CORRESP Filing
NetEase, Inc.
Date: July 31, 2025 · CIK: 0001110646 · Accession: 0001104659-25-072393
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Reasoning
File numbers found in text: 000-30666
Referenced dates: July 2, 2025
Letter
VIA EDGAR Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission Washington, D.C. 20549 RE: NetEase, Inc. (the "Company") Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, File No. 000-30666
Dear Ms. Collins and Ms. Chen,
This letter sets forth the Company's responses to the comments contained in the letter dated July 2, 2025 from the staff (the " Staff ") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " Commission ") regarding the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on April 15, 2025 (the " 2024 Form 20-F "). The Staff's comments are repeated below in bold and are followed by the Company's responses thereto. All capitalized terms used but not defined in this letter shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the 2024 Form 20-F.
Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024
Introduction, page 1
1. Your definition of China or the PRC appears to exclude Hong Kong and Macau for purposes of describing the PRC rules, laws, regulation and regulatory authority or other legal, tax or finance matters. Please revise to remove the exclusion of Hong Kong and Macau from such definition. Clarify that all the legal and operational risks associated with having operations in the People's Republic of China (PRC) also apply to operations in Hong Kong and Macau. In this regard, ensure that your disclosure does not narrow risks related to operating in the PRC to mainland China only. Where appropriate, you may describe PRC law and then explain how law in Hong Kong and Macau differs from PRC law and describe any risks and consequences to the company associated with those laws.
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 2
In response to the Staff's comment, the Company respectfully proposes to revise the referenced disclosure as shown below in its future Form 20-F filings (with deletions shown as strike-through and additions underlined), subject to updates and adjustments to be made in connection with any material development of the subject matters being disclosed. Page reference is made to the 2024 Form 20-F to illustrate the approximate location of the disclosure.
Page 1:
· "China" or the "PRC" are to the People's Republic of China; and only in the context of describing PRC rules, laws, regulations, regulatory authority and other legal, tax or finance matters in this annual report, such terms exclude Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (also referred to as "China mainland" or "Chinese mainland" in this annual report);
Page 8:
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares involves significant risks. Below is a summary of material risks we face, organized under relevant headings. All the operational risks associated with being based in and having operations in China mainland also apply to operations in Hong Kong and Macau . With respect to the legal risks associated with being based in and having operations in China mainland, the laws, regulations and the discretion of China mainland governmental authorities discussed in this annual report are expected to apply to China mainland entities and businesses, rather than While entities or businesses in Hong Kong and Macau , which operate under a different set of laws from China mainland , our operations there could be exposed to similar legal risks if the laws applicable to China mainland become applicable to entities and businesses in Hong Kong and Macau in the future . These risks are discussed more fully in Item 3.D. "Key Information-Risk Factors."
In addition, the Company undertakes to thoroughly review the references of "China" or "PRC" to ensure that the relevant disclosure sufficiently addresses the risks relating to operating in China to the extent relevant and material.
Item 3. Key Information, page 5
2. We note changes you made to your disclosure on pages 7 and 55 relating to legal and operational risks associated with operating in China and PRC regulations. The Samples Letters to China-Based Companies sought specific disclosure relating to the risk that the PRC government may intervene or influence your operations at any time, or may exert more control over operations of your business, which could result in a material change in your operations and/or the value of your securities. It is unclear to us that there have been changes in the regulatory environment in the PRC since the filing of your December 31, 2022 Form 20-F that would warrant revised disclosure to mitigate the challenges you face and related disclosures. For additional guidance, refer to the Division of Corporation Finance's Sample Letter to China-Based Companies, issued December 2021 and July 2023. In future filings, please restore your disclosure.
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 3
In response to the Staff's comment, the Company respectfully proposes to revise the referenced disclosure as shown below in its future Form 20-F filings (with deletions shown as strike-through and additions underlined), subject to updates and adjustments to be made in connection with any material development of the subject matters being disclosed. Page reference is made to the 2024 Form 20-F to illustrate the approximate location of the disclosure.
Page 7:
The PRC government has significant authority in regulating our operations. If we fail to comply with the applicable regulations, policies or requirements, enforcement actions taken by the PRC government may intervene or influence our operations at any time. The PRC government has published new policies that affect various industries in recent years, including industries in which we operate, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any such action, once taken by the PRC government, could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors.
Page 55:
The PRC government's significant authority in regulating our operations and uncertainties Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes , and . Unlike the common law system, decided legal cases under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited less precedential value. In the late 1970s, the Chinese government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters. The overall effect of legislation enacted over the past 50 years has PRC laws and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments invested enterprises in China over the past several decades . However, many of these laws, regulations and legal requirements are relatively recent and may evolve quickly with little advance notice. The interpretation of many laws, regulations and rules may not always be uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules are evolving rapidly, and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and China mainland is geographically large and divided into various provinces and municipalities. As such, different regulations and policies may have different and varying applications and interpretations in different parts of China mainland, and it is possible that we may not be aware in a timely manner that we have been identified to be in violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the occurrence of the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 4
In addition, the PRC government has significant authority in regulating our operations. If we fail to comply with the applicable regulations, policies or requirements, enforcement actions taken by the PRC government may intervene or influence our operations at any time. The PRC government has recently published new policies that adversely affected certain industries, including the industries that our business may relate to our industry and our business , and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future further release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could further adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that the proposed revisions to the risk factor disclosure, as compared to the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, are intended to reflect the current economic and regulatory conditions in the PRC. The risks relating to doing business in China have been disclosed under the relevant headings in the 2024 Form 20-F filed on April 15, 2025 in accordance with the Division of Corporation Finance's Sample Letters to China-Based Companies issued in December 2021 and July 2023. The Company will continue to monitor developments in the PRC regulatory and economic environment and will update its disclosure as appropriate in future filings.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2023, page 117
3. You state the increase in net revenue from online games was attributable to strong performance of certain self-developed titles and mobile titles and certain licensed titles, which were partially offset by decreased net revenues from live streaming services. Similarly, you attribute the increase in cost of revenues from your games and related value-added services to an increase in royalty fees for certain licensed games and staff costs, which was partially offset by a decrease in revenue sharing costs. Where a material change in a line item is attributed to two or more factors, including any offsetting factors, please revise throughout your results of operations disclosure to include a quantified discussion of each identified factor. In addition, avoid using terms such as "principally" or "mainly." Refer to Item 5.A.1 of Form 20-F.
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 5
The Company respectfully acknowledges the Staff's comment. In its future Form 20-F filings, where a material change in a line item is attributed to two or more factors, including any offsetting factors, the Company will disclose the contribution of each identified factor in quantified terms to the extent reasonably practicable. The Company will also avoid using terms such as "principally" or "mainly" to the extent reasonably practicable.
For the Staff's reference, below is the updated disclosure marked to show proposed revisions against the disclosure in the 2024 Form 20-F as an example, for illustrative purposes only, of how the Company intends to expand its disclosures in future Form 20-F filings (with deletions shown as strike-through and additions underlined). Page reference is made to the 2024 Form 20-F to illustrate the approximate location of the disclosure. The Company will implement similar changes to other line items, where applicable.
Page 117:
Games and Related Value-added Services
Net revenues from games and related value-added services increased by 2.5% to RMB83.6 billion (US$11.5 billion) in 2024 from RMB81.6 billion in 2023 , with an increase , which was principally attributable to in net revenues from online games of RMB4.7 billion (US$640.3 million) driven by the strong performance of certain self-developed titles, such as Identity V , Naraka: Bladepoint PC and mobile games and certain licensed titles, which was partially offset by a decrease in decreased net revenues from live streaming services of RMB2.4 billion (US$323.7 million) . Net revenues from the operation of online games accounted for approximately 96.2% of this segment in 2024, compared to 92.9% in 2023.
Youdao
Net revenues from our Youdao segment increased by 4.4% to RMB5.6 billion (US$770.7 million) in 2024 from RMB5.4 billion in 2023 , with an increase in , which was mainly due to increased net revenues from its online marketing services of RMB643.1 million (US$88.1 million) , which was partially offset in part by a decrease in decreased net revenues from its learning services of RMB400.8 million (US$54.9 million) .
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Technology
Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 6
Page 118:
NetEase Cloud Music
Net revenues from our NetEase Cloud Music segment increased by 1.1% to RMB8.0 billion (US$1.1 billion) in 2024 from RMB7.9 billion in 2023 , with an increase in , which was mainly attributable to increased net revenues from online music services of RMB1.0 billion (US$137.5 million) as a result of the growth in sales of membership subscriptions, which was partially offset in part by a decrease in decreased net revenues from social entertainment services and others of RMB920.5 million (US$126.1 million) .
…
Cost of revenues from our games and related value-added services increased by 0.8% to RMB26.1 billion (US$3.6 billion) in 2024 from RMB25.9 billion in 2023 . , which was primarily due to This was driven by increases an increase in royalty fees related to certain licensed games of RMB1.5 billion (US$203.3 million) and staff costs of RMB1.0 billion (US$131.5 million) , which was partially offset by a decrease in revenue sharing costs with talent agencies of live streaming performers and other third parties of RMB2.2 billion (US$304.9 million) .
4. We note that in your earnings release furnished on February 20, 2025 and in several investor presentations, you separately discuss the percentage of net revenue generated from online games and mobile games such that it appears discrete financial information may be available. In addition, we note from your risk factor disclosures that profits from mobile games, even if the games are successful, are generally lower than profits generated from PC games. Please tell us your consideration to separately quantify revenue from mobile games and PC games for each period presented in an effort to add context to the revenue mix and its impact on your gross profit margins for your games and related value-added services segment.
The Company respectfully advises the Staff that net revenues from mobile games accounted for 67.0%, 75.2% and 72.7% of net revenues from the operation of online games in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the remaining portion attributable to net revenues from PC games (plus an immaterial amount of net revenues from games offered through game consoles, a recent development that was disclosed on pages 11 and 15 of the 2024 Form 20-F). Nonetheless, for the reasons specified below, the Company does not believe that separate quantification of net revenues from mobile games
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CORRESP 1 filename1.htm July 31, 2025 VIA EDGAR Ms. Kathleen Collins Ms. Chen Chen Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 RE: NetEase, Inc. (the "Company") Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024 File No. 000-30666 Dear Ms. Collins and Ms. Chen, This letter sets forth the Company's responses to the comments contained in the letter dated July 2, 2025 from the staff (the " Staff ") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " Commission ") regarding the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the Commission on April 15, 2025 (the " 2024 Form 20-F "). The Staff's comments are repeated below in bold and are followed by the Company's responses thereto. All capitalized terms used but not defined in this letter shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the 2024 Form 20-F. Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 Introduction, page 1 1. Your definition of China or the PRC appears to exclude Hong Kong and Macau for purposes of describing the PRC rules, laws, regulation and regulatory authority or other legal, tax or finance matters. Please revise to remove the exclusion of Hong Kong and Macau from such definition. Clarify that all the legal and operational risks associated with having operations in the People's Republic of China (PRC) also apply to operations in Hong Kong and Macau. In this regard, ensure that your disclosure does not narrow risks related to operating in the PRC to mainland China only. Where appropriate, you may describe PRC law and then explain how law in Hong Kong and Macau differs from PRC law and describe any risks and consequences to the company associated with those laws. Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 2 In response to the Staff's comment, the Company respectfully proposes to revise the referenced disclosure as shown below in its future Form 20-F filings (with deletions shown as strike-through and additions underlined), subject to updates and adjustments to be made in connection with any material development of the subject matters being disclosed. Page reference is made to the 2024 Form 20-F to illustrate the approximate location of the disclosure. Page 1: · "China" or the "PRC" are to the People's Republic of China; and only in the context of describing PRC rules, laws, regulations, regulatory authority and other legal, tax or finance matters in this annual report, such terms exclude Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (also referred to as "China mainland" or "Chinese mainland" in this annual report); Page 8: Summary of Risk Factors An investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares involves significant risks. Below is a summary of material risks we face, organized under relevant headings. All the operational risks associated with being based in and having operations in China mainland also apply to operations in Hong Kong and Macau . With respect to the legal risks associated with being based in and having operations in China mainland, the laws, regulations and the discretion of China mainland governmental authorities discussed in this annual report are expected to apply to China mainland entities and businesses, rather than While entities or businesses in Hong Kong and Macau , which operate under a different set of laws from China mainland , our operations there could be exposed to similar legal risks if the laws applicable to China mainland become applicable to entities and businesses in Hong Kong and Macau in the future . These risks are discussed more fully in Item 3.D. "Key Information-Risk Factors." In addition, the Company undertakes to thoroughly review the references of "China" or "PRC" to ensure that the relevant disclosure sufficiently addresses the risks relating to operating in China to the extent relevant and material. Item 3. Key Information, page 5 2. We note changes you made to your disclosure on pages 7 and 55 relating to legal and operational risks associated with operating in China and PRC regulations. The Samples Letters to China-Based Companies sought specific disclosure relating to the risk that the PRC government may intervene or influence your operations at any time, or may exert more control over operations of your business, which could result in a material change in your operations and/or the value of your securities. It is unclear to us that there have been changes in the regulatory environment in the PRC since the filing of your December 31, 2022 Form 20-F that would warrant revised disclosure to mitigate the challenges you face and related disclosures. For additional guidance, refer to the Division of Corporation Finance's Sample Letter to China-Based Companies, issued December 2021 and July 2023. In future filings, please restore your disclosure. 2 Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 3 In response to the Staff's comment, the Company respectfully proposes to revise the referenced disclosure as shown below in its future Form 20-F filings (with deletions shown as strike-through and additions underlined), subject to updates and adjustments to be made in connection with any material development of the subject matters being disclosed. Page reference is made to the 2024 Form 20-F to illustrate the approximate location of the disclosure. Page 7: The PRC government has significant authority in regulating our operations. If we fail to comply with the applicable regulations, policies or requirements, enforcement actions taken by the PRC government may intervene or influence our operations at any time. The PRC government has published new policies that affect various industries in recent years, including industries in which we operate, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any such action, once taken by the PRC government, could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless and could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Page 55: The PRC government's significant authority in regulating our operations and uncertainties Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes , and . Unlike the common law system, decided legal cases under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited less precedential value. In the late 1970s, the Chinese government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters. The overall effect of legislation enacted over the past 50 years has PRC laws and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments invested enterprises in China over the past several decades . However, many of these laws, regulations and legal requirements are relatively recent and may evolve quickly with little advance notice. The interpretation of many laws, regulations and rules may not always be uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules are evolving rapidly, and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and China mainland is geographically large and divided into various provinces and municipalities. As such, different regulations and policies may have different and varying applications and interpretations in different parts of China mainland, and it is possible that we may not be aware in a timely manner that we have been identified to be in violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the occurrence of the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. 3 Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 4 In addition, the PRC government has significant authority in regulating our operations. If we fail to comply with the applicable regulations, policies or requirements, enforcement actions taken by the PRC government may intervene or influence our operations at any time. The PRC government has recently published new policies that adversely affected certain industries, including the industries that our business may relate to our industry and our business , and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future further release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could further adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company respectfully advises the Staff that the proposed revisions to the risk factor disclosure, as compared to the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, are intended to reflect the current economic and regulatory conditions in the PRC. The risks relating to doing business in China have been disclosed under the relevant headings in the 2024 Form 20-F filed on April 15, 2025 in accordance with the Division of Corporation Finance's Sample Letters to China-Based Companies issued in December 2021 and July 2023. The Company will continue to monitor developments in the PRC regulatory and economic environment and will update its disclosure as appropriate in future filings. Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Results of Operations Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2023, page 117 3. You state the increase in net revenue from online games was attributable to strong performance of certain self-developed titles and mobile titles and certain licensed titles, which were partially offset by decreased net revenues from live streaming services. Similarly, you attribute the increase in cost of revenues from your games and related value-added services to an increase in royalty fees for certain licensed games and staff costs, which was partially offset by a decrease in revenue sharing costs. Where a material change in a line item is attributed to two or more factors, including any offsetting factors, please revise throughout your results of operations disclosure to include a quantified discussion of each identified factor. In addition, avoid using terms such as "principally" or "mainly." Refer to Item 5.A.1 of Form 20-F. 4 Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 5 The Company respectfully acknowledges the Staff's comment. In its future Form 20-F filings, where a material change in a line item is attributed to two or more factors, including any offsetting factors, the Company will disclose the contribution of each identified factor in quantified terms to the extent reasonably practicable. The Company will also avoid using terms such as "principally" or "mainly" to the extent reasonably practicable. For the Staff's reference, below is the updated disclosure marked to show proposed revisions against the disclosure in the 2024 Form 20-F as an example, for illustrative purposes only, of how the Company intends to expand its disclosures in future Form 20-F filings (with deletions shown as strike-through and additions underlined). Page reference is made to the 2024 Form 20-F to illustrate the approximate location of the disclosure. The Company will implement similar changes to other line items, where applicable. Page 117: Games and Related Value-added Services Net revenues from games and related value-added services increased by 2.5% to RMB83.6 billion (US$11.5 billion) in 2024 from RMB81.6 billion in 2023 , with an increase , which was principally attributable to in net revenues from online games of RMB4.7 billion (US$640.3 million) driven by the strong performance of certain self-developed titles, such as Identity V , Naraka: Bladepoint PC and mobile games and certain licensed titles, which was partially offset by a decrease in decreased net revenues from live streaming services of RMB2.4 billion (US$323.7 million) . Net revenues from the operation of online games accounted for approximately 96.2% of this segment in 2024, compared to 92.9% in 2023. Youdao Net revenues from our Youdao segment increased by 4.4% to RMB5.6 billion (US$770.7 million) in 2024 from RMB5.4 billion in 2023 , with an increase in , which was mainly due to increased net revenues from its online marketing services of RMB643.1 million (US$88.1 million) , which was partially offset in part by a decrease in decreased net revenues from its learning services of RMB400.8 million (US$54.9 million) . 5 Division of Corporation Finance Office of Technology Securities and Exchange Commission July 31, 2025 Page 6 Page 118: NetEase Cloud Music Net revenues from our NetEase Cloud Music segment increased by 1.1% to RMB8.0 billion (US$1.1 billion) in 2024 from RMB7.9 billion in 2023 , with an increase in , which was mainly attributable to increased net revenues from online music services of RMB1.0 billion (US$137.5 million) as a result of the growth in sales of membership subscriptions, which was partially offset in part by a decrease in decreased net revenues from social entertainment services and others of RMB920.5 million (US$126.1 million) . … Cost of revenues from our games and related value-added services increased by 0.8% to RMB26.1 billion (US$3.6 billion) in 2024 from RMB25.9 billion in 2023 . , which was primarily due to This was driven by increases an increase in royalty fees related to certain licensed games of RMB1.5 billion (US$203.3 million) and staff costs of RMB1.0 billion (US$131.5 million) , which was partially offset by a decrease in revenue sharing costs with talent agencies of live streaming performers and other third parties of RMB2.2 billion (US$304.9 million) . 4. We note that in your earnings release furnished on February 20, 2025 and in several investor presentations, you separately discuss the percentage of net revenue generated from online games and mobile games such that it appears discrete financial information may be available. In addition, we note from your risk factor disclosures that profits from mobile games, even if the games are successful, are generally lower than profits generated from PC games. Please tell us your consideration to separately quantify revenue from mobile games and PC games for each period presented in an effort to add context to the revenue mix and its impact on your gross profit margins for your games and related value-added services segment. The Company respectfully advises the Staff that net revenues from mobile games accounted for 67.0%, 75.2% and 72.7% of net revenues from the operation of online games in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively, with the remaining portion attributable to net revenues from PC games (plus an immaterial amount of net revenues from games offered through game consoles, a recent development that was disclosed on pages 11 and 15 of the 2024 Form 20-F). Nonetheless, for the reasons specified below, the Company does not believe that separate quantification of net revenues from mobile games