrictions on transfer and repurchase or forfeiture rights, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, for all of the Shares at the time represented by such Award unless the Award is Assumed by the successor corporation or the Parent thereof in connection with the Corporate Transaction. Effective upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Award under the Plan shall terminate unless the Award is Assumed by the successor corporation or the Parent thereof in connection with the Corporate Transaction.
11. Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the Company. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated. Subject to Applicable Laws, Awards may be granted under the Plan upon its becoming effective.
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12. Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.
(a) The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s shareholders to the extent such approval is required by Applicable Laws. In addition, in order to assure the viability of Awards granted to participants employed in various jurisdictions, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom applicable in the jurisdiction in which the participant resides or is employed. Moreover, the Administrator may approve such supplements to, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted that would violate any Applicable Laws.
(b) No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.
(c) No suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section 10 above) shall adversely affect any rights under Awards already granted to a Grantee.
13. Reservation of Shares.
(a) The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.
(b) The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
14. No Effect on Terms of Employment/Consulting Relationship. The Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the Grantee’s Continuous Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the right of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice.
15. No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans. Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. The Plan is not a “Pension Plan” or “Welfare Plan” under the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
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16. Unfunded Obligation. Grantees shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company. Any amounts payable to Grantees pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. Neither the Company nor any Related Entity shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations. The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Grantee account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any Related Entity and a Grantee, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Grantee or the Grantee’s creditors in any assets of the Company or a Related Entity. The Grantees shall have no claim against the Company or any Related Entity for any changes in the value of any assets that may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.
17. Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
18. Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the submission of the Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of the Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of Awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
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Exhibit 23.1
[PricewaterhouseCoopers Letterhead]
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report (No. 000-30666) dated June 30, 2009 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in NetEase.com, Inc’s Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian CPAs Limited Company
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
January 8, 2010